Federal Legislative Acts

Callaway County establishing postoffices

List of Callaway Postoffices at bottom of page.

[This is a sampling of the legislative acts required to establish any post office]

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1830

Mr. Pettis presented a petition of inhabitants of the county of Callaway, in the State of Missouri, praying for the establishment of a mail route therein mentioned; which petition was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
MONDAY, February 13, 1832.

On motion of Mr. Ashley,

Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route from the town of Chariton, in Chariton county, to Richmond, in Ray county.And, also, a post route direct from Bowling Green in the county of Pike, to Fulton, in the county of Callaway, in the State of Missouri.

Journal of the Senate of the United States of America, 1789-1873
WEDNESDAY, March 28, 1832.

On motion by Mr. Buckner, and by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing the following post routes, to wit: a post route from Independence, in the county of Jackson, in the State of Missouri, to the Shawanee Agency; also, a post route from Moramec iron works to the Kickapoo prairie, in the county of Crawford, in the State of Missouri; also, from Wellsburgh, in St. Charles county, by Monroe, Edwin, Allen's, William McQueen's, and Clarksville, to Louisiana, in the State of Missouri; also, a post route from Herculaneum, in the county of Jefferson, by St. Genevieve, by Perryville, to Jackson, in said State of Missouri; and from McMurtry's, in Callaway county, and State aforesaid, by Huntsville, to Keylesville, in the county of Chariton; and from Pinkney, in Montgomery county, by Pendleton's, to Troy, in Clinton county.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
WEDNESDAY, December 11, 1833.

Mr. Ashley presented a petition of the inhabitants of the counties of Callaway and Boon, in the State of Missouri; praying, respectively, for the establishment of post routes therein mentioned and specified.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
THURSDAY, January 7, 1836.

A motion was made by Mr. Hardin, that the rules prescribing the order of business be suspended, and that the States be called for the presentation of petitions: which morton was agreed to by the House, two thirds of the members voting therefor, and then

Mr. A. G. Harrison presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the State of Missouri, praying for a mail route from Fulton, in Callaway county, to the house of Henry Nile, in said county.

Mr. Ashley presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the State of Missouri, praying for a mail route from the city of Jefferson to the seat of Government of the Territory of Arkansas.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
MONDAY, February 1, 1836

Mr. A. G. Harrison presented a petition of citizens of the counties of Callaway and Monroe, in the State of Missouri, praying for post route between Fulton and Paris.

Bills and Resolutions, House of Representatives, 24th Congress, 1st Session

Committee: Committee of the Whole House~Committee on the Public Lands

February 10, 1836

February 10, 1836

Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. Mr. Harrison, of Missouri, from the Committee on the Public Lands, reported the following bill: A Bill For the relief of John Wiley and Jefferson Greer. Whereas it appears that John Wiley and Jefferson Greer, of the county of Callaway and State of Missouri, purchased, each of them, from the Government of the United States, at the land office at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, a half quarter section of land, for which each got a certificate from the receiver of public lands at said office; the said Wiley purchasing his in April, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, and the said Greer purchasing his in August, eighteen hundred and thirty-one; and whereas it further appears that the said Wiley and Greer, after having improved and cultivated their said lands, purchased as aforesaid, for three and four years, purchased of the Government lands which the Government had previously sold to others; therefore, for the relief of said Wiley and Greer.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
TUESDAY, March 1, 1836.

On motion of Mr. Albert G. Harrison, by leave,

Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing the following post routes in the State of Missouri, viz: from Jefferson city, the seat of Government, through the seats of justice for the counties of Morgan, Benton, Polk and Greene, to the seat of Government of the Territory of Arkansas; from the seat of justice of Green county through the seats of justice of Polk, Benton, Rives, Van Buren and Jackson; from Boonville, in Cooper county, through the seats of justice of Pettis and Johnson, to the seat of justice in Van Buren; from the seat of justice of Greene county, through the seats of justice of Pulaski, and by Massey's iron works, in Crawford county, to Union, the seat of justice of Franklin county; from Jefferson city, through the seats of justice of Gasconade, Crawford, Washington and St. Francois counties, to Jackson, in Cape Girardeau county, twice a week; from the seat of justice of Stoddart county, to Greenville, the seat of justice of Wayne county; from Potosi, the seat of justice for Washington county, through the seat of justice of Ripley county of Jackson, in Arkansas; from Kaskaskia, in Illinois, to St. Genevieve, in Missouri; St. Genevieve, through Farmington, to Potosi, the seat of justice for Washington county; from the town el Cape Girardeau to Commerce, in Scott county; from St. Louis, through the seats of justice of Franklin and Gasconade, to the city of Jefferson, twice a week, in a two horse post-coach; from Jefferson city to Boonville, in Cooper county, through the seats of justice of Saline and Lafayette, to Independence, the seat of justice of Jackson county, in a four horse coach, twice a week; from St. Louis, through the seat of justice of St. Charles, Warren Montgomery, Callaway, Boone, Howard, Chareton, Carroll and Ray, to Liberty, the seat of justice of Clay county, three times a week, in a four horse post coach; from St. Louis, through the seats of justice of the counties of Jefferson, St. Genevieve Perry, Cape Girardeau, and Scott, to New Madrid, the seat of justice for New Madrid county, twice a week, in a four horse post-coach; from the town of Louisiana, in Pike county, through Bowling Green, to Fulton, in Calloway county, in a two horse post coach; from St. Genevieve, by Bolivia, to Fredericktown, the seat of justice of Madison county; from Jackson, the seat of justice of Cape Girardeau county, by the town of Cape Girardeau, and through the seat of justice of Scott county, to New Madrid, the seat of justice of New Madrid county; from Fulton, the seat of justice of Callaway county, by the town of Portland, to Mount Sterling. the seat of justice of Gasconade county; from Keytesville, the seat of justice of Chariton county,

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
MONDAY, April 11, 1836.

Probably concerned mail routes, reason for petition not given.

Mr. Albert G. Harrison presented a petition of inhabitants of the counties of Marion, Ralls, and Callaway, in the State of Missouri;

Mr. Albert G. Harrison presented a petition of inhabitants of the counties of Monroe, Ralls, and Callaway, in the State of Missouri;

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
SATURDAY, April 16, 1836.

Mr. Albert G. Harrison presented petitions of citizens of Marion, Ralls and Callaway, in the State of Missouri, fraying for the establishment of a mail route; which petitions were referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
MONDAY, February 24, 1845.

By Mr. Bowlin: A petition of citizens of Montgomery, Callaway, and Audrain counties, State of Missouri, praying the establishment of a post-route from Danville to Mexico, in said State.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
MONDAY, March 4, 1850.

The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid on the Clerk's table under the 24th rule of the House, to wit:

By Mr. Rumsey: Eight petitions of citizens of the State of New York, praying for a reduction of postage.

A list follows with other states and counties including:

By Mr. Bay: The petition of citizens of Callaway county, in the State of Missouri, of like import with the foregoing.

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1789-1873
THURSDAY, January 22, 1857.

The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid on the Clerk's table, under the 24th rule of the House, to wit:

By Mr. Porter: Two petitions of citizens of Callaway and Pike counties, Missouri, praying for an amendment of the graduation act of 1854. [Concerned the graduation and reducton of price in public lands].

Washington, D. C., January 15, 1873.

To the Senate of the United States:

I nominate James E. Campbell to be deputy postmaster at Fulton, in the county of Callaway and State of Missouri, in place of Thomas Patton, the office having become Presidential.

U. S. Grant.

Early Post Offices in Callaway County

There were twenty six post offices remaining in Callaway County in 1884: refer: Callaway County History-1884

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Post Offices in Callaway County by date

Many of the early postoffices were at a residence.

Cote San Dessein-Territorial Post office 1818- off & on to 1904-Cote Sans Dessein (a hill without design) is the site of an ancient French village. This place has its name from an isolate hill that is standing, as if by accident, on the river-bank in an extensive bottom...The village of Cote Sans Dessein was settled in 1808, and was once a populous place.It was two miles below the mouth of the Osage, opposite Dauphine (Osage Co.), and 23 miles south of Fulton. It was situated on Sec. 18, Twp. 44 N, R. 9 W at the edge of the Missouri River, south of Tebetts.

Elizabethtown- 1822-1825- first county seat of Callaway County-Elizabeth was located on Ham's Prairie, about six miles south of Fulton. It was so named in honor of Mrs. Henry Brite. Ham's Prairie so called because John Ham cut his name on a tree near its edge in 1816.

Fruits- 1824-1835-Alek Fruite lived on Nine Mile Prairie and was the first post master in that part of the county

Fulton-1825-present- Fulton, the county seat of Callaway County, was laid out in 1825, on the southeast quarter of Sec. 17, Twp. 47 N, R. 9 W on fifty acres of land sold to the county by George Nichols, at the nominal sum of $50. The plat of the town was filed on the 2d day of January, 1827. The deed to the townsite was filed for record February 19, 1829. Fulton was originally called Volney, after a French author and infidel. The name, however, was soon changed to Fulton, in honor of Robert Fulton..He constructed the first United States war steamer in 1814, and died in February, 1815...

Hibernia- 1825-1871-a post office near Portland-

Round Prairie- 1827-1841- [Also Boydsville PO-date U/K]

Harrison- 1828-??- [Speculation] Likely Thomas Harrison's- who moved to Missouri in 1819 and settled on the Booneslick Road [Callaway County]

Jones Tan Yard- 1828- 1874-It was situated on Sec. 17, Twp. 47, R. 9 W. Jones' Tanyard (Calwood), nine miles east of Fulton, population about 50 (1874), had one store, one blacksmith shop, one Methodist Church, one merchant mill, and one saw mill. (--Campbell, 98-F.)

Bass- 1829-1830

Millersburgh [sic]-1830-1953 -Millersburg was laid out in October, 1829, by Thomas Miller, on the east half of the east quarter of Sec. 34, Twp. 48 N, R. 11 West. It is twelve miles west of Fulton. Population was 200. David A. Robinett was postmaster

Grants- 1830-1832

Nine Mile Prairie- 1832-1834

Portland-1832-present-The town of Portland was laid out in September, 1831, by John Yates and Eden Benson, on the fractional quarter of Section 33, Twp. 65 N, Range 7 West. The pioneer merchant was Mr. Debo, who soon after opening his store, was sold out by the sheriff, for debt. The next merchant was K. G. Boon, who was the first postmaster...The town contained a population of 203 in 1880...

Whetstone- 1832- 1836

Shamrock-1833-1861, 1863-1954 -This village is situated twenty miles northeast of Fulton, and occupies the southwest quarter of the southwest half of Sec. 22, Twp. 49 N, R. 7 W. It contained a population of thirty. J. S. Lail was postmaster. Dr. B. B. Brown, druggist; David Garver, wagon-maker; T. W. Hsnes, Justice of the Peace.

Williamsburg- 1835- ?? present-This town was laid out in December, 1836, by B. G. D. Moxley, and is located in Nine Mile Prairie Township, sixteen miles northeast of Fulton and thirteen miles west of Montgomery City. It contained a Methodist Church, public school, and had a population of 100. A Mr. Crump opened the first business house in town. Arnold & Covington, general store; John T. Bell, painter; J. J. Bolton, M. D.; Ole Hanson, shoemaker; George Yates, druggist. It is situated on Sec. 21, Twp. 48 N, R. 7 W on 40 west of Montgomery County line. It was named for Harvey Williams.

Centerville- 1836-1842

Republican Fork- 1836- 1837

Locust Grove- 1837-1838

Concord-1838-1904-Concord was laid out in 1837, by John Henderson, on the north half of Sec. 18, Twp. 48 N, R. 7 W. It is located twelve miles north of Fulton, and contained fifty inhabitants...J. D. Plunkett was the postmaster

Cross Plains- 1837-1843

New Bloomfield-1841-present- New Bloomfield...is twelve miles southwest of Fulton. It was laid out in 1836, by Enoch Murray, on the northeast corner of the southeast corner of Sec. 31, Twp. 46 N, R. 10 W. The town was originally called Bloomfield. John Wilson was postmaster. It was laid out in 1836 by Enoch Murray and named Bloomfield, but there being another town of that name in the State, "New" was prefixed.

Green Hill- 1843-1845

Poplar Grove- 1844-1845

St. Aubert's-1849-1861, 1863-1893 -This town was laid out the 17th of November, 1848, by Henry Holman, on Sec. 18, Twp. 44 N, R. 8 W. It is known also as Smith's Landing, and is located on the Missouri River in St. Aubert Township. Population was 150. F. S. Mack, postmaster, Justice and hotel proprietor; Wooley & Looncks, general store.St. Aubert (formerly Smith's Landing), on the Missouri River 15 miles south of Fulton, was settled in 1820 by Thomas Smith; population about 100 (1874) and had 2 stores, 1 blacksmith and wagon shop.

Reform- 1853- 1907-No plat of the town was filed. It occupies the north half of the northeast quarter of Sec. 14, Twp. 46 N, Range 8 West and was first settled in 1830. F. W. Duncan built the first house. It is twelve miles southeast of Fulton, its nearest railroad point and bank location. It had a Christian, Baptist and Methodist Church. Population (1880)--150. W. S. McCall was postmaster.

Curdsville- 1854-??- [ Speculation only] Probably a post office established at the residence of a General Curd [ Civil war title] at his home, called the General Curd Mansion, near Auxvasse, built by Joe Lackland circa 1840 to 1850 and then purchased by Mr. Curd. A two story brick mansion, built with slave labor, and conttained 18 rooms. This house was also used as a girls seminary at one time

Stringfield's Store- 1856- 1862- It was in Nine Mile Prairie, on Sec. 13, Twp. 44 N, R8 west of Montgomery County.

Readsville-1856-??- No plat was filed. The town was settled in 1856, by John A. Read, after whom it was named, and who was the first postmaster. It is seventeen miles southeast of Fulton and contained a Methodist Church and public school. It had a population of 50. The town is on the west half of the northwest quarter of Sec. 33, Twp. 47 N, Range 7 West

Waterville- 1857- ??

Stephens Store- 1862- 1912- [ Stephens] This town was laid out in 18--, but no plat has ever been filed. It was located on the southeast quarter of southeast quarter of Sec. 34, Twp. 49 N, Range 11 West, and contained a population of 150. It is seventeen miles northwest of Fulton. J. W. Dean was the postmaster.

Hams Prairie-1865-1872, 1875-1907 -This was a country post-office six miles south of Fulton. It was located on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Sec. 10, Twp. 46 N, R. 9 W, and was named after the Prairie of that name. Thomas M. Nixon, postmaster. W. B. Cleveland, wheelwright; Issac Kelly, blacksmith; Dr. Thomas M. Nixon, druggist and general store; John D. Worley, blacksmith.

Hempstead- 1868- 1872-Hempstead was located in St. Aubert Township, on Sec. 6, Twp. 45 N, R. 9 W, west of Fulton.

Holt's Summit-1869-present- Holt's Summit was laid out on the 7th of September, 1870, by Timothy Holt, on Sec. 25, Twp. 45 N, R. 11 W. It is 20 miles southwest of Fulton. Population 75, Perry S. Holt, postmaster.

Cedar City-1870-present- This town was laid out in January, 1870, by David Kenney, Commissioner of Land Company, on the northwest fractional quarter of Sec. 16, Twp. 44 N, R. 11 West. It lies on the Missouri River, in Cedar Township, opposite Jefferson City...population was 250. A. W. Barman, shoemaker; W. Bliss, carpenter; L. D. Farmer, postmaster; David Kenney, hotel proprietor.

McCredie-1872-1970- McCredie was laid out on September 20, 1871, by George P. Mordie on Sec. 4, Twp. 48 N, R. 9 W. The town is located eight miles north of Fulton. Population 75--1884. James Wise was postmaster-Kingdom City is the railroad name for McCredie, population 53. It is situated on Sec. 9, Twp. 48 N, R. 9 W at the junction of 54 & 40.

Carrington- 1873-1954-Carrington City was laid out on the 5th of June, 1872, by William Carrington on the northwest quarter of Sec. 33, Twp. 47 N, R. 10 W. The town is on the Chicago & Alton R. R. and is eight miles southwest of Fulton. Population fifty. M. P. Ashworth was the postmaster.

Calwood-1874-1922-Calwood was a village of 100 inhabitants, eight miles northwest of Fulton. It is located on the northeast quarter and southeast quarter of Sec. 19, Twp. 48 N, R. 8 West; but no plat of the town had never been filed. It contained a church, school-house and flour-mill...The first store was erected in 1860, by Nathaniel Robinson. G. N. Myers was the first postmaster.

Auxvasse-1874-present- Auxvasse or Clinton City was laid out on October 22, 1873, by Thomas B. Harris on Sec. 23, Twp. 49 N, R. 9 W.

Guthrie-1874-1954-Guthrie was laid out on the 10th of June, 1872, by Samuel N. Guthrie and John Guthrie, on the southwest quarter of Sec. 18, Twp. 46 N, R. 10 W. It is 12 miles south of Fulton. J. W. Bruton, postmaster. J. S. Baker, druggist; J. W. Bruton, notary public; Dozier & Co., general store; E. O. Fogerstrom, blacksmith-Guthire (Bigbee (--Cynthiana), on the C. & A. R. R., 12 miles southwest of Fulton

Bachelor-1875-1959-This was a post-office located in Jackson Township, seventeen miles from Fulton, on the Chicago & Alton R. R.It is situated on Sec. 26, Twp. 49 N, R. 8 W as the south end of Highway CC.

Barkersville-1876-1897-This village was settled in 1867. It was located on the northeast quarter of Sec. 23, Twp. 44 N, R. 10 W. Population 75. It was on the Missouri River, opposite to Osage City (Cole Co.) twenty-three miles south of Fulton, and nine miles east of Jefferson City; it had a steam saw and grist mill, a Methodist Church and district school.

Caldwell-1880-1892-This town was laid out in 18__, but no plat had been fled. It was located on the southwest quarter of Sec. 22, Twp. 46 N, R. 10 W, and was named after N. G. Caldwell. The first business house was opened by N. G. Caldwell, who was the first postmaster-

Libby- 1880- ???

Hord-1881-1895-Hord was a post-office twenty miles south of Fulton, located on the Missouri River near Cote Sans Dessein, and named after Richard Hord

Hatton- 1882- 1953-Hatton is located in the northwest corner of the county, northeast of Hereford. It is situated on Sec. 15, Twp. 49 N, R. 10 W at the junction of E & N.

Folsom- 1887- 1905-Folsom was five miles west of New Bloomfield

Toledo- 1887- 1905-Toledo was east of Fulton and southwest of Yucatan.

Prairie Fork- 1887-?? This was a postoffice only

Steedman- 1894- ???-Steedman is situated on the southern edge of the county, first station west of Portland-Twps. 45/46 N, R. 8 W at the junction of DD & 94.

Garett-1898- 1905-Garrett was located in the southeastern section of the county on Montgomery County line, east of Readsville

Effie- 1890- 1907-Effie was east of Tebetts on M. K. & T. R. R.

Musick- 1890- 1907-Musick was southeast of New Bloomfield

Earl- 1891- 1907-Earl was located in the north central section of the county west of McCredie. It was situated on Sec. 17, Twp. 48 N, R. 10 W southwest of Eastville.

Maiden- 1891- 1895

Dixie- 1892- 1906-Dixie is 5 miles east of New Bloomfield. It is situated on Sec. 35, 36, Twp. 46 N, R. 10 W at the junction of BB & PP.

Yucatan- 1892- 1908-Yucatan was located in the northeast portion of the county, south of Williamsburg. Mo. It was situated on Sec. 7, Twp. 47 N, R. 7 W on D between Readsville and 40.

Wainwright- 1893- 1953 - Wainwright is located in Township 44N, Range 10W, Section 16- on Missouri Highway 94, east of Highway 63.

Elkins- 1895- 1905- South of Dixie in Township 45N, Range 10W, Section 12.

Tebbetts- 1895- It is located in the southern portion of the county, east of Wainwright, on M. K. & T. R. R. It is situated on Sec. 32, Twp. 44 N, R. 9 W on 94.

Venice- 1895- 1907-Venice was located in the extreme northeast corner of the county, near Audrain County. It was 8-3/4 miles south of Martinsburg

Pitcher- 1897-1904-Pitcher was located in the south central portion of the county, southwest of Ham's Prairie. Township 46N, Range 9W, Sections 19/30 where Rte NN crosses the Sectionline. This building [ Pitcher Store] was also called Craghead Store and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It apparently is located in the Paul Herring property.

Hereford- 1898- 1909-Township 49N, Range 11E, SW corner of Section 25, NE corner of Section 36. Two miles west of the Boone County Line, two and a half miles north of Interstate 70 on Rte. DD.

Youngers- 1902- 1908-It was located in the extreme northwest corner of the county near Boone and Audrain County lines. It was 5-3/4 miles east of Murry, Boone Co.It was situated on Sec. 2, Twp. 49 N, R. 11 W.

Prentiss- 1902- 1904

Stephens- 1912- 1957- See Stephens Store

Other Names Indicated as Post Offices without founding dates

Wagram- 1827- ?? this name has not been found with this spelling anywhere

Boydsville was a Post Office in Round Prairie Township- date unknown- Boydsville, settled in 1841, was 11 miles southwest of Fulton

Ellersville- -Ellersville was a post-office and station on the G. M. & O. Railroad

refer: 1880 History of Callaway County; | A Directory of Towns, Villages and Hamlets; | Early Postoffices of Missouri | |American Memories from the Library of Congress | TopoZone.com |

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