Keytesville is the seat of government for Chariton County, Missouri, and the hometown of two prominent generals, General Maxwell D. Taylor and General Sterling Price, who was the 11th governor of Missouri, as well as a brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate major general during the Civil War. Keytesville was named for James Keyte, a Methodist preacher who is credited with being the town’s founder in 1830. That year, the county seat was moved from Old Chariton to Keytesville. James Keyte also built the first home in Keytesville, as well as its first business, which doubled as a post office. For most of the American Civil War, Keytesville was home to a detachment of Union troops. In September of 1864, the federal troops in the city faced a much larger force of Confederate troops, and surrendered. Confederate troops occupied the town for a short time, taking supplies from local merchants, setting the courthouse on fire, and killing the county sheriff and another resident, thought to be a spy for the Union. Keytesville was incorporated in 1868, and became a city in 1883. Today, the town is small, but it has an active business district. Keytesville is accessed by US Highway 24 and Missouri Route 5. Musselfork is to the north, Prairie Hill to the northeast, Shannondale to the southeast, and Indian Grove to the northwest.
Recommended Resources
Chariton County Community Foundation
Headquartered in Keytesville, CCCF was established to receive, administer and disburse funds to improve and promote the quality of life in Chariton County, Missouri. Its sponsors are introduced, along with a calendar of events, fund types, current funds, and contact data.
http://www.charitoncounty.org/
Chariton County Historical Society & Museum
Founded in 1956, the organization’s first museum was opened in the 1960s, moving to its current facility, housed in the former Fellow’s Hatchery, in the 1970s. An overview of the organization, membership policies and meeting schedules, as well as its museum and library facilities, local cemeteries, and historical information are featured.
http://www.charitoncountymuseum.org/
Keytesville High School Alumni
Representing former students and graduates of the Keytesville, Missouri high school, the site offers schedules of class reunions and alumni classes, and offers banquet information, records attendance, and offers memorials for deceased alumni.
http://keytesvillemoalumni.org/
The Keytesville, Missouri public school offers an elementary and combined junior and senior high school program. Its location, faculty and staff contacts, a district calendar, lunch menu, and policy information are presented, and announcements are posted to the site.
http://www.keytesville.k12.mo.us/
Founded by James Keyte in 1833, Keytesville is the county seat of Chariton County. Administrative and departmental contacts, a community calendar, agendas and minutes, and a history and profile of the city is put forward.
http://www.keytesvillemo.com/
