Historical Background
Hickory County Historic Monument . . .
“Here in the Ozark Highland of Missouri, Hickory County was organized in 1845 and named for U.S.
President Andrew Jackson, known as "Old Hickory". Lying in the Osage land cession of 1808, the county
areas was early known to French trappers. From 1819 to 1832, a Kickapoo Indian reservation was west of
Pomme de Terre (French Potato) River in the county. Settlers from Tennessee and Kentucky came in the late
1820's.
Hermitage, the centrally located county seat on the Pomme de Terre, was laid out in 1846-47 and
named for Andrew Jackson's home in Tennessee. South of town, 3 miles, in a beautiful scenic area, construc-
the county there was a relay and meal station at Quincy and a relay station near Elkton. During the Civil War,
the county suffered troop movement, skirmishes, and guerrilla raids. The only railroad in the county the K.C.
Osceola & Son (Frisco) was built through Weaubleau in 1898. Encompassing 410 square miles of rough hilly
timber land and high, rolling prairies. Hickory County is a poultry, livestock, and grain producer. Lead and
zinc are found in the county and zinc was mined in the 1890's near Pittsburg and Elkton.
of the county seat, Hermitage. Cross Timbers, laid out in 1871; Preston, laid out in 1857; Pittsburg, settled in 1840's; Avery settled in 1838;
At Bone Spring, near Avery on Pomme de Terre River, numerous mastodon bones were found in the late 1830's and early 1840's.
One skeleton put together by St. Louisan Albert Kock was sold, 1844, to the British Museum. An Indian quarry and mounds and campsites
have been found in the county.”
Monument Sign Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1960
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