Visits to the historic Frazier Creek “rock house” in Wayne County, Missouri, have long been an Atnip tradition each the time family gathers for its reunion.  Each trip has seen the Frazier Creek “rock house” in various states of restoration for as long as any of us can remember.

During our last family reunion in 2016, led by family patriarch Bobby Atnip, several of the Atnip clan made the trek from Lake Wappapello to Silva, Missouri, where we were extremely fortunate to meet the owners, Jimmy and Nelda Barker Griggs, who have been restoring the home to much of its former glory. They very generous with their time, taking the group around the house and detailing the work they had accomplished.

On a side note, Jimmy and Nelda are famous singers who have several hit songs including “40 Miles from Poplar Bluff”.

Thanks to various sources, including Mrs. Nelda Griggs and the Greenville, Missouri Banner and Historical society, here is what I learned about the Frazier Creek “rock house” and its original owner, William Pinkney White.

William Pinkney White (1845-1930), the grandson of pioneer Obediah Twidwell and the son of John L. White and Martha Ann “Patsy” (Twidwell) was the original owner of the home.

(Atnip Lineage: Obediah Twidwell-Elizabeth Cannady / John Luke White-Martha Ann Twidwell / Andrew Loan Ownbey-Nancy Jane White / John Robert Atnip-Melissa Jane Ownbey / Orley Eugene Atnip-Eva Mae Davis).

Pinkney had done much for Wayne County, Missouri, serving as public administrator for over 30 years on the Republican ticket and he was a long time clerk of the West Liberty Association of General Baptists.  He had served with the Union Army in the 47th MO Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

In the spring of 1896, he began building the home, borrowing $1700 at 8 percent interest.  For building material, Pinkney used 383 wagon loads of limestone, which he quarried from his property. An additional 12 wagon loads were burned, powdered, and mixed with water for use as mortar. A.G. White, being a member of the Masonic fraternity, was called upon by his brother William Pinkney White, to lay the northeast cornerstone of the home. Construction of the house took 2 years.

Pinkney and his family moved into the house in the fall of 1898. Pinkney and his wife Sarah Russell White, had 11 children.  All lived to be adults.

In 1901 he led the effort in the organization of New Hope General Baptist Church on Frazier’s Creek and opened his home to the congregation until a church house could be built. He, along with L.A. Roach and D.D. Matthews, were the three trustees that would lead in the effort in moving Mt. Pisgah General Baptist Church from its Frazier Creek location to its present location in 1884.

Sarah died in 1919 and Pinkney died in 1930. Both are buried in New Prospect Cemetery at Silva. His obituary states a crowd of over 300 attended his funeral at the New Prospect Church house. William Pinkney White is believed to be the last Wayne County Civil War veteran to pass away.

Over the years, the family has taken a number of pictures of the Frazier Creek “rock house”.  Here are a series of those pictures.