The cistern may still be in existence. In during further research I turned up the full quote that Gay provided. It was taken from the book "Crawford County and Cuba Missouri." It was published in 1972, so evidently the cistern was still in use at that late date.

There is evidently a Leasburg Historical Society which has been gathering materials for a proposed local museum, but they don't have a website, so I have not yet contacted them. I'm currently in Austin, Texas, spending time with the grandkids, but I'll soon be returning home to Jefferson City. I think a trip to Leasburg will then be in order.

Thanks Elmer