Howard-Ritchie Mill
Located in Roscoe Township; originally known as Howard’s Mill and later Richey’s Mill; was later known as Cobb in 1889.
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Missouri Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1881:
Howard’s Mills – Locally known as Richey’s Mills, is located on the Sac River, a
water power stream in Roscoe Township, St. Clair County. It is twelve miles
south of Osceola (county seat court house), and twenty-six south east of Schell
City, its shipping point on the M.K. & T. Ry. (Missouri, Kansas & Texas
Railway). Population 36. Land realizes from $1 to $10 per acre. Shipments, grain
and stock. Stage, with mail, to Schell City tri-weekly; fare $1.50. W.F.
Schoening, postmaster.
Elkins, A.D. & Co. – flour mill, woolen mnfrs. and lumber
Ellermann, Wm. – blacksmith
Gushman, Miss B. – teacher
Leonard, Robert – sawyer
Pace, J.R. – Justice of the Peace
Schoening, W.F. – general store and druggist
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St. Clair County, MO History, page 1057:
Howard’s Mill was originally Ritchie's Mill on Sac River. A post office was
located on the Sac River, twelve miles south of Osceola, on the eastern edge of
Roscoe township.
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St. Clair County, MO History, page 1057:
Howard’s Mill became known as Ritchie's Mill on Sac River.
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History of St. Clair Co., Missouri 1883:
Pages 833, 956 - Howard or Ritchie Mill - On the forks of the Sac River were
Hill, Bob and John Burch and Nathaniel Bell. A.H. Wilkerson, Wash and Henry
Whitlow came about the same time. Old man Ward settled the place where Dr. Cox
and Avery B. Howard afterward built the mill that is known as the Howard or
Ritchie Mill. The first water mill was put up in 1841, on the Sac River,
southwest from Osceola about ten miles. It was known for miles around by the
name of “Ritchie Mill”. It was with one exception the only mill of the kind in
the county for several years. It had two run of burrs and did a good business.
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History of St. Clair Co., Missouri 1883:
Pages 833, 956 - Howard or Ritchie Mill - On the forks of the Sac River were
Hill, Bob and John Burch and Nathaniel Bell. A.H. Wilkerson, Wash and Henry
Whitlow came about the same time. Old man Ward settled the place where Dr. Cox
and Avery B. Howard afterward built the mill that is known as the Howard or
Ritchie Mill. The first water mill was put up in 1841, on the Sac River,
southwest from Osceola about ten miles. It was known for miles around by the
name of “Ritchie Mill”. It was with one exception the only mill of the kind in
the county for several years. It had two run of burrs and did a good business.
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St. Clair County, MO History, 1883, pages 956-957:
THE FIRST MILL
The first water mill was put up in 1841 on the Sac River, southwest from Osceola
about ten miles. It was known for miles around by the name
of Ritchie Mill. It was, with one exception, the only mill of the kind in the
county for several years. It had two runs of burrs and did a good business.
The next mill that is remembered was put up in 1845. James Gardner, one of the
first Justices of Peace in the county, erected a mill on
Weaubleau Creek in Polk Township. It was a grist and saw mill and had an
extensive patronage, especially east and south. The mill stood for about ten
years when high water carried it off.
In 1867, a practical mechanic and miller by the name of A.M. Fuqua settled in
the county. He was the builder of nearly every mill in the county from that day
to this. He is now a prominent citizen of Osceola and the proprietor of one and
joint proprietor with his son in the two mills located in the county seat.
The Wagner Mill was built in 1867 with two runs of burrs.
Mr. Brown erected a mill the same year on the Osage near where the present
flouring mills stand. It was taken down and moved to the Sac to saw the lumber
for the $6000 bridge across that historic stream. From there it went to Vernon
county, then back to Sac River and finally found a resting place at Osceola as
property of Mr. Fuqua. A saw and grist mill was put up in 1869 with two runs of
burrs.
One of these mills. before the war, was owned by James Talley, on the Osage, at
Talley Bend.
Samuel Martin put up a mill on the Weaubleau in 1873 in the corner of Doyal
township and it was kept running for four years. It was then
sold and taken to Roscoe.
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St. Clair County Courier, 10 November 2000:
Nine miles west of Collins on Highway 54 is the Sac River Bridge. On the west
side of the old bridge, a side road ran next to the river. About a half mile
down this road would have brought you to the water mill and a small settlement.
Old man Ward settled on a piece of land on the west side of the Sac River. Dr.
Cox and Avery B. Howard built a mill on Ward’s land in 1841. This was the first
water mill in the county and was known as Howard’s Mill or the Ritchey Mill. It
was with one exception, the only mill of the kind in the county for several
years. It had two run of burrs and did a good business. Going to a mill in early
pioneer days was one of the first necessities to get food for their families.
With no roads, no bridges and no ferry boats, getting to a mill was no sorry
task when so many rivers and streams were to be crossed. Several of the early
census records list Howard’s Mill as the local post office. The first Post
Office was from Roscoe, Rives County with John Burch as postmaster on June 18,
1840, but was changed to Howard’s Mill on Sept. 8, 1854 with William H. Cock as
the postmaster. A series of postmasters were in charge from 1880 and moved from
Howard’s Mill to Roscoe a number of times. The postmasters from 1856 to 1867
were: Bertrand O. Weidemeyer, Gabrial P. Nash, William W. Ritchey, John H. Dice,
Anderson Morton, Noah Graham, Abraham S. Hart and Sterling Cooper. There were
several others until it was discontinued in 1886. The mill was called Cobb on
May 25, 1889 with James H. Fletcher, Mary S. Fletcher, Mrs. Meda Polston and
Reuben E. McLain as postmasters and continued until May 13, 1918, when the post
office was discontinued. The name “Cobb” was given the mill post office since
there was always a huge pile of cobbs near the mill. The people thought that
would be an appropriate name to give their settlements.
The mill was owned just before and at the beginning of the Civil War by William
R. Ritchey and his partner, U.L. Sutherland, both natives of Kentucky who
arrived in St. Clair County before 1840. They also had a large store in
connection with the only mill. William R. Ritchey eventually moved onto land
south of Osceola, close to the Harris Plantation.
U.L. Sutherland had a large house about ½ mile southwest of the river bridge. He
was probably responsible for the starting of a school in the area,
Cole-Hampton-Riverview. A small battle was fought there at the mill on Oct. 13,
1862. A small unit of the Southern Army took over a short time and began to mill
their flour. A union force of 50 men under General U.R. Parsons took the mill
back and began to mill their flour and meal.
A number of operators ran the store and mill over the next years. There was
always a blacksmith shop in the settlement, several drug stores, probably
several stills, a saw mill, several homes, store and one-pump gas station ran by
James Keeton which burned about 1927 or ’28. Evon Gentry built a store south of
the El Dorado – Collins road in the early ‘30s. Only rocks and some bolts
drilled into solid rock that held the mill in place show where the mill was at
an earlier time.
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Now and Then – Reminiscence, By Rev. B.F.
Lawler:
Avery Howard built a Mill, the place being called Cobb. Here our already famous
Sac river had been reinforced by Cedar Creek, itself having received Horse Creek
into its channel. Horse Creek comes from way out toward “Golden Grove” as it
used to be called and drains a vast extent of country. So Mr. Avery had
something to do in harnessing the Sac river at that place to make it serve him,
turning the monstrous wheels of his then great Mill. Yes, there were times when
the raging waters had their own way.
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St. Clair County Republican, 13 February 1889:
Court Proceedings
The bond of J.C. Rowland for a ferry on Sac River at Howard’s Mill from January
24th, 1889, for one year was approved.
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St. Clair Co., MO Circuit Court Records:
April Term 1846
The Sheriff of St. Clair County returned here into Court the Inquest in writing
of the Jury by him summoned by & on a writ of ad quad damnum in favor of Avery
B. Howard signed by said Jury and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court
from said Inquest that no proprietor will sustain any damage by reasons of
inundation consequent upon the order of the dam proposed that no mansion house
of suit proprietor or not house Curtilages or garden, thereto immediately
belonging or ordained will be overflowed thereby that ordering navigation and
rite of passage will not be obstructed by such erection and that the health of
the neighborhood will not be materially annoyed in consequence of such erection
It is Considered by the court that leave be given said Avery B. Howard have
leave to erect his said mill dam seven feet high as prayed for in his Petition.
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St. Clair County Courier, 10 November 2000:
Nine miles west of Collins on Highway 54 is the Sac River Bridge. On the west
side of the old bridge, a side road ran next to the river. About a half mile
down this road would have brought you to the water mill and a small settlement.
Old man Ward settled on a piece of land on the west side of the Sac River. Dr.
Cox and Avery B. Howard built a mill on Ward’s land in 1841. This was the first
water mill in the county and was known as Howard’s Mill or the Ritchey Mill. It
was with one exception, the only mill of the kind in the county for several
years. It had two run of burrs and did a good business. Going to a mill in early
pioneer days was one of the first necessities to get food for their families.
With no roads, no bridges and no ferry boats, getting to a mill was no sorry
task when so many rivers and streams were to be crossed. Several of the early
census records list Howard’s Mill as the local post office. The first Post
Office was from Roscoe, Rives County with John Burch as postmaster on June 18,
1840, but was changed to Howard’s Mill on Sept. 8, 1854 with William H. Cock as
the postmaster. A series of postmasters were in charge from 1880 and moved from
Howard’s Mill to Roscoe a number of times. The postmasters from 1856 to 1867
were: Bertrand O. Weidemeyer, Gabrial P. Nash, William W. Ritchey, John H. Dice,
Anderson Morton, Noah Graham, Abraham S. Hart and Sterling Cooper. There were
several others until it was discontinued in 1886. The mill was called Cobb on
May 25, 1889 with James H. Fletcher, Mary S. Fletcher, Mrs. Meda Polston and
Reuben E. McLain as postmasters and continued until May 13, 1918, when the post
office was discontinued. The name “Cobb” was given the mill post office since
there was always a huge pile of cobbs near the mill. The people thought that
would be an appropriate name to give their settlements.
The mill was owned just before and at the beginning of the Civil War by William
R. Ritchey and his partner, U.L. Sutherland, both natives of Kentucky who
arrived in St. Clair County before 1840. They also had a large store in
connection with the only mill. William R. Ritchey eventually moved onto land
south of Osceola, close to the Harris Plantation.
U.L. Sutherland had a large house about ½ mile southwest of the river bridge. He
was probably responsible for the starting of a school in the area,
Cole-Hampton-Riverview. A small battle was fought there at the mill on Oct. 13,
1862. A small unit of the Southern Army took over a short time and began to mill
their flour. A union force of 50 men under General U.R. Parsons took the mill
back and began to mill their flour and meal.
A number of operators ran the store and mill over the next years. There was
always a blacksmith shop in the settlement, several drug stores, probably
several stills, a saw mill, several homes, store and one-pump gas station ran by
James Keeton which burned about 1927 or ’28. Evon Gentry built a store south of
the El Dorado – Collins road in the early ‘30s. Only rocks and some bolts
drilled into solid rock that held the mill in place show where the mill was at
an earlier time.
St. Clair County Republican, 13 February 1889:
Court Proceedings
The bond of J.C. Rowland for a ferry on Sac River at Howard’s Mill from January
24th, 1889, for one year was approved.
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St. Clair Co., MO Circuit Court Records:
April Term 1846
The Sheriff of St. Clair County returned here into Court the Inquest in writing
of the Jury by him summoned by & on a writ of ad quad damnum in favor of Avery
B. Howard signed by said Jury and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court
from said Inquest that no proprietor will sustain any damage by reasons of
inundation consequent upon the order of the dam proposed that no mansion house
of suit proprietor or not house Curtilages or garden, thereto immediately
belonging or ordained will be overflowed thereby that ordering navigation and
rite of passage will not be obstructed by such erection and that the health of
the neighborhood will not be materially annoyed in consequence of such erection
It is Considered by the court that leave be given said Avery B. Howard have
leave to erect his said mill dam seven feet high as prayed for in his Petition.
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St. Clair County Courier, 10 November 2000:
Nine miles west of Collins on Highway 54 is the Sac River Bridge. On the west
side of the old bridge, a side road ran next to the river. About a half mile
down this road would have brought you to the water mill and a small settlement.
Old man Ward settled on a piece of land on the west side of the Sac River. Dr.
Cox and Avery B. Howard built a mill on Ward’s land in 1841. This was the first
water mill in the county and was known as Howard’s Mill or the Ritchey Mill. It
was with one exception, the only mill of the kind in the county for several
years. It had two run of burrs and did a good business. Going to a mill in early
pioneer days was one of the first necessities to get food for their families.
With no roads, no bridges and no ferry boats, getting to a mill was no sorry
task when so many rivers and streams were to be crossed. Several of the early
census records list Howard’s Mill as the local post office. The first Post
Office was from Roscoe, Rives County with John Burch as postmaster on June 18,
1840, but was changed to Howard’s Mill on Sept. 8, 1854 with William H. Cock as
the postmaster. A series of postmasters were in charge from 1880 and moved from
Howard’s Mill to Roscoe a number of times. The postmasters from 1856 to 1867
were: Bertrand O. Weidemeyer, Gabrial P. Nash, William W. Ritchey, John H. Dice,
Anderson Morton, Noah Graham, Abraham S. Hart and Sterling Cooper. There were
several others until it was discontinued in 1886. The mill was called Cobb on
May 25, 1889 with James H. Fletcher, Mary S. Fletcher, Mrs. Meda Polston and
Reuben E. McLain as postmasters and continued until May 13, 1918, when the post
office was discontinued. The name “Cobb” was given the mill post office since
there was always a huge pile of cobbs near the mill. The people thought that
would be an appropriate name to give their settlements.
The mill was owned just before and at the beginning of the Civil War by William
R. Ritchey and his partner, U.L. Sutherland, both natives of Kentucky who
arrived in St. Clair County before 1840. They also had a large store in
connection with the only mill. William R. Ritchey eventually moved onto land
south of Osceola, close to the Harris Plantation.
U.L. Sutherland had a large house about ½ mile southwest of the river bridge. He
was probably responsible for the starting of a school in the area,
Cole-Hampton-Riverview. A small battle was fought there at the mill on Oct. 13,
1862. A small unit of the Southern Army took over a short time and began to mill
their flour. A union force of 50 men under General U.R. Parsons took the mill
back and began to mill their flour and meal.
A number of operators ran the store and mill over the next years. There was
always a blacksmith shop in the settlement, several drug stores, probably
several stills, a saw mill, several homes, store and one-pump gas station ran by
James Keeton which burned about 1927 or ’28. Evon Gentry built a store south of
the El Dorado – Collins road in the early ‘30s. Only rocks and some bolts
drilled into solid rock that held the mill in place show where the mill was at
an earlier time.