At the Buchanan County Fair in 1904 one of the nation’s biggest headline makers – Carrie Nation – spoke at the county fair before a crowd of 7,000 persons. She gave a temperance talk and was well received by the audience. Carrie Nation’s visit in Independence was a quiet affair. She did not bring out her famous hatchet to chop down the interiors of any local saloons or taverns although there was a brisk business at the fairgrounds in the sale of souvenir hatchets made famous by Mrs. Nation.
