SEARCH RESULTS

COOPER COUNTY RIVERS & STREAMS RIVER TALK “Headwater ” is the origin point of a stream. “Mouth ” is where it empties into another body of water. Thus the headwaters of the Lamine are in Pettis County while its mouth is in Cooper County on the Missouri River. A “Tributary ” is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stream (or parent) river. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. A “Confluence” is where two or more bodies of water meet together, and usually refers to the joining of tributaries. A “Spring ” is a point at which water from an aquifer flows to the surface. A “Seep ” is a wet or moist place where groundwater oozes to the surface. A “Creek ” is a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river. A “Stream ” source can be from a spring or it can form at a point where the drainage of rainwater comes together. ​ ​ RIVERS AND STREAMS Cooper County has been blessed with an abundance of water from springs, creeks, streams and rivers. The two main rivers are the Lamine and the Blackwater. The main creek is the Petite Saline. After joining the Missouri River, the water travels to the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of Mexico. ​ The LAMINE RIVER is a 63.8-mile- tributary of the Missouri River in Cooper County. It is formed in northern Morgan County , about 4 miles southeast of Otterville by the confluence of the Flat and Richland creeks, and flows generally northwardly through Cooper and Pettis counties. In northwestern Cooper County the Lamine collects water from the Blackwater River and flows into the Missouri River northeast of Lamine and 6 miles west of Boonville . At Clifton City, the river has a mean annual discharge of 455 cubic feet per second. Below the mouth of the Blackwater River, its discharge averages 1,279 cubic feet per second. The river was named by French explorers for the mining operations in the area, the river has also been known as "La Mine River" and as "Riviere a la Mine." Source: Wikipedia ​ The water from Chouteau Springs (two clear water and 3 Sulphur water springs) in Pilot Grove Township flows into Chouteau Creek then into the Lamine, which eventually reaches the Missouri River. These springs discharge water at the rate of ten gallons per minute or 14,400 gallons per day. ​ The BLACKWATER RIVER is formed by the confluence of the North Fork Blackwater River and the South Fork Blackwater River in Johnson County approximately 6 miles northwest of Warrensburg . The river flows generally east-northeastwardly through Johnson, Pettis , Saline and Cooper counties, past the towns of Sweet Springs and Blackwater . It flows into the Lamine River in northwestern Cooper County, approximately 4 miles southeast of Blackwater. The Blackwater River is 16 miles longer than the Lamine River, of which it is a tributary. The Blackwater River is a 79.3-mile-long tributary of the Lamine River via the Lamine and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River . The Blackwater River was named from the character of its banks and water. Source: Wikipedia PETITE SALINE CREEK is a stream in Cooper , Moniteau and Morgan Counties. It is a tributary of the Missouri River . Petite Saline Creek was so named for the salty character of its water. ​ The stream source area is along the Morgan-Moniteau county line just north of U.S. Route 50 two miles east of Syracuse and three miles west of Tipton at an elevation of about 920 feet. The stream flows north into Cooper County crossing under, and flowing parallel to, the west side of Missouri Route 5 . The stream turns east again crossing under Route 5 just south of Billingsville . The stream flows generally east passing under Missouri Route 87 southeast of Boonville . The stream continues east to southeast passing under Missouri Route 179 south of Wooldridge . The stream enters the Missouri River bottom just south of Wooldridge in eastern Cooper County and the confluence with the Missouri is in the northern corner of Moniteau County across the river from McBaine and an elevation of 564 feet. ​ Lewis and Clark passed by the Petite Saline on June 6, 1804 and made mention of this creek in their journals. ‘Passed the mouth of a creek called ‘saline’ or ‘salt’ creek. This river is about 30 yards wide and has so many licks and salt springs on its banks that water of the creek is brackish. One very large lick is 9 miles up on the left side. The water of this spring is strong. So much so, that it is said one bushel will make 7 pounds of good salt.” Source: Wikipedia COVERED BRIDGES There once were five covered bridges in Cooper County: Crawford, Hurt, Connors, Shoemaker, and Big Lick. They all spanned the Petite Saline Creek. All the covered bridges were replaced many years ago by either metal or concrete structures. Sadly, there are no known photos of any of the covered bridges in Cooper County. This is a sketch of the covered bridge on highway 5 between Boonville and Billingsville by Florence Friederichs. The Swinging Bridge Pretend you are a child in 1930 and your dad is going to drive you across the brand-new swinging bridge for the first time. You are tall enough to see the steep hill going up to the bridge. The truck starts across the wide boards that don't look a bit safe. You dad is driving very slowly, but you can hear creaking and bumping of the metal against metal and the wooden planks. You press your nose against the passenger window and see the dirt-brown Lamine River looming 30 feet below. The trip across the 231-foot bridge seems to take too long. Then comes the stomach-churning descent on the other side. Your dad shuts off the engine and you hop out to watch vehicles behind you crossing. Some drivers turn around, not brave enough to venture across. When the bridge is empty, your dad reaches out his hand and says, “Let's walk across.” Your heart pounds at the thought. He grabs your hand, leading you up the steep hill. A gentle breeze causes the bridge to sway. You take one step and another until both feet are planted on one of the wooden boards. The world is moving beneath your feet, pitching and rolling, like a carnival ride. Your dad tells you that farmers wanted a bridge built northwest of Pleasant Green, Missouri. They hired a man named Joe Dice, who had built other bridges like this one. A lot of local people helped build this bridge. Your dad showed you two thick groups of wires that helped reinforce the structure. More than 300 individual wires make up each bunch. Two 22-foot-deep holes on each end of the bridge were filled with hand-made concrete that served to anchor the bridge. Pretend now, it's 1994 and you are an old person. You see the bridge floor collapsed from heavy flooding, sinking into the river. It is no longer safe. The Cooper County Historical Society tries to save it, but the cost is too expensive. In 1996, you stand and watch as the bridge is removed from the Lamine River. You think back and can almost feel that bridge swaying beneath your feet. Swinging Bridge near Lamine Underside of Swinging Bridge over Lamine Old Bridge over Lamine River

OTHER AREA HISTORICAL RESEARCH SITES River, Rails & Trails Museum and Visitor's Center 100 East Spring Street Boonville, Missouri, 65233 Phone: 660 882-3967 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4pm year-round, and 10am - 2pm Saturday and Sundays April through October The Visitor’s Center and Museum is located in the former Hirsch Wholesale Grocery Company warehouse, which was built in 1902 alongside the MKT Railroad tracks. In 2016 the City of Boonville converted the building into the new Visitor’s Center and Museum. The museum houses a half-scale replica of a Lewis and Clark keelboat, a Mitchell wagon, and railroad memorabilia including a model train display. A model steamboat, items from the sunken “Missouri Packet” steamboat and general Boonville history items are on display, as are items from the former Kemper Military School. There is also a children’s fort play area and several interactive displays. It is an excellent stop for information about Boonville and the Boonslick Region. ​ South Howard County Historical Society and Museum 110 E. Broadway New Franklin, Missouri 65274 Phone: n/a Facebook The South Howard County Historical Society was organized in 1989. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of documents, papers, and objects relative to the history of Howard County, MO, and to promote an interest and appreciation for local history. SHCHS meets four times a year on the first Tuesday of the following months: March, June, September, and December. Our 7:00 p.m. meetings consist of a short business meeting and a program devoted to our local history. The public is always invited! ​ Boonslick Historical Soc iety P.O. Box 426, Boonville, MO 65233 Phone Number: n/a Facebook History Focus: All aspects of the Boonslick Region, especially Howard, Cooper and Saline counties from the late 18th through mid-20th century. Funding: Non-profit, memberships and donations. ​ Boone’s Lick Road Association P.O. Box 8076 Columbia, MO 65205 The Boone’s Lick Road Association (BLRA), incorporated in Missouri in 2011, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is twofold: First, we want to preserve and tell the fascinating stories of the first major road into the heart of Missouri. Secondly, we hope to secure federal recognition of this road as a National Historic Trail. We aim to be the most comprehensive and authoritative source for information and research into this historic trail. ​ Arrow Rock State Historic Site 39521 Visitor Center Drive Arrow Rock, MO 6532 Phone: 660-837-3330 Email: ArrowRockStateHistoricSite@dnr.mo.go Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily March through October. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday, November through February. Free admission.

THANK YOU, HANNAH COLE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Picture of the Hannah Cole statue ​ ​ P rior to the coming of the Cole families, what would someday become Cooper County was explored by several early explorers starting with Charles Ravensway in 1658, Daniel Boone in 1799 and later Lewis and Clark in1803-1804 after Missouri became a state. The area was already well known to fur traders. Hannah Allison Cole must have been a very adventuresome, determined, courageous and hardy woman. She was a widow, and almost 50, when she crossed the Missouri River in something similar to a large canoe, called a “dugout” or “pirogue.” She was accompanied by her nine children, her beloved slave Lucy, her sister Phoebe, and Stephan, her husband, and their five children. That’s 18 people in a hollowed-out log, which was usually 15 to 18 feet long. The pirogue or dugout would usually be maneuvered through the water by men using long poles. Although explorers and trappers visited what was to become Missouri in the 1600’s and later, the Coles were the first white families to settle on the South side of the Missouri River. When the family crossed the Missouri River, just before Christmas in 1810, the river was swift and full of ice. Evidently, the men made two trips across the river, the first to carry the women and children to their planned destination, plus swim their stock across the river. The second, to retrieve supplies and provisions that could not fit in the boat on the first trip across the river. That second trip also included dismantling their wagon and bringing it, and probably tools and seeds to the other side of the river. However, the day after they made their initial trip across the river, there was an violent storm. Due to the raging river and ice, the men had to wait eleven days before they could retrieve their wagon and supplies. As the family probably had no little or food with them in the dugout, all they had to eat were acorns, slippery elm bark and one wild turkey. Due to the bad weather, game would have been hard to find, and since it was December, most of the acorns would be gone. That must have been very disheartening for the 18 members of the family. Yet, they all survived! Hannah’s family constructed a small cabin near the river’s edge just up from where Boonville is located today. They lived peacefully for a year or so until there was an Indian uprising, encouraged by the British, known today as the War of 1812 (Yes, the same war when we fought the British and they burned Washington). By this time there were other hardy souls who had crossed the river for a new life in the newly opened territory. Later, for protection, a fort was built on a rocky, very steep bluff that jutted out almost to the river. Looking at the property today, which is still very heavily wooded, you will wonder “how in the world, did they get up there,” as the location had to be reached by climbing through the dense, almost vertical virgin forest and then down a very steep forested hill. Hannah must have been a very giving person who really loved people. During the Indian uprising she invited other families to stay in her fort, providing them a safe place to live. She eventually found teachers to provide education for the children, and preachers to provide hope and inspiration to everyone. The fort had many other uses after the War. Click here for more information

DID YOU MISS OUT ON THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”? 1939 Boonville Movie Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Below are the time codes for each person identified in the movie LAMMERS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Wayne Lammers, Producer/Director 1509 Jefferson Drive Boonville, MO 65233 lammers.video.productions@gmail.com Phone: 660-621-0135

THE PONY EXPRESS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Depiction of the construction of the first Transcontinental Telegraph , with a Pony Express rider passing below. Source: Wikipedia. ​ March 1861: The Pony Express reduces its route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Sacramento, California When Cooper County mail, that was headed west by stage coach, reached Saint Joe, Missouri, it would be picked up at the Pony Express office by one of the 80 riders, and start on a 2,000-mile wild ride by horseback to the next station. The mail and newspapers would reach San Francisco in 10 days. By stage coach, the same trip would take three weeks! There were 153 Stations, some in hotels and some in shacks. The rider would ride 10 to 15 miles before changing horses and then continue his ride to the next station and a new horse. Five hundred horses were used for each round trip. The ride was not comfortable for the rider or the horse. Bad weather, rough terrain and Indians were constant threats. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Ad in the Sacramento Union, March 19, 1860 “Men Wanted" The undersigned wishes to hire ten or a dozen men, familiar with the management of horses, as hostlers, or riders on the Overland Express Route via Salt Lake City. Wages $50 per month and found.” On June 16, 1860, about ten weeks after the Pony Express began operations, Congress authorized a bill instructing the Secretary of the Treasury to subsidize the building of a transcontinental telegraph line to connect the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast. ​ The passage of the bill resulted in the incorporation of the Overland Telegraph Company of California and the Pacific Telegraph Company of Nebraska. While the lines were under construction the Pony Express operated as usual. Letters and newspapers were carried the entire length of the line from St. Joseph to Sacramento, but telegrams were carried only between the rapidly advancing wire ends. ​ On October 26, 1861, San Francisco was in direct contact with New York City. On that day the Pony Express was officially terminated, but it was not until November that the last letters completed their journey over the route. ​ In June, 1860 Congress authorized the incorporation off the Overland Telegraph Company of California and Pacific Company of Nebraska. The Pony Express lasted only 19 months from April 1860 to October 1861, but it successfully connected the East to the West in record time. Sources: Adapted from National Geographic National Park Service National Historic Trail

POST OFFICES IN COOPER COUNTY U.S. Mail This is a picture of the small building that housed the Pleasant Green Post Office from 1869-1871 and 1873-1954 It also served as a telephone office for a few years. The presence, lack of, or loss of a post office, is a major indication of the size, success and duration of a town. Some post offices were closed during the Civil War, but later reopened. When trains stopped running through a town, populations declined, and the number of post offices did too. Some towns never had a post office, some had them for a very short time, and some still have them today. The earliest mail delivery was by horseback, from town to town, to a specific building in a town, usually the general store. Boonville had the earliest post office, in 1825. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Short-lived Post Offices and Towns ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ There were many very small settlements in Cooper County that never had a Post Office: Bluff City, Browntown, Buzzards Roost, Crossroads, Dublin, Lone Elm, Martinsville, Merna, Mt. Moriah, Petersburg, Prairie Lick, Rankins Mill, Salt Springs, Sardine, Stoney Point, Sweeny, Hostonville (under water), all of these towns are gone. Only Lone Elm is still an incorporated village and get’s it’s mail from Bunceton. Windsor Place – has always received its mail from Boonville. ​ Adapted from: MOGENWEB, Post Offices, Jim Thoma. ​ Many things we take for granted today used to be luxuries - telephones, automobiles, and even free mail service. While many city dwellers have been receiving free mail delivery service since the 1860s, the same can’t be said for those in rural areas. ​ ​ RURAL MAIL DELIVERY It wasn’t until October 1, 1890, that Congress authorized $10,000 to test the practicability of delivering mail to small towns of 300 to 5,000 people. Even so, Rural Free Delivery (RFD) became a political football as politicians began making promises for votes. And then, not everyone liked the idea. Some worried about the cost of the service. Private express carriers feared inexpensive rural mail delivery would put them out of business. Local merchants worried it would reduce farmers’ weekly trips to town for supplies and mail order houses like Sears would take all their business. ​ The first experiment consisted of twelve communities where the postmaster hired a man for an hour or two a day to deliver the mail. Meeting with success, the Post Office Department, on October 1, 1891, began five routes covering ten miles in Jefferson County, West Virginia. With continued success, RFD became an official service in 1896. Between October 1 and December 21 of that year, 24 states began RFD. Missouri was one of them, and Cairo was the first on October 15. ​ Soon farmers were helping the post office by putting out containers for the mail. Lard pails, syrup cans, and even old apple, soap, and cigar boxes were used. By 1901, it was obvious that service would be much improved with standardized boxes. Specifications to manufacturers were: box must be made of metal, 6x8x18 inches, and weather-proof, boxes should be constructed so they can be fastened to a post at a height convenient to the carrier without alighting, and keys for customers’ boxes should be easy to use by a carrier with “one-gloved hand in the severest weather.” By 1902, having a box was required for mail delivery. ​ Source: : "Historically Yours" by Elizabeth Davis ​ Otterville Post Office There was no post office in Otterville until March 24, 1848. The mail for this neighborhood was supplied from Arator post office located near Smithton. When the post office started in Otterville, W.G. Wear was the first postmaster appointed. He held the office until 1851, when Thomas Starke was appointed, holding the office for almost 10 years. The mail was carried by horseback. Then the Missouri Pacific railway came through and that allowed the mail to be brought to town by train. The post office quit dispatching the mail to the trains in about 1965. At this time the mail was sent and received from Sedalia by truck. The trucks delivered mail twice a day to the Otterville post office till about 1970. At this time it was only delivered in the early morning and went out near the end of the day. ​ Source: Carolyn Aggeler

EARLY NEWSPAPERS The "Boonville Herald," the first newspaper in Cooper County, was established in 1834 by James O. Middleton and edited by Benjamin E. Ferry. Four years later, Robert Brent bought a half interest in the paper and its name was changed to "The Western Emigrant." The second newspaper in Cooper County appeared the following year to assist in the 1840 election campaign. The "Missouri Register" was published by William T. Yoeman was the first Democratic paper in western Missouri. Both newspapers changed name and ownership several times over the following years, but neither survived the American Civil War. Although Boonville was the county seat, other newspapers were created within Cooper County. Bunceton, for many years the second largest town in Cooper County, boasted several newspapers over the years. The "Bunceton Enterprise", "The Bunceton Eagle", "The Bunceton News", and "The Bunceton Tribune" all contributed to local news. The last to fold was "The Bunceton Eagle" in 1943. Pilot Grove also boasted a number of newspapers in its past. The earliest, "The Pilot Grove Record," was established in 1880. "The Pilot Grove Bee" was another early paper in Pilot Grove although its exact date of operation is not documented. Other papers that have come and gone include: "The Cooper County Leader," "Pilot Grove Herald," Pilot Grove Enterprise," and "The Sentinel-Star" which went out of business in 1952. Otterville had two newspapers, the "Otterville Weekly" and "The War Eagle & Camp Journal of the Army of the West," start publication during the Civil War in 1861. Other papers appeared after the war: "The Little Missourian" and "The Otterville Mail" which closed in 1924. The town was without a newspaper until 1958 when "The Otterville Community News," began operations. Blackwater, too, at one time had its own newspaper. "The Blackwater News," which was established in 1892, ceased publication in 1923. Boonville, as the county seat, had the largest population and the most newspapers. Some of the names from this list are merely name changes while others are new papers: "Boonville Herald", "Missouri Register", "Boonville Observer", "Boonville Commercial Bulletin", "Weekly Democrat", "Boonville Weekly Observer", "Central Missourian", "Boonville Weekly Patriot", "Fifth Iowa Register", "Central Missouri Advertiser", and the "Boonville Monitor". None of these papers survived the Civil War. Other papers came after the war, papers such as "The Boonville Eagle", the "Boonville Missouri Advertiser", the "Central Missourier", and "The Weekly Topic". Today, with economical and technological changes, Boonville is down to one newspaper, "The Boonville Daily News". These are the newspapers that were published in Early Cooper County from about 1910 to current date. ​ Many of these early papers have few or no issues left in existence, so information is slim for most of them. ​ Research: Ray Owens ​ BLACKWATER Blackwater Advance Blackwater Wave Blackwater Echo Blackwater Times Blackwater News ​ BOONVILLE Between 1900 and 1930 The Boonville Advertiser was the main Democratic paper and the Central Missouri Republican was the main Republican paper. Eventually the two papers merged under one owner and became the Boonville Daily News, that is still in operation. ​ BUNCETON Bunceton Enterprise Bunceton Telegram Bunceton Weekly Eagle Bunceton News Bunceton Tribune ​ OTTERVILLE War Eagle (Civil War Military paper) The First Division Proclamation (Civil War Military Paper) Otterville Weekly Otterville Argus Otterville Call Otterville Mail Otterville Community News (Still running) ​ PILOT GROVE Pilot Grove Bee Pilot Grove Mirror Cooper County Leader Pilot Grove Herald Pilot Grove Enterprise Pilot Grove Record Pilot Grove Star Pilot Grove Sentinel-Star ​ WOOLDRIDGE Wooldridge Star ​ Source: Ray Owens ​ ​ EARLY COOPER COUNTY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Here are a few political comments from the September 1, 1916, Boonville Weekly Advertiser. ​ “During a recent short trip across the Canadian border, Mr. Hughes was held up and his car searched for explosives. As there was nothing more dangerous than his Detroit speech, he and his party were liberated very promptly. ”As a mud slinger, a chronic scold, Judge Hughes is the greatest candidate ever placed before the public for any office.” ​ “ ‘The only thing needed to carry Missouri,’ says the Globe-Democrat, ‘is a proper campaign.’ Not the only thing;--a proper candidate, a proper platform, proper issues and a proper party behind all these might help some.” ​ Other changes between 1916 and 2016 focus on finances and the cost of living. Central National Bank, for instance, paid 2% interest on checking accounts, 3% on 6-months deposits, and 4% on 12-months deposits. Today, few if any types of bank deposits make even 2%. Cigarettes on the other hand are sky-high. The cheapest brand today is over $2 a pack, but Chesterfield’s, one of the premium brands in 1916, were only 10-cents a pack. And used National Cash Register registers were advertised on sale between 5-cents and $10. The listed new price was $175. ​ Need a place to live? You might be able to find a studio apartment today for $250 a month. In 1916? “House for Rent—Four rooms, water in kitchen, price $9. South Third Street.” Back then, water in kitchen was a good thing. Today, it means ‘fixer upper.’ ​ Source: "Historically Yours "by Elizabeth Davis. ​ NEWSPAPER ARTICLES 90+ YEARS AGO Reporting the news has changed a lot over the years. Today one has only to punch a button on a smart phone to get international news as it happens. In our early days, colonists relied on newspapers. While newspapers are still around, they have changed dramatically - they can even be read online. Many magazines have stopped printing all together and gone to electronic versions. ​ But what were newspapers like before all this modern technology changed us into an instant gratification generation? ​ “The Cooper County Republican” was established in 1929 and published every Tuesday. Here are some of the headlines that appeared on the front page of the January 18, 1938, issue. ​ “Roosevelt Vetoes Bill to Hike Hourly Pay of Postal Char-workers” ​ “Improvement Shown in Missouri Public Schools” ​ “Daily Papers Protest Rise in Paper Prices” ​ Other news which appeared as short announcements included the following: FDR held a press conference (before the Recession Parley) that all Holding Companies had to go; a photo and caption: “FDR’s Recession Parley--Labor Leader John Lewis and Financier Owen D. Young leaving the White House and being interviewed by reporters”; and “St. Louis—UAWA Strikers Receive First Ford Peace Offer”. Ford’s seniority list would include UAWA members and consent to a Union election. In return, they asked the Union to call off the strike and withdraw all charges of unfair practices. ​ The front page included local news as well. ​ “Pythian Notice: The first bridge party to be held after the Christmas holidays will be held at Caste Hall here tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock. All members, their family and friends are urged to attend.” ​ Funerals, marriage licenses, and birth announcements were also included in local news. ​ Inside pages: Today, some papers print books reviews. In the 1930s, “The Cooper County Republican” printed whole chapters. One issue might have Chapter 1 then skip two weeks and print Chapter 6. One could never read the whole book in the paper, but it was entertaining and led to sales. ​ HIPPA is responsible for some of the changes. Announcements like, “Mrs. Jones and new baby dismissed from St. Joseph Hospital,” and “Mr. Smith underwent an operation this morning at St. Joseph Hospital” are no longer allowed due to privacy laws. While the story of a man robbed and left beaten on the side of the road would still make it into today’s news, it’s highly unlikely that a picture of him in his hospital bed, caption reading, “semi-conscious patient with brain damage”, would be allowed. ​ These are just a few of the changes that have taken place in newspapers over the past 80 years. Who knows what another 80 years will bring. ​ Adapted from: " Historically Yours " by Elizabeth Davis ​ Otterville Newspaper was named Otterville Mail In 1872, J.L. Johnson, established the Otterville Call paper. After a short time he sold it to James Eubank, a prominent teacher of Otterville. Eubank, after a short time sold it to Frank Varner, also a resident of the town. Mr. Varner then leased it to Pearce & Holman, soon after taking charge they changed its name to the Cooper County Mail. Pearce & Holman ran the paper one year, when it passed on to G.P Garland, an old newspaper man. The Mail is an independent local paper, advocating no political doctrine except that of good government. Mr. Garland edits a paper which redounds much credit to Otterville. Mr. Garland died in 1939 in Otterville at the age of 96. Missouri’s 29th Lt. Governor born in Bellair, Missouri Newspapers S. W. Crossley was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, on November 23, 1842. Crossley was a Confederate veteran who fought in the Stonewall Jackson Brigade. After losing an arm in the war he became a noted educator and settled for a time in Bellair, Mo. Professor and Mrs. Crossley’s only son, Wallace Clifford Crossley, was born in Bellair on October 4, 1874. Wallace Crossley grew up in Mexico, Mo., and after high school graduation, he attended William Jewell College in Liberty and the University of Missouri. He returned to Mexico to teach English before his career took him to Warrensburg Normal School, which after several name changes is now the University of Central Missouri. In 1904, Crossley was elected as a Representative to Missouri’s General Assembly. He served three two-year terms under Governors Joseph “Holy Joe” Wingate Polk and Herbert Spencer Hadley. Crossley went into the newspaper business in 1907 when he became publisher of the Journal-Democrat. The two papers had merged in 1876. Following another merger in February 1913, the paper became the Star-Journal. He would continue as published until his death in 1943. Crossley was only out of the General Assembly two years. In 1912, he was returned to Jefferson City for a four-year term as a Senator under Governor Elliot Woolfolk Major. In 1916, Wallace Crossley was elected 29th Lt. Governor of the State of Missouri. He and newly elected Governor Frederick “Fred” Dozier Gardner served from January 8, 1917, to January 10, 1921. It was during these four years that Missouri went from a debt of $2,250,000 to a surplus of $3,500,000. Wallace Clifford Crossley died on December 13, 1943, and is buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Warrensburg. J. Melton and Big Sky Park - part of Harley Park Newspapers Elston Joseph Melton was born in Jefferson City on November 17, 1891, and grew up around California, Mo. After high school, he attended the Chicago Art Institute before turning to newspaper work, first in California, Mo., then in Miami, Ok., and finally back in Mo. at Clayton. During the Great War, Melton served in the navy at US Naval Base 17 in Scotland. After the war, he returned to the newspaper business working for papers in Pilot Grove, Sedalia, Boonville, and Caruthersville working as a printer, reporter, editor, partner, and even owner/publisher. He sold The Caruthersville Republican in September 1925 when Governor Sam Baker appointed him deputy state oil inspector for southeast Mo. Melton launched the Boonville Republican in April 1929, publishing it as a weekly for four years before turning it into a daily. A year later he merged it with the Boonville Daily News. Fourteen months later, he sold out and stepped down as editor. Although the majority of Melton’s time up to 1935 was spent in the newspaper business, he did have other interests. After selling his share of the Boonville Daily News in 1935, Melton continued to write, doing special pieces for the Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian and a syndicated column called “Pen Pointers.” In 1936 he published “Will Rogers, Kemper Valedictorian ’98.” It was probably during these two years that he started writing his history of Cooper County, Missouri, which was published in 1937. That same year, he published “Billy Aikors history of 1937.” Along the way, his daughter Mary grew up and married Harry Eugene Hall. The couple gave Mary’s parents four grandsons. Mark Melton Hall was born in 1949 and Michael Owen Hall followed in 1950. The twins, Dale Todd Hall and David Paul Hall, were born in 1952. Then tragedy struck. In June 1961, Mary died unexpectedly at the couple’s home in Canton, Mo., leaving behind a husband and four pre-teen sons. In January 1968, a $1,000.00 certificate was donated to the City of Boonville by Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Melton to start a trust fund as a memorial to their daughter, Mary Melton Hall. The Park Board members were to be trustees and administer the funds with the interest being used for improvements and plantings in an area west of Harley Park to be known as “Big Sky Park.” On May 6, 1968, the Boonville City Council unanimously approved an ordinance which created and defined the Big Sky Area of Harley Park along with its trust fund. Today, on Riviera Dr., a plaque can be found on a large rock overlooking the area. It reads: “Harley Park, ‘Big Sky Area,’ In Memory of Mary Melton Hall, Denoted by E J Melton Family.”

COOPER COUNTY BANKS The First Hundred Years of Banking in Cooper County The first bank in what would eventually become Missouri, was chartered in 1813 and established in St. Louis in 1816 as the Bank of St. Louis. This bank failed in 1819. The Bank of Missouri, which was chartered in 1817, failed in 1822. A branch of the United States bank had several branches throughout the state, but after President Andrew Jackson, in 1836, vetoed a bill to renew the bank’s charter, it, too, was forced to close. Barely a state for 15 years, Missouri found themselves without a bank. Thankfully, the Legislature authorized the Bank of the State of Missouri in 1837. This was the only bank in Missouri for the next 10 years. In 1847, Boatmen’s Saving Institution was established in St. Louis. That same year, Dr. William H. Trigg opened Boonville’s first bank. A Boonville branch of the Bank of St. Louis opened in 1856. No other banks were opened until after the Civil War. The Central National Bank was established in 1865. Just as Missouri grew, so did our banking system. At least 10 other banks were established in Cooper County between 1865 and 1919. The Commercial Bank of Boonville was organized in 1883. The following year on June 13, 1884, the Pilot Grove Bank was organized. The Bank of Bunceton was organized on August 25, 1887. Two more banks were organized during the 1890s. The Cooper County Bank of Bunceton organized on June 26, 1893, and The Farmer’s Stock Bank of Blackwater followed in 1895. With the coming of the twentieth century, the Bank of Woolridge organized in June 1902. On April 11, 1905, the Bank of Pleasant Green organized. It is interesting to note that this bank didn’t pay any dividends until it had an accumulated, and certified surplus, an amount equal to the capital stock, which was in 1913. From 1913 to 1919 it paid an average dividend of 15 per cent. The Bank of Blackwater organized in 1906 and the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Otterville organized in September 1914. Another Boonville bank, the Boonville National Bank, organized October 30, 1916. Kemper Bank was organized in Boonville in 1924 and was later renamed the UMB Bank, Boonville Branch. When the UMB Bank moved to it’s new Boonville location, the old bank became the Boonville City Hall. Most of these banks were capitalized with $10,000. Not much by today’s standards, but then, $10,000 went a lot further a hundred years ago than it does today. Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours The Bank of Missouri, which was chartered in 1817, failed in 1822. A branch of the United States Bank had several branches throughout the state, but after President Andrew Jackson, in 1836, vetoed a bill to renew the bank’s charter, it, too, was forced to close. Barely a state for 15 years, Missouri found themselves without a bank. Thankfully, the Legislature authorized the Bank of the State of Missouri in 1837. This was the only bank in Missouri for the next 10 years. In 1847, Boatmen’s Saving Institution was established in St. Louis. That same year, Dr. William H. Trigg opened Boonville’s first bank. A Boonville branch of the Bank of St. Louis opened in 1856. No other banks were opened until after the Civil War. The Central National Bank was established in 1865. At least 10 other banks were established in Cooper County between 1865 and 1919. Just as Missouri grew, so did our banking system. including The Commercial Bank of Boonville in 1883, The Pilot Grove Bank in 1884 and the Bank of Bunceton in 1887. Two more banks were organized in 1890’s. The Cooper County Bank of Bunceton organized June 26, 1893 and the Farmer’s Stock Bank of Blackwater in 1895. The Bank of Speed started in Speed, MO in the 1870s, and they opened a branch in Prairie Home in 1900. The financial soundness of the bank in 1893 was they had capitol of $10,000 and a cash on hand of $650. They were solid according to the rules of the day. Bank examiner records stop listing this bank in 1916. The Bank of Blackwater was organized in 1906 and the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Otterville organized in September 1914. Another Boonville bank, the Boonville National Bank, organized October 30, 1916. With the coming of the twentieth century, the Bank of Wooldridge organized in 1902. On April 11, 1905, the Bank of Pleasant Green organized. It is interesting to note that this bank didn’t pay any dividends until it had accumulated a certified surplus equal to the capitol stock, which was in 1913. From 1913 to 1919 it paid an average dividend of 15 percent. Kemper State Bank was founded in 1928 changed its name to UMB BANK (United Missouri Bank, Boonville in 1972; then UMB Bank in 1994). ​ Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours BANK TENURE OUT OF COUNTY BANKS 1816-1819 - Bank of St. Louis. Bank failed in 1819 1817-1822 - Bank of Missouri. Bank Failed in 1822 1836-1847 - United States Bank. Bank closed 1836 1837-1847 - Bank of the State of Missouri 1856-? - Bank of St. Louis - Boonville Branch 1865-? - Central National Bank ​ SPEED 1870's-1916 - Bank of Speed 1900-1916 - Prairie Home - Branch of Bank of Speed ​ BOONVILLE 1883-? - Commercial Bank of Boonville Central National Bank 1906-? - Boonville National Bank 1916 - Boonville National Bank 1901 - Farmer’s, Commercial, and Central National Bank Citizens Trust Company of Boonville 1901 - Commercial Bank of Boonville National Bank of Boonville 1906 - Central National Bank 1928 - Kemper State Bank –Boonville, founded in 1928 changed its name to UMB Bank ​ PILOT GROVE 1884 - Pilot Grove Bank 1913 - Present day Citizens Community Bank ​ BUNCETON (Bunceton Banks have had several names) 1887 - The Bank of Bunceton 1893 - Cooper County Bank of Bunceton (latest bank name) BLACKWATER 1895 - The Farmer’s Stock Bank of Blackwater 1906 - The Bank of Blackwater CLIFTON CITY Closed in ? ​ WOOLDRIDGE 1902 - The Bank of Woolridge PLEASANT GREEN 1905-1925 - The Bank of Pleasant Green ​ OTTERVILLE 1914-1929 - Farmers and Merchants Bank of Otterville ​ KEMPER STATE BANK Kemper State Bank Boonville, founded in 1928 still in operation as UMB Bank. Changed its name to United Missouri Bank Boonville in 1972; then to UMB Bank in 1994 ​ Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours Clifton City Bank – then and now. More than that is shown, look at the old photo of what was Main St...now no name and a gravel drive. ​ Clifton City – Bank In the late 1800 Clifton City had a bank. It was a beautiful brick building standing on the South side of town. In 1886, W.B. Lane was cashier at the Bank, and Peter J. Devine, was Vice-President of the Bank. Over the years the building has been a home to several different business - a café, grocery store and many other things. Today it still stands as a place for storage, and is slowly losing its beauty. Abraham Potter who was born in 1825 was a stockholder in the bank. Abraham was a stanch democrat, and had ever stoutly maintained the principles of that Party. Abraham was a very close friend of Jesse James and he would come to Clifton City to visit. The bank closed in 1929 . By: Carolyn Aggeler BANK DIVIDENDS Today most of us would not consider a bank that did not pay interest or "dividends" on our savings account. It is interesting to note that the Bank of Pleasant Green didn’t pay any dividends until it had an accumulated a certified surplus, an amount equal to the capital stock, which was in 1913. From 1913 to 1919 it paid an average dividend of 15 per cent. ​ Most of these banks were capitalized with $10,000. Not much by today’s standards, but then, $10,000 went a lot further a hundred years ago than it does today. Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours ​ ​ Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove October 29, 1929, went down in history as Black Tuesday, and America went from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression. Banks failed and millions of people lost their jobs, homes, and life savings. ​ Things were still bad in November 1932, but Henry A. Seltsam, cashier and secretary of the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove, had a plan. It was a daring plan that Seltsam presented to the bank directors on Monday, November 7, 1932. ​ “It is not fair to the faithful to permit steady withdrawals to undermine the bank’s stability, and then be forced to close with subsequent division of the remainder. I favor closing the bank tomorrow. “There is one chance to save it. If all the depositors will sign a moratorium not to draw out for 18 months what they now have on deposit, we can save the bank.” ​ After much discussion and planning, the plan was accepted. All banks were closed the following day for the Presidential election, but the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove remained closed on Wednesday as well. Working day and night, Seltsam and director Wallace Burger began collecting signatures. The catch: the voluntary impounding of funds would not go into effect until, and unless, 100 per cent of the depositors signed the agreement. Every depositor had an opinion about the plan, but most agreed the bank must be saved. Finally, with the signatures of all depositors, the bank re-opened and deposits grew. Pilot Grove might have been on the road to recovery, but the nation was not. ​ While signatures were being collected in and around Pilot Grove, the people were voting for a new President. Franklin D. Roosevelt was that man. FDR took office on March 4, 1933, and immediately ordered every depository in the nation closed. After each was audited, only the financially sound were allowed to re-open. And thanks to the foresightedness of Seltsam and the directors, the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove was one of the first to do so. Source: Pilot Grove Bicentennial COUNTY BANKS AND TRAIN ROBBERIES Pleasant Green - Cooper County’s First Bank robbery took place in Pleasant Green in 1926. The Robbers were finally captured by a Cooper County Sheriff with one arm. Jesse James - The James Gang hits Otterville: Jesse James is probably one of the most notorious outlaws of the Wild West. He is credited with the first daylight bank robbery in the US, although it was probably his "gang" that pulled off the $60,000 heist in Liberty, Missouri, and not Jesse himself. However, there is little doubt that Jesse was an active participant of the 1876 train robbery near Otterville. Wanting to rob a bank in Minnesota, the James-Younger Gang set out to arrange financing for their trip up north by robbing a train in Missouri. They chose a dangerous stretch of tracks called Rocky Cut near Otterville, Missouri, to hold up the train. On the evening of July 7, 1876, eight members of the gang captured the night guard at Rocky Cut and used his lantern to flag down the train. Once stopped, the gang boarded the train, robbed both safes, then disappeared into the night. Not far from there, the gang stopped to split up the money before riding off in separate directions. Today, that location is marked by a stone in a roadside park just east of Otterville. Hobbs Kerry, a new member of the gang, was arrested a few days later and gave up the names of the other seven men involved in the robbery. They were Frank and Jesse James, Cole and Bob Younger, Bill Chadwell, Clell Miller, and Charlie Pitts. For some reason, the third Younger brother, Jim, had not been among them. However, by that time, the gang was headed north to Northfield, Minnesota, where their planned bank robbery ended in failure in more ways than one. Bill Chadwell and Clell Miller were killed during the hold up. Charlie Pitts was killed when Bob, Jim, and Cole Younger were captured. Only Frank and Jesse James made it out of Minnesota. Bob Younger died of tuberculosis on September 16, 1889, while still in prison. Jim and Cole Younger were paroled, but Jim committed suicide on October 19, 1902. Jesse James was murdered on April 3, 1882, by gang member Robert Ford for the $5,000 reward on Jesse's head. However, Ford was never able to collect. After giving up their lives of crime, Frank James died February 18, 1915, and Cole Younger died March 21, 1916. ​ Source: "Discover Cooper County" by Ann Betteridge ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A blackberry cobbler recipe by Zerelda James, Jesse James' mother ​

MISSOURI RIVER AND TRANSPORTATION Missouri River West of Boonvillle Bridge Wayne Lammers Collection Before the white man traveled up the Missouri River, the Indians had paddled their canoes on it for centuries. Later came the French trappers and explorers in their pirogues, canoes, mackinaws, bateaus and keelboats. At this time, these types of boats were the only means of river transportation. When the first settlers arrived, the main routes of commerce and travel were still the water courses. Neither steamboats nor railroads were available yet. Because transportation was so important, the main settlements were made on the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. ​ ​ Ferries Hannah Cole and others ​ During the first court on July 8, 1816, at Cole’s Fort, Hannah Cole’s sons were granted a license to run a ferry on the Missouri River between Boonville and Franklin. At the same time B.W. Levens, Ward and Potter, and George W. Cary were also granted a license to keep a ferry across the Missouri at the present site of Overton. The rates charged at the Levens’ ferry were as follows: ​ For man and horse $0.50 For either separately $0.25 For 4 horses and 4-wheeled wagon $2.00 For 2 horses and 4-wheeled carriage $1.00 For horned cattle $0.04 each For polled cattle $.02 each ​ No one seems to remember what the cost to cross the River on the Dorothy was. Later, other ferries were licensed to help travelers cross the “Wide Missouri” River. ​ Until 1924 , when the first Boonville Bridge connecting New Franklin to Boonville was built, one had to take a motorized ferry across the Missouri River to get to Boonville from New Franklin, or go to Howard County from Boonville. The last Ferry to operate was the “Dorothy,” which ceased operating when the Route 40 bridge was finished in 1924. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The Dorothy ferry on the Missouri at Boonville. ca 1890's. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dorothy Ferry Boat circa 1918. ​ ​ Source: "Discover Cooper County" by Ann Betteridge. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ From the Wayne Lammers collection Joseph L. Stephens ferry boat in the 1890s, in front of Boonville In operation until 1924 ​ Front of Stephens Ferry Boat Rocheport Ferry - Cooper County in the background, notice 3 covered wagons and horses. Steam engine moved the paddle wheel. Lamine Ferry 1930's, from the Jim Higbie collection (colorized). Corps of Discovery near Boonville (Keel boat) - a reproduction of the Lewis and Clark boat. The reproduction burned, but was rebuilt 1/2 scale and is in the River, Rails and Trails Museum. Photo by Wayne Lammers The pirogue was a small type of canoe. The canoe was the most commonly used type of boat, and was the simplest of all river crafts. It was usually made from a cottonwood log, hollowed out, and was usually from 15 to 18 feet long. It was generally manned by three men: one to steer and two to paddle. It was used mostly for short trips, though occasionally was employed for long trips. The mackinaw was a flatboat, pointed at both ends, and was from 40 to 50 feet long. It usually had a crew of five men: one steersman and four oarsmen. The bullboat was usually used on shallow streams because of its light draft. It was made of buffalo bull hides sewn together and stretched over a frame of poles, and needed two men to handle it. Keel Boat Jolly Flat Boatsmen by George Caleb Bingham The keelboat was considered the best and largest craft for transportation before the steamboat. It was 60 to 70 feet long, with the keel running from bow to stern. It could carry a larger cargo than any of the other boats mentioned. It was usually poled. Several men at a time pushed long poles into the river bed, and literally pushed the boat upstream. In deep, fast, or rough water, or if other problems caused poling not to work well, the keelboat was then propelled by means of a cordelle. The cordelle was a line practically 1,000 feet long, one end of which was fastened to the top of the 30-foot mast in the center of the boat. It was well-braced from the mast and the rope extended to the shore. At the shore end of the line, some twenty or thirty men walked along the river bank and pulled the boat upstream. Cordelling was extremely difficult and exhausting work, especially when the edge of the river was full of brush, or the banks so soft that they gave way under foot. Sails were used at times, when the wind was right. Many years after the steamboat made its appearance, people continued to use the keelboat. Flatboat and Steam boats on the Missouri River The First Steamboat at Franklin was on May 29, 1819 . The trip of the Independence from St. Louis to Franklin took 13 days (six of which they were grounded on sandbars). Captain John Nelson had charge of the steamboat. The day after the arrival of the Independence a dinner was given by the citizens of Franklin in honor of the occasion. The trip of the Independence from St. Louis to Franklin was the beginning of steamboat traffic upon the Missouri. The development of the steamboat changed the whole process of river transportation, making it possible to travel much faster than previously, and with much larger cargoes, and was one of the chief factors in the development of Boonville and Cooper County. The second steamboat to arrive at Franklin was the Western Engine, one of several steamboats that came up the river in 1819 as part of Major Stephen Long’s “Yellowstone Expedition.” The boat reached Franklin on June 13, 1819 . The design of the Western Engineer was startling. The prow was upturned and carved into the shape of a serpent’s head. By means of a flue, steam could be directed to come out the hinged jaws. It was intended to frighten the Indians, and it did. The real beginning point of commercially feasible steam boating began about 1830 . Because of the rush of immigration at that time, boats could not be built fast enough. ​ ​ Packets on the Missouri River A Packet , or packet boat, is identified by its function rather than by any distinctive vessel type. Historically, packets originated as vessels under contract with the government to carry mail. With this official duty as their primary purpose, packets could be distinguished from any other vessels by their speed and regularity of service on a fixed route, between designated ports. Steam driven packets were used extensively in the 19th century on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, supplying and bringing personnel to forts and trading posts and carrying freight and passengers. Today, while steamboats are but a distant memory, the Missouri River is alive and well in Missouri. ​ Sources: Elizabeth Davis "Historically Yours", Ann Betteridge "Discover Cooper County" ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Steamboat "Plow Boy" at Boonville unloading wheat at Boonville Mill. From the Wayne Lammers collection. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Steamboat pulled by a tugboat with the Katy bridge in the background. From the Wayne Lammers collection. ​ ​ RIVER TRAFFIC BECAME HEAVY In 1838 , the government began to clear the Missouri River of snags, and river travel became somewhat less hazardous. As the steamboat trade increased, boats became bigger and fancier, changing from the appearance of a floating shack to a floating palace. The Boonville Register of May 20, 1841 , stated “the first boat built in the city of Boonville, is to be launched on Monday, the 24th.” The boat was built under the superintendence of Captain Courtney and was to be called the Warsaw. The “Golden Era” of the Missouri River steam boating was between 1850 and 1860 , and reached its highest prosperity in the year 1858 . There were then not less than sixty packets on the river, besides 30 to 40 transient boats called tramps, which came on the river from other streams and made one or two trips during the season. The packets had regular schedules and carried the United States mail, express, freight, newspapers (both daily and semi-weekly). Their arrival was booked forward to along the Missouri River with a great deal of interest. The discovery of gold in California, and later gold in Montana, caused many people to ride the steamboats on their way west and north. People flocked to the wharves whenever a steamboat arrived. There were so many boats on the lower river during this period that it was a common sight to see as many as five or six lying at the Boonville landing at the same time. These were prosperous days for the river towns. During the boating season, which continued from March to November, there was never a time when a boat wasn’t visible. The Missouri River freezing solid made it impossible to travel by boat during the winter months. The Missouri River was one of the most difficult streams in the United States to navigate because of its shifting channel, its swift current, and its many bends, which, with the many snags, made a continual menace to river traffic. No pilot approached a snag, especially at night, without fear and caution. The average life of a Missouri River steamboat was less than five years. Other problems, such as fires, boiler explosions, and floods as well as low water, also made traveling by steamboat hazardous. A major disaster in this area was the sinking of the El Paso after it hit a snag below Boonville in 1855 . Another period of prosperity were the years 1866 , 1867 , and 1868 . Captain C.H. Kinney, made the sum of $45,000 in profits from one trip. A number of residents in the Boonville area were involved in river trade as owners, captains, or pilots of steamboats. Many made their fortunes on the river. Perhaps the best known was Captain Joseph Kinney, who lived in Boonville from 1850 to 1860 . He built Riverscene mansion across the river from Boonville in 1869 . It was said that Captain Kinney picked out the lumber for his elegant home along the banks as he traveled the river and had it cut and delivered to the building area. Today the river is still important to the county’s economy. Barges are used to transport grain and other products. ​ Brief History of Steam boating on the Missouri River By Bob Dyer ​ References : Steamboats on the Missouri River Steamboat unloading wheat for the Sombart Mill in Boonville Nadine Excursion Boat near Boonville The St. Jacobs Oil steamboat at Boonville 1870's-Macurdy. Boonville Mill in the background THE MISSOURI RIVER CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE Why does the Missouri flood more now than much earlier? The only bad flood in the 1800 ’s (#4) was in 1844 . The next bad one did not come until 1944 (#8), one hundred years later. There is a lot of finger pointing that the river has been changed by straightening, and building reservoirs and levees. However, heavy snow falls and late spring rains upstream also are big contributing factors. The flooding in 2019 was believed to have been triggered by record snowfall in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming along with near-record spring rainfall in central and eastern Montana. All six major dams along the Missouri River released record amounts of water to prevent overflow which led to flooding threatening several towns and cities downstream. ​ Missouri also had record rain in late May in 2013 and 2019 . All six major dams along the Missouri River released record amounts of water to prevent overflow, which led to flooding downstream, which flooded several towns and cities. The result - buildings and homes were severely damaged, and some washed away. Roads and bridges were underwater, as were the just emerging spring crops. Precious topsoil helped to make the Muddy MO even muddier. Cars, buildings and machinery were badly damaged, or also washed away by the force of the rushing water. Countless animals drowned and the number of human deaths from the flooding is unknown. ​ Historic Flood Crests of Missouri River at Boonville (1) 37.10 ft on 07/29/1993 (2) 33.73 ft on 05/31/2019 (3) 33.14 ft on 05/19/1995 (4) 32.70 ft on 06/21/1844 (5) 32.62 ft on 07/17/1951 (6) 32.02 ft on 06/27/1947 (7) 31.85 ft on 10/05/1986 (8) 30.93 ft on 04/27/1944 (9) 30.74 ft on 04/07/1983 (10) 30.72 ft on 06/02/2013 ​ Source: Historical Crests for Missouri River at Boonville US Weather Service Scroll to read the story about the Flood of 1993 Bob Dyer’s poem for a friend who lost his home to the flood of 1993 Poem by Bob Dyer, courtesy of Sharon Dyer Highway 40 during the 1951 Flood just across the river from Boonville. From the Wayne Lammers collection. Video of 2019 Missouri River at Boonville Flood Videos by Tracy and Ashley Friedrich @FarmAlarm. Boonville YouTubers ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Map of the Missouri River and it's tributaries. Source: Wikipedia ​ The Missouri River is North America's longest river, beginning in western Montana and ending 2,341 miles away, north of St. Louis, Missouri, where it enters the Mississippi River. The name 'Missouri' is derived from the Missouria tribe name, meaning 'people with wooden canoes'. The Missouri River and its tributaries have been important to people for more than 12,000 years, for many reasons including transportation, fishing, irrigation, and as a water source for animals which in turn helped to feed the people in the region. During the westward expansion of the United States the Missouri River played an important role. Because of industrial and agricultural use in the 20th century, the water quality, and animal and fish populations have been greatly impacted. ​ ​ Other Interesting Missouri River Facts It is believed that the Missouri River formed about 30 million years ago, but because it changes its course over time, the current course of the Missouri is estimated at 115,000 years old. ​ Major tributaries to the Missouri River include Yellowstone River, Platte River, and the Kansas River. The Missouri River flows through several states including Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. It flows past Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. The first explorers to lay their eyes on the Missouri River were Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette. These Frenchmen were floating along the Mississippi River in 1673 when they spotted it. ​ Lewis and Clark were the first to travel the entire length of the Missouri River, which they accomplished in 1804. The Missouri River flows from Montana's Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers for 2,341 miles to the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri River is the world's 15th longest river. The Missouri River basin (area of land drained by the river) is 529,350 square miles in size. ​ Approximately 10 million people live in the Missouri River basin. This includes people from 10 states, from a small region in Canada, and from 28 different Native American tribes. The dams that have been built along the Missouri River have changed its ability to flow freely. Although this stops flooding in many regions, it changes the natural environment as well. The Missouri River has been called "Big Muddy" and "Muddy Mo" because of its ability to relocate large amounts of soil on occasion. ​ There are approximately 150 fish species in the Missouri River, and about 300 species of birds live in the Missouri River's region. The Lewis and Clark Historic Trail follows the Missouri River, making it possible for people to follow. Along the trail are roughly 100 historical sites to explore. ​ Many National Parks in the United States are located in the Missouri River's watershed, including Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Badlands National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. ​ Source: SoftSchools.com Snoddy's Store by boat Flyover by drone of the Missouri River at Boonville Flood flyover in airplane

COOPER COUNTY IS FORMED Howard County Has Been Named “The Mother of Counties” Two years after Howard County was organized, there was so much immigration into the southern part of the county that there was a great demand for the division of Howard County and for the formation of another county south of the Missouri River. Because of this demand, the territorial Legislature, on December 17, 1816 , formed the new county of Cooper, which included all of Howard County south of the Missouri River. In 1803, the United States had more than doubled its size with the Louisiana Purchase. The following year, what would one day become the State of Missouri was divided into four districts. On October 1, 1812 , the area was reorganized into five counties and named the Missouri Territory. ​ Although a few changes took place in the Territory between 1813 and 1815 , the biggest change occurred on January 23, 1816 , with the organization of Howard County. Named after Benjamin Howard, the first Governor of the Missouri Territory, Howard County covered more than one-third of the state. It reached all the way to what would become Kansas and Iowa. Howard County would eventually form all or parts of 39 additional counties. Boonville, which was south of the Missouri River across from Franklin, was the county seat. ​ As the population increased south of the river, people began requesting Howard be made into two counties, one on each side of the Missouri River. Finally, after less than three years, Howard was divided. On December 17, 1818 , everything north of the river remained Howard County, and everything south of the river became Cooper County, which was named after Sarshel Cooper and his brother Benjamin, early settlers of the area. ​ The one drawback to the division was the county seat. Boonville was Howard County’s seat of government, but it was on the wrong side of the river. Laid out in 1823 , Fayette became Howard County’s county seat. ​ This territory included what now forms 11 counties and parts of five others. Cooper County was gradually decreased in size by the formation of new counties. By 1845 , the boundaries of Cooper County were as they are today. ​ HISTORICALLY YOURS, by Elizabeth Davis HOW COOPER COUNTY CAME TO BE By Dr. Maryellen H. McVicker The area that is now known as Missouri, was originally divided into 5 counties in 1812 by Territorial Governor William Clark, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: St. Louis, St. Charles, New Madrid, St. Genevieve, and Cape Girardeau. ​ These 5 counties had their origins in French settlements mostly along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. On January 13, 1816 , Howard County was created out of portions of St. Louis and St. Charles counties, and eventually encompassed enough land that 39 counties, or approximately 1/3 of the entire state of Missouri, would be formed from the original Howard County territory. Cooper County was one of those counties. It was organized as a separate county on December 17, 1818 . By 1821, Missouri had 25 counties. Eventually there would be 114 counties, and the City of St. Louis. The central Missouri region experienced rapid growth during the first 2 decades of the 19th century. By 1820 , what is now Howard and Cooper Counties, had a population of over 20,000 people, which was about 1/3 of the entire population of the Territory of Missouri. The population of the entire United States was between 9 and 10 million. Now, two hundred years later, over 300 million call the United States their home and approximately 38,000 people live in the two-county region. Cooper County will soon be 200 years old. Cooper County predates statehood. The 1876 Levens and Drake History of Cooper County tells a story about an early county employee: “Sometime during the year 1817 , William Gibson, …was appointed by the Territorial Court constable. …Soon after his appointment, there being some trouble down on the Osage, he was sent there with a warrant for the arrest of a man who had caused the trouble. …As he was on his journey back, and also having an execution against a Man who lived on the road, he stopped at the man’s house and proceeded to levy a tax on the feather beds, as nothing in those days was exempt from levy (taxation—ed.) But, as soon as he made his purpose known, four women, who were the only persons at home, threatened to give him a thrashing, so he was forced to retire as fast as he could, and return with the execution unsatisfied. To add to this, the court only allowed him, for his journey of one hundred and forty miles, which occupied four days, the magnificent sum of twenty-five cents. Mr. Gibson thinking the office not quite lucrative enough to justify him devoting his whole time to its duties, and not wishing to risk his life at the hands of angry women, quietly sent in his resignation…” Some things never change! Notice the size of Howard County compared to Cooper County COUNTIES THAT WERE FORMED FROM COOPER COUNTY Not only were 14 counties formed from Cooper County, many of these counties, in turn, were the parent county to new counties. Cooper County as originally formed comprised the present day counties of Bates (Formed 1841 from Cass County), Benton (Formed 1835 from Pettis County), Camden (Formed 1841 from Benton County), Cass (Formed 1835 from Jackson County), Cole (Formed 1820 from Cooper County), Henry (Formed 1834 from LaFayette County), Jackson (Formed 1826 from LaFayette County), Johnson (Formed 1834 from LaFayette County), LaFayette (Formed 1820 from Cooper County), Miller (Formed 1837 from Cole County), Moniteau (Formed 1845 from Cole and Morgan Counties), Morgan (Formed 1833 from Cooper County), Pettis (Formed 1833 from Cooper and Saline Counties), St. Clair (Formed 1841 from Henry County), and Saline (Formed 1820 from Cooper and Howard Counties). ​ References : Ann Betteridge

THE MEXICAN WAR In May, 1846 , a call was made for one company from Cooper County to join troops already in Mexico. Sixty-one men volunteered. The company was organized and assembled in Boonville, where they were trained in military duty by their Captain, John C. Stephens. They departed May 28, 1846 , on the steamer L. F. Linn, for St. Louis, where they were to be armed and equipped. When they arrived in St. Louis, they were ordered to report to Jefferson City. When they got to Jefferson City, they were told to be in readiness and were then allowed to return home. Even though they never saw any battle, the volunteers were welcomed home by large, cheering crowds. The 1865 Missouri Constitution bans the practice of slavery. ​ Missouri was still very much a divided state over the issue of slavery at the end of the Civil War. Many citizens, including Radical Republicans led by Charles Drake, fiercely opposed the institution of slavery and pushed for a new constitution. Among the amendments were the emancipation of slaves and determining voting privileges for loyal citizens to the Union. The ordinance introduced at the constitution convention in St. Louis to abolish slavery in the state passed overwhelmingly with only four delegates voting against it. Missouri’s document that made slavery unlawful came three weeks before the U.S. Congress proposed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which banned slavery in the country. The loyalty oath, which also was adopted by the 1865 Missouri Constitution would exclude all but pro-Unionists from public life, including the fields of teaching, law and politics, also went into effect until the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Missouri’s loyalty oath two years later. ​ ​ Daniel Boone Camp No 42 "In the Name and by Authority of the United Spanish War Veterans …" These are the first words on a Charter that hangs on the northwest wall of the first floor lobby of the Cooper County Courthouse. Americans have fought in many wars since winning their independence in the Revolutionary War in 1775-1783. The War Between the States (or the American Civil War as many call it), World War I, and World War II are the ones that most often come to mind. But there have been others. The Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the China Relief Expedition are three others. Like veterans of other wars before and since, veterans of the Spanish American War, which officially ended in early 1899, formed organizations to keep in touch with those they fought with, and to remember those who didn't come home. The three largest of these organizations (the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish-American War Veterans, and the Servicemen of the Spanish War) merged in 1904, becoming the United Spanish War Veterans. By 1906, all the other organizations had merged with them as well. Although the organization existed primarily in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, there were other "camps" across the country. On May 20, 1928, the Daniel Boone Camp No. 42 in Boonville, Missouri, was chartered by the United Spanish War Veterans. Signed in the organization's national headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 1928, there were 20 members at the time Camp No. 42 was created and each veteran's name is written on the charter. The United Spanish War Veterans ceased to exist in 1992 with the death of its last surviving member, Nathan E. Cook. Often referred to as a Spanish-American War veteran, Cook, was actually a veteran of the Philippine Insurrection. He had lied about his age and enlisted at the age of 16. Cook died just before his 107th birthday at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

​COOPER COUNTY TOWNS THAT ONCE HAD TRAINS AND DEPOTS 1850-1960 There was a huge jump in County population between 1850 and 1890. Cooper County was growing quickly due to the Steamboats and the Railroads, until the start of the Civil War in 1861. When populations declined during and after the Civil War, during the Reconstruction period, and later during the Depression, the number of trains running through the County declined also. Today, the size of the remaining towns once serviced by the railroads, other than Boonville, is just an echo of what they had been when the trains ran through the town centers. The trains that are running today no longer go through towns or carry passengers, only freight and coal. BILLINGSVILLE - Billingsville is located six miles south of Boonville. At one time, the Hilden family owned the general store, the granary and the two scales. There were seven owners of the store over time. There was a blacksmith, a school, a post office, two churches and several well-built houses in the area. Two trains came to Billingsville daily. A school was built on a small bluff near the banks of the Petite Saline River Between 1852-1853 a covered bridge, spanning the river, was built on land owned by Mr. Shoemaker, so it was named the "Shoemaker Bridge". The bridge offered school children a place to play and gave people in buggies or on horseback a place to stay dry during a storm. The Southern Branch of the Osage and So Kansas Railroad came to Billingsville twice a day. The train seceded operation in 1936. ​ BLACKWATER - The town of Blackwater, named after the nearby Blackwater River, had its beginning in 1887 when W.C. Morris filed a plat for the town. Mr. Cooney and Mr. Scott who owned the surrounding land, gave free alternating lots to obtain the location of the town. In the spring of 1887, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company surveyed for the Missouri River Route of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. This Route was later known as the Lexington-Jefferson City Branch. he In 1888, C.T. Rucker built the first general merchandise store, and the train depot was also built. The first drugstore was operated by Riley Holman, and an early physician was D. H. Quigg. The first bank was the Farmers Stock Bank, and was built in 1895. By 1937, Blackwater had two general merchandise stores, a grocery store, blacksmith, lumber company, two poultry houses, one hotel, a grain elevator, two doctors, a bank, post office, two hardware stores, two barber shops, a beauty shop, and the Blackwater Stone Company quarry, which employed 100 people. Grain and cattle were shipped to market and livestock were fattened and shipped in. Blackwater had its largest population in the 1920's, nearly 600 people. Today the town has the following businesses: Telephone Museum, Post Office BOONVILLE - Boonville is more than a small city in the middle of Missouri. It is home to a great deal of our state’s historic past. Following the Louisiana Purchase, Americans headed west, across the Missouri River, looking for adventure and new opportunities. ​ Boonville, the oldest city in central Missouri, was settled in 1810 by Hannah Cole and her nine children, along with her brother-in-law’s family. The Sac and Fox Indians roamed the area and became hostile around 1812. For protection, the Coles moved to the forts north of the river. By 1814, they were back in Boonville. The Cole’s cabin was in a great location and had access to fresh water, so the family built a fort around it. Soon other settlers followed and built their homes in and around the Cole’s fort. ​ Howard County, which covered about one-third of the area that would eventually become Missouri, was organized January 23, 1816, and Hannah Cole’s fort in Boonville was the site of the first Howard County Court in July of that year. ​ Asa Morgan and Charles Lucas platted Boonville in 1817. By 1818, Howard County, south of the Missouri River, had grown sufficiently large to allow for the forming of another county from its vast territory. Thus, Cooper County was born, and Boonville became its county seat until a permanent seat could be determined. When Morgan and Lucas gave Boonville 50 acres on which to build a county courthouse, the deal was sealed. Boonville became the permanent county seat. ​ In 1818, Missouri made its first request for statehood. Rather than break the balance of power over the issue of slavery, Congress delayed Missouri statehood for three years. President James Monroe didn’t sign the Act making Missouri the 24th state of the Union until August 10, 1821. ​ Source: Elizabeth Davis, Historically Yours BUNCETON - Bunceton was platted in 1868 and named after Harvey Bunce, an early settler and a Director of the Central National Bank of Boonville. The town was laid out on a town site of 20 acres in a very fertile area. The Township was named for one of the most respected early pioneers, John Kelly. Several Roller mills were erected in Bunceton, and over the years, several of them burned, causing a great deal of damage to the town. At its height of population there were 2 drug stores, 3 general stores, 4 grocery stores, 4 barber shops, 2 millinery shops, 2 doctors, 2 lumber yards, a livery stable, one carpenter shop, 3 blacksmiths, one flour mill, 4 churches, and a population of almost 1,000 people. The post office has been in operation since 1868. Today the town has seven businesses: Connections Bank, Leslie’s Service Center, 2 beauty shops, Bunceton Mutual Insurance, Josephine’s General Store, Strobel’s Welding and two churches: the Baptist Church and Federated Church. It also has an excellent K-12 public school. ​ CLIFTON CITY - Clifton City was known as the “Devil’s Half Acre” because it was a place where several notorious characters, such as Jesse James, frequented. It was on the Katy Railroad and was an important shipping point at one time. In 1849 it had one blacksmith and one general store. During the early 1900’s it was a very prosperous town. There were blacksmiths, general stores, a bank, lumber yard, a hardware store, a farrier, 2 drug stores and a pay telephone office. Today there are no businesses in town, but a church and several homes. ​ HARRISTON - Harriston was located 15 miles southwest of Boonville and three miles east of Pilot Grove. It was established in 1873 and grew to be an important shipping place for livestock and grain, with a railroad depot, post office, two general stores, a blacksmith shop and a few other businesses. Dr. N. W. Harris gave land for the MKT Railroad right-of-way. A depot was located there and was named Harriston. Henry W. Harris, son of Dr. Harris was appointed the first postmaster. H. Brooks was the first depot agent. Dr. Harris was the medical doctor and also operated the general store. E. Gates made wagons. N.L. Wilson sold sewing machines. Pete Bitsch was a shoe and bootmaker. In 1877, the Sly family, from Kentucky, moved to Harriston. Jim Sly became a wagon maker. His brother Jim was a blacksmith. The population grew to 50 residents. Harriston is no longer listed as a town. In 1879 Dr. Harris became postmaster. In 1883, W. Jacobs and Co. had a general store and the Woolery family owned a general store. About this time the Straub family came to Harriston. In 1891, William Sly became postmaster and the owner of the general store. In 1896, J.H. Schlotzhauer gave land for a school which was organized and named Harriston School. Clay Daniels, a stone mason, carved stones for many of the houses in the community. In 1908 the post office was combined with Pleasant Green. The depot closed and Harriston was a flag stop for passengers for a few years. Roy Daniels was the last resident of Harriston. ​ LAMINE - Lamine is located on the river route of the Union Pacific, as well as on the Lamine River. Lamine is named for the river, which was originally named "Riviere de la Mine." In 1720, Philippe Renault, Director of mines of the French colonies in America, sent prospecting parties into the territories west of the Mississippi to seek gold and silver. In 1723 they discovered lead oar near Lamine. La Mine, or Lamine, is a contraction of the original French name. Samuel Walton erected a business in the village of Lamine in 1869. (He was the great grandfather of Sam Walton of Walmart fame), and Redd and Gibson opened a store in 1871. JJ Simms was a blacksmith and wagon maker. Dr. R. Davidson operated a drugstore. R.R. Reed was postmaster. The mail came on a stagecoach route that traveled daily from Boonville to Arrowrock. Tornadoes are somewhat common in the Lamine area. In the late 1800's, Thomas Weekly recalled his father's account of the tornado which came down the Lamine River and struck the bluff three times. The third time it came up the ravine, it destroyed the Baptist church, while the Christian Church was not harmed. Eventually the town of Lamine was moved closer to the river and the railroad. The two towns were sometimes referred to as New Lamine an Old Lamine. ​ Turley descendants have lived in the Lamine area since 1811. Stephen Turley fought in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Turley were the last operators of the store they owned in Lamine which closed in 1984. A Hopewell Indian settlement, located at the confluence of the Lamine and Missouri Rivers, is listed on the Register of Historic Places. OTTERVILLE - The town was named “Otterville” because of the great number of Otters in the area. The businesses and homes were originally located north of the town near the school. The mail from Arator was carried on horseback by a young boy named James Wear. Later he became a prosperous merchant in St. Louis For a while, Otterville grew quickly as it was the end of the line for Missouri Pacific Railroad. Later the railroad extended its service to Sedalia, and when Sedalia became the end of the line, business in Otterville declined, while Sedalia boomed. ​ William Stone, in 1825, was one of the first to settle. Other early families included William Reed from Tennessee and James G. Wilkerson from Kentucky. William Sloan came in 1826. Thomas Parsons was a hatter from Virginia and opened the first hatter's shop south of Boonville. Fredrich Sherly appeared about 1827 and was known as one of the best hunters around. Before coming to the area, Sherly had been with General Jackson in the Creek War. He had been present at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend and witnessed the death of over 500 Indians. ​ James Davis arrived from Tennessee and was known as a great rail splitter. James Brown was another hunter who settled in the area. Brown had once hunted with Daniel Boone. An early enterprise was run by John Gabriel who came from Kentucky. Gabriel had a distillery and made whiskey. One day he was killed for his money by a slave. The slave was captured, and then hanged in Boonville which was the county seat. Thomas Jefferson Stark was another early settler Otterville who became a lawyer and was admitted to the bar and served as legal adviser and Notary Public for this part of Missouri. He is also responsible for much of the history we have of Otterville and the surrounding area. On February 22, 1947, a city election changed Otterville from village to Fourth Class City. ​ OVERTON - Overton is opposite Rocheport on the Missouri River. Overton was an unincorporated community in northeast Cooper County. The community was adjacent to the south edge of the Missouri River floodplain. Overton was laid out in 1901, and named in honor of William B. Overton, the original owner of the town site. ​ After the loss of the steamboat trade in the 1880’s and 90’s, the town moved to a place near the base of the bluffs near the railroad. A post office called Overton was established in 1864, and remained in operation until 1944. ​ Unfortunately, due to heavy flooding of the Missouri River in 1993 and 1995, the farms that once dotted this area have become wetlands and many farmers sold their land to the US government, such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service. ​ Today, acres of weedy, herbaceous plants cover what were once crop fields in the Overton Bottoms section of the Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge and Service. It is now known as the Big Muddy Fish and Wildlife Refuge that covers the Missouri River bottoms adjacent to Interstate 70. ​ Source: Ann Betteridge Discover Cooper County and (the source of the article about Overton), Brendan Gibbons Columbia Missouri ​ PILOT GROVE - Pilot Grove became a town in 1873, soon after the arrival of the MKT Railroad. Samuel Roe, a teacher and postmaster, was the founder of Pilot Grove. He also helped with the building of the railroad depot. The town was named "Pilot Grove" for a grove of tall hickory trees standing on the prairie, which served as a guide and was a "pilot" for travelers going across the prairie. Like many other towns in its day, Pilot Grove became prosperous because of the railroad. It became a major shipping point for grain and livestock. Other successful businesses were a pottery, blacksmith shop, brickyard, millinery, ice house, livery stable, grain elevator, and a flour and grist mill. Most businesses were farm related, but some were engaged in manufacturing. There were factories that made furniture, boats and cabinets. The cabinet shop eventually became the start of Anderson Windows. One of the biggest events in Pilot Grove happened in 1945, when a train carrying ammunition and oil, derailed about one-half mile north of town, derailing 20 cars. Flames and smoke rose over 400 feet, and shells exploded. One can only wonder what would have happened if the train had derailed in town. Today, Pilot Grove is the second largest town in Cooper County. PLEASANT GREEN ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ This is a picture of the small building that housed the Pleasant Green Post Office from 1869-1871 and 1873-1954. It also served as a telephone office. In the middle of what is now Cooper County, Anthony Winston Walker arrived in 1818 with his wife, and three sons. They started with a one-story brick house, slave quarters, and a separate cookhouse. The estate was called Pleasant Green after an earlier home in Virginia. In 1824, Walker set aside 1-1/2 acres for a church and cemetery. Pleasant Green Methodist church is still in use today, and the cemetery is still active. ​ According to census records, Walker had two African-American slaves in 1830. It was at this time that a two-story federal style add-on was built for their son Anthony Smith Walker to be used as his office and as a post office. Eventually, the Walker family owned 61 slaves and 13,00 acres of land. Anthony Smith Walker had been postmaster, assessor, and a Cooper County Judge. He was in the Missouri Legislature from 1844 until Lyon captured Jefferson City in 1861. His son, Anthony Walker, was a major in the Union Army when he inherited Pleasant Green and didn’t return to take over the estate until 1872. Some time after that, several acres were sold for the town of Buzzard’s Roost. (Local residents know it as Pleasant Green.) Everything was lost in bankruptcy in the 1900’s bank panic. Fifty years later, Florence (Winky) Walker Chesnutt Friedrichs, a direct descendant of the Walker’s, and her husband Stanley Chestnut, repurchased the Pleasant Green Plantation house. It has remained in the family ever since. The plantation had a separate building (see picture above) that served as both the telephone office and the post office. At one time, Pleasant Green was a busy little town with three general stores, a small hotel, bank, drug store, hardware store, barber shop, livery stable, blacksmith, and two grain elevators. People began to leave the town in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. The trains had bypassed the town and there were trucks and cars by then, and people could drive to larger towns for business and shopping. In the late 30’s and early 1940’s, the town collapsed. All that is left of the town is the little telephone and post office and several Victorian homes. ​ PRAIRIE LICK - Prairie Lick was located five miles southeast of Boonville on the MKT railroad. There was once a store, grain elevator and blacksmith shop there. George Drennan operated a store there until the late 1920's. Mr Tom Bryan was the last store owner in Prairie Lick. On the 1950 Census Prairie Lick was no longer listed as a town. ​ SPEED (New Palestine) - Speed is an unincorporated community located along Missouri Route F, on a branch of the Petite Saline creek, four miles East of Bunceton. It was originally laid out on higher ground in 1868, and named Palestine. Later, the town moved closer to the creek when the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas & Texas Railroad (KATY) came through in 1898, and was renamed “New Palestine” after the move, and later renamed “Speed” after Austin Speed, a railroad official. Speed was a very prosperous town after the move. Many businesses, including a bank did very well. When the railroad was disbanded, most of the businesses closed, and today there are no businesses left in Speed. The post office closed in 1955. One church remains active. ​ WOOLDRIDGE - Wooldridge was incorporated in 1902. The Missouri Pacific ran past Wooldridge but rarely stopped. The town had a restaurant, general store, a drug store and a lumber yard. A tomato factory was in operation in 1908. The town slowly disappeared and only the church and post office remained of the original town. In the Fall of 2022, during harvest time, a piece of farm machinery started a fire, and the dense smoke from it was seen for miles around. The church and post office were damaged, but nothing else remains. There are still a few homes on the bluff above Wooldridge.