Remembering the heroes that paid the ultimate sacrifice to the citizens of Taney County
Trooper Jimmy M Linegar died in the line of duty on April 15, 1985 when he was shot by a suspect at the intersection of Highway 65 and Highway 86. Trooper Linegar unknowingly checked on a van driven by a suspect recently indicted for involvement in a murder. When he approached the van to question the driver he was shot with an automatic weapon. Trooper Linegar was survived by his wife, a five year old daughter and a three year old son.
Battalion Chief James D Straub died in the line of duty March 26, 1990 during a rope rescue operation on Baird Mountain just south of Table Rock Dam. Chief Straub was repelling to assist a climber that became stranded on the face of Baird Mountain. Approximately 4 feet from the victim, Chief Straub’s rope was severed on a sharp rock. He fell 75 feet and died from traumatic injuries. He was survived by his wife, an eight year old daughter and six year old son.
Read about the Memorial Street dedicated to Battalion Chief David Straub
On August 12, 1924, Taney County Sheriff Newton Dangerfiled “Newt” Boles was shot and killed on a farm near Hollister by a man he arrested for robbing a bank in Protem. The suspect surrendered to authorities near Branson two days later. A woman who owned the farm was also arrested when it was discovered that she slipped the pistol to the suspect that he used to kill sheriff Boles. Sheriff Boles left behind a wife, five boys, one daughter and two step daughters. Daughter Ray Lambeth was 7 years old when her dad was killed and passed October 6, 2022 in Tampa, Idaho. Sheriff Boles and his daughter Ray are buried in the Garrison Cemetery in Christian County. Read about the street dedication here.
On March 12, 1892 Taney County Deputy Sheriff George L Williams was shot and killed while protecting a prisoner from a mob at the county jail. The prisoner had been arrested for murdering his wife. The mob that raided the jail was successful in lynching the suspect. One of the mob leaders was charged with Deputy Williams’ murder but the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. Read more about Deputy Williams here.
On July 4, 1889, Taney County Sheriff Galby Branson and Deputy Sheriff Edward Funk were shot and killed by three brothers who supported a different political party as the sheriff. The two were ambushed at a picnic. All three brothers were arrested and charged with murder. Two of the brothers were tried and acquitted and charged were dropped against the other brother. Sheriff Branson has been elected the previous year and had served as a Sergeant in the Gasconade County Battalion with the United States Reserve Corps, Missouri Home Guard, and as a Corporal in the 31st Regiment, Missouri Infantry in the Civil War. He was survived by his wife and two children and is buried in the Branson family Cemetery in Branson.
On August 20, 1886 Taney County Deputy Sheriff John Manes was shot and killed while helping a posse pursue James Brown, a thief from Arkansas, near Taneyville. Hew as 24 at the time of his death. The suspect was later caught and killed in a gunfight with the sheriff’s posse.
On April 30, 1879, Taney County Deputy Sheriff James A Coggburn and Deputy Sheriff William Bates were shot and killed while leading a posse that was pursuing several horse thieves along Bee Creek, near the Missouri-Arkansas state border. Both deputies were killed during a shootout that ensued after the posse cornered the subjects in a cabin. The owner of the cabin and a suspect were shot and killed. The others escaped. Deputy Coggburn was a private in the Union Army’s 5th Missouri Regiment during the Civil War and was 39 at the time of his death. His widow, Elizabeth McGill Bates, continued to make her home in Taney County. He and Deputy Coggburn were the second and third first responders to give their lives to the citizens of Taney County.
In 1861, Taney County Sheriff Henson Ellsberry “Berry” Ellison was brutally stabbed to death by Jim Massey, the engineering officer of the Mary Patterson steamboat that was docked at the Forsyth Landing (Shadowrock Park area). During that period, steam boats would travel up the White River to the mouth of the James River. The crewmen of these early river craft were very rugged individuals with fights and boisterous behavior being a common occurrence. He served as sheriff from 1860-1861.