A Grist Mill Guide for Missouri (1999)
An unusual example of a pre-Civil War grist mill is in storage in Northwest Missouri in Daviess County. Known as the Lewis Mill, the wooden water turbin which powered the milling operation was uncovered intact during bridge construction across the Grand River in 1989....
Pioneers: Three of the Best Grist Mills Seen in Missouri Today
During their heyday in the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s, Missouri’s mills not only reduced much needed four but they also brought farm families together for a few days of camaraderie. The wait to have grain ground could be several days, so farmers and...
1991: Authentic Pioneer Log Cabin Relocated to Gallatin Roadside Park
An authentic log house was moved from rural Daviess County in 1991 to display the lifestyle of early pioneers. The log cabin was discovered northwest of Gallatin, MO, on Route DD when landowners peeled off wood plank siding while intending to demolish the building....
Pioneers: Apple Orchard Records Reveal Early Ag Prices
In the early years of Daviess County, MO, many orchards were developed. This is a detailed record of one orchard once located a mile west of Civil Bend. Learning about it offers some understanding of local ag history. The records were kept by Edward Smith from 1890...
Pioneers: First Successful River Bridge Made of Iron 1869
The first successful Grand River Bridge to be constructed in Daviess County, MO, was an iron “Smith Patent Truss” bridge, built by C.W. Wheeler in 1869. Wheeler was contracted to build an iron truss bridge across Honey Creek south of Gallatin in late 1868....
Pioneers: Renown Gunsmith Valentine Shuler
Walk any cemetery and be reminded that behind every marker lies a story. Among the older markers in Daviess County is one in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Jamesport, where rests a man once nationally known for his craftsmanship in making guns. Valentine Shuler (1808-1885)...
1856: Pioneers: First River Bridge the Scene of Brutal Killing
Jacob Stallings got into the ferry business in 1848 at the old Orr Ford on Grand River (SE 1/4, Sec. 6, T58N-R26W). This site was a crossroads for travelers from Richmond, Bethany, Trenton, Gallatin and Greasy as well as connections from the Utica road over the Grand...
Pioneers: Scott Family Among Early Settlers in Daviess County
Martin Scott was born March 14, 1807, in Jackson County, Tenn., the son of John Scott, a Revolutionary War soldier (there is confusion over his mother’s information). When he was a child, Martin’s parents moved to Indiana, where he was reared on a farm and received...
Pioneers: Windmills Considered Skyscrapers of Rural America
A hundred years ago an $80 investment in a windmill meant power to operate a water pump. It was a welcome relief for a farmer who otherwise faced this daily manual chore — and free for as long as the wind kept blowing. British archeologists have found remains of...
Visit the 1889 Squirrel Cage Jail, located 2 blocks west of the Daviess County Courthouse in Gallatin, MO. This historic relic is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a visitors’ center — by appointment,
Trudi Burton, ph: 660.663.7342
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