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Dr. Green Lee PoplinBorn in 1815 in Montgomery County, N.C. (now Stanley, NC), to Wm. and Patience Lee Poplin who moved to Bedford County, Tennessee before 1820. He began to study medicine at the age of 17 and graduated from the Louisville Medical Institute in 1842. He practiced in Tennessee until 1853 when he moved to Graves County, Kentucky then to Bloomfield, Missouri in 1858 and then to Poplar Bluff in 1867. While in Poplar Bluff, he helped create the first school in Poplar Bluff in 1869, started the first newspaper there (Black River News), and opened the first drug store in Poplar Bluff. He moved back to Mayfield, Kentucky where he died in 1888. During the Civil War he was the surgeon for the 2nd Missouri Infantry, 1st Division, MSG. He resigned on November 6, 1861 and was appointed surgeon of the 15th Missouri Cavalry (CSA). He was paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas on June 5, 1865. In October of 1861, MSG Maj. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson ambushed federal soldiers at Big River Bridge near Fredericktown, Missouri. Five federals were killed and eight were wounded. Poplin and another division surgeon were left behind to tend to the federal wounded because they did not have a surgeon. According to reports, Poplin and the other surgeon were treated well and allowed to return to their lines.
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Town of Poplin
The site known as Poplin was first settled in 1867 by Dr. Green L. Poplin, a physician who created the Southeast Missouri Immigration Society. Poplin lived a short time in Bloomfield for several years (1858 - 1867) before relocating to Poplar Bluff where he created the first newspaper there called the Black River News, the first school, and opened the first drug store in Poplar Bluff where he sold “Poplin’s Celebrated Medicine.
1878
September 27, 1878 (PB Citizen) - “W. S. Boyd, agent for Poplin’s Family Medicine Company arrived here from Mayfield, Ky., last Sunday evening. He reports ‘a hard road to travel,’ between this place and Mayfield, owing to the quarantine law.”
1879
August 22, 1879 (PB Citizen) - John R. Poplin engaged in surveying land for timber near Caledonia HIlls, seven miles southeast of Poplar Bluff.
1880
November 5, 1880 (Blmfd Vindicator) - Charley Davis, Thomas W. Ross, and Thomas Quinn broke into the store house of Qualey and Thomas at Poplin station. They stole a lot of underclothing. They were indicted and sentenced as follows: Davis and Ross, burglary, sentenced to three years in the state pen, Quinn, grand larceny, sentenced to two years.
1882
May 13, 1882 (vindicator)- John R. Poplin, son of Dr. Green L. Poplin was bit on the wrist by copperhead, but recovered (he bent down to pick a flower).
September 14, 1882 (PB Citizen) W. T. Leeper in Poplin looking for his steamer on the St. Francis.
1884
November 8, 1884 (Vindicator) - “A Terrible Accident” - Thomas E. Swinney, night watchmen for the Novelty Lumber Co. at Poplin was cleaning around the saws when he had to turn one of the steam saws on to move a log carriage out of the way, his broom caught on the saw blade and flung him on to the blade, he fell into the blade, cutting his head open and left arm off, his wife was with him and tried to save him but was herself flung on to the saw nearly losing her arm and cutting off her wrist. A doctor was called, but both died.
1885
January 3, 1885 (Vindicator) - Charles Harris stabbed Thomas Tombs over a card game at Poplin, Tombs died and Harris escaped.
January 24, 1885 (Blmfld Vindicator) - the son of Dr. Green L. Poplin, formally of Poplar Bluff, but residing in Mayfield, Kentucky in 1885, died. John R. Poplin had been in court for the murder of Charles Henderson.
April 11, 1885 (Vindicator) - dwelling formally occupied by Mr. Porter (saw mill owner), burned in “West Poplin” after a new person had moved in. House was valued at $700.
June 13, 1885 (Vindicator) - St. Francis River so low logs cannot be towed from there.
September 5, 1885 (Vindicator), Mrs. Balch of Poplin traveled to Bloomfield and gave a speech on temperance to a full house. She organized the WCTU there on the same day with forty to fifty members.
1886
January 16, 1886 (Vindicator) - J. A. Black, postmaster at Poplin went to his old home in Indiana but did not return, the post office was closed in his absence with mail going to Ash Hill, two miles distant.
1888
November 17, 1888 (Vindicator) - An order changed the voting precinct of Poplin’s Mill to Bernie in Liberty township.
1889
April 11, 1899 (PB Citizen) - Saw mill business booming east of Poplar Bluff near Poplin. Mr. Fisk has a mill running, Mr.’s Skinner and Morrow, Mr.’s Garetson and Greason have a new mill. Cutting timbers for bridge across Mississippi River in St. Louis.
1890
July 18, 1890 (Vindicator) - a man was crushed to death by a large log at Poplin.
1891
February 5, 1891 (PB Citizen) - S. W. Fisk of Poplin, building a boat use on the St. Francis river to carry staves and timber to the railroad.
1894
November 30, 1894 (Vindicator) - Telephone lines to be strung from Poplar Bluff to either Fisk or Poplin.
1895 - Smallpox Epidemic
The first case of smallpox in Poplin was on March 14, 1895 when George Adsitt fell ill (as did his 9 year old daughter). Dr. Baker of Ash Hill was the first area physician to recognize that it was smallpox. Most that heard of Baker’s diagnosis doubted his opinion and on April 14 the Butler County Court and the Board of Health of Poplar Bluff asked Dr. George Adams to travel to Poplin and investigate the recent outbreak of several sick individuals. Adams confirmed that it was indeed smallpox. On April 20 Poplin was put under strict quarantine. A “pest house” was organized with supplies and cots for the sick. The third case was Mollie Tilley, she died from the illness. John Spragin then caught it, he traveled home to Lotta, Missouri where fifteen cases of smallpox soon sprang up. Spragin died from it. Next a Mr. Campbell died from smallpox. Mr. Brewster who ate dinner with Mr. Adsitt (before he realized he had smallpox) then traveled to his home in Acorn Ridge, which resulted in thirty cases of smallpox in that community. Poplin eventually had a total of fifty-four cases housed in the “pest house,” eleven died while there. The founder of nearby Fisk, Samuel Fisk, contracted smallpox and survived.
June 13, 1895 (PB Citizen) - Mr. Pearce who works in Poplin left for Neelyville to see his wife, he avoided Poplar Bluff because those from Poplin are under quarantine. When he arrived in Neelyville, there was much excitement and he was arrested and returned to Poplin.
1896
February 13, 1896 (PB Citizen) - citizens of Fisk and Poplin write Stoddard County officials for help in stopping the sale of liquor.
1897
August 6, 1897 (Vindicator) - Poplin School commenced school on July 5, 1897, 18 pupils present. H. M. Ramsey, teacher.
1898
December 15, 1898 (PB Citizen) - a fire destroyed the Moore and Stewart building in Poplin. It house the post office, general store, and a family.
1899
July 28, 1899 (Vindicator) - Two men, Aleck McKnight and a man named O’Brien had a falling out after a game of cards and decided to go outside and have a shootout, both were killed. Neither were well known in the area (most likely occurred on the westside of the river known as West Poplin).
1905
February 17, 1905 (Vindicator) Rev. J. H. Fielder of St. Louis and district supt of the Children’s Home Society of Missouri was in Southeast Missouri to gather homeless children. He took two from Fisk and two from Poplin. 104 children were taken from Butler County.
1909
November 26, 1909 (PB Citizen) - G. L. Poplin and George T. Bartlett started the Black River News newspaper in 1869. Poplin and Bartlett formed the Southeast Missouri Immigration Society and used the paper to write articles that would entice settlers to come to Butler County.
Poplar Bluff was incorporated as a town on February 9, 1870 by order of the County Court. May 1872, St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern railway was completed in Poplar Bluff. In 1880, only a handful o f houses were on the east side of Black River. New courthouse was built in 1887.
1914
September 25, 1914 (PB Citizen) - Louis Houck help Poplin and Bartlett set up their printing press in Poplar Bluff. “Dr. Poplin, for whom Poplin, now Fisk, was named.”
1878
September 27, 1878 (PB Citizen) - “W. S. Boyd, agent for Poplin’s Family Medicine Company arrived here from Mayfield, Ky., last Sunday evening. He reports ‘a hard road to travel,’ between this place and Mayfield, owing to the quarantine law.”
1879
August 22, 1879 (PB Citizen) - John R. Poplin engaged in surveying land for timber near Caledonia HIlls, seven miles southeast of Poplar Bluff.
1880
November 5, 1880 (Blmfd Vindicator) - Charley Davis, Thomas W. Ross, and Thomas Quinn broke into the store house of Qualey and Thomas at Poplin station. They stole a lot of underclothing. They were indicted and sentenced as follows: Davis and Ross, burglary, sentenced to three years in the state pen, Quinn, grand larceny, sentenced to two years.
1882
May 13, 1882 (vindicator)- John R. Poplin, son of Dr. Green L. Poplin was bit on the wrist by copperhead, but recovered (he bent down to pick a flower).
September 14, 1882 (PB Citizen) W. T. Leeper in Poplin looking for his steamer on the St. Francis.
1884
November 8, 1884 (Vindicator) - “A Terrible Accident” - Thomas E. Swinney, night watchmen for the Novelty Lumber Co. at Poplin was cleaning around the saws when he had to turn one of the steam saws on to move a log carriage out of the way, his broom caught on the saw blade and flung him on to the blade, he fell into the blade, cutting his head open and left arm off, his wife was with him and tried to save him but was herself flung on to the saw nearly losing her arm and cutting off her wrist. A doctor was called, but both died.
1885
January 3, 1885 (Vindicator) - Charles Harris stabbed Thomas Tombs over a card game at Poplin, Tombs died and Harris escaped.
January 24, 1885 (Blmfld Vindicator) - the son of Dr. Green L. Poplin, formally of Poplar Bluff, but residing in Mayfield, Kentucky in 1885, died. John R. Poplin had been in court for the murder of Charles Henderson.
April 11, 1885 (Vindicator) - dwelling formally occupied by Mr. Porter (saw mill owner), burned in “West Poplin” after a new person had moved in. House was valued at $700.
June 13, 1885 (Vindicator) - St. Francis River so low logs cannot be towed from there.
September 5, 1885 (Vindicator), Mrs. Balch of Poplin traveled to Bloomfield and gave a speech on temperance to a full house. She organized the WCTU there on the same day with forty to fifty members.
1886
January 16, 1886 (Vindicator) - J. A. Black, postmaster at Poplin went to his old home in Indiana but did not return, the post office was closed in his absence with mail going to Ash Hill, two miles distant.
1888
November 17, 1888 (Vindicator) - An order changed the voting precinct of Poplin’s Mill to Bernie in Liberty township.
1889
April 11, 1899 (PB Citizen) - Saw mill business booming east of Poplar Bluff near Poplin. Mr. Fisk has a mill running, Mr.’s Skinner and Morrow, Mr.’s Garetson and Greason have a new mill. Cutting timbers for bridge across Mississippi River in St. Louis.
1890
July 18, 1890 (Vindicator) - a man was crushed to death by a large log at Poplin.
1891
February 5, 1891 (PB Citizen) - S. W. Fisk of Poplin, building a boat use on the St. Francis river to carry staves and timber to the railroad.
1894
November 30, 1894 (Vindicator) - Telephone lines to be strung from Poplar Bluff to either Fisk or Poplin.
1895 - Smallpox Epidemic
The first case of smallpox in Poplin was on March 14, 1895 when George Adsitt fell ill (as did his 9 year old daughter). Dr. Baker of Ash Hill was the first area physician to recognize that it was smallpox. Most that heard of Baker’s diagnosis doubted his opinion and on April 14 the Butler County Court and the Board of Health of Poplar Bluff asked Dr. George Adams to travel to Poplin and investigate the recent outbreak of several sick individuals. Adams confirmed that it was indeed smallpox. On April 20 Poplin was put under strict quarantine. A “pest house” was organized with supplies and cots for the sick. The third case was Mollie Tilley, she died from the illness. John Spragin then caught it, he traveled home to Lotta, Missouri where fifteen cases of smallpox soon sprang up. Spragin died from it. Next a Mr. Campbell died from smallpox. Mr. Brewster who ate dinner with Mr. Adsitt (before he realized he had smallpox) then traveled to his home in Acorn Ridge, which resulted in thirty cases of smallpox in that community. Poplin eventually had a total of fifty-four cases housed in the “pest house,” eleven died while there. The founder of nearby Fisk, Samuel Fisk, contracted smallpox and survived.
June 13, 1895 (PB Citizen) - Mr. Pearce who works in Poplin left for Neelyville to see his wife, he avoided Poplar Bluff because those from Poplin are under quarantine. When he arrived in Neelyville, there was much excitement and he was arrested and returned to Poplin.
1896
February 13, 1896 (PB Citizen) - citizens of Fisk and Poplin write Stoddard County officials for help in stopping the sale of liquor.
1897
August 6, 1897 (Vindicator) - Poplin School commenced school on July 5, 1897, 18 pupils present. H. M. Ramsey, teacher.
1898
December 15, 1898 (PB Citizen) - a fire destroyed the Moore and Stewart building in Poplin. It house the post office, general store, and a family.
1899
July 28, 1899 (Vindicator) - Two men, Aleck McKnight and a man named O’Brien had a falling out after a game of cards and decided to go outside and have a shootout, both were killed. Neither were well known in the area (most likely occurred on the westside of the river known as West Poplin).
1905
February 17, 1905 (Vindicator) Rev. J. H. Fielder of St. Louis and district supt of the Children’s Home Society of Missouri was in Southeast Missouri to gather homeless children. He took two from Fisk and two from Poplin. 104 children were taken from Butler County.
1909
November 26, 1909 (PB Citizen) - G. L. Poplin and George T. Bartlett started the Black River News newspaper in 1869. Poplin and Bartlett formed the Southeast Missouri Immigration Society and used the paper to write articles that would entice settlers to come to Butler County.
Poplar Bluff was incorporated as a town on February 9, 1870 by order of the County Court. May 1872, St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern railway was completed in Poplar Bluff. In 1880, only a handful o f houses were on the east side of Black River. New courthouse was built in 1887.
1914
September 25, 1914 (PB Citizen) - Louis Houck help Poplin and Bartlett set up their printing press in Poplar Bluff. “Dr. Poplin, for whom Poplin, now Fisk, was named.”