Springfield-Greene
County LibraryCompiled by Arthur Paul Moser
New Madrid County
[1]
Bayouville
It is in the eastern part of the county, on the Mississippi River, 15 miles south of East Prairie (Miss Co.). (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 455.)
Mail via East Prairie. (--Standard Ref. Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally & Co.) (Referred to as Rand, McNally).
Blanton Plank Road
One thing which dealt a blow to the prosperity of New Madrid during and after the Civil War was the destruction of the Blanton Plank Road. This road led across the Little River Swamp to West Prairie, near Clarkton. It offered the people of Dunklin and Stoddard Counties access to river transportation at New Madrid and drew a considerable trade to that town. Its destruction cut off this trade and caused it to seek other outlets. (--History of Southeast Missouri, 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 255.)
One of the enterprises of Southeast Missouri about which there has been considerable controversy was the proposed plan of building a Plank Road from Point Pleasant, in New Madrid County, to Clarkton, in Dunklin County. Just before the Civil War a company was organized for this purpose known as the Blanton Plank Road Company, and it secured from New Madrid County a large grant of land. The company did considerable work and opened up the road, but it was destroyed during the war and nothing was done toward rebuilding it.
In 1875 Oscar Kochitzky and others obtained the charter and franchise of the Blanton Road Company. It was their intention to rebuild this plank road and to secure a confirmation of the land grant from New Madrid County to themselves. After securing the charter, however, they determined to build a narrow-gauge rail road and applied to New Madrid County for a transfer of land for this purpose. Permission was granted, and construction began in October, 1876, and in February, 1878, it was completed between New Madrid and Malden.
After being operated for a short time as a narrow-gauge railroad, it was rebuilt as a standard-gauge and extended to Cairo, Ill. ... It is now operated as the main line of the system and the company is known as the St. Louis, Southwestern Railroad Company. (--History of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas Vol. 1, pp. 504, 505.)
Canalou
It was in the northwest corner of the county near Stoddard County line, 6 miles south of Morehouse. (--The State of Mo, in 1904, p. 459.)
It was settled as a saw mill town, when the Houck road was constructed in 1902. It had extensive timber interests, a saw mill, store and several minor business interests. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 381.)
[2]
Canalou (Cont)
It is located at Sec. 5 & 6, Twp. 24 N, R. 13 E, at the west end of Highway H. (--General Highway Map of New Madrid County, issued by The Missouri State Highway Department, 401-69. Unless otherwise noted all map descriptions are from this map.)
Baderville
Baderville is located at Sec. 14 & 15, Twp. 22 N, R. 12 E on Highway 62 west of W.
Population 20; mail via Lilbourn. (--Rand McNally & Co.)
Boekertown
It is located at Sec. 4, Twp. 20 E, R 12 E, southwest of Portageville, near Pemiscot County line, on Highway YY.
Mail via Portageville. (--Rand McNally & Co.)
Broadwater
Broadwater is located at Sec. 6, Twp. 22 N, R. 11 E, on Highway NN, north of 62.
Mail via Parma. (--Rand McNally & Co.)
Catron
Catron is located in the western part of the county, 5 miles west of Lilbourn. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is located at Sec. 24 & 25, Twp. 23 N, R. 12 E, at the junction of Highways W & D, near Stoddard County line.
Cono
Cono is in the western part of the county east of Parma. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is on Cono Lake, and had timber interests. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 381.)
It is located at Sec. 21, 22, Twp. 23 N, R. 12 E, on Highway JJ near Stoddard County line.
Conran
It is in the southern part of the county between Marston and Portageville. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is located at Sec. 4 & 9, Twp. 21 N, R. 13 E, at the junction of Highways F, M, and 61, west of I-55.
[3]
Dunn
Dunn was located at Sec. 36, Twp. 21 N, R. 10 E, and Sec. 1, Twp. 20 N, R. 10 E, at the intersection of Highways W & 153.
Big Ridge
Big Ridge was in the northwest corner of the county near Stoddard County line. (--Map of Mo., 1894, Rand, McNally & Co.)
East Lake
It was in the northeast section of the county 8 miles south of Sikeston (Scott County). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
Farrenberg
It is in the eastern part of the county 2 1/2 miles south of Hough on the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R. (Mo. Pacific). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is located at Sec. 25 & 26, Twp. 24 N, R. 14 E, on an unmarked county road north of P.
Mail via Matthews. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Frailie
Frailie is located at Sec. 36, Twp. 21 N, R. 11 E, on Highway B, north of PP.
Mail via Gideon. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Hartzell
Hartzell is located at Sec. 3, Twp. 21 N, R. 11 E, on an unmarked county road south of 153.
Mail via Gideon. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Gideon
Gideon is in the southwest corner of the county, 3 1/2 miles east of Clarkton (Dunklin Co.). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is situated about three miles east of the Dunklin County line ... In 1900 a mill was located at this place by the firm of Gideon & Anderson. A town sprang up about the mill and it became a prosperous community. It was incorporated as a village in 1906. ... The first merchants in the place were Gideon & Anderson the owners of the mill. In 1912 there were general stores and other business establishments. There were also two saw mills, a stave factory, handle factory, and planing mill. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, pp. 379, 380.)
It is located at Sec. 19, R. 11 E, and Sec. 13, 24, R. 10 E, Twp. 21 N, at the junction of Highways 162 & 163.
[4]
Higgerson
Higgerson was located in the eastern part of the county, on the Mississippi River, 6 miles south of Bayouville. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
Hough
Hough was in the northeast part of the county, 6 1/2 miles southwest of East Prairie (Mississippi Co.).
Hyman
Hyman was a village. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 381.) (Location is unknown.)
Jaywye
Jaywye is located at Sec. 7, R. 13 E, and Sec. 12, R. 12 E, Twp. 21 N, at the junction of Highways Z & F.
Mail via Portageville. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Kewanee
It is a post-office, located at Sec. 31, 32, Twp. 24 N, and Sec. 5, 6, Twp. 23 N, R. 14 E, on Highway Y west of 62. (--Mo. Manual, 1909-10, p.578; Gen. Highway Map of New Madrid County.)
Laforge
La Forge is located 2 miles south of Farrenberg. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is located at Sec. 3, Twp. 23 N, R. 14 E, at the junction of Highways P & I-55.
Mail via New Madrid. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Lilbourn Elevation 285 feet
It is about the center of the county, 6 1/2 miles west of New Madrid. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
The first town in the vicinity was called Paw Paw Junction and was situated about a mile west of the present site of the town where the New Madrid branch joined the main line of the St. Louis, Southwestern. The town was incorporated in 1904, its first mayor being R. T. Waring. The town had eight general stores and besides these several factories, broom, stove, handle, brick and tile plant and two saw mills. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 380.)
It is located at Sec. 35 & 36, Twp. 22 & 23 N, R. 13 E, on Highway D, east of the junction with M.
[5]
Lorwood
It is located at Sec. 27, Twp. 23 N, R. 11 E, on an unmarked county road adjacent to the junction of Highways UU & D.
Linda
Linda was in the southeast corner of the county, 4 miles south of Point Pleasant. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
Lotta
It was a village not far from the present town of Parma. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 380.)
Marston
Marston is located in the south central part of the county south of Lilbourn. (--The State of Mo. in 1904, p. 459.)
Marston was settled in October, 1898; among the first settlers were George W. Coleman and E. F. Sharp. E. F. Sharp was the first mayor of the town. The early merchants were Barnes Store Co., M. H. Maxey and Finnsberry & Mennen. In 1912 there were two general stores, six grocery stores and one drug store. Also, there was a stave factory, one hoop factory, and a cotton gin. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 372.)
It is located at Sec. 25 & 26, Twp. 22 N, R. 13 E, at the junction of Highways 61 & EE.
Matthews
Matthews is in the north central part of the county, 9 miles south of Scott County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
It is located at Sec. 31, Twp. 25 N, and Sec. 6, Twp. 24 N, R. 14 E, on Highway H, west of 80.
Morehouse
It is in the northwest part of the county near Scott and Stoddard County lines, 5 1/2 miles east of Buffington (Scott Co.). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 549, 521.)
It had its origin in the location here of large saw mills when the Cairo branch of the St. L. I. M. & S. R. R., made possible the handling of the vast quantities of timber found about the town. For years the place was merely a saw mill town ... In 1912 it had well built business houses, churches ... and one of the largest saw mill plants in the State. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol.1, p. 389.)
It is located at Sec. 31, 32, Twp. 26 N, & Sec. 6, Twp. 25 N, R. 13 E, in the extreme northwest corner of the county near Scott and Stoddard Counties, at the junction of Highways ZZ, 114 & 60.
[6]
New Madrid Elevation 295 feet
New Madrid was incorporated in 1808; in 1811 it contained only two stores and a few houses; many of the inhabitants of the town moved away after the earthquake, and for several years affairs were at a standstill. In 1822 it was selected as the seat of justice. In 1834 and again in 1868, the town was incorporated by the county court ... The early merchants were: Robert G. Watson, Robert McCoy, Matteo Boglilolo and George G. Alford. ... In 1878 the town was incorporated as a town of the second class ... Just south of the town is a great Indian mound (1912) which local tradition says is the site of De Soto's camp. The site is not that of the original town, as that has long since been swept away by the river. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, pp. 265, 266.)
The county seat was settled in 1780 ... Such have been the encroachments of the river at this point, that the place upon which the original town was laid off is now one and a half miles from its present site, being half a mile on the other side of the Mississippi River in Kentucky ... It contained 3 churches -- Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist, 1 public and 2 private schools, 1 academy, 2 steam saw and grist mills, 2 steam cotton-gins and presses, a number of shops, about 20 stores, also several warehouses and a commodious wharf-boat for the storage and shipment of grains and cotton.
At the beginning of the Civil War, New Madrid was a military point of some importance, and in connection with Island No., 10, acquired much celebrity. Population about 700 (1874). (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 398; Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conrad, Vol. 4, p. 554.)
It is located at Sec. undetermined, Twp. 23 N, R. 14 E, at the junction of Highways 61 & U.
Parma Elevation 285 feet
Parma is in the western part of the county, 5 miles south of La Valle (Stoddard Co.). (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459.)
In 1900 the first settlers moved to the present town of Parma. This town is 8 miles northwest of Malden ... It is not a great way from an earlier village which was named Lotta ... Boaz and Wrather Brothers were among the early merchants. In 1905 ... it was incorporated and F. P. Wrather was the first mayor. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 380.)
It is located at Sec. 24 & 25, Twp. 23 N, R. 11 E, at the junction of Highways 153 & D.
Paw Paw Junction
See Lilbourn.
[7]
Point Pleasant
The old village of Point Pleasant was founded in 1815 by Francois Lesieur, the first settler of "L'anse a la graisse," and of "La Petite Prairie." He opened a store, which he conducted in partnership with his son Godfrey until his death in 1826. A hotel and store were also kept at this place by John Woodward. The formation of a sand bar prevented the landing of steam boats, and the business was transferred to the present --1889 -- town, about one mile below the original site. Here a wood yard had been established by Alphonse Delaroderie in 1817. The new town was laid off in 1846 by William Summers. The first buildings erected were warehouses, built by John Woodward and Pleasant Bishop. John J. Coe was the first merchant. Population 1889, 200. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1889, Goodspeed, pp. 439, 440.)
For years the town was an important and flourishing one. An academy chartered in the early days and all indications pointed to the place as designed for the site of a thriving city. Unfortunately for its inhabitants, the river began to encroach upon the town. At first the caving was just south of the main part of town. Gradually it extended up the river, until many of the houses had to be moved back. So rapidly did the bank cave in at times that it was almost impossible to save them. After several successive removals, the site was abandoned by many of the residents, who were attracted by the growth of Portageville, which began to acquire importance through the construction of the Frisco Railroad through it. These causes greatly reduced the population of Point Pleasant and the historic name is preserved by only a handful of houses. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, pp. 266, 267.)
Point Pleasant has a good location on the Mississippi River 10 miles below New Madrid, and contained an estimated population of 200. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 398.)
It is located at Sec. 19, Twp. 21 N, R. 14 E, at the junction of Highways M & K.
It is a rural branch of Portageville P. O., and no longer actively incorporated. Population 115. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Portageville
Portageville is a post-office 17 miles southwest of New Madrid. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 398.)
The first store was opened here about 1848 by Edward Meatt and Charlie Davis, who, in 1851, were succeeded by Robert G. Franklin. In 1888 there were a general store, drug store, grocery and restaurant, a cotton gin and grist mill. (--Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1889, Goodspeed, p. 440.)
It is located at Sec. 30, 31, R. 13 E, and Sec. 25, R. 12 E, Twp. 21 N, at the junction of Highways F & 162.
[8]
Risco
Risco is a village in the west central part of the county 4 miles south of Parma. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 459; Hist. of Southeast Mo., 1912, Douglas, Vol. 1, p. 381.)
It is located at Sec. 12 & 13, Twp. 22 N, R. 11 E, on Highways 62 & 153.
Ristine elevation 300 feet.
It is located at Sec. 9, Twp. 23 N, R. 14 E, on Highway 62, north of the junction with 61.
It has no population. (--Rand, McNally & Co.)
Tallipoosa Tallapoosa
It is located at Sec. 36, Twp. 22 N, R. 11 E, at the junction of Highways 153 & B.
Winchester
This town, no longer listed, cannot be located on maps. It is mentioned in Encyclopedia of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conrad, Vol. 4, p. 558.