USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
371
372
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
from Zalma by way of Brownwood to Bloom- field. Its population is 373. It has several stores, a flouring mill, and other interests. The Bank of Zalma with a capital stock of $12,000 was organized in 1905.
BESSVILLE
Bessville on the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain, was laid out soon after the build- ing of the railroad. Other villages in Bol- linger county are Buchanan, Castor, May- field, Patton, Scopus, Sedwickville, Sturdi- vant, and Tallent.
NEELEYVILLE
Neeleyville in the southern part of Butler county, was laid out as a town in 1870. It is now the terminus of the Doniphan branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad. Its popu- lation is 241. It has stores, blacksmith shops, gins, and other business establishments. The Bank of Neeleyville was organized in 1910,. and has a capital of $10,000. There are two churches in the town and a good public school.
FISK
Fisk, a village in Butler county, is situ- ated not far from the Stoddard county line on the Cairo branch of the Iron Mountain. It is a flourishing community supported by timber and farming interest. Its population is 270 and it has stores and other small busi- ness establishments.
HARVIEL
Harviel, with a population of 201, is a town on the main line of the Iron Mountain, south of Poplar Bluff and on the Hoxie branch of the Frisco.
Other villages in Butler county are Hen-
drickson and Keener on the Iron Mountain, and Rombauer and Sawyer, new saw-mill towns on the Frisco.
MARSTON
The town of Marston in New Madrid coun- ty, was settled in October, 1898, the first set- tlers being George W. Coleman, H. L. Shid- ler, C. M. Barnes, R. W. Maxey, W. A. Barnes, R. D. Welshans, E. F. Sharp, S. S. Barnes and M. Foy. The first mayor of the town was E. F. Sharp. The early merchants were Barnes Store Company, M. H. Maxey, and Finsberry & Mennen. At the present time there are two general stores, six grocery stores and one drug store. In addition to these establishments there is a stave factory, one hoop factory, and a cotton gin. The Bank of Marston was organized in 1905 and has a capital stock of $10,000. The principal buildings in the town are the Fraternal Hall, opera house, a Methodist church building and a Baptist church building. Marston is on the main line of the Frisco and is the southern terminus of the St. Louis & Missouri South- ern, a new railroad which has just been put into operation between Marston and New Madrid, but which it is proposed to extend to the Thebes bridge. The present population is 258.
VAN BUREN
Van Buren, the county seat of Carter county, is an unincorporated village. It is one mile from the Frisco and is on Current river. It has churches, school, five stores, mills, the Current Local, a weekly newspaper, and its population is about 500. The Carter County Bank was chartered in 1901, with a capital of $20,000. The most important buildings are those of the county.
373
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
ELLSINORE
The largest town in Carter county is Ellsi- nore which has a population of 813. It is in the eastern part of the county on the Frisco Railroad. It is the site of some large mills, has about twenty business establishments, and is growing rapidly. The Bank of Ellsinore was chartered in 1907, and has a capital of $10,000. The public school is in good con- dition.
GRANDIN
Grandin in Carter county, was at one time the most important saw-mill town in the state. Ilere were very large mills employing about 2,000 men, and cutting enormons quantities of lumber. The town was owned by the mill company which made extensive public im- provements. With the decline in the timber interests, the town lost something of its im- portance. Its population is about 600. It has a school, six stores, three churches, side- walks, electric lights, and is situated on the Frisco Railroad and Little Black river.
HUNTER
Hunter, a mill town in Carter county, is supported largely by timber interests. It has a population of 710 and is a rapidly grow- ing and thriving town. It is on the Frisco Railroad, has fifteen business establishments and a public school.
POCAHONTAS
The first settlement at Pocahontas, Cape Girardeau county, was made before the war, but the town was not incorporated until 1893, at which time John Bonney was elected mayor. Among its early settlers were Rob- ert Baldridge, Robert McNeely, and John Bonney. The first merchants were Robert McNeely and Samuel M. Green; Mr. Green
afterwards removed to Cape Girardeau where he is now a practicing lawyer. There are three general stores and one flour mill. The town was unfortunate in its relation to the railroad. When the Cape Girardeau & Chester Railroad was built north from Jack- son, it passed about one and three-quarter miles from Pocahontas. This has handicapped the town to a certain extent. Still it has con- tinned to grow. Its population now is 239.
ALLENVILLE
The town of Allenville in Cape Girardeau county is situated at the junction of the Jack- son branch of the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad and was laid out as a town in 1869, the first mayor being H. C. Hinton. There are now three general stores in the town and some other minor business establish- ments. The population is 257.
WHITEWATER
The town of Whitewater is situated on the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain Rail- road in Cape Girardeau county. It was first settled as a town in 1866. Among its early settlers were William Devore, John Albert, William Steel, William and Thomas Wheeler, Dr. Dodson, Martin Lawrent, F. H. Stecker, Dr. S. M. MeAnally, Miles Ax and P. N. O'Brien. The town was not incorporated un- til 1898, and its first mayor was P. N. O'Brien. Among the early merchants were Shell & Albert, Miles Ax, S. M. McAnally and P. N. O'Brien. There are now four general stores in the town. Besides these there is a flour mill, a saw mill and a mill devoted to the manufacture of butcher blocks. The Bank of Whitewater, with a capital of $10,000 supplies the financial wants of the citizens. The town is situated in a good farming community and is prosperous. It has a population of 250.
374
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
ALLENVILLE
Allenville, an incorporated village in Cape Girardeau county is situated at the junction of the Jackson branch of the Iron Mountain with the Belmont branch of the same line. It was laid out as a town in 1869 on the building of the railroad. It has a population of 257 with the usual business interests. There are Baptist and Methodist churches and a pub- lic school.
Burfordville is on Whitewater river near the old site of Bollinger's mill. It has been a village for many years and has two or three stores, a church and its population is about 150.
Millerville is in Whitewater township, Cape Girardeau county. It has stores, two churches and a school. Its population is 99.
OAKRIDGE
Oakridge is in Apple Creek township. It was settled in 1852 and its present popula- tion is 256. Bank of Oakridge was organized in 1904 and its capital is $10,000. There are three churches, and business interests of vari- ous kinds. Oakridge has always supported a good school.
GORDONVILLE
Gordonville is one of the oldest settlements in Cape Girardeau county, the first settlers having come to the vicinity during the Span- ish regime. Its present population is 170. The Bank of Gordonville was chartered in 1910 and has a capital of $10,000. There are several church organizations and the town is on the Jackson branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad.
Other villages in Cape Girardeau county are Dutchtown, Pocahontas, Fruitland, New Wells, Shawneetown and Deray.
MALDEN
Malden, Dunklin county, was laid out in 1877 under the direction of Major George B. Clark. It was the western terminus for a time of the Little River Valley & Arkansas Rail- road which then extended from New Madrid to Malden. The first house was built by S. W. Spiller and Daniel Haynes and was occupied by them as a store. They furnished supplies to the men engaged in building the railroad. Another early merchant was James Gregory and some who came with him were Jackson Erlick, William Harkey and Sisel and Plaut. The J. S. Levi Mercantile Company was or- ganized in Malden during its early years and has been one of its largest stores ever since that time. The town had the usual growth of a country town. Its situation on the railroad gave it an advantage and it attracted various interests from Clarkton and became for awhile the largest town in the county. It was built largely of wood and the greater part of the business interests in town were destroyed by fire in January, 1899. The burnt buildings were replaced by brick and the town has had a steady and substantial growth since that time. Malden was incorporated at the April term of the county court in 1878 and the first trustees were Daniel Haynes, James Gregory, S. W. Spiller, Samuel B. Dennis and J. P. Laswell.
One of the men most closely associated with the growth and prosperity of the town was George W. Peck, who was a native of New York, was educated in the State Normal School, taught for a time, equipped himself as a surveyor and came to Missouri as one of the engineers on the Little River Valley & Ar- kansas Railroad. He made his home in Mal- den and engaged in buying and selling grain. He added to his interests an insurance busi-
375
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
ness and an ice plant and was for many years one of the foremost men of the town. In ad- dition to his business interests he held various positions of trust having been mayor and for more than twenty years was president of the school board. Mr. Peck was a man of high public spiriit and did much to advance the interests of his community. No man deserved more at the hands of the town and none stood higher in the affection of the people. He died very suddenly in 1910.
At present the town has about fifty busi- ness establishments of one kind and another and is constantly adding to the number. There are several large general stores and many other business institutions of different kinds. Several large cotton gins take care of the cotton crop in the vicinity and there is a cotton oil mill. The town has also some large wood working establishments that manufac- ture lumber, staves and heading. A new elec- tric light plant and water works system has recently been installed giving first class serv- ice. There are two banks. The Dunklin County Bank, the oldest in the county, was es- tablished in 1890. It now has a capital stock of $20,000. The Bank of Malden was char- tered in 1903. Its capital stock is also $20,- 000. The town is situated on the main line of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway and a branch of this line runs from here to Cairo, Illinois. There is also a branch of the St. Louis & Gulf which reaches Malden from Clarkton. One of the large wood-working establishments has a tram road running for a number of miles into the East Swamp which is being converted into a standard gauge railroad. Malden has the usual church organizations all of them having build- ings, and the Presbyterian church has re- cently completed the erection of a handsome brick structure. The public school system
is well organized, the town has just completed a new building at a cost of $25,000. The farming country about the town is unusually rich and large quantities of cotton, melons and corn are shipped from this place every year. The population of Malden at the pres- ent time is 2,116.
CAMPBELL
The town of Campbell, Dunklin connty, was established in 1881, the first residents in the town were L. Mccutcheon, J. H. Bridges, H. A. Gardner, L. Walker, Dr. Hale, Dr. William R. Hughes, and the first merchants in the town were Lasswell Brothers, A. D. Bridges & Son, L. Mccutcheon & Company, Levi Walker and William Bridges. The town grew slowly for a number of years but on the erec- tion of a large wood working establishment the population increased very rapidly for a number of years. At the present time there are nineteen general stores besides restau- rants, drug stores and other smaller business interests and there are ten factories, most of these are wood-working establishments of one kind or another, all of them taken together give employment to a large number of men and add considerable to the prosperity of the town. The town was incorporated May 18, 1894, and the first mayor was Charles Cheny. The Bank of Campbell was organized in 1897. It now has a capital stock of $30.000; the First National Bank of Campbell was organized in 1903 and also has a capital of $30,000. The town has a good system of electric lights and is completing a system of water works; the city water is to be taken from an artesian well, one of the few flowing wells in Southeast Mis- sonri. Among the important buildings are the city hall and public school buildings. One of the things of which the city is especially proud is its system of public schools, employ-
376
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
ing ten teachers and giving opportunity for a good high-school education. Under the pat- ronage of the school there have been held each year, for a number of years, an Old Settlers' day which has attracted many people and been the cause of great interest. In 1911 there was organized a Fair Association which that year gave the first of a series of fairs, which was very successful in every way. It is the purpose of the association to continue the custom of an annual fair. The association is pursuing a somewhat different course from other fairs in laying particular stress upon farm improvement and farm development.
Campbell is located on the main line of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway and on a branch of the St. Louis & San Francisco. It is situated in a prosperous farming commu- nity and doubtless has before it a considerable growth. Its present population is 1,781.
Four miles south of Campbell on the Frisco Railroad is the little town of Gibson. It is the junction point of two branches of the Frisco Railroad and is a flourishing village. It has three general stores, blacksmith shop, two churches and a school.
HOLCOMB
Two miles south of Gibson is the town of Holcomb, both in Dunklin county. This was laid out as a town about the year 1870. Ow- ing to its situation with regard to the farming country about it has experienced a steady growth and now has a population of 279. It has good general stores, banks, and school such as are usually found in towns of this size. It is constantly growing and the re- sources of the country around it warrant the belief of its people that it will continue to grow.
SENATH
Ten miles south of Kennett, the county seat of Dunklin county, is the town of Senath. The first settler in the town was A. W. Doug- las who moved there about 1878. The town had very slow growth, and was a mere village for a long time. It depended for its support entirely upon the farming community about it. The farms in this vicinity, however, are among the richest in Southeast Missouri and so the town continued to grow. A postoffice was established and some general stores opened, among the first being J. M. Baird & Company. Cotton gins were built and a mar- ket was formed for the purchase and selling of cotton. In 1897, Louis Houck, who built so many railroads in Southeast Missouri, ex- tended his St. Louis; Kennett & Southern Railroad from Kennett to Senath, and this immediately brought about a growth of the town. Today it is a flourishing community of more than a thousand population and is sub- stantially built of brick in its business section, and has all the evidences of a prosperous com- munity.
CARDWELL
The town of Cardwell, Dunklin county, is situated on the line of the Paragould-South- eastern and Paragould & Memphis Railroad not far from the Arkansas line. It was first settled as a town in 1896 and was not incor- porated until 1904. Among the early settlers were J. T. Meredith, J. A. Southers, W. D. Jackson, J. M. Barber and J. D. Washington. The first merchants were J. M. Seaborn, J. D. Hale, and the Bertig Mercantile Company ; the latter two stores are still in existence and transact the greater part of the mercantile
377
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
business of the town. The town has depended very largely on the farming country and also on the timber interests for support. When the settlement was first made at this point there were immense forests of tim- ber about it and the town was made the loca- tion of some wood-working establishments em- ploying large numbers of men. At the pres- ent time the Cardwell & Buffalo Stave Com- pany operates the most important factory. The Peoples Bank with a capital of $15,000 supplies the financial wants of the citizens. The first mayor was J. R. Pool, who was also postmaster for a number of years. Cardwell is situated in the midst of fine farming coun- try and will no doubt continue to have a steady growth. It now has a population of 874.
Whiteoak, a village in Dunklin county, sit- uated nine miles north of Kennett on the St. Louis & Gulf Railroad, was settled in 1902 on the opening of this road. It has never been incorporated but exists only as a village with- out organized form. It contains at the pres- ent time three general stores and a saw mill. The country around Whiteoak is very fertile and much new farming land is being opened up so that the town will probably continue to be a good trading point.
GLENNONVILLE
The village of Glennonville in Dunklin county north of Campbell, was established in 1904. It was laid out on lands which had been purchased by the Catholic church in the name of Archbishop Glennon of St. Louis. The col- ony was composed of immigrants principally from Germany. It has had a considerable growth and is a flourishing town. The first merchant was L. M. Michlong. There are now three stores in the town and also three wood-
working establishments manufacturing staves and handles.
CARUTII
Caruth is an unincorporated village in Dunklin county. It has two stores, a mill, two churches and a population of about 100. The schoolhouse is the most important build- ing in the place, being built of brick and hav- ing all modern improvements. It contains four rooms.
Cottonplant in Clay township was laid off as a town by E. J. Langdon who for a long time was the only merchant and the town's postmaster. At the present time there is a school, a church, one store and about 150 in- habitants.
Other villages in Dunklin county are Bra- num in the south part of the county, Octa on Varner river south of Kennett and a station on the Frisco Railroad, Hollywood south of Senath, McGuire near Malden on the Frisco, Paulding, Rushcreek on Crowley's ridge, Townley, a saw-mill town north of Malden on the Cotton Belt, Valleyridge north of Camp- bell, Vincit on Buffalo creek south of Kennett, and Wrightville.
DES ARC
The town of Des Arc, in Iron county, was settled first in the year 1800, the early settlers being David Shaver, Andrew Wallace and Major McFadden. The town was not incor- porated as a town until 1889. The first mayor was Charles H. Collins. Some of the early merchants were David Shaver, Charles Col- lins and John and James Heifner. There are now seven general stores, two planing mills, two handle factories, two grist mills, one broom factory and two saw mills. The Bank of Des Arc was organized in 1907 and has a
378
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
capital stock of $10,000. The town is lighted with electric lights and among the important buildings are the Woodman hall and three church buildings. It is on the main line of the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern and has a population of 287.
Sabula is a little village on the main line of the Iron Mountain Railroad in Iron county. It has a population of 70.
The old village of Belleview is situated west of Middlebrook and is an inland community having no railroad communications. It was for a long time famous as a place of residence, the surrounding country being esteemed un- usually healthful and is also very beautiful.
Other villages in Iron county are Granite- vilie, Bixby, Hogan, Mann, Munger, Pippin and Toln.
ANNAPOLIS
Annapolis in Iron county was settled about 1872. It was incorporated in 1902, but the incorporation was allowed to lapse. The first mayor was C. Hart. Among the early settlers were John Thomas Jackson, James Christo- pher and R. A. Clarkson. There are four gen- eral stores, a saw mill and a planing mill in the town. It has the usual number of hotels, restaurants and other minor interests and its present population is 160.
FESTUS
Festus is situated on the St. Louis & San Francisco and the Mississippi & Bonne Terre railways in Jefferson county, about thirty- five miles from St. Louis. It was laid out in 1878 by W. J. Adams and for several years known as Derby City. It contains a number of general stores and other business establish- ments and a good system of public schools, Catholic, Christian, Methodist and Presby- terian churches and a flouring mill. It is only
two miles from Crystal City and many per- sons who are employed at that place make their homes in Festus. It has a system of electric lights and its present population is 2,556. The Citizens Bank was organized in 1889, and has a capital stock of $35,000. The Farmers and Merchants Bank, with a capital of $15,000, was organized in 1903.
House's Springs and Morse Mill are two small village communities in Jefferson county whose names perpetuate the memories of fa- mous pioneers of that county. Both were set- tled very early in the history of that section and both were the scene of Indian attacks dur- ing the early days.
PEVELY
Pevely in Jefferson county is a station on the Mississippi river and Bonne Terre Rail- road just south of Riverside. It has a popula- tion of 247. It is supported by farming country and its railroad interests. It has a school, several stores and a church. The Bank of Pevely was organized in 1906 and has a capital stock of $10,000.
Victoria, with a population of 150, Plattin, Riverside, Rushtower, High Ridge, Grubville, Frumet, Silica, Selma, and Wickes are other small villages. Valles Mines on the Missis- sippi river and Bonne Terre Railroad in the south part of the county is one of the old min- ing locations of this county. It bears the name of the pioneer French family long fa- mous in the history of Ste. Genevieve district.
MINE LAMOTTE
Mine LaMotte, a village in Madison county four miles north of Frederickton and two miles from the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain, is one of the oldest settlements in Southeast Missouri. We have elsewhere given the history of the mine situated here which is
379
HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
really the history of the town as it exists solely by virtue of the former. Its present population is estimated at 500 and it has churches, schools, a few stores and a hotel. Among the men closely associated with the place were the Valles of Ste. Genevieve who operated the mine for a time, one of whom was killed here by Indians, St. Gem Beauvais and J. B. Pratte.
Cornwall is a station on the Belmont branch south of Frederickton. Its population is 45.
Other villages in Madison county are White Springs, famous for its medicinal springs and used as a summer resort, and situated west of Cornwall off the railroad; French Mills, Ro- selle, Saco, Silvermine and Twelvemile.
DIEHLSTADT
The village of Diehlstadt in Mississippi county was settled in 1868 by John Kirkpat- rick who also conducted the first store in the town. The town was incorporated in 1894 and its first mayor was John Rushing. There are at present five general stores besides minor business establishments of various kinds. The town has no factories of any kind and is supported wholly by the farming com- munity in which it is situated. The land about the town is fertile and the community is a prosperous and growing one. Prepara- tions are being made to organize a bank to care for the financial interests. The impor- tant buildings are the lodge hall and the church buildings belonging to the Methodists and Baptists. The town is situated on the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain Rail- road, and has a population of 160.
EAST PRAIRIE
East Prairie, an unincorporated village for- merly known as Hibbard, in St. James town-
ship in Mississippi county twelve miles from Charleston, was laid out in 1883 and for a number of years was almost entirely depend- ent upon saw mills and other wood working establishments. The country about the town has been opened up in recent years and it is now supported very largely by the farming community. It has Methodist, Christian and Catholic churches, cotton gin, several general stores and other business establishments and one newspaper, the East Prairie Eagle, a well edited and newsy county paper. The town is situated on the Cairo branch of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway. The New Bank of East Prairie has a capital stock of $15,000 and was organized in 1905.
BERTRAND
Bertrand is a village on the Cairo branch of the Iron Mountain six miles from Charles- ton. It was laid out in 1859 by H. J. Diehl. It has stores, a church and school. The Bank of Bertrand was chartered in 1906 and its capital is $15,000.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.