Historic rural scene: a rough log cabin with a wooden shingled roof, three people in period dress standing by the door, and a wagon in the yard.
Shaw’s Garden, Neck City, Mo. – Photo by Harris of Carthage.

From the 3rd floor
of the Webb City Public Library

Old News

Log cabins: cheap, sturdy housing for early settlers

Webb City Area Genealogical Society

The log cabin made its appearance in America in the 1600s. The Swedish are said to have constructed the first log cabins in Delaware.

Many early settlers to the area constructed log cabins for their first homes. With the major material being trees and mud, log cabins offered quick shelter at little or no cost.

Most families only lived in the cabins until they could build a larger home, but many chose to live their entire lives there.

In 1879, Ansel and Elizabeth Sidenstricker moved to Jasper County from Johnson County, Mo. They purchased a parcel of land on Spring River, southwest of Neck City, where they constructed their log cabin home.  Ansel and Elizabeth lived in the log cabin for more than 50 years, raising their eight children there. The cabin stood until the early 1960s.

Man on a tall ladder leaning against a white wooden log cabin, holding a long pole.
Jack Sidenstricker on a ladder next to his parents’ cabin.
Family group stands outside a log cabin with two horses, wagons, and wooden chairs in a rural yard.
Charley, Jack, Letha, Alta, Milt, Ellen, Michael, Elizabeth, Josie and Ansel Sidenstricker are in this 1896 photo of the Sidenstricker log cabin.

Webb City Area Genealogical Society

WCAGS members staff the Genealogy Room on the third floor of the Webb City Public Library. Current hours are noon to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in the Genealogy Room.

Everything you want to know about Jasper County Missouri Schools is available at a site compiled by Webb City Area Genealogical Society member Kathy Sidenstricker.

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