Osage County, Missouri

Bonnots Mill originally know as Dauphine, is near the site of old French Village, the first white settlement in Osage county. The town was laid out by Felix Bonnot in 1852, and although the town retained for several years the post office name of Dauphine, it was known as Bonnots Mill, taking its name from the founder of the first mill at the place, Mr. Bonnot. The town from its earliest history has been a very active commercial center, being located both on the Missouri river and the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the shipping point for Linn, Loose Creek, Frankenstein, Voshill and a large agricultural territory.

The town possesses a traditional interest. The outgrowth of old French Village, it dates its ancestry back to a very early period. In its earlier history the steamboat trade was a great part of the life and activity of the town. Many of the earlier citizens of the town were investors in and promoters of steamship transportation. Closely allied with river navigation, the town has furnished many skilled pilots, who have explored the “Big Muddy” from source to mouth.

Of its quasi-public institutions besides the railroad may be mentioned the Meyer-Morfeld Milling Company, owners of a merchant mill having a capacity of 75 barrels of flour and 80 of meal daily. The mill was established in 1887, remodeled in 1904, and equipped with gas engine and modern machinery in 1908.

The Bank of Bonnots Mills was established in 1905, with Alex Verdot as President, which position he still holds. Jos. F. Dubrouillet was the first cashier. He was succeeded in 1907, by A. P. Mertens, who is at present serving in that capacity.

In Catholic congregation acquired land for a church building in 1905, and built and dedicated a church in 1906. It is commandingly located on a high bluff overlooking the Missouri river. Rev. Chas. Even has served as pastor of the church from its establishment.

There is no Protestant church in the town. The Methodists have a small congregation, who are served by the Linn and Chamois charges.

The fraternities have been the A.F and A.M., and the A.O.U.W., now extinct. A Modern Woodsman camp and a Catholic society are in existence.

Matthew Koetting is owner of one of the largest lumber yards in the county. Source: Osage County Historical Society, Cities.

The city is named after Chamoix¹ in France, due to its Alpine scenery. The city is correctly pronounced 'Shamoy.' [Wikipedia Encyclopedia]

Settled early 1818 by families from Virginia, it was named by Morgan Harbor. The land was entered by the Shobes in 1818, before the river had encroached so much on the bottoms. The railway caused the erection of Andrew Fitzpatrick's building in 1855. The town was laid out in 1856, by James Shobe. There had been a log house years before on the Pryor's Mill road when Chamois was a corn-field. In 1873 the freight division was located here with roundhouse, repair shop, tanks, stock-yards, coal shutes (sic) and later the ballast crusher. Business houses included Savings and Loan, general merchants, clothing and hardware. Others were hotels, livery stables, harness and shoe shops, attorneys, etc. (--Hist. of Osage Co., pp. 672, 673, 674; Gaz. of Mo., p. 412.))

Source: History of Osage Co., pp. 672, 673, 674; Gaz. of Mo., compiled by Arthur Paul Moser p. 412.

Located at the junction of Highways 89 & HH Mail through Linn
Crook is an unincorporated community. "A post office called Crook was established in 1903, and remained in operation until 1920. The community was derisively named Crook (meaning "thief") on account of the business practices of a local merchant." ~ Source: Wikipedia.

Located on county road 505 one-quarter mile west of Route 133 approximately five miles west of Westphalia.
Folk was named for former governor Joseph W. Folk. Located in northwestern Osage County and approximately 10 miles southeast of Jefferson City, Folk is an unincorporated community. Folk's post office was established in 1905. It remained in operation until 1964; mail now comes from nearby Westphalia. ~ Source: The Osage River flows past one mile west of the site.

Located approximately 12 miles east of Jefferson City on Missouri Route C, about midway between Luystown to the east and Bonnots Mill to the west. The community is believed named not for the monster, but for Gottfried Franken, who donated land to build a church here in 1890. The donated tract became known as Franken Hill; and, since "Stein" can mean "rock," the town name may have been a fancy way of honoring Mr. Franken for his donated stein (hill). A post office called Frankenstein was established in 1893, and remained in operation until 1921.

Originally called "Engelbert" A post office located on Highway 63, north of the Maries County Line. Settled by Germans in the 1850s, Freeburg was platted in 1903 and named after the German city of Freiburg, soon after the railroad was extended to that point. ~ Source: Wikipedia.

Named after the first merchant and post-master August Koeltz. It is an entirely German settlement -- more of a settlement than a town (1867). Sources: History of Osage Co, p. 683;

Named after the first merchant and post-master August Koeltz. It is an entirely German settlement -- more of a settlement than a town (1867). Sources: History of Osage Co, p. 683;

From the original towns page,
Our Storehouse of Missouri Place Names, Ramsay, p. 67. It is 16 miles southwest of Linn, and had one (1) store and mill. Source: Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 412.

Linn was platted in 1843 and established as county seat in 1843. The community was named for Senator Lewis F. Linn. A post office called Linn has been in operation since 1844.Called the "Mile Long City" W. M. Lamkins had the first store on the convent site ... other businesses included general produce, meat markets, hardware, etc. Linn is home to State Technical College of Missouri. The Osage County Poorhouse and Dr. Enoch T. and Amy Zewicki House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10] Linn was formally part of neighboring Gasconade County until January 29, 1841. ~ Sources: History of Osage County, p. 677 and Wikipedia.

Originally called "Russellville" This place took its name from the stream L'Ourse, or Bear Creek, since corrupted into Loose Creek. The land was first owned by August Pickineaud, a Frenchman, in 1843 The town was laid out in 1873 Business houses included general merchandise, wagon and plow factories, and a saloon. It is 3 miles northwest of Linn. Source: History of Osage County, pp. 681-682; Gazetteer of Missouri, p. 412.

Located in the southwestern corner of Osage County near the Miller-Maries Counties Line at the intersection of Missouri routes 133 and B, on the north bank of Sugar Creek, approximately 3.5 miles southeast of that stream's confluence with the Osage River.. Meta is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area and is also the world headquarters of Diamond Pet Foods. A post office called Meta has been in operation since 1903.The community was named after Meta Schreifer, the sister of a railroad official. Source: Wikipedia.

Located approximately three miles east of U.S. Route 63 and is fifteen miles southeast of Jefferson City. The site was entered by John Burns during the 1830's, but he sold to a John Stumph, who built a water mill about 1839. This was superceded by an ox (tread) mill which in 1856 gave way to a steam mill. Father Helias had named the point Rich Fountain. The business section included a tailor shop and store buildings, besides which there was a blacksmith, shoemaker, steam saw mill, etc The village was never laid out. Source: History of Osage County, p. 682.

The community was named for a spring near the original town site. A post office called Rich Fountain was established in 1854, and remained in operation until 1972. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Parsonage was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Source: Wikipedia.

Founded in 1835, Westphalia has the distinction of being the Oldest German/Catholic Community west of the Mississippi. Late in 1835, a colony of Westphalian Catholics came up the Osage River and located along the Big Maries. Dr. Bruns and his brother located on the bend of the Maries, the site of Westphalia. During 1836 Dr. Bruns and Herr Bartman opened the first store. The business was in the hands of the Germans almost entirely. There was a post-office established in 1835, general store, dry goods, shoe shop, furniture, lumber yards, etc. Many buildings are influenced by nineteenth-century German architecture, and streets are labeled in both English and German. The center of population of Missouri is located in Westphalia. Sources: History of Osage County, pp. 679-680 and Wikipedia.