Springfield-Greene
County LibraryAlbatross
On Highway 66, near the junction of Highway 39, is located the town of Albatross, once a bus stop. It is located at Township 29, Range 27 W, Section 26. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)Aurora
The largest and most important city of Lawrence County, from a mining, business and population view point, is Aurora. It is situated on a tract of land in Sections 12 and 13, Aurora Township. In 1870, the Frisco railroad reached the locality of what is now Aurora, and the town was platted in May of 1870. Aurora was granted the right to organize as a city of the fourth class, October 5, 1886. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 137.)Big SpringAurora was laid off May 9, 1870, by James G. Elliott, and named for the Goddess of the morning of fabulous mythology. (--How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams were Named, David W. Eaton, Third Article, p. 184.)
This locality was in the northwest corner of the county, in Green Township. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Missouri, Map #35.)Bonham
This town was in the southeast corner of the county on the St. L. I. M. & Section. (Missouri Pacific R.R.) approximately five miles southeast of Aurora. At one time there was a canning factory here. (--Map of Western States, Rand, McNally, 1911; Personal information.)Bower's Mill (or Bower Mills)
This town is named after "Uncle" Billy Bowers, who settled in the neighborhood in the 1830's, on Spring River. Here on the headwaters of Spring River was located Bower's Mill early in the county's history, and before the town, long before, in 1838, the Bower's Mill was erected. The magnificent power furnished by the river induced the building of mills on or near its bank for various purposes. In 1880, were John Adams' flouring mill, Forsythe Bros. flouring mill, also saw and woolen mill, and Henry & Company's saw mill. Dr. R.H. Long and W.M. Weaver were general merchants; S. Stucey, meat dealer; R.W. Craine, wagon maker; N. Finley, blacksmith; Long and Harvey, physicians; G.W. Earnest, Justice of the Peace.[2]
Dr. Long, postmaster. About this time, T.E. Whaley and W.P. Dawson opened a general store. The town was incorporated in 1903. There was a post-office here in 1905. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 153.)CallIt was laid off in 1869. Had 1 drug store, 1 dry goods store, good water power. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)
Bower Mills, so listed in Missouri Manual, 1905-06; Bower's Mill, so listed in Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 17.
It is in Township 28 N, Range 29 W, Section 12. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri. Additional information from General Scheme.)
This town was four and one-half miles east of Miller. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Centre CreekThe post-office was discontinued in 1905, by reason of R.F.D.
This town is shown on the map as being northwest of Verona, in Spring Valley Township. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Missouri, Map #35.)Chesapeake
ClarksonThis community was on R.F.D. from Wentworth, (Newton County). The post-office was discontinued in 1905, by reason of R.F.D. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425; General Scheme.)
The one-time post-office is eight miles east of Mount Vernon. It is a fish hatchery, on Highway 174. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)[3]It is located at Township 28 N, Range 25 W, Section 21. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Chalybeate Springs (Paris Springs)
This spot twelve miles northeast of Mount Vernon was a popular health resort. Its waters were noted for their healing qualities. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)Dunkle's Store (Lawrenceburg)Chalybeate Springs (Paris Springs), so listed in Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 18, p. 305.
It is located at Township 29 N, Range 25 W, Section 28, on Highway 266. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This community was a post-office sixteen miles northeast of Mount Vernon. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)ElliottDunkle's Store (Lawrenceburg), so listed in Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 19, but in Missouri Manual, 1905-06, it is simply listed as Lawrenceburg, p. 374.
It is located at Township 29 N, Range 25 W, Section 10. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This small town was approximately four miles north of Aurora, between Aurora and Mount Vernon. (--Map of Western States, Rand, McNally, 1911.)Village of Forest Park
Forest Park is that part of Monett (Barry County) lying in Lawrence County. It is located in Section 30, Range 27, Peirce Township. The population, 1967, was 1,244. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)Village of Freistatt
The hamlet of Freistatt is located in Freistatt Township. Here there is a Lutheran Church, parsonage and Parochia School, and a general store. The place came into existence in the early 1880's, but has given no indication of reaching a further growth. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, pp. 114-115-116.)[4]It was named for a town in Germany. (--University of Missouri, Bulletin: Place Names of Missouri, p. 32.)
It is located at Township 29 N, Range 27 W, Sections 28 & 29. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Gaither
This community was five and one-half miles northwest of Mount Vernon. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Globe
This was a station on the Frisco railway, approximately half-way between Verona and Monett (Barry County). (--Map of the Western States, Rand, McNally, 1911.)Gray's Point (Grey's Point)
This post-office, with the alternate spelling, was twelve miles northwest of Mount Vernon. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306; The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)HallIt is located at Township 29 N, Range 28 W, Section 10. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
The post-office was discontinued in 1905, by reason of R.F.D. (--General Scheme.)
This community was in Buck Prairie Township, northeast of Aurora, near Marionville. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Missouri, Map #34.)Halltown
It is in Buck Prairie Township, approximately five miles south and east of Paris Springs, on Highway 266. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Haven'sIt is located at Township 29 N, Range 25 W, Section 25. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This post-office was fourteen miles north, northeast of Mount Vernon. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)[5]
Heaton
This post-office was six miles north of Mount Vernon. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 305-306.)HobergThis is another little village that failed to reach the expectations of its sponsor. It lies in Section 32 of Lincoln Township, and is seven miles northeast of Mount Vernon. The place was platted for Daniel Heaton in 1868, and a year thereafter had ten residences, one store, a blacksmith shop and the post-office, the latter being discontinued in 1881, as no one would assume the responsibilities of so important a position. However, in 1888, R.H. Williams consented to take the title, dignities and emoluments of the Heaton post-office department. There is no office there now, and hardly anything else. (1917) (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 156.)
It is located at Township 27 N, Range 27 W, Section 11. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Hoberg is a thriving little town on the Missouri-Pacific railroad in the western part of Lawrence County. It was laid out on a tract of land owned by a Daniel Withams and Henry Hoberg in September, 1903.Johnson's MillsThe first general store was opened by J.B. Henson & Son, soon followed by Pete McGannon with the Hoberg Mercantile Company and lumber yard. Later an elevator, and a mill were built, although the mill was soon destroyed by fire. Later a livery stable was established. A church, Presbyterian, was built in 1906, and the Bank of Hoberg was opened in 1912. The post-office was opened in 1907, with several rural free delivery routes connected with it. The first barber shop was opened in 1910 by Luther Hunt. Hoberg has a population of 200 people (1917). (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 156.)
It is located at Township 27 N, Range 27 W, Section 11. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
These mills on the Turnback Creek had three grist mills and a carding machine, within a short distance of each other. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)[6]
Kendalville
Kendalville was laid out by T.J. Smith for H.R. Kendal, Amos Saunders, and Reuben Thomas in 1886, and one or two stores flourished for a while. The name is no longer on the map (1917). (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 153.)Lawrenceburg
On each side the section line, in Sections three & four, in Ozark Township, lies the Village of Lawrenceburg. It was surveyed in April, 1870, by J.W. Black and William J. Ruark for J.W. Wilkerson. This is but a small trading place, and is un-incorporated (1917). (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 155.)LoganIt was four and one-half miles northwest of Haven (Greene County). (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)
There was a post-office here in 1905-06. (--Missouri Manual, 1905-1906, p. 376.)
It is located at Township 29 N, Range 25 W, Section 10. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Logan is a station on the Frisco railroad, six miles east of Aurora, and is situated in Section 25 Buck's Prairie Township. It was laid out by William Logan in April 1870, and on the 8th day of that month, Andrew Peirce acknowledged the plat of another part of the town surveyed into lots for him.[7]Logan attracted people to its confines in 1870, and in a short time Logan Bros., G.M. Wrightsman, and J.M. Doling and Company, were the merchants of the new trading point. Doling and Vinton went into the grain business, and J.B. Milliken was the postmaster. For some years this was the shipping point for Mount Vernon and Marionville, as at the time, the latter place had no station and was all of a mile from the railroad as it is today (1917). (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, p. 152; Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)
It is located at Township 27 N, Range 25 W, Section 25. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
About the only business places in Logan consists of a cafe and a service station. (--Personal information.)
Lyons
See Bower Mills. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)Marionville
Marionville, the capital city of Buck Prairie Township is situated in the southeastern part of the county on the Frisco railroad, about five miles east of Aurora. Before its existence as a corporation back in the 1840's, there was a settlement in this locality known as the "Log School House". It is in Section 35 of Buck Prairie Township. It was platted January 28, 1854, by James M. Moore and had 8 or 10 business houses and a newspaper. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 132. Also, Gazetteer of Missouri, pp. 305-306.)MillerIt is located at Township 27 N, Range 25 W, Section 35. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Miller was laid out in 1890, on the southeast quarter of Section 23 in Lincoln Township. It was named in honor of a railroad man, and the one man who made possible the founding of the lively little city.MindenJohn Mills, who had a little store at the hamlet of Murrell City, a short distance south of Miller, and now, (1917) a part of the town, moved to Miller, and became its first merchant.
In the spring of 1896, Miller was incorporated as a village, and on the 7th day of September, 1915, it was granted a charter for a city of the fourth class. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, pp. 149-151.)
It is located at Township 29 N, Range 27 W, Sections 23 & 24. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This community was in the south central section of the county, in Spring Valley Township. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Missouri, Map #35.)[8]
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon was chosen for the distinction of County Seat by Larkin Newton, of Newton, Elijah Gray, of Greene, and Samuel Malugan of Jasper (all counties of the Ozarks) commissioners appointed by the Legislature for the purpose. The location is on Section 30, Township 28 N, Range 26 W, and was named at the May session of the County Court in 1845.McKinleyIt is 11 miles north of Verona within a half mile of the center of the county and situated on an elevation so that it is seen from a distance of 10 or 12 miles from the road. It was laid off in 1845. Had 11 stores, an excellent steam flouring mill, 3 blacksmith shops, 2 saddleries. It is the home of the Missouri Sanatorium for treatment of lung ailments.
Possibly, a couple years before Mount Vernon was laid out a post-office named Mount Vernon was established some distance northwest of the present county seat and John Kellog was appointed postmaster. He also erected the first house.
In 1846 B.K. Turk erected a blacksmith shop on the south side of the square. It is said that M.B. Phillips and one other were the only persons in the town for two or three years after it was founded. Mount Vernon was incorporated as a town on Feb. 9, 1838 and on the 4th day of November, 1857, it was incorporated as a village. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, pp. 114-115-116.)
It is located at Township 28 N, Range 26-27 W, Section 30, on Highways 39 & I-44. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Formerly this small town was a bus stop until the re-location of Highway 60 several years ago. It is four and one-half miles east of Marionville. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425; Missouri Manual, 1905-1906, p. 375.)McNealIt is located at Township 27 N, Range 25 W, Section 12, on Highway 14. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This small town was approximately two miles east of Call or six and one-half miles east of Miller. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)[9]
Murrell City
See Miller.Olinger
This post-office was four and one-half miles north of Miller. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425; Missouri Manual, 1905-1906, p. 376.)Opal
This town was approximately four miles northwest of Aurora. (--Map of Western States, Rand, McNally, 1911.)OrangeIt is located at Township 27 N, Range 26 W, Section 27-28. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This community was on R.F.D. approximately eight miles north of Aurora. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Village of Paris Springs
The erstwhile little trading point of Paris Springs was located on Section 29 in Ozark Township, and was first known as Johnson's Mills. Clover Creek was used in the 1850'S by the firm of Cherry & Johnson, J.R. Johnson and W.F. Likens for mill power, and turned out flour and meal from each of their mills, supplying a wide range of country.[10]Later there was O.P. Johnson's saw mill and woolen mill, also E.L. Davis chair factory. In the 1880's O.P. Johnson was postmaster. Not much is left of Paris Springs, and it has failed to materialize as a watering place.
See, also Chalybeate Springs. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, p. 154; Missouri Manual, 1905-06, p. 376.)
It is located at Township 29 N, Range 25 W, Section 28. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
The Village of Phelps
The Village of Phelps has not gotten along very far in its endeavor to make a noise in the world. In 1880, it had a population of eighty souls, but what it enjoys at this day (1917) and generation is not just known, as its identity is lost by being mixed in with that of the township. The town (?) was located in Section 29, in Greene Township about 1880, and ten years later had a school and three religious societies. There were two general merchants, a drug store, a hotel, a wagon maker, two blacksmiths and three doctors. It was a post-office seven miles northwest of Mount Vernon. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 154.)Peirce City (also Pierce City)It is located at Township 29 N, Range 27 W, Sections 29 & 32, on Highways 66 and UU. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Pierce City, laid out in 1870 by Henry C. Young and Charles B. McAfee, was named for Andrew Pierce of Boston, then president of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Company, but the name was misspelled "Peirce" on the original plat dedicating the land for public use. (--How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named, by David Eaton, Third Article, p. 184.)QuinnIn the spring of 1870, the original town of Peirce City was surveyed, the land chosen for the site lying on the north east quarter of Section 2, and the northeast quarter of Section 21, in Peirce Township.
Peirce City is situated within a short distance of the first county seat of Barry County, named Mt. Pleasant, and this little extinct village served as the seat of justice while Lawrence County was yet a part of Barry County. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, pp. 127-128.)
It is located at Sections 21 & 28, Township 26 N, Range 28 W. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This town is shown on a map of the State Highway Commission, as being located at Township 26 N, Range 28 W, Section 17. It is a short distance north of Pierce City. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)[11]
Plew
This small town was four miles southwest of Red Oak. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Red OakIt was located at Township 29 N, Range 29 W, Section 25, on Highway 66, near the Jasper County line. (--Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This town, a post-office, was three miles southwest of Grey's Point. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)RescueIt was in Township 29 N, Range 28 W, Section 17, on Highway YY north of 66. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
The post-office was listed in Missouri Manual, 1905-1906, p. 377.
This locality was four and one-half miles west of Phelps. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)RoperIt was located at Township 29 N, Range 28 W, Section 27. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
It was on Highway 66 west of 97.
This locality was seven and one-half miles north of McKinley. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Round Grove
Round Grove is a hamlet that was laid out in 1872 by Jonathan Hunt. It is located in the northern part of Greene Township and is about eleven miles northwest of the county seat. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 153.)[12]It was on R.F.D. from King's Point (Dade County). (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)
It had one store and a Baptist Church. (--Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 306.)
It was a post-office, listed on page 377, of Missouri Manual, 1905-06.
It was located at Township 29 N, Range 27 W, Section 5, on Highway UU east of 97. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
St. Martha
St. Martha was surveyed on Section 30, Peirce Township for William R. Wild, May 9, 1870. If there ever was a town at this location, no vestige of it remains to tell the story. (1917.) (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, p. 153.)Spencer Village
Spencer was the name given to a post-office six miles northeast of Mount Vernon. It lies in Section 31 of Ozark Township and in the 1880's had a schoolhouse, flouring mill close by, a post-office, Methodist and Christian Churches and resident pastors for them. There were two general stores owned by J.M. Foster and O.P. Johnson, Jr. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, p. 154.)Spring River
Spring River was in the northwest corner of the county, near the Jasper County line. It was in Greene Township. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Missouri, Map #35.)Stinson
This town was approximately three miles north of McNeal. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Stotts CityIt was located at Township 29 N, Range 26 W, Section 10, on Highway DD, between Miller and Lawrenceburg. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
Stotts City owes its existence to the discovery of the rich mines of lead and zinc about 1885. The town was first platted by the Mount Vernon Mining Company, and took its name from the pioneer family of Stotts, old time residents of that part of Lawrence County. The town was not incorporated until the year 1898.[13]The original town plat covered but twenty acres, which has had several additions added to it.
Among the first mercantile establishments of the town, were the Kemper grocery store; George Davis, general store; Charles Lawson, who later associated with him Mr. Clements in a general store. The first postmaster was Clement Steele, and Dr. A.J. Stark was the first physician. Joe N. Browning, who learned his business in the Miners & Farmers Bank of Aurora, came to Stotts City in 1898 and established the Stotts City Bank, the first in town.TalpaStotts City has a good high school with a two year course, also, a good public school. There are four churches, two banks, three doctors, five general stores, one meat market and grocery combined, two hardware stores, three blacksmith shops, one drug store, two barbershops and one lumber-yard. Population about 600, (1917). (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, pp. 155-156; also, Missouri Manual, 1905-06, p. 379.)
It is located at Township 28 N, Range 28 W, Section 14. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This community was north of Pierce City, on R.F.D. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 425.)Verona
Verona is one of the oldest towns of the county. It was surveyed and laid out into lots, May 2, 1868, on the south east quarter of Section 17, Spring River Township, and was incorporated as a town, May 3, 1870. (--The Ozark Region, Its History and Its People, A History of Lawrence County, Vol. II, pp. 123-125.)WilliamsIt was named for the town in Italy. (--How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams were Named, by David Eaton, Third Article, p. 184.)
It is located at Township 26 N, Range 26 W, Sections 16 & 17. (--Highway Map of Lawrence County, as issued by The State Highway Commission of Missouri.)
This town was in the north east corner of the county, in Ozark Township. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Missouri, Map #35.)Yingst
This town, with a very unusual name, is listed among the post-offices in the Missouri Manual, 1893-94.