This Week in Missouri History
147
organized the Missouri State Dental Association. This group helped
promote the Missouri Dental College in 1866 and fostered the much
needed state law of 1883 which made it illegal to practice dentistry in
Missouri without a diploma from a recognized dental college.
[References: Lufkin, Arthur W., A History of Dentistry (Philadelphia,
1938); Missouri State Dental Association, History Committee, The History of
Dentistry in Missouri (Fulton, Mo., 1938).]
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES FLOURISHED IN MISSOURI
A CENTURY AGO
Released October 18, 1951
On a dark and starless
night in 1889 a ghostly group
of figures moved along the
streets of Spickardsville in
Grundy County. In the shadow
of a railroad section house they
were joined by another group.
Then suddenly they were
revealed in the light from the
open door of Drury Davis's
saloon—thirteen women armed
with hatchets, brooms, and
clubs. Customers scurried for
cover as bedlam broke loose in
a shattering of glass and splintering of furniture. The liquid
assets of Mr. Davis's business
flowed away upon the ground.
Half the town went on a
special train to the trial of the
crusaders in Trenton, where in spite of protests by the W.C.T.U.
and other temperance advocates, the women were fined $5.00 each
and costs.
The direct methods of the Spickardsville women may have inspired the hatchet-wielding, saloon-wrecking ventures a dozen years
later of the famous Carry A. Nation, who had lived in Missouri.
Missourians were not always so riotous in promoting temperance
reform. The movement began with lectures on health and morals.
Temperance Societies Took Part at
Independence Local Option Election
in 1888.
