Miller County, Missouri

New 74 Page Booklet

Early days in Miller County, MO, are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this booklet, reprinted from the rare 1889 book: History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage Counties, Missouri and Missouri, a Guide to the "Show Me" State, a 1930s WPA project. The spiral bound booklet measures 8.5" x 11". A vinyl sheet protects the front cover. (Booklets on each of the other six counties are available on eBay and/or through our website.)

The 1889 history covers the early development of this area, while the brief excerpt from the WPA book, gives a nostalgic glympse of the area from a 1939 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities, and a small map of Lake of the Ozarks and Vicinity.

Towns and villages mentioned include: Aurora Springs, West Aurora, Iberia, Tuscumbia, Eldon, Olean, Pleasant Mount, Spring Garden, Brumley, Bagnell, Rocky Mount, Mary's Home, Ulman's Ridge and Charlestown.

Topics covered in the history of this rural county in central Missouri include: Physical Description, including Bountries, Geology, Topography, Streams, Minerals, Agricultural products, and Statistics; Mound Builders, the Osage Indians, Early Settlers including the eccentric John "Cave" Wilson, who was "salted" when he died; Land Entries (lots of names); Early Industries, Stores, Justice Court, Elections, etc.; Organization, including changes in the boundaries, locating of the county seat, early court proceedings, Township Organization with names of officials, and Public Buildings; Officers of the county; Roads, railroad, and ferries; County Societies; Judicial Affairs, including grand jury names, various court cases from "disturbance at public worship" to horse-stealing, child abuse and murder; and names of attorneys; the Civil War and Military units, with some names; Towns and Villages, including origin and growth, businesses, newspapers, government, fraternities, etc.; Educational Institutions, including the Miller County Institute at Spring Garden, the Iberia Normal School, the Eldon Academy and the Miller County Academy at Aurora Spring, and Churches; plus many other bits of history and trivia along the way.

 Besides the many names mentioned in the history section of the booklet, there are a number of fairly detailed individual biographies of prominent residents. Surnames include: Agee, Allee, Allen, Atkin, Baker, Barkalow, Barnhart, Bear, Becker, Berry, Birdsong, Bode, Bowman, Boyce, Brickley, Broekman, Brown, Burlingame, Burton, Buster, Chambers, Clark, Conner, Cook, Crocker, Davidson, DeVilbiss, Dickneite, Ewell, Fancher, Finney, Franklin, Frazee, Freeman, Fulkerson, Garner, Gattermeir, Gilleland, Goodman, Hackney, Harrison, Hauenstein, Hawken, Hawkins, Harvey, Henley, Hite, Hoberecht, Hollenbeck, Holloway, Hunsaker, Hunter, James, Johnston, Jones, Joslyn, Kinworthy, Klinger, Lansdown, Lawson, Lombar, Lumpkin, Lupardus, Lurton, Lynch, McBride, McClure, Martin, Miller, Moles, Moore, Morrison, Musser, Myers, Nixdorf, Ortbals, Pitchford, Proctor, Robinson, Russell, Savage, Simmons, Simpson, Singer, Stayton, Starling, Stevens, Stoddard, Sutton, Strover, Swalen, Taylor, Tellman, Temple, Tremain, Van Hooser, Walker, Weeks, Wells, Wetlock, Williams, Zwanzig.

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?