A quick introduction: I’m John Beydler. I was born in Jerico Springs in 1946, was reared there and attended elementary school there. I spent 52 years as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers in Joplin, Mo., Kankakee, Ill. and Moline, Ill. I live in Davenport, Ia.
Events conspired shortly after I retired in 2017 to introduce me to the Jerico Springs Optic, a weekly newspaper published in Jerico at the turn of the 20th Century. That acquaintance has led to one thing after another after … oh, well, however esoteric a topic Jerico’s history may be, I’m enjoying the pursuit of it. And isn’t “enjoying” a key word?
I created this site to share my research into Jerico, a tiny place in southwest Missouri, whose sun shone brightest c. 1900. It did have its moments, and there are still people who live there, or did live there or who just enjoy history’s minutia, who remain interested in those moments. They are welcome here, as are their contributions.
If you have photos, articles, stories or old letters relating to Jerico you’d like to share, email them to me at johnbeyd@gmail.com and I’ll organize and add them to the site as time permits. You can also comment on any site page, or on this blog.
Jerico Springs on parade 