Springfield-Greene
County LibraryCompiled by Arthur Paul Moser
Pettis County
[1]
Avondale
Twenty miles from Sedalia, in the central portion of Blackwater Township ... was "Avondale," the splendid home and 800 acre stock farm of Thomas B. Price ... (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 808.)
Bahner
Bahner is in the southwest corner of the county, on Lake Creek. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 575.)
The post-office was discontinued prior to 1905. (--General Scheme, 1905, for the use of Railway Mail Clerks, p. 81.)
Mail now via Smithton. (--Standard Reference Guide of Mo., 1974, Rand, McNally.) No population shown: (--Ibid.)
Bahner is situated at Sec. 21, Twp. 44 N, Range 20 West at the junction of Highways C & V. (--General Highway Map of Pettis Co., 5-31-61. Unless otherwise noted all map descriptions are from this map.)
Beaman
Beaman is situated at Sec. 20, 21, Twp. 46 N, Range 20 West, near the junction of HH & O.
It is four and one-half miles west of Clifton City, (Cooper Co.) (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 575.)
See Marlin. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Mo., 1874, p. 429.)
Beaman mail via Smithton -- population 25. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Bee Branch
See Sigel.
Boomer
See La Monte.
Bryson
Bryson is in the southwest corner of the county, at Sec. 20, Twp. 44 N, Range 23 West near the junction of B & AA.
Mail via Green Ridge. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Camp Branch
Camp Branch was on the M. K. & T. R. R., between Sedalia and Greenridge, Green Ridge. (--Map of Mo., 1911, Rand, McNally.)
It is no longer listed.
[2]
"Darkeytown"
See Lincolnville.
Dresden
Dresden is seven and one-half miles northwest of Sedalia. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 475.)
It contained five stores, two wagon and broom-factories, one pottery, one flouring-mill, one grain elevator, two churches, one public school with three teachers, and one school for colored children. (--Campbell, p. 429.)
Dresden was laid out in the spring of 1863, by Wm. Agee and Thomas J. Lester ... It is situated on the NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Sec. 21, and the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Sec. 22, Twp. 46 N, Range 22 West. It was incorporated about 1866. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., pp. 910, 911.)
Dresden probably was name for the city Dresden, the capital of Saxony in the southern part of Germany. (--Ibid: p. 908.)
It is situated at the junction of T & 50.
Mail via Sedalia and La Monte. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Dumpville
Dumpville was in the southeastern section of the county, ten and one-half miles south of Sedalia. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is no longer listed.
Dunkley Dunksburg
See Sigel. Dunkley is mentioned on p. 812 of Hist. of Pettis Co.
Neither town is listed in Rand, McNally, 1974.
Elkfork
Elkfork was in the southwestern section of the county, near Johnson County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is no longer listed.
Fairview
Fairview (La Monte) so listed in U. S. Postal Guide, 1861.
Farmer's City
See Smithton.
[3]
Georgetown
The town of Georgetown was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly of Missouri, January 4th, 1860 ... This town continued to grow from the time it was laid off as the county seat in 1837, up to the breaking out of the war in 1861 ... The county seat was changed to Sedalia in 1865, and since that time Sedalia has remained the county seat of justice of Pettis County. St. Helena remained the county seat until 1837, when Georgetown succeeded to the honor, and continued so till Sedalia took it away. Clifton Wood was the first merchant of Georgetown ... (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, pp. 244, 245.)
Georgetown remained the permanent seat of justice for Pettis County from 1837 to 1865, when by act of the State Legislature, it was removed to Sedalia, its present location. (--Ibid: p. 278; Campbell, p. 429.)
Georgetown is in the central part of the county, four miles north of Sedalia. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is situated at Sec. 16, Twp. 46 N, Range 20 West on an unmarked road west of 65.
Mail via Sedalia. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
[4]
Green Lawn Academy
Green Lawn Academy was the residence of Dr. A. A. Davis. Post-Office Longview. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 842.)
Green Ridge elevation 600 feet
This town was laid out in 1870 by Albert Parker, of Sedalia, and called Parkersburg, but the name was changed to the name of the post-office formerly about a mile distant from the present town. It contained four stores, a wagon shop, etc. ... (--Campbell, p. 429.)
This town was started in 1870-71, when the M. K. & T. R. R., came through the county ... Among the business men were F. A. Logan, dealer in dry goods and groceries, Wm. H. Owens, hardware, E. C. Havely, postmaster and agent M. K. & T. R. R., C. W. Leabo, M. D. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 1044.)
It is situated at Sec. 1, Twp. 44 N, Range 23 West on 127 south of B.
Hermantown
See Longwell.
"Highland"
Two miles southeast of "Prairie Home," (the residence of Samuel Shanks) ... was "Highland," the house of John S. Senior ... (--Hist. of Pettis Co., p. 810.)
Houstonia elevation 750 feet
Houstonia was named for Hon. Thomas F. Houston. Among the business men of 1881 were Fred Wilson, postmaster; Locke & Van Taye, dealers in groceries and hardware; A. F. Dorsey, general merchandise; J. F. Stephens, druggist; Smith & Calhoun, blacksmith. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., p. 757, 770; Campbell, p. 429.)
It is five and one-half miles south of McAllister and Sweet Springs (Saline Co.) (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is situated at Sec. 32, Twp. 48 N, Range 22 West on M South of CC.
Hughesville
It is eleven miles northwest of Sedalia and was laid out in 1871 and named in honor of R. Hughes, Esq., one of the oldest residents of the county. It contained two stores, a hay press and warehouse. Population about 50 (1874). (--Campbell, p. 430.)
[5]
Hughesville (Cont)
It is a town on the Lexington branch of the Missouri-Pacific Railway eleven miles northwest of Sedalia. It had two churches, a public school and a private school, an Odd Fellows Hall, an elevator and business houses. In 1890 the population was 250 ... (Ency. of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conard, Vol. 3, p. 321.)
It is situated at Sec. 23, Twp. 47 N, Range 21 West on Highway H south of D.
Ionia or Ionia City
Ionia City, sixteen miles southwest of Sedalia was laid out in 1866 by Harry Pollard, later of Clinton, It contained two stores and about 50 inhabitants (1874). (--Campbell, p. 430.)
This little village in the southern part of Washington Township is the only town within its borders (1882). It had two stores, a blacksmith shop or two and the post-office, and this comprised its business. It was at an early day called Peel Tree. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 1066.)
It was on the southern border of the county, about one mile north of Ionia, Benton County. (--Map of Mo., 1911, Rand, McNally.)
Kansas City Junction
Or Rodelia Post-Office. (--Ibid.)
Keightleys
This was a station on the M. K. & T. R. R., six and one-half miles southwest of Sedalia. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
It is no longer listed.
Lamb
Lamb was in the southeast corner of Lake Creek Township. (--Map of Mo., 1917, Rand, McNally.)
It is no longer listed.
Lamonte -- R. R. name La Monte
La Monte is located in the west central section of Pettis County, seven and one-half miles east of Montserrat, Johnson Co., and five and one-half miles west of Dresden. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
[6]
Lamonte (Cont) La Monte
Lamonte was laid out in 1866, by Col. Frank Hickox and J. R. McConnell. The first house erected in the village was built by a Mr. James ... In 1862 the grading of the Missouri Pacific Railroad was commenced and the track was laid and cars commenced running through the place in 1864.
The place at that time was called Boomer, named in honor of George Boomer, a prominent bridge contractor of the railroad. It retained the name for a number of years afterwards, and was the source of annoyance to travelers who wished to come to Lamonte. The reason was that the post-office, which had been established for a number of years was called Lamonte, and after it was moved to Boomer, it still retained the original name. How the name Lamonte came to be given to this little western town is lost with the demise of the earliest settlers.*
The first storehouse was built by Geo. A. Hardy ... This was in the fall of 1866 or '67.
The Lamonte post-office was established at an early date, about one mile south of the present site of the town, and until it was moved to the village it was on the Georgetown and Lexington stage road, and Thos. J. Mason was postmaster. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, pp. 886, 887.)
*Lamonte was named for a friend of the postmaster. (--Ramsay, Our Storehouse of Mo. Place Names, p. 80.)
See, also, Ency. of Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conard, Vol 3, p. 581; Campbell, p. 430.
Lamonte is situated in the west central section of the county, at Sec. 10, 11, Twp. 46 N, Range 23 West on 127 north of 50.
Lincolnville
Lincolnville, adjacent to Sedalia, sometimes called St. Eyere, and popularly known as "Darkeytown," had a population of 1,000, all of whom were colored. Until 1872, it formed a part of Sedalia, and is still (1874) within that school district, and also within the corporate police limits. It had 2 churches -- Methodist and Baptist. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
Longwood
Longwood is in the northeast section of the county, three and one-half miles south of Wannamaker, Saline Co. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is fifteen miles northeast of Sedalia and is one of the oldest towns in the county. It contained a half dozen stores and shops, and a population of about 100. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
[7]
Longwood (Cont)
Longwood is of English derivation. In England, one of those grand old estates is and has been called Longwood ... The town was first called Hermantown and the post-office Oak Grove. This was about one mile north of the present town of Longwood, and when the petition for the change was made known to the town, it was granted on condition it should be called Longwood, there being another Oak Grove in the State.
Among its business men (1882) were James Roberts, postmaster and general merchandise; Sales and Hoffman, dry goods; A. B. Caton, dry goods, groceries and drugs; Jacob Eappel, shoemaker; John Morris and Henry Barnhoff, carpenters. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, pp. 840, 841.)
There was and there is still a post-office Oak Wood in Jackson County. (--Campbell, 1874, p. 271; Rand, McNally, 1974.)
It is situated at Sec. 36, Twp. 48 N, Range 21 West on BB east of 65.
Mail via Sedalia; population 50. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Lookout
Lookout was in the northeast section of the county, six and one-half miles north of Beaman. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
The post-office was discontinued prior to 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 81.)
It is no longer listed.
Lutman
Lutman was in the southeast section of the county, six miles south of Smithton, and seven and one-half miles northwest of Bebra, Morgan County. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
The post-office was discontinued prior to 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 81.)
It is no longer listed.
McCoy's Mill
H. E. McCoy owned a grist-mill and saw-mill combined on Sec. 14, Twp. 46 N, Range 20 West, Bowling Green Township. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 951.)
It is no longer listed.
[8]
Manila
Manila is in the southwest section of the county, north of Iona, Benton Co. It is situated at Sec. 34, Twp. 44 N, Range 22 West on ZZ north of 52. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475; Gen. Highway Map of Pettis Co.)
The post-office was discontinued prior to 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 81.)
Mail now via Green Ridge; no population shown. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Marlin (Beamer)
Marlin, seven miles northeast of Sedalia, on the M. K. & T. R. R., founded in 1873, had one or two stores. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
It is no longer listed.
Muddy Mills
The name by which Ramey and Wasson's mills were generally known. Evidently they were near Georgetown. (--Wetmore's Gazetteer of the State of Mo., 1837, p. 146.)
Newland
Newland was in the northeast section of the county, northeast of Georgetown. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It was situated at Sec. 36, Twp. 47 N, Range 21 West on EE between HH & J.
It is no longer listed.
Oak Grove
See Longwood.
Parkersburg
See Green Ridge.
Pauline
Pauline was on R. F. D. west from Sedalia. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is no longer listed; Paulina Hills, Jefferson Co. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Peel Tree
See Ionia.
[9]
Pin Hook
In the southwestern part of Longwood Township was a little obscure place called in early days Pin Hook. Of this little remains (1882) but the ruins ... Here first the voters of the county ... laid the foundation which has built the now famous county of Pettis ...
Before Georgetown was laid out, and years before the city of Sedalia had been conceived ... this little obscure place was the head of business in the county ...The first term of court ever held in the county was at this point ...
The first postmaster of the town was Thomas Wasson, and the first merchants of the place were Marmaduke & Sappington. ... and Watson and Clifton Woods also did business here. When Georgetown was laid out they moved to the new town. The first lawyers in Pin Hook were George Heard, Washington Adams and Heydon. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, pp. 836, 837.
"Pleasant Grove"
"Pleasant Grove" was the beautiful $8000 house, and one thousand four hundred acres farm of J. C. Higgins, four miles west of Houstonia in the eastern central part of Blackwater Township. (--Ibid: p. 809.)
Powell
Powell was southwest of Sedalia on the M. K. & T. R. R. (Map of Mo., 1917, Rand, McNally.)
It is no longer listed.
There is a Powell in McDonald County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Postal
Postal was in the northeast corner of the county, five and one-half miles north of Lookout. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It was situated at Sec. 35, Twp. 48 N, Range 26 West on Z north of N.
It is no longer listed. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
"Prairie Home"
Capt. Samuel Shanks had another of those model farms, "Prairie Home," of six hundred and twenty acres. It joined "Avondale" on the west. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., p. 809.)
[10]
Priceville
See Smithton.
Rodelia
Rodelia was in the southwest corner of the county, four and one-half miles northeast of Windsor, Henry Co. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is no longer listed.
Rowletta
Rowletta was in the northwest corner of the county, on R. F. D. from Lamonte. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 745.)
It was near the center of Blackwater Township. George Lee was postmaster in 1882. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., p. 812.)
It was a post-office six miles north of Lamonte. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
It is no longer listed.
St. Eyre
See Lincolnville.
Sigel (Dunksburg)
Sigel is situated about twenty-four miles northwest from Sedalia on the line of Pettis and Johnson Counties. It was the site of a few store houses and shops, and had a fine flouring mill, population about 105. The town was laid out by Dr. B. F. Dunkley, and a post-office was established before any town was built, and was named in honor of the doctor. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 812.)
It was seven miles from Brownsville, Saline Co., and was laid off in 1849 and called Bee Branch from the stream on which it was built, and afterward named in honor of Dr. B. F. Dunkley, who owned the land on which it was built. But when that gentleman became a sympathizer with the Confederate cause, it was rechristened in honor of Gen. Sigel. It was here that Captain Wallace, F. M. McGuire, in 1861 captured a large squad of Confederates, after a sharp fight. The place contained two churches -- Christian and Methodist, one store, one flouring mill, one wagon shop, etc. a vineyard and wine vaults ... (--Campbell, p. 430.)
Sigel is no longer listed. Dunksburg now listed in Johnson County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
[11]
Sedalia
November 30, 1857, Gen. George R. Smith filed for record the plat of a town called Sedville. The town was given the name of Sedville, in honor of Gen. Smith's youngest daughter, Sarah E. Smith ... whose pet name was "Sed," an inexplicable corruption of Sarah or Sallie. The plat of Sedville included about 160 acres of prairie land lying north of the present line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, between Georgetown and the present city of Sedalia. From November 30, 1859 to October 16, 1860, the town existed only on paper ...
On October 16, 1860, Gen. Geo. R. Smith and Col. David W. Bouldin filed the plat of a town they called Sedalia. This town plat included all of the original town plat of Sedalia, and in addition, a large section of land between the present (1883) line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad as far south as the present Third Street. The name Sedalia was probably chosen because the original "Sed" could be united to the more euphonious termination of "Alia," like Van-dalia, Cent-ralia, etc. ...
Following the arrival of the first train the large stores and establishments at Otterville (Cooper Co.) and Syracuse (Morgan Co.) were moved to Sedalia, not only the stocks, but in many cases the buildings or portions of them, or the timber. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, pp. 404, 405, 406.)
It is situated at several sections in Twps. 45 & 46 N, Range 21 West at the junction of Highways 50, 65 & C.
Smithton elevation 885 feet
It is located in the eastern part of Smithton Township. Both the village and the township were named for Geo. R. Smith. Smithton lies south of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The first town in the township was laid out by David Kermudle. In some way the purchasers of the property were all swindled, and the village fell into decay. The farmers in the township then laid out Farmers' City. The Missouri Pacific was then being built and the company proposed to get the road into Pettis County that year (1859), if the county would give them $30,000 more in addition to their already large donation. This was raised and the road came that fall to the point that is now Smithton ... and the depot was built. Here, it stopped for a while. Then the town of Smithton was laid out by Wm. E. Combs ... Buildings began to spring up, and Farmers' City rapidly sank into decay.
Mr. Comb built the hotel ... Major Wm. Beck put up the first store. Mr. Lambers was the first postmaster ... (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 101; also Ency. of the Hist. of Mo., 1901, Conrad, Vol. 6, p. 46.)
[13]
Smithton (Cont)
It was laid out in 1860 and was formerly called Smith City in honor of Gen. Geo. R. Smith. It had four churches -- Methodist, German Methodist, Christian and Baptist ... 1 flouring-mill, 1 wagon factory, 6 stores and a fruit tree nursery. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
It is on the eastern edge of the county, midway from Saline and Benton Counties, five and one-half miles west of Otterville (Cooper Co.) (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is situated at Sec. 14, Twp. 45 N, Range 20 West on a spur from Highway 50.
Spring Fork
Spring Fork was in the southeastern section of the county, at Sec. 16, 21, Twp. 44 N, Range 21 West, on V east of 65, northeast of Benton County line.
It was the first post-office in Washington Township; it was discontinued and the office at Ionia established. (--Hist. of Pettis Co., 1882, p. 1066.)
It is no longer listed.
Stokeley
Stokeley is in the northwest section of the county, on R. F. D. from Lamonte. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
Mail via La Monte; no population shown. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Tedieville
Tedieville was situated near the Saline County line near range line 21, in Twp. 48 N. (--Map of Mo., 1911, Rand, McNally.)
The post-office was discontinued prior to 1905. (--General Scheme, p. 81.)
It is no longer listed.
Tellsville
Tellsville was on R. F. D. east from Houstonia. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It is no longer listed. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)
Thornleigh
It was in the north central section of the county, on R. F. D. from Hughesville. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 475.)
It was a post-office eight miles north of Sedalia. (--Campbell, p. 430.)
It is no longer listed.
[13]
Valda
Valda was in the southeastern section of the county, six miles south of Sedalia. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p.475.)
It is no longer listed.