Iron County Centennial - Ironton, MO - Community Commemoration on Waymarking.com

County of memorial: Iron County
Location of memorial: Wayne St. & Main St., courthouse lawn, Ironton
Date memorial erected: 1957
Memorial erected by: Iron County Centennial Association
Organized: Feb. 17, 1857
Named In recognition of its iron mines

Monument Text:

"Iron County has had only one courthouse. Ironton was chosen as the county seat in 1857. David Carson and Hiram N. Tong, businessmen in the area, owned the site of Ironton and had laid out the town. They donated alternate town lots to the county, and money from the sale of these lots provided more than $10,000 of the $14,000 cost of the courthouse.

"Henry H. Wright furnished the plan for the building and was awarded $25. The court granted the building contract to George S. Evans and William F. Mitchell. The cornerstone ceremony took place on July 4, 1858. Construction was completed and the building ready for occupancy in October 1860.

"The red brick building trimmed with white stone originally measured about 50 by 65 feet. There were six rooms on the first floor, the courtroom on the second. Other Missouri courthouses by Wright include: Washington, 1849; Franklin, 1847; St. Francois, 1848."
~ University of Missouri - Extension

"Iron County Missouri - Europeans had been drawn to the early "Upper Louisiana" territory in the 1730s due to the prospect of mining lead. Close by, the area which later became Iron County, was inhabited by Native Americans who used it as their hunting ground. Known as "Lost Cove" by the Delaware Indians, William and Joseph Reed were the first settlers to arrive in 1798. Ephraim Stout built a log house in the valley (as early as 1805-1807) along the creek which still bears his name. It was not until 1836 that the vast iron ore resources of Iron County were discovered. Mining jobs brought many settlers to the region and in 1857 Iron County became a county in Missouri with its county seat in Ironton. It was also in 1857 that the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad was completed all the way to Pilot Knob, foreshadowing a series of events that led to one of the most important battles of the Civil War in Missouri - The Battle of Pilot Knob at Fort Davidson. Today, the hallowed ground of Fort Davidson State Historic Site honors the brave Union and Confederate soldiers who fought and died in battle. These Arcadia Valley Region communities became a popular nineteenth century summer resort for wealthy families from St. Louis. Visit the historic towns and villages of Iron County Missouri where history is preserved and graceful antebellum homes, historic churches and mercantile buildings are a reminder of days gone by. Visit Whistle Junction Visitors Center and Iron County Historical Society Museum while on your Missouri Vacation to our region." ~ Missouri Historic Towns

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