S•GO — Our History

Our companies serve over 7000 customers covering more than 500 square miles in three states.

Seneca Telephone Co. History
The Seneca Telephone Company was organized in 1889 by W.A. Chandler and Mr. Gohagan. A total of 30 telephones were run out of the first telephone office located overtop the Sparlin Hardware Store and later across the street to the upper level of the Chase Building.

In 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mitchell, who had previously owned telephone companies in Longton and Elks Falls, Kansas, bought Seneca Telephone Company from Mr. Chandler and others. At the time of the sale Seneca had 109 phones served with one cable and braided drop wire. Three months after the sale of the company, in early 1937, an ice storm hit southwest Missouri, leaving only 11 phones in service. With local help, the Mitchells rebuilt the exchange, and in 1938 they built the current Seneca Telephone Company office. The operation expanded again when the Seneca Telephone Company took over many of the farm lines in Tiff City through a board in Dr. Chase's house and working through a community called May.

In 1953, Seneca became the first XY dial conversion in the state of Missouri. The switchover took place with the help of the Mitchell's son, Walter, who was home on leave from the U.S. Signal Corp. The Seneca Telephone Company was also one of the first Missouri REA Borrowers.

Goodman Telephone Co. History
The Goodman Telephone Company began in 1920, when a Mr. Hazard owned the company, which was bought in 1943 by V.F. "Shorty" Garoutte, an excellent automobile mechanic in the town. The Garoutte family expanded the company by buying the Lanagan exchange from Wally Roper. In the 1950s the family sold the company to Roy Eppard, loaning him enough money to operate for 30 days, making monthly payments on the business of $25. Later, Roy and Violet Eppard later borrowed money from the REA and converted the phones to dial before selling the Goodman and Lanagan exchanges to Walter Mitchell in 1972. The company was also the first in the state to provide 100% digital switching.

Ozark Telephone Co. History
Ozark Telephone Company was created on April 1, 1996, resulting from the purchase of two exchanges from GTE by the Walt Mitchell family. At the time of the purchase Ozark was served by XY equipment. The two exchanges comprising Ozark Telephone Company are Southwest City and Noel.