History of the Community of Hallsville
*Consistently being updated*
1600 to 1810 - Native and Pioneer Inhabitants & Explorations
1812 - Boonslick & The Boonslick Road
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the size of the country, extending the western border beyond the Mississippi River and opening approximately 828,000 square miles to U.S. settlement. The following year, Nathan Boone, son of famous pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone and Matthias Van Bibber discovered a salt lick 150 miles into the new American wilderness, in modern day Howard County, Missouri, bestowing it with the Boone family name. Their chance find led to the blazing of a new road that served as a key link to the trans-Mississippi west. (David Sapp)
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1816 - The Crossroads
From 1816-1820, this was the first recorded time that substantial population growth in the area started around the Hallsville area. At this time, there was only a crossroads through the wilderness notched out of the forest. The convergence of the Chariton Road (NW to Sturgeon), Paris Road (N to Paris and S to Columbia), and the Prairie Road (E to the 2 Mile Prairie). Many families made their way to the Rocky Fork Township in this timeframe. The Winn, McBride, Brink, and Roberts families settled to the West of current Hallsville.
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1821 - Statehood
On August 10, 1821, Missouri entered the Union as the twenty-fourth state. Named after the Native American people who originally inhabited the land, Missouri was acquired by the U.S. as part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. At that time, the territory’s occupants were mainly French settlers. After the War of 1812, American settlers poured into the region.
Also in 1821, Rocky Fork Township was laid out and Warren Tucker, a trader, erected a cabin and trading post at the NE corner of the crossroads. He made harness' and caskets. Caskets were $6 Lined, $4 unlined, 25 cents for a gallon of whiskey, Hogs were 14 cents a pound, and Corn was 20 cents a bushel. |
1822 - Red Top Church (Liberty)
October 15, 1822 - Red Top, also known as Liberty was established on 1 acre of land donated by the Roberts family. The name Red Top was used by traveling preachers and other passerby's to describe the look of the church, as the roof and gable were red due to the paint color made from the local red rock. Originally, the structure was a large one room cabin with windows and logs for pews.
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1830 - Thompson's Blacksmith Shop
John Thompson built his blacksmith shop along the road near Tucker's trading post. This gave the settlers in the area a place to have their iron items made and repaired, as well as a place to catch up on the latest local affairs and national news.
1832 - Paris Road
In 1832, the Columbia to Paris Road was constructed. Traveling along already constructed roads along the way, the road made travel "Better", and brought a stage line to carry passengers from Paris into Columbia. Since there were no trains west of the Mississippi this was a large operation. Many stops along the route were used as station stops for the stage.
1840 - Hall's Post Office
In 1840, John Washington Hall also known as Col. Hall was appointed as Postmaster of the post office which was located in his home just to the west of present day Hallsville. Hall also held this office in his home when he lived near the present Firehouse in Hallsville. Mail was delivered and shipped from his home via a rider on horseback along a mail route. This home would have been a gathering place for area residents to learn of news and vote in many elections.
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1840 - First Schools
In 1840, the Common School District #2 was formed in February. They held their first meeting February 6th, 1840. Many schools were in this area. One being the Roberts schoolhouse where Rt. U and Ricketts Rd meet today. Another being Fulkerson Schoolhouse located at the James W Fulkerson farm at Rt. OO and Doris Blvd East of Hallsville.
1846 - Mexican War & Post Office
The Mexican - American War was fought Apr 25, 1846 to Feb 2, 1848 and featured many companies of men from Boone County. See the ( History of Boone County) for more information.
1851 - Hall's Post Office (Re-Assigned)
An Official Post Office was reassigned to be held in the residence of Col. John Washington Hall, who was reappointed by President Millard Fillmore to hold the position of Postmaster. It was briefly housed at Middletown (Middleburg) just West of Hallsville.
1853 - Hallsville Named
Hallsville was named in 1853. An effort was made to get a post office at Petty's Store (SW Corner of 4 Way). There was a post office at Col. Hall's house, about a half mile south of the store. What it was called I never heard. (Hall's Post Office)
There was another post office at Wade's blacksmith shop, about two miles south of Hallsville on the Paris road. I do not know the name of this post office. These offices where supplied with mail by carrier from Columbia, the route running on to Paris, Mo.
Now to get a post office at Hallsville, it was necessary to give a name.
A meeting was called ay a date names, all for the people who were interested in a post office to meet at Petty's Store to select a name.
Quite a number of the farmers met. There was but one name suggested and that was Hallsville, which was selected by unanimous vote.
The town was named for Col. Jno. W. Hall, and I think it was an honor to the town to have been named Hallsville.
Col. Hall was among the oldest settlers in this vicinity. A man of strong personality, a useful man in the community. He wrote all the wills, deeds, contracts and the like of the while community, and was also a public auctioneer, and made all the sales, acted as mediator in many controversies, was justice of the peace for a long time and was finally county judge.
It was my fortune to know Col. Hall intimately. As a boy I thought he was a great man - and he was. He was good natured and a godly man. When at work he was always singing or whistling some popular tune. He was a strictly temperate man, moral and religious, but never united with any church.
This quote was taken from an article written by Mr. Harvey Hulen published in the Centralia Fireside Guard - Sept 24, 1920.
(Petty's at the time was found to be in Howard County, research is needed to verify this name.)
(Wade's blacksmith shop - W. H. Wade)
There was another post office at Wade's blacksmith shop, about two miles south of Hallsville on the Paris road. I do not know the name of this post office. These offices where supplied with mail by carrier from Columbia, the route running on to Paris, Mo.
Now to get a post office at Hallsville, it was necessary to give a name.
A meeting was called ay a date names, all for the people who were interested in a post office to meet at Petty's Store to select a name.
Quite a number of the farmers met. There was but one name suggested and that was Hallsville, which was selected by unanimous vote.
The town was named for Col. Jno. W. Hall, and I think it was an honor to the town to have been named Hallsville.
Col. Hall was among the oldest settlers in this vicinity. A man of strong personality, a useful man in the community. He wrote all the wills, deeds, contracts and the like of the while community, and was also a public auctioneer, and made all the sales, acted as mediator in many controversies, was justice of the peace for a long time and was finally county judge.
It was my fortune to know Col. Hall intimately. As a boy I thought he was a great man - and he was. He was good natured and a godly man. When at work he was always singing or whistling some popular tune. He was a strictly temperate man, moral and religious, but never united with any church.
This quote was taken from an article written by Mr. Harvey Hulen published in the Centralia Fireside Guard - Sept 24, 1920.
(Petty's at the time was found to be in Howard County, research is needed to verify this name.)
(Wade's blacksmith shop - W. H. Wade)
1857 - North Missouri Railroad
1866 - Columbia Branch Railroad
The 21.7-mile railroad that connects Columbia to the main line in Centralia resumed construction in 1866 and was completed on Oct. 23, 1867
1869 - Hallsville Christened
In 1869, John Hall christened the town as "Hallsville" by holding up a hand full of dirt from the street and saying, "I christen thee Hallsville!" and tossing it in the air.