Historic Businesses

Historic Businesses of Miller County, Missouri

By Kelly Warman-Stallings

(Published to "Window to the Past" website March 8, 2022)

This article touches upon the various businesses of Miller County's past. During the county's 185-year history there has been 92 settlements that were once scattered throughout the land. The majority of these settlements were just small hamlets and offered the basic amenities needed for our pioneer ancestors. Other settlements became industrious booming towns that eventually faded into the past during the early-mid 20th century. Some towns, that were once industrious, struggle to maintain their place in Miller County. And, then there are towns that withstood the test of time and grew to be small cities, such as Eldon, Iberia, St. Elizabeth and Tuscumbia. While the majority of these settlements no longer remain within the county, here are a few of their stories that provide an interesting history of Miller County's bygone days.

Aurora Springs ---

Historical Town

Once the largest town in Miller County, this settlement got its start in the mid-1800s as a resort area. It was listed as "The Great Sanitarium of the West" (known as The Aurora Springs Mineral and Sanitarium) and brought many pleasure seekers, invalids, and curious spectators to see and try out the "healing mineral waters". At one time this booming town had 2 saloons, 2 wagon shops, 2 mills (flour & saw), 2 livery stables, 2 carpenters, 2 shoemakers, 3 hotels, 3 blacksmith shops, 3 lawyers, 4 grocery stores, 4 doctors, 4 different newspapers, 7 general/mercantile stores, a post office, a railroad agent & telegraph operator, an Express company, a real estate office, a photographer, a sign painter, a furniture maker, a jeweler, a milliner, a barber, a baker and confectioner, a tinsman, a lumber company and a school. Aurora Springs had at least 2 known churches (Congregational and Baptist) and was also a shipping line for grain, livestock and ore to other parts of the country. This small metropolis began its demise around the late 1800s after the railroad by-passed Aurora Springs in favor of the smaller settlement of Eldon, which is ironically Miller County's largest town now. Just memories of yesteryear are all that remain of this settlement today.

Aurora Springs Park - Artist Unknown Aurora Springs School: no longer in existence

Bagnell ---

Historical Town

During its heyday, this town's success can be attributed to the Osage River, the Missouri-Pacific Railroad and Bagnell Dam. The early settlement housed many businesses: a river port, a [railroad] tie center, a railroad depot, a ferry, a general store, a hotel, a post office, a school and church. The 20th century brought more establishments to the community: a doctor office, a barber shop, a restaurant, a bank, a telephone system, gas stations, a meat market and even a movie theater! Today, not much remain of the once prosperous town of Bagnell except a restaurant (Camp Bagnell Pub & Grub), a fish hatchery (Ozark Catfisheries) and two campgrounds (Camp Bagnell & Lazy River).

Bagnell School - no longer in existence

Bagnell Depot

Bagnell c/late 1800s Bagnell c/late 1800s - c/ early 1900s

Bagnell Ferry - 1926 Bagnell in the 1920s

Old Anchors for the Bagnell Ferry (Feb. 2022) Pennington Hotel in 2022

Looking east in Bagnell (2022) Ozark Catfisheries

Brays / Brays Mill ---

Historical Town

This small community housed a few businesses during its heyday: a grocery/mercantile store, a blacksmith shop, a mill, a post office, an ice plant, a hotel, a school and a church. While it is not known when these businesses actually came into existence, with the exception of Brays Mill being built and operated in the 1850s, an estimated guess would put the other businesses in this small hamlet beginning around the mid-1880s to early-1890s. The post office, most likely housed at the store, was established in 1894 and discontinued in 1923. The church and the mill (remodeled into a private residence) as well as the dilapidated buildings of the general store and blacksmith shop, are all that remains of this little hamlet.

Brays Store in 1939 Brays Store in 2020

First mill c/1850s-c/1860s Second mill c/1870s-late-1800s

Destroyed by fire.

Brays School: no longer in existence

Third mill: Built in 1889

Brays Mill in 2020

Brays Blacksmith Shop in 2020

Brumley ---

Historical Town

This village rose to a bustling settlement in the early-1900s to mid-1980s and housed many businesses over many decades. Brumley's early years could find a general store, a blacksmith shop and a wagon maker, a doctor office, a mason, a druggist, a post office, a school and church, a tinner and Justice of the Peace. The early 1900s brought a bank, a notary republic, and another general store. Between the 1940s-1960s, other businesses arose: a fire station, a gas station, a restaurant, millinery store, barber and beauty shops, a garage, a storage shed complex, a sportmen's center, a grocery store, a service station, a lumber company and a funeral home. The vestige of this once busy town began fading in the mid-late 1900s. Today, there are 2 churches (Baptist & Christian), a post office, a volunteer fire station, a tavern/restaurant, a Dollar General Store, the storage sheds and a Lion's Club.

Brumley Bank: Built in 1906

Brumley Mercantile Store: c/1970s

Built in 1897; Closed in 1992.

Doctor Office and Doctor Residence

Street scene c/1940s. Left is Brumley Mercantile; Right: Ralph Long Store.

Brumley Post Office - 2022

Christian Church - 2022

Street view - 2022

Baptist Church - 2022

Capps / Capps Landing ---

Historical Town

This small river settlement sprang up in the mid-late 1800s and housed the following businesses: a general store, a post office, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a school, and a ferry boat crossing. After the turn of the 20th century, a doctor's office was set up in the small river hamlet. Today, nothing remains of the town. Once more, Mother Nature has reclaimed the land with her wooded areas and the mighty Osage River rolls past what was once a busy ferry crossing river town.

Old Capps School - Built 1876 - no longer in existence

Eldon ---

Current Town

The Eldon School, originally housed the grade levels 1-6, was built in 1903. In 1915, 7-11 grades were added to the teaching agenda with both a junior and senior high school being prepared for construction. By 1919, a 12th grade was added. This old school served the community as an Elementary School until it burned down in 1960. It is interesting to note this was the second school erected. The first school was built in 1883 and served the town until 1903, when a larger school was built to accommodate the community.

Etterville ---

Historical Town

The small community, which was platted near the tracks of the Rock Island railroad around the turn of the 20th century, once housed a few various businesses in the area around 1905: a general store, a post office, a blacksmith shop, a restaurant, a train depot, a school and church. By 1930, the small community became a bustling settlement and had the following establishments in operation: 3 general stores, 2 garages, a chemical company, a telephone company, an auto supplies store, a stock pen, and charcoal kilns. The town's demise came when the railroad was discontinued in the area. Not much remains of this once busy settlement except the post office and a heating and cooling business, owned/operated by Mr. DeGraffenreid.

Railroad Out-building at Etterville Etterville Train Depot

Thomas Brothers Mercantile/Hardware Store Etterville School: no longer in existence

Etterville Store

&

Post Office (2022)

Etterville Christian Church in 2022

Gageville ---

Historical Town

The small mining town of Gageville popped up in the late 1800s and soon a settlement was established. For many years the lead mining business produced employment for many men in the northern part of the county and surrounding areas. There were 32 clapboard houses built on the site and even had a hotel. The other operating businesses of that time era consisted of a general store, a post office, a mill, a blacksmith shop, a church and a school. The town died out when the mining business became obsolete in the early 20th century. Nothing is left of the community today except the old schoolhouse and nearby cemetery.

Gageville School - no longer in existence

Iberia ---

Current Town

Iberia Academy

Iberia Academy was founded by Richard T. Marlow (from Arkansas) in 1890 to provide higher learning (high school levels) in Iberia and the surrounding communities. The first teachers enlisted were Prof. Byron Smith and his wife, Mabel (from Illinois), who would spend 55 years living on the school campus. Another early teacher of the Academy was notable historian, Prof. Gerard Schultz. Due to the lack of college credits available in Central Missouri, Iberia Academy began offering college classes in 1929. By the 1940’s the high school levels were dropped, and the school became a self-termed four-year junior college. Before the Iberia Academy closed in 1951, it became a Conservation College, under the auspices of Drury College in Springfield.

Professor's Campus Residence Academic Classroom Building

Alumni Hall - Girls Dormitory Laundry & Weaving Cottage

Above: Academic Bldg. - 2022; Left: Martin Gymnasium

Kaiser ---

Current Town

Kaiser sprang up around the turn of the 20th century. A post office called Kaiser has been in operation since 1904. The community which housed a general store and blacksmith shop during its early years, was named after the local Kaiser family. With America's entry into World War I and the anti-German hysteria that followed, some residents proposed changing the name of the community to Success. However, after some debate, the plan failed. Today, Kaiser's growth in commerce can be attributed to its location at Lake of the Ozarks.

Kaiser Post Office & General Store

Lake Ozark ---

Current Town

This town came into existence when Lake of the Ozarks was being built in the late 1920s and started off as a small settlement with the needed necessities for the lake and dam builders. By 1933, after Bagnell Dam was completed, the Bagnell Dam Strip (a favorite attraction at Lake of the Ozarks) took form, and many businesses began popping up. The population of Lake Ozark grew from a few hundred people in the 1930s to 2,077 residents in 2020.

Bagnell Dam Strip - 1933

Mary's Home ---

Historical Town

This small hamlet was originally developed in the 1880s and became a permanent settlement, with a few businesses in town, by the early 1900s. Mary's Home, named for the Virgin Mary, once had the following establishments: a few general stores, two saloons, a post office, a lime kiln, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a copper shop, a mason, a threshing operator, a school, a community hall, a church, a parish hall and convent. Later a bank and a volunteer fire station would be added to the town's list of businesses. Today, there is a restaurant, a bank, a machine shop, a fire station, a funeral home, a community hall, a Knights of Columbus organization, a Catholic school, and a Catholic church tucked away in this formerly productive little settlement.

Original Catholic Church: 1885

Burned down in 1907.

2nd church built at Mary's Home

in 1907-08.

Mary's Home Doctor Office

Burned down in 1958.

Mary's Home School: no longer exists c/1940s Mertens Blacksmith Shop c/early 1900s

Original Sanning Store in 1936 Old Sanning Store (2022) MFA/Gas Station pump

Community Hall (2022) Our Lady of the Snows School (2022)

Marys Home Bank (2022) Marys Home Fire Station (2022)

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church (2022)

Old St. Elizabeth ---

Historical Town

Original Roman Catholic Church of Old St. Elizabeth - date unknown

This old settlement, which no longer exists, was one of Miller County's 19th century towns. It was located along the Osage River, making it a river port town.

The following businesses could be found during the settlement's heyday of the 1870s into the 1880s: a general store and saloon, a post office, a wagon maker, a blacksmith, a grist mill, a shoemaker, a clerk, a club-house, a church, a ferry, and a riverboat landing.

Old St. Elizabeth was once a very busy settlement between 1869 to the early-1880s. In the late 1800s the town moved inland about 3 miles to its current location.

Olean ---

Historical Town

This small settlement sprung up 1881-82 when the Jefferson City, Lebanon and Southwestern Railroad (later known as the Bagnell Branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad) came through the area. The first businesses in the town were a general mercantile store, a post office, a doctor office, a drug store, a mill, a train depot, a telegraph agent, a school, church and a bank. It is interesting to note Olean housed the first bank in Miller County, which was opened in 1889. By the end of the 1800s, the businesses included: 3 general stores, a grocer, a hotel, 3 mills (1 roller & 2 sawmills), a livery, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, 2 doctor offices, 2 drug stores, 2 milliners, a jeweler & optician, a broom-maker, a hardware store, a lumber yard, a lumber and grain dealer, a furniture dealer, a barber shop, 4 churches and a funeral home. Today there is just a remnant of the once bustling little settlement with the following businesses still in operation: a post office, a tavern/grill (Rebecca's Hut), a seed mill (Olean Seed Mill) and 2 churches (Baptist & Christian).

Olean Exchange Bank

c/1889-1895

Olean Train Depot Olean Train Depot & Olean Milling Co. c/1930s

Above: Olean Milling Co.

Right: Original General Store of 1882

Olean Roller Mill c/1890s Olean bank and other buildings c/1890s-c/1900s

Sketch of Olean: Artist Unknown The damage of Olean after the 1916 tornado

Olean - North side of Main St. in 2022 Olean - South side of Main St. in 2022

Pleasant Mount / Mt. Pleasant ---

Historical Town

Considered the first settlement in Miller County, this community got its beginnings as early as 1829 when a trading post was built by Andrew Burris near the future town, which at that time was located in Cole County. When Miller County was created in 1837, there were a few houses in the area and soon the settlement of Pleasant Mount was the first town platted, filed and recorded for this county. By 1847, a post office was established. Pleasant Mount became the first town to be printed on a map of the county, as well. In 1881 the following businesses were in operation: a general store, post office, a blacksmith shop, 2 hotels, druggist, a doctor, 2 shoemakers, a saddle-maker, a lawyer and a Justice of the Peace. The first Methodist Church in the county was established here in 1841 and a church building was constructed in 1858. A school was erected in the early-1870s. The name changed from Pleasant Mount to Mt. Pleasant in the mid-20th century. Today, the former glory of this first settlement has long become a memory, but Pleasant Mount/Mt. Pleasant continues to hang on to its prominent "first" status with two businesses still in operation: Tooters Saloon & Steak House and Saline Valley Storage.

Looking east in Pleasant Mount / Mt. Pleasant in 2022

Tooters Saloon & Steak House (2022)

Saline Valley Storage (2022)

Christian Church (2022) - long abandoned.

Rocky Mount ---

Historical Town

While Rocky Mount, Missouri is basically classified as being located in Morgan County, the old settlement of Rocky Mount was actually in Miller County before Morgan County was formed. It was a small country village with a general store, two blacksmith shops, a doctor, a drug store, a post office, a school, a church and several homes. It is believed that the first school in Miller County was located near Rocky Mount. This school, a subscription school, was operating in the 1830s with Rev. J. M. Houston as headmaster. The small hamlet was located along an old wagon road that led from Tuscumbia on north to Boonville, and to the northeast to Jefferson City. Today, the small settlement contains a post office, a general store and gas station (Northshore Shopping Center), a restaurant (Cheryl's Lake House Cafe), a real estate company (Ed Sanning), American Veterans Post 108, a volunteer fire station, a hardware, concrete and dock cable business, and the church (Northshore Baptist Church). It is interesting to note that the post office is located inside the general store, which was a common practice during the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s and is the only post office from Miller County's founding to still be located in a general store in the 21st century.

1st Rocky Mount School: c/1880s 2nd Rocky Mount School (c/1910) in 2022 Dilapidated back of school in 2022

Front of old General Store (2022) Side of old General Store (2022) Current Post Office [inside store] (2022)

Northshore Baptist Church (established: late 1800s) in 2022 Cheryl's Lake House Cafe

Looking east in Rocky Mount in 2022

Spring Garden ---

Historical Town

Considered the third settlement established in Miller County, after Mount Pleasant and Tuscumbia, Spring Garden was a community as early as c/1830. The settlement first appeared on an official plat of the state road leading from Lisletown at the Osage River in Cole County west toward Versailles in Morgan County in 1847. Spring Garden Seminary, a private school for girls, was established in 1866, but by 1879 the school was made available to both genders and became known as the Miller County Institute (which closed in 1907). This was the beginning of Spring Garden's prosperous time, and the town grew with the following businesses established by 1885: 2 general stores, a blacksmith, a wagon maker, 1 grist and 2 sawmills, a doctor, a carpenter, a livestock dealer, a public school, a private school and 2 churches (Baptist and Christian). Today, only the Baptist Church remains of this once busy settlement.

Spring Garden School: no longer in existence Miller County Institute: no longer in existence

Spring Garden Baptist Church: built 1988 Old news article c/1907

St. Anthony ---

Historical Town

This very rural unincorporated village, still in existence today, is one of Miller County's newest towns, historically speaking. The community was established right after the turn of the 20th century, around 1905, and housed the following businesses: a general store, a blacksmith, a post office, and a church. By the early to mid-1900s, a school, a warehouse, a feed store, a gas station and garage were added to this small hamlet community. Later, a volunteer fire station was built. Today, all that remains of this small community is a boutique shop (The Old School Boutique), a tavern/restaurant (B.J.'s Bar & Grill), a beauty shop (New Reflections by Tiffany), a volunteer fire station, and a Catholic church (St. Anthony of Padua). Note: No historic business photos of St. Anthony are available.

B.J.'s Bar & Grill (housed in the old store) The old feed store in 2022 New Reflections by Tiffany (beauty shop)

Volunteer Fire Station & Bax Garage in 2022 Bax Garage in 2022

Original School (converted into a boutique) St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in 2022

Street view of St. Anthony in 2022

St. Elizabeth ---

Current Town

This settlement was originally called Charlestown when it was established in 1880 and remained so until 1961 when the town officially changed its name to St. Elizabeth. When Old St. Elizabeth (located along the Osage River) moved inland in the late 1800s, the area of Charlestown was chosen as its new locality. However, this did not go over well with the Charlestown community! And when the post office at Old St. Elizabeth was moved to Charlestown in the late 1800s, the town still refused to recognize this settlement even though the post office had rejected the name Charlestown and, instead, kept the name St. Elizabeth. The town of Charlestown, named for Charles Holschneider who had bought the land on which the settlement was platted, contained six original blocks platted on the exact spot where they now lay. During the late 1800s the inhabitants of Old St. Elizabeth began opening businesses and providing the common amenities in their new location. The old Catholic Church was moved to Charlestown from its river site, which would later be used as a school after the present St. Lawrence Catholic Church was built in 1907. Many of the Charlestown folks went to their graves holding out for St. Elizabeth to fail, but this "fought over" settlement would eventually prosper. Today, St. Elizabeth (aka: Charlestown) is the third largest town in Miller County. Note: No historic business photos are available for Charlestown.

Taken at the Charlestown Picnic - July 25, 1916

Tuscumbia ---

Current Town

Old Miller County Courthouse

The old Miller County Courthouse was built in 1857, with an addition added in 1910 by contractors P. F. Hauenstein and R. T. Roberts and served the county for 146 years.

The old courthouse was replaced in 2003 by the new Miller County Courthouse, which was built on the north side of Tuscumbia, along Highway 52. Today the old, abandoned courthouse remains an empty reminder of yesteryear.

Ulman ---

Historical Town

Formerly known as Ulman's Ridge, this small hamlet grew to become a booming settlement during the late 1800s to the mid 1900s. The small town once housed 2 general stores, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a mill, a bank, a post office, a doctor office, a Farmers Exchange, a telephone exchange, a meeting hall, a school and church. By the mid-1900s, Ulman's demise began when the mill closed down in the early to mid-1900s. Today, the bustling settlement no longer exists, but it remains a recognized hamlet with a post office and a church (Christian).

Ulman Bank c/1907 P. O. moved to bank after it closed

Ulman Ridge School: no longer exists.

Ulman Mill c/1890s

Ulman Mercantile/Grocery Store Ulman Christian Church

Nixdorf House/Hotel in Ulman

Watkins ---

Historical Town

Watkins General Store and Post Office. Burned down in 1970.

This little community never acquired a booming settlement status during its existence and is the smallest borough on this list.

It was once located between Iberia and Ulman. The community itself started in the mid-1850s, but it wasn't until the late-1800s the amenities of a settlement transpired.

Watkins housed the following businesses: a general store, a post office, a school and a Baptist church. Today, nothing remains of the small hamlet, except the nearby church and cemetery known as Hickory Point (Baptist).