Stories of Related Family's & History

The Van Winkle farm embraced all of the land now occupied by the town of Bristow. At the time of the Town's founding, a man evidently who once lived at Hunting burg operated a store on the farm now owned by John Roessler. Not much is known of this man but that his name was Aulfort. Sometime after the close of the Civil War, Van Winkle, children, and wife bought this business and moved it to a new building on the ground now occupied by the Bristow Hatchery. The building faced the creek. Will Van Winkle sold the store to Tom Doogan who had moved here from Kentucky. The dwelling evidently was built by Mr. Doogan

Around 1870 a sawmill was operated by Weedman and Miller on the ground now occupied by the Bristow Milling Co. Just how long this mill was operated here we have been unable to determine. Just how long Will Van Winkle operated the store before selling to Tom Dugan as yet hasn't been verified. The community had no post office at that time. Mail was brought from the post office run by John C. Lanman. Constine Richard now owns the Lanman farm. It seems that mail was brought from Mr. Lanman's by volunteers of the community at least once each week. After Mr. Doogan's tenure as post master, the post mastership went to Smith McAllister. Jimmy Van Winkle first mail carried at 50 cents per copy.

There were several families of Methodists in the community. The church now owned by the Lutheran Congregation was built by these families. The Kilbums and Bradshaws were leaders in this community who attended church at Mt. Gilead, later the church was moved to Bristow, where church services are still held. As far as we know, there was only one resident Pastor and that was Reverend Will Lanman who lived here for many years. The Methodist church passed into the hands of the Missionary Baptists. This Baptist church was aided by Rev. Isaac VanWinkle and his family for many years. The Lutheran's acquired this church about seven or eight years ago. The last few years has seen another church, the Christian church, which has a small but aggressive membership today. In this community are several Catholic families which have memberships at St. John. This is a thriving country church today with an aggressive young pastor. These different faiths live in harmony and are always willing to help each other with busy hands or money. This seems to me is true religion.

The first school occupied the location of which the home of John J. Flamion now stands. Later a school was built on the hill where the Bristow home of Leora Hilt and Mrs. Amy Coultas now stands. Finally, the school was moved to the present location and we presume that the original part of our present school building was built some sixty years ago. The early schools were taught by Gave Cooper, Robert Hunter, Chas. Patrich, Joe Chuning, Gus Meunier, Smith McAllister, Willie Lanman and Nattie Lanman. Later we find such names as Cassidy, more Lanmans, Mullen, Lomax, Miles, Bailey, VanWinkle and many more.

The doctors of this community have been outstanding men in their work of administering to the sick and in community affairs. The hard work that the pioneers did, both women and men, seemed to take a heavy toll of their strength. It was here where our local doctors rode horse back day or night. They had a hard life too. One of our first doctors was a Slyvester VanWinkle, then Drs. Meeks, William Lomax, Peter, White, Mayfield, Jeffers, Claud Lomax, Coultas, Goble and Epple. We shall only refer to two of these doctors at this time. Dr. Lomax's death saddened all who knew him and that was about everyone who lived here or had ever lived here the last sixty years. He lived here for between forty and fifty years. Besides administering to the sick, his wise counsel and many times a loan of money, or a credit of some kind, helped many people. He lived a full and useful life. The other doctor we wish to bring your attention to is Dr. Epple. He spent some twenty years here and because of ill health is in California. The community is hoping that his health will be so that he can return to his practice here. We all miss him. He to, as all the doctors, gave this community the best there was in him. His ability to visit as many in the community socially as well as professionally makes his absence very noticeable.

This brief history of this community would be amiss if we did not record our blacksmiths. Pioneers depended on these good workman for the few tools that they possessed. They had to be inventors as well as repairmen. The earliest blacksmith pointed out to me by the older people, was Commodore Dixon. Then we have Clem Cunningham, Sam Hilt, Nick Hilt, Bill Hilt, John Wheeler, J.H. Clark, and several more. Sam Hilt came here on the insistence of Dr. Wm. Lomax. Dr. Lomax furnished all equipment with the understanding that Mr. Hilt pay him as was convenient. We do not imagine that there were any papers drawn-up. There was no need for such a paper in those days.

Merchants of this community were Mr. Aufort, Nick and Will VanWinkle, Tom Doogan, Dr. Lomax, Joe Bradshaw, Will Lanman, Lomax and Witte, Martin and Witte, Bailey and Miles and at the time of the First World War, Wm. Dixon. Merchants were the center of all business transacted in the community and in many instances served as the local meeting place for all socials, as well as the purchase of supplies. Crockery, groceries and yard-goods constituted most of their stock.

Local flour mills also served the community well. It was the source of all the bread stuff, but very little feed as we know the mills of today. Bristow's flour mill was built in 1891 by John Roach and his father. Farmers donated grain, and money was also donated in order that a mill be located in the community. Jamsie Hill purchased the mill from the Roach's. Lafe Crooks was the next miller, selling to Lomax and Witte. Weavers then Hale. Hale also ran a poke mill in conjunction with the mill. George Dixon later) ought the mill, bringing the ownership up to about the time of the First World War.

It is necessary that attention be made of the wonderful work done in the First World War by the Red Cross unit of this town. The local Red Cross organization was forced to join and cooperate with the. Evansville unit. There was no closer organization. Sixteen memberships were sent in from Bristow. When the war was over, what money there was left in the hands of the local unit, was given to the National Organization, instead of being donated to the Tell City Unit. It was the opinion of Mr. Witte, Mr. Lasher, and Dr. Coultas that people had wanted the Red Cross to have the money, which they had dug deeply into their pockets to provide, for one purpose only.

Today in cemeteries located within a five mile radius, lie the soldiers of five wars. They did not question the right of their government to call them to defend their country, which had cost them so much labor to collie from the wilderness. They were pioneers and patriots all. This is our heritage.

Let's not forget.