On this page, you will be able to read and see photos of Iberia, Missouri from the past to the present. This is all of information that we have either researched or been given. If you have any information or photographs to add, please feel free to contact us. Please enjoy and be blessed!
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{Above} This photo is from February 8th, 1840. It is from the postal service and shows the first time that Iberia was ever actually called Iberia. Iberia has been known to have a few different town names. These include Oakhurst, Rock Town or Rocktown, Richwoods Township or Big Richwoods and had even been misspelled as "Ibernia" in it's early days in a news paper article.
Miller County Place Names, 1928-1945
Description: A town in southern Richwoods Township. There was a store there about 1838 and a post office as early as 1851 (probably earlier). Iberia is the ancient name for Spain. The tradition that the town was named by Civil War veterans for New Iberia, Louisiana, where they had been stationed, is clearly erroneous. Iberia appears on maps of Missouri, 1844 and 1845 and in Jefferson City newspapers 1842 and 1860. It was originally called Rocktown for the large rocks fringing the town. At one time it was known as Oakhurst. It was also known as Big Richwoods, because the surrounding land is of excellent quality and has a growth of timber larger than in most of the nearby country.
Misspelled Ibernia in HANDBOOK MISSOURI. The name may of course have been borrowed from New Iberia or from Iberia Parish, Louisiana, at an earlier date. It is also found in Ohio. (Schultz, 15, 16, 75, 174; HIST. COLE, etc., 561, 542; Sauer, 38; Colton 1845; Conard VIII, 344; Campbell 1874; Mo. Gaz.; Hanbook Mo., 195; Geol. Mo., 128)
** Source:Weber, Frank. "Place Names Of Six South Central Counties of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1938.
{Above} This is a map of Iberia from 1910. Sketch was done by Peggy Smith Hake.
Richwoods Township or Big Richwoods
Iberia is in the Big Richwoods township. In the years of 1840-1845, there were several settlements
in the township. The names of some of the families who lived in the Iberia area
during this time period of the 1840’s included:
Bilyeu, Blevans, Winnechams, Jones, Davis, Henderson, McLain and Birdsong.
** Source: Miller County Historical Society and Peggy Smith Hake
Iberia (Oakhurst, "Rock Town")
Since there were large bare rocks fringing the town, it led the place to be dubbed "Rock Town." It is located in Twp. 39, R. 12, and the land was entered by Reuben Short, by whom the first log house was built, a structure 17 by 20 feet. W. Pulliam and Wilson Lenox had stores near there as early as 1838 and 1842 respectively. Mr. Lenox secured the post-office named Iberia, and after Dickson & Noyes, in 1859, began on the site of the present town as merchants "Rock Town" assumed the more euphonious name of the post-office. Mark Lessom was a merchant in 1860; Samuel Cork, a blacksmith the same year. Jacob Gardner was a shoemaker in 1861; Frank Lombar was the first druggist in 1866; Dr. Moser came in 1869. Other businesses included general merchants, baking & confections, hotels, stores, barbers, masons, lawyers, physicians and dentists. (--Hist. of Miller Co., pp. 561, 562; Gaz. of Mo., p. 369.)
It is located at Sec. 24, 25, Twp. 39 N, R. 13 W, and Sec. 19, 30, Twp. 39 N, R. 12 W, at the junction of Highways 17 & 42.
** Source:Weber, Frank. "Place Names Of Six South Central Counties of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1938.
Rocktown or Rock Town
Description: See Iberia.
** Source:Weber, Frank. "Place Names Of Six South Central Counties of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1938.
** Source: https://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_miller.html
Adams & Casey Store
(Casey & Gaines Store)
{Above} The Gaines & Casey Store: Located on Main Street in Down Town Iberia.
It was also knowns as the "Adams & Casey" store. The old store was destroyed in the town fire in 1939. George Adams and Clarence Casey, purchased the store from John Casey around 1920.
** Source: Miller County Historical Society and Martha Casey Bunge
It was also knowns as the "Adams & Casey" store. The old store was destroyed in the town fire in 1939. George Adams and Clarence Casey, purchased the store from John Casey around 1920.
** Source: Miller County Historical Society and Martha Casey Bunge
{Above} John Simeon Casey. On Dec. 6, 1897 Mr. Casey and his wife, Martha bought land in Iberia from Thomas Garner, on the northeast corner of St. Louis and Main Streets. Mr. and Mrs. Casey purchased more land near by in order to be able to see and view the land they owned from home. They only owned the first parcel of land for 2 years before they sold it to the "New Bank of Iberia" in September of 1899 and the bank was officially established in October of 1899. Mr. Casey was the Bank of Iberia's first president.
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
The Farnham General Store
{Above} The Farnham's Store (opened in 1892) that was located on Main St. and was behind the old
Iberia Hotel. It was owned by Bill and Gusty Farnham.
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
{Above Left} Farnham General and Mercantile Store - Interior
Arthur Holeyfield and Gustie Farnham
Arthur Holeyfield and Gustie Farnham
{Above Right} Farnham General and Mercantile Store - Exterior
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
Iberia Millinery Store
{Below}
"Turkey Day" Circa 1900
The "New Iberian" Newspaper Article: May 19, 1962
{Below}
Main Street Views
{Prior to the fire of 1939}
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
{Above} Lombar Avenue
{Above} Main Street Looking North West
{Above} Main Street Looking East
Old Iberia Hotel
Circa 1918
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
Old Iberia Hotel
Circa 1918
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
J. E. Eads
{Above} Eads Motor Garage and Ford Dealership 1915
Pictured from left-right: Harry Lovell, Emery Robertson, Everett Wilson, Luther Dickerson, Everett Malmberg, unknown, J.A. Eads. Ford Eads is on the tractor and an Eads girl is in the truck. In the doorway: Gerald Gardner and Clarence Driver. Seated on bench: Ray Casey and Clint Condra.
** Source: Miller County Historical Society
{Above} Jim Eads in Model A Car
Iberia Academy
{Above} Junior College Students November 1928
{Above} The campus, pre 1917
{Above} Iberia Academy - Home of the Smiths
{Above} Iberia Academy Laundry and Weaving
{Above} The new administration building…under construction
{Above} Students of 1923
My maternal grandmother was from Iberia Mo. ( Molly Aust 1882--1965 ) married John Whittle, from Morgan county
ReplyDeleteLovely info. on Iberia, but you have a couple of errors. Rocktown was not named for the "rocks" around town. The most common story states that a bunch of white bullies tried to run a young black man out of town not long after the Civil War by throwing rocks at him. The young black man retaliated with his own rocks; he won. Nor was there ever a post office called Rocktown anywhere in Miller County. Lennox trading post was the first general store in the Iberia area, and it was established around 1859. No stores of any kind were in Iberia prior to this. For more Iberia history, feel free to check out this website: https://whos-right5.wixsite.com/windowtothepast
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