Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt

By Editor | April 15, 2026 |

Last week I attended funeral services for Evelyn Groom of Grant City, Mo. After the graveside service at Kirk Cemetery northeast of Allendale, Mo., Dave Hardy brought to my attention some unusual grave markers to the north of us. Those graves were of Jo Ross, Jim Ross, Hubert “Whitney” Wiseman, Hazel Davis and Obra Davis. And there’s a story there.
Obra, most commonly known as O. B., and his wife Hazel were owners of the Watterson Store in the 1930s and 1940s. Their daughter, Leta, was commonly known as Jo.
Jo Davis had an interesting and action filled life.
About April 1936, Jo married George Farmer. Jo was 21 years old and Farmer was seven years older than her. George was elected Ringgold County Recorder that year. The marriage didn’t last, but George’s obituary listed some hobbies that caught my attention — piloting and painting. Jo later became an aviatrix and artist.
On January 1, 1947, George and Jo Farmer bought the Perry Dress Club and changed the name to Fairway Cleaners. The location was 105 W. Monroe or the current site of Dick’s Barber Shop. It is told it was at this business Jo met Hubert “Whitey” Wiseman. Wiseman was an international construction supervisor and he married Jo Farmer on June 2, 1950 in Beirut, Lebanon. This allowed Jo to travel the world.
Jo had received her pilot’s license about 1946 and belonged to the Ayr Plane Club of Mount Ayr. Later, Jo would be invited to join the 99’s Club, an organization started in 1931 with Amelia Earhart as their first president.
Although Jo spent much time away from Mount Ayr, she remained active in the community. She and Whitey owned the Mount Ayr Roller Rink from 1958 to 1960. Jo belonged to many local organizations.
Hubert “Whitey” Wiseman was killed in a construction accident in the country of Columbia, South America in 1961. Whitey was originally from Gilman and I assume that is Gilman, Iowa.
Jo’s next husband was Jim Ross of Grant City. I didn’t find when they were married, but I found they were located in Brandenburg, Kentucky by 1969. I found an article in a 1969 Record-News that put Jo and her mother, Hazel Davis, at a craft and hobby show held in Mount Ayr. Hazel was involved with pottery and antiques. I remember the Davis house at 220 Shellway Drive.
I think Jim Ross died about 1992 and Jo died September 24, 1998 (approximately 84 years old) at Brandenburg. At this time, she was owner of the Jo Ross Art Studio at that place. Her obituary lacked details, but I picked up on her only relatives being “distant cousins.”
This week’s picture was taken in March 2007 and shows the former Ringgold County Jail at 201 E. Monroe. This building was once owned by American Legion Post 172 and they moved to their new building in the spring of 1978. Jim and Jo Ross bought the building and got it listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1979.
I was able to view documents online and I saw that Jim and Jo listed 220 Shellway Drive on the NRHP document. I believe Hazel lived at that address and the Rosses lived in Brandenburg. Anyway, the building was built in 1895 and has been restored.
The story I got was Jim Pedersen wanted to buy the building from Jo but she wouldn’t sell. The Preservation Partnership bought the building and sold it to Jim and Donna Pedersen. Jim Pedersen had his law office in 201 E. Monroe by 1999.