The Spanish-American War was fought between the United States and Spain from April 21 – Aug. 13, 1898, following the explosion of the USS Maine in the harbor at Havana, Cuba. The United States’ victory over Spain marked an end to the Spanish Empire, and allowed temporary control by the United States of Cuba, as well as ceded our country the ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine island.

As the nation mobilized for war in 1898, residents of Dunklin County answered the call to serve. Following is an article from page 1 of the June 17, 1898 issue of the Daily Dunklin Democrat that includes the names of the members of Company Volunteer Infantry of Dunklin County.

Dunklin County will soon have a company of solders ready for service

A.B. Sloan principal of the Kennett school during the past four years, wrote to the state authorities asking for authority to raise a company. His friends, who knew of his experience of three years at Annapolis and several years in the Missouri state guards, endorsed his character and application.
So under date of June 2, he received from Adjutant General Bell, a letter of authority, in which was this paragraph.

“Go ahead, raise your company, select your officers, use good judgment in doing so, and report to the adjutant general office, as soon as convenient.” [at Mr. Sloan’s request the part of letter referring to the endorsements filed with the Adjutant General as to his is ability to command a company, is omitted] .  Mr. Sloan issued a call for volunteers for Monday night. W. S. Vandiver and other friends interested, to assist in the good work, hired the band and, with flags and banners went to Senath and Holcomb, Monday, to get up an interest. The St. L., K. & S. railroad management kindly carried the enthusiasts to both Places free of charge.

Monday night, June 6, the explained meeting was held in front of the court house and Mr. Sloan made a brief explanatory talk, and then called for volunteers for the new company. The roll was opened in the probate court room, and as as names could be enrolled, 62 were attached to the following:

Kennett, Mo., June 6, 1898. We the undersigned, hereby enroll ourselves as members of Company Volunteer Infantry of Dunklin County, Mo. We pledge ourselves to become members of the National Guard of Missouri, when Mustered in by the Adjutant General of the state, and to muster into the United States, Volunteers, when called upon to do so by the Governor of state of Mo., and accepted by the United States authorities. We, furthermore, pledge ourselves to do all in our power to promote the efficiency of this company: following:

Kennett, Mo. June 6, 1898. We, the undersigned, hereby enroll ourselves as members of Company____Volunteer Infantry of County Mo. We pledge ourselves to become members of the National Guard of Missouri, when mustered in by the Adjutant General of the state, and to muster into the United States, Volunteer, when called upon to do so by the Governor of the state of Mo., and accepted by the United State authorities. We, furthermore, pledge ourselves to do all in our power to promote the efficiency of this company:

A.B. Sloan, O.E. Davidson, J.W. Hudson, W.L. Dodd, H.F. Wickham, D.C. Mickey, Chas. F. Radley, F.M. Vinson, J.C. Call, W.T. Caneer, Jr., Jesse Ellis, Will A. Jones, A.L. Bitties, W.H. Byrd, W.F. Harper, T. Jourdan, John T. Laden , J.B. Brown, R.D. McClaron, Guy Chappelle, W.D. McGlothlin, Jas. Rutherford, Dallast Carlton, Aaron Creason, Louis Creason, E.A. Haggard, Chas. Stacey, J.B. Tayor, Sturges, H.L. Chapman, N.L. French, John Jack, J.R. Turber, D.C. Mitchell, Ed Hasting, J.D. Harkey, Eli Back, Van H. Harrison, D.T. Wells, J.A. Sweeney, R.W. Leslie, Jesse Hubbard, S.T. Sturges, E.A. Terry, Wm. H. Ham, Robt. Oliver, W.H. Douglass, W.A. Wilburn, George Elder, O.S. Harrison, Ben Wooden, Smith W. Sullivan, R.E. Grugett, W.A. Hurdie, Ed Owens, F.H. Huffstutier, John Cross, Auther Hale, F. Dougherty, Marshall D. Thacker, Amos Taylor, Tom Glidewell, Tom Webster, George Odair, Robt. Sullivan, Lonnie Rhodes, Josh. Witham, John Scott, A.M. Grugett, Alva Wells, C.E. Warren, J.F. Meeks, C.F. Edwards, J.H. Bradley, Henry Wiggs, Thomas Ewing, Clyde Campbell, John Stacey, Dave Price, Andrew Webster, Tom Miller, Allie Wadkine, Chas. Lesieur, Chas. Warren, Chas. Robson.

Since then, as will be seen more than 20 other have signed the roll, and from every direction in the county comes the word that others want to join. The second meeting was held Wednesday evening, in the Well block, when Mr. Sloan put the new soldiers through a preliminary drill, being assisted by several members of the comp any, W.S. Vandiver and Ernest Baldwin. The next meeting will be held next Thuesday night, at the same place. In the meantime, the roll will be open for recruit at Harrison’s drug store. The roll, as above published, does not contain the names of all who signed, several names on account having been omitted on account of statutory and physical disabilities.

This may be the first National Guard Unit formed in Dunklin County.