The Jews of St. Francois County

Organized in December 1821, shortly after Missouri became a state, St. Francois (pronounced "Francis") County was named for the St. Francis River, a lengthy tributary to the Mississippi.  It is unclear from which St. Francis the river takes its name, with St. Francis of Assisi and St. Francis Xavier being the two prevailing theories.  The county is the heart of Missouri's lead belt region, which has long been the largest producer of lead in the United States.  Lead mining dominated the establishment of towns in St. Francois County, with towns like Desloge, Flat River, Bonne Terre, and Leadwood forming around mine openings.  In the late-20th century, a handful of these smaller mining towns (Flat River, Elvins, Esther, and Rivermines), combined to create the modern town of Park Hills.  Below are individual histories of Jewish life in four of the towns making up St. Francois County.