Lamine, Missouri facts for kids
Lamine is a small, unincorporated community located in Lamine Township, within Cooper County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It's a quiet place with a rich history, named after the nearby Lamine River.
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How Lamine Got Started
Lamine was officially created in 1888. The land for the community was set aside by several families, including John A. Fray, Martha E. Fray, Columbus Higgerson, and Mary F. Higgerson. This happened on July 24, 1888.
The Story Behind the Name
The community of Lamine gets its name from the nearby Lamine River. The river itself was named "Rivière a la Mine" in 1723 by a French explorer named Philippe de La Renaudière. He was sent in 1720 by Philippe de Renault, who was in charge of mines for the French colonies in America. His mission was to find gold and silver west of the Mississippi River. While he didn't find gold or silver, he did discover lead in the area. "La Mine" means "The Mine" in French.
Lamine is the only community of its kind in the larger Lamine Township.
Early Community Life and Businesses
A post office was first opened in Lamine in 1838. It was originally called "La Mine." The name was later changed to "Lamine" in 1924, and it continued to operate until then.
Around 1843, a Church of Christ was formed in Lamine. After some time, it was re-established on August 7, 1865. Many people joined this church. At that time, both white and Black members were part of the church. The Black members later formed their own separate church.
In 1869, a "business house" was opened in Lamine by Sam Walton. This Sam Walton was the grandfather of the famous Sam Walton (1918-1992), who later founded the huge retail company Wal-Mart.
In 1871, two brothers-in-law, John T. Redd and Thomas B. Gibson, opened a general store in Lamine. This store was once robbed in 1881, with about $700 stolen from its safe.
The very last store to operate in Lamine was Turley's Store. It was owned and run by Bill and Gerrie Turley from 1958 until it closed in 1984. Bill Turley was a descendant of Stephen Turley, who was one of the first white settlers in Lamine township.
Ancient History in Lamine
The area around Lamine also has a very old history. The Mellor Village and Mounds Archeological District is located where the Lamine and Missouri rivers meet. This site is known to be one of the ancient Hopewell Indian settlements. It was recognized as an important historical place and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
