Nestled in Johnson County, between the towns of Warrensburg and Knob Noster, lies the historic site of Montserrat, Missouri. What began in 1867 as the bustling coal mining camp of Carbon Hill, Montserrat evolved into a significant industrial hub before its eventual decline into the tranquil ghost town it is today. The story of Montserrat, Missouri, is a fascinating journey through the state’s industrial past, marked by discovery, prosperity, conflict, and ultimate abandonment.
The roots of Montserrat’s existence are deeply embedded in the rich coal deposits beneath its soil. In 1863, the discovery of coal in the area sparked initial, limited development, with early mining efforts concentrating on the drifts of Clear Fork Creek. By 1865, more extensive operations began, and in 1866, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Coal Company dramatically expanded the endeavor by sinking the first deep shaft. This venture thrived for several years until a change in railroad management led to a loss of patronage, rendering the mining operation unprofitable. Consequently, the business was suspended for a period.
The Birth of a Mining Town and Its Resources
Despite the temporary setback of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Coal Company, other enterprises and private individuals persevered in the coal industry, achieving varying levels of success. Among these dedicated miners was John A. Gallaher, a resident of nearby Knob Noster, who maintained a successful small-scale coal business. The local coalbed was estimated to be approximately 100 feet below the surface, featuring veins with an average thickness of about five feet. This valuable resource stretched an impressive three to five miles wide from east to west and ten to fifteen miles north to south. Crucially, the coal found here was renowned for its superior quality for railroad use, producing immense heat, which provided a strong incentive for continued mining in the region.
In August 1870, anticipating the extension of the Missouri Pacific Railroad to a new point further west, John Gallaher platted a new townsite. This strategic relocation led to the people and businesses of the original Carbon Hill community moving westward to the new settlement. Gallaher named this emerging town Montserrat, Missouri, a tribute to the rugged, jagged mountain situated northwest of Barcelona, Spain. His choice was likely inspired by the elevated position of the town and the distinctive serrated hills that stretched southward from its location.
Montserrat’s Prosperity and Early Community Life
The new town of Montserrat quickly established itself. In 1872, it welcomed its own post office, with C. B. Baker serving as the first postmaster, a role he balanced with operating a saloon. The burgeoning community soon attracted a diverse array of businesses and professionals. Early figures included W. H. Anderson, a carpenter who also held the significant position of justice of the peace. Doctors John W. Gallaher and J.L. Lea provided medical care and managed a drug store, while Lea & Mayes and S. J. LaRue each ran successful grocery stores. H. B. McCracken operated as a drayman, D.S. Williams established a butcher shop, and J.C. Cooper became one of the pioneer blacksmiths. The town also saw the establishment of several other saloons by John Gibson, George James, and George Penn, reflecting the vibrant social life of a thriving mining community.
Further boosting Montserrat’s industrial capacity, Thomas H. Boyd arrived in 1875 to assume the superintendency of the mines owned by the Southwestern Coal Association. This influential company had acquired or leased over 5,000 acres of land surrounding Montserrat. Under Boyd’s experienced direction, the company flourished, and he also successfully operated a large general store. That same year, John A. Gallaher organized the Montserrat Coal Company. For several years, this company conducted extensive operations, consistently averaging 400 tons of coal transported by cars and chutes daily, solidifying Montserrat’s reputation as a productive mining center.
The Convict Labor Era and a Violent Uprising
The prosperity of Montserrat faced a severe test in 1877, a year marked by widespread strikes among coal miners and railroad workers that swept across the nation, bringing transportation to a grinding halt. In August, the miners of Montserrat demanded a raise, and upon its refusal, they angrily walked off the job. This strike lasted 30 days and cost the Montserrat Coal Company over $10,000. In a controversial move to restore production, the company entered into an agreement with the manager of the state penitentiary, contracting 300 convicts to work in the mines. For the next three years, this arrangement proved effective, generating profits for both the Montserrat Coal Company and the State of Missouri.
The convict miners were housed in a three-story barrack, a formidable structure encircled by a 15-foot-tall wooden stockade. Armed guards were strategically positioned atop the stockade at various vantage points to maintain order. However, this volatile arrangement culminated in a dramatic and fiery riot on the evening of November 3, 1877. Deputy Warden W. M. Todd had just punished convict Allen Williams for lying. When he attempted to punish prisoner Charles Butler for being “loud and unruly,” Butler refused to leave the barracks. A group of armed guards was dispatched to retrieve him.
As the guards entered, Butler brandished a red-hot poker from the stove, while another prisoner unleashed a torrent of obscenities. Soon, a chorus of voices erupted, shouting, “Burn it! Burn it!” An oil lamp was then hurled directly at Todd, igniting the stairway leading to the sleeping quarters and immediately cutting off escape routes for those upstairs. Two more lamps were thrown, and the entire barrack quickly became engulfed in flames. Panic ensued as prisoners, desperate to escape the inferno, threw themselves headlong from the second and third-story windows, a chaotic scene vividly described by the Jefferson City People’s Tribune. Guards outside opened fire on those attempting to flee.
When the chaos subsided, 21 prisoners had sustained injuries, including burns, injuries from jumping, and gunshot wounds, and three ultimately died. Despite the pandemonium, no convicts successfully escaped. The remaining prisoners soon returned to work in the mines, while White and Butler, identified as the primary instigators, were sent to the penitentiary in leg irons and placed in isolation cells awaiting further punishment. Warden Willis promptly returned to Montserrat, Missouri, with lumber, swiftly rebuilding the stockade and quarters. The convicts continued their labor in the mines for another two years without serious incident.
Decline and the Ghost Town’s Emergence
By 1880, Montserrat, Missouri, was home to 255 residents and boasted a vibrant community with brick and rail yards, active churches, and a general grocery store. Beyond coal mining, the surrounding area supported prosperous farms and stock lands, producing crops such as wheat, corn, hay, and oats. However, the town’s primary resource, coal, gradually began to diminish. In the ensuing decades, the coal deposits became increasingly worked out, and by 1902, the remaining coal was deemed of inferior quality, leading to the abandonment of most mines. This decline inevitably impacted the population, which dropped to 157 by 1910, though Montserrat still managed to sustain three churches, both a white and an African American school, a physician, several stores, and a blacksmith shop.
A Fading Echo of Industry
The slow but steady decline continued. In 1954, Montserrat’s post office, a vital community hub, closed its doors forever, signaling a significant step towards its eventual status as a ghost town. Today, what remains of Montserrat, Missouri, is but a shadow of its former industrial self. Only a few scattered houses and a handful of residents bear witness to its rich, tumultuous past. The once-bustling coal mining camp, the scene of both remarkable prosperity and a dramatic convict uprising, has largely faded into history, leaving behind a tranquil landscape that whispers tales of its vibrant, bygone era. Montserrat stands as a poignant reminder of Missouri’s industrial heritage and the transient nature of boomtowns.
