Ghost Town USA’s

Guide to the Ghost Towns, Mining Camps,

and Other Formerly Inhabited Places in

MISSOURI.

 

Locations beginning with D

 

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Unless noted otherwise, most of these listings are quoted from postings to Rootsweb’s Missouri Ghost Town discussion forum (THE LIST).  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.  
  • Unless noted otherwise, indicated population figures are from the 1990 census.  (In the next year these should be updated to the 2000 census.) If the population is listed as 0*, the asterisk indicates “assumed”, based on other facts.
  • 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 types of locations had small communities grow up around the main business. 
  • When a current town that is not listed in this work went by a different name, or a name markedly different than its present name, it is indicated by the DEAD NAME entry.  These are noted due to the fact that these names MAY be discovered in research, and by listing them here, it makes it easier for the researcher to discover the current name.
  • In all the listings below, personal comments will be noted with either names or initials, like (MF) {Mike Flannigan}, or (GBS) {Me}. In some cases, I didn’t write down the name, but only an e-mail address, so I left them in.  If you know of any Missouri ghost town location not listed on these pages, please contact THE LIST if you are a member, or me if not.  I will pass on the information to THE LIST.
  • 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.
  • Locations with part of the name HIGHLIGHTED are linked to a page listing “all” locations of the same type such as those listed below.  Many times these type of locations acted as a magnet for a small community that later faded away.  Some of these locations included: Ferries, Mills (These include flouring, grist and logging mills.), Mines (and the associated mining camps), Rural Post Offices (These were usually small “post offices” located in a farmer’s home or out building.  They served folks in outlying farming areas, and often acted as a community center or gathering place to catch up on the latest gossip or commodity prices.), Way Stations (These include railroad & stage stations, rural stores, taverns, or other stopping points along transportation routes.).
  • See also our Ghost Town Index, listed by County.

 

Without further ado, let’s visit some of Missouri’s many hundreds of ghost towns!

 

-D-

 

DALES MILL                                                              Lawrence Co.

Dales Mill was named for its pioneer owner.

 

DALLAS                                                                       Bollinger Co.

            DEAD NAME – This is an early name for Marble Hill, the county seat (1990 pop – 1447).

           

DALLAS                                                                       Jackson Co.                 

Dallas was located in the southwest corner of Kansas City, Mo., on 103rd St. between Wornall and State Line.  It originally grew up around the Watts Mill, where a commemorative park stands today, on Indian Creek.

(Robert F. Schnebelen, 10/12/2002)

 

DAMONVILLE                                                 St. Louis Co.

Located in St. Ferdinand Township.

 

DAN                                                                            Maries Co.

Dan was a rural post office in northeastern Jefferson Township. It was named for Daniel Boone Crider, an early settler.

This might be outside Maries Co., over in Gasconade or Osage counties, but I'm not sure. (Mike Flannigan)

 

DANA                                                                          Bates Co.

         AKA – West Point. 

Dana was a post office occupying the town site of West Point. It was established in 1886. West Point was located less than a mile from the Kansas line in northwestern West Point Township. It was so named because it was the last outfitting place after Westport on the state.

            Looks like this is just south of Merwin.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DANFORTH                                                                Adair Co.                                             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)

 

DANIEL M BOONES FORT                           St. Charles Co.

         AKA – Boones Fort

Located in Darsts Bottom in Femme Osage Township. Built by Daniel M Boone about 1800.

 

DANVILLE                                                                  Montgomery Co.                                   75

This one-time county seat has faded from its glory, and is located on I-70, 43 miles east of Columbia, and five miles south of Montgomery City.  (GBS)

 

DARBY MINE                                                             Franklin Co.

            …SEE Thomas Mine.  Part of the Thomas Mine complex.

 

DART                                                                          Adair Co.                                             -

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)

 

DAUGHERTY                                                               Cass Co.                                               60

         AKA – Eight Mile

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

            I think this is the present town of Daugherty. (Mike Flannigan)

 

Daugherty had a 1990 population of 60, and is listed above.  Rand McNally gives Eight Mile as an alternate name.  (GBS)

 

DAUGHERTYS MILL                                                  Johnson Co.

Daughertys Mill was built in 1856 in Warrensburg by William Daugherty.

 

DAVID McMILLANS MILL                                         Lincoln Co.      

            ...SEE McMillans Mill

 

DAVIS MILL                                                               Barry Co.

            ...SEE J. J. Davis Mill

 

DAVIS MILL                                                               Johnson Co.

Davis Mill was a water-powered mill on Clear Fork Creek in Simpson Township. It was named for Dr. Hamilton C. Davis.

 

DAVIS MILL                                                   Lincoln Co.

Davis Mill was a treadmill two miles west of New Hope and named for Ephraim Davis.

 

DAWSON FORD                                                         Lincoln Co.

Dawson Ford was located at Bryants Creek on the New Hope and Paynesville Road.

 

DAWSON LaFORGE SCHOOL                                   New Madrid Co.

            Exact location of this historical location not determined.

 

DAWSON SCHOOL                                                    New Madrid Co.

            Exact location of this historical location not determined.

 

DE CAMP                                                                     Phelps Co.

            Location not determined

 

DEAD MANS FORD                                                    Franklin Co.

This place was a crossing on the Meramec River between the northeastern part of Boles Township and northwestern Calvey Township, between Catswissa and Pacific.

It appears to be near Prater. (Mike Flannigan)

 

DEBRUIN                                                                    Pulaski Co.

            Location not determined

 

DECATUR COUNTY                                                   Ozark Co.

            DEAD NAME – From 1843-1845 the county was renamed Decatur Co. (GBS)

 

DECKER                                                                       Pulaski Co.

            Location not determined

 

DEEPWATER                                                               Henry Co.

            SEE Austin City

(NOTE: Don’t confuse with present town of Deepwater with a 1990 population of 441 – GBS)

 

DEEPWATER                                                               Hickory Co.

Deepwater was a rural post office between 1886 & 1887.

Is this really different than the one in Henry Co.?  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DEER CREEK VILLAGE                                               St. Louis Co.    

Located in Central Township near Ladue.

I suspect this might be Brentwood.  (Mike Flannigan)

If so, Brentwood had a 1990 pop of 8150, and is no ghost! (GBS)

 

DEGARMAS MILL                                                       Lincoln Co.

            ...SEE Coffeys Mill

 

DELAWARETOWN                                                     Christian Co.

Was a trading-point inhabited by the Delaware Indians.

Isn't there a boat launch area named after this?  (Mike Flannigan)

(Same listing as Greene Co. – below)

 

DELAWARETOWN                                                     Greene Co.

Was a trading-point inhabited by the Delaware Indians.

I think this is in Christian County.  Isn't there a boat launch area named after this?  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DEMOCRAT RIDGE                                                    Phelps Co.

            Located in West Spring Creek Township. It was so named because all the residents are Democrats.  (MF)

 

DENNYS MILL                                                           St. Charles Co.

            An early water-powered mill on Dardenne Creek.

 

DENTS SETTLEMENT                                               St. Francois Co.

         AKA – Dents Station

            Located south of Bismark, on the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

           

DENTS STATION                                                     St. Francois Co.

            ...SEE Dents Settlement

 

DETMOLD                                                                   Franklin Co.                                          30

            AKA – Boeuf Creek

This is NOT the same place as BOEUF SETTLEMENT.  This tiny community is located in the northwest corner of the county along Boeuf Creek, on CR Y, about two miles north of its junction with CR YY, six AIR miles southwest of New Haven. It is in the SW¼ Sec 20, T44N, R3W, Boeuf Township.  The population in 1880 was 10.  (GBS)

Lat: 38.5428271, Long: -91.2904331

Lat: 38º32’34”N, Long: 091º17’26”W

 

DEWEY                                                                       Adair Co.                                             Rural

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

 

DIAMOND MILL                                                         Bates Co.

Diamond Mill was erected in 1869 in the north part of Butler by D. S. Fairchild and named by him.

 

DIBBITS MILL                                                           St. Charles Co.

            Location not determined.

 

DIGGS MILL                                                               Lincoln Co.

Diggs Mill was located in northwestern Hurricane Township. Diggs Mill was the first water mill in the county. It was washed away by a waterspout around 1870.

 

DILLARD MILL                                                           Crawford Co.

            On Huzzah Creek, just off SH 49.  It is a state historic site.

 

DILLINGHAM SPRING                                              New Madrid Co.

            Exact location of this historical location not determined.

 

DIXONS MILL                                                            Henry Co.

Dixons Mill was erected on Honey Creek in 1838. It was owned by John Dixon, for whom it was named.

 

DODGE COUNTY                                                       Putnam Co.

            DEAD NAME - This early county was established in 1851, and in 1853 it was dissolved and absorbed by Putnam County.  (GBS)

 

DODSON                                                                    Jackson Co.

Dodson was located at 85th and Prospect, on the south side Kansas City, Mo. It reportedly was started by Billy Dodson, a local landowner.  The Dodson Railroad Station was on property owned by William A. Dodson.  Two buildings ca. 1920's stand on the northwest corner of 85th & Prospect. (Robert F. Schnebelen, 10/12/2002)

 

DOE RUN JUNCTION                                               St. Francois Co.

Located five miles southwest of Farmington. 

This appears to be just over one mile southeast of Doe Run.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DOG TOWN                                                               St. Francois Co.

            A mining settlement.  Location not determined.

 

DOMEY’S MILL                                                          Adair

Domey's Mill was situated on Sec. 15, Twp. 61 N, R. 16 W 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)

 

DONALDSON COUNTY                                             Donaldson Co.

            DEAD NAME – There was an attempt to establish a county by this name, but it failed.  (GBS)

 

DORMIS                                                                     Ozark Co.

My "ghost town" was Dormis, MO south of Dora, MO.  A single building formed the "town" and was the closest post office to my father-in-law's parents' farm.  As residents became more mobile, post offices were closed, and Dormis reverted back to being just a residence.  Later birth certificates of my father-in-law's siblings (born on the same farm) listed the birth town as Dora, MO.

(Dave Gibbons - Nov 20, 2002)

 

It was located on CR H, just a half-mile northeast of the Frazier Cemetery, and about eight miles south of Dora, on the flatlands between the North Fork White River and a big horseshoe bend in Bryant Creek in the east central part of the county. (GBS)

·        On the section line NE¼ Sec 14/NW¼ Sec 13, T23N, R12W, Richland Township

·        Lat: 36.6720056, Long: -92.2423804

·        Lat: 36º 40’ 19”N, Long: 92º 14’ 33”W

·        Elevation 843’

 

DOZIER                                                                      St. Louis Co.

Located in southwestern Meramec Township on the Missouri-Pacific Railroad.

(Mike Flannigan, Dec 30, 2000)

This might be way out by Pacific.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DRAKE                                                                         Franklin Co.

            This was probably near Arrowhead Lake.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DRAKE                                                                         St. Louis Co.

Located in southwestern Bonhomme Township on the Missouri-Pacific Railroad.

(Mike Flannigan, Dec 30, 2000)

Must be located somewhere down by Jedburgh or Castlewood.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DRAKES                                                                      Jefferson Co.

Located in northern Plattin Township.

 

DRAKES FORD                                                            Lincoln Co.

            Drakes Ford was on the Cuivre River.

 

DRENNANVILLE                                                        Phelps Co.                                            -

(A) c1870’s map shows it at or near what is now known as Vida.  A post office operated here 1873‑1881. 

(MO-GT, Dave P, Sep 07, 2002)

 

DRYDEN                                                                      Lincoln Co.

            ...SEE Drydensville

 

DRYDEN & SHARPS STORE                                      Montgomery Co.                                  

This store was in southern Bear Creek Township. It was built in 1853 and operated by F H Dryden and Benjamin Sharp and named for them. A post office, (since relocated) to High Hill, was located here for a short time.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DRYDENS MILL                                                          Montgomery Co.                                              

This mill was in northeast Danville Township, two miles west of New Florence.  It was a horse-powered

mill built by Thomas Dryden, who came from Virginia in 1828 or 1830 and for whom the mill was named.  (Mike Flannigan)

 

DRYDENSVILLE                                                         Lincoln Co.

         AKA – Dryden

            Drydensville was a village in eastern Snow Hill Township. 

 

DUBLIN                                                                      Barton Co.

            Location not determined.

 

DUBOIS SETTLEMENT                                             Franklin Co.

This was an early settlement located at or near the confluence of Dubois Creek and the Missouri River.  That would place it on the east side of Washington, in Sec. 30 (?), T44N, R1E, St. Johns Township, at an elevation of about 492’. (GBS)

The mouth of Dubois Creek is at:

Lat: 38.5397742, Long: -90.9556964

Lat: 38º32’23”N, Long: 090º57’21”W 

 

DUEMLER                                                                    Franklin Co.                                         

Duemler was also a ghost town and was located in the Lonedell area.

(Dave McKinney, 01/27/2003)

 

DUKE                                                                           Phelps Co.

            The post office was established 1906.  At the junction of CR K/Rd 6630 

SE Sec 10, T34N, R10W. 

(MO-GT, Dave P, Sep 16, 2002)

 

DUNAVAN                                                                  Phelps Co.                                            0

A USGS 1949 map has a 'Dunivin' about two miles west of Dillon on the railroad. Today it would be along the railroad and old St. James Road ¾ mile west of the CR V exit off I‑44.   (MO-GT, Dave P, Sep 07, 2002)

An abandoned village in Dillon Township. It was named for Mike Dunavan, who for many yrs was the only settler in that part of the county.  (GNIS)

 

DUNCANS MILL                                                         Lincoln Co.

            Duncans Mill was on Crooked Creek in northeast Clark Township.

 

DUNDEE                                                                     Franklin Co.                                          30

This may well possibly be the current name for Newport, which was the original county seat for Franklin County (1818-1830).  It appears that the name Newport/New Port was changed to Dundee, as GNIS lists Newport and New Port as variant names for Dundee.  Dundee is located on Dundee Road, along Little Bouef Creek, a quarter mile south of the south bank of the Missouri River, a quarter mile north of SH 100, five miles east of New Haven and seven miles northwest of Washington.  (GBS)

Lat: 38.5933835, Long: -91.1245927

Lat: 38º35’36”N, Long: 091º07’29”W

 

DUTCH MILLS                                                            Lincoln Co.

Dutch Mills were large saw and gristmills on Camp Creek three miles east of Truxton. The name referred to the German owners.

 

DYSART & HEADLEE SAWMILL                               Greene Co.

            On the Sac River, this sawmill was built in 1848. 

            SW¼ Sec 16, T30.

 

*       *       *

 

Also visit:

 

Ghost Town USA’s Ghost Towns of Missouri

 
Missouri Ghost Town locations with names beginning:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | PQ | R | S | T | UV | W | XYZ

 

Detailed information on individual locations:

Blythedale | Rivermines | McLellan Springs

 

Listings of related groups of locations

FERRIES | MILLS | MINES | RURAL POST OFFICES | WAY STATIONS

 

 

Also visit: Ghost Town USA’s

 

Home Page | Site Map | Ghost Town Listings | On the Road Again | Photo Gallery | Treasure Legends

CURRENT Ghost Town of the Month | PAST Ghost Towns of the Month

Ghost Towner's Code of Ethics | Publications | Genealogy | License Plate Collecting

 

A few LINKS to outside webpages:

Ghost Towns | Treasure Hunting | License Plate Collecting | Genealogy

 

 

 

First Posted:  July 07, 2001

Last Updated: September 13, 2009

 

 

E-mail Us
 

 

 

 

 

 



This entire website, and all individual web pages is
copyright © 1998-2015
by Gary B Speck Publications

 

ON THIS PAGE, the above copyright applies ONLY to information NOT obtained via the Missouri Ghost Town discussion group. 

Copyrighted information is marked GBS, and falls under Gary B. Speck Publications copyright protection.

 

This MO GT DISCUSSION FORUM information is posted as a public service for all members of the group and is posted with their permission.  It is not to be used for commercial gain without the express written consent of the individuals who make up this discussion forum.

If you have any questions regarding this disclaimer, please contact me at GTUSA

ALL rights reserved