COUNTIES OF MISSOURI. qt 
Shannon Connty—lIs situated in the south-southeastern part of 
the State, and is drained by Current River and numerous tribu- 
taries, many of which are rapid streams, affording excellent water 
power. 
EMINENCE, the county seat, estimated population in 1870, 107, 
is situated near the center of the county on Current River, and is 
in a good farming district, 35 miles west from Piermont, Wayne 
County, which is a station on the Arkansas Branch of the St. Louis 
& Iron Mountain Railway, 51 miles south from Bismarck (junction) 
and 127 from St. Louis. 
The surface of the country is generally broken and well tim- 
bered. The soil in the valleys is generally fertile, and most of the 
land of the county is adapted to the culture of cereals, grasses and 
fruit. There are extensive beds of hematite iron ore, lead ore and 
. copper, and it is reported that some gold has been discovered. 
Shelby County—Is situated in the northeastern part of the State, 
and is drained by the Salt, South Fabius and North Rivers. 
SHELBYVILLE, the county seat, population in 1870, 530, was 
incorporated in 1866, and is pleasantly located ina fine farming 
district, 8 miles north from Shelbina. 
Shelbina, population in 1870, 1,145, is a station on the Hannibal 
& St. Joseph Railway, 47 miles west from Hannibal, 159 east from 
St. Joseph, 178 miles northeast from Kansas City, and via Macon 
City, 192 miles northwest from St. Louis. 
The surface of the country is undulating, prairie and timber land 
about equally divided. About one-tenth of the county is bottom 
land, and probably three-fourths arable upland. The soil is gener- 
ally fertile and well adapted to agriculture, including grape-raising, 
Coal and building stone are abundant. The county was formed 
from Marion in 1836. The county seat was for a time at Oakdale: 
Stoddard County—Is situated near the extreme southeastern 
part of the State, and is watered principally by the St. Francois, 
Little, and Castor Rivers. 
BLOOMFIELD, the county seat, population in 1870, 379, is situa- 
ted near the center of the county, about 30 miles southwest from 
Allenville, Cape Girardeau County, which is a station on the St. 
Louis & Iron Mountain Railway, 148 miles from St: Louis. 
Bloomfield is also about 40 miles west from Charleston, Mississippi 
County, which isa station on the same railroad, 179 miles from 
St: Louis. It is also about 30 miles northeast from Poplar Bluff, 
Butler County, which is a station on the Arkansas Branch of the 
same road, 153 miles from St. Louis. 
The surface of the county is generally level, and since the earth- 
quakes of 1811-12 much of it has been low and swampy. Much 
of this land however has been reclaimed, and most of it, it is 
believed, will ultimately be suitable for cultivation. The soil is 
very fertile and produces bountifully. Except where cultivated, the 
land is heavily timbered. Bog iron ore is abundant in the swamps. 
Castor River affords good water power. 
Stone County—lIs situated in the southwestern part of the State, 
on the northern border of Arkansas, and is drained by James Fork 
and other tributaries of White River, many of which furnish good 
water power. 
GaLENA, population in 1870, 27, is located on the James Fork, 
18 miles southeast from Logan, Lawrence County, which is a sta- 
tion on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway, 266 miles southwest from 
St. Louis, It is the county seat. 
The surface of the country is generally broken and hilly, and 
about three-fourths timber land, the pine of large size. The soil of 
the bottoms and of much of the uplands is fertile and adapted to 
agriculture. Lead and iron exist in the county. 
Sullivan County—Is situated in the northern part of the State, 
and separated from Iowa by Putnam County. It is drained by 
tributaries of the Grand and Chariton Rivers, some of which afford 
water power. Its streams run almost due south. 
MILAN, the county seat, population in 1870, 319, is located near 
the center of the county, 30 miles northeast from Trenton, Grundy 
County, and 30 miles west from Kirksville, Adair County, the former 
a station on the Southwestern Branch of the Chicago, Rock Island 
& Pacific Railway, 82 miles northeast from St. Joseph, and ror 
from Kansas City, the latter a station on the St, Louis, Kansas City 
& Northern Railway 203 miles from St. Louis, 
The surface of the country is generally rolling, with two-thirds 
prairie and the remainder timber land. The soil is fertile, parti- 
cularly along the bottoms, and adapted to agriculture. Stock- 
growing is profitably carried on. Deposits of coal are reported as 
existing in the county. 
Taney County—Is located in the southwestern part of the State, 
on the northern border of Arkansas, and is intersected by White 
River and tributaries, some of which afford good water power. 
ForsyTuH, the county seat, population in 1870, 87, is situated near 
the center of the county, on the left bank of White River, 40 miles 
southeast from Springfield, which is a station on the Atlantic & 
Pacific Railway 241 miles from St. Louis. 
The surface of the country is quite hilly and broken, about one- 
fourth being good farming land. There are heavy forests of tim- 
ber—the pine of large size. The land is best adapted for stock 
and fruit. Extensive deposits of lead, iron, copper and zinc exist 
in the county. The first settlements were made in 1816. 
Texas County—lIs situated in the southern portion of the State, 
and is drained by head waters of the Current and Gasconade 
Rivers. 
Houston, the county seat, population in 1870, including town- 
ship, 866, is located near the center of the county, 50 miles south 
from Rolla, Phelps County, which is a station on the Atlantic & 
Pacific Railway, 114 miles from St. Louis. 
The surface of the country is generally very broken and hilly, 
as the Ozark Range extends through the county. There are immense 
forests of timber, mainly yellow pine, some trees of which are the 
largest in the State. The soil along the streams is fertile, but the 
county is better adapted for lumbering, stock and fruit-growing 
and mining than for agriculture. Iron and lead ores, clay and 
lime, and sandstone for building purposes, are abundant. 
The county was first settled in 1820 by Patron, Boone, TRUEs- 
DALE, BALDRIDGE and others. 
Vernon County—Is situated in the southwestern part of the 
State, on the eastern border of Kansas, and is drained by Little 
