Leroy Jeffries Bio

The Monett Times, November 28, 1930

Leroy Jeffries – Pioneer Merchant
By Eunice Arnaud


Being in business here for forty-eight years entitles Leroy Jeffries to claim the record of being the oldest business man – from point of service – in Monett. In fact, Mr. Jeffries was here several years before there was a Monett and has witnessed more changes than perhaps any other merchant here at the present time.

Mr. Jeffries was born September 1, 1861, at Bentonville, Arkansas. The family later moved to Pea Ridge, and were living there at the time of the Pea Ridge Battle during the Civil War.

"I can remember my mother telling about seeing riderless horses run across our front yard," said Mr. Jeffries. "My mother and another young woman would bury the soldiers and care for the wounded ones. One day they had just buried a soldier when his wife came and asked to see him; so they dug him up and she watched over him all that night. I just can remember seeing the soldiers."

The Jeffries moved to Cassville during the war and stayed there until 1868 when they moved to Corsicana. Corsicana was then the leading town of Barry County, and people came from fifty miles – even from Arkansas – to trade there. In 1875, they moved to Washburn, where Mr. Jeffries completed his education.

"They had a good nice high school there that was an exception to the usual run," explained Mr. Jeffries. "The first schools that I ever went to were log cabins and we sat on split benches. They just naturally made one feel mischievous."

On November 21, 1882, the family moved to Plymouth Junction, now Monett. It did not present a very attractive appearance nor a very promising one, since there were just seven houses. The old depot as at the west end of the "Y" and the post office was then called Gonten Post Office.

"And there didn't seem to be any one around, either," added Mr. Jeffries, "Why I could have housed every one in Plymouth Junction here in my garage."

Mr. Jeffries established his first store on the present site of the Monett mill and carried a line of groceries and drugs. He remained there probably eight years until about two years after the Frisco division moved here.

About 1885 a disastrous fire broke out in Plymouth Junction and burned the station, post office, Mr. Jeffries' store, and most everything else, as there were just five houses standing after the fire burned out. The station was built again and when the division point was moved here, that building was moved to the present site.

Mr. Jeffries built a new store on the original location, but in 1892 changed to the corner where the Buick garage now is. He bought everything the farmers had to sell and shipped it on to St. Louis.

Conditions were entirely different at that time from the way they are today. Irish potatoes were the principal crop, and farmers would plant from two to twenty acres. "In 1885," stated Mr. Jeffries, "I bought 160 carloads of potatoes with the price averaging from fifteen to thirty cents a bushel. They were fine dandy potatoes too."

Mr. Jeffries quoted other prices from that time when the county was just settling. Eggs were two to ten cents a dozen; chickens were bought by the dozen, with spring chickens selling for sixty cents to a dollar a dozen, and hens a dollar to a dollar and a half a dozen. Labor was cheap, and one could secure all the help one wanted at twenty-five to fifty cents a day.

"Foxes and wolves were numerous in those days," related Mr. Jeffries, "and in fact all wild animals. People trapped them but the prices they received then look might small to us today. Opossum brought from two to five cents a pelt; skunk, ten to twenty-five; raccoon, fifteen to twenty-five; muskrat, five cents; and fox, from twenty-five to fifty cents a pelt. Hogs brought from two to two and a fourth cents a pound, and beef cattle were one and one-fourth to two and a half cents a pound."

Mr. Jeffries had a pair of scales built in 1888 and on them he weighed all the produce that he shipped out and all that he bought from local owners. He also weighed stock for Mr. A. Folger, who then owned a butcher shop. An 800 pound cow brought $10.00 and a veal calf weighing between 130 and 150 pounds brought $1.50.

On December 23, 1888, Mr. Jeffries was married to Miss Mary E. Turpin and they had four children, two of whom are living. They are Mrs. Letha O'Banion and Mrs. Lalah Long. One son, Byron, died when less than two years old and one son, Earl, was killed when switching in the Frisco yards here.

He is a member of Woodmen of the World and was charter member when the chapter was organized in 1895.

Mr. Jeffries stayed at his store on Central until 1914 when he was elected county clerk and served in this capacity for eight years. His ability and popularity have been further attested to by the fact that he has been alderman of the First Ward for twenty-four years and president of the board for eighteen years.

After serving his term as county clerk, Mr. Jeffries came back to his business and built the present building of the Buick garage and stayed for seven years at that place. Then he constructed his present garage and opened it to the public July 3, 1929.

"The next day was the Fourth," said Mr. Jeffries, "so I bought me a box of firecrackers and had me a big time."

The new garage is one of the finest in town with its attractive brick exterior, and commands a magnificent view of the golf course and highways. The interior is just as pleasing with its ferns and potted plants and rustic benches, and the giant white Persian cat that stretches lazily on the cushion in front of the fire seems to find it inviting, as well as comfortable.

So being in business here for forty-eight years has been quite an experience for Mr. Jeffries. He has kept up with the modern growth of the town and has added to the progressive appearance with his modern buildings and improvement of property. It is the pioneer who made possible Monett's present status. But a pioneer who has carried through into modern times with unfailing progressiveness is Mr. Leroy Jeffries.


Transcribed and submitted by Bob Banks