Commerce-Industry

Commerce & Industry of Miller County's Past

By Kelly Warman-Stallings

Published to "Window to the Past" website on 19 Jan. 2022

Commerce and Industry has played a pivotal part in the making of Miller County, Missouri. The earliest businesses around the county consisted of general stores, hotels, post offices, saloons, blacksmith shops, wagonmakers, shoemakers, doctor offices, ferrymen, various types of mills (saw, grist, roller, etc.), and the steamboat. By the end of the 1800s, banks began popping up around the county, as well as restaurants, grocers, newspapers and the railroad.

The following lists the various hotels, general stores, banks, post offices and newspapers of Miller County's past.

Hotels

Name Location Proprietor Operation Notes:

Aurora House

Berkel Hotel

Brockman Hotel

Burris Hotel

Burris Hotel #1

Capps Hotel

Central Hotel

City Hotel

Cottage House

Eldon Hotel

Gageville Hotel

Godfrey Hotel

Goss House

Home Hotel

Kentucky House

Martin Hotel

Morris Hotel

Nixdorf Hotel

Pennington House

Rowden Hotel

Spaulding Hotel

Tuscumbia House

Vaughn Hotel

Virginia House

Wilde Hotel

________ Hotel

Aurora Springs

St. Elizabeth

Tuscumbia

Eldon

Capps Landing

Tuscumbia

Eldon

Tuscumbia

Eldon

Gageville

Eldon

Tuscumbia

Brumley

Mount Pleasant

Ulman

Bagnell

Iberia

Mount Pleasant

Tuscumbia

Aurora Springs

St. Elizabeth

Aurora Springs

Brays Mill

Marys Home

Tuscumbia

Edward Anderson

Adam G. Berkel

C.O. Brockman

Mrs. J. N. Brockman

Willis Burris

Ludwell Bacon

Amanda Adcock

Hattie James

Mrs. E. A. Freeman

J. Godfrey

John Brickney

Willis Burris

J. R. Gage

J. Godfrey

J. Goss

R. VerBryck

Ludwell Bacon

Mrs. J. Bell

Clark Martin

R. P. Morris

Anton P. Nixdorf

Sam Pennington

James H. Rowden

J. P. Spalding

Edith Freeman

Josie Vaughn

John M. Lutman

Frederick J. Wilde

J. H. Moon/ Noah Hoover

Benjamin Lawson

c/1880s -

c/1925-c/1950

c/1925 -

1913 - c/1925

c/1880s

c/1890s -

c/1880s

1889 - 1913

c/1880s

c/1870s

1889 -

c/1890s

c/1880s

c/1870s - 1880s

c/1870s -

c/1890s

c/1880s

c/1870s

1889 -

1879 -

1881 -

c/1880s

1887 - 1939

1881 -

c/1880s

c/1890s -

c/1880s -

c/1895-c/1925

c/1880s

early-1900s

c/1880s-90s

c/1883 -

Formerly the Wilde Hotel

Formerly the Central Hotel

Later called Rock Island Hotel

Formerly the Home Hotel

Later called James House Hotel

Formerly the Eldon Hotel

Hotel destroyed in 1939 Iberia Fire

In the Tuscumbia Goose Bottoms

Settlement known as Charlestown

Hotel on the river bluff

Mercantile-General Stores

Name Location Proprietor Operation Notes:

Adams & Casey Store

Bass Store

Becker Store

Burris Trading Post

Capps Store

Casey's Store

Crane General Store

Daniels Store

Driver's Store

Etter General Store

Fancher's Store

Farnham's Mercantile

Folsom Dry Goods

Franklin Bros.

Garner's Store

Graham & Baker

H.A. Wieneke & Co.

Hackney Mercantile

Hall's Store

Harrison Mercantile

Haynes Bros Mercantile

Harvey Mercantile

Hauenstein's Store

Henley General Store

Hoecker General Store

Iberia General Store

Johnson's Store

J. B. Franklin & Co.

Kaullen General Store

Lansdown & Currence

Lennox Trading Post

Lumbar Store/PO

Madison Bear Store

Morgan General Store

Pleasant Mt. Store

R.S. Harvey & Co.

Reed's Store

Robinson Mercantile

Sanning Store

Schell General Store

Schulte's Store

Simmons Store

Sullens General Store

T. J. Hart & Son

Tellman General Store

Roberts General Store

Trade Right Store

Wetlock Mercantile

Williams Store

_________ Store

Iberia

Ulman

Pleasant Mount

Capps Landing

Iberia

Etterville

Rocky Mount

Aurora Springs

Spring Garden

Iberia

Tuscumbia

Olean

Iberia

Etterville

Olean

Tuscumbia

Flatwoods

Tuscumbia

Eldon

Tuscumbia

Spring Garden

Hoecker

Iberia

Tuscumbia

Olean

Mary's Home

Olean

Iberia

Bagnell

Mary's Home

Pleasant Mount

Olean

Ulman

Tuscumbia

Mary's Home

Rocky Mount

Spring Garden Olean

Mary's Home

Etterville

near Sudheimer

Charlestown

Ulman

Aurora Springs

Brays Mill

Gageville

Tuscumbia

George Adams

Clarence Casey

Charles Bass

E. A. Becker

Andrew Burris

John Casey

Homer Crane

Mr. Daniels

John C. Driver

J. Etter

Marquis W. Fancher

Chas & Wm. Farnham

Augusta Folsom

Franklin

Thomas D. Garner

Ralph Graham

J.M Baker

H. A. Wieneke

W. A. Hackney

J. P. Harrison

Walter M. Haynes

Frank W. Haynes

A. J. Haynes

J. W. McFarland

Nathaniel E. Harvey

Harry F. Harvey

W. H. Hauenstein

George T. Hauenstein

J. B. Henley

John H. Hoecker

Miles J. Davidson

Sam Johnson

J. B. Franklin

Peter Kaullen

Wilson Lennox

F. E. Lombar

Madison Bear

Robert Morgan

J. Etter

Robert S. Harvey

Robert Reed

Tom Robinson

Peter Sanning

Henry Sanning

Emil Schulte

Mr. Schulte

Hiram Hart

John H. Simmons

J. P. Sullens

T. J. Hart

Henry Tellman

T. J. Roberts

Fred Hannah

William Wetlock

Roy Williams

James S. Franklin

Robert S. Harvey

James M. Jobe

J. Kartz

William D. Wright

Hugh Logan

I.T. Johnson

W.C. Brumley

c/1920 - 1939

c/1850s -

1881 -

1837-c/1860s

c/1880s - c/1910s

c/1890s-c/1920

1930s -

c/early 1900s

c/1880s

1885 -

1887 -

1892 -

1879 -

early 1900s

1887 -

c/1890s -

c/1920s -

c/1850s - c1863

early 1900s

1837 -

c/1880s -c/1900

c/1900 - 1933

c/1891 - c/1930s

c/1930s -

1879 -

c/1880s

c/1900 - 1933

early 1900s

c/1870s -

1880 -

1880s-1920s

c/1886-87

1881 -

1849 - c1863

1881 -

c/1920s - 1935

c/1880s

1881 -

1880s

1930s -

1889 -

c/1890s - c/1910s

c/1910s - c/1930s

c/1930s -

c/early-1900s

c/mid-1900s

c/early 1900s

1889 -

1881 -

1906 -

1882 -

c/1910s - 1930s

1882 -

1930s -

c/1880s

c/1890s - c/1930s

1870s - c/1900

1879 -

c/1880s - c/1920s

Adams & Casey store destroyed in 1939 Iberia fire.

First store in Miller County

Later to become Adams & Casey

Store destroyed during Civil War

First store in Tuscumbia

Store owned by R. S. Harvey

First general store in Iberia

Harvey had multiple stores in Eldon

Later the Haynes Bros. Mercantile

Formerly the Sanning Store

Schulte's Store no longer exists

Store has been gone for decades.

Settlement later called St Elizabeth

Dilapidated store still stands in 2020

I. T. Johnson also ran a Ferry

Johnson/Brumley also ran a Saloon

Banking

Name Location Banker Operation Notes

Bank of Brumley

> No longer in existence

> Sold in 1960

> Today this is Central Bank of the Lake of the Ozarks

-------------------------

Bank of Eldon

> No longer in existence

> Sold in 1960s: became Mercantile Bank of Eldon; later to become U.S. Bank

-------------------------

Bank of Iberia

> Later Sold to Farmers and Traders Bank

> Second Bank of Iberia built in the 1940s

> Third Bank of Iberia was built in the 1960s.

-------------------------

Citizens Bank of Eldon

> The bank has been in constant operation since 1905.

-------------------------

Farmers and Traders Bank

> No longer in existence

> The Great Depression wiped out this bank in 1933

-------------------------

Miller Co. Exchange Bank

> No longer in existence

> First bank in Miller Co.

> Sold to The Bank of Eldon in 1937.

-------------------------

Bank of St. Elizabeth

> The bank has been in constant operation since 1914.

> There are 4 locations today: Freeburg, Mary's Home, Osage Beach, St. Elizabeth

-------------------------

Bank of Tuscumbia

> Bank organized in 1902; opened in 1903

> Current bank location was built in 1960.

> Today, the bank is called, Central Bank of Tuscumbia

-------------------------

Bank of Ulman

> No longer in existence

> Most likely went under during Great Depression.

Brumley

Eldon

Iberia

Eldon

Iberia

Olean

St. Elizabeth

Tuscumbia

Ulman

J. M. Hawkins, Pres.

E. C. Thompson, Pres.

C.R. (Ted) Hawkins, Pres.

Robert S. Harvey, Pres.

Dr. Warren Allee, Pres.

Harry F. Harvey, Pres.

Herbert E. Harvey, Pres.

John S Casey, Pres.

Miles J. Davidson, VP

S. T. Spurlock, Pres.

J. H. Roberts, Pres.

Dr. H. H. Brockman, Pres.

Walter M. Haynes, Pres..

W. M. Harrison, Pres.

Gentry W. Smith, Pres.

John K. Groff, Pres.

Dr. W. S. Allee, Pres.

R.S. Harvey, VP

Priest Allee, Pres.

William Wetlock, Jr., Pres.

Robert M. Marshall, Pres. Henry C. Jackson, VP

1906-1908

1908-1941

1956-1959

1891-1931

1931-1957

1957-

1981-

1899-1907

1940s-1960s

1960s-current

1905 - 1905;

1905 - 1905

1907 - 1909

1905 - 1907

1917 - 1934

1934 - 1947

1954 - c/2010

1907-1933

1889 - 1916

1916-1937

1914 - current

1903 - current

c/1907-

First Board of Directors: J.M. Hawkins, E.C. Thompson, James Thompson, W.R. Carnes and James C. Warren.

W. M. Harrison was the first cashier; in 1981 the bank moved to its current location.

Other early presidents: John L. Irwin and M. Jennings Davidson Jr.

First Board of Directors: P. J. Davidson,

John Brockmeyer, Paul Spurlock and Lee Jordan

First Board of Directors: John K. Groff, John R. Bond, James C. Hensley, John T. Hensley, J. V. Musick, John E. Ramsey, John L. Prock, Thomas Doubikin, and John D. James.

First Board of Directors: Josiah Goodman, R. S. Harvey, P. S. Miller, W. T. Franklin, B. J. Miller, T. H. Taylor, H. A. Wieneke, Dr. W. S. Allee and I. W. Porter.

First Board of Directors: Captain R.M. Marshall, Honorable H.C. Jackson, J.R. Wells, W.M. Harrison, and George T. Haunstein

First Board of Directors: John B. Reed,

Walter Dawson, Dr. George Duncan, A. Paul Nixdorf, Jr., Bird T. Watkins, Henry Bear and John Wilson

Post Offices

Over a 185-year span, Miller County has housed 55 posts offices. There were 3 postal locations that only lasted for 1 year or less. There were 4 post offices that were once closed and then reinstated. Today there are only 10 operating post offices left throughout the county in 2022.

Location Operation Location Operation

Adelaide

Alberta

Atwell

Aurora Springs

Bagnell

Big Tavern

Blackmer

Bliss

Blyze

Brays

Brockman

Brouses Bend

Brumley

Cainby

Capps

Carroll

Chester

Claxby

Cove

Damsite

Eldon

Etter

Etterville

Faith

Faulkner

Flatwood

Fryrears Mills

Gageville

1880 - 1885

1880 - 1883

1894 - 1910

1882 - 1912

1884 - 1942

1861 - 1863

1891 - 1912

1868; 1870-1876

1900 - 1904

1894 -1923

1891 -1892

1902 - 1904

1863 - present

1894-1898; 1904-1910

1892 - 1911

1895 -1896

1884 - 1885

1892 - 1909

1882 - 1884

1930 - 1931

1881 - present

1903 - 1904

1904 - present

1900 - 1907

1901 - 1902

1890 - 1891

1851

1875 - 1878

Gussie

Hawkeye

Hickory Hill

Hoecker

Iberia

Kaiser

Lake Ozark

Lead Centre

Little Gravois

Locust Mound

Mary’s Home

Norway

Oakhurst

Olean

Pleasant Farm

Pleasant Mount

Ramsey

Rocky Mount

Saint Anthony

Saint Elizabeth

Spring Garden

Toronto

Tuscumbia

Ulman

Ulman’s Ridge

Watkins

White House

1911 - 1914

1893 -1897

1862 -1866

1904 -1921

1838 -1861; 1871-present

1904 - present

1932 - present

1871 - 1873

1868

1867 - 1882

1884 - 1918

1851 - 1855

1862 - 1871

1885 - present

1858 - 1909

1847 -1909

1880 -1910

1839 -1919

1907 - 1929

1877 - present

1882 - 1918

1869 - 1872

1837 - present

1895 - present

1857-1861;1866-1895

1904 - 1949

1864 -1869

Postal employees of Eldon c/1940s

Newspapers

At one time, Miller County had 24 known newspapers in circulation throughout the county. Many were published for a short period of time, while others made it over a few decades. Today, there are only two currently circulating newspapers within the boundary of Miller County: Eldon Advertiser and The Miller County Autogram-Sentinel.

Name Location Publication First Publisher Notes:

Aurora Springs Autogram

Aurora Springs Democrat

Eldon Advertiser

Iberia Impetus

Iberia Sentinel

Lake of the Ozarks News

Miller County Vidette

Miller County Vindicator

Osage Valley Banner

Osage Valley Sentinel

The Aurora Cresset

The Eldon Eagle

The Eldon Register

The Eye-Opener

The Gospel Proclamation

The Helmet

The Iberia Advocate

The Messenger

The Miller County

Autogram

The Miller County

Autogram-Sentinel

The Miller County

Republican

The New Iberian

The Olean:

Miller County News

The Osage Valley Record

The Western Preacher

Aurora Springs

Eldon

Iberia

Eldon

Tuscumbia

Aurora Springs

Eldon

Tuscumbia

Iberia

Aurora Springs

Tuscumbia

Iberia

Olean

Tuscumbia

1883 to 1885

1888 to 1889

1894 to current

1897 to 1905

1905 to 1953

1931 to 1941

1872 to 1878

1879 to 1888

1879 to 1881

1870 to 1875

1881

1903 to 1904

1889 to 1898

1872 to 1874

1874 to 1877

1885

1896 to 1897

1885 to 1959

1959 to current

1871

1972 to 1984

1891

1891 to 1893

1893 to

1898 to _____

1870 to

McBride & Marcy

Ol Klinger

Rawleigh Shepherd

Maude Shepherd

Dan F. Thompson

G. M. Martin

Artcraft Press

J. M. Goodrich

J. P. Wright

A. Fulkerson & Sons

Lemmon & Hitchcock

Abram Fulkerson

T. F. Thompson

A. C Harding

Dan F. Thomson

J. P. Wright

J. D. H. Thomson

L. S. Hitchcock

Mr. Lohman

J. F. Mounts

George M. Clark

---ight Mc---stin

I. M. Goodrich

Miller County Pub. Co.

W. J. Gold

George W. Frazee

W. E. Allen

Warren M. Barr

James P. Wright

Later was moved to Tuscumbia

and became The Miller County Autogram

Paper suspended instead of sold

Current Publisher: Vernon Pub.

First newspaper to be published south of the Osage River.

Paper sold to parties in Richland (Pulaski Co) in 1878

First newspaper in Miller County

The newspaper was replaced by

The Aurora Springs Autogram

Osage Valley Record replaced

this newspaper.

Religious monthly; Wright bought out Thomson and made it Miller County Vindicator, a weekly paper.

Sold to F.A. Goodrich & Abram Fulkerson, changed name to The Miller County Republican

Operation shut down after a few months

Sold to parties in Versailles (Morgan Co): became The Statesman

Became Miller County Autogram-Sentinel

Current Publishers: Eldon Print. Co

Sold to Goodrich, who in turn

sold to Mr. Vincent in Linn Creek (Camden Co); newspaper would become The Stette

Gold traded the newspaper to Frazee; Frazee sold to Allen in 1893.

The was a Democrat newspaper

In 1899, Wright was the longest serving newspaper man at that time