Volume 4, Number 1 - Fall 1970
A Directory of Towns, Villages and Hamlets Past and Present of Christian County, Missouri
Compiled by Arthur Paul Moser
In compiling this directory of TOWNS. VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, PAST AND PRESENT OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, MISSOURI, an effort has been made to include every community regardless of size.
The following acknowledgements are made:
Miss Roblee and her staff in the Research Department at the Springfield and Greene County Libraries.
Mrs. Anderson, of the Christian County Library, who graciously permitted quotations from her book, CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS.
The State Historical Society of Missouri.
Mr. H. E. Rose, Mrs. Alma Utley, Mr. Charles Braden, who gave personal recollections of three communities.
In addition, the following books were examined:
GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, Campbell.
CAMPBELL’S SECTIONAL, TOPOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ATLAS OF MISSOURI.
THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, by Walter Williams.
GENERAL SCHEME OF MISSOURI, Dec. 1905, as used by R.M.S. (Railway Mail Service) referred to as GENERAL SCHEME.
A REMINISCENT HISTORY OF THE OZARK REGION, Goodspeed.
HOW MISSOURI STREAMS, CITIES, AND COUNTIES WERE NAMED, by David Eaton.
Several issues of THE MISSOURI MANUAL.
THE OZARKS MOUNTAINEER, May 1960.
Christian County was organized March 8, 1859. It was formed from portions of Greene, Taney and Webster Counties. Thus, many of the communities listed in this DIRECTORY are older than the county.
OZARK
Ozark, the county seat, is situated on the south bank of Finley Creek, in 1865, the court-house was burned, thus destroying all the public records.
The beginning of the community center of village, is reckoned from 1833, while the area was still a part of Greene County.
GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, Campbell, p 139.
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 22.
Note: Permission is hereby granted to any historian to copy, with due credit, any portion of thes DIRECTORY, with the exception of any portion quoted from CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS. Permission to cite these latter quotations should be received from Mrs. Lucille Anderson, Ozark, Mo., owner of the copyright.
ABADYL
Ira Henry, from Illinois was associated with Joe Hyde in the general merchandise business for two years.
In 1903 Mr. Henry sold to Mr. Hyde and purchased a building site from W. J. Keltner where Peter’s Branch flows into Swan Creek and became postmaster of the Keltner post-office established in 1905. The office was named for W. J. Keltner. Ellchead was at first the point of distribution for the Keltner mail. Later there was a fixed star route established, beginning at Witty in Douglas County, via Merritt and Little Beaver, both in Douglas County, Keltner, and on to Oldfield.
The route now starts at Cross Roads, in Douglas County, via Keltner to Oldfield.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 159.
It was 3’/2 miles north of Elkhead.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI, in 1904, p 359.
The post-office in 1905 received the mail from Sparta.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
The site is north of Bruner, keep to right and it consists of an old store and abandoned
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school house.
—By Charles Braden.
AISLE (See Boston)
—A REMINISCENT HISTORY OF THE OZARK REGION, p 23.
It was established as a post-office in 1889, and was renamed by the Post Office Department. It was discontinued in 1904.
ASHMORE STATION
One of the most important stations of the Butterfield State Route was located on the present (1959) Lee Phillips place about four and one-half miles northwest of Clever. The station was at the home of J. C. Ashmore, who owned the land at that time, and was known as Ashmore’s Station. It was said to have been a double log building and was later destroyed by fire. Nothing but a few scattered foundation stones are now visible. Recently, The State Historical Society of Missouri has set up a bronze marker on the site.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 107.
BENGAL
There was a post-office here in 1905. Mail was received from Ozark.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
The post-office was established in 1899 and was discontinued in 1917. The population was 100. It was 12 miles southwest of Ozark. Mail was received daily. George Maples was postmaster.
—MISSOURI GAZETTEER, 1898-99;
Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
BILLINGS
In 1860, barely a year after Christian County was formed the community had grown to the point that it needed a post-office. One was established and formally named Elba, Mo. The name Elba was to be short lived, although it was not until 1871 that the name was to be changed to Billings.
In 1871 the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway had extended its line to what is now Billings. One of the Frisco officials—John Billings—contributed $1000.00 to the erection of a Union Church. The community in appreciation of the honor adopted the name Billings in 1871, and Billings it has remained until the present day.
BOAZ
In 1848 Dr. L. L. Frazier, grandfather of D. S. Frazier, received a grant of land as an officer in the Florida War against the Seminole Indians.
About the time the post-office was opened at Clever, (1896), one was started in the L. P. Crank store at Boaz. Mail and merchandise were brought from Billings to Clever and Boaz by mail hack. The mail hack carried produce to the Billings shipping point on its return trip.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 107-1 10.
In 1905 the post-office received mail from Billings.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23. BOSTON (SEE AISLE)
Joel Hall, (b1802) and his wife, Peggy Vandegriff Hall (b1812) came to Missouri in 1840. He entered and bought one thousand acres of land, much of it on Swan Creek, near where Elkhorn flows into Swan Creek.
There was a general store and post-office named Boston nearby. Later there was a rural school named Boston, or sometimes called Sand Springs School. The last Boston School was built in 1911.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 162-163.
The post-office had been established in 1889, and was renamed Aisle by the Post Office Department. The post-office was discontiuned in 1904.
Boston was a mining village, recently formed in Marion township located on Swan and Elkhorn Creeks 15 miles from Ozark. Mail weekly. Andrew Beckley, postmaster. Population 50. Mail was received from Sparta.
—MISSOURI GAZETTEER, 1879-80; 1891-92. Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
BRUNER
It is located at section 23, township 27 N, range 19 W. James A. Rathbun came to Christian County in 1869 and settled near Keltner where he operated a store until 1893. Later, he moved to a tract two miles south of Bruner. He established a store near the present site of Bruner, and was appointed the first postmaster. He sought to have the post-office named Rathbun, but, after learning that there was another post-office by that name in the state, he requested the name
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Bruner, and it was so named.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 93.
The location is seven miles northeast of Sparta.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI In 1904, p 359.
The post-office is 1905 received mail from Sparta.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
BUCKHORN
A legion of Bald Knobbers was organized here, circa 1885.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 186.
BUCKHORN is not listed in the 1870 postal directory. There is, however a BUCKSNORT.
—POSTAL DIRECTORY was compiled by Frazee & McCormick.
Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
BULL’S MILLS
This was a post-office fourteen and one-half miles south of Ozark.
GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, Campbell, p 137.
CASSIDY
This community was established as a community center soon after the Chadwick branch railroad was built. Milt Davis, son of "Aunt" Betty Davis built a small store near the railroad tracks, on land owned by his family. A post-office was opened in the store and named Cassidy. No record of the origin of the name has been found.
The abandonment of the railroad line in 1934 was the death warrant for business in the Cassidy center, or perhaps the decline of business in Cassidy, and other centers like it along the line was the death warrant of the railroad. In Cassidy, the elevators, stock-loading docks and pens are gone with no signs remaining of their once busy life. The empty store building still stands. Its windows are boarded over, its doors locked, its shelves as empty as the hitching rail that stands in front. It was located at section 4, township 28 N, range 21 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 46.
CHADWICK
The first land homesteaded in the vicinity of what is now the town of Chadwick was entered by Lee Ballard in 1840. It is located a little more than a mile northwest of Chadwick on Bull Creek.
The first village in the community was started east of Chadwick in 1842 in a large field owned now (1959) by R. J. Gray. At that time the present site of Chadwick was in cultivation as a corn field. The village was called Log Town as all of the buildings were made of logs. It was later abandoned and all the businesses moved to Chadwick, when that town became a bustling center of timber activities.
It was named in honor of the foreman of the railroad crew, John F. Chadwick. It is told by the old timers that the railroader died near the Iron Yard Crossing when one of the work mules kicked him in the head. Fellow workmen asked where they should bury him and were told by a railroad official, "bury him in the next town." That was the new, unnamed town. They buried him in an unmarked grave and gave the town its name. (1883)
A United States Post Office was established in Chadwick June 27, 1883. James S. Johnson was the first postmaster. Mail was brought to Log Town by horse-back in 1880.
The old Frisco depot was bought by the Extension Club and was remodeled for use as a Community Center. The line from Ozark was abandoned in 1934. It is located at section 19, township 26 N, range 19 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 129, 135-36, 141, 152.
CHESTNUT RIDGE
Most of the land in Chestnut Ridge community was homesteaded in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s. Many residents of the area think that it was named for a man named Chestnut who hauled freight out of Springfield to early settlers of the section.
The Glauser family bought a homestead claim two miles farther down the ridge. They opened a store in 1901 and the Chestnut Ridge Post Office was established in it that year. Milo Carter started a blacksmith shop, selling it after two years to Fred Glauser. Now, (in 1959), the Glauser shop is the only one in the county.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission,
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p 173. It is located at section 28, township 25 N, range 21 W.
CHRISTIAN CENTER
Hiram Grissell built a store at Christian Center in 1903, and gave it its name because it is located approximately in the center of Christian County. John Bilyeu bought the store in 1901 and ran it for the next forty years. The Lawing post-office was transferred there in 1914 after Joe Koenig sold his holding to Tommy Hanks, but was discontinued several years ago. The community now receives its mail from Ozark, via R.F.D.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 51.
COWAN
This locality is shown on a map on page 359 of THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, Walter Williams.
It was a post-office, which originally received mail from Turner’s, in Greene Co. The post-office was discontinued as of 1905 by reason of R.F.D.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
DELAWARE TOWN
This was a post-office 7 miles east of Billings, and was the first settled place in the county.
—GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, Campbell, p 137. It extended for almost a mile on both sides of the (James) River. The town lay between the present highway 14, and the old Delaware bridge (whose pillars remain today, 1960). Other Indian Villages—"suburbs"—are located upstream along the James River and Wilson Creek. Little remains today to show Delaware Town.
—OZARK MOUNTAINEER, p 3, May 1960.
DUGG SPRING
A picture of this spot is shown on page 24f in CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST
100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission.
The cut-line shows it to be near Clever, and was the scene of the first Civil War skirmish in Christian County, August 1, 1861.
This engagement is reported on pp 47-48 of Vol 3 of series I in War of Rebellion records in a report Nathaniel Lyons wrote at McCulIa’s farm, which was 24 miles from Springfield, on the Fayetteville Road, also known as the "Wire Road."
—Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
EAU DE VIE
The notation on page 359 of THE STATE OF MISSOURI, in 1904, Walter Williams, shows this locality to have been 6’/2 miles southwest of Saunders, or 13 miles southwest of Chadwick. Mineral Springs nearby.
In about 1905, the mail was received from Chadwick, since there was a post-office here.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
In the 1880’s word was spread that waters of large springs at two locations, later named Eau de Vie and Reno, had great curative powers. People began to pour into the settlements, seeking health. At Eau de Vie, eighty acres were laid off in lots, and at both sites, stores, dance halls, mill, churches, schools, blacksmith shops and homes were built. The ‘medicinal’ spring water was drunk hopefully. It was bottled and shipped to distant cities and other states. Then some skeptic thought to have the water analyzed. When it proved to be only the same type of good, and pure cold water that flowed from hundreds of other springs, the booming watering places reverted to quiet hill-country villages. By the mid 1890’s, even the villages had disappeared. Now in 1959, the areas are rough countryside, with no visible signs remaining of the once exciting boom centers.
A post-office was established at Eau de Vie, stores opened, a school building, also used for church services, erected. Two livery stables, a dance hall and a hotel opened and many homes were built. H. C. Nash was the first postmaster.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copywright, used by permission, pp 176-177.
The name Eau de Vie is derived from EAU—water and de VIE—life, hence, "water of life" or "brandy".
—HOW MISSOURI COUNTIES, TOWNS, AND STREAMS WERE NAMED, David Eaton, Second Article, p 275.
ELKHEAD
This community is a post-office 16 miles east of Ozark.
—GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, p 139.
As of 1905, the post-office received mail from Sparta.
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—GENERAL SCHEME. p 23.
As of 1970, it is listed as a R. Sta. Sparta. It is located on highway 14.
ENTERPRISE
The first postmaster was a man named Herron, who served after the office was moved from Eau de Vie to Enterprise on Bull Creek.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 178.
GARRISON
About eight miles southwest of Chadwick, the little town of Garrison lies in a valley on the banks of Barber and Swan Creeks.
The town was named in honor of "Uncle George" Garrison who built the first store and later was named the first postmaster, in 1884.
It is located at section 28, township 25 N, range 19 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 152
GERTRUDE
This town is shown on a map of Christian County, in THE STATE OF MISSOURI, in 1904, p 359. The post-office was named Gertrude in memory of the daughter of Thomas Miller, the first postmaster at Petelo store. It was discontinued as of 1905, by reason of Rural Free Delivery. Originally the mail had come from Rogersville.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
GLESA
This was a post-office three miles west of Abadyl, almost due north of Bruner, as shown on a map in THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, p 359.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
GRIFFIN
Originally the post-office received mail from Brookline Station, in Greene County. However, it was discontinued in 1905, by reason of Rural Free Delivery.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
GUINN
This community consisted of a post-off ice, grocery store and dry goods store. It was across the James River, about five or six miles from Nixa. It is thought that the first
postmaster was named Aven. A man by the name of Myers carried the mail from Gates, Greene Co. The town flourished about 65 or 70 years ago. Nothing remains.
—MRS. ALMA UTLEY.
As of 1905, mail was received from Gates. It is not known when the post-office was discontinued.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
HARVERS
This town is shown on a map number
34, in CAMPBELL’S DESCRIPTIVE ATLAS.
It was southwest of Elkhead, or north of
Minersville.
—CAMPBELL’S DESCRIPTIVE, SECTIONAL TOPOGRAPHICAL ATLAS OF MISSOURI, 1874.
HIGHLANDVILLE
This small town and post-office is ten miles southwest of Ozark. It is located on Highway 160. It is located at section 19, township 26 N, range 21 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY ROAD MAP as
issued by the State of Missouri Highway Department.
HOPE
This was a county post-office 12 miles south of Ozark. Martha Wilhite was postmaster. Mail was received by special supply.
—MISSOURI BUSINESS GAZETTEER,
1893-94. Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
KELTNER
This small community, still in existence, is located on Highway T, near the intersection of Highway DD. It is located at section 6, township 26 N, range 18 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY ROAD MAP as
issued by The State of Missouri Highway Department.
KENTON—See Linden.
Five miles east of Ozark, on the north bank of Finley Creek, at the foot of an abrupt hill, this small town was laid off in 1874 by William Friend, and it contained 3 general stores, a grist mill, school house, blacksmith shop, and about 150 inhabitants. As of 1905, mail was received from Ozark.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23; GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, p 139.
LAWING
This was a post-office 7 miles southeast
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of Ozark, from which point mail was received in 1905.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI, in 1904, p 359. GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
In 1896, Joe Koenig had earned and saved enough to build a store, wherein was established a post-office named Lawing. Years before he had opened a blacksmith shop. His next venture was a mill, a full three-story building much of which is still standing, as is the storebuilding that housed the store and post-office, (1959). It is located at section 30, township 26 N, range 20 W.
---CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, OQ 48.51.
LINDEN- LINDENLURE- -KENTON
A settlement was started on the site of Lindenlure as early as 1833 although there seems to be no record of the first business undertaken there . . . The settlement was first called Kenton . . In the early days of the settlement, a general store, a tan-yard, at least one legal distillery and an undisclosed number of illegal ones made up the general area’s commercial activities.
Lindenlure is now a private resort center administered by a corporation made up of property owners
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission,
PP 53-54. It is located at section 9, township 28 N, Range 20W.
LOGTOWN
See Chadwick.
MCCRACKEN
This was a regular stop on the Chadwick branch line of the Frisco. It was three and one-half miles east of Ozark, or four and one-half miles northwest of Sparta. As of 1905, there was a post-office here. It was located at section 20, township 27 N, range 20 W.
---THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, p 359; GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
MINERSVILLE
This was a post-office, 19 miles south of Ozark, and was located on Swan Creek, in a good mineral section.
—GAZETTEER OF MISSOURI, Campbell, p 139.
MONTAGUE
This was a post-office whose mail was received from Ozark. The post-office was established in 1900 and was discontinued in 1920. It was in North Gallaway township, section 26 N, range 22 W.
—GENERAL SCHEME, p 23; CHRISTIAN COUNTY ATLAS, 1912, p 37; RAMSEY PLACE NAME FILE.
—Courtesty of The State Historical
NELSON’S MILL
Located on James River, northeast of lever, near the John Kimmons place, it was probably the first mill and general store in the area. A dam across the river supplied power for the water wheel. It was owned by a Mrs. Griffin before the Civil War. In addition to custom grinding, the miller carried a small stock of merchandise. The store served as precinct voting place until Lincoln township was formed.
After Lincoln township was formed the precinct voting place was changed to Green Valley, one-half mile south of present highway 14. "Uncle Bill" Thompson operated a store at this location which was probably the first store in this area.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY. ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 108-109.
NIXA
Nixa might have been named ‘cross roads", since it was brought to life at the Junction of the north-south, east-west roads traversing the western part of Christian County. Nixa sprang up at what was approximately a one-half day journey south of Springfield. It thus became a convenient stopping place for teamsters hauling supplies to Springfield from Arkansas, and likewise for those starting their trip toward the lower James River settlements or those in Arkansas.
According to one story of how Nixa got its name, this was by a play on Nicholas Inman's "nickname" and his middle initial at the time when the first post-office was established or about 1878, when it necame necessary that the community have a definite, legal name.
Nixa operated under the village form of government from June 10, 1902 until advanced to a city of the fourth class June 7, 1946. It is located at section 13, township 28 N, range 22 W.
---CHRISTIAN COUNTY, iTS FRIST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 55, 56, 63.
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OLGA
This community was in the northeast of the county, five miles from the Douglas County Line. The post-office was discontinued in 1905, by reason of Rural Free Delivery. Originally the mail was dispatched from Fordland. Later, it was dispatched from Pembina.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, p 359; GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
OLDFIELD
This small community is three and one-half miles southeast of Sparta. It is located on Highway 125, at the junction of Highway T. it is located at section 5, township 26 N, range 19 W.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, p 359; CHRISTAIN COUNTY ROAD MAP as issued by The State Highway Department of Missouri
PEMBINA
This community was 3 miles north of Kenton. The post-office was discontinued in 1905; prior to that time, the mail was dispatched from Ozark.
NOTE: In the directory of Greene County, Pembina was erroneously located in Greene County.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, p 359; GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
PETELO
John L. White was the first white man known to settle in the Petelo area. Date of settlement is unknown, but relatives and friends of the family recall that Mr. White told of finding only Indians in the vicinity where he settled. There was a large Indian Village near a big spring at the head of Petelo Creek. In fact Petelo was named in honor of the Indian Chief of that name, according to Mr. White. The first Petelo store was built by Jake Lassley in 1901.
The store is now owned and operated by E. Loveland and his daughter, Miss Goldie
Loveland. Mail for the area is received at Rogersville and sent out by rural carrier.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 180-181.
PLYMOUTH
See Billings.
PROSPECT
This community had its beginning as a Community Center with the establishment of a Baptist Church in 1846. Ephraim Wray was
a charter member and the first pastor.
Alexander McLean and Terrell Duncan moved to Christian County in 1844. They built a log church and laid out a cemetery on a tract adjoining the McLean property. When the church building was finished, Terrell Duncan remarked to Alexander McLean: "It’s small, but it is a prospect" and that presumably is how Prospect church and cemetery got the name.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission. pp 51 & 61.
PULLER
This is a post-office listed in the MISSOURI MANUAL, (BLUE BOOK) 1901-02.
No other information could be found.
RENO
This community was 4 miles southwest of Chestnut Ridge; mineral springs nearby. The post-office, which was discontinued as of 1905 originally received mail from Ozark.
Tom Phillips, Riley Page and Ed Know each had a store at Reno in the 1880’s. There were two hotels, a dance hall, and a saloon.
Later, a steam saw mill and grist mill were built; a post-office was established at Reno in this period. Several families built nice homes in and around Reno, but after the mineral springs claim was discredited, most of them moved away immediately. The George Stewart heirs now own the land where Reno once flourished.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST
100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission,
p 176; THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904,
p 359; GENERAL SCHEME, p 23. It was located at section 36, township 25 N, range 22 W. See, also, Eau de Vie.
RIVERDALE
As of 1905, the post-office received mail from Ozark. A mill was operated during the time of the Civil War. In 1870, Homer Gilmore and his family moved in from Maryville, Mo. In addition to operating the mill, he soon opened a store to handle other staples, and in time a post-office was placed in the store, a smithy opened a shop nearby, and a thriving settlement grew up at the cross roads and river crossing called Riverdale.
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Under successive owners. Riverdale, which had persisted into the 1930’s, was a victim of changing economy. Water mills gave way to more efficient steam, then electric plants. The mill has been removed, although the dam still remains.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, pp 64, 65, 66. Picture of the mill and dam, also the bridge are shown on page 24-c. GENERAL SCHEME, p 23. It is located at section 36, township 27 N, range 22 W.
SAUNDERS
This community was six and one-half miles southwest of Chadwick. In 1905, the post-office received mail from Chadwick. It was in section 14, township 25 N, range 20 W.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI, in 1904, p 359; GENERAL SCHEME, p 23; CHRISTIAN COUNTY ATLAS, 1912, p 37.
Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
SELMORE
Selmore, four miles southwest of Ozark on Highway 65 became a named community center with a post-office in 1892.
Local citizens sent a list of several acceptable names to the Post Office Department, but it was learned that all of them were already assigned to existing offices in the state.
A second list was made up and facetiously, with the new store in mind, the name Selmore was added to the list, and it became the official name of the post-office. It is located at sections 9 & 10, township 26 N, range 21 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p173.
SHADY GROVE
This community is shown in an old Atlas as being north of Ozark, in Finley township. A legion of the Bald Knobbers was organized here.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used
SPARTA
J. J. Bruton built the first house on what is Sparta’s main street. This is the beginning of the town that was laid out on June 17, 1885, and filed for record, August 17, 1885.
J. J. Bruton’s mother came from Sparta, Tenn., and it is believed that Sparta was named for her home town. It is located at section 25, township 27 N, range 20 W, at the intersection of highways 14 and 125.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST
100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 91; Highway map of Christian County, as issued by The State Highway Department of Missouri.
SPOKANE
About five miles south of Highlandville, on the old Wilderness Trail, a post-office was established and given the name of Spokane in 1892. People of the community wanted the post-office named Lead Hill, but were informed by the Post Office Department that there already was an office of that name in the state. The department suggested the name of Spokane and it was accepted. David Hawthorn operated a general store and was appointed as first postmaster and served one year.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission, p 173.
STO
This was a county post-office, 18 miles from Ozark, 14 miles from Forsyth, 10 miles from Chadwick. Mail was received daily. S. T. Frazer, postmaster.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI, in 1904, p 359; MISSOURI BUSINESS GAZETTEER, 1898-99, Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
STOVE FACTORY
The town of this quaint name was in section 33, township 25 N, range 19 W.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY ATLAS, 1912,
Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri.
STRAIT
This small town was northeast of Spokane, and west of Lawing.
—MAP OF WESTERN STATES, 1811, Rand, McNally & Co.
VELSOR
This was a post-office established in 1882, and discontinued in 1904. It was named for James Velsor who moved in from the East to live there. It was in Sparta township 11 miles east of Ozark, 4 miles northeast of Sparta, mail semi-weekly. F. R. Beamon
[13]
was the postmaster, also had a general store. In addition, he was the blacksmith. The population was 7.
—MISSOURI BUSINESS GAZETTEER, 1893-94; 1891-92; 1898-99. Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Missouri.
TERRELL
This community was in the northwestern corner of Christian County, a few miles north of Clever. It consisted of stock-loading pens, primarily for cattle loading. It was more or less a private loading facility for farmers living in the vicinity, among them Clint Manley. It may be reached by going one-half mile east of Republic, then on the first main road south. Go past Lindsey Cemetery, on the old Lindsey Robertson farm. It is located on Terrell Creek, which was named after C. D. Terrell. Terrell Creek heads near the Frisco water tank.
—H. E. ROSE.
UNION CITY
Near the Christian-Stone County Line, a mill was built in 1902. Later, in 1907, the mill was moved to Clever.
—CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ITS FIRST 100 YEARS, Copyright, used by permission; a picture of this mill is shown on page 56 b.
WATTSVI LLE
This was a small community, 3 miles west of Gertruce. The post-office, which had received mail from Rogersville was discontinued in 1905, by reason of Rural Free Delivery.
—THE STATE OF MISSOURI in 1904, p 359; GENERAL SCHEME, p 23.
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