Editing Stella, Missouri (section)

===Clarence C. Cardwell===
Despite Stella's small size, for nearly 60 years the Cardwell [[Hospital]], later the Cardwell Memorial [[Osteopathic]] Hospital, attracted people from the largely rural surrounding areas of Newton County, [[Barry County, Missouri|Barry County]] and [[McDonald County, Missouri|McDonald County]] for their [[healthcare]] needs. Cardwell Hospital was opened in 1920 by [[World War I]] [[veteran]] Clarence C. Cardwell, who had been born only two miles outside of Stella in 1892.<ref name="ReferenceA">Newton County Highlights; by Neosho Christian Schools; 2002; Page 75</ref> At first the hospital was only four rooms,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> but later expanded to meet the needs of the local community. By 1930 a second doctor had joined the staff at Cardwell and it had 10 beds available for patients.<ref>Newton County Highlights; by Neosho Christian Schools; 2002; Pages 75 & 76</ref> A fire in 1942 damaged the hospital, but Cardwell quickly had the building rebuilt.<ref name="ReferenceB">Newton County Highlights; by Neosho Christian Schools; 2002; Page 76</ref>  Cardwell continued running the hospital with his wife, Ida Cardwell, and their daughter, Cleta Cardwell, until his death in November 1956.<ref name="ReferenceC">Cassville Republican; Obituaries; November 29, 1956</ref> At the time of his death the Cardwell Hospital was reported to have grown to 100 beds.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

Following Cardwell's death in November 1956, the Cardwell Hospital was closed for a short time, until it was purchased from Ida and Cleta Cardwell by Silas and Lillian Fountain and reopened on February 11, 1957, as the Cardwell Memorial Osteopathic Hospital.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> The Fountains, a married couple from [[Sulphur Springs, Benton County, Arkansas|Sulphur Springs, Arkansas]], had both graduated from the [[Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery]].<ref name="obitcentral.com">{{cite web | url=http://www.obitcentral.com/obitsearch/obits/mo/mo-jasper157.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040920113430/http://www.obitcentral.com/obitsearch/obits/mo/mo-jasper157.htm | url-status=usurped | archive-date=September 20, 2004 | title=Miscellaneous Jasper County, Missouri Obituaries }}</ref> Their daughter Mary Sue Fountain served as the hospital administrator.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Following her husband's death on June 29, 1973, Lillian Fountain continued running the hospital until 1977. Lillian Fountain died on October 13, 1996.<ref name="obitcentral.com"/>