Morgan County

Versailles kept its French name and gave its courthouse French features. The post office, named for the royal palace, has run since 1835, though the town was not platted until 1854. The courthouse was designed with French details such as a mansard roof; it burned in 1887, most of the records were rescued, and it was soon rebuilt. Older still is the Martin Hotel of 1853, where the showman P. T. Barnum and the outlaw Jesse James both stayed after the Civil War. On the National Register since 1978, the hotel now operates as a museum.

What the plaque says

Morgan County Morgan County, in Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks Region, was organized in 1833 and named for Revolutionary War Gen. Daniel Morgan. The lake, impounded by Bagnell Dam built on the Osage in adjacent Miller County 1929-1931, extends into Morgan and forms most of its south border. Southern pioneers settled the area in the 1820's. Versailles, the county seat, situated on a watershed divide crossing the county east to west, was laid out 1835. The townsite, selected by Commissioner Street Thurston, was given by Wyan and Galbraith, pioneer merchants. Millville, once near by, settled by Josiah Walton, was the first county seat. Early schools were J. K. Gwynn's Male and Female Institute founded in 1885; and G. W. Innes' Academic and Normal Institute, 1892. The famed 1858-61 Butterfield Overland Mail had relay stations in the county at Syracuse and Florence. From 1859, when the Pacific (Mo. Pac.) R. R. reached Syracuse, until Civil War activity closed the station in March, 1861, it was the east stagecoach terminus. In the war the county suffered guerrilla raids and troop movement. (See other side) Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1961 Morgan County (Continued from other side) Morgan County's 596 square mile area is divided between Ozark hills on the south and open plains on the north. Resort and general farming county, Morgan at various times has been mined for lead, zinc, barite, tiff, iron, coal, clay. The Chicago, Rock Is. & Pac. R. R. reached Versailles in 1903 and Stover and Barnett, settled earlier, were laid out along the railroad route. Among other county towns and communities are Gravois Mills and Florence, settled in 1830's; Syracuse, laid out 1859; and Rocky Mount, a post office by the 1870's. On a branch of the Mo. Pac., built to Versailles in 1881, Akinsville and Glensted were once active towns. The branch no longer operates. French explorer Du Tisne crossed south Morgan County on an Osage Indian trail, 1719, and Zebulon M. Pike's 1806 southwest expedition followed the Osage River then winding in and out of the county. The area, roamed by Indians into 1830's, lies in the 1808 Osage Indian land cession. Points of interest include the courthouse built 1889 at Versailles; Jacobs Cave near there, and Collins Spring near Gravois Mills. Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1961

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Tipton — 16 mi
• Butterfield Overland Mail in Missouri - 1858-1861 — 17 mi
• Bagnell Dam — 20 mi
• Miller County — 24 mi