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Flat River lies about midway between Farmington, County Seat of St. Francois County, and Bonne Terre, in the very heart of what is probably one of the world's largest lead deposits.

As far back as 1720 lead mining was one of the principle industries of this region. In about 1800 word was spread throughout the East about the "diggins" (for at that time that is what they were) and the "lead rush" began. Nearly every eastern state contributed its quoto of men and women attracted by the possibility of riches in the new country. The Austins come from Old Virginia to Potosi, Mo.--the Murphys from sunny Tennessee to a point near what is now Farmington, in 1798--Allys and the Bakers came to Bonne Terre in 1797.

In that territory which is now the city of Flat River, Batchu and Peter Bloom obtained Grant No. 3272 from the Spanish Government, which cornered on the present athletic field and extended east and south to the Federal Works. Camille Delassus got Grant No. 3092, which we now know as the Taylor Tract, owned and formerly operated by the National Lead Co.

Flat River's first actual settlers arrived from Washington County and nearby sections in 1821. The first was Gamon Eastes, who purchased from the United States government the NE quarter of Sec. 8 T 36 N Range 5 E. The southeast corner of this tract is near what is now the Green Castle Service Station at the junction of Highways 61 and 32, stretching west to Goff's Store, north to near Highway 61 across the Mo.-Ill. Railroad.

On the same date--May 8, 1821--Wm. Perry obtained a government patent for the north quarter of Section 8. That tract of land extended from Goff's Store west to near the foot of Federal Hill and north to Bennett's Store, to the part of town now known as East Flat River.

In 1835 Sands Stewart procured a government grant for fifty-seven acres, 300 yards south of the old Klondike. The southeast corner of this tract was near the house of Tom W. Dempsey (Dr. Farrar), the northwest corner was near the building of The Lead Belt News and the northeast corner of the tract is near the Standard Oil tanks.

In 1853 Michael Coffman procured 57 acres and at the same time Phillip Coffan located on the tract north from the Domestic Science Building to the depot and east to the building of The Lead Belt News. In 1849 Walton obtained a patent to 40 acres west of the Miners Lumber Co. and another 80[?] [acres? north? _______?] line from the depot to the Standard Oil tanks.

John C. Shannon came to the Flat River section in 1853 with a patent to that land lying south of Gamon Estes and Will Perry and extending south to the Batchu grant. It is now known as "Federal Park, Federal Mill and chat dumps." John C. Shannon was the father of Louis Shannon, now with "73 years of actual residence in Flat River" and the grandfather of Cole Shannon, who runs the American Shoe Shop in Flat River.

The early settlers were induced to locate in this section largely because of the "lead diggins," but there was also plenty of wild game in the forest and an abundance of good farming land. Houses, pretentious for the times, were constructed, one of the most notable ones being on the hill near National Shaft No. 6, and another one near the site of the present depot. One house was erected near the southwest end of the Federal chat dumps, one on the corner of what is now the property of Mrs. C. D. Richardson and still another just east of Goff's Store.

In about 1863, however, both capital and inventive genius were attracted to this territory and since that time lead mining has been the principle and most important industry of this part of the county. And most of the lead mining centers in Flat River.

In the early days the operation of the mines was very crude and only a small per cent of the metal was extracted from the ore. Some of the mines were granted to individuals who permitted anyone to work on them who cared to, allowing him to take one-tenth of the ore as compensation. Other mines were considered public property and could be worked by whoever cared to. There was no system and little regulation.

In 1804, Moses Austin, in writing of the lead mines, stated that it was customary for the poorer people, after harvest, to work the mines. Rich people sent their slaves.

Resulting from the development of these mines there grew a settlement known as Flat River. With improved working conditions, more extensive operations and the construction of smelters, the number of mine employees increased and the little settlement grew. Nothing was done about incorporating as a municipality until March 12, 1917, when a meeting was called at which there was an attendance of about sixty business men and it was then decided to take the necessary steps to incorporate. On that date Commissioners to serve until the first municipal election in April were selected. Henry Rinke was chosen to head the Commission as Mayor and B. A. Eaton and D. H. Cameron were selected as Commissioners. On June 30 a petition containing 497 names was presented to the County Court asking for the incorporation. However, this petition was opposed by several citizens as well as the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Works and the matter was temporarily dropped.

Then followed the war, race riots and all of the feverish excitement of the times, and the matter of the incorporation was allowed to drift. Flat River, growing by leaps and bounds, remained a village, "the largest unincorporated town in the United States." Finally, in April, 1934, the municipal incorporation was completed with O. Lee Munger as the first Mayor, C. G. Carrow and Byron Ball as Commissioners. These gentlemen served until April, 1935, when they were succeeded by W. C. Huff as Mayor, H. H. Moore and Dr. J. A. Meehan, Commissioners.

In March, 1936, a new city administration was elected without opposition and resulted in electing of W. A. McGraw as Mayor, John J. Bennett and W. E. Justice, Commissioners. This administration was re-elected without opposition in 1937 and is now in office. Associated with them are E. E. Graves as City Clerk, Clem Black as Chief of Police and Ted Williams as Fire Chief.

The Flat River Fire Department consists of a paid Chief, Ted Williams, and a volunteer crew of seven men. The fire fighting equipment is said to be the best of any city between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau and consists of a 1937 model GMC truck with a pumping capacity of 500 gallons per minute, together with 900 feet of fire hose. It was also found necessary, because of the many hills in town, to purchase a booster tank. Such a tank was purchased with 150 gallons of water capacity and 150 feet of hose. The efficiency of this equipment was immediately recognized by the insurance underwriters and a general reduction of fire insurance rates amounting to from eight to ten per cent has been recently put into effect.

From the little mining village of a few years ago, Flat River has grown to a city of 5,000 population. The assessed valuation of homes and business building is more than a million dollars. Beautiful residences and public buildings have been erected. The annual income from personal, real estate and automobile taxes is more than $9,000 per year. Splendid schools and churches, beautiful homes--a fine climate--make this an ideal home spot. The development of the lead belt continues and Flat River, too, will grow with it.

Perhaps there is no other town in the United States where regardless of the will or wish of its citizens, prohibition will always be present. No saloon can ever exist in the corporate limits of the city. Nor can there ever be a slaughter house or livery stable. Dynamite or giant powder may not be stored within the city and gasoline can not be stored in an amount greater than five gallons unless in a submerged tank.

The property which is now the resident and business section of Flat River originally belonged to the St. Joseph Lead Company, and was by that company sold to individual owners for residences or business houses. Each original deed from the lead company as grantor contains this provision:

"The grantee, his heirs and assigns, are forever prohibited from using said premises or any part thereof, or any building thereupon, for a dram shop or place of any kind for the manufacture or storage or sale of any intoxicating liquor--or for any livery stable--or slaughter house. Nor shall said premises be used for the storage of dynamite, giant powder or other high explosives--or for the storage of gasoline in quantities of more than five gallons unless such gasoline is stored in a submerged tank."

And, as a point of information, if a property owner violates the provision of his deed in any regard, the title to his property automatically reverts to the lead company.

And so Flat River will forever be dry, the rest of the world to the contrary notwithstanding.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. June 10, 1938.

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