Shell Knob
 |
Stumpff Store at Shell Knob 1915 |
| Shell Knob by Mildred F. Roden Shell Knob was so named for the family of Henry Schell, Sr. Henry Schell, Sr. married Elizabeth Yoachum, October 17, 1835, the same year Barry became a county. Henry and Elizabeth Schell established a trading post at the foot of a mountain (now on YY Hwy), which became known as Schell's Trading Post. When the post office was established in 1872, the name Shell Knob (with the 'C' dropped from the name), was chosen from the list sent in to Washington, DC. The first settlers to this area built their log cabins by or near a spring, planting grain and vegetables in the rich fertile soil of the bottom land, along White River. Later settlers built near the creeks and on the upland, away from the river. |
 |
The Shell Knob Whittling Club |
We do not know the names of the earliest settlers. We know the Indians occupied t he land here, before the settlers moved in. Abundant evidence of their residence was found here by early settlers and up into the present century. Shell Knob is located in Township 22 N, Range 25 W, Section 9 and 10, on Table Rock Lake. Goodspeed's 1888 History of Barry County, Missouri has a record of the first land buyers in this township. The settlers who had pre-empted land (located on the land and built improvements) were given first chance to purchase the land. The land was offered for sale Sept. 20, 1847. Land buyers in Sec. and year purchased were: Taylor, George W., Sec 9, 1853; Pinkley, George, Sec 9, 1858; Butler, David, Sec 10, 1858; Smith, John M., Sec 14, 1856; Allen, John, Sec 14, 1850; James, Francis A., Sec 15, 1858; James, James W., Sec 18, 1853; Rector, Grigsby, Sec 20, 1856; Johnson, Russell, Sec 22, 1852; Brown, Nathan, Sec 23,1850; Painter, Elisha, Sec 23, 1856; Leonard, David, Sec 25, 1852; Cave, Reuben H., Sec 29, 1852 and Sec 32, 1850; Smith, J.M., Sec 29, 1853; McCarly, Jesse, Sec 29, 1853. |
 |
Central Crossing Bridge Constrution at Shell Knob 1959 |
Table Rock Dam and Lake – Construction of Table Rock Dam brought about a drastic change in the small town. Ground breaking for Table Rock Lake was held at Branson, Missouri on October 10, 1954. The dam was completed in August 1958. Some events taking place in the meantime were: In 1954 an archaeological research team from the State of Missouri, composed of Robert T. Bray, Richard A. Marshall and James Haswell, began excavating Indian shelters along the White River, prior to the impoundment of water of Table Rock Lake. Evidence of three separate cultures was found, one of these the so-called" Archaic" Society, which existed as long as 5,000 years ago. Among articles found were many projectile points (arrows), implements, including scrapers, drills, anvils, hammers, mortars, pottery sherds, and other items, including one human burial. Stones from old cemeteries in this area were relocated to other sites. |
 |
Epperly Canning Tomatoe Lable |
The New Shell Knob - Few land marks remain at Shell Knob from the old days. A log cabin or two, a few old houses and some store buildings remain. The old Painter Cemetery, established before the Civil War still serves the needs of the community. The earliest marked burial is that of Elisha Painter with the date of death 1862, for whom the cemetery was named. Present day Shell Knob has a bank, modern day post office, modern school, a telephone exchange, supermarket, library, several churches, health clinic, motels, minimarts, a building supply center, a newspaper, marinas, restaurants, Pizza Hut, chamber of commerce, fire protection association, mortuary, saddle club arena, sports complex and much more. |
 |
Williamson's General Store in Shell Knob |