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This article was published in The Fulton Sun Newspaper

Vol. 132, No. 211 Fulton, Mo, Sunday, October 26, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

Picture #1 is of the Adcock House on the day Highway F was dedicated

Picture #2 is of Moses Beauregard Adcock and his four daughters

Back row: Ula Lee Adcock (my Grandmother Bedsworth) and Hallie Temple Adcock

Front row : Isabelle Adcock, Moses, and Bertha Mae Adcock

 

The Adcock House of Callaway County
By Patricia McNew-Duncan Dickens

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.