A Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets
Past and Present
of Scott County, Missouri

Compiled by Arthur Paul Moser


Scott County

[1]

Ancell

A post-office which was listed in Missouri Manuals, 1917-18, p. 634, and 1929-30, p. 944.

It was consolidated since 1950 with Fornfelt to form Scott City. (--Standard Reference Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally.)

Beach

A post-office listed in Mo. Manual, 1929-30, p. 944. Location is unknown.

Benton

Benton, 5 miles northeast of Morley, formerly the county seat ... had one of the best school houses in the county, also 1 M. E. Church, South, 1 store, 1 tannery, 1 carding machine and 1 carpenter shop. Population about 150 (1874). (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, Campbell, p. 597.)

The town of Benton was laid out in 1822, upon land owned by Col. William Rogers ... Among the first residents of the town were Edmund Rogers, who built a log tavern ... John Houts ... who ... ran a tanyard; Michael McLaughlin, who sold goods ... The first physicians were John Goulding and Samuel Chapman ... Benton was incorporated by the county court in April, 1860 ... The corporation was allowed to lapse and was not revived until November, 1880. In 1878, by a vote of the people, the seat of justice was removed to Benton. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1888, Goodspeed, pp. 303, 353, 354, 462.)

It is located at Sec. 18, R. 14 E & Sec. 13, R 13 E in Twp. 28 N, at the junction of 61, 77 & E. (General Highway Map of Scott County, issued by the Missouri State Highway Dept., 8-1-65. Unless otherwise noted all map descriptions are from this map.)

Bleda

Bleda was in the northwestern section of the county 5 miles from De Ray (Cape Girardeau Co.). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 515)

Blodgett

The settlement of Blodgett was made in 1869 ... The men who laid out the town and were among its first residents were; W. B. Congelton, B. F. Marshall, and Charles L. Stubbs. Marshall and Stubbs were the early merchants. The town was incorporated in 1900 and Z. T. Wright was made the first mayor ... Population (in 1912) was 422. Blodgett enjoyed the distinction in 1912 of shipping more water melons than any other station in the world. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 389.)

[2]

Blodgett (Cont)

The settlement of Blodgett was made in 1869 ... The men who laid out the town and were among its first residents were: W. B. Congelton, B. F. Marshall, and Charles L. Stubbs. Marshall and Stubbs and W. B. Sherer were the early merchants. The town was incorporated in 1900 and Z. T. Wright was made the first mayor ... Population in 1912 was 422. Blodgett is situated in the midst of fine farming country and enjoyed the distinction (in 1912) of shipping more watermelons than any other station in the world. (--History of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 389.)

It is located at Sec. 10, Twp. 27 N, R. 14 E at the junction of Highway H & U.

Caney Creek

Cane Creek was a post-office on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R. 8 miles northwest of Morley, and was located near the center of a heavily timbered district. The lumber produced by 2 saw mills was shipped from this point. (--Gazetteer of Mo., po. 597.)

It was located at Sec. 35, Twp. 39 N, R. 12 E on an unmarked county road west of 77.

Brooks Junction

Brooks Junction is at the junction of two lines of the Frisco Railway, in Sec. 3, Twp. 27 N, R. 13 E.

Chaffee

The town of Chaffee was laid off in August, 1905. The land on which the town was situated was purchased by officials of the Frisco Railroad and laid off into town lots. Shortly after its establishment the town was made the division point of the Frisco road and the repair shops removed to this point from Cape Girardeau. The first mayor of the town was R. J. Wright and its first merchants were Wright Mercantile Company and H. A. Osman. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Vol. 1,p. 389.)

It is located at Sec. 7, 8 & 18, Twp. 29 N, R. 13 E at the junction of A, 77 & E, in the northwest corner of the county near Cape Girardeau County line.

Commerce

Commerce was the county seat in 1874, and is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, 166 miles below St. Louis, 43 miles above Cairo, and 15 miles northeast of Morley, which is a station on the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railway, 163 miles from St. Louis. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Mo., 1874, p. 70.)

[3]

Commerce (Cont)

Commerce, the county seat, 13 miles northeast of Morley is on the Mississippi River 15 miles below Cape Girardeau. The place was laid out in 1822, incorporated January 15th, 1857, and made the county seat in 1864 ... In 1874 it contained 7 stores, 4 shops, 4 hotels, 2 stave manufactories, 1 pottery, 1 steam grist-mill, 2 churches -- M.E. Church South and 1 Baptist. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 597.)

It is situated in the northeast corner of the county on Mississippi River, Twp. 29 N, R. 15 E at the end of Highway E, east of N.

In 1878, by a vote of the people, the seat of justice was removed to Benton ... (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., Goodspeed, pp. 303, 353, 354.)

Diehlstadt

Diehlstadt, 11 miles southeast of Morley, near the southeast boundary of the county, was laid out in 1868, and contained 1 store, 1 church -- Baptist, 1 school-house, 1 steam cotton-gin, 1 grist-mill and about 100 inhabitants. Near this town was a cypress grove from which fine timber was obtained; a steam sawmill was being erected at the edge of this grove -- 1874. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 597.)

It is near the Mississippi County line, at Sec. 27, 28, Twp. 27 N, R 15 E on Highway 77.

It is a rural branch of Charleston Post-Office. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Fornfelt

The towns of Fornfelt and Illmo owe their existence to the building of the Thebes bridge and the consequent construction of the St. Louis, Southwestern Railway to the bridge. The first persons who made their homes in what is now Fornfelt were G. S. Cannon and A. Braudenistal. The town dates its settlement from September, 1904, and was incorporated the following May, the first mayor being Charles Hanim ...

The possession of the railroad yards of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern (now Mo. Pacific) is shared by Fornfelt and Illmo as the yards are between the two towns. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 387.)

Fornfelt was consolidated with Ancell since 1950 to form Scott City. (--Rand, McNally Reference Guide of Mo., 1974.)

Graysboro

Graysboro was in the extreme northeast corner of the county on Mississippi River. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 515.)

[4]

Hamburg (St. Lawrence)

Hamburg (St. Lawrence) 6 miles north of Morley, was a German town, containing about 100 inhabitants. It had 1 hotel, 3 mills, 5 stores, 2 shops and 1 church -- Catholic. This was built of stone and was said to have been one of the finest in southeastern Missouri. The Catholics also had a fine school-house with high and primary schools and about 250 inhabitants. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

Illmo elevation 360 feet

Just as is true of Fornfelt, Illmo owes its existence to the building of the Thebes bridge. It was settled in 1904 and incorporated in 1905, the first mayor being Phillip Ruebel. Among the first settlers were J. P. Lightner, Casper Roth and Charles Will ... The town of Illmo is the division headquarters for the St. Louis Southwestern and St. Louis, Iron Mountain Railroads. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 388.)

It is situated at Sec. 33, Twp. 29 N, & Sec. 33 Twp. 30 N, R. 14 E on an unmarked county road south of N and adjacent to Scott City.

Kelso elevation 360 feet

Kelso was settled in 1882 and incorporated as a town in 1904, the first mayor being A. L. Drury ... The first merchants in the town were George G. Wright and H. Baudendistal ... (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 388)

It is located at Sec. 7, Twp. 29 N, R. 13 E on 61 south of 55.

Lambert

Lambert is south of Benton at Sec. 18, Twp. 28 N, R. 13 E on Highway 61.

Mail via Benton. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Ludlow

Ludlow was a post-office listed in Mo. Manual, 1929-30, p. 944. (Location is unknown).

There is a Ludlow in Livingston Co. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Lusk

Lusk is located near the Mississippi River at Sec. 1, Twp. 27 N, R. 15 E at the junction of D & NN.

Mail via Charleston. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

[5]

McMullin

McMullin is east of Crowder. It is situated at Sec. 26, Twp. 27 N, R. 13 E on an unmarked county road west of 61 between Z & ZZ. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 515; Gen. Highway Map of Scott Co.)

Mail via Sikeston. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Miner

Miner is located near the northern edge of Sikeston at Twp. 26 N, R. 14 E on Highway H.

Mail via Sikeston. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Morley elevation 345 feet

Morley, 13 miles southwest of Commerce, was laid out in 1868, and incorporated in 1869 ... It is located near the center of the county ... It had 1 public school, 2 churches -- Baptist and M.E. South, 2 hotels, 1 livery stable, 1 cotton-gin, mill, 10 stores and several shops ... Population about 500. (--Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 598.)

It was settled in 1869 by a surveyor whose name it bears. It was incorporated in 1872. (--The Empire That Missouri Pacific Serves, p. 234.)

Morley was laid out as a town in 1869 and incorporated in 1872, the first mayor being James Bardwell. The first merchants were B. D. Gaither, W. A. Cade, Hughes and Watkins, and J. T. Anderson & Brother ... The population in 1912 was 494. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 389.)

It is located at Sec. 33 & 34, Twp. 26 N, R. 13 E on 91 east of 61, south of 77, at the junction with C.

New Hamburg

New Hamburg is a German town in Moreland Township, three miles northwest of Benton, formerly called St. Lawrence. Here was a Catholic Church considered the finest in Southeast Missouri. It was built in 1870 at a cost of $30,000 ... (--Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conrad, Vol. 5, p. 553.)

New Hamburg, laid out for Francis Heurig, settled by Germans, and named by them for Hamburg, Germany. (--How Mo., Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named, Eaton, p. 65.)

It is a rural branch of Benton Post Office. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

It is located at Sec. 35, Twp. 29 N, R. 13 E, & Sec. 2, Twp. 29 N, R. 13 E on Highway A west of 61.

[6]

Oran

Oran is in Sylvania Township, on the Belmont branch of the Missouri Pacific R. R., and is on the Frisco R. R. The first settlement here was called Sylvania. It was laid out as a town in 1868 and was first called St. Cloud. At a later time it was named Oran ... (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 387.)

It was originally called Sylvania but the name was changed because of town previously called by that name in Dade County. (--How Mo. Counties, Towns, Streams Were Named, Fifth Article, David W. Eaton, p. 65. From a series in Mo. Hist. Review.)

There is as much difference between Scott County, Missouri and North Africa as there is distance between the Scott County community and the North African port city for which it is said to have been named. At about the time the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad (now Missouri Pacific) was constructing its Belmont branch, pioneer settlers from the South established a small community in a rather swampy heavily wooded area. The new settlement was first called "Sylvania," and its post-office was known as "St. Cloud," for some reason not now known.

In 1883 the name of the town and post-office was changed to Oran at the suggestion of Captain Ward. L. Smith, an old ship captain who had left his New York home at the age of 12 to go to sea. Settling here in 1869, he brought with him his stories of his sea-faring career and particularly his adventures in the port of Oran.

A saw mill and a hatchery were the principal industries of Oran (--The Empire That Missouri Pacific Serves, pp. 237, 238.)

It is located at Sec. 17, 18, 19 & 20, Twp. 28 N, R. 13 E on Highways W & 77.

Perkins elevation 330 feet.

Perkins is in the northeastern section of the county near Stoddard County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 515.)

It is located at Sec. 18, Twp. 28 N, R. 12 E near Cape Girardeau County line, on P north of W.

Price's Landing

Price's Landing on the Mississippi River 10 miles below Commerce was a shipping point and had a store and a warehouse. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

[7]

Rockview

Rockview is in the northeast section of the county near Cape Girardeau County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 515.)

It is situated at Secs. 4 & 5, Twp. 29 N, R. 13 E on M northeast of Chaffee.

Mail via Chaffee. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Salcedo

It is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of the county at Sec. 17 & 20, Twp. 26 N, R. 13 E at the junction of Y & ZZ.

Mail via Sikeston. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Sand Siding

Sand Siding was a station on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., 20 miles from Cairo, Ill., and 51 miles from Poplar Bluff, Mo. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

It was northeast of Sikeston in the southwest corner of Sandwoods Twp. (--Campbell's New Atlas of Mo., 1874, Map #30.)

Scott City

Scott City was formed by consolidation of Fornfelt and Ancell since 1950. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

Scott City is situated at Secs. 31 & 32, Twp. 30 N, and Secs. 4 & 5, Twp. 29 N, R. 14 E and Sec. 6, Twp. 29 N, R. 13 E adjacent to Illmo on Highways N, K & M, adjacent to I-55.

See, also, Fornfelt and Ancell.

Sikeston elevation 330 feet

Although records indicate attempts were made to settle a town here before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, these were unsuccessful until John Sikes, in 1860, platted the town that was named for him.

Sikeston prospered during the lumbering era following the War Between the States. Cheap lands led to the establishment of large farms of plantation proportion, whose owners ornamented the town with ornate homes and landscaped lands ... (--The Empire That Missouri Pacific Serves, p. 248.)

Sikeston, on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., 25 miles from Cairo, Ill., 46 miles from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and 14 miles from Morley, was laid out in 1860 on the edge of Big Prairie ... It was the shipping point for much of the produce of New Madrid County, as well as its own vicinity. It contained 6 stores and about 250 inhabitants in 1874. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

It is situated at Sec. 21, 22, 28, & 29, Twp. 26 N, R. 14 E on New Madrid Co. line at the junction of 57, 60 & AA. A portion extends into New Madrid County.

[8]

Sikeston (Cont)

Sikeston is one of the oldest settlements in Scott County. About 1800 Edward Robertson settled in the locality and opened a trading post. Early in the history of New Madrid County, the town of Winchester, founded in 1814, one-half mile away, was the county seat ... (--Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conrad, Vol. 5, p. 593.)

St. Lawrence

See Hamburg (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

St. Cloud (Sylvania)

St. Cloud on the St. I. M. & S. R. W., 4 miles northwest of Morley ... was laid out in 1868 and contained a steam stavecutting and ochre-grinding mill, a fine public school and 2 stores. Population about 200. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

See Oran. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Vol. 1, p. 381.)

Sylvania

See St. Cloud. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 598.)

See Oran. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1. p. 387.)

Tanner

Tanner is situated in the southwestern corner of the county at Sec. 5, Twp. 26 N, R. 13 E at the junction of Z & ZZ.

Van Duser

Van Duser is on the St. Louis & Gulf branch of the Frisco and is the terminus of the Bloomfield branch. It had a population of 338 in 1912. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Vol. 1, p. 389.)

It is in the southwestern section of the county at Sec. 7, 8, 17 & 18, Twp. 27 N, R. 13 E at the junction of DD & Z.

Winchester

See Sikeston. (--Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Vol. 1, p. 593.)


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