Headlines in Marceline
During The Time Motor Cars Came To Town

July 2, 2026

Imagine it is 1914. Moving from one place to another was done on foot or with the help of a horse and buggy. Motor vehicles were a new invention brought to your town for only a short time, and you are still getting used to it.

Newspaper Articles

As S. W. Wallar was driving north on Kansas Avenue at 5:25 Thanksgiving evening, having in his car two children, a son of Thos. Sportsman, riding a horse, crashed into the machine at full speed, breaking the windshield, lamps and one of the rods in front, and causing several dollars damage. A large crowd gathered in a few minutes thinking some one was hurt, but no other damage was evident, the horse escaping unharmed.

J. Hudson Smith's big Rambler was badly jammed in an accident near Mike, early Monday morning. Mr. Smith, accompanied by his wife and brother, W. G. Smith, had started to bring Ferd A. Arn, wife and three children to the station to take the train for their home at Boonville, Mo. The car was heavily loaded and at the cross roads the other side of Mike they were running at the speed of eight or ten miles an hour they came up with an automobile which was standing on one side of the road and a load of lumber which was on the other. As they passed through between the wagon and the car they saw a farmer driving two horses ahead of them with the lines. The farmer turned out to allow them to pass, but failed to clear the horses one of which whirled across the road in front of the car. The big Rambler struck the horse, breaking the animal's two rear legs but was thrown into the ditch. One of the wheels and the fender of the car was broken. It was otherwise badly damaged and was only saved from being overturned by the peculiar conformation of the ground.

The occupants of the car were all more or less shaken up and the women and children were badly frightened. Mr. Arn, who is a Boonville automobile dealer was highly indignant about the occurrence and said that it was due entirely to the negligence or incompetence of the man who was driving the horse. The injured horse had to be shot. Mr. Arn missed his train and Mr. Smith had a repair bill to pay for his machine. There was talk of civil proceedings to recover damages from the farmer.

From figures given out by Secretary of State Roach it is learned that Missouri has at present close to 50,000 automobiles, and every car added to this number tends to increase the danger of the loss of life unless the drivers of automobiles unite, in an effort to observe the rules for safety that have been laid down by our legislators.

No man cares to violate a state law. It is more often the case that he is not familiar with the statutes and the violation occurred simply because he has not informed himself upon the subject.

Section 9 of chapter 83, relating to Motor Vehicles of the 1911 laws, says: "Every person operating a motor vehicle on the public highway of this state shall drive the same in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person; Provided, that a rate of speed in excess of twenty-five miles an hour for a distance of one-half of a mile shall be presumptive evidence of driving at a rate of speed which is not careful and prudent."

Section 8, paragraph 3 of the same chapter in speaking of the rules of the roads says: "Whenever a person operating a motor vehicle shall meet in a public highway any other person riding or driving a horse or horses or other animals of any other vehicle shall reasonably turn the same to the right of the center of such highways so as to pass without interference. When any such person so operating a motor vehicle shall overtake any such horse, animal or other vehicle shall, as soon as practicable, turn aside to the right so as to allow free passage on the left hand side. Any such persons so operating a motor vehicle shall, at the intersection of public highways, keep to the right of the intersection of the centers of such highways when turning to the right and pass to the right of such intersection when turning to the left." Section 8, paragraph 1 of the same chapter is speaking of signaling and other devices says: "Every motor vehicle operated or driven on the public highways of this state, shall be provided with adequate brakes in good working order and sufficient to control such vehicle at all times when the same is in use, and a suitable and adequate bell, horn or other devices for signaling, and shall, during the period from one-half hour before sunrise, display at least two lighted lamps on the front and one on the rear of such vehicle, which shall also display a red light visible from the rear. The light of the front lamp shall be visible at least two hundred feet in the direction in which the motor vehicle is proceeding. Every person operating or driving a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state shall also, when approaching a cross road outside the limits of a city or incorporated town or village, slow down the speed of the same and shall sound his belt, horn or other device for signaling in such manner as to give notice and warning of his approach."

Section 8, paragraph 2 of the same chapter in speaking of stopping on signal and other regulations says: "A person operating or driving a motor vehicle shall, on signal by raising the hand, from a person riding, leading or driving a horse or horses or other animals, bring such motor vehicle immediately to a stop, and, if traveling in the opposite direction, remain stationary so long as may be reasonable to allow such horse or animal to pass and, if traveling in the same direction, use reasonable caution in hereafter passing such horse or animal; Provided, that, in case such horse or animal appears badly frightened or the person operating such motor vehicle is so signaled to do, such person shall cause the motor of such vehicle to cease running so long as shall be reasonably necessary to prevent accident and insure the safety of others. In approaching or passing a car of a street railway, which has been stopped to allow passengers to aight or embark, the operator of every motor vehicle shall slow down, and if it is necessary for the safety of the public, he shall bring said vehicle to a full stop. Upon approaching a pedestrian who is upon the traveled part of any highway and not upon a sidewalk, and upon approaching an intersecting highway or a curve or a corner in a highway where the operator's view is obstructed, every person operating a motor vehicle shall slow down and give a timely signal with his bell, horn or other device for signaling.

Find more Marceline history in the book, "Marceline History Through The Eyes of a Newspaper Journalist"