USA > Missouri > A history of Missouri from the earliest explorations and settlements until the admission of the state into the union, Volume II > Part 23
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The Cape Girardeau district was almost exclusively settled by Americans. Only four French names are found among the Spanish grantees of this district, Godair, Largeau, Mariot and Berthiaume, and even these it seems did not live long, if at all, in the district. The first American settlement in the Cape Girardeau district was formed just outside of Lorimier's grant, three miles south- west of the post of Cape Girardeau, and the first settler here was Andrew Ramsay, who opened his plantation in 1795. For sub- sequent American emigrants his plantation became for several years an objective point. From his place all the new immigrants who
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RAMSAY SETTLEMENT
came to Spanish country to settle were directed to desirable locations, accompanied often by Ramsay personally, who, of course, was deeply interested in securing American neighbors. Many of these settlers established their homes not far from where he had located. Ramsay came to the Spanish country from the neighborhood of Harper's Ferry, at mature age, accompanied by a large and well grown-up family. It is said that he was among the Virginia troops at Braddock's defeat. It is certain that his brother, John Ramsay, who subsequently settled in what is now Scott county, was in a Virginia regiment. After Ramsay had established himself near the post of Cape Girardeau, he was followed by several of his family connections.26 Thus it was that Alexander Giboney, Nicholas Seavers (Saviour,) Jeremiah Simpson, and Dr. Belemus Hayden, with their families and servants, and his sons-in-law, William Dougherty and Samuel Tipton came to this district. All these settled in his immediate neighborhood on the waters of Ramsay and Giboney creeks, except William Dougherty who established his plantation on Hubble creek near the present city of Jackson. Ramsay was a man of some property, a slave owner and exercised a decided influence in the settlement during the Spanish government, as well as after the cession of the country to the United States. In 1804 he was one of the largest land owners of the district. He removed to White River near where the city of Batesville, Arkansas, is now situated, in about 1815, and died there. In 1802 De Lassus was greatly impressed
26 History of Southeast Missouri, p. 272. It is said that the Ramsays were related to Daniel Morgan, and no doubt participated in the Revolutionary war. Andrew Ramsay had three daughters, Margaret, who married Stephen Jones, and afterwards removed to Arkansas; Mary, married to Captain Peter Craig, (who was killed at the battle of the Sink-hole in the year 1814, in St. Charles county) and Rachel, who became the wife of John Rodney. In addition he was accompanied to the Cape Girardeau district by five sons, Andrew Ramsay, Jr., and James, who married respectively Pattie and Rebecca Worthington, John, who married - - Hannah, William, who married Elizabeth Dunn, and Allen Ramsay. Andrew settled on Ramsay creek near his father's plantation, but subsequently he, John and James removed to what is now Mississippi county. Alexander Giboney was a brother-in-law of Andrew Ramsay, having married his sister Rebecca, and he was also accompanied by his family in 1797 when he emigrated to the Cape Girardeau district and settled on Giboney creek, one mile west of Ramsay's plantation. Alexander Giboney died in 1804. His family consisted of four sons, John, Robert, Alexander and Andrew, and three daughters, Aurelia, wife of Jacob Jacobs, Isabel, married to Dr. Ezekiel Fenwick and Margaret, married to Lindsay D'Lashmutt. Alexander Giboney, junior, was killed at the battle of the Sink-hole at the same time Peter Craig was killed. The whole Ramsay connection was accompanied by a number of slaves. Among other settlers on Ramsay creek we find William Bonner (Boner) (1797); Jona- than Ditch (1798), who seems to have emigrated from what is now the District of Columbia; John Weaver and Peter Weaver (1797); Joseph Thompson,
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
with the Cape Girardeau company of Americans which met him on his march to New Madrid about five miles north of Lorimier's post, and in his report says, "I must remark that this company is composed of the best young fellows one can see," all well mounted and armed; and Lorimier, he says, "took the precaution to make them a standard bearing the arms of the King." There being then no fort or village in the Cape Girardeau district, the Cape Girardeau company took the militiamen who came with DeLassus to their homes scattered throughout the country. DeLassus, Valle, and the guard with the standard were entertained at the home of Lorimier, who, DeLassus reports, treated them "with the greatest generosity." We can well imagine how the enterprise and independence of this new American element in the Spanish dominions must have impressed DeLassus.
The Byrd settlement was located on the waters of Byrd's creek and tributaries, about sixteen miles northwest from the post of Cape Girardeau. Amos Byrd, senior, the founder of the settlement, was born in North Carolina, or rather in the disputed territory between North Carolina and Virginia, in 1737.27 He was reared in the Watauga Valley; afterwards he removed to the Holston river southwest of Knoxville, where he located Byrd's "Station" or "fort." In 1783 when Green county was organized he was a member of the first County Court. In 1799 accompanied by his family and connections he removed to the Spanish country and became the pioneer settler on the creek that bears his name. The liberal land policy of the Spanish no doubt induced him and his family to emigrate. The entire Byrd family and connections who thus emigrated, settled on Byrd, Little Byrd and Cane creeks. The waters of these creeks flow over gravelly beds and lime-stone rocks in a southwest direction to White Water, through a gently undulating country, covered at the time of this settle- ment with native blue-grass. The sloping hills and creek valleys re- sembled an open park in which grew every variety of oak, elm, hickory and the majestic poplar (tulip tree). Byrd "Fort" in Tennessee, was not far removed from Gillespie "Fort," and thus it came that three of his sons married daughters of the Gillespie family. With Amos
senior, (1797); Enoch Evans of Virginia (1801); Charles Bradley (1802); Jos- eph Worthington (1803); Joseph Harris (1803); Baptiste Godair (1803) ; Nicholas Revielle, who in 1801 describes his farm as being on Ramsay creek, about 100 yards on the west side of the creek, at a place known as Big Lick; was a mechanic and white-washer by trade; Peter Godair in 1799 also had a settlement right on this creek, and which he sold to Enoch Evans in 1807.
27 Amos Byrd is noted a delinquent on 1800 acres on Hinkston's Run, Kentucky, entered by J. Ruddle, 1796.
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HUBBELL
Byrd 28 came his sons, Abraham, John, Stephen, Amos, junior, and Moses, and his daughters Polly, married to William Russell, Clarissa, who afterward married James Russell, and Sallie, who married George Hayes. In this Byrd settlement John Byrd built the first mill and distillery on Byrd creek, and also established a blacksmith shop. He died in 1816. Abraham and Stephen Byrd both became conspicuous members of this new settlement after the cession of Louisiana, as we shall note hereafter. William Russell was a native of Scotland, he first settled in Virginia and afterwards removed to East Tennessee, where he married Polly Byrd.
In 1797 Ithamar Hubbell, a soldier of the Revolution in the New York State troops, settled on the creek which has since been known by his name, but was then known as the "Rivière Zenon," so named in honor of Zenon Trudeau, Lieutenant Governor of upper Louisiana at that time. Hubbell located where the town of Gordonville is now situated, and at this point established a water-mill which was until a few years ago in operation, and subsequently he also established a saw-mill at the same place. John Summers, and John, junior, sev- eral miles north of Hubbell made a location a year before Hubbell
28 Abraham, Stephen and John respectively married Elizabeth, Mary and Ann Gillespie. Abraham Byrd had three sons and six daughters. His sons were Amos, William Gillespie and Stephen, his daughters were Ingabo, married to John Bird of Bird's point, Mary, married to W. W. Horrell, Nancy, married to Edward Kelso, Sabina, married to John Allen, Clarissa, married to Thomas Horrell, and Emily, married to John F. Martin. Stephen Byrd had a family of four sons, William, James, John and Amos, and four daughters, Eliza (Mrs. Thompson Bird), Mary, Serena (Mrs. John Campbell) and Sallie. Amos Byrd, junior, had three children, Sallie (Mrs. John Wilson), Elizabeth (Mrs. George Cockran), and John. Moses Byrd had a family of five sons, William, Amos, John, Abraham and Adolphus, and four daughters, Polly (Mrs. John McLain), Sallie (Mrs. Joseph Brown), Patsy (Mrs. John Minton) and Edith (Mrs. Foster). (History of Southeast Missouri, p. 277.)
Among other settlers on Byrd creek were Josiah Lee, senior, who came from Kentucky in 1797 and first settled on Randall creek, then known as Rivière Charles, and subsequently on Hubbell creek then known as Rivière Zenon. Josiah Lee, junior, his son, who had a grant for service also lived on this creek adjacent to his father. Another settler was Alexander Andrews, sen- ior, who came from Kentucky in 1797. David Andrews resided on Cane creek in 1799, but in 1797 on Randall's creek. Joseph Young (1799); John Boyd, who came from Kaskaskia and settled here in 1799; John McCarty, a black- smith, who we are told was a Roman Catholic and owned one slave, also lived on this creek in 1799; Joseph Crutchlow settled in the country in 1797, but on this creek in 1800. Elijah Everitt resided near the forks of Big and Little Bird Byrd creeks, and seems, prior to his emigration, to have resided in the Spanish coun- try, as he claimed to be a subject of His Catholic Majesty and a Roman Catholic. William Hill on Cane creek in 1799. Jacob Kelley on the forks of the two Byrd creeks (1800) made a settlement; he was the owner of five slaves. James Cooper (1802) settled adjacent to Stephen Byrd, so also John May. Other settlers were, Patrick May (1802); David Patterson (1803); Philip Young, near the head- waters of one prong of Byrd creek known as "Young's creek" (1803); John
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
settled on this creek. Also Andrew Summers near the head-waters of the creek. About eight miles north of Hubbell's place, Colonel Christopher Hays, under a direct concession of Governor Caso Calvo, in 1800 made a settlement. Several miles south of Hubbell's mill Martin Rodney opened a plantation, and at the bend where the creek leaves the hills and enters the bottom near the present village of Dutchtown, John Logan took up his residence and erected a water- mill. Adjacent to Logan's place Jeremiah Simpson, Jacob Jacobs, James Hannah, the Randalls, James Caruthers and Thomas Foster established themselves. At the junction of Randall creek and Hubbell creek, John Shields received a concession, and imme- diately north of his place Abraham Byrd, senior, had a farm.29
McGee (Magee) (1803); Hugh Connelly (1799); Michael Quinn (1803); John Dougherty (1800), a carpenter and worked for Lorimier; neglected to work his grant and afterwards gave as an excuse that Lorimier told him that he wanted him to work for him, and that mechanics did not have to work or cultivate the land ceded to them, William Jackson (1803); Jeptha Cornelius (1803); Austin Young (1803); John Smith had a sugar camp on this tract placed there by him or by Abraham Byrd, assignee; George Cavender, son-in-law of McCarty (1803); Dennis Sullivan (1803), both a blacksmith and a school teacher. James Boyd settled adjacent to Stephen Byrd in 1799; Michael O'Hogan located adjacent to Amos Byrd, senior, in 1803; Robert Patterson had a farm adjacent to Hugh Connelly and David Patterson on Cane creek. In addition we find Edward F. Bond; John Hays, assignee (of) Crutchlow; Andrew Patterson (1805); Morris Young (1805); James Russell (1806); Peter Krytz, as legatee of Duwalt Krytz ; Henry Howard (1804).
29 On the west bank of the creek in the order named were settled, John Dry- bread (1797), a German; Joseph Fite (Fight) likely also a German; John Losila (1797), a German; Renna Brummit (1799); John Latham (1801) also in New Madrid; James Dowty (1798); Henry Sharadin; Elijah (Elisha) Dougherty (1803); Robert Green (1799); William Dougherty, heretofore named, (1798); and Jesse Cain (1799) who afterwards lived on the Maramec in St. Charles dis- trict. William Dickens (1798); James Mills (1799), located where the city of Jackson is now situated, and Charles Fallenash (1799) - this Charles Fallenash was one of the first settlers near Springfield, Ohio, near the mouth of the Scioto; was a great Indian fighter and at one time was a fur-trader among the Indians. In 1793 he married and lived at Massie's Station for about one year. Then he resided in the Chillicothe region, where he abandoned his wife, a reputable wo- man, to go on scouting expeditions. He was renowned as a scout in Ohio - (Draper's Notes, Vol.19, p. 169). In 1810 he was at St. Charles, and is supposed to have accompanied Astor's expedition, - (Draper's Notes, Vol. 6, p. 312). He is described as a large stout man, "a kind of Indian-Frenchman," - (Dra- per's Notes, Vol. 16, Trip of 1860). It is not certain at what time Fallenash moved away from the Cape Girardeau district. He sold his Spanish grant to Edward Hall in 1804. He probably lived in what is now Northwest Arkansas early in the 19th century. A small creek emptying its waters into White river just above Crooked creek is called "Fallenash" creek, and it is more than likely that this creek derived its name from this old hunter and Indian fighter who there may have hunted, trapped beaver and died. George Hays (1803) located several miles above the present town of Jackson. On the east bank of the creek were settled in the order named, John Strong (1798) just south and north of Ithamer Hubbell's place; Waters Burrows (1798); Zachariah Doroty (1800) ; Lewis Latan; David Patterson (1803); John Patterson, from Kaskaskia;
187
GERMAN SETTLERS
Germans were among the very first white men that traversed the immense region between the Mississippi river and the Rocky moun- tains. One of the followers of La Salle's ill-fated expedition to the mouth of the Mississippi which landed on the coast of Texas, was one Heins (Heinz) according to Father Anasthasius Douay "a Witen- berger." Hiens accompanied La Salle from the coast of Texas north- east across the plains. Together with another white man, living among the wild Indians of the plain, named Ruter (Ritter) evidently also a German, he assassinated Litote, La Salle's surgeon. This Ruter was a chief among the Indians and stood in high honor, because he had taught them how to sail their boats. These Germans evidently were sailors, likely ex-pirates who may have been followers of the greatest of all pirates of the Spanish Main, the German Mansfeldt. But Tonty, in his Memoirs, in speaking of Heins, says "he was an English buccaneer." For expeditions such as La Salle commanded, doubtful characters of all nations were picked up and enlisted. When we consider this it is hardly to be wondered that he was murdered by his own followers. The celebrated John Law, however, was the first who induced German colonists to settle in the colony of Louis- iana. On the Arkansas river he had a grant of a large domain - a dukedom - and this he proposed to settle with German farmers. To this promised land he sent a colony of Germans, but before all these colonists arrived the Mississippi Bubble collapsed, and they
Medad Randall (1798); Thomas Bull) 1803) from Kentucky-on his place Bethel church was built in 1806. Jacob Foster, senior and junior, came to the country in 1799, and resided near the Rodney place on Foster creek. Martin Rodney arrived in 1798. John Ferrell lived on this creek in 1803; James Campbell on St. Francois (1801); Elisha Whittaker (1802); James Caruthers (1799). David and John Ferrell had a grant at Cedar Cliffs about a half a mile below where Hubbell creek enters the bottom, and they settled there in 1803. Andrew Franks settled near them on the edge of the bottom; so also in 1802 Elijah Welsh, Peter Ballew, James Murphy and William Murphy, all on the edge of the hills leading from the present station of Whitewater to Cape Girardeau. Louis Tache, dit Eustache, had a grant adjacent Thomas Bull and Peter Ballew already named, - must have moved from the edge of the bottom to where the present town of Jackson is situated, because he received a grant at that point. Jonathan Fore- man came to the country in 1798 and erected a flour mill on his land in 1800, his grant being located about a mile west of Jackson. Other settlers in the neighborhood of Jackson were Samuel Pew (1802); Henry Hand (1799); Charles Demos (1803); John Hand (1803); Lewis, Drusilla and Hezekiah Dick- son (1803); William Hand (1802), and also Lavina Mills. Near Ithamer Hub- bell's place Mathew Hubbell settled, so also Allen Mckenzie, and immediately north of his place Andrew Franks, heretofore mentioned as having a place on the edge of the bottom, also lived. Moses Hurley, in 1798, in Big Prairie was on Hubbell creek during the Spanish occupancy of the country, so also Edward Robertson; William Harper; Joshua Goza; Walter Burrows (1797) from Kentucky.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
were left lost and stranded in an immense wilderness. Those who had reached the shores of the Arkansas river abandoned the posses- sions of Law and went back to New Orleans and, together with those who were at New Orleans, secured concessions above the city fronting on the Mississippi river, and to this day known as the "German Coast." There by their industry and perseverance they established a flourishing settlement. We know of no other German settlement in the province of Louisiana until about 1799, when was laid the founda- tion of a solid and compact German settlement on White Water river in the district of Cape Girardeau. In that year, Joseph Neyswanger settled on this stream between White Water river and Caney fork. He came from North Carolina. Near him John Freeman (Freimann) also settled in the same year. Thus the settlement began, and within a few years a number of other Germans from North Carolina and Swiss Germans established themselves in this locality, i. e., Michael Snell (Schnell) (1804); Daniel (Kreutz) Krytz (1800); Valentine Lorr; John Probst (1800). On the main river, however, Major George Frederick Bollinger in 1800 was the most conspicuous settler and pioneer. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and both before and after the cession of Louisiana one of the leading characters of the territory. He secured a grant of 640 acres at what is now known as Burfordsville, for many years known as Bollinger's Mill. Major Bollinger came from Lincoln county, North Carolina, and on a trip he made subsequently to his settlement in the Spanish domains induced one of the first Protestant preachers, and no doubt the first German Protestant preacher, to come to this district in the latter part of 1803. The Bollinger family were Swiss Germans or of Swiss German descent, and the connection emigrating into the Spanish country was numerous. They all settled up and down White Water, and thus formed the farthest western settlement of the country at the time. These German settlers were greatly favored by Lorimier and Cousin, his secretary. Cousin located a large tract of land immediately adjacent to Bollinger's Mill, un- doubtedly influenced by the idea that this settlement would become the most important in the district, and thus the value of his land greatly enhanced. About two miles north of Bollinger's Mill White Water forks, the main stream running almost due north and the other prong running northwest and known as Little White Water,30 and
30 Immediately north of Major George F. Bollinger, Peter and John Krytz (Kreutz) settled; next to them John and Jacob Cothner, followed in order by
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RANDALL CREEK
near this fork and up both branches of this stream these German pioneers opened farms.
The first settlers on the upper portion of Castor river, just where the river empties its waters into Mingo Bottom, where the village of Zalma is now situate, was Urban Asherbramer (Aschenbrenner or Asherbrauner); who settled there in 1800, and erected a water-mill to grind corn. This mill is yet operated as a water-mill. Near him Philip Bollinger settled. Daniel Asherbramer (Aschenbrenner) who settled on White Water with William Bollinger in 1804 was evidently a relative of Urban. Other settlers on this river were Joseph Watkins (1803) and Robert Harper sometime prior to 1803; also Edward Hawthorne. These were the earliest pioneers on that part of Castor river, in what is now Bollinger county.
Another settlement of early date in Cape Girardeau district was made on what is now known as Randall's creek, but during the Span- ish war as "Rivière Charles." Here the Randalls, from Hamilton county, Virginia, arrived in 1797. John Randall obtained a grant situate eight miles from the village "Lorimont" and about one and a half miles east of the present town of Gordonville. Samuel Randall, Medad Randall, Abraham Randall, James Randall, and Enos Randall all made settlements about the same time on and near John and Jacob Miller. Above the forks of Big and Little White Water we find, in what is now Cape Girardeau county, Daniel Bollinger and Henry Boll- inger secured head-rights; and still further northwest, in what is now Bollinger county, Mathias Bollinger, Philip Bollinger, John Bollinger, senior, and Daniel Bollinger. John Bollinger, senior, had three sons, Dewalt, Henry, and Philip. Mathias Bollinger had one son, David. Philip Bollinger had two sons, Freder- ick and Henry; all these settled up and down and in the neighborhood of these streams, and so also William Bollinger (1802). Other settlers were, Joseph Baker (Becker); Daniel Clingen Smith (Clingensmith) (Klingenschmidt) had a mill; and John Krytz (Kreutz), who all had farms in those days on Little White Water. Dewalt Krytz (Dewald Kreutz) settled about two miles east of John Coth- ner near Byrd creek. Farther up west, Jacob Slinker, and Frederick (1801); Jeremiah Paynish (1801); William Tismon (1802); John Hoss (1801); Conrad, Adam and Peter Stotlar (Stadler) (1802); Peter and George Grount (1802) : Handel Barks (Bergs) (1803); Frederick Limbaugh (Limbach), a German school teacher, and his two sons Michael and Frederick, junior, (1800); Peter Hartle (1802); Benjamin and Daniel Heldebrand (1804); John P. Aidenger (1802); Daniel Brant (1802); may be the same as in New Madrid in 1798 - Isaac Miller (1804). Where White Water leaves the hill country and flows through the bottom lands, a number of American settlers established themselves and secured grants, Francis Murphy (1796); James Murphy (1799); Raisin Bailey (1802); Alexander Par(r)ish (1802); Alexander Thorn (1802); James Horace Austin (1803); Smith (1803); Jacob Shar(r)adin (1803); William Smith (1802); Daniel Brant (1802); George (M). Morgan (1803); John Shields, no location, (1804); Charles Sexton (1803); William Samer; Daniel Asherbrauner; John Hoss; John Abernathee; Jeremiah Paynish, alias Boining; Christopher Aidenger (1801); John Ramsay, Jr., owned one slave (1800) ; William Patterson (1803); Alexander Summers.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
this creek, and in 1804 a compact settlement existed in this neighbor- hood. Among other settlers we also find William Williams (1798). McKendree chapel is located on his grant.31 Joseph Waller, from Tennessee (1797) also lived on this creek, but afterwards secured a grant on the Mississippi river about twelve miles above Cape Gir- ardeau, where he established a ferry across the river, which was long known as "Waller's Ferry."
On the edge of the Grand Marias, freely translated by the Ameri- cans as "Big Swamp," but really not a swamp, the first settlers were, John (Seaver) Saviour (1797); David Bowie, a son of Reazin Bowie of Marias des Peches (Fish Lake) in what is now Mississippi county and Hypolite Mariot (1799) evidently a French hunter attached to Lorimier, and to whom he afterwards assigned his land.32
At the headwaters of Cape La Cruz (erroneously spelled Cruche) Isaac Williams made a settlement in 1803, but remained only a short time and then removed to Mississippi territory. Immediately south of Williams on the forks of Cape le Cruz creek William Lorimier, a son of Don Louis Lorimier, was supposed to have a farm, and adja- cent to him on the west, Lorimier's first secretary Louis François Largeau made a claim, but whether he ever occupied it is not known. His rights to this property however were afterwards sold under exe-
31 Other settlers on this creek were John Giboney (1797); James Cox, senior, and his son-in-law, Simeon Kenyon (1797), and his son James Cox, junior, all from Kentucky; Benjamin Hartgrove or Hargrove; Nicholas Seav- ers, Sr., 1797); Andrew Franks, (1798); John Guething (1798), a car- penter employed by Lorimier in public works, and in apprehending and keeping in custody prisoners; Hugh Criswell (1799); Joseph Thompson, who emigrated to this district from Vincennes where he had rendered military service in 1790-(also on Ramsay creek and the Mississippi); James and Joseph Worthington (1799); James Hannah (1799); Jacob Jacobs (1799) - from the district of Columbia; Daniel Duggan or Duggin, dit Count de Monnangel; James Arrell or Earls (1798) from Kentucky; Samuel D. Strother (1797), from Kentucky, first settled on the Saline in theSte. Genevieve district, but in 1799 lived on this creek; James Dowty, a German (1799); William Thompson; Jeremiah Tompson (1798), afterwards moved to Mississippi territory; Elisha Whittaker (1802); Benjamin Lougherty or Laferty (1803). In 1797 Josiah Lee also lived on this creek. Other settlers here were, Gilbert Hector (1799); Jonathan Ditch.
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