County of town: Lincoln County
Location of town: South Central part of county; crossroads of MO-C & US-61 & MO-MM
Founded: 1821
Elevation: 460 feet
Sign Text:
City Limits
Moscow Mills
POP. 2,609
"A town in the northeast part of Clark Township, on the west bank of the Cuivre River, four miles southeast of Troy. It was platted on March 17, 1821, by John Geiger, Morgan Wright, James Duncan, and Shapley Ross, the original proprietors. Jacob Voepel's addition to the town was surveyed and platted in June, 1882, by J.F. Wilson. It was known as Moscow until 1880 when the post office was established and the name was changed to Moscow Mills because there was already a post office in the state of that name. Moscow is a stock name for American towns, being used at least twenty times in as many states. The other Missouri Moscow is in Clay County, not far from Kansas City. All, of course, go back ultimately to the great city of Russia. The name of Moscow Mills was given for the large mill there. The county history calls the town Moscow on the Cuivre, a descriptive name for its location." ~ New County Atlas, 1878, Campbell, pages 5, 7; History of Lincoln County, 1888, Goodpseed, pages 226, 295, 417, 419, 456
"Moscow (Moscow on the Cuivre) is situated on the western bank of the Cuivre River, and on the St. Louis & Hannibal (Short Line) Railroad, four miles southeast of Troy. It was laid out March 17, 1821, by Morgan Wright, James Duncan and Shipley Ross, the original proprietors... It was laid out as a competing point with Monroe, Troy, Alexandria and other places, for location of the county seat.
"Henry Martin was the first merchant of Moscow, having opened a stock of general merchandise soon after the town was laid out... William Hammer was the next settler in the town, and he also engaged in merchandising. He was the first postmaster the town ever had, having been appointed as a Republican. He remained in business until 1884 when he retired...
"The following is a list of the businesses of Moscow in 1885: General stores, C. & L. Brandes and J. H. Anderson; grocery, A.M. Bouldin; saloon, J.C. Cunningham; hotel, Frank Hill; blacksmith, Louis Schroeder; Wing & Son, dealers in grain; Fritz Durand, blacksmith and wheelwright." ~ History of Lincoln County, 1888, Goodspeed, page 418
"It had two churches, a public school, a canning factory, flouring mill, a hotel and about a dozen stores and shops. Population (1899) estimated, 350." Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri,