Gainesville in Ozark County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Ozark County

Photographed by Michael E Sanchez, Jr., October 7, 2015

1. Ozark County Marker

Obverse

Inscription.

Ozark County. . County of magnificent scenery, in which extend both Bull Shoals and Norfolk lakes, Ozark was organized, 1841. Briefly called Decatur, 1843-45, it is the only county in the United States named for the nation’s oldest mountainous region. The name comes from the French abbreviation Aux Arcs for Aux Arkansas, referring to Arkansas Indians. Until 1857, Ozark included a part of Howell and most of Douglas County., Gainesville, where court was first held in 1860, succeeded old Rockbridge as the county seat when the county was reduced in size. Probably named for Gainesville, Ga., the town, founded on the eve of the Civil War, did not develop until the 1870’s. In the war guerrilla bands raided the countryside., Lake Norfolk, impounded 1943, by a dam on the North Fork of the White River in Ark., is bridged in the county at Tecumseh by a structure built in 1925 when North Fork flowed there. Bull Shoals Lake, formed in 1951 by White River dam in Ark., is named for Bull Mtn., and river shoals. Theodosia bridge was built, 1952, over the lake in the county where once ran Little North Fork., A resort, livestock, and timber producing county, Ozark is in the 1808 Osage Indian land cession. Other tribes roamed the area into period of settlement by Southern pioneers in the 1830’s. Bypassed in railroad building boom following the Civil War, the county grew slowly. The virgin pine forest was lumbered off by early 1900’s, and iron and zinc have been mined intermittently., Among the many communities founded by the early 1900’s are Bakersfield, Dora, Ocie, Romance, Nottinghill, Zanoni, Noble, Brixey, Hammond, Dugginsville, Elijah, Foil, Souder, Longrun, Howards Ridge, Wasola, Almartha, Hardenville, Sycamore, Thornfield, Wilhoit, Udall, Trail, Tecumseh, Pontiac, Isabella, and Theodosia (Lutie). Ozark County, by 1960, had more post offices, with 29, than any other county in Missouri., In Ozark County are Aid-Hodgson and Dawt mills in scenic Bryant Creek valley; Zanoni Mill on Pine Creek; Rockbridge Mill on Spring Creek; and Caney Mtn. Wildlife Refuge. Part of the county lies in Mark Twain Natl. Forest founded in 1930’s. Many Prehistoric mounds remain in the county.

County of magnificent scenery, in which extend both Bull Shoals and Norfolk lakes, Ozark was organized, 1841. Briefly called Decatur, 1843-45, it is the only county in the United States named for the nation’s oldest mountainous region. The name comes from the French abbreviation Aux Arcs for Aux Arkansas, referring to Arkansas Indians. Until 1857, Ozark included a part of Howell and most of Douglas County.

Gainesville, where court was first held in 1860, succeeded old Rockbridge as the county seat when the county was reduced in size. Probably named for Gainesville, Ga., the town, founded on the eve of the Civil War, did not develop until the 1870’s. In the war guerrilla bands raided the countryside.

Lake Norfolk, impounded 1943, by a dam on the North Fork of the White River in Ark., is bridged in the county at Tecumseh by a structure built in 1925 when North Fork flowed there. Bull Shoals Lake, formed in 1951 by White River dam in Ark., is named for Bull Mtn., and river shoals. Theodosia bridge was built, 1952, over the lake in the county where once ran Little North Fork.

A resort, livestock, and timber producing county, Ozark is in the 1808 Osage Indian land cession. Other tribes roamed the area into period of settlement by Southern pioneers in the 1830’s. Bypassed in railroad building boom following

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the Civil War, the county grew slowly. The virgin pine forest was lumbered off by early 1900’s, and iron and zinc have been mined intermittently.

Among the many communities founded by the early 1900’s are Bakersfield, Dora, Ocie, Romance, Nottinghill, Zanoni, Noble, Brixey, Hammond, Dugginsville, Elijah, Foil, Souder, Longrun, Howards Ridge, Wasola, Almartha, Hardenville, Sycamore, Thornfield, Wilhoit, Udall, Trail, Tecumseh, Pontiac, Isabella, and Theodosia (Lutie). Ozark County, by 1960, had more post offices, with 29, than any other county in Missouri.

In Ozark County are Aid-Hodgson and Dawt mills in scenic Bryant Creek valley; Zanoni Mill on Pine Creek; Rockbridge Mill on Spring Creek; and Caney Mtn. Wildlife Refuge. Part of the county lies in Mark Twain Natl. Forest founded in 1930’s. Many Prehistoric mounds remain in the county.

Erected 1961 by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, The State Historical Society of series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 36° 36.201′ N, 92° 25.654′

Photographed by Michael E Sanchez, Jr., October 7, 2015

2. Ozark County Marker

Reverse

W. Marker is in Gainesville, Missouri, in Ozark County. It is at the intersection of 3rd Street and Main Street (Missouri Highway U), on the left when traveling west on 3rd Street. 30'north of U Highway and 47'east of Main Street 1 Court Square does not show up on Google Earth on the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27 3rd Street, Gainesville MO 65655, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: 416th Bomb Group (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line).

Ozark County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael E Sanchez, Jr., October 7, 2015

3. Ozark County Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2019, by Michael E Sanchez, Jr. of Kansas City, Missouri. This page has been viewed 579 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2019, by Michael E Sanchez, Jr. of Kansas City, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.