Springfield-Greene
County LibraryCompiled by Arthur Paul Moser
Wright County
[1]
Alma
A post-office listed in Wright County, in 1856. However, a list of post-offices of 1861 shows it to be in Webster County. (--State of Missouri, Hist. of Wright County, 1889, p. 372. U. S. Postal Guide, 1861.)
Antler
A post-office of 1903-04, listed in Missouri Manual for those years, p. 475. It was in Wood Township, northwest of Hawley. (--Map of Missouri, 1910, The Kenyon Co., Des Moines.)
Antrim
A post-office, established in 1881 and discontinued in 1906 whose name was probably suggested by some other post-office; however, it may have been named for the Irish County in Ulster province. (--Place Names.)
It was eight miles southwest of Hartville. John Adams was postmaster in 1885. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 423.)
It was four and one-half miles west of Umpire, which was seven miles north of Mansfield, in Gasconade Township. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, Walter Williams; Map of Mo., 1910, The Kenyon Co., Des Moines.)
Astoria
A post-office, established in 1882 and probably named for Astoria, New York, which ultimately traces the origin of its name to John Jacob Astor, (1763-1848), president of the Astor Fur Company. The name is also found in Oregon and Illinois. (--Place Names.)
Astoria, fifteen miles northeast of Hartville, is the post-office for the district; William H. Merchant was postmaster in 1885. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 423; The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 543; Map of Western States, 1911, Rand, McNally & Co.) It was Montgomery Township. (--Map of Mo., in 1910.) It was west of Graff. (--Map of Western States, 1911.)
There was a post-office there in 1893-94, according to Missouri Manual for those years, p. 288.
Booher
It was near the Webster Co. line west of Lamb and Odin, and north of Odin. (--Map of Western States, 1911.)
[2]
Boyer
A post-office established in 1881, and discontinued in 1908; named for the Boyer family that lived near the post-office. (--Place Names.)
Boyer is the name of the post-office center of a settlement six miles northwest of Hartville, of which James T. Wood was postmaster. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 425.)
It was seven and one-half miles southwest of Grove Spring, in Boone Township. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 289; Map of Mo., 1910.)
It was located at Section 14, Township 30 N, Range 15 W. (--General Highway Map of Wright Co., issued by The State Highway Commission, of Mo., 11-17-67. Unless otherwise noted all map descriptions are from this map.)
Brutons
It was east of Norwood, on the Frisco Railroad. (--Map of Mo., 1925, 1929, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Cave Springs
It was a post-office, on the St. Louis and Springfield road, and this was the only one within reasonable distance of other settlements. Ariel Parks was postmaster and merchant. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 360.)
Cedar Gap
A post-office, established in 1882 and named for its location in the gap of the mountains leading to a Cedar Grove. (--Place Names.)
Cedar Gap is 1685 feet above sea level, and 1485 feet above West Memphis. The town of Cedar Gap,. on the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 28 N, Range 16 W, was acknowledged by George H. Nettleton, August 19, 1882. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 423.)
It is five and one-half miles west of Mansfield. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.) It is located on Highway O, south of 60, near the Webster Co. line.
Crisp Town
It was about two miles northwest of Astoria. (--Map of Western States, 1911.)
There was a post-office there in 1913-1914. (--Missouri Manual for those years, p. 601.)
[3]
Dawson
A post-office listed in Missouri Manual, 1911-12, p. 577.
It is located at Section 1, Township 29 N, Section 31, Township 30 N, on range line between Ranges 12 & 13 W.
Duggan
A post-office, established in 1892 and discontinued in 1906; named for the Duggan family, who settled there about 1885. (--Place Names.)
Duggan was in the southeast part of the county, twelve miles northwest of Mountain Grove. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
Embree
This town has been in two counties. From 1901-02 to 1923-24, it was in Upton Township, Texas County. (--Missouri Manual, 1901-02, p. 384, and following Manuals. Also, Map of Mo., 1910.)
It was discontinued as of October 1, 1923, and thereafter was supplied from Huggins, Texas Co. (--Missouri Manual, 1923-24, p. 893.)
It was re-established sometime between 1926 and November 1, 1927, as it is listed as being in Wright County, Montgomery Township. It is 6 miles north of Graff. (--Missouri Manual, 1927-28, p. 817; Map of Mo., 1939, Rand, McNally & Co.; General Highway Map of Wright Co.)
Flat Rock
It was in Pleasant Valley Township, south of Mansfield, on the old Mansfield-Ava Short Line R. R. (--Map of Mo., 1925, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Fuson
A post-office, established in 1889 and named for Dr. T. B. Fuson, a physician of the community. It was in Boone Township. (--Place Names; Map of Mo., 1925, Rand, McNally & Co.)
It was seven and one-half miles northeast of Hartville. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
Fyan
A post-office, established about 1860 and changed to Mountain Grove, (q.v.), in 1878; named for Judge Robert W. Fyan, a prominent figure in early county history. (--Place Names.)
[4]
Gage
A post-office, established in 1893 and discontinued in 1898, and named for the Gage family of that community. It was in Elk Creek Township. (--Place Names; Map of Mo., 1925.)
It was on the northern edge of the county, about midway, northwest of Mint. (--Evening in Wisconsin, General Atlas, Rand, McNally & Co., p. 48.)
Geraldine
A post-office, established in 1893 and discontinued in 1907; named for the daughter of the postmaster. (--Place Names.)
It was in the east central part of the county, near the Texas County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
Graff
It is three and one-half miles southeast of Astoria, near the Texas County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.) There was a post-office there in 1911-12. (--Missouri Manual for those years, p. 577.)
It is located at Section 7, Township 30 N, Range 12 W, on Highway 38, near the Texas County line.
Groff (Evidently a variant of Graff)
A post-office, established in 1901 and named for the Groff family, who had the first post-office. (--Place Names.) Exact location is unknown.
Grimes
A post-office, established in 1904 and discontinued in 1907; named for the Grimes family who owned the land on which the post-office was built and who ran a mill before the post-office was established. It was in Van Buren Township. (--Place Names; Map of Mo., 1925, Rand, McNally & Co.)
Grimes was three and one-quarter miles northwest of Worsham, near the Gasconade River. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
There was a post-office there in 1911-12. (--Missouri Manual, 1911-12, p. 577.)
Green Mountain
This community was located at Sections 1 & 2, Township 30 N, Range 13 W, on Highways JJ & 95.
[5]
Grove Spring
An old post-office, established in 1886 and named for its location in a grove near a spring. (--Place Names.)
Grove Spring post-office was presided over in 1885 by John Smith & Sons, who carried on the flouring and sawing mills and a general store at that point. The settlement is fourteen miles northwest of Hartville, in Union Township. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright County, p. 424.)
It is located at Section 17, Township 31 N, Range 15 W, on Highways 5, M & H.
Hartville
An old settlement and town which was settled early in the 19th century and named for Isaac Hart, an early hunter and settler. (--Place Names.)
Hartville, the county seat, situated near the center of the county, on Wood's Fork of the Gasconade, twenty-five miles east southeast of Marshfield, was almost obliterated by the Civil War, but is being rapidly rebuilt by a new population, (1874). It contains nine stores, 1 hotel, and 1 flouring and saw mill. (--Gazetteer of Missouri, 1874, p. 650.)
It was incorporated February 28, 1851. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright County, p. 412.)
It is located at Section 1, Township 29 N, Range 15 W, and Section 6, Township 29 N, Range 14 W, on Highways 38, 5 & Z.
Hawley
Hawley, twelve miles southeast of the county seat, was formerly known as Whetstone, the name given to Brown & Wilson's saw mill on Whetstone Creek. Howard Hawley was postmaster. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright County, p. 424.)
Note: The Sectional Map of Mo., 1894, shows both Hawley and Whetstone.
Heppner
Heppner, a post-office established in 1907 and discontinued in 1913, was named by the postmaster for his home, Heppner, Oregon. (--Place Names.)
Heppner was approximately six miles northeast of Hartville. (--Map of Western States, 1911. See, also, Missouri Manual, 1911-12, p. 577.)
Hickory Springs (Mountain Grove)
Hickory Springs, twenty-one miles southeast of Hartville, contains several stores, a grist mill, etc. In 1851, a post-office was established at Hickory Springs, by S. C. Hardin. (--Campbell's Gaz. of Mo., 1874, pop. 650.)
[6]
Honduras
Honduras was located in Union Township, near the Laclede County line. (--New Atlas of Mo., 1874, Campbell, Map #33.)
Jerico
Jerico is located at Section 27, Township 29 N, Range 16 W, west of Highway F, on an unmarked road.
Lamb
A post-office, established in 1908 and discontinued in 1914; named for the Lamb family, prominent citizens of the community. (--Place Names.)
Lamb was approximately four miles southeast of Grove Spring, in Union Township. (--Map of Western States, 1911; Map of Mo., 1925.)
Loring
A post-office, established in 1907 and named for the Loring family, who secured the post-office. (--Place Names.)
It was approximately two miles southwest of Lamb. (--Map of Western States, 1911.)
There was a post-office there in 1911-12. (--Missouri Manual, p. 577.)
It was in Boone Township, and was located at Section 3, Township 39 N, Range 15 W, approximately one mile east of Highway 5, on TT; Map of Mo., 1925.
Macomb
It is six miles east of Mansfield, and five and one-half miles west of Norwood. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
It is located at Section 20, Township 28 N, Range 14 W, on Highway K, approximately one mile south of Highway 60.
Manes
A post-office, established in 1891. Said to have been named for the demons of Roman Mythology; but the pronunciation makes the suggestion extremely doubtful. (--Place Names.) But, according to E. V. Brezeale, jeweler, in Evans Drug Store, Park Central, Manes was named for the Manes family of Pulaski County.
It is seven miles north of Worsham. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
It is located at Section 21, Township 31 N, Range 13 W, at the junction of Highways 95 & 38.
[7]
Mansfield
A town named for Colonel F. M. Mansfield, who, along with a Mr. Nettleton, laid out the town and sold the lots in 1882. (--Place Names.)
The town was surveyed and the plat acknowledged November 10, 1884, by George H. Nettleton, Julia A. Nettleton, and Francis M. Mansfield. The post-office was established in 1881, with Edward S. Young, postmaster. The old post-offices, known as Dennis, five miles north and Copper Springs six miles west and south, were discontinued in 1882. (--State of Missouri, Hist. of Wright Co., pp. 419-420.)
It is located at Sections 16 & 21, Township 28 N, Range 15 W, on Highways 5 & 60.
Melville
Melville was a post-office, twenty-two miles northeast of Hartville. (--Gaz. of Mo., p.650.)
The post-office is not listed in Missouri Manual, 1897-98, the earliest Manual to list post-offices.
Mill Stone Grit
It was in Mountain Grove Township, on the Texas County line. (--New Atlas of Mo., Map #33.)
It is not listed in Missouri Manual, 1897-98, the earliest Manual to list post-offices.
Mine Springs
Mine Springs was in the central part of Brush Creek Township. (--New Atlas of Mo., Map #33.)
No other listing could be found.
Ming Spring
Ming Spring was in the central portion of Union Township. (--New Atlas of Mo., Map #33.)
No other listing could be found.
Mingsville
An old post-office, established in 1865, and discontinued in 1888, which was named for the Mings family, early settlers in the community. (--Place Names.)
Mingsville, twenty-two miles northeast of Hartville, was the post-office center of that district, with P. Shelby, postmaster. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 424.)
[8]
Mingsville (Cont)
It was five miles northwest of Embree. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
It is still listed, 1975. (No post-office.)
Mint
A post-office, established in 1891 and discontinued in 1913; named for the profuse growth of mint around the store where the post-office was located. (--Place Names.)
It was six miles southwest of Competition, (Laclede Co., in Elk Creek Township.) (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543; Sectional Map of Mo., 1894.)
There was a post-office there in 1893-94. (--Missouri Manual, p. 295.)
Mountain Grove (Hickory Springs)
Mountain Grove, formerly named Hickory Springs, is twenty miles southeast of Hartville, on the Gulf Railroad, in the southeastern part of Wright County, three-fourths of a mile from the line of Texas County, eight miles from Howell, and five miles from Douglas. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., pp. 413-414.)
Mountain Grove, an old post-office, established under the name of Fyan (q.v.) before the Civil War and changed to Mountain Grove, with reference to its location on a ridge in a group of trees, in 1878. (--Place Names.)
The Mountain Grove Seminary, erected in 1857, stood one-half mile northeast of the square of the present town, and one mile east of Mountain Store, (q.v.). On August 10, 1865, T. J. Green opened a general store there, as a partner of John Roper ... In 1861, (1871?), the post-office was removed from Hickory Springs, on petition of Rivers Bruton, who was postmaster. J. C. Robertson opened his store in 1875, but he sold it to H. C. Mills and erected a new store.
In 1883, on the completion of the railroad, the mercantile circle moved their stocks to the present town except Mr. Green, who erected the present (1889) Green & Hughes Store.
A part of the present city was platted as the town of Fyan, on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and west half of the southeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 28, Range 12. The plat was acknowledged by Joseph Fischer (Fisher), Jr., August 28, 1882.
The petition to establish the village of Mountain Grove was presented to the court in February, 1882, and on February 11, an order was granted to organize such village. (Then follows the legal description, which is too lengthy to use here.)
[9]
Mountain Grove (Cont)
A year later the old town disappeared, and with it the old village organization ceased.
The City of Mountain Grove, was established November 5, 1886. (Then follows a rather lengthy legal description). Eli Hayes was first postmaster, having moved the office from Old Town. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., pp. 416-417.)
Several references to Old Town and New Town are made. (--Ibid: pp. 414-418.)
Mountain Store
A trading-post, in Texas County, which stood a few miles east of the present Mountain Grove, After the Civil War the site was moved across the county line into Wright County and called Mountain Grove. No trace is left of the trading-post in Texas Co. (--M. A. Thesis by Anna O'Brien; submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Graduate School of the University of Mo., 1939.)
New Grove
It was a post-office in 1911-12. (--Missouri Manual, p. 577.)
It was southwest of Odin, near the Webster Co. line. (--Map of Mo., 1910, The Kenyon Co.
Norwood
The town of Norwood, on the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 13, Township 28, Range 14, was surveyed in 1882, and the plat was acknowledged September 20, by George H. Nettleton, of Kansas City, and Chesterfield Jackson, of Louisville, Ky. Barnum Streets is shown running parallel with the railroad on the north and Main Street on the south. The north and south streets are named Hawk, Eagle, Dove and Jay; Eagle Street running south from the depot. Within the past three years (from 1889) Mansfield and Mountain Grove, on the east, and Seymour, Fordland and Rogersville on the west have levied largely on Norwood, so that today (1889) it scarcely deserves the name of village. The fire of October 26, 1885, destroyed the principal part of the business center. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 422.)
It is located at Sections 18 & 19, Range 13 W, and Sections 13 & 24, Township 8 N, on Highways 60, C, E and PP.
Odin
A post-office, established in 1882 by Syria Newton and probably named for the post-office in Illinois. It is possible that he had the god Odin in mind; however, the reason for its name is unknown. (--Place Names.)
[10]
Odin (Cont)
Odin, on the Marshfield road, dates back to 1882, when a post-office was established with Mr. Newton, postmaster. The merchants at that point in 1885 were Barney Amis and Syria Newton. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 424.)
It is seven and one-half miles northwest of Hartville. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
The post-office was listed on page 294 of Missouri Manual, 1893-94.
It is located at Section 32, Township 30 N, Range 15 W, on Highway 38.
Omega
It was in the northeast corner of the county, near the Laclede County line. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
There was a post-office there in 1903-04. (--Missouri Manual, p. 475.)
Owensville
Owensville is located at Section 7, Township 29 N, Range 13 W, on Highway H, north of N, near Norwood.
Pleasant Valley
This hamlet was located ten miles southwest of Hartville, and contained 1 store, (1874). (--Gaz. of Mo., 1874, p. 650.)
Plunk
This post-office was nine and one-half miles north of Mountain Grove, It was in Wood Township. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543; Map of Mo., 1925.)
The post-office is listed in Missouri Manual, 1905-06, p. 377.
Rail
Rail was a post-office, established in 1889 and discontinued in 1908; named for the Rail family who settled there soon after the Civil War. (--Place Names.)
Rail was fourteen miles north of Mountain Grove, and two and one-half miles east of Worsham. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
The post-office is listed on page 295 of Missouri Manual, 1893-94. It was in Van Buren Township. (--Map of Mo., 1925.)
[11]
Rayborn
It is a post-office, established in 1907 and named for the Rayborn family, who lived in the vicinity. (--Place Names.)
As late as 1911-12, there was a post-office at Rayborn. (--Missouri Manual, p. 577.) (1975, the post-office has been discontinued.) (--Postal Guide.)
It is located at Section 15, Township 30 N, Range 13 W, on Highway 38, approximately midway between Highways E & 95.
Rembert
It was a post-office, established in 1909 and discontinued in 1914; named for the Rembert family, who had the first post-office. (--Place Names; Missouri Manual, 1911-12, p. 577.)
It was in Gasconade Township. (--Mo. Map of 1925.)
Sacramento
A post-office, ten miles northeast of Hartville. (--Gazetteer of Mo., p. 650.)
St. George Saint George
An old post-office established before the Civil War, and named for a family of St. George's who lived there about 1850. (--Place Names.)
Saint George, in Elk Township, is the name of the post-office village, eleven and one-half miles northeast of Hartville. A blacksmith shop owned by J. W. Davis, and the post-office by Levi P. Neill, were credited to the place in 1885, and are still here, (1889). (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 424.)
There was a post-office there in 1894, but is (1975) now discontinued. (--Missouri Manual, 1893-94, p. 296; Postal Guide, 1975.)
It is located at Section 22, Township 31 N, Range 14 W.
Smittle
There was a post-office there in 1911-12. (--Missouri Manual, p. 577.)
It was located in Elk Creek Township, at Section 6, Township 31 N, Range 14 W, on Highways TT & H. (--Map of Mo., 1925.)
Steele's Mill (earlier Pool's Mill).
A mill owned and operated by a man named Steele. (--Place Names.) Location is unknown.
[12]
Sunnyside
A post-office, established in 1882 and discontinued about 1908, which was named because of its location on the sunnyside of a mountain. (--Place Names.) It was in Montgomery Township, east of Mint. (--Sectional Map of Mo., 1894.)
Sunnyside is the name given to a post-office, eighteen miles northeast of Hartville, of which Squire Crisp was postmaster. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 424.)
There was a post-office there in 1893-94. (--Missouri Manual, p. 296.)
Talmage
A post-office, established in 1908 and discontinued in 1914; named for the Talmage family who had the first post-office. (--Place Names.)
It was in Wood Township. (--Map of Mo., 1910, Kenyon Co.)
Umpire
Umpire, ten miles southeast of the county seat, is the name given to an old settlement on the Gasconade. Robert A. Pool was postmaster. (--State of Mo., Hist. of Wright Co., p. 424.)
It was seven miles north of Mansfield. (--The State of Mo., in 1904, p. 543.)
There was a post-office there in 1893-94. (--Missouri Manual, p. 297.)
Whetstone
A post-office, twelve miles southeast of Hartville. (--Gaz. of Mo., p. 650.) See Hawley.
It was approximately three miles east of Norwood. It was on the Kansas City, Ft. Scott and Memphis line of the Frisco Railroad, between Norwood and Mountain Grove. (--Map of Western States, 1911.)
Hawley and Whetstone are near each other, approximately one-half mile apart. (--Sectional Map of Mo., 1894.)
Whetstone Station is approximately one-half mile south of Mountain Grove, on the Frisco Railway. (--Ibid.)