The above headline appeared in the Aug. 17, 1885 Kansas City Times over a story about a barbecue and exposition Jerico hosted Aug. 11 that year. It offers a richly detailed account of the event, which went off successfully despite a torrential storm in the middle of preparations. There are ellipses in a few places where a word was unreadable.
Jerico Springs, Mo., Aug. 11 – The anxiously awaited barbeque day came as announced today. Your correspondent was on the grounds yesterday and visited the area where some 15 fat cattle, sheep and hogs were being roasted over beds of coals in long trenches dug in the ground. The trenches had been filled with wood and burned down to a bed of coals, and the meat was suspended over the fire by many hickory poles held across. The meat was cooked as nicely as if it had been in the oven. Men were busy turning, carving, and carrying meat to and fro. Hammers and saws were heard on every hand. Long tables were built and … men and swing men were busily engaged erecting their stands for the next day.
Wagons were rushing to and from the grove hauling an extra … on the grounds. Wagons and buggies loaded with strangers from a distance began to roll in about 5 o’clock and continued until late at night. Every hotel was full.
Everything bid fair to be the grandest time ever in Cedar county. But about midnight rain began to fall in torrents and continued with little abatement till 9:30 in the morning. Every branch and stream of any size was out of banks, the streets were muddy and everybody was discouraged. The lemonade man and the swingman who had made great preparations were fairly making things blue swearing.
However, about 10 o’clock the clouds broke away, the sun came out and in less than an hour every road leading to town was lined with wagons. The meat committees had carefully kept the meat dry and revived their fires that had been extinguished by the rain and began to finish their work. By 11 o’clock 540 wagons had come into town and filled every available space for quite a distance around.
At least 2,500 people had assembled and as many more were waiting on opposite sides of Cedar and Horse creek, unable to cross for the high water.
Large delegations were out of Lamar, Milford, Nevada, Stockton, Lockwood and El Dorado.
The first exercise was a well timed address of welcome by Cedar’s young orator, Isaac M Porter, after which the people were quietly and orderly marched to the tables that were already spread with meals. Two huge wagon loads of light bread were driven up to the tables and everybody was fed and many took loaves away. A member of the provisions committee told me they had about 200 loaves of bread left.
After dinner the I.O.O.F. and G. A. R. societies formed a grand procession and marched from town to the grounds making a brilliant display. Speeches were made by Elder J. B. Carrico and Rev. R W. Reynolds.
Speakers cut off by high water were Judge D. M. Wooldridge, Hon C. M. Morgan and Captain R. J. Tucker of Lawrence.
A display of products, etc of Cedar county was arranged. A massive cut stone speaker’s table was on the stand, cut out of Jerico stone by R. C. Laing of Jerico. At the right of the speaker’s stand was a huge five bushel lump of coal from Moore’s Bank a mile and a half south of Jerico. It measured 32 inches thick by my own tape lines. It was a very fine quality and attracted marked attention. To the left of the stand was a display of silk …by Mrs J.B. Bowman of Jerico. It showed all the stages from the eggs up to cocoons, spinning and reeling off of the raw silk. It was quite a curiosity to the people generally. In the rear of the speaker was a display of corn, millet and vegetables, fruit, sorghum and minerals equal to any county fair.
The speaker’s … consistedof a large flagstone, 24×56 inches and smoother than a board.
Cedar county may be called behind and her soil may not be ruled rich, but Wednesday’s display has convinced thousands of its merits and shown her to have a productive soil not to be excelled by any other county in the state.
Her resources have never been developed. And before 12 months rolls around she will have a railroad to help her make a marked development.
We would fail to do justice if we did not mention that instead of a backwoods old style class of people as we expected to see, we have not seen a more intelligent gathering anywhere in the state. Their hospitality is unbounded.
We must congratulate such men as J. F Rogers, C. E. Whitsitt, G. W. Smith, W. R. Hast for the meal and untiring energy displayed in carrying out the program and making it a perfect success under the attending circumstances.
After all the mishaps it was an enjoyable occasion.
Jerico Springs on parade 