Martin & Zelda Capehart Genealogy Website

Harvey E. Bash

Douglas County, Ava, Missouri

Harvey E. Bash, my great uncle, was a resident of the Ava, Missouri area from about 1905 - 1920. He was formerly from Kansas and was living in Montgomery Co., Cherry Twp., Kansas when the 1900 U. S. Federal Census was taken. Harvey was the brother of my grandmother, Editha Dalton (Bash) Morgan.

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Ava, Missouri, the county seat of Douglas County, is nestled in the heart of the Southern Missouri Ozark Mountains. The area is abundant with the riches of forests, fields and streams. Whitetail deer, wild turkey and quail are often seen here and local streams and lake provide great fishing opportunities, making hunting and fishing popular pursuits for many of the residents. Map

In about 1869 Ava was selected to be the county seat of Douglas County. The "Reynolds Hardware" store building, a log structure located on what is now the east side of the public square, was bought by the county and used as the first courthouse in Ava until it and all the county records were destroyed by fire in 1870. The county then bought a store located on what is now the northwest corner of the square where the Citizens Bank now stands to be used as the courthouse. On April 26, 1886, this store building was destroyed by fire and again all records were lost. For the next two years the school house in Ava was used by the county to transact the county's business.

In 1888 a frame courthouse was built in the center of the public square, financed largely from donations and the sale of lots. This building served the county until the present courthouse on the southeast corner of the square was completed in1937. The old building was sold to F. F. Buck and E. R. Fletcher for $350 on January 1937 with the stipulation that it be removed by them from the center of the square within 90 days.

Dates vary as to when the city of Ava became Ava. One source states that Ava was called Militia Springs until it became AVA in 1881. Source: http://www.mymissourigenealogy.com/mo_county/dou.htm#eh

Another source, http://www.avamissouri.org/hisotry.html states, "In 1871, the court commissioners made the selection of the new location and James Hailey chose the name Ava from the scriptures, II Kings Chapter 17"

The name Ava is suppose to mean "overthrowing". This was apparently a humorous reference to Ava's overthrowing its rival aspirant for the county seat. On March 4, 1889, the county court organized the town of Ava as a village. The first Board of Trustees were James Hailey, Sr.; Martin Singleton; George B. Waters; J. M. Curnett and John McDaniel. On November 1891 the town was disincorporated and reincorporated on the same day. By 1893 the people had lost interest, some refused to pay their taxes and the city quit doing business as a corporation. The next eight or ten years saw occasional efforts to either revive the old corporation or reincorporate. With the new railroad coming to Ava it became necessary to form some kind of city government. On November 7, 1908 the petitions and a plat were presented to the County Court and the court made an order incorporating Ava as a city of the fourth class. The following men were appointed to hold office until the annual city electioin on April 1st: George R. Curry, Mayor; H. E. Bash (Harvey E. Bash); M. Olsen, Bud Reynolds and Paul Coleman, Alderman; C. H. Coble, collector and M. M. miller, marshal. Source: A Reminiscent Hisotry of Douglas County, Missouri, 1857-1957, compiled and written by J. E. Curry, p. 104

~~ We visited Ava, Missouri in June of 2008 and took the photos shown on this page. ~~

Douglas County, Missouri Courthouse

The gazeebo in the Ava city square

Douglas County, Missouri Sign (Front)

Douglas County, Missouri Sign (Back)

A brief history of Douglas County is inscribed on this sign located on the city square of Ava, the county seat.

History of Douglas County, Missouri copied in its entirety from the sign

"Douglas County

(from the front)

Here in the heartland of the Missouri Ozarks, Douglas County was organized in 1857 and named for the statesman Stephen A. Douglas. Southern pioneers, attracted by forested hills, abundant game, spring-fed streams, fertile valleys, were first settlers in mid 1830's. Some 692 prehistoric mounds have been found in the county which is in territory long utilized by various Indian tribes and claimed by the Osage until 1808.

Ava, the county seat was laid out 1870, and named for a Biblical city by James Hailey who with Judge Martin and Lock Alsup selected the site. Ava was founded to succeed Arno which replaced Vera Cruz, first county seat, when it lost its central location by county boundary change. A later change left Ava 12 miles off center. Ava's first post office moved there, 1872, from near by Militia Springs where a body of Union troops wintered in the Civil War.

During the war, Douglas County, largely pro-Union, suffered a number of skirmishes, several occuring in and near Vera Cruz. headquarters of Home Guard unit. Through the war, guerrilla bands roamed the area.

(See other side)

Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri

and State Highway commission, 1961

Douglas County

(Continued from other side)

Douglas County's cultivated hillsides and valleys supporting fine dairy and livestock farms contrast with its timber producing hills and ridges. Much of the county area which was harvested during the lumbering boom of the early 1900's lies in Mark Twain National Forest established in 1930's. Lead and zinc have been mined in the county.

By 1910, the agricultural and lumbering productivity brought Kansas City, Ozark & Southern Railroad. Built from Mansfield through Bryant to Ava. It had an uneven success and ceased operation, 1935. Among early settlements were Rome, Topaz, and Arno. Communities founded after the Civil War include Drury, Squires, Denlow, Sweden, and Vanzant. Among later settlements are Brushyknow and Smallett.

Douglas County, lying in a resort region, is noted for scenic forest drives, springs, and streams including Bryant and Beaver creeks and Little North Fork River. In an area of great scenic beauty southeast of Ava is monastery of Cistercian Monks of the Strict Observance (Trappists) dating from 1950, made Assumption Abbey, 1956

Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri

and State Highway Commission, 1961"

The Douglas County Museum

The Douglas County Museum is located in the H. S. Wilson Home purchased in Aguust of 1988 by the Douglas County Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc., aided by several businesses and many individuals. The Wilson house was built in 1882 by Frank Wilson who built four other homes exactly like it in Douglas County about the same time. Only the house housing the Douglas County Museum and one other house are still standing.

The museum is located 1-1/2 blocks east of the Ava square on Highway 14. Hours are 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday and during the summer on Tuesday & Thursday from 10:00 to noon. Antique items are on display and researchers can receive help with their genealogical queries.

Murals depicting life during the late 1800's & early 1900's.

Mural painted above the big window of the Eliz Arts store

Mural painted on the side of the building housing the Ava Fine Arts Gallery & Museum

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Creations by Zelda

The Martin & Zelda Capehart Genealogy Website

The information on this website has been compiled from many sources. We have tried to document and verify all information as much as possible and will continue to do so. If you find an error or have additional information please contact us.

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Background by Zelda: Douglas County,

Missouri Museum in Ava