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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 1990 census. 

GNIS stands for the US Geologic Survey’s Geographic Names Information System. 

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 had small communities grow up around the main business. 

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 many hundreds 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.

SITE NAME

POPULATION

1990

U.N.O.

DESCRIPTION & LOCATION

BACON

0

Bacon was a switch in West Dolan Township on the Kansas City Southern Railroad. It was built about 1910. It was probably named for a railroad official. (Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

BELLE PLAINE POST OFFICE

0

Belle Plaine Post Office was located near Harrisonville. It was named for the school, which is two miles south of Harrisonville.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

BIG CREEK SETTLEMENT

0

Big Creek Settlement was a pioneer settlement in Pleasant Hill Township.  It is said to have been named for a David Creek, who came from Jackson Co., in 1828, but it was probably named for the stream. 

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

BOUSES MILL

0

Bouses Mill was located in Camp Branch Township.  It was named for Frederick Bouse, who came from Pennsylvania. 

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

BROSLEY

0

Brosley was a village in southwestern Coldwater Township, which started in 1869 upon the opening of a store by G. R. Christopher. It was named by Major M. Deroyer for a friend in his company. The town became extinct when the Kansas City and Southern Railroad was built.

It is probably fairly close to Drexel, MO.  A Brosley Christian Church was organized in 1874 in or near this town. 

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

BROWNS MILL

0

Browns Mill was the first steam grist and saw mill in the county. It was built by R. Brown, for whom it was named in 1874. It was closed at the beginning of the Civil War.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

CRENSHAW MILL

0

Crenshaw Mill was a small water mill erected by Mr. Crenshaw as early as 1843. It was located on the Middle Fork of Grand River.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

EIGHT MILE POST OFFICE

60 (Daugherty)

Eight Mile Post Office was located in southwestern Camp Branch Township. It was established in 1879 about right miles south of Harrisonville. It was named for the stream. 

I think this is the present town of Daugherty.  (M. Flannigan, Jan 2, 2001)

Rand McNally lists Eight-Mile as an alternate name for Daughterty.  (GBS)

FARMER & GARDNERS MILL

0

Farmer & Gardners Mill was built by Mr. Farmer and Mr. Gardner on the South Fork of Grand River about 1846 just below the Clark Bridge on the south side. It was later washed away.

Anybody know where the Clark Bridge is?  Unfortunately the South Fork of the Grand River has been straightened along much of its length.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

I think the Clark Bridge sits on the south side of 307^th Street in a field about 6 miles southwest of Harrisonville, Mo near the Grand River. There is also a small community to the east-southeast of this bridge. Hope this will help.   (Roy S. 01/11/2003)

FARMER SETTLEMENT

0

Farmer Settlement was located on Big Creek in Big Creek Township and named for the Farmers, who came to Cass County about 1860.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

FARMERS MILL

0

Farmers Mill was built about 1838, and named for some of the Farmers who operated the mill. (Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

FINNEYVILLE

0

Finneyville was located in northwestern Cass County. Maybe up around Belton or Raymore.  (Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

GERARD POST OFFICE

0

Gerard Post Office was located near Barton. It was named for Gerard Barker who owned the land where the post office was located.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

GRANT

0

Grant was a town in Index Township laid out in 1867 on land granted by Henry V. Stall. It was named for Gen. U. S. Grant. The town was deserted when the railroad missed it.

It is now a cornfield and a cemetery.  This is north of Creighton along Grant road.  (Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

HAYMAKERS MILL

0

Haymakers Mill was erected in 1854, one mile northeast of Gunn City on Big Creek. It was named for Mr. Haymaker, a pioneer.  This is a very interesting area that I hope to check out someday.  This guy was quite active, as he built another Haymaker Mill down in Bates Co. 

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

HAZEN POST OFFICE

0

Hazen Post Office was located 0.5 mile north and 1¼ mile west of

 Raymore. It was established about 1870 and named for Gen. Hazen of the

Union Army. It was discontinued in 1872 and moved to Raymore.

(Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

HIGH BLUE

0

High Blue was a town established in 1867 in Mt. Pleasant Township. It ceased to exist after the founding of Belton. Named because it is the highest point in the county. 

I think this is about 1.5 miles northwest of Belton.  Elevation is 1118’.  (Mike Flannigan, Jan 02, 2001)

ORTON SETTLEMENT

0

Horton Settlement was a settlement three miles northwest of Harrisonville in Peculiar Township on the East Fork of Grand River in 1828. It was named for Huey Horton.

INDEX

0

50 (1880)

Index was a town laid out in 1857 on the farm of E. S. Payne in the east-central part of Index Township, in the southeast corner of the county. It was so named because its location served as an index to the surrounding country.  Latitude: 38° 34' 08" N Longitude: 094° 08' 08" W.  El 878'

INGLES MILL

0

Ingles Mill was located two miles south of Austin on Grand River. It was built before 1857. It was named for Allen Ingle, one of the first settlers of Cass County. 

Unfortunately, this area has been modified greatly by the channelizing of Grand River.  (Mike Flannigan)

JONESVILLE

0

Jonesville was an early town in western Dolan Township. It was named in honor of B. F. Jones who laid out the town.  The town was a farm in 1933.

KIMPTON

Kimpton was a town on the Kansas City and Southern Railroad in the central part of Peculiar Township laid out in 1891. It was named for the man that had the store there.

Latitude: 38° 43' 04" N Longitude: 094° 22' 07" W – El 961'

LAKEVIEW

190

Lakeview was a settlement in southern Mt. Pleasant Township. It was named for the lake in sight of the settlement.

Is this the same as the present day Lakeview?  (GBS)

LICKSKILLET

0

Lickskillet was a town established south of Dayton on Grand River about 1840. It was named because the storekeeper there set out dirty skillets for the dogs and wild animals to lick clean. The town was extinct by 1852.

McLELLAN SPRINGS

0

McLellands Springs was a town and an office laid out by M. A. McLelland in 1892 in Coldwater Township adjoining McLellands Springs, for which it was named.  Please note some spellings do not add the “DS”

See individual page for additional information contributed Aug 4, 2006 by Donald Meador Sr.

NORTH WESTLINE

0

Location not determined.

PARSONS MILL

0

Parsons Mill was erected in 1835 on the South Fork of Grand River and named for John Parsons, who settled in 1830.  (Original posting)

Parsons Mill was a personal name for me. This old mill was possibly operated by my PARSONS family.  I don’t have any info on it, so if any of you do, please let me know at Ghost Town USA  (GBS)

“I'd be very interested in additional information on Parson's Mill.  My GGGG Grandparents Jesse & Elizabeth (LAY) PARSONS and their 12 kids settled in Jackson Co. MO around 1820.  Jesse died in Blue TWP Jackson Co., in 1828 and Elizabeth died c1850 in TX, moving there with the family when they all headed there around 1850.

“Two of the kids were John (b: c1800 NC?/KY?) and my GGG grandfather James (b: 1805 Knox Co., KY).  According to my records, the name of Jackson County changed to Cass c1835.  With dad Jesse dying in 1828, it's quite possible John moved to the South Fork of the Grand River area about 1830, after the estate was settled.  Don't know how far Blue Township is from Parson's Mill, and don't know if Blue Township was part of Cass Co., when it formed.

“Ah the mystery deepens!”  (GBS)

Blue Township is about 12 miles north of the current Cass Co., line -- maybe a little closer.   I don't know where Parson's Mill was, but the S Fork of Grand River appears to be about 12 miles into Cass County, just north of Freeman.  (Mike Flannigan)

PLUM GROVE POST OFFICE

0

Plum Grove Post Office was an office in Pleasant Hill Township. It was named for a grove of plum trees near by. 

This is an interesting area on CR-P about four miles south of Pleasant Hill.  (Mike Flannigan)

POWELL

0

Powell was a town in western Union Township on the K. C. and S. Railroad. It was named for J. M. Powell, who resided in Union Township and owned a large amount of land in this section.

Latitude: 38° 42' 59" N Longitude: 094° 35' 26" W – El 980'

RAYMORE JUNCTION

0

(No location/historical info on GNIS)

Latitude: 38° 46' 41" N Longitude: 094° 25' 05" W – el 1055'

It is probably in the town of Raymore (1990 pop-5592).  (GBS)

RICHLAWN

0

Richlawn was a town in northwestern Big Creek Township, laid out in 1893. It was named by E. D. Barker for the rich grass country. It was abandoned by 1933.

Latitude: 38° 50' 00" N Longitude: 094° 22' 27" W – El 905'

ROBINSON

0

Robinson was a station on the K. C. and S. Railroad in northern Mount Pleasant Township. It was named for J. V. Robinson, who owned the store there at the time of the building of the railroad.  This was probably just west of Belton, MO.

ROCKFORD POST OFFICE

0

Rockford Post Office was an office in Grand River Township. It was named for Rocky Branch, near which it is located, and for the ford where people crossed it.  There is conflicting information that places it on Sugar Creek, which is 5.3 miles to the southwest.

SAVAGES MILL

0

Savages Mill was located on Big Creek, two miles west of Pleasant Hill as early as 1832. The mill moved to Strasburg in 1837. It was named for the man who built the mill.

SCHUYLER

0

Schuyler was an office northeast of Garden City in Index Township. It was named for someone now forgotten. 

I think this was about 2.5 miles northeast of Garden City.  There is a Buckley Cemetery nearby.  (Mike Flannigan)

SKAGGS POST OFFICE

0

Skaggs Post Office was located in northeastern Pleasant Hill Township and named for J. Skaggs, who owned the land.

Latitude: 38° 48' 16" N Longitude: 094° 08' 40" W – El 879'

STALEY

0

Staley was a switch in Cold Water Township on the K. C., Nevada and Fort Smith Railroad laid out in 1891 on land granted by W. Chandler and H. Eversole. It was named for M. Staley, who was a large landowner in this section.

VAN BUREN COUNTY

-

DEAD NAME – Original name for Cass County (1835-1849.)  (GBS)

WADESBURG

0

Wadesburg was a village in eastern Sherman Township. It was laid out in 1858 and named in honor of W. A. Wade. The town died upon construction of the Kansas City Clinton Springfield Railroad a short distance away.

WEST BELTON

0

West Belton was a station on the K. C. and S. Railroad and on the St Louis and San Francisco Railroad, one mile west of Belton in Mount Pleasant Township. It was built about 1890 so travelers might change railroads.

Latitude: 38° 49' 45" N Longitude: 094° 33' 58"W – El 1070'

WEST UNION

0

50 (1880)

West Union was a town in southeastern Union Township laid out in 1872 by A. C. Hoag. It was named for the township, and because it was located in the west part of the county. It was abandoned by 1933.                          

Latitude: 38° 41' 47" N Longitude: 094° 32' 17" W – El 935'

Historians estimate that there may be as many as 50,000 ghost towns scattered across the United States of America. During the next five years, Gary B. Speck Publications will be 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 no longer open any 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 an 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.