End of watch: Poplar Bluff’s first fallen peace officer

In case you didn’t know, there is a museum here in Poplar Bluff. It has tales of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

Phillip Kearby was a young family man who became the Butler County sheriff in 1913.

On May 14, 1915, he was informed that an escapee just got off the train and was hiding in Poplar Bluff. Kearby rounded up all of his deputies and City Constable Hubert Powell. Poplar Bluff was still small and they began searching the town. Kearby and Powell went to the Vinegar Hill area, now south Poplar Bluff. They found two men lying on the ground and when they approached, came under fire.

Kearby and Powell returned fire and after the gunfight, the escapee was dead and Sheriff Kearby was mortally wounded. He passed away later that day surrounded by his family.

In 2015, the current Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs honored his predecessor.

Dobbs named the street in front of the modern Butler County Justice Center Kearby Drive after our first fallen peace officer.

Sheriff Kearby’s DAR story written by Michelle Friedrich with photo are on display in the Police and Firefighter exhibit located in the Poplar Bluff Museum.

The museum is open every Sunday free of charge from 1-4 p.m. at 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum