Jewish Life in Farmington, Missouri

Though it has always been the county seat of St. Francois County, Farmington struggled to maintain a strong position throughout its history.  The oldest of the communities in the lead belt, William Murphy bought the land that would become Farmington in 1798 and got a Spanish Land Grant to settle the land.  His family joined him two years later in 1800 and more  settlement quickly followed, with Farmington reaching a population of 53 by 1804.  By the winter of 1818, Henry Schoolcraft described the town of "Murphy's Settlement" as being a "large and flourishing neighborhood of industrious farmers, [which presented] many well cultivated fields, fenced in a nead and substantial manner."  He also noted that there was a post office, school house, and doctor in town.  The town renamed Farmington in 1825 and incorporated in 1836.  By this point, the population had fallen to under 30, but would rebound in the next 30 years, recording 50

Simon Jacobson is believed to be the first Jew to settle in Farmington, arriving sometime between 1850 and 1860.  Immigrating from Germany, Jacobson came to Missouri with his wife and five children.  By the 1880s, he owned a thriving store in town.  Other Jews living in Farmington by the 1880s were Herman Rosenthal and his brother Morris, both of whom were store clerks in town.