Neely's Landing, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neely’s Landing, Missouri
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Location of Cape Girardeau, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Cape Girardeau |
| Township | Shawnee Township |
| Elevation | 354 ft (108 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
63755
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| Area code(s) | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-67124 |
Neely's Landing is a small, unincorporated community. It is located in northern Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. This community is about seventeen miles north of the city of Cape Girardeau. It is part of the larger Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
What's in a Name? The Story of Neely's Landing
Neely's Landing got its name from a man named Jacob Neely. He owned a store and ran a ferry service there in 1808. The "landing" part of the name comes from its use as a stop for Mississippi River steam boats. These boats carried people and goods along the Mississippi River. River boat pilots knew the spot by this name. Sometimes, people locally call it simply "Neelys." You might even see it written without the apostrophe.
A Look Back: The History of Neely's Landing
The land around Neely's Landing has a long history. In 1805, John Hays owned the land. He operated a ferry service known as Hay's Ferry. Jacob Neely started his own ferry and store at the landing a few years later, in 1808.
By 1876, Neely's Landing was a small town with about 20 residents. By 1898, the population had grown to 50 people. The first post office in the community opened in 1860. R. W. Harris was in charge of it.
In 1904, the Frisco Railroad built tracks through the town. This caused the population to double. Many people moved there to work on the railroad. Today, the Neely's Landing Quarry is north of town. It is a place where limestone is taken from the ground.
The Steamboat The Stonewall Disaster
On October 27, 1869, a sad event happened near Neely's Landing. A steamboat called The Stonewall caught fire. The boat was carrying about 300 passengers. It also had a lot of cargo and 200 farm animals.
The exact spot of the accident was known as the Devil's Tea Table. Even famous writer Mark Twain mentioned it in his book Life on the Mississippi. The Stonewall was heading south on the Mississippi River. Its planned stops included Cape Girardeau, Memphis, and New Orleans.
No one knows for sure what caused the fire. Reports suggested a candle or lantern might have fallen. Or perhaps a match was dropped by accident onto hay on the lower deck. The fire spread very quickly. The crew tried to put it out, but they could not.
The pilot turned the boat towards the shore. But it hit a sandbar in the river. The boat then turned, and the north wind made the fire even worse. Many people on board were caught between the flames and the cold river water. The Missouri shore was only about 150 feet away.
Between 200 and 300 passengers and crew members lost their lives in this disaster. Local residents helped by pulling people from the water. They wrote down details like hair color, clothing, and age. This helped families identify their loved ones. About 60 to 70 victims were never claimed by their families. They were buried together in a large grave on a nearby farm.
