64 COUNTIES: OF MISSOURI. 
drained by Elk River, and Buffalo, Patterson’s, Indian, North 
Sugar and other Creeks, which are rapid streams affording excellent 
water power. 
PINEVILLE, the county seat, population in 1870, including town- 
ship, 1,057, is on Elk River, 6 miles northeast of Rutledge the 
former county seat, and 19 miles south of Neosho, Newton County, 
which is a station on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway 314 miles 
southwest from St. Louis. 
' The surface of the country is broken, and about four-fifths tim- 
ber land. The uplands are generally sterile and unproductive for 
some crops, but good for fruit. The valleys are fertile and well 
adapted to agriculture. The chief staples are corn, wheat, oats 
and potatoes. A good trade is done here with the Cherokee and 
other Indians. Merchandise is flat-boated down the Elk River into 
Arkansas. 
This county was first settled in 1830 by AuGustus J. FRIEND, 
P. WituiaMs, R. LAUDERDALE and others. 
Mercer County—Lies on the southern border of Iowa, about 
midway between the States of Illinois and Nebraska, and is 
drained by Weldon River, and Crooked Fork of Grand River, 
Medicine and Muddy Creeks, running from north to south. 
PRINCETON, the county seat, population in 1870, 389, was incor- 
porated March 4th, 1855, and is located near the center of the 
county, on the Southwestern Division of the Chicago, Rock Island 
& Pacific Railway, 127 miles northeast of Leavenworth, 107 miles 
northeast of St. Joseph, 126 miles northeast from Kansas deh and — 
__.390 miles northwest®from St. Louis v/a Gallatin. ““S°°"™ 
The surface of the country is level and undulating, with about an 
equal division of prairie and timber land. The soil is generally 
very fertile and well adapted to agriculture. Coal and iron ore 
have been discovered, and copper is reported. Excellent timber 
and building stone abound. 
This county was first settled in 1837. 
Miller County—lIs situated in the south central part of the State, 
and is intersected by the Osage River, which is navigable four to six 
monthseach year. Tavern and Auglaize Creeks araeacg good mill 
sites. 
TuscuMBIA, the county seat, population in 1870, 125, is on the 
left bank of Osage River, 30 miles from Jefferson City. Tuscum- 
bia is also 28 miles northwest from Hancock, Pulaski County, a 
station on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway, 144 miles southwest 
from St. Louis. Settlements were first established in Tuscumbia 
in 1833, and a post office in 1837. 
The surface of the country is generally broken timber land. The 
soil is sterile except along the valleys, where it is very fertile. The 
soil and climate are well adapted to the culture of fruit, and stock. 
The leading staples are wheat, corn and oats. 
This county was first settled in 1830, and named in honor of 
JoHN MILLER, former Governor of Missouri. 
Mississippi County—lIs situated in the southeastern part of the 
State, bordering on Illinois and Kentucky, from which it is sep- 
arated by the Mississippi River. 
lakes and lagoons. 
CHARLESTON, the county seat, population in 1870, 635, was 
incorporated February 21, 1857, and is situated on Matthew’s 
It is also watered by a number of 
Prairie, surrounded by a good farming district. It is a station on 
the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, 17g miles southeast of 
St. Louis, and 17 miles northwest from Belmont, which is the 
southern terminus of the above railroad lying on the Misisssippi 
River opposite Columbus, Kentucky. The Cairo & Fulton Rail- 
road connects Charleston with Bird’s Point, opposite Cairo, 
Illinois. 
The surface of the country, excepting a few hundred Indian 
mounds, is level, and portions of it subject to overflow, which is 
successfully prevented by a levee nearly 30 miles in length. The 
The soil is 
exceedingly fertile and adapted for most purposes of agriculture, 
entire county can be drained at a trifling expense. 
especially for the raising of fruit and vegetables. Timber and clay 
for brick are abundant. The county was first settled at least as 
early as 1800. 
Moniteau County—Is probably the most central county in the 
State. Its northwestern boundary is the Missouri River, which, 
with the Moniteau and Moreau Creeks and tributaries, forms its 
drainage. 
CALIFORNIA, the county seat, population in 1870, including 
township, 3,492, is a station on the Missouri Pacific Railway, 25 
miles west from Jefferson City, 150 miles from St. Louis, and 132 
east from Kansas City. It offers good educational advantages. 
Tipton, population in 1870, including township, 2,242, is 12 
miles west from the county seat, and is the junction of the Boone- 
ville Branch of the same railroad, 25 miles south from Booneville. 
The surface of the county is generally hilly and broken, inter- 
spersed with low alluvial bottoms. and high prairie lands. The 
soil is very fertile, especially in the valleys. The chief products 
are tobacco, wheat, corn and grapes. The county contains bitu- 
minous and cannel coal, and timber in large quantities, and also 
considerable lead ore, limestone, building stone, millstones, and 
clays for brick. 
Monroe County—Is situated in the east-northeastern part of the 
State, and is drained by Salt River and tributaries, which furnish 
excellent water power. 
Paris, the county seat, population in 1870, 895, is on the Middle 
Fork of Salt River near the center of the county. It isa station 
on the Hannibal & Central Missouri Railway, 45 miles southwest 
from Hannibal, 26 miles east from Moberly, and 172 miles north- 
west from St. Louis via Moberly. Paris was laid out in 1824, and 
incorporated as a city November 19, 1855. It offers good educa- 
tional facilities. 
Monroe City, population in 1870, 353, is a station on the above 
road, and also on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and is 22 
miles northeast of the county seat. 
The surface of the county is undulating and two-thirds timber 
land. The prairies are small but very fertile, and well settled. 
The soil is adapted to all purposes of the farmer and stock grower. 
The chief exports are cattle, hogs, tobacco and mules in the order 
as named, Considerable coal and abundance of limestone, free- 
stone and good clay for stoneware and brick-making exist. The 
county was first settled in 1820-21, and was formed from Ralls 
County in 1830 and organized in 1831. On Sweet Lick Creek is 
an old Indian battle-field, thickly covered with the bones of the 
combatants, who were Sac, Fox and Sioux Indians. 
