A Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets
Past and Present
of Dade County, Missouri

"For some reason or another, it became desirable to change the name of the post-office. Three prominent citizens, Dr. Bender, Dr. Hampton and Mr. Dale were chosen for this honorous duty. Three straws of different lengths were placed in a hat and drawn. Dr. Hampton drew the lucky straw and selected the name "Mellville" and Mellville it remained until about 1865, when the government discovered that the mail was being confused with Millville, another post-office in Missouri, so the name was changed to Dadeville, in honor of Colonel Dade of Mexican War fame. (--History of Dade County and Its People, Vol 1, pp 234-235.)"

Fran Bolton