This is the forty-first article in our series about Ozarks culture and heritage in the counties of Missouri that are part of the Ozarks region. All or parts of 55 counties in Missouri are considered part of the Ozarks. Morgan County is located directly north of Camden County. Morgan County was organized in 1833 upon separation from Cooper County and named in honor of Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan. The county seat is Versailles.
Versailles was platted in 1835 at a time when there were still remnants of the Osage Indian Tribe living in the area. In 1846, a stagecoach line made daily stops in Versailles. In 1852 the Martin family began to operate a Hotel. Now the historic Martin Hotel serves a the home of the Morgan County Museum. Today, Versailles serves at the gateway to the Lake of the Ozarks resort area, a unique place where the agricultural prairies meet the Ozarks Hills.
Notable people associated with Versailles include Joseph Franklin Rutherford, also known as "Judge Rutherford, who was born in Versailles and was the second president of the incorporated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and played a primary role in the organization and doctrinal development of Jehovah's Witnesses. Bud Walton, who in 1962 co-founded Wal-Mart with his brother Sam, opened his first Ben Franklin Store in Versailles.
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