Marion County, Missouri, is located in the eastern part of the state about 50 miles (80 km) south of the Iowa state line and on the Mississippi River. In 1955 about 100 Mennonites were located in the eastern and central parts of the county, two families in adjoining Rolls County. The first Mennonite settled in Marion County in the late 1880s or early 1890s, coming here from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There were two Mennonite (Mennonite Church) churches in Marion County: Pea Ridge, 12 miles (20 km) west of Palmyra, and the Hannibal Mission Church, 1530 Lyon St., Hannibal. The Palmyra Mennonite Church was closed in 1955. The former members are now in one of the two remain­ ing congregations. The total membership in 1956 was 108.