County of village: Lincoln County
Location of village: MO-A & MO-DD
Location of post office: 199 Main St. (MO-DD), Truxton
Elevation: 735'
Population: 94 (2013)
The Person:
Thomas Truxtun (or Truxton) (February 17, 1755 – May 5, 1822) was an American naval officer after the Revolutionary War, when he served as a privateer, who rose to the rank of commodore in the late eighteenth century and later served in the Quasi-War with France. He was one of the first six commanders appointed to the new US Navy by President Washington. During his naval career he commanded a number of famous U.S. naval ships, including USS Constellation and USS President. Later in civilian life he became involved with politics and was also elected as a sheriff.
Truxtun ran an unsuccessful campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 1810. In 1816 he was elected sheriff of Philadelphia County, serving until 1819. He also published several books, well known at the time, covering navigation, and naval tactics.
Truxtun died in Philadelphia on 5 May 1822 and is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground. He was the grandfather of American historian Mary Henderson Eastman. as well as naval officer Edward Fitzgerald "Ned" Beale, who became a national figure in the 19th century as an explorer, frontiersman, Indian affairs superintendent, California rancher, and close friend of Kit Carson and President Ulysses S. Grant." ~ Wikipedia
The Place:
"A town in the southwest part of Prairie Township. Robert B. Allen, the founder, was born in Virginia, October 6, 1808 settled in Lincoln County in 1840, and built the first house in the village in 1843. Although the place was originally laid off in 1845, this plat was not recorded. In June, 1852, Mr. Allen secured the assistance of James, Reid, the county surveyor, and again laid out and platted an addition to the place. He lived there to his death in 1875. The village was named in honor of Captain Thomas Truxton (1755-1822), distinguished as a commander of privateers in the Revolutionary War. The post office was established by 1876." ~ County Atlas, 1878, page 14; Troy Free Press, Feb. 19, 1886, page 1
"Truxton is situated in the southwest corner of Lincoln County, one mile from the Montgomery County line and three-fourths of a mile from the Warren County line, being on Section 22, Township 49 N, Range 3 W...
Robert B. Allen, the founder of Truxton, was born in Virginia October 6, 1808. He settled in Lincoln County in 1840, and three years later he built the first house in Truxton. In June, 1852, he procured the services of James Reid, the county surveyor, and with his assistance laid out and platted the town of Truxton...
"The village was named in honor of Capt. Truxton, a noted naval officer in the Revolutionary War...
"In 1888 Truxton had a livery and hack line to Jonesburg, Montgomery County, run by H.L. Owens...A carpenter shop, wagon maker and blacksmith. There were millinery and dressmaking establishments, boots and shoe store, a grist and saw mill. Crockett & Ritter ran a hack and carried the mail to and from Jonesburg." ~ History of Lincoln County, 1888, Goodspeed, pages 451, 452.
"It had two churches, Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran, a high school, steam saw mill and grist mill, a newspaper, the "Republican", a hotel, and about fifteen stores, shops, etc. Population, 1899 (estimated) 250." ~ Encyclopedia of the History of Mo., 1901, Conard, Vol. VI, page 224