Students from the Ralls County Elementary Student Leadership Team and RCHS Student Interns assisted in the evening’s events, including welcoming guests, serving drinks, bussing tables, and assisting with the auction.  Ralls County Elementary Student Leadership Team members assisting included Izzy Browning, Haven Elliott, Mallory Diffenderfer, Trinity Logan, Auburn Simmons, Sapphire Muehring, Blaire Gilmore, and Avery Jones, Jaelyn Wieczorek, and Jackson Keil, along with their advisors, Diana Duckworth and Julia Henderson.  RCHS Student Interns assisting with the event included Landon Pease, Evie Bickel, Maeley Moss, Ericka Gilbert, and Alyvia Paxton.  Having youth involved was a wonderful addition to the event.

Jeanie Gay, Carolyn Trower, and Sarah Petersheim worked the main table, accepting memberships, selling calendars and books, and assisting with the auction.  All paper products for the event were donated by Dennis and Debbie McMillen, owners of Center Locker.

Presiding Commissioner John Lake and his wife, Sharon, and Western District Commissioner John Wieczorek and his wife, Carol, sold raffle tickets for a gun that was donated by all three commissioners, including Eastern District Commissioner Junior Muehring and his wife, Jenny.  Proceeds from the gun raffle will benefit the Ralls County Historical Society. 

After enjoying the meal, Elementary Leadership Team members led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off a brief program before the auction got underway.  President Ron Leake thanked those in attendance for their continued support and encouraged volunteerism. Leake has been the president of RCHS since 2002 and continues to be an integral piece of the organization.  Leake acknowledged and honored the men, women, and children who came together in 1976 to form an organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and honoring the history of Ralls County, several of whom were in attendance.  When the Society was founded in 1976, there were approximately 130 members. While membership has surged and waned over the years, RCHS is proud to have 135 members today.

In 2025, RCHS issued a call for submissions to design a new official seal for Ralls County Historical Society. Several thoughtful entries were received, and after review, RCHS unanimously selected Christina Strode's design.  Vice President Delores Woodhurst asked Strode to come forward, and Strode was recognized and thanked, as her seal, which was on display for viewing at the event, became the official seal of the Ralls County Historical Society.  The narrative that accompanied Strode’s design is included below.

Creating the Ralls County Historical Society seal has been a fun experience for me, and one that truly means a lot.  My husband Joseph's family roots run deep in the Ralls County dirt!  My family lives on my husband's family farm, where his 3x Great Grandfather Hedgman Wilson lived.  The Wilson family moved to Clay Township, near Spalding, in Ralls County, from Virginia in the mid-1800s.  His 4x Great Grandfather Jeremiah Strode moved to Ralls County, where his family grew.  Joseph's 3x Grandfather, Edward Strode, became a prominent doctor in New London, and there is even a street named after him. In an effort to create a unique design, I researched many seals from around the country for layout ideas.  In the outer ring, 1820 represents the year Ralls County was formed.  The central focus of the seal is our beautiful courthouse, with the year it was built, 1858, prominently displayed on the front.  Around the courthouse are iconic symbols of our county.  In the top right, you see the great Clarence Cannon Dam with the beautiful Mark Twain Lake behind it.  To the right of the courthouse is a crappie, a fishing favorite on the lake.  My son works at the marina, and the number one question he is asked daily is, "Are the crappie biting?"  There are oak leaves and acorns to show homage to the abundant nature in our county.  Near the bottom, corn represents our rich agricultural heritage.  To the left of the courthouse is the iconic state animal, the Missouri Mule.  On the top left, you see a handsome whitetail, representing the wildlife in our area.  Separating the words in the outer ring are yellow cone flowers.  These flowers are also known as the Ozark cone flower and can be found growing wild and free along many of our roads.  The three main colors of the seal are red, white, and blue.  They reflect the Missouri State flag, and, of course, our nation.  The people of Ralls County are patriotic and deeply love our land! It was my pleasure to research and design a seal that will serve as a lasting visual representation of our great county.  Thank you for considering my design for Ralls County Historical Society's official seal.

John Wallace, assisted by his grandson and RCHS Student Intern Landon Pease, facilitated the auction of donated items.   The auction served not only as entertainment but also as an important fundraiser supporting museum operations, preservation initiatives, and local history programming.  The feature item of the auction was shared ownership in RCHS’s copy of Ralls County Missouri by Goldena Howard.  In 1980, Goldena Howard published Ralls County Missouri, known to many as “the green book,” and the book remains the most comprehensive single history of Ralls County ever created. Mrs. Howard spent decades researching the people and places of Ralls County, personally funding the project and overseeing every detail. Nearly half the book is devoted to Ralls County families. Mrs. Howard believed it was important to document the people living here at the time, those whose stories were not yet recorded in history books.  Her work was never about recognition or profit, but about preservation. Ralls County Missouri continues to be a treasured resource for families, researchers, and community members. As RCHS celebrates its 50th birthday, Mrs. Howard’s work stands as a cornerstone of its mission to preserve, honor, and celebrate Ralls County.  Individuals purchasing ownership in this book, which will continue to be housed at the Ralls County Historical Society’s museum in Perry include Jon and Pam Barnes, Greg Sharpe for State Senate, Michele Keil, Wiley and Susan Hibbard, Ryan, Sarah, and Carter Petersheim, Brian and Linda Hodges, Brian and Delores Woodhurst, Ron and Sandy Myers, Cindy Lynn-Drainer, Chad and Meri Williams, Jim and Jeanie Gay, and Landon Pease. 

Numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations donated items for the auction, including Leanne Reed, Wiley Hibbard, Dustin Wasson of South Lake Design, Mary Kay Weiss, Michele Keil of Salt River Realty, Kerri Jo Reese of Crossroads Bar & Grill, Hannah Smith and Tessa Meranda of Polish & Glow, Dustin and Jan Garner of Lake Country Gardens, Delores Woodhurst, Cindy Lynn-Drainer of At-Home Realty, Brad Stinson, Tracy Mundell of Shaggy’s Hair Salon, Lydia, Lola, and Randy McDonald of Meadows Campground & Coffeehouse, Brandon and Skylar Anderson of Anderson Auto Body & Detailing, John DiMaria of Perry Economic Development Group, Debbie Hodges, Brice & Ashley Harvey of Harvey’s Floral Boutique and Premier Pest Solutions, Rachel Jones, Frances, Dean, Kris, Jason, and Kristie Yancey of Yancey Auto Sales, Ralls County Clerk Brandy Flynn, Ralls County Collector Tara Comer, Penny Cearley, Western District Commissioner John Wieczorek, Eastern District Commissioner Junior Muehring, Presiding Commissioner John Lake, and District 5 State Representative Louis Riggs. 

Ralls County Historical Society extends heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who made the evening possible. The Society also thanks everyone who attended, contributed, or supported the event in any way.  As RCHS looks ahead to its next fifty years, the organization invites the community to stay engaged by becoming members, volunteering, or participating in upcoming events. For more information about the Ralls County Historical Society and its programs, please visit rallscohistoricalsociety.com or follow RCHS on Facebook.

More event photos are available on our Facebook page!

• New memberships have been received from Arizona and Washington, and these states are shaded on the map at the bottom of RCHS’s webpage (rallscohistoricalsociety.com), bringing the number of states with current RCHS members to 13.  Thank you notes will be sent to volunteers and donors. The conversation also focused on how meetings were held over the past 50 years, including evening meetings at various Ralls County locations.  The group decided to host one additional meeting or event locally each quarter, either on a weekend or in the evening.  The first event will be on Saturday, April 25th, at the Ralls County Library in Center.  More information on this meeting is shared below.

• Missouri Mule Museum (MMM): Jeanie Gay shared that the MMM will remain open during the winter with reduced hours.  While the museum will most likely be open on Fridays and Saturdays, always call ahead to confirm.  Please follow “Missouri Mule Museum” on Facebook to learn more and keep up-to-date on openings and closings.

• Fort Mason Project:  No update

• Center Depot:  No update

• Absalom Grimes Workshop:  RCHS has partnered with Ralls County Library to bring local history to life! On Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ralls County Library, Barney Bradshaw of Historically Speaking will present a program about former Ralls County riverboat pilot, mail carrier, and Confederate spy, Absalom Grimes.  Grimes is buried in Barkley Cemetery in New London.  The program, “Gratiot Street Prison and the Life & Times of Absalom Grimes, which will include a costumed performance by Bradshaw, will relive the experience of Absalom Grimes. The presentation will tell the story of the life and seemingly unbelievable exploits of convicted Confederate spy Absalom Grimes. Grimes lived near Hydesburg and married Lucy Glascock of New London.  The presenter will be available for a meet-and-greet after the presentation, and the library will serve light snacks.

• Volunteer Needed & Training: The goal for the RCH is to have the museum in Perry open from at least 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  At the February meeting, a date for a volunteer workshop will be set.  We are looking for anyone who is willing to be at the museum on these dates and times. Volunteering means being available to talk with guests who visit the museum.  You do not have to be an expert on Ralls County history–you only need to be willing to donate a few hours from time to time to help us make our museum available to the public.  The group also discussed offering Mark Twain Lake souvenirs for sale at the museum, including bumper stickers, magnets, etc.  Someone mentioned partnering with 4-H and other organizations to help find volunteers to keep the museum open.  

• Perry Bank Restoration: Work will continue on this in the spring, or as weather allows. Patty Tinsley, project organizer, shared ideas, including a possible bank robbery reenactment, which sounded very intriguing to those in attendance.

• Preserving County Documents and other artifacts:  No update

• Area Historical Society Meeting: RCHS  hosted a meeting of area historical societies on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the Mark Twain Rural Development Corporation Building in Perry, Missouri.  The event brought together 30 participants representing 11 Northeast Missouri historical societies and several partner agencies to network and discuss each organization’s efforts to preserve and celebrate the region’s rich heritage.  Special guests included Dr. Joel Rhodes, Executive Director of the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO); Chris Kempke, Cultural Community Development Director at Missouri Humanities; Representative Louis Riggs, and Dr. Tim Jacobs of the Tri-State Civil War Round Table and Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County (HSQAC).  The next quarterly meeting of this group will be  the May 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the  State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia.  After enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the Ralls County Historical Society, attendees visited the Historic Perry Carousel, explored the Missouri Mule Museum & Ralls County Historical Society Library, and the Ralls County Historical Society Museum. Ralls County Historical Society would like to extend a special thank-you to the volunteers at the Historic Perry Carousel for opening their venue to guests.

• All Time History: Andrew Bartison again thanked RCHS for helping spread the word about this project.  All Time History uses the Discord platform to create virtual historical societies.  They have developed a server for individuals under 18 and another for individuals over 18.   

• Impact Statement:  A draft impact statement will be shared at the February meeting. The group generated a quick list of items to include in the impact statement: meetings of area historical societies, donations and support from throughout and beyond the county, RCHS’s new seal, and the fully operational Missouri Mule Museum.

• Current Research Requests: Laura Shulse contacted RCHS several months ago about a letter that she received through her work at the Ralls County Extension Office.  The letter, sent by Rosey Kimble of Byon, Michigan, included the following note:  “Dear friends,  I found this letter in a Senior Center near my home.  Enjoy!  Rosey Kimbell, 83 years old.”  Enclosed were an envelope that was mailed from Texas to New London in 1916, addressed to Mrs. Emma Brooks, Route 4, New London, and a letter to Emma from Chas Loetterle.  Laura would like to reunite the letter with Mrs. Brooks’ family.  If anyone has information about this, please contact Delores Woodhurst.  This information will also be publicized on RCHS’s Facebook page soon.

• Ongoing Projects

  • Student Internship Program: Our next work day is February 9, 10:00 a.m. to noon. Delores will try to schedule this session at the Ralls County Courthouse, possibly touring the courthouse and doing research in the Recorder’s office.

  • 2026 Calendar:  We still have some of these.  After a discussion, it was decided that the remaining calendars will be sold at $10 each.  Delores will check the inventory and advertise these at the reduced rate soon

• Public Outreach Opportunities:  This month’s upcoming dates were included in the January newsletter, which was distributed at the lasagna supper and at today’s meeting.

•  Recent Donations: Patty Tinsley donated a porcelain plate painted by Lucille Leake.  Shirley Levings, daughter of Russell and Leona Itschner, gave the plate to Patty several years ago.  In the “Green Ralls County Books” by Goldena Howard, there is a picture of Leona Itschner and Effie Cowden, with this caption:  About 1952, Leona Itschner, Perry (left), and Effie Cowden, Center, revived the art of china painting in Ralls County, and since that time, hundreds of loads have been fired in the Itschner kiln.  Mrs. Cowden painted when young and taught Mrs. Itschner.  The Itschners visited firms in France to select fine porcelains.  Alice “Lucille” Leake, the daughter of Francis Felix Leake (1863-1936) and Lutie Mae Hunt Leake (1878-1960) was born on June 13, 1903, in Center, Ralls, Missouri, USA.  Miss Leake was a teacher in the Ralls County School System for over 50 years. Besides teaching, she loved china painting and gardening. She was a member of Olivet Christian Church and served as church treasurer for many years. She was a charter and lifetime member of the Missouri State Teachers Association and the MFA Co-op in Perry. She was a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship.  Miss Leake passed away on February 25, 1997, and is buried at Center Cemetery.

• Payment of Bills with Receipts:  None presented.

• Financial Information as of 12/31/2025:  Ending balance $44,864.61

• President’s Update: While Ron is unable to attend today’s meeting, he asked Delores to share that he is very proud of the historical society's work and very grateful for the community's support for RCHS.  He thanks everyone involved in the lasagna supper fundraiser, including volunteers, donors, and all who attended.

The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.  The next meeting is February 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Perry City Hall.  The meeting is open to the public, and we hope anyone interested in preserving, celebrating, and honoring Ralls County's history will attend.

His presentation featured sunrises and sunsets over rustic barns and historic churches, wildlife in motion, and the many waterways that wind through the county. Stinson reflected on how much he enjoyed serving as sheriff, particularly the conversations he shared with Ralls County residents. Growing up as a pastor’s son, he found special meaning in photographing local churches.

The Ralls County Historical Society extends its thanks to Brad for sharing his photographs and reminding us all of the beauty that surrounds us here at home.

Click here to see all photos and videos from the 2023 lasagna supper!

Physical Address:

Ralls County Historical Museum 

105 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Missouri Mule Museum & Ralls County Historical Library

114 East Main Street

Perry, MO 63462

Mailing Address:

Ralls County, Missouri Historical Society

PO Box 463

Perry, MO 63462