The University of Missouri Press publishes some fine books. The following bio on Walser is from the Dictionary of Missouri Biography by Lawrence O. Christensen. The following is from the Google display of the book which has “permission of University of Missouri Press. Copyright.”

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WALSER, GEORGE H. (1834-1910)

George H. Walser was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, on May 26, 1834, and died in Liberal, Missouri, on May 1, 1910. In 1856, he was admitted to the Illinois bar. Five years later he responded to the appeal of President Abraham Lincoln and volunteered for service in the Union army. He reenlisted for three additional years. By the end of his Civil War service Walser had reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Twentieth Illinois Volunteers. When the war was over he moved to Barton County, Missouri, to begin the practice of law in Lamar.

As a Republican Walser entered Barton County politics and served as the county superintendent of schools and the prosecuting attorney. In 1868 he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives where he served two terms. In the area he was known as an effective trial lawyer.

Although Walser was born into a Christian home, he became increasingly critical of the faith after the Civil War. He as particularly impressed with the books and speeches of Robert G. Ingersoll who mesmerized crowds with his eloquent defense of agnosticism and converted many Americans–outraged others–with his writings, such as “Some Mistakes of Moses” or “Why I am an Agnostic”. Walser became convinced that he should take up the challenge of establishing a free-thought community. In 1880 he bought land in western Barton County, platted a new town that he called Liberal, and began publicizing his development.

Walser in the 1880s must have been a bundle of energy as he developed and directed his new community, which had eight city blocks, twenty-five business lots, fifty-seven residential lots, and a city park. (From 1887 to 1889 the estimates of the population of Liberal varied from five to eight hundred.) Walser continued to practice law. He established and published a newspaper called The Liberal. He operated a coal mine. He built a hotel for the community, the National Hotel, which was advertised as operating on “a liberal basis.” He was the founder of Freethought University in Liberal, and the catalog identifies him as the teacher of commercial law. In addition, he found time to write for the magazine the Orthopaedians and also published three volumes of esoteric poetry–full of classical allusions.

Among his other activities, Walser developed a cemetery at Liberal and, of course, sold lots. When he died in 1910 his fourth wife, Esther Jaemison Walser, made the unusual decision not to bury him in his own cemetery. Instead she had the body interred in Lake Cemetery at Lamar.

In the history of Missouri, Walser stands alone as the developer of a community that emphasized that religion was not welcome in the new town. He was vocally anti-Christian, and described Liberal in these words: “We have here neither priest, preacher, justice of the peace, or other peace officer, no church, saloon, prison, drunkard, loafer, beggar or person in want, nor have we a disreputable character. This cannot be truthfully said of any christian town on earth.”

Liberal was distinctive because of its free-thought ties. For example, they used a different dating system. Instead of utilizing the supposed date for the birth of Jesus Christ as the base for their system, they used the year 1600 A.D., to honor Giordano Bruno who that year was burned at the stake by the Catholic Church for his freethinking. Thus, the year 1882, using their system, was called E of M 282 or Era of Man 282. Such a dating system had been recommended by the National liberal League.

Freethought University, which appears to have begun operation in 1886 or 1887 in Liberal, was established to provide a place where freethinkers could confidently send their children. The catalog described it as “the only institution of learning in America that is absolutely free from superstition.” Walser was intent on making Liberal a community where freethinkers would feel comfortable. In his own words, “Liberals should come here because it is the only established Liberal town in the world with institutions for promulgating the ideal advancement of liberated minds.”

Conflict erupted between freethinkers and Christians in Liberal in the 1880s. William H. Waggoner platted and began building an addition just north of Liberal in 1881. He let it be known that he hoped Christians would flock to his settlement. Walser then constructed a high barbed-wire fence to keep Christians out of Liberal. For two years there were verbal exchanges along the barbed-wire fence. Finally in 1883, Walser bought out Waggoner, and the conflict ended.

The declining support for freethinking led to a surprising development in 1889. Walser announced the sale of a plot of land and the Universal Mental Liberty Hall to the Methodist Episcopal Church for the sum of $485. The hall was to be used as a Methodist Sunday school. Its sale marked the end of the freethinking movement in Liberal, less than a decade after the settlement’s founding.

It is interesting to note that in 1889 when the free-thought movement in Liberal ended, a new religious movement, the Spiritual Science Association, was gaining prominence in the town. Spiritualists encamped at Walser’s Catalpa Park in July and August each year until 1903 by which time spiritualism in Liberal also had waned…

Duane G. Meyer

Sources listed are the Lamar Democrat, 18880s.
Liberal Mo. Promotional Booklet. Item H1481.35 W168L. State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia.
Meyer, Duane. The Heritage of Missouri. Springfield, Mo: Emden Press, 1993.
Missouri: The WPA Guide to the “Show Me” State, St. Louis: Missouri Historical Society Press, 1998.
Moore, James Proctor. This Strange Town: Liberal, Missouri, Liberal, Mo: Liberal News, 1963.

In 1897 George H. Walser’s volume of poetry “The Bouquet” was published.

The book promises that a volume title Orthopaedia would follow.

He will publish during the summer a philosophical work entitled “Orthopaedia” in which he demonstrates taht all the forces of nature, including polarity, gravity, electricity, magnetism, life, mind, atomic intelligence, spirits, etc., are constituents of matter.

The Preface reads:

PREFACE.

I shall make no apology for the presentation of this
little volume to the public. I well know its defects will
soon be singled out without my aid in that direction; and
its beauties, if any it has, will not fail to be appreciated
by the refined without special direction; therefore, I cast
it upon the great sea of literature for what it is worth.
If the association of sweet thoughts with fragrant flowers
be the means of lifting some sorrowing heart to the sun-
light of joy, or making the path of duty plainer to any
struggling soul, my labors will not be in vain.

I feel that no one will be rendered any worse in mind,
heart or soul for having companioned himself with the
following versifications. My aim has been to please,
elevate and refine. My hope is to make the world a lit-
tle better for having lived in it; and, to that end I have
kept in mind, in the production of the following poems, to
entwine character building, (at that critical time of life
when the young must choose among the many chequered
pathways before them which to take,) with tender heart-
throbs and a feeling of fraternity for all mankind. I
have intended that each poem should teach a moral, give
warnings of danger, tip to the road of duty, or direct the
mind to higher, nobler and grander achievements. How
well I have succeeded I leave my indulgent readers to say.
I have clustered around my heart the beauties of nature
made hallowed by fragrant flowers and thought aspira-
tions. The production of “The Bouquet” has been a great
harvest of pleasure to me, and I hope it will not fail to
impart pleasure to others. Song, flowers, birds and na-
ture enwrap the true heart with an appreciation of life
that brings the blessings of heaven, ‘mid scenes of earth
made glorious by smiles seasoned with love.

I am an optimist. I believe that life is worth living,
and that we make it about what it is. Half the ills we

have are of our own making. I believe in throwing
troubles away. 1 believe in casting aside the dark clouds
of despondency and looking above to the sunshine of
hope and pleasure. When I say above, 1 do not mean
in the skies, nor after death, but here and now. If we
always keep the “Now” happy, the future will never have
a cross.

I believe in strewing the pathway of life with flowers
of love, Kindness, Charity, Fraternity, and good-will for
all; granting to all their full meed of wage, weight, meas-
ure, rights and privileges as completely and as fully as
we demand for ourselves.

Flowers are typical of thoughts, desires and emo-
tions; and, as thoughts and desires lead to action, and
action to results we should be guided by the purity flow-
ers shed around us, and school ourselves with those
thoughts that will make our lives redolent with purity,
seasoned with love, guided by justice and protected by an
unswerving determination.

It is my hope, in presenting “The Bouquet,” to sow
in the minds of those who read it the flowers of beautiful
thoughts to bear fruitage of noble and useful lives.

Many flowers have names derived from mythical
events and legends which are both interesting and curious;
and I thought it would fill a want not yet supplied to
collate those myths in an appendix which I have clone and
am sure they will be both interesting and instructive.

The labors of my brain I now pass to the criticisms
of others. If they do not elicit admiration I hope they
will awaken a feeling of friendship, for friendship is the
half brother to love, and love is the brightest jewel of
heaven.

G. H. Walser

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 6th, 1897.

A lawsuit involving George H. Walser, founder of Liberal.

Link.

WALSER v. GILCHRIST.

(Supreme Court of Missouri, Division No. 2.

May 18, 1909.)

Partition 110*>—Renewal Order of Sale – Execution Of Deed.

An order of sale in partition expires with the term at which the sale is required to be made, unless a renewal order is procured, and where Do renewal order is procured, but the court, after the term when the sale was to be made, finds that the sale was made but that the sheriff making the sale has removed from the state without executing a deed, and orders the sheriff in office to execute a deed, which such sheriff does, but there is nothing in

the record directly showing an approval of the sale, the ordering of a deed to be made by the sheriff is not equivalent to a renewal order of the sale, and such deed does not constitute title to the land.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Partition, Dec. Dig. § 110.*]

Appeal from Circuit Court, Mississippi County; Henry C. Riley, Judge.

Action by G. H. Walser against W. A. G11chrlst. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. Reversed.

Russell & Deal, for appellant Jno. C. Brown, for respondent.

BURGESS, J. This suit was Instituted under section 650, Rev. St. 1899, for the purpose of determining the title to the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 18, township 23, range 17, In Mississippi county, Mo.

The land In controversy was selected as swamp lands, under Act Cong. Sept. 28, 1850, c. 84, 9 Stat 519, the selection having been approved November 22, 1854. Plaintiff offered In evidence two swamp land patents, dated April 19, 1859, recorded In the deed records of Mississippi county on April 1, 1905, from the state of Missouri to Charles Tucker, each conveying 40 acres. He next produced in evidence a certified copy of a decree In partition rendered by the circuit court of Barton county, Mo., on the 8th day of October, 1869, In a suit wherein the heirs of Charles Tucker were all parties, In which decree the court ordered the sheriff of Mississippi county to sell the land in controversy at public sale for cash, and divide the proceeds of the sale among the heirs, and to execute a deed or deeds to the purchaser of said real estate.

The plaintiff, G. H. Walser, testified in substance that Charles Tucker died In Barton county in the year 1867 or 1808, and that he, plaintiff, was administrator of his estate; that as such he became well acquainted with the heirs of Charles Tucker (naming them), all of whom were parties to the suit In partition In the circuit court of Barton county at the October term of said court, 1869, and that he bought the land In controversy on the 23d day of November, 1870, and was the owner thereof.

Plaintiff next offered In evidence a sheriff’s deed, dated November 30, 1875, from William P. Swank, sheriff of Mississippi county, conveying to him the land In controversy, the said deed reciting, In substance, that on November 23, 1870, George A. Jackson, the then sheriff of Mississippi county, under and In pursuance of the Judgment and order of. the circuit court of Barton county, sold said described land to Charles Tucker, he being the highest and best bidder, for the sum of $10. Said deed further recites:

“And whereas, the said George W. Jackson, the sheriff who sold said land, has left the state of Missouri, and that he failed to make the deed to said Walser for such land in pursuance to said sale;

“And whereas, on the 2Gth day of October, 1875, the circuit court of the county of Barton, on the petition of said George H. Walser, to require me, the present sheriff of said Mississippi county, Missouri, to execute a deed to said land, found that said purchase money had been fully paid, and that said George W. Jackson, former sheriff of said county, had removed from this state, and that said George H. Walser had purchased said land at said sale, said court ordered that I, William P. Swank, execute a deed to George H. Walser for said land.

“Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the said sum of ten dollars paid by the said George H. Walser, and by virtue of the authority in me vested, I, William P. Swank, sheriff as aforesaid, do hereby assign, transfer and convey all the right, title and Interest and estate of the said [here follow the names of Charles Tucker’s heirs] of, in and to the above described real estate, that might or was sold by virtue of said order as aforesaid. To have and to hold the right, title and Interest and estate hereby conveyed unto the said George H. Walser, his heirs and assigns forever,” etc.

Plaintiff also offered in evidence a certified copy of the order of the said circuit court of Barton county, made on the 2Gth day of October, 1875, directing William P. Swank, sheriff, to execute a deed to Walser for the land in controversy.

The defendant offered no evidence, but at the close of plaintiff’s evidence he asked the court to declare the law to be “that the plaintiff has failed to show that he has any title to the property sued for, and the finding should be that plaintiff has no title,” which the court refused to do, the defendant excepting.

The court rendered a decree, which was entered of record, finding that the plaintiff was the owner of the real estate described, and that the defendant has no right, title, estate, or interest therein. The defendant, after an unavailing motion for a new trial, appealed from said judgment.

As defendant contends, the law In force In October, 18G9, when the decree in partition was rendered, provided that the circuit court should be held In Barton county, Mo., on the sixth Mondays after the fourth Mondays in February and August. According to the recitals in the sheriff’s deed, read in evidence, the sale therein described did not take place until the 23d day of November, 1870, which was more than one year after the order of sale was made, and two terms of the Barton county circuit court must necessarily have Intervened between the date of the order and the date of the sale ; that is to say, the terms of court held on the sixth Mondays after the

1870. There Is no evidence In the record that the order of sale was ever renewed from term to term as required by law, and for this reason the defendant insists that the sheriffs sale was absolutely void and conferred no authority upon the sheriff to make the deed.

In Hughes v. Hughes, 72 Mo. 136, it Is held that an order of sale in partition expires with the term at which the sale is required to be made, and If, for want of bidders, no sale takes place at that time, a renewal of the order must be procured before any further steps can be taken, and a sale at a subsequent term without such renewal is void.

Carson v. Hughes, 90 Mo. 173, 2 S. W. 127, was an action in ejectment to recover the same land sued for In Hughes v. Hughes, supra. The court said : “By order of sale, made at the April term, 1803, of the Audrain circuit court, the sheriff was directed to sell the lands at the following October term. No sale was made at that term, but the sheriff, without a renewal of the order either by the clerk or the court, sold the land at the April term, 18G4. No formal order was made approving the sale. To correct some errors a new deed was made out in 1872, and the record entry of the acknowledgment of that deed was put in evidence on the trial of this cause, but not in the former case. It was expressly ruled In the former case that the sheriff had no power to sell without a renewal of the order, either by the court or clerk, and for that reason the sale was void. The production of the entry of the acknowledgment cannot change the result. The certificate of the acknowledgment Indorsed on the deed, when offered in the former case. Imported, prima facie, at least, the existence of such an entry. The deed, If void then, is still void, and on the authority of that case this one Is affirmed.”

Plaintiff, to obviate the force of the defendant’s contention, says that, while the two cases relied upon by defendant have not been directly overruled by this court, the theory upon which they rest has often been repudiated In subsequent decisions ; that section 32, c. 152, Rev. St. 18G5, provides that sales in partition may be renewed by “the court or clerk thereof In vacation,” and that as no notice of the application for these renewals is prescribed, and no adjudication of any kind contemplated, they are not intended to affect the rights of the parties, and therefore the statute prescribing these renewals should be treated as merely directory, and that, if there was a failure to comply with such statute, in the case at bar, was cured by the approval of the sale and the order of the court to make deed to the plaintiff. But the record does not directly show the approval of the sale upon which plaintiffs deed depends ; but conceding that It does show, as contended by plaintiff, that the court made a finding that the purchase money had been paid, and ordered a deed made by the order of the sheriff to the plaintiff, this was not equivalent to a renewal order of sale, because the approval of a sale which was at the time void and dead did not instill new life into it. Plaintiff calls our attention to Bobbins v. Boulware. 190 Mo. 33, 88 S. W. 674, 109 Am. St. Rep. 746, wherein It is held that a failure to advertise the sale of land as required by law was a mere irregularity, not affecting In a substantial degree the rights of the parties, and was cured by the approval of the sale. Substantially the same rule is announced In Cochran v. Thomas, 131 Mo. 278, 33 S. W. 8; Noland v. Barrett, ]22 Mo., loc. cit. 188, 26 S. W. 692, 43 Am. St. Rep. 572; Young ?v. Schofield, 132 Mo. 668, 34 S. W. 497. But these cases are not in point, and have to do with mere irregularities, while in the cases died by the defendant the sheriff’s deeds were held to be absolutely void.

It Is said by plaintiff that the court had Jurisdiction ; but Conceding that It had, that conferred no authority upon it to decide the case contrary to the law. As neither party showed title to the land, the demurrer to the evidence interposed by the defendant should have been sustained.

The Judgment is reversed. All concur.

From Poets and Poetry of Nebraska, Contains Biographical Sketches and Choice Poetical Selections from the Leading Poets Now Living, issued 1902 by the American Publisher’s Association in Chicago.

Walser was then living in Nebraska.

The Morning Glory
by George H. Walser, of Liberal, Mo

First to greet the morning sun,
First to smile on day begun.

When the sun has reached the noon,
Still its smiles are fresh in bloom;

But when the sun descends the skies,
Then the morning-glory dies.

So do many folks pretend,
When Fortune smiles, to be your friend.

Should good fortune turn away,
Or a cloud o’ercast your day,

Away will then their friendship fly,
And like the morning-glory, die.