What's In a Name?

Starting with three major settlements, which later grew into towns, St. Francois County was destined to become the queerest shaped county in the state and one abounding in many towns. The place names of some of them furnish a tale that is more than interesting.

To begin with, the town of St. Francois was named for St. Francois, the county; the county was named for the river, St. Francois, that runs almost entirely through it; and the river was named for the mountain range in whose territory it has its headwaters. Tracing the derivation of the mountain range's name is not such an easy manner. Apparently, the reason for "St. Francois" being applied to this section is lost to history, although it might have been named by early French settlers for some church dignitary, possibly St. Francis of Assissi, or it may have been so named for Renault (whose middle name was Francois) because of his mining ventures there in the very earliest days.

Just when the mountains fell heir to the name is not clear, but as early as 1763 the London edition of the "History of Louisiana" by Du Pratz refers to the St. Francois mountains by that name. On older maps cartographers, for want of a name, designated this region as "The country full of mines."

The town names of this country have, for the most part, better authenticated origins--more directly traceable. And none more picturesque than Knob Lick and Doe Run, both names indicating the presence of salt deposits to which deer repaired when hungry for this mineral. These salt licks were known among the Indians far and near as hunting grounds because deer came to these places in great numbers.

Like St. Francois, Flat River went to a river for its name. The river in this case is so notably lacking in depth--being content with low banks and a shallow bed--that it automatically became Flat River. Iron Mountain, on the other hand, looked up to the heights for its name, being named after the peak in close proximity.

Of course, Bonne Terre believes it has the most interesting and explicit name of any town within the county. And maybe it has. The early miners who named it have never been accused of erroneous titling. Finding lead ore here and seldom elsewhere in their prospecting, these diggers were prompted to designate the place of their discoveries as "Bonne Terre" (good earth) as against other dirt nearby that was barren of the mineral they sought.

Other names indicative of mining origin are reflected in Leadwood and Leadington, although the former at one time was called "Owl Creek." Rivermines as a name came out plain, with its origin. Syenite has a geological background in the igenous granite-like rock quarried there.

French Village, once called Little Canada, injects a touch of nationalism into the picture, as does Bismarck, a German counter-part for the unmistakable French element of the former. Loughborough suggests English derivation.

Gumbo may be vegetarian or it may have been named for a type of soil. Hurryville, contrary to its name, is in no mad rush and owes it name to L. E. and E. A. Hurry, former owners of the land upon which it stands. Haggai has a Biblical name. "Murphy's Settlement" was founded by the pioneer Murphy family. This name was retained until February 27th 1823, when the first survey of the town was filed and it was called "Farmington" because of the rich farming lands surrounding it.

History is incorporated in the name Delassus. Although often mispronounced, it was given that cognomen in honor of a former owner who was a descendant of Carlos de Hault de Lassus, last lieutenant-governor of Upper Louisiana.

The spirit of '76 is reflected in Libertyville, which apparently is so called on account of being located in Liberty township. Electric Place signifies the location of the power house. Settletown was so called in honor of the original owners, Wm. M. and Hattie A. Settle. Blackwell is another such place, being named for two ladies, Lavinia and Margaret Blackwell [*see note below], who owned the land there at the time. Mitchell, a neighbor to Leadwood, took the name of Quince Mitchell, once a judge in St. Francois County court. Frankclay took the entire name of its founder Frank E. Clay, while Jay Dee differed by wording the initials of J. D. Kennedy, brother of the late Capt. W. A. Kennedy. Elvins is still another town named in honor of former owners, this time Jesse M. and Zelma Elvins.

Several towns in the county are named in commemoration of men who in their day were prominent among empire builders of St. Francois County. Notable among these is Desloge, named after Firmin Desloge, a pioneer of the Lead Belt and organizer in 1887 of the Desloge Consolidated Lead Company; likewise Cantwell, named for its organizer, H. H. Cantwell, president of the St. Francois Town-site & Mining Company.

Halifax's prototype is found in Nova Scotia. Koester in the northeast tip of the county, and Wortham, west of Flat River, were probably named for pioneer families who established the towns.

Streams in the county bear, in general, names suggested by their environs. Wolf Creek no doubt abounded in wolves in the early days and hence its name. Owl Creek presumably traversed wooded country which was a nesting place for these feathered creatures. Terre Blue (blue earth) [sic Terre Bleue] probably owes its origin to the type of soil known as "Blue Marl" found in that locality. Like Bonne Terre, its name is still in the original French. The banks of Hazel Run being lined with hazel brush no doubt gave to that creek its name, which later was fastened to the village that grew up on its banks.

Big River, the most important stream in the country, was labeled "Grand River" by the French, not so much from its imposing size (which isn't so imposing when compared with other rivers) as for the reason that, when first beholding it, the French explorers were struck by its magnificent scenery and beauty, curving among hills, furnishing such a striking setting.

The Spanish, when they took charge of Louisiana Territory, misunderstood the French name and thought it to mean grand in the sense of "big." In referring to it, the Spanish said "Rio Grand," and in translating into English, the next step was calling it Big River, the name by which it is known today. On its banks was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, settlement in St. Francois County, Alleys Mine, located in or near the vicinity of Big River Mills. It was a concession from De Lassus in 1801.

But what do names mean? Shakespeare said a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So with St. Francois County. No matter what the names of its towns, it still would be a great commonwealth--the center of the greatest lead mining district in the world.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Dec. 11, 1936.

I don't see anything funny about "Flat River." Why all the merriment? Well, if you stop and think about it though, did YOU ever see a FLAT river? If you HAVE seen a FLAT body of water you were looking at a LAKE, not a river. To be a river, a body of water has to have FLOW, and to have flow a body of water has to have DROP and, if a body of water has drop, it is not flat!

Do you remember Miss Prowdley, one of the first English professors at FRJC years ago? Miss Prowdley said when she first heard the name she wondered about it and was somewhat amused, but when she arrived here and saw "the pretty little river" she thought it was well named!

The Missouri Highway Department had a little confusion over the name of our river, also. Several years ago, when the new highway 67 was finished in this area, the highway crossed Flat River just north of Esther. Like all highway departments, our Missouri Highway Department has it's set of rules and regulations regarding highway signs. They determined that our Flat River was large than a brook and smaller than a river so, according to their codes, our Flat River was a creek! So, the highway signs at the river read: FLAT RIVER CREEK!!

Apparently this settled the confusion of the highway department but created confusion for the public. The signs now read "FLAT RIVER."

Speaking of highway signs, have you ever noticed the signs on Highway 67 north of us at the DeSoto junction? There are four large signs that give the traveler the impression that Olympian Village is a large city and DeSoto is a one store country town! If I lived in DeSoto, I think I would start a secession movement! If you complained to the highway department, I am sure they would tell you that all signs are according to code! I would suggest they change their code!!

Sorrowfully, if you are speaking of the TOWN when you say "Flat River," the word "river" can be just as confusing as the word "flat" was. If you tell a stranger you live IN "FLAT RIVER," doesn't that stranger have every right to believe that you must be amphibious? I cannot recall any other town or city in the whole United States being called a river! But, so what? There is no rule that says the name of a town has to be technically or historically correct! You don't want the same name that a dozen other cities have! There is a Farmington and Springfield in almost every state of the Union!

As well as having a town named a river, we came close to having a town named a creek. St. Francois County has an Owl Creek near Leadwood. In the early days, the town we know as LEADWOOD was called OWL CREEK! I have thought of two towns named "CREEK" and I am sure there are many more:

Battle Creek, Mich.
Cripple Creek, Colo.

We have Salt Lake in Utah and the city, Salt Lake in Utah, but they added the word CITY making the name Salt Lake City. I have stopped looking further for fear I might find another town named river, like "Flat River."

IT WON'T BE LONG NOW! GET OUT AND VOTE APRIL 5.

Bob Baker.

This space paid for by Bob Baker.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Thurs. March 24, 1983, page 6.