The town of Morehouse is named after former governor, Albert P. Morehouse. Morehouse ruptured a blood vessel in his brain while herding cattle in 1891. He became delirious and two days later committed suicide.
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Morehouse was known as Little River until around 1889. In 1898, the formal plat for the town was drawn up by the Himmelberger-Luce Land and Lumber Company. In 1902 the Himmelberger-Luce drilled into the ground 780 feet looking for oil but found water instead.
Most of the homes were on stilts (Little River flooded often) along with boardwalks that connected the town. The Frisco Railroad was completed in 1902 and became a shipping artery for the community. It was known as a vine line because the railroad ties were smaller as was the steel used for the tracks. In 1922 the first all weather road was built from Morehouse to Sikeston. Named Highway 16, it later became U.S. Highway 60. |
Himmelberger Land & Lumber Company
Employees of the Himmelberger-Harrison Manufacturing Company, July 1937, Morehouse, Missouri.
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In 1890, John I. Himmelberger and Mr. Luce (originally from Pennsylvania) bought a sawmill in Morehouse. In 1900, son, John H. Himmelberger took over the business and went into a partnership with W. H. Harrison. The business prospered and soon became the largest employer in Southeast Missouri. In 1905 the pair formed the Little River River Drainage district and began a program of draining the swampland. Prior to their work, only ten percent of the land was usable, but afterwards ninety-six percent of the land was usable for agriculture and other ventures.
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Other Photographs
Unknown Morehouse family.
