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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
identified, 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
dis-incorporated 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 Idumea. (--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 (intersection of U Highway and U-112). (--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 located 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
Buckhart. (--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.
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