Egbert probably attended Centenary Methodist Church at Centenary too due to his family's Methodist background. Harvey Martin Snell (born July 3, 1876 in Centenary died Nov. 12, 1956) son of John Snell and Nancy Sinclair of Centenary, attended Centenary school with Egbert Van Alstyne and were school friends. Harvey told his family about their friendship and school days and later recalled the inspiration for Egbert's song 'In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree'. Apparently, Egbert received his inspiration for the song from an old apple tree that sat somewhere between Centenary School (next to Fool's Creek) and the large hill sitting just to the south of Centenary School. This story was told to Harvey's wife, Elsie Mae (McGee) Snell d. 1962, and their children including Dora Margaret (Snell) Glascock (died August 1, 2008), wife of Samuel Downing Glascock d.1990, both of the community of Centenary area in Saverton Township, Ralls Co, Mo. Finished in 1905 "In The Shade of the Old Apple Tree" was one of the biggest hits of the decade. (Harry H. Williams, lyrics Egbert Van Alstyne, composer). IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE Egbert "Bert" Anson Van Alstyne   Egbert Van Alstyne - born in Illinois, 1882, died 1951, lived in Saverton area as a boy. The facts are practically non-existent, but he stated during appearances in Hannibal that he was "happy to be back in his old boyhood neighborhood." Apparently he lived with relatives, at least in summers. He said that his best-known song, "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" was inspired by springtime in the Saverton hills. His songs were used in the observance of the Ralls County Court House Centennial, and his widow, then living in Texas, sent a message of appreciation that he was remembered here in the area he loved. Some of his other popular songs were "What's the Matter with Father?," "That Old Girl of Mine," "Your Eyes Have Told Me So", and "In Old Missouri," written in 1914. A song like this, dripping with sentiment even by early-1900s standards, lent itself to parodies. Billy Murray recorded one. The verse describes him passing by the house of Maggie Jones, a maiden "homelier than me", who asks him to fetch some apples on the promise of giving him one of the pies she plans to bake.