Alms House Cemetery Memorial

From the memorial, reverse your route and return to Division Street.  Turn left (east) on Division, cross over I-44 and turn right (south) on FR 123 and continue south, crossing the railroads.  Turn left (east) on FR 130 at the "T" intersection and proceed through the S-curve going over the railroad tracks and continue south on Meteor Street to West Chestnut (historic Route 66).  Turn right (west) on Chestnut. Nicholas Junction was a railroad village.   The former Nichols Grade School is at 4319 West Chestnut; however, this brick building has been painted grey.  Continue west on West Chestnut and go under the railroad tracks.

After going under the railroad trestle, at the stop light with Broadview Road, turn left (south) on the outer road, Haseltine Road (or FR 115) (pronounced hazzleteen) and go past the Historic Haseltine Orchards area (1870-1900). Note remnants of the apple storage buildings on the west side along the railroad tracks.  This was a railway stop once known as Dorchester (after a New York town), and later Haseltine.  Thomas Haseltine came to Greene County in 1834.  The Haseltines had five historic dwellings in this area and numerous apple storage sheds or barns.  About a mile further south, the Haseltine-Dreyfus-H'Doubler House can be seen behind stone-patterned fencing on the right at 1303 South FR 115.  This stone house, completed in 1897, took three years to build. The stone which was mined and cut on the Haseltine property and laid by the workers of the Haseltine apple orchards.  Continue south on FR 115 to FR 148.

Haseltine-Dreyfus-H'Doubler House

Turn right (west) onto FR 148.  The farm on the right (north) with the tree lined drive was the old James Young Farm which was the scene of the Young Brothers Massacre of six Greene County lawmen (Marcell Hendrix, Wiley Mashburn, Ollie Crosswhite, Tony Oliver, Sid Meadows and Charlie Howser) on January 2, 1932.

Continue on west on FR 148 to FR 107 and turn left (south) on FR 107.  [Note: Brick School is one mile west on FR 148.]  The impressive farm house and barn on the left at 2202 South FR 107 is the old farm of Ruben Rose whose descendants still live here.  The original farmhouse has had several additions, and one wing was removed to Brookline to become a house. The barn was built by Mr. Rose in 1925.

Continue south on FR 107 to FR 156.   Turn right (west) on FR 156.  Brookline Cemetery will be on the right (north side).  This cemetery was originally known as the Union Cumberland Cemetery. 

Continue west on FR 156 about two miles to the point where the road curves back to the south.  The area inside this curve was Little York (circa 1858), said to be the second town platted in Greene County. 

Follow the road south through the McClure/J-Lean Farm Valley to its “T” intersection with FR 160.  Turn left (east) onto FR160 and follow it across the creek and through the valley.  At the top of the hill on the left is a small house which is the last remnant of the Little York area.  It has two front doors and later a two-room addition on the back and belonged to C.W. Kates, a McClure nephew, who had a 25-acre orchard but never electricity or a telephone.  This was one of the last houses in Greene County to get electric service and the children walked seven miles to Republic to go to high school.  

The large house on the right at the intersection of FR 160 and 97 was the home of Chesley Rainey who originally platted the town of Little York and his descendants still live here.  Continue east on FR 160 as it goes through the 800 acres of the old J. B. “Buddy” Garton farm, now owned by Drury University. The Garton House which is south down the lane at 7118 West FR 160 is built of brick with a tile roof and was one of the finest homes of its time, built in the late 1800s.  Follow FR 160 to its “T” intersection with Highway MM.  At this intersection, you will see the town formerly known as Brookline.  Turn right (south) onto Highway MM, and follow it over the railroad tracks to the traffic signal at Highways US 60/413 and M.

[Note:  There is a roadside park on the north side of US 60 just west of this intersection and a Missouri Historical Marker is in this park.]

Missouri Historical Marker

                         (Reverse Side)

Continue south through this intersection on Highway M to Highway ZZ.  [Note: At this intersection, M and ZZ, Beulah School was on Highway M just across from the new Republic High School.]  

Turn right onto ZZ and drive about four miles to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, a National Park Service unit on the Register of National Historic Sites located at 6424 West Farm Road 182.  Its Civil War Museum is on the east side of Highway ZZ.

Wilson Creek National Battlefield

The Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, was one of Missouri’s bloodiest, ending in an important Confederate victory.  Union General Nathaniel Lyon was killed leading his outnumbered troops against the combined forces of the Confederates and General Sterling Price’s Missouri State Guard, both under the command of General Ben McCullough. 

Spring Dale Farm, a Missouri Century Farm established in 1889 by the McElhaney family, is at 4655 South State Highway ZZ, just before the turn-off to the Battlefield.

Spring Dale Farm

The Western Union Army Flank (circa 1865) is at 5917 South State Highway ZZ which is further south (there is no sign at this location) and it encompasses part of the Union Army line of defense and part of the last phase of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. 

Reverse your route from the Battlefield  to Highway ZZ then right (north) on Highway ZZ to FR 178.  Turn left (west) on FR 178.  Harrington Cemetery is on the north side and the James Johnson Missouri Century Farm (1869) is on the south side of  FR 178 which becomes Hines Street and continues on to Republic.  After the traffic light on Hines and Highway 160 continue west on Hines Street and go past the high school and Evergreen Cemetery to Pine Street.  

Turn left (south) onto Pine Street to 400 North Pine and the Teague-Anderson House,  built in 1885 by Elijah Teague Anderson, a significant example of Victorian architecture style.  Elijah Teague Anderson and his son, William P., were merchants and active in many civic projects in Republic, including the donation of land and money to start Republic’s first high school.  

Teague-Anderson House

From Pine Street, turn right (west) and go two blocks (cross Main Street) to Walnut Street.  Turn left on Walnut Street.  Hood United Methodist Church, on the National Historic Sites Register, is at 139 North Walnut Street.  It is believed to be the oldest church and the oldest building in Republic (town platted in 1879).   

Hood United Methodist Church

Continue south on Walnut Street to its end and turn left (east) one block to Main Street.  Turn left (north) onto Main Street.  The Republic Historic Society and Museum is located at 146 North Main Street and is open from 10:00am-2:00pm on Saturdays.  Continue north to Missouri State Highway 174.  Turn left (west) onto Highway 174.  [Blades School was located south of Highway 174 on the east side of FR 59.]  Continue west to FR 51.  Turn left (south) onto FR 51 and drive about one-half mile to Blades Chapel which was established in 1844 (at which time it was known as Old Bethel Church and Cemetery).  The name was changed to Blades Chapel after the Civil War.  The original building is on the east.  The addition, in 2003, was to make the building accessible for persons with disability.

(Click here to see the History of Blades Chapel)

 Return to Missouri Highway 174.   Turn right (east) onto Highway 174 and drive a short distance to FR 53.  Turn left (north) onto FR 53.  At the intersection with FR 176, turn left onto FR 176 to get to Hopewell Church established in 1867, located at 4899 West FR 176. 

(Click here to see the History of Hopewell Church)

 Return to FR 53 and turn left (north) a short distance to FR 174.  Turn right (east) on FR 174.  Formerly known as the Britain Graveyard, Wade Cemetery (est. 1854) and Wade Chapel are on the north side of the road at 1500 West FR 174. Many of the early pioneer settlers of Pond Creek Township are buried in this cemetery—the families of Batson, Blades, Britttain, Mooneyham and Rainey, to name a few.

(click here to see the History of Wade Chapel)

Continue east on FR 174 to its intersection with FR 71.  Turn left (north) onto FR 71 to its T intersection with FR 168.  [Note: Mt. Aetna School was 3-1/2 miles east on FR 168 and 1/2 mile east of Highway N.] Turn left (west) on FR 168 and you will go past several large historic farms.  Continue west when Highway PP joins FR 168 and then continue west on FR 168 to FR 31.  Turn right (north) on FR 31.  St. Elmo's school, established by the Garoutte family, and presently used as a community building, is on the right.  Continue north on FR 31 to Highway TT. Turn right (east) on Highway TT. Pleasant View Baptist Church is on the left and also Garoutte Cemetery. The Garoutte families were early pioneer settlers of Greene County.  Follow Highway TT, crossing over Highway PP, and continuing east to Highway N. Highway TT was the original Springfield to Mt. Vernon road.

Turn left (north) onto Highway N.   The large stone Civil War era house on the corner of Highways N and TT was built by E. J. Short and has continued as a landmark through the years.  Highway TT was the original road from Springfield to Mount Vernon.  Continue north on Highway N.  Cross Interstate I-44 where Highway N becomes Highway T. 

[Note:  Jones School was once on the right at the intersection with FR 144.] [The Coggins (1850) and Ricketts (1892) Missouri Century Farms are on the south side of FR 144 west of this intersection, however the Coggins barn has been taken down.]  Continue north on Highway T to US Highway 266 (Historic Route 66.)

Turn left (west) onto Highway US 266.  You will go past Clearwater Angus Farm, The Pipkin Missouri Century Farm (1867).  Invertay at Yeakley, the 500-acre estate of Scottish immigrant William Crighton, was on the east part of this Century Farm.  At the intersection of US 266 and FR 65, Yeakley Chapel  (circa 1854) and Cemetery are on the south side of the Highway, one of the last remaining structures of the non-extant (no longer existing) hamlet of Yeakley.  The Yeakley post office building sits on the north side of US 266 about half way between Clearwater Farm and Yeakley Chapel, having been moved north on up the hill from its original highway location.] The area was named after pioneer settler John Yeakley who came to Greene County in 1839.  The farms on the north side of the highway are Squibb farms.

Yeakley Chapel

Continue west on US 266 to FR 45.  The former hamlet of Plano was located at this intersection.  The rock residence was Ray Hilton’s Grocery Store and Tydol Gas Station.  The large two-story block building remaining was originally a thriving trading post (general store) once operated by Alf Johnson and included a casket factory, mortuary and post office.  The hand-cut blue limestone walls were 2-1/2 feet thick.  Later, this was a saloon with dance hall on the upper floor, also used for church services and revivals.

Turn right (north) onto FR 45 to its “Y” intersection with FR 128 and turn right (east) onto FR 128. [Note: If the bridges on FR 45 and 128 are still under construction, turn around and go back east on Highway US266 to FR 59.  Turn left and follow FR 59 to the T-intersection with FR 132.  Turn left (west) on FR 132 and go past the original Squibb house and barn and follow the road as it turns north to FR 128.  Turn left (west) on FR 128 to Prospect Cemetery and turn around at the cemetery to go back east on FR 128.]

If the bridges are in, you will go across “Kat’s Bridge” the favorite place of and that was named for 18 year-old Kathleen “Kat” Gilmartin, killed in a rollover pickup truck accident.  Prospect Baptist Church & Cemetery (the church building has burned) is located on the south side of FR 128 on the site of one of the early pioneer churches organized in 1840.  According to local tradition, a Union Army encampment called Camp Prospect was located at this site in 1861.  Prospect Spring, which is not at this location, is a registered site and is a significant rare and unique prehistoric site in western Greene County; however, the location is not available for public knowledge. 

Prospect Baptist Church & Cemetery

Continue driving east on FR 128 past its intersection with FR 51.  It will turn north and become FR 59.   [Note:  At this point, and since you left Yeakley Chapel on Highway US 266, you have been traveling around and through almost 3,000 acres which belonged to the Peterson and Squibb families.]

Turn right (east) onto FR 124.  Continue east on FR 124 to its intersection, a 4-way stop, with FR 63.  [Squibb Cemetery is 1/8 mile south on Farm Road 63.  Squibb School sits in the southeast corner of this intersection and is now a private home. Squibb Barn is located across from Yeakley Chapel. The 40 acres on the northwest corner of this intersection was the Cotter Missouri Century Farm established in 1867 which has been sold and divided.] 

Turn left (north) at this intersection onto FR 63 (go across FR 116), which soon turns to the right.  When you come to a sharp left curve (20 mph!), take a moment to look at the red barn just in front of you.  This was the Bois D’Arc Hotel, moved to this location by a steam engine.  The white barn at this same location, known as the White House Barn, was also moved from the middle of a nearby field.  Follow FR 63 on left and then again to the right and you will be at the intersection of Highway T.  The fourth school building for Bois D’Arc Elementary School, District #55, is at this intersection.

Bois D’Arc Elementary School 

Turn left (north) onto Highway T and you will see St. Luke’s Methodist Church, established in 1886, at 1463 West State Highway T.  The present church building is an example of rock masonry, constructed by the congregation of native Missouri field stone with Phenix Quarry marble accents, and was dedicated in 1938. There are over 60 clouded-glass memorial windows in this church.

St. Luke’s Methodist Church

(click here to see St. Luke's Methodist Church interior)

Bois D'Arc was originally at the head of Clear Creek (Wm. W. Brower was postmaster in 1860) but was moved to  the present site when the railroad was built.  By 1887 it had 21 businesses including 4 general stores, 2 groceries, 2 physicians, 2 druggists, 2 blacksmiths, post office, lumber and wagon dealer, harness shop, stock shipper, wheat merchant, barber, millinery and dressmaker, undertaker, hotel and church.

Continue through Bois D’Arc on Highway T which turns left (west) before the railroad tracks.  The red brick 30 foot x 30 foot x 30 foot Italianate style Frame-Bouling House (circa 1876) is on the right at 11515 West State Highway T.  Bricks for this house were made on site, and it is an excellent example of a popular house built after the Civil War by wealthy farmers.  The farm of Samuel Parker Frame who built the house was originally 500 acres.   

Frame-Bouling House

Continue west on Highway T toward the city of Ash Grove.  Highway T, west of Bois D’Arc, was formerly known as Kings Point Road.   You will pass by a house on the north side at 12295 West State Highway T.  The foundation of Fairview School #2 is under the west end of this house.  The Donald Nicholson Missouri Century Farm, dating from 1842, is on the right at 13455 West State Highway T.  Highway T then becomes Highway F.  Continue west on Highway F which will curve north and, at the mid-point of the curve, turn left (west) onto FR 17.  Follow it (and the Sac River) as it turns south.  You will go through the Larry Nicholson Century Farm (1876).  FR 17 continues south to FR 116.  Turn left (east) onto FR 116 to Highway F. 

Turn right (south) onto Highway F and continue to FR 120, the first road going left.  Turn left onto FR 120 and go east on FR 120 to its intersection with FR 35. Whinrey Mill, originally built in 1860 as Likins Mill and then moved to this location, was the last standing water mill in Greene County, once situated at this intersection in the northeast part by the river.  The mill, which functioned to grind feed and various flours in addition to some lumber until the 1930s, is no longer standing but the foundation stones can be seen.  The millrace and remains of two dams and a bunkhouse still exist nearby.  There were three mills within two miles on this fast-running portion of the Sac River.