J.A. Gallaher and his impact on the names Montserrat and Pertle Springs

J.A. Gallaher, who lived from 1842 to 1900, was merely an infant when his parents relocated him to Johnson County, Missouri. His father had initially settled in the community in 1834 and established one of the county’s pioneering settlements, Gallagher’s Mill, situated on the banks of Clearfork Creek, several miles north of Montserrat. Eventually, John took over these endeavors and became the proprietor of the Montserrat coal mines, where he utilized convicts from the Missouri State Penitentiary following union disputes and a worker strike in the late 1800s. It is said that Gallaher had the town’s name changed to Montserrat, meaning ‘ancient biblical mountain’ or ‘area between two mountains,’ due to his aversion to having the town bear his name. During the war, he served in the Confederate service until 1865, after which he returned home and attended Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, graduating thereafter. He went on to study medicine, graduating as a doctor from McDowell’s College in St. Louis, and subsequently studied geology under Dr. B.F. Shumard, continued these studies for years and eventually became the Missouri State Geologist. John A. Gallaher is also credited with altering the spelling of Purtle Springs to Pertle Springs, opting for the ‘E’ spelling as the surveyor for the property initially owned by William Purtle and later sold to James H. Christopher.

Gallaher later constructed his residence, featuring a beautiful gazebo, in Montserrat, situated atop a hill. His mother was laid to rest beneath it, allowing her to eternally repose in the garden she cherished. Around 1975, the gazebo was rediscovered and restored, as depicted in the Star Journal article pictured below.

Dr.Gallaher wrote and published many geological works, as well as this hand- written unpublished 7 book series titled Cosmic Evaluation. It is currently in the process of being transcribed by volunteers of the Johnson County Missouri Historical Society – Museum and Library

The handwritten book by J.A. Gallaher