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

Glasgow

Photographed by Delbert Botes, February 23, 2025

1. Glasgow Marker, Side One

Inscription.

Glasgow. . , Here along the scenic river bluffs where the Missouri forms a natural port, Glasgow was laid out, 1836. Named for pioneer James Glasgow, it was the first successful town in this general area. Chariton, Monticello, and Thorntonsburg, earlier towns which failed, did not have Glasgow's fine location., Glasgow grew as a major shipping point. By 1860, it was the hub of central Missouri's flourishing tobacco trade. The Glasgow to Huntsville plank road, finished 1854, added to the general prosperity. In the Civil War, Confederates under Gen. J. B. Clark, Gen. J. O. Shelby, and Col. S. D. Jackman captured the town held by Federals under Col. Chester Harding, Oct. 15, 1864. The Methodist Church, built in 1849, was used as a hospital., In the postwar period, Glasgow benefited with the coming of the Mo. and Miss. R. R. (Wabash) and Chicago and Alton (G. M. and O.) in the 1870's. The first all-steel bridge in the world was built over the Missouri here by the Chicago and Alton for the railroad, 1879. Gen. Wm. Sooy Smith was construction engineer. This bridge was replaced in 1900. The highway bridge dates from 1925., Shipping point and trading town, Glasgow lies in the famed Boon's Lick Region on the west central boundary of Howard County. In the early 1800's, pioneers from Tenn., Va., and Ky. made first permanent settlements., Early educational center, Glasgow's first chartered school was a female academy in 1849. In 1866-67 the non-sectarian Pritchett Institute (College), named for first principal Carr W. Pritchett, was founded by tobacco merchant, Southern Methodist clergyman J. O. Swinney. The once well known Morrison Observatory was a gift to the school, 1874, by Berenice Morrison-Fuller. Astronomer H. S. Pritchett taught here. School closed, 1922., Lewis College was founded here in 1867 under the Methodist Episcopal Church by the family of tobacco merchant Benjamin W. Lewis including his brother, James W.; son, Benj. W. Jr., and wife Eleanor Turner Lewis. Local artist Cornelia A. Kuemmel taught at the college. The last school year was 1892. Lewis Memorial Public Library was founded under the M. E. Church with a bequest from Benj. W. Lewis in 1866. His family gave the building, now oldest library building in Mo.

Here along the scenic river bluffs where the Missouri forms a natural port, Glasgow was laid out, 1836. Named for pioneer James Glasgow, it was the first successful town in this general area. Chariton, Monticello, and Thorntonsburg, earlier towns which failed, did not have Glasgow's fine location.

Glasgow grew as a major shipping point. By 1860, it was the hub of central Missouri's flourishing tobacco trade. The Glasgow to Huntsville plank road, finished 1854, added to the general prosperity. In the Civil War, Confederates under Gen. J. B. Clark, Gen. J. O. Shelby, and Col. S. D. Jackman captured the town held by Federals under Col. Chester Harding, Oct. 15, 1864. The Methodist Church, built in 1849, was used as a hospital.

In the postwar period, Glasgow benefited with the coming of the Mo. and Miss. R. R. (Wabash) and Chicago and Alton (G. M. & O.) in the 1870's. The first all-steel bridge in the world was built over the Missouri here by the Chicago and Alton for the railroad, 1879. Gen. Wm. Sooy Smith was construction engineer. This bridge was replaced in 1900. The highway bridge dates from 1925.

Shipping point and trading town, Glasgow lies in the famed Boon's Lick Region on the west central boundary of Howard County. In the early 1800's, pioneers from Tenn., Va., and Ky. made first permanent

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settlements.

Early educational center, Glasgow's first chartered school was a female academy in 1849. In 1866-67 the non-sectarian Pritchett Institute (College), named for first principal Carr W. Pritchett, was founded by tobacco merchant, Southern Methodist clergyman J. O. Swinney. The once well known Morrison Observatory was a gift to the school, 1874, by Berenice Morrison-Fuller. Astronomer H. S. Pritchett taught here. School closed, 1922.

Lewis College was founded here in 1867 under the Methodist Episcopal Church by the family of tobacco merchant Benjamin W. Lewis including his brother, James W.; son, Benj. W. Jr., and wife Eleanor Turner Lewis. Local artist Cornelia A. Kuemmel taught at the college. The last school year was 1892. Lewis Memorial Public Library was founded under the M. E. Church with a bequest from Benj. W. Lewis in 1866. His family gave the building, now oldest library building in Mo.

Erected 1957 by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • 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 1836.

Location.

Glasgow Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Delbert Botes, February 23, 2025

2. Glasgow Marker, Side Two

39° 13.76′ N, 92° 50.033′ W. Marker is in Glasgow, Missouri, in Howard County. It is at the intersection of Randolph Street (Highway 240) and Bridge Street, on the right when traveling east on Randolph Street. The marker stands in the parking lot of Glasgow School District. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 902 Randolph St, 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: Toll Gate (here, next to this marker); Presbyterian Church (approx. half a mile away); Historic Brick Portion of 4th Street (approx. half a mile away); Baptist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Evangelical United Brethren Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Methodist Church / Glasgow Methodist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lewis Library (approx. 0.6 miles away); Saint Mary's Catholic Church (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glasgow.

Glasgow Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Delbert Botes, February 23, 2025

3. Glasgow Marker

Located in the parking lot of the Glasgow School District

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2025, by Delbert Botes of Columbia, Missouri. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 25, 2025, by Delbert Botes of Columbia, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.