Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 12
THE
OLD DRUM
TRAIL
Follow in the pawprints of man's best friend
by Jim McCarty | jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
I
f not for a celebrated trial and the heartfelt closing argument
from a future U.S. senator, no one would remember
a hound named Drum. Drum's tragic death sparked
his owner's quest for satisfaction. His lawsuit led to four
trials, resulting in a tear-jerking " eulogy to the dog " delivered
by George Vest that solidified the reputation of the
dog as man's best friend - and Warrensburg as his home.
The events leading up to the legend of Old Drum began
in 1869 when he was shot along Big Creek south of Kingsville.
Life was returning to normal four years after the
Civil War ended. For farmer Leonidis Hornsby, that meant
stopping wolves and stray dogs from killing his sheep. He
vowed to kill the next stray that appeared on his land.
On the night of Oct. 28, 1869, Hornsby's neighbor
and brother-in-law Charles Burden released his hounds,
including Old Drum, and settled in for a night listening to
them chase coons in the woods. Suddenly a shot rang out
and the joyful bays turned to yelps of pain. He sounded his
hunting horn and all of the dogs responded - except for
Drum, the pride and joy of his pack.
Fearing the worst, and remembering his neighbor's
promise to shoot stray dogs, Burden confronted him. He
learned Hornsby had asked his nephew to load his shotgun
with corn to scare off dogs instead of killing them. A
dog had been shot, he admitted, but doubted it was Drum.
Burden responded by saying he would go look, and " It
may not be my dog. If it ain't, it's all right. If it is, it's all
wrong and I'll have satisfaction. " He found his dog dead,
with his head lying in the waters of Big Creek. To Burden,
it was obvious who killed his dog. He filed suit, asking for
$100 in damages.
And so began the legal maneuvering that led to suits,
judgements, appeals and finally satisfaction for Burden
after three years of wrangling - and Vest's famous speech.
Drum's owner was awarded $50 and court costs after the
judgement was affirmed by the Missouri Supreme Court.
Warrensburg, where the famous trial was held, quickly
claimed the title of Home of Man's Best Friend and refused
12 RURAL MISSOURI | JUNE 2023
to let Old Drum be forgotten. In 1958, Drum was immortalized
in downtown Warrensburg where his likeness was
set in bronze and put on display at the current Johnson
County Courthouse.
Countless fans of Old Drum visit the courthouse memorial
today. They pause for a selfie in front of the life-size
statue and likely shed a tear after reading Vest's eulogy on
the concrete base.
Less known is the rest of the Old Drum story that plays
out on a trail put together by the Johnson County Historical
Society. Beginning at the courthouse monument, the
trail leads lovers of canine history to all of the Old Drum
sites, including the courthouse where the celebrated trial
took place, the cemetery where many of the principals are
buried and the site where he breathed his last.
This month the Old Drum Trail culminates with a festival
named for Missouri's State Historical Dog. During Old
Drum Day set for June 10, Warrensburg welcomes visitors
from near and far to a fun-filled event that celebrates
furry friends. The festival is centered around the Johnson
County Historical Society's museum complex, which
includes the actual courthouse where the famous trial took
place along with other historical structures. It features
dog-themed events, food, live music and more.
Whether you come for the Old Drum Day festival or plan
your own search for Old Drum, there's plenty of local history
waiting for you thanks to the active historical society
that has been around since 1920. Follow these directions
for the locations of the Old Drum sites in Warrensburg and
the surrounding area.
Warrensburg
The Johnson County Historical Society
Museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday. For more
information visit www.jocomohistory.
org, or call 660-747-6480. You can
read more of the Old Drum story
from the July 2020 issue of Rural
Missouri at www.ruralmissouri.
org/pawprints-on-our-hearts.
http://www.jocomohistory.org
http://www.jocomohistory.org
http://www.ruralmissouri.org/pawprints-on-our-hearts
http://www.ruralmissouri.org/pawprints-on-our-hearts
Rural Missouri - June 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - June 2023
Contents
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - Contents
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 4
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 5
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 6
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 7
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 8
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 9
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 10
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 11
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 12
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 13
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 14
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 15
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 16
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 17
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 18
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 19
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 20
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 21
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 22
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 23
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 24
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 25
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 26
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 27
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 28
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 29
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 30
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 31
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 32
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 33
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 34
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 35
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 36
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 37
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 38
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 39
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 40
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 41
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 42
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 43
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 44
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 45
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 46
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 47
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 48
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 49
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 50
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 51
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 52
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 53
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 54
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - June 2023 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/videotest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com