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Franklin (later referred to as Old Franklin)
This town (named after Benjamin Franklin) afterwards called "Old Franklin" in contradistinction to New Franklin, the same township, was located on Section 5, Township 48 N, Range 16 West in 1816, on the river bank, and opposite to Boonville, in Cooper County. It was selected in 1817, as the county seat of Howard County by Benjamin Estill, David Jones, David Kincaid, William Head and Stephen Cole, who were appointed commissioners for that purpose by the General Assembly of Missouri. Hannah Cole's fort remained the county seat, however, until the second Monday in November, 1817, when the circuit court met at Franklin the first time...
About two years after the town was laid out, an addition was added, called "East Franklin"...The streets were eighty-seven feet wide. The first house built in Franklin, upon the authority of Mrs. Mary Jones, was erected by Amos Barnes. It was constructed of rough logs and stood near the river bank. The land office was located there, soon after it was founded, and it being the western settlement of any importance in the State, it was the starting point for the Santa Fe country...Many prominent men of Missouri were citizens of Old Franklin, among whom were four governors. Claiborne F. Jackson is perhaps the most famous governor, was a clerk in a store operated by Kickman and Lamb from Kentucky. This was in the year 1826...Henry V. Bingham, father of George Bingham, the well known artist and portrait painter kept a hotel...The Missouri Intelligencer, the first newspaper established west of St. Louis, was started here in 1819...
Franklin continued to be the county seat of Howard County, until 1823, when the county seat was located at Fayette, since it is about the geographical center of the county (after Cooper and Boone Counties had been taken from its territory...) It is estimated that Franklin, during its palmiest days--from 1823 to 1825--contained between 1,500 and 1,700 people. In 1828, on account of the overflow and washing away of the town site, Franklin was almost entirely abandoned, her citizens going elsewhere to live; a number of these families founded the town of New Franklin, within two miles of Old Franklin in the same township...The first post-office was established April 20, 1821, Augustus Stores, postmaster. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, 1883, pp. 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171.)
It will be recalled that Franklin was located on the bank of the Missouri River in 1816, that it was selected as the county seat of Howard in 1817, that it grew rapidly in population and importance...The town and Hardeman's Gardens (q.v.) were built on a sandy foundation and in 1826-1828 during unusual floods, the Missouri claimed the right-of-way...The abundant floods caused the sandy banks to cave in. House after house fell into the river and in a short time, but little was left of the town or "gardens". Many people moved to Fayette, which had been the county seat since 1823, some crossed teh river to Boonville, and others moved to the high land about two miles north and established a new town...(In this year of 1922 not a house is left standing in the original town of Franklin.) (--Hist. of Chariton & Howard Counties, 1923, pp. 84, 85.)
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(See under New Franklin.)
Glasgow (elevation 665 feet)
Glasgow owed its early existence to two facts: the healthfulness of its location and the advantages of a future trading-point.
Other towns had been founded near it, one of which (Old Chariton) had attained considerable importance, and at one time contained from one to two thousand inhabitants, but after surviving for a number of years, the site was finally abandoned, on account of malaria and other diseases...Old Chariton was laid out in 1817, by Duff Green...Thomas Joyce, and Major Finley, near the mouth of the Chariton River, two miles north of the present city of Glasgow. The town grew so rapidly, and promised so much for the future, that William Coblen, one of the pioneers of the place, actually exchanged his lots in St. Louis, for an equal number of lots in Chariton.
Chariton being regarded in 1829, as too unhealthy to live in, the town of Monticello was then located, one mile to the rear of it, on high land. In 1832, another town was started on a point projecting into the Missouri River, at the mouth of the Chariton, which was called Thortonsburg. This name, however, not suiting the citizens of the place, many of whom had emigrated from Kentucky, they determined to change it, and finally bestowed upon the town, the more euphonious, albeit longer appellation Louisville-on-Missouri-River.
It has been said that too much name is not only burdensome, but at times proved fatal to its owner. Whether the name in this instance had any effect on the aspiration of the town, we cannot say, but it is a fact that Louisville-on-Missouri River, together with its predecessors Chariton, Thortonsburg, and Monticello, have long since been numbered with the things of the past. None of the above situations being just what was desired upon which to rear a permanent town of city, they were all abandoned, and teh present town site of Glasgow was selected as possessing all the requisites necessary for such an enterprise.
In the fall of 1836, the town was laid out originally on parts of Sections 8, 9, 16, & 17, Township 51 N, Range 17 West by a group of men, of whom James Glasgow was one...The name Glasgow was given in his honor. He was one of the early settlers of Chariton, and afterwards moved to St. Louis, where he died. The pioneer business man of the place was a Mr. Walker, who erected the typical log cabin...Here he opened a small stock of goods and his prime stock goods were whiskey and tobacco...The earliest "village blacksmith" was Green W. Plunkett, who came from Kentucky...Emerson T. Thornton (after the latter the old town of Thorntonsburg was called) established the first ferry here...
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On the 27th of February, 1845, the legislature passed "an act incorporating the City of Glasgow". In 1850, at the Port of Glasglow a total of 10 steamboats "came up the river, while a total of 11 went down the river." (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, 1883, pp. 205, 206, 207, 209, 210.)
The population in 1874 was about 2,800. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, 1874, p. 253.)
This town, on the bank of Missouri River, was surveyed, and the lots offered for sale, on the 20th of Sept. 1836, while the forest trees were standing on the site. The underwood had been cleared out of the lots fronting on the river...The old town of Chariton had been depopulated, and its sickly location condemned by acclamation. The business men of the vicinity were anxious to find a location on the river where receiving and shipping and retail business could be conducted for the trade of a rich and extensive tract of farming country...(--Wetmore's Gazetteer of Missouri, 1837, p. 92.)
Hardeman's Garden (see Franklin)
Among those who came to Franklin about 1820 was a wealthy German, John Hardeman, and he proceeded to lay off a park known as "Hardeman's Garden", about five miles above Franklin and nearly opposite the mouth of the La Mine River...Mr. Hardeman died about 1829, and his park soon went the way of its master, the same floods claiming it that claimed the life of Franklin. (--Hist. of Chariton & Howard Counties, 1923, p. 84.)
Hilldale
Hilldale was in the southeast corner of the county near Boone County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 405.)
It was situated at Sec. 6, Twp. 49 N, Range 15 West on an unmarked county road leading south from CC east of A.
There was a post-office there in 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 46.)
Hilldale is no longer listed in Howard County. There is a Hillsdale in St. Louis County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Kingsbury
Kingsbury is on the south edge of the county near the Missouri River, on the M. K. & T. R. R. (--Sectional Map of Missouri, 1894, Rand, McNally.)
See North Boonville. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Land Mark
Land Mark was near the Boone County line, 10 miles east and south of Fayette. (--The State of Mo. in 1904, p. 405.)
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Apparently it was situated at Sec. 18, Twp. 50 N, Range 14 West, on an unmarked county road leading from Highway 124 west of A. (--General Highway Map of Howard Co., with the aid of New Atlas of Mo., 1874, p. 19.)
Apparently it is the same as Sebree.
The post-office was discontinued July 31, 1917; thereafter mail via Fayette. (--Mo. Manual, 1917-18, p. 644.)
Lisbon
Lisbon on the Missouri River 14 miles west, southwest of Fayette, contained two stores, 1 steam flouring-mill, 1 tobacco factory, several shops and about 100 inhabitants (1874). (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Mo., p. 253.)
The post-office was discontinued prior to 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 46.)
It was a boat landing and was a thriving village with a telephone exchange. (--Hist. of Chariton & Howard Counties, 1923, p. 79.)
Mail via Glasgow. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Lloyds
Lloyds was east of Pearsons on the rail road. (--Map of Mo., 1939, Rand, McNally.)
Louisville-on-Missouri River
See Glasgow. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, 1883, pp. 205, 206, 207, 209, 210.)
McDonald
McDonald was on the county line between Randolph and Howard Counties, on the M. K. & T. R. R. (--Map of Mo., 1931, Rand, McNally.)
Monticello
See Glasgow.
There is a Monticello in Lewis County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Myer's Post-Office
See Bunker Hill.
It was ten miles northeast of Fayette and had one store and one church. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 253.)
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New Franklin (elevation 600 feet)
New Franklin owes its existence to the fall and final obliteration of Old Franklin and was laid out in 1828, on the west half of Sec. 28, Twp. 49 N, Range 16 West which was then owned by James Alcorn.
James Alcorn built the first business house, Willis Robertson, the first blacksmith shop...The town was incorporated February 7th, 1833. The population (1883) is about 250. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, Nat'l Hist. Society, p. 172.)
New Franklin is 2 1/2 miles northeast of Franklin and 2 1/2 miles from Estill. It contained 1 church, 1 public school, 1 steam flouring mill, 4 stores and several shops. Population about 275. (--Gazetteer of Missouri, 1874, p. 253.)
Many of the buildings of the old town were moved to the new. In addition to the first business men mentioned above, Mr. Switzler was the first hotel-keeper...The first and only lottery chartered by the State of Missouri, was started at this point, the purpose of which was to raise $15,000 in order to enable the town to build a railroad to the river. The charter was afterwards modified, so as to permit the construction of a plank road, and still later to embrace a macadamized public highway instead...
The town contained one dry goods store, two drug stores, one grocery, one harness shop, one blacksmith shop, one carpenter, one barber, the physicians, one hotel, two churches, and one school-house. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, pp. 172, 173.)
New Franklin nestled in its new site and remained a village for more than half a century. Its dream of a railroad began to be realized in 1867 when a movement was begun which eventuated in a trunk line from Hannibal, Mo., to Dennison, Texas, which in later years - 1895 - was enlarged by an addition from New Franklin to St. Louis.
The building of the Missouri, Kansas and Eastern in 1894 (now Missouri, Kansas and Texas) brought enlargement to the town, and an addition to the westward is called Franklin.
It is the site of the roundhouse, the machine shops and the homes of the employees of the railroad. There is a bank, a Union church and a branch of the public school... (--Hist. of Chariton & Howard Counties, 1923, p. 86.)
Franklin is situated at Section 29 & 30, Township 49 N, Range 16 West at the west edge of New Franklin, (q.v.)
North Boonville
Mail via New Franklin. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
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North Side
See Franklin. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 253.)
Old Chariton
See Glasgow.
Old Franklin
An extinct town in Howard County, formerly known as Franklin, now as Old Franklin, to distinguish it from the present town of the original name. It was situated on the Missouri River, opposite the present site of Boonville. It was laid out in 1816, on fifty acres of land donated for the purpose. Two acres were reserved for a public square, and streets were eighty-seven feet wide. It was for a time the largest and most flourishing town in the State after St. Louis, being the trade center for a large region, and an outfitting point for the Santa Fe traders...In 1825 Fayette became the county seat on account of its central location.
In 1826 the encroachments of the river caused the inhabitants to move, removing the buildings bodily or tearing them down to make more rapidly disposal of the material. In a short time the site was entirely swept away. All that now remains is the old graveyard, which lay beyond its limits. (--Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conard, Vol. 5, pp. 9, 10.)
Pearsons
Pearsons was situated at Sec. 25, Twp. 49 N, Range 16 West.
Petersburt (Cooper Chapel)
It is in the southwest corner of the county, at Sec. 13, Twp. 49N, Range 18 West, at the junction of Highways J & Z, southwest of Boonsboro.
Mail via Franklin. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Richmond (Richmond Township)
This was the name of an old business point which was situated of the present town of Fayette, in what was known as the Spanish Needle District. The township took its name after it. It contained one small store of general merchandise and a blacksmith shop. It now lives only in the memory of the old settlers. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, Nat'l Hist. Society, p. 178.)
There is a Richmond in Ray County; Richmond Heights in St. Louis County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
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Roanoke
Roanoke was originally settled by Virginians, who were John Randolph, of Roanoke, and named the new town after his country seat--Roanoke. It was laid off in 1834, on the east half of the southeast quarter of Sec. 10, and west half of the southwest quarter of Sec. 11, Twp. 52 N, Range 16 West. James Head erected the first house in the town, as a general store building; he was also the first postmaster.
The town contained 2 churches, 2 dry goods stores, 2 groceries, 2 drug stores, 1 tin shop, and stove store, 2 saddlers, 2 milliners, 2 blacksmiths, 1 furniture store, 1 public school and 1 boarding-house. Roanoke was the place for holding the great central fair for several years after 1866; this fair was sustained by Howard, Randolph and Chariton Counties. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, Nat'l Hist. Society, p. 238.)
It was incorporated in February, 1853, March 1861, and again, March, 1868. It is 12 miles north of Fayette. It had a good public school, 7 stores, large tobacco factory and several shops. Population about 300 (1874). (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, pp. 254, 253.)
The post-office, in 1905, is listed on p. 46 of General Scheme.
Roanoke straddles the Howard-Randolph County line, with a total of 28 in Howard County and a total of 6 in Randolph Co.
It is situated at Sec. 10 & 11, Twp. 52 N, Range 16 West at the junction of 5, 129 & B.
Mail via Armstrong. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Roanoke is one of the oldest towns settled in Randolph County and lies partly in Randolph County and partly in Howard County, the dividing line between the two counties running through the town. It was incorporated...It also possessed probably the most unique opera house in Missouri. The peculiarity of the opera house lay in the fact that it was built (purposely) directly on the county line between the two counties above mentioned, and as a result it lies in two different counties, two different State senatorial districts and two different Congressional districts. At election time it serves as a public voting place, and is occupied by the separate sets of judges and clerks who act for the said political sub-divisions, one set of judges and clerks having their seats at the window on the north side of the room, and the other set having their seats at the windows on the south side. The room is also used as the court house of the town. When a case is tried there, the venue of which is in Randolph County, the magistrate and jury and parties interested occupy the north end of the opera house; when the venue of the case lies in Howard County, the courts meets on the south half of the room. (1901) (--Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conard, Vol. 5, pp. 369, 370.)
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Rosalie
Rosalie was four miles east of New Franklin. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 406.)
There was a post-office there in 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 46.)
Russell
Russell, on the M. K. & T. R. R., 11 miles north, northeast of Fayette, was a new town in the vicinity of coal mines, then yielding 5 car-loads of coal per day. It contained 1 store, steam mill, several shops, etc. Population about 75. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 254.)
The M. K. & T. railway runs through the northwest corner of Bonne Femme Township, and formerly had a station called Russell in Section 25, but this was moved to Section 2 in Burton Township after mining operations ceased at the old place. (--Hist. of Chariton & Howard Counties, 1923, Historical Publishing Co., Topeka - Indianapolis, pp. 114, 115.)
Sebree (Moniteau Township)
See Land Mark.
The town of Sebree was laid out on a part of the southeast quarter and part of the northeast quarter of Sec. 18, Twp. 50 N, Range 14 West. The town was located on the projected line of the Louisiana and Mississippi R. R. The road, never having been built, the town did not thrive. (--Hist. of Howard & Cooper Counties, Nat'l Hist. Society, p. 240.)
It had 1 store, etc., and was 9 miles east of Fayette. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 254.)
Steinmetz
Steinmetz is approximately midway between Armstrong and Glasgow on the Chicago & Alton R. R. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 405.)
There was a post-office there in 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 46.)
It is situated at Sec. 7, Twp. 51 N, Range 16 West on Highways 240 & 5, east of Glasgow.
Mail via Glasgow. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Sugar Tree Grove
Its location is unknown but it is referred to in Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 242.
There is no Sugar Tree Grove in Howard County, but a Sugar Tree in Carroll County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
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Talbot
Talbot was a station on the M. K. & T. R. R., 4 miles south of Fayette. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 254.)
Apparently it was situated at Sec. 35, Twp. 50 N, Range 16 West on Highway DD south of Robb Creek.
It is not listed in Rand, McNally, 1974.
Thorntonsburg
See Glasgow.
Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove was near New Franklin. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, pp. 242, 245.)
Walnut Grove is no longer in Howard County; there is a Walnut Grove in Greene Co.; Walnut Shade in Taney Co. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
White's Store
White's Store was on the United States Road 9 miles southeast of Fayette and 5 miles northwest of Rocheport. It was a good business point in the midst of a fine country. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 254.)
There was a post-office there in 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 46.)
It is no longer listed.
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