The Laclede County Record

10/01/2026

The Record has updated its website’s obituary section.

10/01/2026

Poll: Sept. 23, 2026, Question of the Week 2: Which of these responses best captures your sentiment about law enforcement’s use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) such as Flock Safety?

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

A Stroll Down Memory Lane:
Take a peek at last week’s “Pics from the Past” feature!
———————————————————————————————
Ira carried the name “Stringtown’’ for many years

Ira, Missouri was a small town located in the far northwest corner of Laclede County near Eldridge. In 1885, Jim Causey saw the need for a trading post in the community. He built a small building and put in a stock of merchandise. He named the store Lester and later sold it to Tom Jeffries. Near the turn of the century, application was made to the government for a post office. It was learned there was already a town in Missouri named Lester. Mabel Satterly Shiflet sent a list of names to the U.S. Postal Department and the name “Ira’’ was chosen in honor of Ira Waterman, a well-loved Free Will Baptist minister and school teacher in the community. James W. Hollandsworth was the first postmaster when the Ira Post Office was opened on June 9, 1899. Two other early postmasters were John M. Black and James H. Brakebill. Brakebill bought the store in 1904 from Phil Hall, and also served as postmaster from 1924 to 1939. Business was booming around the place with Andy Grissem and Charley Rector building houses. Near the store was a grist mill where corn was ground. At the rear of the mill was a blacksmith shop. Stockyards were located behind the store where animals could be bought and sold. The store bought railroad ties from area residents and sent them by wagon to the Niangua River for rafters on their way to Old Bagnell. The last owners of the store were Lavern and Zona Clemmons. Zona was the postmistress when the office closed in 1949. Ira carried the name “Stringtown’’ for many years, signified by the many homes and businesses built up and down the old country road. Ira School and Cemetery were also located in the neighborhood. The town is now only a memory.

1. A busy day at the Ira Store and Post Office in 1909.

2. Ira School was established before the turn of the century and was later moved close to the Ira Cemetery. This photo was made in 1927. The school closed in the 1950s era. Identified in the photo are Ruby Piles, Arthur Moore, Audry Phillips, Arvilla Clark, Donnie Dampier, Roxie Clark, Cibyl Clark, Delbert Berry, Dave Bumgardner, Henry Bumgardner, Claude Bumgardner, and Betty Moore.

3. The school had been remodeled in this 1929 photo taken by photographer O.A. Glendenning of the Mullicane community.

4. The Ira Post Office was named after Ira Waterman.

———————————————————————————————
Got vintage photos or memories to share—or want to suggest a topic you haven’t seen? Reach out to our historian, Kirk Pearce, at [email protected] or call 417-532-9131 and ask for Kirk.

09/30/2026

The City of Lebanon has issued a statement offering clarification on a legal notice about the Ice Cream Factory that was published in today's Laclede County Record. https://www.lebanonmissouri.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/2419?fbclid=IwY2xjawUqQ_lleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMTNGak5jR2FRRzR4Z2l3UmpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeZAVqrm8wwiEQFKVnRSS5_zVth3KBO7TA-B2ZT_X1gcxvjirV-KOQyH_ij1c_aem_2tH-DFcW_gc58qkXNPZLJw

The City of Lebanon is aware of a public notice for a trustee's sale scheduled for Oct. 28, involving property tied to the Ice Cream Factory.The potential sale stems from a private debt between a

09/30/2026

This is a new engagement feature in which we ask readers and commenters for their feedback on local issues as well as features and concerns of the newspaper. The general format stays the same from …

09/30/2026

This video is a recording of the Laclede County Commission’s public...