Paris, MO

PARIS, The county seat of Monroe county, Jackson township, situated on the South bank of the Middle Fork of Salt River, 130 miles from St. Louis, and 75 from Jefferson City. A stage line runs to Fulton via Mexico, Shelbina and Allen, the whole length being 50 miles.  The town was first laid out by James C. Fox, James R. Abernathy, and E.W. McBride in the year 1824, the post office being established six years after.  The town contains five churches, viz:  Christian, Presbyterian, Methodist, Missionary Baptist and Calvinist.  The Mason have a Lodge called Paris Lodge No. 88.  Their Hall is a new one making it quite an ornament to the city.  There is also an Odd Fellows' Lodge, viz:  Paris Lodge, No. 202.  A weekly paper is published here by Messrs. J.M. Bean and A.G. Mason, called the Paris Weekly Mercury.  The town also contains a branch bank of the Farmers Bank of Missouri.  A male and female seminary and two high schools are in successful operation, besides several private schools.  The chief productions are corn, wheat, rye, and tobacco.  Minerals, iron and coal.  The river furnishes several very excellent mill sites, and a good mill is very much needed.  Improved lands may be bought for $15 per acre, and unimproved for $10.  Population 1000.   (The Missouri State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1860)