USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 4
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Carroll, organized January 3, 1833. Called for Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Died November 14, 1832.
Cass, organized September 14, 1835. First called Van Buren ; changed to Cass February 19, 1849, in honor of Lewis Cass, United States Senator from Michigan. Died June 17, 1866.
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Chariton, organized November 16, 1820. John Chariton was the name of a leader of the French fur-traders who at an early day located on the Missouri River at the mouth of the creek which was ever afterwards called Chariton. Hence the name of the creck and county.
Clay, organized January 2, 1822. Called for Henry Clay, of Kentucky. Died June 29, 1852.
Clinton, organized January 15, 1833. Called for Governor DeWitt Clinton, of New York. Died February 11, 1828.
Cole, organized November 16, 1820. Called for Captain Stephen Cole, an old settler, who built "Cole's Fort," near Boonville.
Cooper, organized December 17, 1818. Called for Sarshel Cooper, who was killed by an Indian in Cooper's Fort opposite Arrow Rock and near the present village of Boonsboro, Howard County, on the night of April 14, 1814.
Daviess, organized December 29, 1836. Called for Colonel Joe Hamil- ton Daviess, of Kentucky. Killed in the battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811.
De Kalb, organized February 25, 1815. Called for Baron John De Kalb, a Frenchman of Revolutionary fame, who was killed in the battle of Camden in 1780.
Gentry, organized February 12, 1841. Called for General Richard Gentry, of Columbia, who was killed in the battle of Okeechobee, Florida, December 25, 1837.
Grundy, organized January 2, 1843. Called for Felix Grundy, United States Senator of Tennessee. Died December 19, 1840.
Harrison, organized February 14, 1845. Called for Albert G. Harrison, of Fulton, Missouri, member of Congress from 1835 to 1839. Died Septem- ber 7. 1839.
Henry, first named Rives in honor of William C. Rives, of Virginia, organized December 13, 1834. Changed to Henry in honor of Patrick Henry, who died June 6, 1799.
Jackson, organized December 15, 1826. Named in honor of Andrew Jackson. Died June 8, 1845.
Johnson, organized December 13, 1834. Called for Richard M. John- son, of Kentucky. Died of apoplexy, November 19, 1850.
Lafayette, first called Lillard and organized November 16, 1820, after James Lillard, an old citizen. Changed to Lafayette, February 16, 1825, who died at Paris, May 20, 1834.
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Linn, organized January 7, 1837. Called for Lewis F. Linn, United States Senator from Missouri, 1830-1843, who died at St. Genevieve, October 3, 1843.
Livingston, organized January 6, 1837. Called for Edward Livings- ton, Secretary of State under President Jackson. Died May 23, 1836.
Macon, organized January 6, 1837. Named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, of North Carolina, of the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Congresses and United States Senator in the Ninteenth and Twentieth. Died June 29, 1837.
Mercer, organized February 14, 1845. Called for John F. Mercer, a soldier of the Revolution from Maryland. Died August 30, 1821.
Miller (north part), organized February 26, 1837. Called for Governor John Miller, of Missouri; was Governor from 1825 to 1832. Died March 18, 1846.
Moniteau, organized February 14, 1845. An Indian name, and doubt- less a corruption of Manito, an Indian name for Deity or Great Spirit.
Monroe (part), organized January 6, 1831. Called for James Monroe, President. Died July 4, 1831.
Morgan, organized January 5, 1833. Called for General Daniel Morgan, of the Revolution, who displayed great bravery at the battle of the Cow- pens in the defeat of Tarlton and died in 1802.
Pettis, organized January 26, 1833. Called for Spencer Pettis, mem- ber of Congress from St. Louis from 1829 to 1831, who was killed in a duel by Major Thomas Biddle, August 27, 1831, aged 29 years.
Putnam, organized February 28, 1845. Called for General Israel Putnam, of Bunker Hill fame, 1775. Died, 1790.
Randolph, organized January 22, 1829. Called for John Randolph, of Roanoke, Va. Died May 24, 1833.
Ray, organized November 16, 1820. Called for John Ray, a member of the constitutional convention of 1820 from Howard County.
St. Clair (north part), organized January 29, 1841. Called for General Arthur St. Clair, of the Revolution.
Saline, organized November 25, 1820. Named because of its salt springs.
Shelby (part), organized January 2, 1835. Called for Governor Isaac Shelby, of Kentucky. Died July 18, 1826.
Sullivan, organized February 16, 1845. Called for James Sullivan, of
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Revolutionary fame, a member of the Continental Congress of 1782. Died December 10, 1808.
Worth, organized February 8, 1861. Called for General William J. Worth, of the Florida and Mexican Wars. Died at San Antonio, Texas, May 7, 1849.
Also the following counties in Iowa: Parts of Taylor and Adams, Union, Ringgold, Clarke, Decatur and Wayne, and probably parts of Lucas, Monroe and Appanoose.
Its boundaries were established as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Osage River, which is about ten miles below the city of Jefferson and opposite the village of Barkersville in Callaway County, the bound- ary pursued the circuitous course of said stream to the Osage boundary line, meaning thereby the eastern boundary of the Osage Indian Territory, or to the northeast corner of Vernon County, where the Osage River, two miles east of the present town of Shell City, runs near said corner ; thence north (along the western line of St. Clair, Henry, Johnson and Lafayette counties), to the Missouri River, striking that stream west of and very near Napoleon, thence up said river to the mouth of the Kansas River (where Kansas City is now located), thence with the Indian boundary line (as described in the proclamation of Governor William Clark issued
March 9, 1815), northwardly along the eastern boundary of the "Platte purchase" 140 miles, or to a point about thirty-six miles north and within the present county of Adams, in the state of Iowa, near the town of Corn- ing in said county, on the Burlington and Missouri River railroad; thence eastward with the said line to the main dividing ridge of high ground, to the main fork of the River Cedar (which is the line between Boone and Callaway counties in Missouri) ; thence down said river to the Missouri; thence down the River Missouri and in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the mouth of the Great Osage River, the place of beginning.
CHAPTER V
EARLY SETTLEMENT
SOURCES OF INFORMATION-CHARACTERISTICS OF PIONEERS-HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS-JOSEPH ARNOLD, FIRST SETTLER-SETTLEMENTS IN 1839- SETTLERS PRIOR TO 1850-ASEPH BUTLER SETTLED HERE IN 1840-JOHN MAIZE, UNCLE TOMMY TAYLOR, THOMAS FLINT, THOMAS TUCKER, CHARLES L. JENNINGS, E. M. JENNINGS, JOHN W. BROWN, WILLIAM R. ALLEN AND OTHERS-HIGH STANDARD OF CITIZENS .- "THE PLANTING OF THE COTTON- WOOD TREE."
Prior to 1859 there was no newspaper published in the county. The inhabitants prior to that date were not privileged as are we to read the weekly chronicles of the events in their community, and in writing of that time, we now having passed beyond listening to the statements of the old- est inhabitants we must seek information from the most reliable and authentic sources and in writing of others. In preparing this article much reference is had to articles heretofore written and published by Elder John S. Allen and Colonel D. J. Heaston, and much information has been derived from contributors of today.
This county, as was usually the case in all new countries, was settled by people who set out to establish, on new and cheap land, homes and communities for themselves and their families. They were people with- out much means, generally, who had courage and energy, determination and endurance, and who were capable of economy and patience. They were self-reliant and coming as they did with the purposes they did, were a people of farmers and honesty. Among them there was no place for a lazy man, a dude or a thief.
Of course before the first settlements were made the country had been explored and traversed by hunters and trappers. These had given names to many of the creeks and groves. For instance it is said that a camp of hunters on a creek a few miles southeast of Bethany from the number of skunks they found there, named the creek Pole-Cat, a name
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it bears to this day. Big Creek was named by settlers near its mouth where it flows into Grand River. Shane Creek was named after Thomas Shane, one of the first settlers upon its banks. And Sugar Creek was named from the unusual fact that along its course were found many hard maples from which sugar is made and to this day there are land- owners in that region who have preserved their sugar groves.
The time or place of the first settlement in the county is not definitely known. Joseph Arnold, who until his death some years ago lived about three miles south of Bethany, is accredited with being one of the first settlers and he stated that in the spring of 1838 his father and Levi Hunt settled on the west bank of Big Creek about five miles south of Bethany. That they found there when they came John Fields living a little lower down the creek on its east bank. That he had a little log hut and a small field enclosed and in cultivation. In the year 1838 William Mitchell, Jacob Mitchell and others settled on Sugar Creek in the southeast part of the county.
During that year and 1839 several families settled in the county at different points and the neighborhoods were known by the names of some of the more prominent of the first settlers. There were such neighbor- hoods as Dunkerson's Grove, Taylor's Grove, Harris' Mill, Foster's Farm, Allen's Big Spring, and like designations were common about the country by which different localities became well known among the people, and as commonly referred to as are now the towns and villages.
In the history of Harrison County, published in 1888 and edited by the late Colonel D. J: Heaston, of Bethany, we learn that efforts had beenf made to obtain the names of the actual settlers prior to 1850 and to ar- range them by neighborhoods, but it was found impossible; but the follow- ing list then taken from public records and interviews then had with pioneers was published therein alphabetically :
John S. Allen, Stephen C. Allen, William R. Allen, Abel W. Allen, Josiah Allen, Thomas Allen, William Allen, Samuel Alley, Sampson Alley. Benjamin Ashby, John J. Arnold, Joseph Arnold, Thomas Arnold, Benjamin Archer, William C. Atkinson, C. B. Adkins, Calloway Allen.
David Buck, Henderson Buck, Bethuel Buck, John W. Brown, James Brown, John A. Brown, Aseph Butler. John Bedford, Jacob A. Brown, Thomas Brown, William S. Brown, William E. Burris, Aaron Bales, John Brooks, James Blakely, Jonathan Booth, Robert Bullington, Howell Blake- ter, Benjamin S. Burns, Noah Bender, Jonathan Bender, William H.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Bender, Daniel Bartlett, Joseph Bartlett, Wilburn Blankenship, Simpson W. Burgin, Dennis Burgin, Boone Ballard, Solomon Burson, Christopher Blessing, James Brady, Isaac Brady, Alexander C. Brady, E. J. Bondurant, Isaac Brown, B. A. Brown, Aaron Bridges, Allen Bridges, James Bridges, Adam Brown, E. T. Baldwin, Ed Baldwin, William Ballew, Elisha W. Benton, E. H. Brady, James G. Broughton, James B. Bell, William Barber, Austin Bryant, Stephen Bryant.
John Conduit, William Chambers, C. W. H. Cox, A. M. Cox, Fleming Cox, John W. Casebolt, Harrison Casebolt, Dennis Clancey, Lewis Charlton, Arthur Charlton, John Charlton, John Y. Creswell, William Clopton, Wil- liam Cumming, Luther T. Collier, Lott Cain, William Crawford, W. W. Collins, John Cutshall, Eli Clevinger, D. C. Courter, Sam Courter, James Case, William Canaday, John Q. Chambers, Luther Collins, Thomas M. Carnes.
Thomas Dunkerson, James A. Dale, A. E. Dale, W. E. Dodd, Willis Dickinson, Phillip Davis, John Duley, Pleasant Daniel, John Daniel, Thomas Daniel, Alfred Daniel, John Dovney, George Davis, Willis Daniel, John P. Devers.
Samuel Edmiston, John P. Edmiston, James M. Edmiston, Edward L. Ellis, Samuel Ellis, Aaron England, John D. Enloe, Anthony Enloe, Abram Endsley, Hugh Endsley, John H. Elliott, L. H. Elliott.
Samuel P. Fleenor, Simon Fleenor, Thomas Flint, John Flint, John Fields, Dilwood Fields, Robert Ford, R. Y. Ford, John J. Ford, Samuel Ford, Henry Fuller, James Fuller, S. L. Fox, Elijah Fleming, Thomas Foster, John Foster, Levi Fields, Jesse Fowler, Matthew Franklin, Joel J. Fair, Asa Fleming, Richard Ford, Charles Fitch, Sam Fitch, William T. Foster, George Foster, George Fallis, John Fanning.
William B. Gillespie, Joseph Gillespie, John Gillespie, Jacob Gutshall, David Garton, Ananias Garton, Russell Guy, Benjamin Grubb, Thomas M. Geer, Noah Grant, Elkanah Glover, John Gibson, O. P. Green.
Phillip Harris, Joel Harris, David Harris, Isaac Hammers, William Hamblin, Thomas Hutchens, A. B. Harden, Edward Hunt, Joseph Hunt, Elijah Hubbard, E. L. Hubbard, E. S. Hughes, John J. Hatton, Marshall K. Howell, William W. Harper, Thomas Hart, Henry C. Hamilton, J. D. Hardin, Henry Herrington, Charles Hauck, Lewis Hunt, John Hudson, John W. Hobbs, E. H. Hobbs, John Hyde, Edward Higgins, William Hunter, Henry Hunter, Porter Hardin, John M. Haynes, Thomas J. Higgins, Nelson Hockridge, William Hamaker, Robert Hall, William Hall, William Hend-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
ricks, John Honan, W. B. Harper, J. J. Hogan, J. B. Hyde, Alex Hinkley, Benjamin Harris, Granville, Hogan, Joseph W. Harper, Enoch Holland, Shephard Hulse, Alfred Hickman.
Charles L. Jennings, E. M. Jennings, Martin Jennings, Samuel O. Jen- nings, Miles Jennings, Ichabod Jincks, Lee P. Jones, John Jones, Joseph Jones, Joseph C. Johnson.
Charley Killyan, John P. King, William King, Simon P. King, Jesse Kelley.
William Long, Ivan Low, Joshua Low, Alvin P. Low, Isaac N. Ladd, Thomas Ladd, William N. Lauderback, William G. Lewis, Joshua Looman, John Long, C. A. Long, John Liggett, Leonard Ladd, Jacob B. Ladd, William Liles.
William Mitchell, Jacob Mitchell, John Mitchell, Daniel Mitchell, James M. Mitchell, Reuben Macey, Eli McDaniel, F. H. Mckinney, Patrick McGill, Elisha Meeker, James Mallett, F. B. Miller, Cornelius Murphy, Daniel Mor- gan, William Munns, John McGinley, Charles Miller, S. C. Miller, Thomas Monson, Hugh T. Monson, Adam Miller, Abram Myers, John McGraw, Dr. J. G. Miller, William Martin, John Merrifield, Rolla Merrifield, Na- thaniel Martin, Arch Montgomery, Kader Madden, Allen S. Meek, Jacob H. McLey, James Moss, John R. Maize, David Macey, G. M. Mendenhall, John G. Musick.
George W. Noah, Harrison Noble, S. M. Nelson, James Nash, Wil- liam Nally, Samuel F. Neal, Henry O. Nevill, James H. Nevill.
Hardin Oatman, Clem Oatman, John Oatman, John Orain, William Oxford, Jonathan Oxford, Jacob D. Oxford, Drury Obion.
Samuel Prewitt, John Prewitt, Robert Peery, - Peery, Logan H. Peery, John Poynter, Thomas Poynter, William Pelcher, James Powell, An- thony Plymell, Peter Price, Joseph Price, James Price, William L. Price, Veazey Price, Christopher Platz, Peter Pettit, J. A. Piburn, J. M. Piburn.
William Robinson, James K. Rees, James Ramey, Benjamin S. Ramey, William Rice, Shedrick Robertson, Solomon Richardson, Hugh Ross, Samuel Ross, Jacob Ross, John E. Roberts, Henry Rice, James Rhodes, Perry Reed, John Ramey.
Ephraim Stewart, Wright Stephens, William M. Selby, Vincent Smith, John W. Stephenson, John R. Scott, George Smith, Jonathan H. Smith, A. J. Smith, Ed Smith, James Stone, Amos Spurgin, Eli Salmon, Thomas Shain, Noah Snell, Jacob Stumbaugh, Rod Stark, Charles M. Scott, Ben- jamin Salmon, John Sanders, Daniel Shumate, G. W. Selby, Samuel Spires,
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William Smith, Sylvester Smith, Allen Scott, William Simpson, James N. Stafford.
L. Dow Thompson, Thomas Tucker, Daniel Tucker, Beverly Travis, David Travis, William A. Travis, Hiram Tinney, John Taylor, Thomas Tay- lor, Chris Taylor, James Taylor, Thomas Thompson, Thomas Terry, Daniel M. Thomas, Elkanah Timmons, Reuben D. Tilley, Sanford M. Tilley, John Tull, Ben Tull, Jeptha Tull, Birdine Taylor, J. F. Thompson, Allen Turner, Silas Turner.
John W. Virden, Jesse Vail, Daniel Vanderpool, Isaac Vanhoozier, Val- entine Vanhoozier, William M. Virden.
George Williams, Alfred Williams, John Williams, Andrew Williams, David Williams, John B. Williams, Richard Watson, Noah Whitt, Sharp Winningham, Elijah Wilcot, John Wilcot, Hiram K. Weddle, Calvin Wil- liams, Adam H. Wilson, B. T. Whedbee, Solomon Wilkinson, W. B. Weldon, Zachariah Welden, Jonathan Welden, Mark P. Wills, Daniel Walker, Richard Walker, Joel H. Worthington.
Jeremiah Young, Harvey Young, R. R. Young, F. B. Young, William Young.
Of course, it is not claimed that the foregoing is a full or complete list of all the early settlers but it is believed to be the largest list that has ever been published. In writing a history of the county for the "Atlas" prepared by Edwards Brothers, in 1876, Colonel Heaston made a list of early settlers embracing about one-half the names above given. The others have been added from other sources.
Some of those people moved further on, others remained, and most have gone to their last resting places, leaving honored family names.
In 1840 Aseph M. Butler settled west of Big Creek on the farm where he lived and died near the south line of the county. He came from Ver- mont. About the same time John R. Maize, who died October 9, 1921,
settled near him. In the same year Thomas Tyler settled near the head of Pole Cat Creek on what was later known as the Birdine Taylor farm, upon which stands the Kutley Chapel. It was an old joke among the settlers that Uncle Tommy Taylor was the smartest man on Pole Cat, having shown his wisdom by settling so far up toward the head of the "critter." He certainly showed wisdom in selection of the site of his location. No better or more beautiful country is anywhere to be found.
John Foster settled near Antioch Church, four miles southeast of Bethany in 1840. He was a very strong man and it was said of him that
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he was always ready to fight-for amusement, for trial of strength-or in defense of the right.
The same year Thomas Flint settled near him. He was a minister in the Christian Church and continued to preach many years. He was an intelligent man, and did much good in properly directing the morals of the people. He was appointed circuit clerk upon the first organization of the county and died in office. David and William A. Travis also came here in 1840. They settled a few miles northeast of Bethany. It was reported about this part of the county that David Travis was one of the best hunters among the early settlers and in addition to other game occasionally killed an elk. In 1841 there settled near where Bethany is John W. Brown, Thomas Tucker, Charles L. Jennings, E. M. Jennings, William R. Allen and others. At that time there were no white settlers north of them except a few at Fort Des Moines where there was an Indian town and a fort. John W. Brown was one of the best known men among the early settlers and one of the best citizens that ever lived in the county. Before the organization of the county he was elected a justice of the peace or "squire" as he was familiarly called, and what cases there were, were decided by him and the man who was not satisfied with his decision was set down as a contentious man. After the organization of the county he was both circuit and county clerk for twenty years.
The first settlers of this county were all an exceptionally good class of citizens and all accounts we have learned of them agree in this. No county was ever settled by a better class of men than John S. Allen. William R. Allen, Aseph M. Butler, David Buck. Daniel Bartlett, C. L. Jennings, T. M. Geer, Lewis Charlton, Henry Fuller, Samuel Edmiston, John W. Brown, Thomas Flint, Thomas Tucker, T. M. Dunkerson, Elisha Meeker, M. K. Howell, Philip Harris, James A. Dale, Ephraim Stewart. William A. Travis, David Travis and those who settled with them near Bethany. Even William Penn and his early colony were no better.
The Planting of the Cottonwood Tree.
By Ed Blair.
The building of the cabin home, The planting of the trees, The breaking of the virgin soil- What tender memories!
.
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What stories, told of other days, That now drift back to me, I think this one the best of all, The planting of this tree.
A little sprout she carried there When first the home was bought, For mother said "a treeless home Was such a lonely spot." And by the door where summer's breeze Would tune its leaves to song
She planted it and nourished till Its roots grew firm and strong.
Dear cottonwood, so lovely then, How wide and tall it grew. What joy to those long absent when Its top first came to view! A sentinel it seemed to be That stood majestic there,
And guarded those who dwelt within That dear old home so fair.
'Twas mother's tree! And it has stood For thirty years or more, Where loving hands had planted it Beside that cottage door. The song-birds came and nested there, And 'neath its cooling shade, The boys and girls that blessed the home Their first playhouses made.
Here where the roaming buffaloes Were chased by Indian bands- "The treeless desert of the plains"- The shaded home now stands. The shaded homes, the homes with trees On every plain appear- 'Twas mother's love, 'twas mother's care That gave and made them dear.
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VIEW OF NORTH MISSOURI DISTRICT FAIR ASSOCIATION GROUNDS FROM AN AIRPLANE
CHAPTER VI
INDIAN HISTORY.
TRADING WITH INDIANS-NEED OF AMMUNITION-AN INCIDENT-INDIANS FRIENDLY-ORGANIZATION OF MILITIA-OFFICERS SELECTED-"THE KILL- YAN WAR."
Among the incidents of the early days were some arising from coming in contact with and trading with the Indians. The early settlers were sometimes in quite a strait for ammunition. This was to them a serious matter as they depended in a great measure upon wild meat for the first few years. This want was often partially supplied by the Indians who generally had powder and lead in abundance furnished them by the gov- ernment. The Indians were then numerous in the southwest portion of Iowa and when their hunting excursions would come near the white settle- ments, the whites would trade with them to secure ammunition. The Indians soon learned that when the whites needed ammunition they would give good trades to get it; in this they exhibited their natural shrewdness and in the game of "swap" they often outwitted their pale-face brothers.
An incident occurring in the fall of 1841 illustrating this has been handed down to us. It was like this: A settler needing ammunition, gathered a lot of turnips and took them to an Indian camp to trade, but being unable to speak in the Indian dialect the Indians held him at a dis- advantage, pretending not to understand him. Toward evening a lad about ten or twelve years old offered to trade some powder for turnips; they effected a trade, the man delivering the turnips and followed the lad into his wigwam to get the powder. It was then dark but the wigwam was lighted up slightly by a stick fire; the lad got the allotted amount in a rag and the settler wanted to take it to the light to examine it but the lad motioned frantically for him not to take it to the light to examine it at the same time saying "tshu tshu" as much as to say it will explode. The man took the alleged powder to his wagon, but fearing the lad was tricking him concluded to test the powder. He tasted it and tried to ex-
(4)
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
plode a little of it when he found it was no good. He returned with it to the wigwam but neither the lad nor the turnips could be found. It ap- peared that the lad had gathered up some charcoal, pounded it up fine and traded it to the unsuspecting settler for pure government powder. He wandered around complaining greatly at the manner in which he had been swindled, but he could not find a member of the Lo family who could understand him sufficiently to sympathize with him in the loss of his turnips and powder.
The Indians would generally trade almost anything they had for "skutipo" (whisky). They would gather large quantities of wild meat, which they would dry and pack away for transportation to their towns. They were also quite skillful at tanning deer skins out of which they made many useful articles or beautiful trinkets. They preferred to trade these to the settlers but soon found that there was not much demand for them. They would exchange their dried venison or anything for "skutipo" and then their men would get drunk and when they were drunk they were not "good Indians" and it was safer to be away from them, though they were quiet when sober and never disturbed the whites or their property, but sometimes would infringe upon the hunting grounds of the whites. It was against the law to trade, sell or give whisky to the Indians, yet the law was in that regard oftener violated than it was vindicated.
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