A History of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas: Being an Account of the Early Settlements, the Civil War, the Ku-Klux, and Times of Peace

A History of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, written by William Monks and first published in 1907, is a personal narrative detailing the early settlements and tumultuous events of the Civil War era in the Ozarks. Monks, a Union guerrilla fighter, recounts his experiences and the violent struggles that persisted long after the war ended, including the rise of the Ku-Klux and local political conflicts. This memoir serves as a unique historical account from a participant in these events, providing insights into the lives of early settlers and the challenges they faced. The book includes illustrations and a new biographical sketch of Monks, enriching the understanding of this period.