The Nation
WILKINSON, WEDDLE, FOSTER, JAMES, BARROW, ROSS, DAVIS, DILLENGER
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/19/2010 at 18:48:58
THE NATION
"The Nation" is a rugged, hilly timbered area located Iowa on the Iowa-Missouri border. Originally the area was inhabited by either the Pottawattamie Nation - or the Fox Nation - or the Sac Nation, and later referred to simply as "The Nation."
The heart of the nation is located approximately one and one-half miles south of the Ringgold County line, going into Worth County, Missouri and approximately four miles northeast of Allendale, Missouri. At the center of The Nation is a park which adjoins the Adams country schoolhouse. In 2005, A. C. WILKINSON of Grant City, Missouri owned the land which is still being used for the annual WEDDLE Family Reunion. A yearly music festival was held there from around 1932 to 1995.
The perimeters of The Nation has always been in dispute. Some say that Watterson in Ringgold County was located on the outer edge of The Nation. Others proclaim that Watterson never was part of The Nation because it never extended into Iowa.
In his book The Ghost Town of Caledonia, Holland FOSTER stated that perhaps portions of Lotts Creek, Middle Fork, and Riley Townships could be included in The Nation.
Holland FOSTER recounts tales from the old-timers, alleging that Frank and Jesse JAMES hid out in Caledonia and other parts of The Nation after robbing the Corydon bank in June of 1871. It is interesting to note that I grew up hearing the same stories involving the JAMES "hide-out" located in a cave somewhere between Grand River and Westerville along the Grand River in Richland Township of Decatur County. [SRB]
Probably because of its rugged and timbered terrain, The Nation has allegedly been a safe haven for others who sought refuge from the law. Bootleggers and moonshiners evaded G-Men and T-Men [early F.B.I. agents] by laying low in The Nation. Bonnie and Clyde and the BARROW Gang were in The Nation, headed to Caledonia and on to Dexter, Iowa.
According to a 1986 newspaper article about Leta "Jo" (DAVIS) FARMER WISEMAN ROSS, Jo's third husband was ex-FBI agent Jim ROSS. The FBI thought that John DILLENGER was in the area and believed that he was about to rob the bank at Grant City, Missouri. They kept an eye on The Nation - a perfect place for someone like DILLENGER to lay low as he set his plans in motion. However, the robbery never happened although the FBI proclaimed that DILLENGER was in the area.
Today The Nation is a serene place, inhabited by a few humans here and there with a lot of deer seeking refuge among the timber, as evidenced by the deer tracks left in their wake.
Photograph: Tedrow Cemetery, northern edge of The Nation, Ringgold County, Iowa
Photograph by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010NOTE: Leta "Jo" (DAVIS) FARMER WISEMAN ROSS was born in The Nation, the daughter of O. B. and Hazel DAVIS. O. B. and Hazel were the second-to-last owners of the Watterson Store. At one time, Jo owned the historic brick Ringgold County jail in Mount Ayr. Jo achieved local fame as an artist and aviatrix.
SOURCE: The Mount Ayr Record-News October 6, 2005
Submission by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010
The Nation
Ringgold Documents maintained by Tony Mercer.
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