History of Anabel
People with an adventurous spirit in the 1800's pioneered Macon county. Some came in covered wagons drawn by oxen and horses from others rode horses from VA, TN and KY. Several with their families came by steamboat down the Ohio River, up the Mississippi to Hannibal and overland to Macon Co. Some of these crossed the river when it was frozen and were met by hostile Indians.
When they reached the area west of the present town of Clarence they found a prairie covered with prairie grass and thick with snakes. For years and even now the area was known as "the Anabel flats'.
Many of the first pioneers settled south of Anabel where there were springs for water and wood for fuel. The Hardester family with thirteen children was among these, one son, Tom, hid in the chimney during the Civil War. The village of Anabel was settled when the Hannibal-St. Joseph railroad was built. John Duff was the principal contractor. He named the little village "Beverly Station" for one of his daughters. The village was later named "Anabel".*
Several places of business were erected. It once had two grocery stores, a blacksmith shop, post office, mill, church, stock yards, depot and a Dr. Alexander's office. The Anabel Hall was built by the M. F. A. and is the only original building still standing. Many social activities were held in it during the 50's and 60's. A "pot luck supper" was held each month. The Hall was also a voting place. Chas. Griggs general store opened in 1939, in business 28 yrs. Walter Luck was justice of the Peace.
Zoma Griggs was the postmaster from May 1, 1947 for twenty three years. Records of the post office were destroyed by fire before 1910. Records show only the postmasters serving Anabel since 1910. It is a fact, however, that a post office has been in Anabel since the town was first established as Beverly Station. In 1898, Redman had a branch post office from Anabel, also one in Longville with Nannie May (Long) Graves as Postmaster.
C. W. Shay was Anabel Postmaster 1910 to 1914. Henry Robuck served until 1918. Opal Hutton until February, 1921. Cad E. wansey until 1932 with Oscar Hutton and Oscar Mears serving as carriers. Fostell Upton Cox served to July 1935. Steve Wells was Acting Postmaster until Harry Thompson was appointed Postmaster on January 11, 1936 and served until Oscar Hutton retired as rural carrier. Mr. Thompson was then transferred to the route. However, he enlisted in the Air Force and during his enlistment Bert Pearce, Dale Palmer and Bill Bergfield were temporary carriers.
Mr. and Mrs. Charley V. Griggs of Belltown came to Anabel in July 1939 to operate a general merchandise store for Mansur Threlkeld of Lakenan. Anabel had been without a store for ten years. However, the Post Office, Depot and Stock Pens still remained at that time. Mail was delivered three times a day and once every night by train. Mrs. Ray Baily was in charge of the depot , Mrs. Laverne Lane was serving as Acting Postmaster until a permanent postmaster could be appointed. Carriers on Route I and 2 were Harry Thompson and Allen Cox, respectively. In March 1940 Kenneth Harris was appointed Postmaster and served until he resigned May 1, 1947. Alzoma R. Griggs served as Acting Postmaster until September 1948 when she was appointed permanent postmaster.
Mr. Harry Thompson returned from the Air Force on February 9, 1957 and served as rural carrier until his retirement in 1972. February 1, 1965. Allen Cox retired after serving as a carrier on Route2 since July 7, 1926. On Jul y 17, 1965 the two routes were consolidated with Mr. Thompson serving a total of 72 miles.
Some of the business firms that have been served by the Anabel office are: The Standard Fertilizer Plant, Ray's Shell Service, Imlers Used Car Sales, White's Repair Shop, Redman Store, Mahlon's Repair Shop, Mary's Dry Goods, Hochstetler's Harness Shop, Golden Grain Systems and McEwen's Co-op Service,.
Substitute carriers serving while Mrs. Alzoma Griggs was in office were: Marion Flowers, Lawrence Clarke, Charles M. Griggs, Charley V. Griggs, Bill Bergfield and Dean Chambers. After Alzoma Griggs retired, Mrs. Virginia J. Griggs was appointed postmaster. Substitutes serving under her were: Dean Chambers, Robert Weber, Ed Renner and David Barr. Carriers serving since 1972 are: Glenn Wallace, Robert Weber, Ed Renner, Barbara Berry and Joe Beets.
The road from Clarence came out as far as the Lee Imler farm and stopped. People going to Macon traveled Vine St. road a mile south of new Hwy 36 which was built in 1928. The first filling station on the Hwy was built before At Anabel in 1927 by by C. W. Imler a year before the hwy was built. Lights were furnished by a delco plant. The building of the hwy and railroad allowed drainage for the Anabel flats so that the area could be farmed.
Some of the early settlers of Anabel were named: Graves, Phillips, Cox, Walker, King, Hardester, Scott, Trussell, Thomnson and Hibler.