Rucker's Prairie is
Luebbering Forerunner
By Ruth Bardot ©1988
(first appeared in St. Clair Missourian,
exact date has not been determined)
Rucker's Prairie was established December 22, 1853 and
discontinued November 21, 1863.
The town that was known as Rucker's Prairie was
located on Highway FF within a mile of what is now Luebbering. Ambrose L.
Rucker was the first postmaster.
Prairie Township was named for Rucker's Prairie. The
exact date of the first settlement is unknown, but it was thought to be
occupied by American settlers, hunters, and woodsmen as early as 1820.
The first settlers of Rucker's Prairie were Thomas
Boyd, John King, Henry, William, and Jessie Woodcock, William Staniford,
Plato Cole, Richard Pierce, William H. Bailey, William Peak, Jeremiah
Hamilton, John Walls, John Jones, Frank Lostly, John White, Patrick Napier,
William Thornhill, John and Berry Romaine, Lemuel Boyd, Isiah Moore, and
William Murphy.
The capitol of Prairie Township was the Prairie School
House from April 6, 1875. The postmasters of Rucker's Prairie were Ambrose
L. Rucker (December 22, 1853 to May 15, 1858), T. L. G. Jones (May 15, 1858
to January 18, 1859), Leonard T. Jones (January 18, 1859 to March 7, 1860),
and Jeremiah Williams (July 18, 1860 to November 21, 1861).
Williams was the last postmaster of Rucker's Prairie
post Office until Luebbering and the Luebbering post office were founded.
The town of Luebbering was founded June 30, 1888, and the Luebbering post
office was established to replace the now defunct Rucker's Prairie post
office.
The new town and post office was established within a
mile of where Rucker's Prairie was located. The founding father of
Luebbering was John Frederick Luebbering, who served as the first postmaster
until April 18, 1896.
Other postmasters were J. E. Taylor (April 15, 1896 to
October 7, 1896), Fred A. Pilliod (October 7, 1896 to June 16, 1899), Edward
L. Ingalls (June 16, 1899 to November 4, 1901), Albert F. Gloriad (November
4 to May 9 1903), Fred A. Pilliod (May 9, 1903 to August 22, 1911), and Tom
M. Hoff (August 22, 1911 to July 11, 1915).
James Aloysious Pilliod held the position from August
19, 1915 to July 11, 1917, Sidney M. Bardot (July 11, 1917 to December
1946), Walter Lewis (1946 to 1961), Valbert Pilliod (1961 to August 3,
1973), and the present postmaster is Lena Lee, who has held the position
since August 3, 1973.
Between Rucker's Prairie and Luebbering, there has
been a post office in the area for 133 years. In 1988, the Luebbering post
office and general store will be 100 years old.
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