Mo. Rev. Stat. § 65.200: Vacancies in office — how filled.

Whenever any township shall fail to elect the proper number of officers to which such township may be entitled, or when any person elected or appointed shall fail to qualify, or when any vacancy shall happen in any township office from any cause, it shall be lawful for the township board to submit recommendations to the county commission to fill such vacancy by appointment, and the person so appointed shall hold the office and discharge all the duties of the same during such unexpired term, and until his successor is elected or appointed and qualified, and shall be subject to the same penalties as if he had been duly elected; provided, that any vacancy in an office of the township shall be filled by appointment of the county commission.