Glasgow in Howard County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

History of Glasgow

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

1. History of Glasgow Marker (east side)

Inscription.

History of Glasgow. . , Glasgow, site of first all steel bridge in world, built by Gen. Wm. S. Smith, Engr. 1879 for C. and A.R.R. Replaced 1900 for heavier traffic. Sketch of original bridge above., Glasgow founded 1836. Successor to Old Chariton 1817, Monticello 1829, Thorntonsburg 1832, each abandoned because of disease or location. Land bought from Talton Turner and Jas. Earickson for $2758. Proprietors: Jos. A. Blackwell, John Bull, Thos. N. Cockerill, Stephen Donohoe, Wm. F. Dunnica, Jas. Earickson, Richard Earickson, Jas. Glasgow, (town bears his name), Jas. Head, C.W.D. Johnson, Wm. J. Moore, John F. Nichols, Benj. G. Pulliam, Wm. D. Swinney, Talton Turner and Thos. White. 1st lots sold Sept. 10, 1836. Inc. Feb. 27, 1845. Early settlers from Ky., Tenn. and Va., Glasgow, by 1860 a major shipping and distributing center. Fortunes made in tobacco, hemp and wheat. Heavy river traffic , wharves from Bear to Gregg’s Creeks. Plank road from Glasgow to Huntsville 1853-64, cost $84,000. Tri-weekly stage to St. Louis 1837, fare $10. Post Office, Sept. 27, 1837; telegraph 1852. , Glasgow 1861-65, much guerrilla activity notably that of Bill Anderson. Battle of Glasgow, Oct. 15, 1864. Union forces held town, detachment of 43rd Mo. Volunteers and parts of other units. Commanded by Col. Chester Harding. Confed. forces across river commanded by Gen. Joe Shelby; those to east and south under Gen. J.B. Clark and Col. S.D. Jackman. Union gun boat, West Wind, sunk at foot of Market St. City Hall with Union munitions and area to south destroyed by fire. Confed. victory. Battle monument 3rd and Howard Sts. Site of Union trenches, near St. Mary’s Catholic Church. , Glasgow, early educational center. Glasgow Female Seminary 1849. Pritchett College 1866-1917, Rev. J.O. Swinney founder. Local artist and donor of City Park, Cornelia Kuemmel, taught here. Lewis College 1867-91; Lewis Library 1866, oldest west of Miss. River, donated by Ben J.W. Lewis and family and Maj. Jas. W. Lewis., Glasgow, site of many old businesses, homes, churches. Methodist Church, oldest, 1844; building 1849. Used as a hospital in Civil War. Henderson Drug store 1841. Oldest one-family drug store west of Miss. R. Operated by 4th generation. Glasgow Savings Bank, 2nd oldest in Mo., 1871. By reorganization from Weston F. Birch and Son Banking House, 1852. Loan for Pony Express from this bank. Paper Glasgow Missourian’ 1867. Oldest existing lodge, Masonic, 1876. , Glasgow, 20th century: Glasgow Sand Co. 1915. Landon Laird Hotel, formerly Adgate, 1923. Glasgow Co-op Ass’n est. 1923. Highway Bridge, first free one over Mo. R., 1925. Monnig Ind., 1956, outgrowth of Rall Bros., 1887, Ed. S. Maupin Lbr., 1943. Hawthorn Co., 1959. Dist. office K.C. Power and Light Co., area office U.S. Engrs. also located here.

Glasgow, site of first all steel bridge in world, built by Gen. Wm. S. Smith, Engr. 1879 for C. & A.R.R. Replaced 1900 for heavier traffic. Sketch of original bridge above.

Glasgow founded 1836. Successor to Old Chariton 1817, Monticello 1829, Thorntonsburg 1832, each abandoned because of disease or location. Land bought from Talton Turner & Jas. Earickson for $2758. Proprietors: Jos. A. Blackwell, John Bull, Thos. N. Cockerill, Stephen Donohoe, Wm. F. Dunnica, Jas. Earickson, Richard Earickson, Jas. Glasgow, (town bears his name), Jas. Head, C.W.D. Johnson, Wm. J. Moore, John F. Nichols, Benj. G. Pulliam, Wm. D. Swinney, Talton Turner & Thos. White. 1st lots sold Sept. 10, 1836. Inc. Feb. 27, 1845. Early settlers from Ky., Tenn. & Va.

Glasgow, by 1860 a major shipping & distributing center. Fortunes made in tobacco, hemp & wheat. Heavy river traffic — wharves from Bear to Gregg’s Creeks. Plank road from Glasgow to Huntsville 1853-64, cost $84,000. Tri-weekly stage to St. Louis 1837, fare $10. Post Office, Sept. 27, 1837; telegraph 1852.

Glasgow 1861-65, much guerrilla activity notably that of Bill Anderson. Battle of Glasgow, Oct. 15, 1864. Union forces held town, detachment of 43rd Mo. Volunteers & parts of other units. Commanded by Col. Chester Harding. Confed. forces across river commanded by Gen. Joe Shelby;

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those to east & south under Gen. J.B. Clark & Col. S.D. Jackman. Union gun boat, West Wind, sunk at foot of Market St. City Hall with Union munitions & area to south destroyed by fire. Confed. victory. Battle monument 3rd & Howard Sts. Site of Union trenches, near St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Glasgow, early educational center. Glasgow Female Seminary 1849. Pritchett College 1866-1917, Rev. J.O. Swinney founder. Local artist & donor of City Park, Cornelia Kuemmel, taught here. Lewis College 1867-91; Lewis Library 1866, oldest west of Miss. River, donated by Ben J.W. Lewis & family & Maj. Jas. W. Lewis.

Glasgow, site of many old businesses, homes, churches. Methodist Church, oldest, 1844; building 1849. Used as a hospital in Civil War. Henderson Drug store 1841. Oldest one-family drug store west of Miss. R. Operated by 4th generation. Glasgow Savings Bank, 2nd oldest in Mo., 1871. By reorganization from Weston F. Birch & Son Banking House, 1852. Loan for Pony Express from this bank. Paper Glasgow Missourian’ 1867. Oldest existing lodge, Masonic, 1876.

Glasgow, 20th century: Glasgow Sand Co. 1915. Landon Laird Hotel, formerly Adgate, 1923. Glasgow Co-op Ass’n est. 1923. Highway Bridge, first free one over Mo. R., 1925. Monnig Ind., 1956, outgrowth of Rall Bros., 1887, Ed. S. Maupin Lbr., 1943. Hawthorn Co., 1959. Dist. office K.C. Power & Light Co., area office

History of Glasgow Marker (<i>west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

2. History of Glasgow Marker (west side)

U.S. Engrs. also located here.

Erected 1965 by Walker Audsley & Elmer Friemonth.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 10, 1836.

Location. 39° 13.58′ N, 92° 50.832′ W. Marker is in Glasgow, Missouri, in Howard County. It is at the intersection of 1st Street (State Highway 5/240) and Market Street, on the left when traveling north on 1st Street. Marker is located beside the sidewalk at the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 523 1st Street, Glasgow MO 65254, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Little Dixie

and in the Missouri River Corridor.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Lewis & Clark Expedition Across Missouri (within shouting distance of this marker); Glasgow War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Worlds First Large All-Steel Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Minnie (within shouting distance of this marker); Saint Mary's Catholic Church (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lewis Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); Evangelical United Brethren Church (approx.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

3. History of Glasgow Marker (east side)

(looking southwest • marker is behind bench • Missouri River in distant right background)

0.2 miles away); First Methodist Church / Glasgow Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glasgow.

Also see . . . Glasgow, Missouri.

The Battle of Glasgow was fought on October 15, 1864, in and near Glasgow as part of Price's Missouri Expedition during the American Civil War. Although the battle resulted in a Confederate victory and the capture of significant war material, it had little long-term benefit as Price was ultimately defeated at Westport a week later, bringing his campaign in Missouri to an end.

(Submitted on February 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,558 times since then and 158 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.