Each time I come to Callaway County I drive by
so many memories of family. Those gone now but who have left a
whisper of their touch not only on the land but in my soul. One
such place, my great grandfathers home, a stately three story
frame built about 1908 and situated on Highway F. Once an entertainment
center for many living in Callaway County.
Moses Beauregard Adcock, the son of John Henry
and Mary Jane Selby Adcock was born in Callaway County in 1861
and married Ida Bell Lynes, daughter of William and Sarah Douglas
Lynes, also of Callaway County. Moses and Ida Bell drew up plans
for the house of their dreams where they planned to raise their
four little girls, Hallie Temple, Ula Lee, Bertha Mae, and Isabelle.
Due to the untimely death of Ida Bell in 1901 the plans were set
aside. Meanwhile Moses continued to care for his small daughters,
develop his Picayune Prairie Stock Farm, raising Hereford Cattle,
Poland China Hogs, and Mules “Throughbreds”, which
he was well known for in the county. Being a devout man Moses
and his family attended Central Christian Church and Moses spent
much of his time studying and teaching Sunday school to many young
people in the community.
As his young daughters grew it became important
to provide a beautiful home for them to live in and to learn the
social graces needed for well brought up young ladies, and also,
as his Sunday School classes grew larger it became necessary to
have a place to meet for the encouragement of young souls. So,
eventually Moses made the decision to turn his attention to the
building of the house of his and Ida Bell’s dreams. The
Adcock house was completed about 1908 and the family moved in.
Moses went to St. Louis to purchase the furniture and items to
decorate the new home. Trim leather couches, chairs, brass beds,
and oak tables graced the gracious home. Frances Bedsworth Stephens,
daughter of Ula Lee and granddaughter of Moses and Ida Bell displays
in her home the oak dining table and chairs which was part of
the original furnishings. The Adcock house when completed had
running water in the kitchen and the upstairs bathroom. It also
had gas lamps for lighting and a furnace. It was quite modern
for the time period.
The Adcock house was the scene of many social
events through the years with four young girls’ social lives
and providing a place for many young people of the community to
gather for Sunday school parties and discussions. Each of Moses’
daughters were married in the home, Ula Lee to Roy Odell Bedsworth
in 1915, Bertha Mae to William Patterson Hubbard in 1920, Hallie
Temple to Thomas Newland in 1923, and Isabelle to Leonard Wade
in 1926
When Highway F going from Fulton to Columbia
was opened and dedicated the Adock house was decorated with a
patriotic theme. Part of the opening activities included driving
the new roadway and making a stop at the Adcock house for refreshments,
served by the Adcock girls. When Moses designed the home part
of the vision he and Ida Bell had included the ease for entertainment.
One of the ideas was to build a plate rail running around the
entire dining room area. Moses then purchased dozens of dessert
plates, cups, and saucers. The girls told the story as years went
by about having plenty of dishes to serve the whole county!
As you travel Highway F today the Adcock house
is easily recognized as it stands tall amid the trees representing
the happiness and stability created for four young girls as they
grew to maturity, it represents a place of participation for individuals
of the community and a haven for the nurturing of the lives of
many young people seeking answers, but finally it represents the
endurance of the hopes and dreams of two young Callaway Countians,
Moses Beauregard and Ida Bell Lynes Adcock.