Ann --
This town was three and one-quarter miles northwest of
Florilla. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, Walter
Williams, p. 383.) It was located at Section 7, Township 27
N, Range 11 W, at the intersection of Highways EE & AD. (--Highway
Map of Douglas County, as issued by The State Highway
Department of Missouri. Unless otherwise indentified, all
land descriptions are from this map which was issued March
15, 1968.)
Arden
--
This town
was four and one-half miles southeast of Dogwood. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383. Map of Western
States, Rand, McNally & County, 1911.) It was located at
Section 33, Township 27 N, Range 17 W, on Highway O.
Arno --
This was a post-office five miles west of Ava. (--Gazetteer
of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, p. 198. Also, The State
of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383, where it is shown to have
been seven miles north of Roy.)
Ava --
The most original example of allegorical methods is provided
by the name of Ava, the county seat of Douglas. We are told
in II Kings 17: 24 that it was a heathen city which took a
leading part of the oppression of the Chosen People: "And
the king of Assyria brought men from Ava...and placed them
in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel;
and they possessed Samaria and dwelt in the cities thereof."
Ava is supposed to mean "overthrowing". Apparently its
founder intended a humorous reference to Ava's
"overthrowing" its rival aspirant for the county seat. If
one story told down in Douglas County is true, the overthrow
was not accomplished in strict accordance with Scriptural
rules of behavior. It is alleged that the three
commissioners appointed to lay out the town stole the county
records from its hated rival Vera Cruz and brought them over
to Ava by force, thus establishing their town as the
official head of the county permanently. (--Our
Storehouse of Missouri Place Names, Robert L. Ramsay, p.
101.) Ava, the county seat of Douglas County, was located
in 1864. (--How Missouri Counties, Towns, and Streams
Were Named, by David W. Eaton, Third Article, p. 165,
from a series of articles in the Missouri Historical
Review.) It is thirty miles southeast of Marshfield,
and about ten miles west of Bryant's Fork. (--Gazetteer
of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, p. 198. Also, The State
of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It is located at
sections 11, 12, township 26 N, range 16 W, at the
intersection of Highways 5, 14, Y, 176. On March 4, 1889,
the county court organized the town of Ava as a village,
with James Hailey, Sr., Martin Singleton, George B. Waters,
J. M. Curnett and John McDaniel as the first Board of
Trustees. This organization ran along until November, 1891,
when for some reason the town was disincorporated and on the
same day re-incorporated. Just who the officers were under
the new re-incorporation, the records do not show. The last
organization kept until 1893, when the people lost interest,
a few refused to pay their taxes, and the city quit doing
business as such. At intervals thereafter for eight or ten
years efforts were made to either revive the old corporation
or to re-incorporate. On November 7, 1908, with the new
railroad coming to Ava--it became necessary for some kind of
city government. Therefore--on this date, the petitions and
a plat were presented to the County Court, and the court
made an order incorporating Ava as a city of the fourth
class. The following officers were appointed to hold office
until the annual city election, April 1, next: George R.
Curry, Mayor, H. E. Bach, M. Olsen, Bud Reynolds and Paul
Coleman, Alderman, C. H. Coble, collector and M. M. Miller,
marshal. (--A Reminiscent History of Douglas County,
Missouri, 1857-1957, compiled and written by J. E.
Curry, p. 104. Used by permission.)
Basher --
This town was named for a land owner nearby. (--How
Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named, by
David W. Eaton, Third Article, p. 165.) It was located at
Section 29, Township 27 N, Range 15 W, at the intersection
of Highways 76 & U.
Beaver --
This was a post-office, six miles northwest of Ava. (--Missouri
Gazetteer, p. 198. Also, The State of Missouri, in
1904, p. 383.) It was on Honey Creek and Beaver Creek.
(--New Atlas of Mo.,
Campbell, 1874, Map #33.)
Bertha --
This locality was located at section 21, township 25 N,
range 13 W, approximately one-half mile southwest of Highway
95, on an unmarked highway, approximately one-half mile
south of Gentryville.
Biggs --
This town was seven and one-half miles south of Phlegeton.
(--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) This was
a post-office, listed on page 382 of Missouri Manual,
1901-1902. Exact location is unknown.
Blanche --
It was seven and one-half miles south of Buckhart. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 30, township 25 N, range 12 W, on Highway AC,
approximately one and one-half miles south of 14.
Brushyknob
--
This
post-office village was four and one-half miles south of
Idumean. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
It was located at section 4, township 26 N, range 14 W. It
was on Highway 76, approximately three and one-quarter miles
west of Highway C.
Bryant --
Bryant was eight miles northeast of Ava. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at section
8, township 27 N, range 15 W, on Highway 5, near the head of
Bryant Creek.
Buckhart --
It was three miles south of Drury. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at section
36, township 26 N, range 13 W, on Highway CC, approximately
one mile south of Highway 95.
Champion --
This was located at section 17, township 26 N, range 13 W,
on Highway WW, east of Highway C.
Cheney --
This village was twelve miles south of Norwood (Wright
County). (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
It was located at section 1, township 26 N, range 14 W, on
Highway 76, approximately 1 mile east of Highway C.
Copper
Spring --
It was near
Bryant Creek, in the northwest part of the county, near the
Wright County line. (--New Atlas of Mo.,
Campbell, 1874, Map #33.)
Cow Skin --
It was approximately two miles south of Ava. (--New Atlas
of Mo., Map #33.)
Cross Roads
--
It was
located at sections 18 & 19, township 25 N, on range line
between ranges 17 & 18, on Highway DD.
Denlow --
A post-office on Fox Creek, established in 1896 and
discontinued in 1916. See further, Denlow and Upshaw in the
foregoing pages. (--Place Names in the Southwest Border
Counties of Mo.) It was approximately five
miles south of Omo, and five miles southwest of Prior. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 35, township 27 N, range 13 W, on Highway 76,
approximately four miles west of Highway 95.
Depew --
It was three and one-quarter miles southeast of John's
Mills. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Dogwood --
It was in the northwest corner of the county. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, Williams, p. 383.) It was
located at section 18, township 27 N, range 17 W, at the
junction of Highways DD & TT.
Drury --
It is three miles southwest of Vanzant. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It is located at section
24, township 26 N, range 13 W, on Highway 95.
Evans --
It was located at section 35, township 25 N, range 14 W, on
Highways 14 & C.
Falling
Springs
(or Spring) -- It was twenty miles east of Ava. (--Gazetteer
of Missouri, 1874, Campbell, p. 198.)
Fielden --
It was four miles southeast of Cheney, or eight miles north
of Rockbridge (Ozark County). (--The State of Missouri,
in 1904, p. 383.)
Filer --
It was six miles south of Norwood (Wright County), and six
miles north of Cold Springs. (--The State of Missouri, in
1904, p. 383.
Florilla --
It was seven miles south of Ottomer. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Forest
Store --
It was
approximately three miles southeast of Pryor's Store, on
Spring Creek. (--New Atlas of Mo.,
Campbell, 1874, Map #33.)
Girdner --
Girdner was ten miles south of Ava. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at section
16, township 25 N, range 16 W, on Highway P, southwest of
Sweden.
Goodhope --
It was six and one-half miles south of Arden. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 33, township 26 N, range 17 W, on Highways O & T.
Also shown on Map of Western States, Rand, McNally &
Co., 1911. Also, there was a Goodhope in Texas County, in
1974. (--New Atlas of Mo., 1874, Map #33.)
Goodville
--
It is
located at sections 7 & 18, township 27 N, range 12 W, on
Highway 95, approximately three miles south of Wright County
line.
Granada
--
It was two
and one-half miles northeast of Beaver. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, Williams, p. 383.) It was named for
the city in Spain, in 1895. (--Our Storehouse of Missouri
Place Names, Robert L. Ramsay, p. 30.)
Hebron --
Hebron was located at section 26, township 25 N, range 11 W,
west of Highway 181. Hebron, of Biblical derivation, was
named in 1904. (--Our Storehouse of Missouri Place Names,
p. 102.)
Hest --
Hest was located at sections 3 & 34, township 26 N, range 16
W, on Highway 5, near Highway A.
Heth --
Heth was a post-office ten miles southwest of Vera Cruz. (--Gazetteer
of Missouri, p. 198.)
Hilo -- A post-office, established by John Patterson in 1908 and
discontinued in 1924; named by C. L. Holland, possibly for
the important city of that name in Hawaii. (--Place Names
in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
(Exact location is unknown.)
Jackson
Mill --
It was
located at section 35, township 26 N, range 17 W, on highway
which goes from 76 to O, at Roy.
John's Mill
--
John's Mill
was in the northwest corner of the county, near the
Christian County line. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904,
p. 383.)
Kip --
A post-office, established in 1894 and discontinued in 1896.
No one seems to know why or by whom it was named; however,
there was a man in the vicinity whose name was Kip. (--Place
Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
(Exact location is unknown.)
Little
Beaver --
It was fifteen miles southwest of Ava. (--Gazetteer of
Missouri, 1874, Campbell, p. 198.) It was near Beaver
Creek. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Loftin --
The exact location is unknown, but is is mentioned in The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.
Mainard --
Mainard was four and one-half miles southeast of Topaz. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Midway --
This community was half way between Ava and Mansfield. It
was the site of a severe storm in March, 1938. Again, in
1945, a storm of tornadic proportions demolished the Midway
Store; also, other communities were severely damaged in the
same store. (--A Reminiscent History of Douglas County,
Missouri., 1857-1957. J. E. Curry, used by permission,
p. 127.)
Militia
Springs --
Militia
Springs was located on what was later the William Huff farm,
just one and a half miles north of the present location of
Ava, so named because a troop of State Militia camped here
during the Civil War. A government post-office was set up,
and George Tompkins served as the postmaster. When the city
of Ava was founded, however, Militia Springs returned to its
original privacy. The post-office was brought to the new
town of Ava in a towsack by M. C. Reynolds with the
permission of his "Uncle Sam." (--A Reminiscent History
of Douglas County, Missouri., 1857-1957, p. 13. J. E.
Curry, used by permission.)
Merritt --
Merritt was located at section 26, township 26 N, range 18
W, on Highway T, west of Goodhope.
Mount
Zion --
It was
located at section 23, township 27 N, range 16 W, on Highway
Z, west of Highway 5.
Olathe
This hamlet was eight miles southeast of Mansfield
(Wright County), or four and one-half miles north of Idumea.
(--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Old Merritt
--
Old Merritt
was located at sections 34 & 35, township 26 N, range 18 W,
on Highway T, where it curves to the north. It was
approximately two miles west of Merritt.
Omo --
Omo was six miles southeast of Norwood (Wright County). (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Omba --
Omba was five miles northwest of Roosevelt. (--The State
of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Ongo --
Ongo was three miles southwest of Depew. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was locatetd at section
34, township 27 N, range 18 W, on Highway UU, south of
Highway 14.
Ottomer --
This village was six miles south of Cabool (Texas County).
(--The State of Missouri, in 1904, pp. 529 & 383.) It
was in the northeast corner of the county.
Pansy --
Pansy was three miles northwest of Goodhope. (--The State
of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) The post-office was
discontinued between June 1, 1935 and June 1, 1939. (--Missouri
Manual, 1939-1940, p. 937.)
Phlegeton
--
This town,
with the very unusual name, was located six miles northwest
of Topaz. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Pike --
Pike was three and three-quarter miles north of Ava, or
eight miles southeast of Zenda. (--The State of Missouri,
in 1904, p. 383.)
Prior --
This was a post-office, listed on page 382 of Missouri
Manual, 1901-1902. (Exact location is unknown.)
Pryor's
Store --
Pryor's
Store was twelve miles southwest of Ava. (--Gazetteer of
Missouri, 1874, p. 198.)
Rippee --
Rippee was three and one-half miles southwest of Cheney. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Richville
--
It was
thirty-five miles southeast of Ava. (--Gazetteer of
Missouri, 1874, p. 198.) It was six and one-half miles
east of Blanche. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904,
p. 383.) It was located at section 15, township 25 N, range
12 W, on Highways 14 & W.
Red Bank --
Red Bank was a post-office established in 1892 and
discontinued in 1897; named by Willie Rhodes, because of its
position on a red bank along the old Salt Road (q. v.).
Place Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Missouri.
Rome --
Rome was four and one-quarter miles south of Roy. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 23, township 25 N, range 17 W, on Highway A,
approximately three miles east of Highway B. A cotton gin
was at Rome in 1860. It was on the north side of Beaver
Creek. The building was moved to the south side of the
creek, enlarged and converted into a grist mill in 1869.
The mill was a three-story frame and stone basement. A steel
cable, about 100 feet long, led to the stream below the mill
and turned the turbine by means of a wood cog wheel. The dam
was first constructed of logs. It was reconstructed in 1915
of stone, steel and concrete. The spillway is in
approximately the center of the dam. The general store was
built a few feet from the mill in 1898. Rome was quite a
flourishing little village for 60 years. A tomato canning
factory was in business during the 1930's. Rome enjoyed a
long existence. When the mill turbine stopped turning in
1940, and the general store and post-office locked its doors
in 1948, it joined the ranks of the presently 126 "ghost
villages" of the Missouri Ozarks. There's NO store, NO
post-office, NO grist mill, NO canning factory...just the
Russell Jackson's home...the old general store remodeled.
Their mail comes to them by way of Ava, Missouri, Star
Route. Mr. Clay Anderson of The Ozarks Mountaineer, kindly
gave his permission for the use of this material. Rome was
a post-office established before the Civil War, and named by
Frank Richards for Rome, Italy. (--Place Names in the
Southwest Border Counties of Missouri.)
Olive
Springs
(later Sweden) -- Olive Springs located where the
post-office Sweden (q. v.) is now situated, and discovered
by Oliver Williams. He declared the springs to be of
medicinal value and named them Olive Springs, possibly with
a partial reference to his own name. (--Place Names in
the Southwest Border Counties of Missouri.)
Roosevelt
--
Roosevelt,
named for President (Theodore) Roosevelt, was in the
southwest corner of the county, near the Howell County line,
or three miles northwest of Siloam Springs, and on Spring
Creek. (--How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were
Named, by David W. Eaton, Third Article, p. 165, from a
series of articles in The Missouri Historical Review;
The State of Missouri, in 1904, pp. 407, 383.)
Roy --
Roy was approximately three miles south of Goodhope. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 4, township 25 N, range 17 W, on Highway C.
Salt Road
--
An old road
from Springfield to Jackson Port, Ark., over which the
travelers used to haul merchandise. Salt was one of the most
necessary commodities, and the most frequently hauled, so it
was called the old Salt Road. (--Place Names in the
Southwest Border Counties of Missouri.)
Salt Road
Post-Office --
An early
post-office, long since discontinued, named for the old Salt
Road (q. v.), on which it was situated. (--Place Names in
the Southwest Border Counties of Missouri.) Salt Road
was ten miles south of Ava. (--Gazetteer of Missouri,
Campbell, 1874, p. 198.)
Sandy --
A post-office, established in 1890 and discontinued in 1891;
named because of its situation on a sandy ridge. (Exact
location unknown). (--Place Names in the Southwest Border
Counties of Missouri.)
Sedan --
Sedan was four and one-half miles southeast of Buckart. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Silverton
(later Hilo) -- A post-office established in 1890 and later
discontinued. It was named by John Patterson. The name was
changed to Hilo (q. v.) about 1900. (--Place Names in the
Southwest Border Counties of Missouri.) Silverton was
three miles southeast of Girdner. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at section
21, township 25 N, range 15 W, on Highway N, east of Highway
5. (Not designated as such on Missouri Highway Department
map, but from other maps, i.e. issued by Missouri Home Life
Insurance Life Company.)
Smallett
(earlier Salt Road Post-Office) -- A post-office, whose
name is formed from the name of its first postmaster, James
Small. However, Mr. T. A. Kay says that Jimmie Gray named
it for someone else by the name of Small. The name,
Smallett, was formed from the name of its first postmaster,
James Small. (--How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams
Were Named, by David W. Eaton, Third Article, p. 165. It was four
miles east of Rome. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904,
p. 383.) It was
located at section 18, township 25 N, range 16 W.
Squires --
Squires is nine miles south of Ava. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It is located at section
18, township 25 N, range 15 W, on Highway 5. Squires is a
post-office, established in 1889, and named for John
Squires, an Englishman, who had a store and the post-office.
(--Place Names in the Southwest Border Counties of
Missouri.)
Swan Creek
--
Swan Creek
starts at Dogwood Spring south of Highway 14, in Douglas
County. It flows past Ongo and enters Christian County on
what is known as the W. M. (Uncle Will) Nelson farm. (--Christian
County, Its First 100 Years, Copyright used by
permission, pp. 157-158.)
Sweden (earlier Olive Springs) -- The post-office was established
in 1899 and by mistake it was named Sweden. The people of
the community intended to name the post-office for an old
settler named Sweten, but they spelled it wrong and so it
was called Sweden. (--Place Names in the Southwest Border
Counties of Mo.) Sweden was four and one-half miles
southwest of Vera Cruz. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904,
p. 383.) It was located at section 6, township 25 N, range
14 W, on Highway 14.
Tedrick --
A post-office established in 1899 by William Giles, and
named for a Mr. Tedrick who ran a saw mill in the community.
(--Place Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
Tedrick was four and one-half miles southwest of Drury. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Tigris --
Tigris, a post-office established in 1921, and named by John
Allen, first postmaster, for the river of Mesopotamia. (--Place
Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
Tigris was located at section 23, township 27 N, range 17 W,
on Highway 14, approximately two and one-half miles east of
Dogwood.
Topaz --
A post-office established in 1894 by Bart Hutchinson, who
selected the name from a list of post-offices; probably
named for the California or Texas town of that name. (--Place
Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.) Topaz
was approximately six miles south of Florilla. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 12, township 26 N, range 12 W.
Twin
Bridges --
Twin Bridges is located at section 27, township 25 N, range
11 W, on Highway 14, approximately two and one-half miles
west of the Howell County line.
Umpire --
A post-office established in 1880 and discontinued in 1907.
By whom it was named and why it has been impossible to find.
(--Place Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
(Exact location is unknown.)
Upshaw --
A post-office established in 1891 and discontinued in 1893;
it takes its name from a situation in a valley. (--Place
Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
(Exact location is unknown.)
Vanzant --
Vanzant was three miles south of Prior. (--The State of
Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at section
6, township 26 N, range 12 W. It was on Highway 95,
approximately one mile south of Highway 76.
Vera Cruz
--
The town
was established before the Civil War, probably during the
time of the Mexican War (1846-49). It took its name from the
city of Vera Cruz, Mexico. (--Place Names in the
Southwest Border Counties of Mo.) The former
county seat was situated on Bryant's Fork of White River,
ten miles southeast of Ava. It had two excellent saw-mills
and one general store (1874). (--Gazetteer of Missouri,
1874, Campbell, p. 198. Also, The State of Missouri, in
1904, p. 383, where it was located eight miles south of
Brushy Knob.) It was located at sections 21 & 29, township
26 N, range 19 W.
Witty --
A post-office, established in 1893 and discontinued in 1924.
Named for "old man Witty", the first postmaster. (--Place
Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.) Witty
was three and one-quarter miles south of Little Beaver. (--The
State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.) It was located at
section 15, township 25 N, range 18 W, on Highway DD,
approximately two miles west of Cross Roads.
Wood --
A post-office, established in 1907 and discontinued between
1910-15. It was named for a man by the name of Wood who
lived in the township. (--Place Names in the Southwest
Border Counties of Mo.) (Exact location is unknown.)
Zenda --
Zenda was approximately eleven and three-quarter miles south
of Ava. (--The State of Missouri, in 1904, p. 383.)
Zonker
--
A
post-office, established in 1894 and discontinued in 1896;
named for the Zonker family, who had the first post-office.
(--Place Names in the Southwest Border Counties of Mo.)
(Exact location is unknown. |