Springfield-Greene
County LibraryCompiled by Arthur Paul Moser
St. Francois County
[1]
Big River Mills (Big River)
Big River mills noted as being the first settled place in the county, situated 16 miles southeast of Cadet and 2 1/2 miles from the St. Joe Mines, had 1 grist mill and 3 stores. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 499.)
It is in the northwest corner of the county. (--Map of Western States, 1911, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Mail via Bonne Terre; population 30. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Bismarck elevation 1030 feet
Bismarck is in the southeast corner of the county near the Washington Co. line, 2 miles east of Maryden (Washington Co.). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 503.)
Bismarck was laid out in 1868, at the intersection of the Belmont branch with the main line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway (Mo. Pac.), by C. T. Manter, P. R. Van Frank, J. H. Morley and E. H., Cordell ... It was incorporated by the county court in June, 1877, with William G. Gulliver, Benjamin Schaach, C. C. Grider, George H. Kelly and A. A. Tegmyer as trustees. This incorporation, however, was abolished four years later. (--History of Southeast Mo., 1888, Goodspeed, p. 446.)
It is located at Sec. 5, 6, 7 & 8, Twp. 25 N, R. 4 E, at the junction of Highways 32 & E. (--General Highway Map of St. Francois Co., issued by The Missouri State Highway Dept. 11-1-66. Unless otherwise noted all map descriptions are from this map; Also, Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
Blackwell also Blackwell Station
Blackwell is in the extreme northwest corner of the county, near Big River on Highway CC.
It is located at Sec. 6, Twp. 38 N, R. 4 E.
Blackwell Station ... situated on the west bank of Big River and on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., 51 miles from St. Louis, had 1 store and 1 hotel. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
Bonne Terre
Bonne Terre is a mining town situated on the northern part of the county, about thirteen miles northwesterly from the county seat. It was, until after the war of the Rebellion, a small hamlet or mining camp, of perhaps half a dozen miner's shanties. During the early mining done at this place, which was then a French settlement, the name "Bonne Terre" was given by the miners to the mine, owing to the fact that a great deal of lead ore was found disseminated in small particles ... And these deposits ... were called "bonne terre" meaning good earth to distinguish them from the poor clay adjacent. The name
[2]
Boone Terre (Cont)
attached itself to the "diggings" and in course of time a post-office was established in the vicinity to which the name was given, and when, many years later, a town began to spring up, the post-office was moved to town, name and all, and ... the town was christened Bonne Terre ...
Early in the 1880's, the mining company, the St. Joseph Lead Co., ... planted a town, laying it off in large lots for residence purposes, but restricting business privileges to such lines of business as they did not want to carry ...
Owing to these restrictions on business imposed by the company, other villages sprang up on land adjacent, but outside of the company's claim until now -- 1888 -- Bonne Terre consists of the original town together with the villages of Moontown, Settleton, Bogytown, Hilltown, and Elvinsville. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1888, Goodspeed, pp. 444, 445.)
It is located at several sections in Twp. 37 N, R. 4 E, at the junction of Highways 67, K & E.
Bontear
Bontear was a post-office 11 miles southeast of Cadet (Washington Co.). (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
Cantwell
Cantwell is located at Sec. undetermined, in Twp. 36 N, R. 5 E, near Highway 67, north of Esther.
Mail via Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Crossville
Crossville was in the southeast corner of the county southeast of Libertyville. (--New Atlas of Mo., 1874, Campbell, Map #29.)
Davis
Davis was near the western edge of the county at Sec. 22, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E, on Highway 32.
De Lassus
De Lassus was laid off by A. D. De Lassus in October, 1869. It was the shipping point for Farmington and Doe Run. It contained two stores and a hotel (1888). (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1888, p. 446; Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
The post-office was discontinued as of July 31, 1917. Mail via Farmington. (--Mo. Manual, 1917-18, p. 644.)
It is located at Sec. undetermined, Twp. 35 N. R. 5 E, on Highway W west of 67.
[3]
Dent's Station
It was on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R. (Mo. Pacific), 2 miles south of Bismarck. It had 1 store and mill. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
Derby Junction
It is southwest of Flat River, at Sec. 13, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E. on Highway 32.
Des Loge
Des Loge is in the central part of the county, about equidistant between Washington and Ste. Genevieve Counties. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is located at Sec. 36, Twp. 36 N, R. 5 E, at the junction of Highways P & 32.
It is a branch of Flat River post-office. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Doe Run
Ca. 1886 where it now stands there was nothing but pastures and orchards; in 1888 it was a town of 1,000 or more inhabitants. It had four or five stores, a church, a lodge of I. O. O. F. and of A. O. U. W. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1888, p. 466.)
It is located at Sec. 17, Twp. 35 N, R. 5 E. at the junction of Highways B & M.
Elvins elevation 770 feet
Elvins is in the central part of the county, south of Flat River. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is located at Sec. 12, Twp. 36 N. R. 4 E, on Highway 32.
Esther
It is in the central part of the county, east of Flat River. It is a part of Esther-Ludington Urban Compact.
It is located at Sec. undetermined, Twp. 36 N, R. 5 E, at the junction of Highways 67 & O.
Mail via Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Fairview Acres
It is north of Flat River, at Sec. 2, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E. Mail via Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
[4]
Flat River elevation 795 feet
It is in the central part of the county, south of Des Loge. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is 5 miles northeast of Bismarck and contained 1 store (1874). (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
It is located at Sec. 1, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E. at the junction of Highways Z & 32.
Frank Clay
Is is at the west edge of the county, at Sec. 5, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E., on Highway M east of Flat River.
It is a branch of Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
French Village
French Village 17 miles east of Cadet (Washington Co.), on Goose Creek was laid out by the French in 1825, and had 2 stores, 1 school house and 1 church -- Catholic. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
It is in the northeast corner of the county, 6 miles west of Lawrenceton (Ste. Genevieve Co.). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is located at Sec. 29, Twp. 38 N, R. 6 E, on Highway Y east of D.
Gumbo
Gumbo is located at Sec. 2, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E, on Highway P north of Flat River.
Mail via Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Halifax
Halifax is in the northern part of the county near Jefferson County line, 1 mile south of Valles Mines. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is located at Sec. 16, Twp. 36 N, R. 5 E, at the junction of Highways Y & 67.
Mail via Bonne Terre. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)
[5]
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain is a mining town situated on the tract owned by the Iron Mountain Company. It contained three churches, a public and select school, a large hotel, and an extensive general store conducted by the company. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., Goodspeed, p. 446.)
Iron Mountain, 6 miles south of Bismarck and 81 south of St. Louis, on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R. (Mo. Pac.), at the foot of the mountain of the same name, contained 2 large furnaces, 1 flouring mill, 1 store, (belonging to the company) 1 carpenter shop and 3 churches -- Catholic, Lutheran and M. E. Church, 3 schools -- 1 public and 2 private, with a daily attendance of 210 pupils; A first-class hotel had been erected by the company. Population about 2,500 (1874). (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 500.)
This town derived its name from the "Iron Mountain" a loaflike formation that pioneer explorers and settlers believed to be composed of solid iron and proclaimed "the largest and richest mass of iron upon the globe." ...
Five million tons of ore 50 to 60 percent of it pure iron, were mined here before the deposits began to give out. By 1884, however, activity was greatly reduced but continued on through World War I, suspending in the post-war price slump ... (The Empire That Missouri Pacific Serves, p. 220.)
Iron Mountain is located at Sec. 31, Twp. 35 N, R. 4 E, on Highway W adjacent to Iron County line.
Jaydee
Jaydee was near the northern part of Ste. Genevieve County, and 3 miles north of Thurman. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is located at Sec. undetermined, Twp. 37 N, R. 5 E, at the junction of Highways D & C.
Knob Lick
Knob Lick derives its name from a Buffalo Lick at the foot of a mountain 1 mile from the town. It is 19 miles southeast of Bismarck. (--Gazetteer of Mo., pp. 500, 501.)
Knob Lick was a station on the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad and was the principal shipping place for the granite quarries in the south part of St. Francois County. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., Goodspeed, p. 446.)
It is located at Sec. 4, Twp. 34 N, R. 6 E, at the junction of Highways 67 & DD.
[6]
Koester
Koester was in the extreme northeast corner of the county near Jefferson County line, 2 miles east of Valles Mines. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It was located at Sec. 7, Twp. 38 N, R. 6 E, on an unmarked county road north of D.
Leadington
It is located at Sec. undetermined, Twp. 36 N, R. 5 E, on Highway 32 west of the junction with 67.
Mail via Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974.)
Leadwood
Leadwood is located at Sec. 4, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E. on Highway 8, east of Washington Co. line.
It is a rural branch of Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974.)
[7]
Libertyville
Libertyville is a village in the midst of what is known as Cook's settlement, and had a population of about 150 (1888). It contained two general stores, two blacksmith shops, a large roller flouring mill, a church and a school-house. It is one of the oldest communities in the county. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., Goodspeed, p. 446.)
It is located at Sec. 29, Twp. 35 N, R. 7 E, in the southeast corner of the county, on Highway DD east of OO.
Mail via Farmington. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974.)
Locust Ridge
It was northwest of Libertyville, possibly in Sec. 24, Twp. 35 N, R. 7 E. (--New Atlas of Mo., Map #29, with the aid of General Highway Map of St. Francois County.)
Loughboro
It was west of Farmington. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It was on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., 7 miles east of Bismarck and had 1 steam grist-mill and 1 store. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 501.)
Middlebrook (Middle Brook)
Middle Brook, on the Iron County line and on the Arkansas branch of the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., 84 miles from St. Louis, had a population of about 200 (1874). It is near the famous granite quarry for which it is the usual shipping point. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 501.)
Rand, McNally Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, shows it to be in Iron County.
Mine a Joe
It was in the northeast corner of Randolph Twp. (--New Atlas of Mo., Map #29.)
Mineral City
Mineral City was in the southwest section of the county, at Sec. 30, Twp. 35 N, R. 5 E, on Highway W.
Mitchell
Mitchell is in the western part of the county, at Sec. 10, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E, on an unmarked county road southeast of Frank Clay.
Mail via Elvin. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)
[8]
Ogborn
Ogborn is in the eastern edge of the county near Ste. Genevieve County line. It is located at Sec. 13, Twp., 36 N, R. 6 E, on Highway D, north of Farmington.
Mail via Farmington. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)
Rock Springs
Rock Springs is southwest of Farmington. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
Mail via Elvins. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)
Silver Springs
It is located at Sec. 18, Twp. 38 N, R. 5 E, on an unmarked county road north of Highway 67.
Mail via Bonne Terre. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)
Stono
Stono was 3 miles southwest of Doe Run. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
Syenite
Syenite is west of Knob Lick. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 503.)
It is located at Sec. 5, Twp. 34 N, R. 6 E, on Highway DD west of 67.
Mail via Knob Lick. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)
Valle Forge
Valle Forge was in the southeast section of the county, east of Farmington. (--New Atlas of Mo., Map #29.)
Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek was on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., 15 miles southeast of Bismarck. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 503.)
Wortham
Wortham is located at Sec. 8, Twp. 36 N, R. 4 E, on an unmarked county road east of Highway BB.
Mail via Flat River. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo.)