O'Day Township, Barry Co, Missouri (now Washburn)
O'Day is one of the modern railroad towns. With the exception of the two hotels and one or two dwellings, which stand on the plateau, the town is built at the head of Washburn Prairie, at an elevation of 1,480 feet above the level of St. Louis. It is a progressive little town, with its newspaper, stores, hotels and dwellings, but still depending on old Keetsville for her educational, religious and social life.
In April, 1888, the vote on the question of bonding School District No. 2, Town 22, Range 28, for 5 per cent on the assessed valuation, for school-building, was carried. Seventy-six votes were recorded for the question; none against; so that by next year a pretentious school-building will mark the line between the old and new town. The first dwelling-house erected on the site of O'Day were those of John A. Ellis and Lewis Pratt. The former's house now forms part of Hurst's new building, now known as the O'Day House. About 1884 J.C. Johnson build his house, now one of the hotels. Pratt's house stands southwest from the hotel. the first business houses erected were Felker & Johnson's, moved from Washburn, in 1882-83; the Pratt or Cunningham grocery store was built shortly after Felker & Johnson established business at this point. M.S.Inmon, now of Exeter, moved his building from Washburn and rented it to chase & Johnson, merchants. This is the same building in which J. M. Holton now carries on his store. Denbo's grocery is now carried on in the old Dr. Brookshire building, where Brookshire & Chandler had their drug store, and where more recently W. B. Adcock's grocery store was moved from Washburn. In 1886 S.D. Withers erected his large residence just east of the depot. Johnson's grist and saw-mail was moved from a point east of Washburn about 1882. Wither's two-story brick block was erected in 1887. Elias Horine moved the bath-house from Seven Stars Spring in 1887, and used it as the office of the O'Day globe. Samuel Jondahl built a grocery store and dwelling at the south end of Main Street early in 1887. In May, 1887, W. B. Adcock moved his cottage from Washburn. J. B. Hurst's grain house is an extension of Windes' granary erected near the tank about seven years ago. In September, 1887, T. P. Mooney moved his store and warehouse from Washburn. In 1887 Reece Brothers built a large store, J.B. Hurst a post-office building, and Vanzant a store building. There are several dwelling-houses, erected within the last year, and now A. A. Johnson & Co., of Washburn, propose to erect a brick block in the new town. In January, 1887, J. B. Hurst was appointed postmaster for the new office of O'Day. The first railroad agent at O'Day was J. A. Phegley, November 3, 1880, when he made his first report to the Adams Express Company; J. M. Wasson was here in May, 1881; F.J. Weymouth in June, 1882, but in November following J. M. Wasson was in charge. In August, 1883, T. S. Frost's name appears, and in April, 1884, he transferred the office to James Hurst, who gave place to M. T. Crittenden April 16, 1886, who is the present railway and express agent. The business at this depot amounted to $24,725.25 last year, the sales of tickets alone amounting to $1,621.27."
The town of O'Day as of this period in time is the northern most part of Washburn, Mo. The Eastern part across the tracks used to be Keetsville but they should be all in the town of Washburn on your map of todays date. The Goodspeed reprint has information of interest to most and O'Day has it's history on page 142. The Barry County Genealogical & Historical Society sends them to people in the states for $9.00 and this includes $2.00 postage. Hope this will help in your pursuits. O'Day was a railroad town located at the head of Washburn Prairie, township 22, Range 28. "It is a progressive little townwith its newspaper, stores, hotels and dwellings but still depending on old Keetsville for her educational, religious and social life." Keetsville later became Seligman. This township takes in Washburn, SW corner of the county.