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Old News

From the 3rd floor
of the Webb City Public Library

Lucky miners could got rich by sinking just a single shaft

Webb City Area Genealogical Society
January 17, 2024

Many of the mining operations in our area began with the sinking of a single shaft. If the prospector was lucky, he would find a large deposit of zinc or lead. In many instances, he would become quite wealthy in a short period of time.

These tales of getting rich quick drew many people here.

This postcard above shows a simple mining operation. It was postmarked Sept. 24, 1912, in Webb City and was mailed to Mr. J. H. Dooley of Hale, Mo. The writer stated, “I will mark myself, I have just come out of the ground.”

The postcard below shows advancements in mining.

This photograph, taken by William Bisher in the 1940s, shows an abandoned jig table from an early mining operation.

Sentinel bound volumes are now in the Genealogy Room

The WCAGS has accepted ownership of the complete collection of bound volumes of the Webb City Sentinel, from 1983 (after the fire) until the final issue on Dec. 30, 2020.

Those issues can also be viewed on microfilm, along with much older issues.

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.