FAYETTE, a post-village, capital of Howard county, Missouri, on Bonne Femme creek, 60 miles N. W. from Jefferson City. The Missouri river approaches within 10 or 12 miles of the village, at two nearly opposite points. Coal and limestone are abundant in the vicinity. Fayette has 2 or 3 churches, a United States land-office, an academy, a college, a newspaper office and a bank. (Baldwin & Thomas, A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States ... 1854)
FAYETTE, The county seat of Howard county, Richmond township, is situated about eight miles from the Missouri river, 175 miles from St. Louis, and fifty miles from Jefferson City. It was first laid out in the year 1822 by Hiram Fugett, and is fast becoming a place of importance. It contains a Baptist, Methodist, Christian, and Episcopal Church, one Masonic lodge, viz., Fayette, No. 47, and Howard Lodge, No. 10, I.O.O.F., and two Colleges, both of which are in flourishing condition, and branch of the State Bank, with a capital of $200,000. Population 900. (The Missouri State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1860)