Additional information
by Richard F. Sunderwirth (Author)
"As the sun went down Sunday night," concluded the brigade correspondent, "Osceola was a heap of smoldering ruins. Well over two thousand people were left homeless and perhaps the fairest city in Missouri had been utterly wiped from the face of the earth. Union Brigadier General Jim Lane left Osceola with all their plunder and headed for Kansas, leaving old age, and helpless innocents to keep vigil over the dead and wounded, and life blood and tears marked the spot which only a few short hours before had been peaceful, contented, happy homes."
Author Biography
Richard F. Sunderwirth was born and raised in Osceola, Mo. After graduating from high school he and his wife, Neta Ruth, operated two restaurants; one in Osceola and the other in Collins, Mo. Richard was President of TASA Automobile Assn. for 10 years and owned and operated Osceola Cheese Co. and then started Richard's Fun-Time Tours, traveling with thousands of tour members across the nation and around the world. Richard and Neta Ruth have three children, and three grandchildren. One son and grandson have preceded them in death. While conducting tours he was privileged to visit various battlefields of which most were Civil War. This is where his interest in the Civil War began to take hold. Knowing a little about the Burning of Osceola, Mo. he researched and wrote the "Burning of Osceola, Missouri". This book was very successful and just recently he finished his second book, "Osceola, Missouri, The Burning of 1861". Richard has written a weekly column for "The St. Clair County Courier" for the past 10 years, dealing with local and county history. Richard has been involved in many civic activities over the years; City Council, Chamber of Commerce, School Board, Church Board, St. Clair County Friends of Hospice, President of the Local Optimist Club, Lieutenant Governor of Optimist International, in addition to other city and county affairs. His foremost hobby is writing music and DVD interview production. God and family are the most precious parts of his life. This 3rd book is filled with Humor, Inspiration, and real life stories experienced through the many years of traveling and public speaking. He is now in his retirement years and enjoying his family and friends. One of his favorite short lines of humor is: "Don't eat onions and brown beans together; the combination with give you teargas." Andy, if the verbiage or 1st person writing should be done in 2nd person or whatever make the changes and send me the new copy and we'll be done with that. If it doesn't sound right altogether I'd do it again.
