Chadwick, Missouri

Chadwick is an unincorporated community in Christian County, Missouri, United States, about six miles southeast of Sparta. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Several homes and a school are located in the heart of the Mark Twain National Forest. Chadwick R-I Schools are an elementary and middle school/high school. The school's mascot are the Cardinals and seemingly their colors are Red and White.

History

The logging industry was thriving in the 19th century in the Chadwick area, with the St. Louis Salem and Arkansas Railroad running 34.86 miles between North Springfield and Chadwick.

It was in Christian county that the Baldknobbers reached their greatest notoriety. The Christian County Baldknobbers, like their predecessor, was formed to eradicate lawlessness and evil. The center of this apparently was the railway village of Chadwick. Chadwick had grown up around the timber industry of southern Christian County, and as so often the case where there were hard-working men with money in their pockets there were also loose women, saloons and gambling joints. Thus was the case of Chadwick. The Christian county Baldknobbers were different from the other groups in that they liked to wear a mask that has become associated with all Baldknobbers. It was a black skull mask, with holes cut for the eyes, nostril and mouth and adorned with red horn-like appendages atop the mask. This gruesome mask in itself was enough to terrify most citizens who were confronted by the Baldknobbers. The Christian county group also differed from the others in that they lacked a strong leader like Captain Kinney, who for all his weaknesses, at least gave credence to law and order. The Christian county group on the other hand, soon degenerated into a true vigilante group, looking for excitement rather than righting wrongs.

Geography

Chadwick is located in the hills of the Ozarks. The landscape consists of steep rolling hills, with red clay, limestone/limestone caves, and springs in the area.

Coordinates: 36°55′48″N 93°03′25″W / 36.93°N 93.05694°W / 36.93; -93.05694