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Western & Eastern Treasures

Ghost Town USA Column Index for Missouri

INTRODUCTION

Unless noted otherwise, information on this web page is from original research by Gary B. Speck.  However, much information in these ghost town listings is quoted from postings to the Rootsweb Missouri Ghost Town discussion forum (MO-GT), and that information is indicated as follows.  Specific information and/or personal comments will be appropriately credited with either names or initials, like (MF) {Mike Flannigan}, or (GBS) {Me}. In some cases, I didn’t save the name, so those will be indicated as MO-GT. 

If you know of any Missouri ghost town location not listed on these pages, please contact the MO-GT discussion forum, if you are a member.  If you are not a member, please contact me and I’ll pass on the information to the group.  If you are interested in Missouri ghost towns and would like to join the group, let me know and I’ll tell you how to join the forum. 

Please note that some minor editing for editorial consistency and spelling WAS made, as well as spelling out of directions (N, SE, NNW, etc), and numbers less than ten.

Highways are marked thus...

• CR – County Roads
• SH – State Highway
• US – US Highway
• I – Interstate Highway

Locations marked with a $ indicate an admission fee is charged to visit the site.  Unless noted otherwise, all indicated population figures are from the 2000 census as listed in the 2002 edition of the Rand McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide.  GNIS indicates information obtained from the US Geologic Survey’s Geographic Names Information System website. 

Many of these listed locations may be just rural post offices, country churches, schools, forts, stage stations, crossroads stores, mills or river fords, rather than what we normally consider towns.  The reason for that is that many of these smaller locations served as the focus for small rural communities that often clustered around the main business or building. 

Memories of the past glory of these one-time active communities still float like dust in the wind over Missouri’s hillsides and prairie.  The winds of time that created these ghosts reach deep into America's Heartland and those gentle zephyrs take those past memories and deposit them in front of you.  Reach out and grab them!  Without further ado, let’s visit some of Missouri’s thousands of ghost towns!

PLEASE NOTE: 

Where photos are indicated thusly (PHOTO!), please use your browser’s “BACK” button to return to this page.  More photos will be added over time.

LOCATION

POPULATION

2000

U.N.O.

DESCRIPTION & LOCATION

ADAIR

Rural

The village of Adair is fifteen miles distant from Kirksville, nine miles north of Brashear and 203 miles northwest of St. Louis. The population in 1880 was 90. Adair was surveyed and platted by Thomas J. Dockery, for Michael C. & Mary E. Cody, in April, 1879. The business circle in 1888 composed Dr. J.M. Moran, druggist and physician, Clark Brothers, merchants, James Gillespie, general merchant; Poncelot & Co. saw mill.   The post office was in the charge of D.W. Clark. The mail connection with Brashear was semi weekly.

·        (History of Adair County, 1888, Goodspeed, p. 371.)

It is situated on Highway 11 west of Knox County line.

·        (General Highway Map of Adair County, issued 4-1-66 by the State Highway Department of Missouri. Unless otherwise noted all map locations are from this map.)

The post office was discontinued pre-1905.

·        (General Scheme of Missouri, 1905, Taft, p. 3.)

Mail now via Brashear; population 25.

·        (Standard Reference Guide of Missouri, 1974, Rand McNally.)

There is a large frame Catholic church there.

(All the above contributed by Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

The location of this rural community is on SH 11, 13 miles east-northeast of Kirksville and 1.5 miles west of the county line.  (GBS)

Location:

·        Latitude:  40.2522575 / 40° 15’ 08” N 

·        Longitude: -92.3746337 / 92° 22’ 35” W 

·        Ctr Sec. 20, T63N, R13W, 5PM (5^th Principle Meridian), Clay Twp

·        elevation 920’

BEATYVILLE

Beatyville was situated on Sec. 3 & 4, T63N, R15W in Polk Township.

(New Atlas of Missouri, 1874, Campbell, Map 14.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

BRASHEAR

AKA

Brashear’s Town

280

This little incorporated town still had nearly 300 people in 2000.  The post office (63533) was still in operation in 2002.  It quite probably should not be listed herein, but as the information was submitted by a reader, it is posted.  If anyone can update this or indicate the present condition of the town, I’d appreciate the information.  GNIS says it was named for Richard Brashears, who established the shipping community in 1872.  It is located at the junction of SH 6/SH “J”, 12 miles east of Kirksville.  (GBS)

The settlement of Brashears dates back to the fall of 1841, when William G. Brashear and his wife Rosa (Wood) Brashears settled near the site of the village of 1872...There was not a store at Kirksville or Edina, and very few log cabins on the route from Kirksville to Edina...

In December, 1865, the first effort was made to secure a post office in the Salt River District, near the Brashear farm. Brashear was surveyed and platted, by N. Wilson, for Richard M. Brashear, in 1872, and the record of survey filed December 26, of that year. The location is on the northwest quarter of Section 26, Township 62, Range 13...

Among the first business buildings were Elliott & Paul's hay press, Kellar & Hill's saw and grist mill, McCrary & Brothers and Barnhorst & Cornell, dry goods; a blacksmith shop, drug store, United Brethren Church, and a railroad depot with Agent Kerr in charge.

(History of Adair County, 1888, Goodspeed, pp. 363, 364.)

It is twelve miles east of Kirksville, on the Q. M. & P. R. R. and was laid out in 1872 by Richard Brashears, in honor of whom it is named. It contained about 6 stores, a saw and gristmill, a grain warehouse, hay press, schoolhouse, and a United Brethren church. It is about two miles southeast of the old site of Paullville, which has principally moved to Brashears ...

Population about 200 (1874).

It is situated on Sec 21, T62N, R13W Salt River Township.

(New Atlas of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, Map 14.)

It is on Highway 6 west of Knox County line at an elevation of 870’.

See, also, Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, 1901,

Conard, Vol. 1, 357.

Several old business buildings remain.

(All the above contributed by Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

Population Figures:

·        1874 – 200, 1970 – 316, 1980 – 332, 1990 – 318, 2000 – 280, 2010 –

Location:

·        Latitude:  40.1489249 / 40° 08’ 56” N 

·        Longitude: -92.3790771 / 92° 22’ 45” W 

·        NW¼ Sec. 29, T62N, R13W, 5PM, Salt River Twp

·        Elevation: 876’

BULLION

Rural

Bullion was situated on Sec. 17, T62N, R14W on the Burlington Railroad north of (Highway) 6 on (Highway F.).  The post office was discontinued pre-1905.

(General Scheme of Missouri, 1905, Taft, p. 3.)

No visible remains

(All the above contributed by Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

Lat 40°10' 17" N, Long 092° 29' 17" W elevation 951'.  GNIS)

BURTVILLE

Rural

This rural community is located near Knob Noster.

Exact location not determined.

CABINS of the WHITE FOLKS

0

As near as tradition can fix, the date of the first settlement is 1828, when a number of whites settled near the present site of Kirksville, and the little colony became known to the Indians as the "Cabins of the White Folks". There is little known of the members of this colony, whence they came or whither they went. It is generally thought that they came from Kentucky...

(Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, 1901, Conard, Vol. 1, 6.)

A settlement known to the older portions of Howard and Randolph County as the "Cabins of White Folks," was made near the present site of Kirksville in 1828. The little colony had been established about a year, when they were visited by a considerable body of the Iowa Indians, who insulted the women and committed many depredations. The pioneers becoming alarmed, dispatched messengers to Randolph County for aid. The messengers reached the house of Wm. Blackwell on the night of July 24, 1839, and before many hours the news of the attack had spread through the settlement and by the next evening a company under command of Mr. Trammell marched to the "Grand Narrows" now in Macon County, so called from a peculiar opening in the timber bordering the prairie. Here they camped for the night, and the next day marched to the "Cabins", a distance of 44 miles. At a council on the morning of the 27th, they determined to order the Indians to leave. They marched ten miles, and formed a line in the rear of the Indian encampment and called for an interpreter. As the Indians appeared, a Mr. Myer, who lived at the "Cabins", recognized an Indian who had insulted his wife and shot him dead.

A small Indian War then broke out, and the Indians were rapidly driven north of the State boundary. This comparatively small affair was one of the incidents leading to the Black Hawk War.

(Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, 1874, 33, 34.)

Contributed by Jim Peeler, 04/15/2003

CLAY

0

Clay is situated on Sec 33, T73N, R14W on Highway 22 east of Kirksville.

Mail via Kirksville; no population. (Rand McNally, 1974.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

Lat 40°13' 39" N, Long 092° 27' 08" W at an elevation of 696'. (GNIS)

CONNELLSVILLE

0

It is situated in the northwest section of the county nine and one‑half mile south of Schuyler County line. (The State of Missouri in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 317.)

It is situated on Sec 9, T63N, R16W on Highway 149 north of Novinger.

Mail via Novinger (disincorporated in 1950). (Rand McNally, 1974.)

Only houses remain.  (Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

COOKVILLE

0

Location not determined.

COTTONWOOD

0

Was located on the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad a short distance east of Stahl.  It was a construction camp.  No remains.  (Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

CRAWFORDSVILLE

0

Crawfordsville was platted by Thomas J. Docking, for Allen Crawford, July 1, 1880. The location on the southeast quarter of Sec 5, Twp. 63, Range 17, northeast of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad, shows Main Street and Oaks Avenue running northeast; North, Green and Garfield Streets intersecting.

(History of Adair County, 1888, Goodspeed, 373.)

This area is west of Stahl and east of Sullivan County line. It is no longer listed in Adair County; Crawford is listed in Scotland County. (Rand McNally, 1974.)

This was also a construction camp on >>the QM&P RR.  No remains.  (Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

CREBSTON

0

Location not determined.

DANFORTH

AKA – Dan Forth

Rural

Danforth was platted by Surveyor Dockery, November 7, 1869, for George and Elizabeth Shott on the southeast quarter of Section 19, Township 63, Range 16.  This was one of the modern post‑office towns of the county.

(History of Adair County, 1888, Goodspeed, pp. 372, 373.)

It was on O northwest of Novinger.

The post‑office was discontinued pre‑1905.

(General Scheme of Missouri, 1905, Taft, for the use of Railway Mail Clerks, 3.)

No remains except a clay tile school house, of which I have a photo.

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

Latitude: 40° 14' 29" N, Long 92° 44' 02" W – Elevation: 805’  (GNIS)

DART

-

Dart was on the south edge of the county, near Macon County.

(The State of Missouri in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 317.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

Lat 40° 02' 48" N, Long 092° 34' 02" W – Elevation: 935' (GNIS)

DEWEY

Rural

Lat 40° 17' 22" N, Long 092° 49' 17" W – Elevation: 860'  (GNIS)

DOMEY’S MILL

-

Domey's Mill was situated in Sec. 15, T61N, R16W in Pettis Township on Chariton River.

(New Atlas of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, Map 14.)

This area is south of Yarrow (q.v.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

EVANSTON SIDING

Rural

Lat 40° 13' 59" N, Long 092° 43' 04" W – Elevation: 775'  (GNIS)

FEGLEY

-

Fegley was located in the northwest section of the county on R. F. D. from Kirksville.

(The State of Missouri in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 317.)

It was east of Stahl. (Map of Missouri, 1911, Rand McNally.)

Remains of an old store here (Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

Lat 40° 17' 10" N, Long 092° 38' 57" W – Elevation: 946’.  (GNIS)

FLOYD CREEK POST OFFICE       

-

Floyd Creek post‑office was moved to the house of Edgar Tiffany in September, 1869, and became known as Summit post‑office.

(History of Adair County, 1888, Goodspeed, p. 374.)

It was situated on Sec 13, T73N, R15W in Polk Township.

(New Atlas of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, Map 14.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

FLOYD’S CREEK

-

Floyd’s Creek was situated in Sec 8, T63N, R14W in Clay Township.

(New Atlas of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, Map 14.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

FLOYD’S CREEK POST OFFICE       

Rural

Lat 40° 16' 47" N, Long 092° 29'18" W – Elevation: 956’  (GNIS)

FORT CLARK

-

Fort Clark was built on land settled by John Cain of Kentucky. It was located about five miles northeast of Kirksville.

(Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, 1901, Conard, Vol. 1, 6.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

FORT MATSON

-

After a careful examination of the county, Capt. Matson selected the site of his fort in the northern part of what is now Polk Township, Adair County. Its exact location, as nearly as can now be described, was about eight miles east of the Chariton on the north side of Salt River, one‑fourth of a mile from the stream (southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 36, Township 64, Range 13 west), where there was in 1888 a local cemetery.  In honor of the gallant captain, his fortification was named Fort Matson. It was built as a protection against the Indians during the Black Hawk War. Fort Matson consisted of a blockhouse enclosed by a strong palisade. On the 15th of July, 1832, General Gentry...arrived at Fort Pike (Clark

County) and came on to Fort Matson. Finding that the rumors of war and invasion were without foundation, General Gentry ordered the work on Fort Matson to be abandoned, the fort itself to be evacuated.

(History of Adair County, 1888, Goodspeed, 300, 301.)

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

FRY STATION

-

Location not determined.

GIBBS

89

107 (1980)

Gibbs (elevation 910 feet) is an incorporated town, sixteen miles southeast of Kirksville. It had a graded school, a church, bank, and about a dozen other business places including a hotel, general store, and other businesses. Population in 1899 (estimated) 200.

(Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, 1901, Conard, Vol. 3, 50.)

It is situated on Sec 12, T61N, R14W on Highway V and the Santa Fe Railway. Still has an active post office.

(Jim Peeler 04/15/2003)

In the southeast corner of the county about 12 AIR miles southeast of Kirksville in Wilson Twp, along the Atchison-Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF RR) where CR-V crosses it. 

Lat 40° 05' 52" N, Long 092° 25' 00" W  (GNIS)

GREEN GROVE

Rural

This rural community gets its mail from, and therefore is located near Novinger, which is in Nineveh Twp, six AIR miles west-northwest of Kirksville.  Physical location is not determined.

Lat 40° 18' 50" N, Long 092° 43' 13" W  (GNIS)

IDA POST OFFICE

Rural

Location not determined.

JASMINE

0

Northwest corner of the county.  Actual location not determined.

LINDERSVILLE

Rural

Lat 40° 05' 40" N, Long 092° 42' 19" W – Elevation: 844’  (GNIS)

Southwest part of the county.  Actual location not determined.

LOEFFLER POST OFFICE

Rural

Lat 40° 06' 11" N, Long 092° 49' 59" W – Elevation: 1000’   (GNIS)

McPHERSON

0

Location not determined.

MILLARD

71

82 (1980)

Located along US 63 and the ATSF RR in Pettis Twp, seven miles south-southeast of Kirksville.

Lat 40° 06' 26" N, Long 092° 32' 45" W  (GNIS)

MINE NUMBER 1

Rural

Lat 40° 14' 44" N, Long 092° 42' 16" W – Elevation: 881’  (GNIS)

MINES

-

Lat 40° 12' 45" N, Long 092° 48' 48" W – Elevation: 1010’  (GNIS)

NEFY

Rural

Lat 40° 09' 14" N, Long 092° 42' 05" W – Elevation: 905’  (GNIS)

NIND

Rural

Located in the southwestern corner of the county in Walnut Twp, about 12.5 AIR miles southwest of Kirksville.

Lat 40° 04' 14" N, Long 092° 46' 04" W  (GNIS)

NINEVEH

-

Lat 40° 16' 27" N, Long 092° 41' 40" W – Elevation: 870’  (GNIS)

PAULTOWN

AKA – Paulville

0

Location not determined.

…SEE Brashears (above) for some information

PRAIRIE BIRD

0

Location not determined.

PURE AIR

Rural

Located in Liberty Twp, 12 AIR miles west-southwest of Kirksville and three miles east of the county line.

RESORT

0

Location not determined.

RINGO’S POINT

0

Location not determined.

RYE

0

Location not determined.

SAND CREEK POST OFFICE

Rural

Location not determined.

SHIBLEY’S POINT

Rural

In the northwest corner of the county in Morrow Twp, about 12 AIR miles northwest of Kirksville.

Lat 40° 18' 48" N, Long 092° 45' 39" W  (GNIS)

SIMLER

-

Lat 40° 07' 21" N, Long 092° 41' 43" W  (GNIS)

SPERRY

Rural

Lat 40° 16' 47" N, Long 092° 29' 18" W  (GNIS)

STAHL

Rural

Lat 40° 17' 29" N, Long 092° 47' 20" W  (GNIS)

SUBLETTE

Rural

Along US 63/ATSF RR in Polk Twp, eight miles north of Kirksville and two miles south of the county line.

Lat 40° 18' 02" N, Long 092° 34' 17" W  (GNIS)

TIPPERARY

Rural

Lat 40° 11' 30" N, Long 092° 42' 35" W  (GNIS)

TRINITY

Rural

Lat 40° 20' 25" N, Long 092° 27' 03" W – Elevation: 948’  (GNIS)

TROY MILL

-

Lat 40° 08' 48" N, Long 092° 36' 01" W   (GNIS)

WILLMATHSVILLE

Rural

This rural community is located in the northeast corner of the county at the junction of CR-J/A, in Clay Twp, 12 miles northeast of Kirksville.

Lat 40° 19' 35" N, Long 092° 24' 32" W   (GNIS)

WILSON

60 (1880)

Lat 40° 03' 59" N, Long 092° 23' 00" W   (GNIS)

Southeast part of the county.  Actual map location not determined.

YARROW

Rural

This rural community is on CR-N, along the east side of the Chariton River, in Pettis Twp, nine miles southwest of Kirksville and four miles north of the county line.

Lat 40° 05' 38" N, Long 092° 40' 49" W  (GNIS)

YOUNGS CREEK

25 (1880)

Location not determined.

YOUNGSTOWN

Rural

Located on the west side of Forest Lake (lake), about five miles southwest of Kirksville.

Lat 40° 10' 29" N, Long 092° 40' 55" W  (GNIS)

ZIG POST OFFICE

Rural

15 (1880)

Lat 40° 07' 37" N, Long 092° 45' 58" W – Elevation: 925’ (GNIS)

It was located in the west-central part of the county.

Historians estimate that there may be as many as 50,000 ghost towns scattered across the United States of America. Gary B. Speck Publications is in process of publishing  unique state, regional, and county guides called

The Ghost Town Guru's Guide to the Ghost Towns of *** ™

These original guides are designed for anybody interested in ghost towns. Whether you are a casual tourist looking for a new and different place to visit, or a hard-core ghost town researcher, these guides will be just right for you. With over 30 years of research behind them, they will be a welcome addition to any ghost towner's library.

Thank you, and we'll see you out on the Ghost Town Trail!

For more information on the ghost towns of MISSOURI, contact us at:

Ghost Town USA.

E-mailers, PLEASE NOTE:

Due to the tremendous amount of viruses, worms and “spam,” out there, I do not open e-mails with unsolicited attachments, or messages on the subject lines with “Hey”, “Hi”, “Need help”, “Help Please”, “???”, or blank subject lines, etc.  If you do send E-mail asking for information, or sharing information, PLEASE indicate the appropriate location AND state name, or other topic on the “subject” line.  THANK YOU!  :o)

IMPORTANT

These listings and historical vignettes of ghost towns, near-ghost towns and other historical sites in MISSOURI above are for informational purposes only, and should NOT be construed to grant permission to trespass, metal detect, relic or treasure hunt at any of the listed sites.

If the reader of this guide is a metal detector user and plans to use this guide to locate sites for metal detecting or relic hunting, it is the READER'S responsibility to obtain written permission from the legal property owners. Please be advised, that any state or nationally owned sites will probably be off-limits to metal detector use. Also be aware of any federal, state or local laws restricting the same.

When you are exploring the ghost towns of MISSOURI, please abide by the

 Ghost Towner's Code of Ethics.