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Focus on Roaring River Community

Barry Co., MO
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Roaring River Falls

Photo Submitted by: Gerald Lowe		 photo

Roaring River Spring

Photo Submitted by: Gerald Lowe
Historical Information
  • When the mill era ended the old wool carding mill structure was converted to an inn of 100 rooms.
  • Roland M. Bruner bought 120 acres from the Prestons for $9,000 and Bruner acquired up to 3,500 acres in the area. He later sold to F. J. Bannister who made improvements as well as built two houses across from the Hotel.
  • In the 1920's the holdings of Roaring River went into foreclosure, and at that time there were several things there, including a saw mill, hydro-electric plant, electric laundry, refrigeration plant, ice plant and Roaring River Camps and Hotel.
  • Then after that Roaring River sold to Thomas M. Sayman for $105,000 who paid cash for it on Nov 16, 1928. He presented it to the State of Missouri for a Park on Dec. 5, 1928. A memorial to Sayman stands in front of the CCC Lodge near the falls at Roaring River.
  • Page 15, Roaring River Realities by Wanda Brewer: "In early times, perhaps long before those first settlers arrived, Roaring River itself, originating from that very deep spring which comes up in a sort of cave under an overhanging bluff, flowed meanderingly through this hill-cupped valley into White River. Water rose up in great volume from this spring and poured out with a terrific roar, a roar that inspired and gave us the name for our beautiful river which has been said to be the shortest charted river in the United States. An interesting development took place, however, with respect to the roar emanating from the spring. When the dam was built in 1865 confining the water over the spring, that perpetual and reverberating roar was brought to an abrupt end and has never been heard since."
  • The spring is about 300 feet deep and comes from a cave and the water has a 55 degree temperature.
  • Roaring River rises in a fathomless spring. This is an even flowing well far back in a grotto, where the waters flow and spread out into a lake. Prior to 1880 a dam was constructed at this point level with the spring. Before the construction of this dam, the waters rushed from the grotto down the rocks with a sound of and splash, which merited for the stream its name. [Ref: Goodspeed's History, page 683, pub. 1888.]
  • Roaring River: The first settlement was made by Charles Haddock, at or near where Squire Muncey's dwelling stood in 1876. He moved to the head of Capps Creek, and is now dead. Milo B. Russell was among the first to die. John Davis and another old man were here, but their whereabouts are unknown. [Ref: Goodspeed's History, page 684, Barry Co., MO, pub. 1888]


For some time this entry was questioned and the family thought that Zachariah Haddock was the one who lived near Munsey, but after the obituaries of Charles Haddock, Jr.'s children were examined it has been determined that this is a correct and true statement, Charles Haddock, Jr. was the one who made the first settlement there. In 1840, living nearby were his father Charles and his brother William, and also Teresa Burnett, Zachariah Haddock's widowed daughter lived nearby. In 1840 the John Davis mentioned above lived next door to Charles, Jr.
  • The Haddock family came to Barry County in or around 1836 from Boone Co., MO. Roaring River Twp., was not formed in 1840 and was listed as part of Sugar Creek Twp. And so in 1840, listed on the Barry County, MO, Federal Population Schedules, were both William and Charles Haddock on Sugar Creek Twp., of Barry County, MO. Charles had one son 15-20, and he was 50-60 years old. He had 1 female 50-60 years old. Also listed is Charles Haddix two doors away. Charles Haddix had 2 males 5-10, and he was 30-40 years old and had 3 females under 5, 1 female 5-10, and 1 female 30-40 years old. The Haddix entry is for Charles Haddock, Jr.
Roaring River Photos

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Photos Submitted by: Donna Cooper

Web Pages & Photos
Cemeteries - Roaring River Area Roaring River - Post Cards Slide Show

Submitted by: Donna Cooper
NEWS FROM DAYS PASSED Historical Black & White Photos of Roaring River

State Historical Society of MO Microfilm Online Newspapers		 Munsey News: Rev. George Haddock preached Sunday night and his wife also preached Sunday. October 14, 1909 Thursday, Cassville Republican, Barry Co., MO

Roaring River News: John Frall came clear of the charge of grand larceny wherein John Ash of Off Davis was the first prosecuting witness. Trial was held before R. Haddock at Eagle Rock. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 7, 1893

Roaring River News: The Roaring River woolen mills are running pretty steady this fall. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 7, 1893

Roaring River News: L. B. Upton has been down working the roads in this part and I must say that he has put the roads in fair fix. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 7, 1893

Mrs. Aaron Miller, daughters and sister, Mrs. Neff, after a pleasant visit with friends and relatives here and at Roaring River, returned home to Parson, Kans., Thursday. They were accompanied by their father, W. C. Keith of Roaring River. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 14, 1893

Roaring River News: B. W. Hartley has got on a large stock of goods and medicines. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 23, 1893

Roaring River News: Mr. McCartney, who has been running the Roaring River woolen mills left on the 9th for a visit in Iowa, after which he will return to Roaring River. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 23, 1893

Roaring River News: Jackson Sweeten who has been gone on a hunting and fishing expedition returned home the 17th inst. Cassville Republican, Thursday, Sept 23, 1893


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Photo Submitted by: Donna Cooper

Civilian Conservation Corps - 1933

Newspaper Photo - Published 1978

Families of the Eagle Rock & Roaring River Areas


In the 1930s the CCC folks built Camp Smoky where they had quarters for both enlisted men and officers.


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Photo Submitted by: Darla Marbut

Civilian Conservation Corps - Pictures, 1933

Civilian Conservation Corps - Pictures, 1933

Civilian Conservation Corps - Pictures, 1933

Civilian Conservation Corps - Pictures, 1933 		Roaring River - Community Schools
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Photo Submitted by: Gerald Lowe

There was a lake created from where the water was dammed at the mouth of Roaring River. That lake was in addition to this lake that was dammed later just below what is now the old CCC Lodge - Hotel.


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Roaring River - Opening Trout Fishing Day 1935

Fields' Photo

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From the research files of Darla Marbut - This photo was taken in the area where you come into the Roaring River area from Cassville on Highway 112, just as you are entering the park and at the end of that steep hill. On the left you go on up to the hatchery, the spring, the falls, and the old CCC Lodge - Hotel. If you take the road to the right, you'll cross "Dry Hollow" and then turn left on Highway F to go to Eagle Rock, MO.

When the dam washed out in 1938, Roaring River stream was at the base of the hill you see here. The area on the left of the photo was made into another road.

Milo and Nicey (Haddock) Russell lived on down the road on what is now Highway F about a mile or two from this photo. They were married in Barry Co., MO in 1841 so they were living in this area at that date.

Nicey's parents were Zachariah and Chloe (Albritton) Haddock. Zachariah and his brother Charles Haddock, Sr., settled on the White River located in Southern Missouri. Chloe Haddock is buried on the park grounds in what is called today Old Russell Cemetery or Roaring River Cemetery. Zachariah, her husband, is buried in Old Haddock Cemetery, which is in the Eagle Rock area and near White River.

Milo Russell, Nicey's husband, brought their grain to the mill at Roaring River and he'd do carpentry work to pay the milling charges. I'm sure all the other relatives had milling done here as well. So when you are walking around the "head" of Roaring River, you are in the same area where many of our Haddock and Russell ancestors visited at one time or the other.
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