Dade County, Missouri - Chapter 16, 1917 (part 1 of 6)

Prologue

For a number of years it has been the desire of the leading citizens of Dade County that a history should be written giving to the world an accurate estimate of the lives and the achievements of this municipality from its earliest existence down to the present time, faithfully recording the struggles and sacrifices of the pioneers together with their reward. A task of this kind requires diligent research, accurate detail and faithful record.

Early in the year 1916 Hon. Aaron D. States, a prominent citizen of the county and a man in every way qualified for this great undertaking entered enthusiastically into the field but was stricken by the grim reaper before the harvest was gathered. Much of the material prepared by him was in a crude form and for a time the enterprize was jeopardized by the untimely death of Mr. States, but his labor was not in vain. After a few months, those having undertaken the financial burden of the enterprise came to me with the material and data gathered by Mr. States and insisted that I complete the work. It was with reluctance that I did so, and it is only by reason of the very generous efforts of those who have so kindly contributed articles that this work is at all possible.

MUCH of the history of Dade County slumbers in the tomb of the maker. In many instances only a partial record was preserved and Father Time has gathered to himself in the silence of death not only the history but also the historian.

No spirit of self aggrandizement prompts the effort necessary to the collation of this great work. Proper credit will be given to all those who have contributed to its success.

I realize the fact that of necessity, this history will be incomplete. Many important circumstances will escape the pen of the historian and many events fraught with human interest will be missed. It may be left to the historian of the future to write in greater detail of the facts and circumstances which have contributed to make Dade County the peer among the counties of the Ozark region, but it is to be hoped that when he shall pass along this road he will find here and there a footprint in the immortal sand which will guide him safely to his journey's end.

In presenting this volume to the people of Dade County it is the cherished wish of the editor that they will find in its pages many precious pearls of great price and memories of days which have long since passed into the valley of yesterday, thereby insuring its welcome into every Dade County home.

A. J. Young Western Gateway To The Ozarks

A beautiful stretch of prairie country extends from the Kansas State line eastward. It remains prairie until it reaches the foot hills of the Ozarks at a point near the center line of Dade County where it merges into uplands that are covered with timber, interspersed by running brooks, fed by living springs. The outlines form a beautiful countour of natures arrangement, so much so, that tourists as well as native citizens, find in the picture rare beauty and considerable nature wonderment.

At the point where the level prairie land unites with the upland and the little hills, there is a richness in the scenery. Off to the east and the south as well as north, master hills show their verdant peaks while the rich valleys give evidence of the thrift of the husbandmen. Streams of pure water course these valleys and they are fed by living springs, that are found on both hillside and lowland.

The western gateway has a history that will never be recorded because of the fact in the remote past the pioneer cared but little save for the felling of the forest along the streams, and the breaking of the virgin soil and the building of his cabin. The cabin was always found near some friendly spring. The public highway was then unknown. Neighborhood roads supplied the need of primitive travel and many of this nature of roads are remembered by the elders of the present day - a few of them still exist and to some extent they are used, yet to the public highway, a prominent factor in the up-building of the country much attention is given, the main avenues for public travel. The neighborhood roads began to disappear some twenty years ago taking with them much of the rich pioneer history.

Tradition is faulty at times and, therefore, not altogether dependable. The old roadways that wind here and there, are easily traced by the marks in the woodland and on the hillside, that the wheels of the past have made. These old ruts and marks of primal history tell a tale of the days when the fathers used to go many miles to mill or to their post office or the store that used to furnish their needed supplies.

It would indeed be a difficult matter to learn who first discovered the western gateway to the Ozarks. Tradition says a company of men who were exploring the southeastern part of the Kansas territory in the first of the 30 's stole across the line into Missouri territory and traveled as far eastward as the foothills. Another tradition tells us that back in the twenties, there came a few men of a daring spirit out into the wilderness of grasses and trees, among the Indians and all manner of wild animals known to this section and traveled as far westward as the junction of the level upland at a point somewhere near the center of the county and another tradition says some of these men of a more daring nature crossed the line into the wilds of Kansas where there was an abundance of buffalo, deer and other wild game. A search for the names of these men proved futile.

It is evident that this portion of the Ozarks was known to others long before these two supposed companies of men saw this country. One strong evidence of this fact is the old Fort, supposed to have been built by the Spanish many years before. It seems that these Spanish explorers and hunters of mineral wealth, built this fortification in order to protect themselves against Indian attack and to also give them a place to smelt their ores. Until recent years ashes and charred coal could be found at the lower end of the enclosure near the spring, that showed clearly that a vast amount of fuel had been used for some purpose. The banks of this enclosure are about extinct, the ashes and charred coals are all gone, nothing of any consequence yet remaining but the old spring - and it will not talk in the language of the historian. Had the builders of this old fortification been so thoughtful as to chisel on the stone or brass the year they inhabited this portion of the Ozarks the whole country would extend it's thanks - but alas there is no record. This old fortification is out on Son's Creek about seven miles northwest of Greenfield.

There is but little question but what the upper Limestone and Son's creek country were the first places of resort for the Indian and also for the first white people. The Indians left traces of their habitation in the way of arrows, stone hammers, arrow points and other Indian chattels, that points clearly that they were the first here and of consequence, were the first to enter the Ozarks from the east and north and pass out through the western gateway. Many Indian relics were found in the upper Limestone and the upper Son's Creek country. In the entire western gateway in Dade County is one of special interest to the nature lover, the Sac river hill, the Limestone and Son's Creek and the fertile valleys form a scene that is truly splendid. This gateway north and south and about the center, was settled about the same year. Settlers were attracted to this section by the mild climate, the richness of the soil and the abundance of water supply. They came from Tennessee, Kentucky and a few from Virginia. This was nearly 83 years ago. Here they found nature gardens at every turn and many of these gardens afforded food stuff for their cabin. Flowers were here in abundance in their richest beauty and they are still here. The fire pink, the wild rose, the primitive verbena, the first trumpet vine and the first violet, found their home near this gateway Mid they have been standing vigil all these years, welcoming the worthy to admission into a country that is becoming one of the richest in the middle west. All manner of nut bearing trees grow along the friendly streams, and they gave succor and aid to the early fathers. They were many wild fruits such as wild grapes almost as large and sweet as the concord of today, luscious persimmons and toothsome blackhaws. In those early days it was no trouble to make the product of both field and garden pay.

There was no drought and there was precious little cultivation needed because of the richness of the soil and the absence of weeds. It is said weeds were not known for a long time after the first settlements were established. Weed seed was brought to this section by the birds and the pressure of high winds. In this particular there is a vast difference, the weed industry seems to be chief where greatest care is not observed.

Spring and Autumn months especially the months of April, May, June and October, are kin to the valleys of Arno throughout the western gateway. Almost any year the plow can be seen going in the field in the months of December and January and many of the early gardens are made the latter days of January and the first of February. Some years nearly all the spring plowing is done in the winter months. Many years the pasture remains clean and profitable the entire year with the exception when there is a coat of sleet on the ground. Cattle and sheep have been known to feed from the pasture fields the entire winter months; the climate as a rule, is mild and healthful, the mercury seldom goes below the zero mark and most winters it remains at least to forty degrees above. Some winters the mercury registers as high as 60 to 70 degrees several days at a period. Most years the early spring crops are planted the latter days of February and the first days in March. Sometimes there is a cold wave period that strikes this country in early winter and remains until the dawning of spring - this is a rare section.

The mild climate enables the stock man to care for his herd with but little extra expense in winter, over the summer months when pasture is at its best. The dairymen find this country an ideal place to carry on his vocation. This is a real natural dairy country, and the business has been neglected to a great extent. The never failing water and the abundance of the grasses linked with mild climate and the proximity to market, makes this country an ideal country for such culture. There is not much need of expensive dairy barns or sheds, yet, many who are now engaged in the business find it profitable to protect their herds from storm and sleet though these barns are not put into actual use save a very few months in the year. Many herd owners use well covered sheds with openings for the stock. These sheds prove to be good herd protectors and they are practically inexpensive when compared with the results they obtain; they are the best paying improvements that can be made on any dairy or stock farm, for it is a well known fact that chilly days and damp cold seasons are not very conductive to the growth and development of any nature of stock. Some day Bade County will be one of the banner dairy counties in the middle west.

Over in Barton county, north of Lamar there is a point that is called the Ozark divide. At this point a part of the water runs north into the streams that find their outlet in the Osage river and a part flows south into what is known as Muddy, thence into Spring River. This divide is noticeable to the naked eye and many points in Barton and places in Dade County. The first little hillocks of the Ozark range are to be seen in western Barton County and these little hills and rolling prairie are very prominent until they reach half way across Dade County, then merge into real hills where the upland and the valleys give protection to the soil tiller, where there are many prosperous, happy homes. There are many of these homes at the western gateway; some of them are really ideal country homes. Throughout the Lockwood and Arcola districts there are many of these homes. There are a number of ideal farms in these districts and the number does not diminish as travel is made eastward through the entire county, to the Green County line.

The early fathers seemed to like the wooded district of Dado County better than they did the prairie district. Hero is where they built their first cabins, their first church, their first school house and their first village. This was on account of the water supply and the head of timber to build their cabin and otherwise improve their farms. Forty years ago land in the Lockwood district sold as low as two dollars and fifty cents the acre. It was then a wilderness of grass and remained so until the advent of the Memphis Railroad about the first of the 80 's. These same tracts could not be bought now for much less than $100 the acre, and many of them would demand a much higher price. The building of the Memphis Railroad, up to the time of its building, was the greatest event in the history of the county. Soon after the completion of this railroad the western half of Dade County was a real mecca for the home seeker, resulting in the turning of the wilderness into a veritable garden. Too much credit cannot be given George H. Nettleton and J. E. Lockwood, promoters and builders of this railroad, for the good that has resulted from the building and completon of this splendid highway of steel. It has been the savior of central south Missouri.

Conditions at the western gateway of the Ozarks remain pretty much the same until the Greene County line is reached on the east. The heretofore waste lands are now coining into use, especially the hill lands, Avhich, heretofore, were covered with grasses, thickets and briars. These hill lands are being cleared and the soil is being brought into use in the raising of grasses, thus adding to the material worth of the county in the way of land protection. This section seems to be the home for all the grasses, the clover, blue grass and timothy thrive in almost every section. Blue grass and clover seem to spring simultaneously by the roadside, the newly cleared hillside and in waste places - this is especially true of the clover. This aid of nature assists materially in making the country {he ideal country for dairy herds and the raising of young cattle. Pasturage is abundant from early spring until the extreme dry weather which usually conies the latter days of July and the month of August. Then when the early fall season begins the grasses begin to take on new life and long before frost the fields are covered with the rich crop of splendid feed that often lasts throughout the winter months - especially during the open days of the winter.

farms demand as high as $75 the acre. Some of the valley land bring $125 to $140 the acre - it might be well to state not many of the valley land farms are changing ownership because of the fact there is no better land in any country in the way of productiveness or in the raising of diversified crops. The farms that contain part valley and part upland are considered the best. These farms are giving the best record. The pioneers thus believed, for many of them entered land that had a touch of real rustic nature as well as plenty of bottom land which they cultivated. This is one great reason Dade County as a whole was slow in converting its hill land into helpmates. It has been lately proven that much of the upland is about as rich as the bottom land along the various streams.

Mason Talbutt Why I Like My Part Of The Country

I live neither in the north or the south, the east or the west - my country is Missouri, the center State. I possess a very small portion of Missouri, yet it is my adopted asylum - it is my country. Why do I like it, listen!"

It is south Missouri where the Ozarks play with the gossamere clouds and the mellow sunbeams, that dance over meadow, woodland and tangled wildwood and play hide-go-seek amid labyrinth and dell. Where the purest crystal water flows in classic rivers and streams and from never ceasing nature wells and springs, that give health and life. Where talkative, babling brooklets quench the thirst of the herds, on its mission to the ' father of waters,' passing through bewitching nature gardens, tickling the rootlets of herb and fern, then spreading into a broader and deeper current to gladden the hearts of the husbandmen. Where the golden sunlight warms the earth the quickest after the snows and the sleets. Where the earth responds to every honest touch of the soil tiller and assures him plenty with some to spare.

Not so very far from thriving cities, near the trackage of the endless steel rail with the master city of the middle west hard by. Near a modern village of schools and churches and where everybody is hailed as brother, and, should I forget to extend the day benediction in passing it would be sufficient cause to create a desire in the afflicted to learn, ''What on earth has happened?" In a country where the countryman and the townsman sit in the same pew, attend the same social functions, whose children attend the same school. Where the modern car is found, both in town and country, where the public highways are being made ideal and where all modern improvements find a people ready to adopt every measure that strengthens industrial worth and broadens the sphere in making life worth while. Where are no strangers and should one come within our gates he is soon a brother. A country where boosters live, live not alone for self but are willing that others shall live. Where mutual interests are considered above par value - a country where the principles of a common brotherhood are practiced, at least in part.

The Ozark range of mountains is distant kin to the Rockies. They extend two hundred miles east and west and average a little over a hundred miles in width. This scope of country, the Switzerland of the middle west is fast becoming the pleasure resort for thousands of pleasure seekers each year. They find all kinds of nature wonderment, little cascades, bewitching grottoes, fruitful fields and gardens with farm and town homes, that are akin to the homes of city streets. Pleasure resorts abound everywhere. Community houses shelter the weary pilgrim, log and cobble stone bungalows with verdant gardens, greet the visitor in all the mountain country. No visitor need to be too far distant to hear the pealing of the high school and college bell, in order to find pleasure and healthful zone. Mountain roads are being made ideal, their gentle slope and graceful windings, through nature's panoramas, gives the visitor a touch of the sublime and the beautiful. The artist, the literatus and the seeker of health, climb the mountain peaks, and with glass, can soo into four states. This is the home of "The Shepherd of the Hills."

I am a child of nature,.! love my mother. She has fed rno and clothed me all these years. She adorns the walls of her home with master paintings, she seeks to soothe sorrow and strengthen hope and faith. After awhik* Kho will clasp me in her bosom and there I will sweetly sleep.

Early Indian History

The Indian tribes that once roamed over the territory known in the early history as Barry County, of which a part is now Dade County, left but little trace of their occupancy, save in arrow heads, stone hammers, and a few stones they used to grind their corn.

Thousands of arrow heads have been found in the upper Limestone Country, along the banks of Son's Creek, over on the Sac and in many up land districts. There are but few living who saw the Indians, mostly Osage when they occupied this portion of the country, prior to and after the first white settlers. Tradition, with but little historic record, says that the Cherokees and the Delawares were here about the same time, the Cherokees coming from the Indian Territory in 1835, soon after their arrival from Georgia, and, the Delawares coming into this section soon after their arrival to their new reservation on the lands comprising the country, in Kansas, at the fork of the Kansas Missouri River junctions. This was sometime during the year 1829 and 1830. They strolled over south Missouri in search of game, yet, they never had possessed a reservation here. Their reservation was ceded to them for all time, yet it was not long until they ceded back to the United States their lands - this was in the early fifties. Many of them were loath to leave their homes when asked to join their kin in the Indian Territory. Some are of the opinion, seasoned by facts, that this tribe on its journey to the Indian Territory found plenty of game in Western Missouri and eastern Kansas, and that when they found the life flowing rivers in south Missouri, this country was a sort of Mecca to them for a number of years. Game was plenty, a few buffalo, plenty of deer and bear, and the rivers and streams were well supplied with fish. Early settlers saw ruins of their wigwams and their little fortifications. The Delawares were peaceful people and somewhat industrious. They loved their home in the reservation and they were loath in giving it up to the white settlers. A few Indian families, decendants from the Delaware tribe, still live in the old reservation beyond the Kaw.

When the last century was young the north part of Missouri suffered from Indian invasion and there were a number of massacres. The Indian history of that part of Missouri, is exceedingly interesting. At that time there were no permanent white settlements in this section of the state - there were a few white explorers, who were in search of gold and other valuable metals. We have record of this class as early as 1814, yet the record fails to state the names of the parties, or their success in the attempt, neither does it reveal and information whatever, concerning the Indian occupancy.

The truth of the whole matter is the fact that the early settler of north Missouri had but little knowledge of what the state possessed or rather territory, south of the Missouri River. Many descendants of these old time settlers of that section are still ignorant of this information, little knowing that a mighty empire lies south of the Missouri River and extends to the Arkansas State line, a part of which, is Dade County. Because of the first settlements being made in central and northern part of Missouri was on account of river transportation though very incomplete, yet it afforded a way for the immigrant and explorer to reach the interior of the then territory, a way of travel that was considered in a measure modern.

A few Indian graves have been found in sections of Dade County but they did not produce much historic interest. Dr. William Harrison, late of Greenfield, now of the city of Tulsa, Okla., in connection Avith Brother Edwin, used to delight in assembling Indian relice and at one time their collection was considered one of the finest in the country, each relic in this collection was found in Dade County. The collection was sold to - - , lection. He has been engaged for a number of years in the assembling of his collection and he prizes it highly. It is a rare collection and some day it will bring him a good price, each relic in this collection was found in western Dade and eastern Barton counties. Mr. Brooks has it on exhibition in the post office lobby at Golden City.

There are other smaller collections. It is conceded that the first occupant of the territory composing Dade County were the Osage Indians, who claimed dominion over all the land, lying between the Missouri and Arkansas Rivers, embracing a greater portion of the states of Missouri and Arkansas. The luan Paw Indians also claimed dominion and were original occupants of a portion of this country in Missouri and Arkansas. Tradition says the first Indian occupancy was at the very beginning of the last century. If they inhabited this country at an earlier period they left no historic trace of the event. It was at the time the Indians were being crowded from their happy hunting grounds in the territory of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky to a more congenial portion where they would not be molested by the whites. At that time St. Louis was a pretty active river village and its principal trade was in fur production and trading with the Indians. Exploration parties explored a portion of the interior part of the Missouri territory. The Indians soon settled in portions of Missouri and it was not long until they had roamed the state and many tribes were delighted in the prairie districts of Kansas.

As early as 1834, we find that a missionary named Joseph Meeker, found his way into Kansas and preached to the Indians. We have no record of Indian mission work in this section of Missouri. The white settlers were slow in making the Ozark country their home. There are no great water ways in the Ozark country that would furnish transportation for the early home-seeker, and it was a very difficult matter for the home-seeker to find any sort of a trail that might give some evidence of partial civilization until the year 1830. It is true that earlier, though but a few years, they found their way to Spring- field on the east and to the present post on the north, where Kansas City now flourishes. The ox team then afforded about the only means of transportation. The country was pretty well inhabited by Indians and there were but few scattered white settlements. This made it undesirable for the first fathers to start on a journey through a wilderness inhabited by a people who are supposed to be the white man's greatest enemy. Though this belief, founded upon some principles of fact if any new settler experienced trouble with the Indians while enroute through Missouri to his new home in Dade County, it was never recorded and the fact forgotten.

The numerous herds of buffalo attracted the Indians from Missouri into Kansas teritory at an early period and occupied the teritory sometime after civilization entered that country. A great portion of the early inhabitants of Kansas went to that country from Missouri, as well as from the States or districts farther north. The Indian always loved the buffalo chase, the excitement and its profit appealed to him. There were but few herds of buffalo in Missouri, three quarters of a century ago, except in western Missouri, \vhere prairie country abounds. The Indian always had a liking for rivers and lesser streams, where they could build their wigwams and found their villages. Southern Missouri and especially the southwest portion seemed to be an ideal place for such industry. Primitive Barry county once had many signs of Indian habitation, especially in the wooded and rural districts. The game here was not so large, yet the country appealed to the Red Man for a sort of a home land. At no time in the early history of Dade County does it appear that the Indians gave any great amount of annoyance to the early settlers except their petty thieving and their delight in giving fright to women and children, who always dreaded the autumn months, the time when the Indians would flock here on their way back to the Indian Territory from their hunting trip to northern Missouri. They seldom stole except things to eat, and once in a while they would take a calf or a hog.

FORMATIVE ACT - Dade County was organized in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, approved January 29, 1841, and an act supplemental thereto, approved February 15, 1841. That part of the first act relating to the organization of this county, reads as follows:

Section 10. All that teritory included within the following" described limits, viz: Beginning at the middle of the eastern boundary line of Township 28 of Range 25; thence north on the range line dividing Ranges 24 and 25, to the township line dividing Townships 34 and 35; thence west on Range 29; thence south to the northwest corner of Barry County; thence east to the place of beginning; is hereby created a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the name of the county of Dade.

Section 11. Josiah McCreary of Barry County; William Coulfield, of Greene County, and Winfrey Owens, of Polk County, are hereby appointed commissioners to select the permanent seat of justice of said county.

Section 12. The circuit and county courts of said county shall be held at the dwelling house of William Penn, in said county, until the permanent seat of justice of said county is established, or the county court shall otherwise direct.

Section 46. "The commissioners to select the respective county seats aforesaid, shall meet on the second Monday in April next, at the places for holding courts for the counties, respectively, in which county seats are to be located, for the purpose of entering upon the discharge of their duties.

Section 48. The Governor is hereby authorized and required to appoint and commission in each of said counties three persons as justices of the county court, and one person as sheriff; and the persons appointed and commissioned as aforesaid shall hold their offices until the next general election, and until their succesors are duly elected and qualified.

Section 49. The circuit and county courts, or judge or justices thereof in vacation, shall appoint their respective clerks, who shall hold their offices until the next general election for clerks, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

* OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS - The supplemental act provided that the county court of the several counties created by this act should meet on the first Monday of March following its passage, and that they should then, or at a subsequent term to be held in that month, appoint a county assessor, and that the collectors of the revenue of these counties should be allowed until the first day of February, 1842, to collect and pay in the revenues of their respective counties. It also provided that the seat of justice of the county of Dade should be located within four miles of the center of the county, and that the county courts might appoint surveyors to serve until August following, when surveyors should be elected.

In accordance with the foregoing laws, Gov. Thomas Reynolds appointed and commissioned Nelson McDowell, William Penn and David Hunter as justices of the county court, and Asa G. Smith as sheriff of the county. In further compliance with the law, these justices met on the first Monday of March, 1841, at the residence of William Penn (on Pennsylvania Prairie), and then and there organized their court, and appointed Joseph Allen as clerk, and thus completed the organization of Dade County. It was contemplated by the prime movers for the organization of the county that the seat should be located on Pennsylvania Prairie; but the clause in ttie supplemental act requiring the seat of justice to be located within four miles of the center of the county defeated their project. Soon after the county was organized, the comrnisisoners appointed by the act creating it to select the permanent seat of justice met as directed, and selected the site of the present town of Greenfield, consist- ing, as then selected, of fifty-one acres, and procured title for the same for the county, from the owners, Matthias H. Allison and Mary Ann Allison, his wife, by deed dated April 14, 1841. This tract of land was donated to the county by the grantors, for and in consideration of the location of the county seat thereon, and it consists of the northwest quarter of the northwest of Section 19, Township 31 north, Range 26 west, together with a strip on the north and west sides, sufficient in width to make the whole tract contain fifty-one acres.

After the site for the county seat was selected, the sessions of the courts were held at the residence of Matthias H. Allison, at Greenfield, until June, 1842, and on the 20th day of that month the county court met for the first time in the first court house erected for the county. As soon as the site for the seat of justice was selected, the county court appointed John M. Rankin commissioner of the county seat.

COUNTY BOUNDARY - By reference to the description of Dade County, as given in the act creating it, it will be seen that the county extended nine miles south of its present southern boundary, and ten miles north of its present northern boundary. Thus it included all of Township 29, and the north half of Township 28, now comprised in Lawrence County on the south, and the north two-thirds of Township 33, and the whole of Township 34, now comprised in Cedar County on the north. The east and west boundaries of the county remain on the same lines described in the act of creating it. The county was reduced in size to its present limits by an act entitled, "An act to define the limits of several counties within the State," approved March 28, 1845. The section describing it reads as follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 24, Township 33, Range 25; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 24, Township 33, Range 29; thence south to the township line dividing Townships 29 and 30; thence east to the range line dividing Ranges 24 and 25; thence north to the beginning." This makes the county consist of Townships 30, 31, 32 and the south one- third of 33, and of Ranges 25, 26, 27, 28 and the east tier of sections in Range 29, thus making it twenty miles north and south, and twenty-five miles east and west.

MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS - Immediately upon the organization of the county, it was subdivided into municipal townships, but no record pertaining to their formation has been preserved. In May, 1854, a new township, named North, was formed to comprise all that part of Center Township lying north of a line running from the southwest corner of Section 19, Township 32, Range 27, east, on the section lines to Sac River; and Prairie school house, near the residence of Benjamin Appleby, was the place designated for holding elections in the new township. In February, 1860, another new municipal township was formed in response to a petition signed by Wiley Irby and others to the number of 81. It was named South, and was bounded as follows: Beginning two and one-half miles west of the range line between Ranges 26 and 27, on the township line between Townships 30 and 31; thence running due south to the county line between Bade and Lawrence Counties; thence running due east with said county line to the range line between Ranges 25 to 26; thence north on the range line to the township line between Townships 30 and 31; thence west to the place of beginning. The place for holding elections in the new township was fixed at Finley's mill.

On the llth of June, 1860, the county court, on petition of John A. Ferguson and fifty others, created a p.ew township as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Bade County; thence east to the line between Ranges 27 and 28; thence south seven miles to the southeast corner of Section 25, Township 32, Range 28; thence west with the subdivisional lines to the Barton County line seven miles; thence north to the place, of beginning; to be known by the name of Horse Creek. The place for holding elections in the township was fixed at the residence of William Cantrell.

General Description, Topography, Etc

The County of Dade lies on the western slope of the Ozark Mountain Range, in the southwestern part of Missouri, is the third county north of the Arkansas line and the second east from the Kansas line, and is in latitude 38 degrees north, and longitude 94 degrees west. It occupies portions of Townships 30, 31, 32 and 33 north, and Ranges 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 west of the fifth principal meridian, and is bounded on the north by Cedar, on the east by Polk and Greene Counties, on the south by Lawrence, and on the west by Jasper and Barton Counties. Its area consists of 500 square miles, or 320,000 acres; being 25 miles in length, east and west, 20 miles in width, north and south.

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL FEATURES - The dividing ridge or summit of the Ozark Range, between the waters which flow northwardly to the Osage River, and thence to the Missouri, and the waters which flow southwardly to the Neosho River, and thence to the Arkansas, runs diagonally across the southwest part of the county. The average elevation of the county above sea level is about one thousand three hundred feet, and the surface is about equally divided between timber and prairie lands. That part lying in the timber and near the water courses is rolling, and in many places very rough and hilly, while the western portion of the county, more especially, breaks down from the elevated Ozark ridges into the beautiful valleys and broad prairies of the Neosho and Osage basins.

STREAMS - Several cold, swift streams course through the country from south to north, which, with their numerous tributaries, furnish an unfailing supply of the best water for use, and water-power inexhaustible. Turnback heads in Lawrence County on the south, and flows into the center of the county, where it is joined by Sac River from the east, and together flow into the Osage. Limestone Creek rises in the southwestern portion of the county, and empties into Turnback near Greenfield, and furnishes power for mills. Other and smaller streams, Son's Creek, Horse Creek, Cedar Creek and Sinking Creek, traverse considerable portions of the county, and are fed by never-failing springs of pure cold water. Along Sac River, Turnback and Son's Creek, the surface of the county is bold and precipitious, with fertile valleys composed of the richest loam lying between the picturesque hills and bluffs. These hills are covered more or less densely with all kinds of oak, hickory, and other valuable timber, and furnish good grazing. Maze Creek, a branch of the Sac River, enters the county from the east, and flows in a northwesterly direction, across the northeastern portion. Muddy Creek, being the only one in the county south of the dividing ridge, enters the county from the south, and flows in a northwesterly direction across the southwestern portion thereof, into Barton County and into the Xeosho River. The larger streams of the county, at all times, afford abundant supplies of stock water, and abound in a variety of choice fish. Many portions of the county are well supplied with springs of pure, clear water, and excellent well water may be obtained in almost any part of the county, at a depth of from twelve to twenty

PRAIRIES - In the northwestern portion of the county, is Crisp's Prairie, some 12 by 3 miles in extent, named after its first settlers, the Crisps. It is a beautiful rolling- section of country interspersed with groves, and is in a high state of cultivation. Rock Prairie, in the southeast corner of the county, is another fertile and beautiful region covered with fine farms, and all the evidence of fertility and wealth.

Pennsylvania Prairie, named after Judge William Penn, an early settler, is situated in the southern portion of the county, between Turnback and Limestone Creeks, and above their junction. It is one of the richest and oldest sections of the county, and is especially noted for its fruit growing. After leaving the hills along Turnback Creek and Sac River, going westward, one enters that vast prairie country, stretching from north to south across the entire width of the county, and extending westward to the base of the Rocky Mountains.

The streams that water this grand region flow but a few feet below the general level of the rolling prairie, and are narrowly fringed with trees, and from the eminences one can trace the line of waving trees until the eye loses the outline in the dim distance.

SOIL - The prevailing country rock is a sandstone and limestone formation w'ith large areas of flint and chert cropping out in the most broken parts and along the streams. The overlying soil on the uplands in the eastern part of the county consists of a red clay and subsoil covered with a red, or what is termed a "mulatto," loam. For wheat, corn and tobacco raising, it is unsurpassed. The valleys along the streams are alluvial deposits of rich, black loam, from two to six feet in depth, overlying sub-deposits of gravel and limestone, and yield corn averaging from sixty to eighty bushels per acre, according to the season and thoroughness of cultivation. The prairie, or the western part of the county, is composed of a clay subsoil, overlaid with a rich dark soil varying from

TIMBER - The entire eastern portion of Dade County with the exception of the prairies and cleared lands; is covered, and in many places densely, with a light growth of timber. The timber on the uplands consists of the oak in its several varieties, hickory, and a few other hardwood varieties, while in the valleys and along the streams it consists of black and white walnut, ash, soft maple, sycamore, elm and a few other kinds, including also oak and hickory. All the timber of the county, though some of it attains a great thickness, has a short and stubby growth, in length it will not compare with that of Eastern States. Along the bluffs of Son's Creek several groves of cedar exist, but the trees are not sufficient size to be of use except for transplanting for ornamental purposes. Much of the timber consists of what is known as "second growth," all of which has grown since the settlement of the county began, and since the Indians ceased their annual burnings over the surface of the country. In some places this "second growth" timber is very fine - is not scrubby, but smooth, and grows rapidly, and is already valuable for fencing purposes. There is yet an abundant supply of wood for fuel, easily maintained at moderate cost. Young timber grows rapidly when planted on the prairie, and there are some fine groves in the western part of the county.

CLIMATE - The climate of Dade County is a happy medium between extremes of heat and cold. The winters are mild and short. Snow rarely falls before Christmas, and never exceeds but a few inches in depth, and seldom lies on the ground longer than three or four days at a time. Mercury seldom falls to zero, and is not much of the time below freezing point. This is a "sunny climate," even in winter, and, except when it is raining or storming, the outdoor laborer never has to lose a day's work on account of the weather; and the contour of the country being, as it is, somewhat rolling, and well supplied with forests, it is never visited with severe storms or cyclones. There are no swamps or stagnant pools of water in the county; consequently it is clear from all malaria, except what is caused in all new countries, by the upturning of the virgin soil. Though the summers are long, the heat is never excessive, being tempered as it is, with the high elevation and the breezes from the west. It is doubtful whether a more healthy country than the Ozark Range can be found anywhere on the continent. Fevers of the typhoid type are rare, and lung and bronchial diseases are comparatively unknown. The water is pure and healthy, and entirely free from alkali or other deleterious substances.

WILD ANIMALS AND WILD FOWL - When the first settlers landed here they found the forests inhabited by buffaloes, bears, panthers, wolves, wildcats, catamounts, elk, deer and all the smaller animals common to this latitude. Wild fowls, such as geese, turkeys, ducks and smaller birds, were also natural claimants of the territory. The buffaloes soon fled to the westward and became extinct; the bears refused to flee, but have become extinct. The wolves, the animals of the cat kind, were very numerous. A war of extinction was begun on them by the early settlers, and it has been continued, so that not many of these animals now remain. The deer were so plentiful that they were found in herds or droves. They have been hunted and slain for food, but a few still remain - enough to amuse the hunters. The elk are extinct. The smaller animals, such as foxes, raccoons, rabbits and the like, abound in considerable numbers. Wild turkeys were once so abundant that the early settlers killed all they could consume. Wild geese are very scarce now, but the turkeys and ducks, even yet, abound to some extent. The small birds - the songsters - in great numbers, still make the groves ring with their music.

First Land Entries

In order to give a more extended list of the early settlers, there has been compiled from the records a list of the names of those who entered lands in the several congressional townships in the county at or prior to certain dates; care being taken to give only the names of those who became actually settlers, and omitting reference to those already mentioned. The townships and lists are as follows:

TOWNSHIP 30, RANGE 25 - The first entries were made in this township in 1844, by James Hembree, Moses Theobold, James Douglas, Lysander S. Dunn and Samuel Harris. Entries 1845 were made by William Dunn, David C. Eastin and M. E. Brown. From 1845 to 1849 entries were made by J. H. Hardin, Samuel Nickel and others.

TOWNSHIP 30, RANGE 26 - The first entries in this township were made in 1840, by Thomas Box, C. J. Morris, Samuel Carr, Reuben Carter, E. F. Morris, C. Beckham, Jesse Scott, John Rice, William Mallory, William Snaden, William Williams, Sterling and John Sailing, Absalom Ren fro, David, A. D. and John Hudspeth, William Snaden, Rich T. Willis, Daniel W. Scott, Jas. M. Snaden, John Gamble ,Jesse 0. Scott, Jas. Ventioner, John Bowles, A. S. Yokimi, and others heretofore mentioned. Others and succeeding early entries were made by Jacob Cox, Alex. Russell and Andrew Gilmore.

TOWNSHIP 30, RANGE 27 - First entries in this township were made by Joshua and Alexander Ragsdale, Isaac Preston, Jonathan Parris, Britain Finley, William Merriek, Robert Allison, John B. Parris, Jacob Reed, Andrew Allison, David Moore and William H. King. Soon after entries were made by Jesse Dougherty and others.

Ben M. Neale

TOWNSHIP 30, RANGE 29 - Only the eastern tier of sections was in Dade county. The first entries were made in 1856, by William Russell and John Thompson.

TOWNSHIP 31, RANGE 25 - First entries were made in 1844, by E. B. Miller, Thomas Stockstell and Samuel L. and L. L. Carlock. Subsequent early entries were made by James Leeper, Reuben Carter, Calvin Wheeler, John D. Ragsdale, Daniel M. McGee, Henry H. Pemberton and John M. Tarrant.

TOWNSHIP 31, RANGE 26 - Entries in this township date from 1840, made by Joseph R. Davidson, Elijah Mc- Millen, John M. Rankin, Emerson C. Scott, C. L. Bidstrap, Isaac Stockton, James West, Charles Hoover, John and Joseph Sailing, and others heretofore named. Soon thereafter entries were made by J. N. Weir, Isam A. Young, Ramson Gates, A. Cowan, John Tarbot, W. R. Rankin and John M. Dicus. Many other entries were made during the forties.

TOWNSHIP 31, RANGE 27 - First entries were made in 1840, by Thomas A. Dale, John C. Wetzel, William Fleisher, William Arbagast, Joshua Carman, John Finley, William McMillan, and others mentioned as early settlers.

TOWNSHIP 32, RANGE 25 - First entries in 1839 were made by Pierce Asbell, William P. and Thomas Hudson, James G. Berry, John C. Kirby, Jesse M. Finley, Stephen Grey, Tully C. Kirby, Isiah Kirby, Joel Dobbs, James H. Gaunt, H. Rook, D. B. Baker, William and J. P. Edge.

TOWNSHIP 32, RANGE 26 - First entries were made in 1840, by James Hobbs, L. T. Dunnaway, Eber E. White, William M. Roark, S. E. Seybert, John F. Johnson, Thomas Fleming and William Johnson.

TOWNSHIP 32, RANGE 29 - First entry made in 1853, by D. Dewey; next in 1854, by William and Jacob Sears; the next in 1855, by Isaac Darneel and Washington Farmer.

TOWNSHIP 33, RANGE 27 - The first entry was made in 1840, by Isaiah Lynch. Subsequent entries were made in 1850, by John Underwood and Aaron Russell.

Early Settlement Of Washington, Smith

Probably the first settler in either Smith, Washington or Lock wood Townships, was made by a man by the name of Box, who settled on Turnback Creek prior to 1834. William Landers, whose father settled at the bluff spring just this side of tlie old Hoyle Mill on Turnback, in 1<S43, was then twelve years of age, and in his recollections of pioneer days, states that at that time there were hut three white families in Dade County. Besides his father's family, and that of Guy Clopton, who had settled on Sac River at what is now known as ''Bill's Ghost House/' the Glenn family, near Cory, and the Box family, some five miles further up Turnback from where the Landers family settled, in the spring of 1837, the McMillen family settled on Limestone Creek about a mile and a half below what is now South Greenfield; and at this same time the Penn family settled on what is now Pennsylvania Prairie. In October, 1837, Joshua Ragsdale came to where Penn had settled, and finding that Penn had taken up a great amount of land, decided to move further north, and with Mr. Penn as a guide, discovered what is now called Buffalo Springs, about one and onehalf miles west of South Greenfield, and there he settled. About this same time App Renfro, father of Joe Renfro and Lewis Renfro, settled on Honey Creek near Pennsboro. The Sailings family had come in some earlier, the exact day the writer is unable to ascertain, but it was prior to 1837, and the exact location of their homestead is not known, except it was on Limestone. The above families constituted the settlers until about 1841, when the Daughtery family moved in to the settlement. Of this family ther were three families, John Daughtery, who settled on what is now the Sam Daughtery farm, about four miles south and west of Greenfield; Jesse Daughtery, who settled about a mile and a half west of South Greenfield; and Frederick Daughtery, who settled near Limestone Creek, near what is called the Limestone School House. About this time, possibly a little later, the McLemore family came. Of this family there were four, John Mc- Lemore, who settled on Limestone; Arch McLemore and Wesley McLemore settled on Sac River, north of Greenfield, and Jack McLemore, who settled near Walnut Grove in Greene County. Lewis Spain about this time settled also on Limestone, just above the John McLemore place, and the Preston family also settled in the early forties on the head waters of the west prong of Limestone Creek, in what is now Smith Township and in what is known to this day as the Preston settlement. Of this family there were three of the men that were heads of families, to-wit: Harrison Preston, Henry Preston and Isaac Preston. In this same period the Moore family, the Snadon family and the Speer family settled on Pennsylvania Prairie. The Gates family also settled near the old Dadeville Spring about the same period. The Bowles family settled upon the head waters of the east prong of Limestone Creek.

According to William Landers, when his father first settled, the country had never been surveyed. He states that he as a boy assisted in making this survey, and that until the country was surveyed, there was no land office and no entries of land could be made, which retarded emigration. When the McMillens and Ragsdales, Penns and Renfros settled, emigration for some time was very slow on that account; but as soon as the land office was established at Springfield, emigration came rapidly, which accounts for such a rush in the early forties. There are some families who were early settlers, who have lost their identity. The Bogart family is but a memory, but they were among the early settlers in those townships. The McXeese family, another pioneer family, has also lost its identity. They also settled in the Limestone country in an early day, but of this family there was but one boy, and after the Civil war, he never returned. Monroe Morris was a pioneer of Smith Township and father of Bud Morris of Lockwood, and of Elvis Morris, Jesse Morris and Bailey Morris. Among those who also joined in the rush to secure homes in the Limestone Country in the early forties was the Davidson family. The elder Davidson was a minister and one of the very first in the county and in the William Lander's recollections, he states that Davidson was the first preacher he remembered, except an Indian convert, who preached some among his people and whites when they settled on Turnback in 1834. Of this family there were four boys, George Davidson, Wesley Davidson, William Davidson and James Davidson. William Davidson now owns the old homestead on Limestone. Practically all the settlers mentioned before settled in Washington and South Townships and a few in Smith

Township. The Matlock family were among the early settlers of Smith Township, settling some two miles southwest of Kingspoint. The Simpson family, relatives of the Matlocks, settled on Horse Creek, some ten miles northwest of Lockwood, and William Wagner also settled in this same point of timber at the same time. This was in the early forties.

The Simpson family were noted for being great hunters. At that time western Dade County was infested with a multitude of wolves. They were a menace to the settlers' stock and became so bold that steps had to be taken to combat them. The Simpson boys began the work of extermination. They secured a quantity of poison, and would kill a deer, and after thoroughly poisoning it, would drag it over the prairie, and hundreds of wolves were killed in this way. William Wagner has lived up until only a few years since, the Matlocks have all passed away. Of this family Uncle Luke Matlock was the quaintest character, he wore homespun jeans clothes to the day of his death, which has only been some ten years ago. This family was composed of Uncle Luke and some two or three sisters, none of whom ever married. It is said they clung to homespun clothes and old methods, to even cooking on the fireplace even to this generation. In this same period of the early 40 's the Scott family also settled near Pennsboro, and of this family Uncle Bud Scott, a noted pioneer, who just recently died, was a member. The first settler in Lockwood Township was Jack Finley, whose homestead can be seen to this day on the Greenfield and Lockwood publijp road. Lockwood Township was slow in being settled up, and old-timers being slow to settle on the prairie. Alex Ragsdale and William Cunningham and Jesse Cartwright also settled in this township about the same time. Just prior to the Civil War Judge Wells, formerly a member of the Dade County court, came with a man by the name of Welty, the two coming from Iowa with a large band of sheep, and they took land in what is now Lockwood Township, and about this same time a man by the name of Churchill, settled just west of Kings- point. He was from the same neighborhood of Wells and Welty. Churchill built what was in that day a fine house on his prairie farm, but Wells and Welty were single men and boarded with Alex Ragsdale. In the election of 1860 over the protest and warning of Alex Ragsdale, these men at Kingspoint voted for Lincoln for president. Ragsdale had lived there since 1837 and knew the danger but despite his protest they voted the night of the election. Ragsdale had secured information to the effect that they would probably be mobbed that night and came home and told them to get away. They loaded up their effects, drove up to Churchill's, assisted him to get a few of his effects together, and by midnight they were headed for the Missouri River. The mob came to Ragsdale 's in search of Wells and Welty, and another bunch went to Churchill 's, but they had just gotten away under cover of darkness. Welty and Churchill never returned. For years the Churchill homestead stood tenantless on the prairie, finally decayed and went to waste. Ragsdale sold the sheep for Wells and Welty and remitted them the money. After the war Wells came back and settled near south Greenfield, was afterwards elected County Judge of Dado County, and died at his home in Dade County a few years ago a respected citizen, but he never forgot his first vote in Dade County and his hasty flight to save his life from the Missouri pro-slavery men. Jacob Cox was another very early settler of Limestone. He was the father of Sam W. Cox of South Greenfield.

For most part the pioneers depended upon home industry to produce everything in the way of tools that was used. John McLemore was the country blacksmith and made about everything in the way of tools. Joshua Ragsdale was the county tanner, tanning the hides for leather that was used for use in those days. He was also a cooper by trade, and supplied' the country side with barrels, tubs, pails, etc. The Speer family were millers and had a mill on the headwaters of Limestone, and supplied flour and meal (mostly meal) to the pioneers. At this place was also a cotton-gin, where the early settlers had their cotton prepared for use. Aunt Patsy Morris, wife of Arch Morris, one of the early settlers on Limestone, was considered a good doctor and attended to a great deal of sickness of the neighborhood. She was the mother of Dr. Morris, remembered by many of us today as a physician at Greenfield. Among some of her treatments were witch methods which were greatly believed in at that day and time. The Finley family was another very prominent pioneer family, and owing to its numerous members now residents of Dade County reference can be had elsewhere to their history. Suffice to say in this sketch that Jack Finley, as before stated, settled on Son's Creek in Lockwood Township. Another one of the older men settled some three miles southwest of Greenfield, and another, James F. Finley, settled northeast of Greenfield, Thomas Finley at Pilgrim, and Milton, who was a bachelor, settled just east of Greenfield, and one of the girls married Judge Wetzel, father of J. L. Wetzel. The aforesaid people compose the first settlers of southwestern Dade County. For the most part they came from the south, principally from Tennessee, and were industrious, honest and in most part far-seeing, and intensely religious. To many of the later day people it is a mystery why the first settlers chose what is now the most undesirable lands to make their homes, usually at a spring, with glade and rough land about; but it must be remembered that there were two things the pioneer was compelled to have and that was wood and water. The present day of drilling and blasting was unknown. The only method of fencing was by use of rails, there was practically no timber except along the water courses, and strange as this may seem it was impossible to farm on the prairie on account of a certain kind of fly now about extinct (small green fly). It was impossible to use work animals except very early in the morning and late at night, on account of the pests, and aside from all this, there was no market for anything, money was very scarce and what there was, the pioneer market except a little local market to the new settlers, who put into land as fast as he could get it together. The first had to purchase provisions for the first year, was when the gold fields were opened in California, when there was a great demand for oxen and supplies for the great wagon trains bound overland for the gold fields. Fort Scott, Kansas, then a United States fort, also required provisions, and here the pioneers found a market for their bacon and dried fruits. This trade with Fort Scott was the first real stable market the first settlers had for their products, and in this connection might be related the most tragic events of the early days. McBride and Etter, two prominent early day settlers, had taken a load each of produce to Fort Scott to sell, and after disposing of their produce started home, near Greenfield. They reached what is called ''Ruphs" Point on Muddy Creek just over in Barton County, and there camped for the night. "Ruphs" Point is a point of timber where it juts out into the prairies of Barton County. That night both were murdered, including a small son of Etter 's, who accompanied them. Their bodies were never recovered, their money was found in an old "polk root" stem, where they had evidently hidden it, themselves, before retiring. Their horses were found grazing on the prairie, the wagons were found hidden in a deep pool in Muddy Creek, entirely submerged, the end of the wagon tongues being tied to grape vines, but no trace of their bodies was ever found. Jesse McBride, William McBride and Robert McBride, well known in Greenfield, being merchants there in bygone years, were sons of this McBride. Mrs. Alexander Lack of Lockwood and Mrs. Dave Burns of Marion Township, were daughters of Etter.

The Boone Family

Nathan Boone first settled in Missouri at the village of St. Charles on the Missouri River in the year 1799, and it is said that lie built the first stone house ever built in Missouri. Xathan Boone was the youngest son of Daniel

Howard Ragsdale

Boone, the famous frontiersman of Kentucky. Shortly thereafter, his famous father came to live with his son, Nathan, and there he lived until his death, which occurred in the year 1820. (The writer of this article is indebted for the facts herein set forth to "Aunt Mary" Hosman, who died something like a year ago at the age of 92 years). Aunt Mary was the youngest child of Nathan Boone, and shortly before her death she wrote her OWTII personal recollections of the Boone family, and requested me to put it in shape for her and write it on a typewriter. She stated that she desired to sign this statement with her own name and leave it for her children, so that they might know the true facts concerning her family. As a compensation she gave the writer of this article a copy for himself.

Daniel Boone, when he came to Missouri, came to stay. He felt that he had been badly treated by the Kentuckians. His lands had been taken from him for the reason that some way Daniel Boone could never get it into his head that he had to get a title from the Government. The old frontiersman could not understand this and failed to get his government patents, and lost his lands, and to the day of his death he never returned to Kentucky. According to Aunt Mary, if her father, Nathan Boone, had been living at the time Kentucky came and removed his remains and built that splendid memorial of marble at his tomb, their journey would have been fruitless, for she says Kentucky should never have had the privilege of taking his body back. A few years back when that State had its great homecoming many inducements were offered to Aunt Mary as the only living grand-child of Daniel Boone, to go back as a guest of the State. She refused, doubtless remembering the injustice, as she termed it, of having driven her grandfather almost penniless from its boundaries, when he had given the best part of his life and had done more than any other one man had ever done for that famous State. Aunt Mary Hosman during the last years of her father's life spent a great deal of time with him, and to her he told many things that have never been written, and will never be written about Daniel Boone. It is so un- fortunate that some competent writer did not spend some time with Aunt Mary and write her history. It would have been a valuable addition not only to the local history of Missouri, but would have thrown much light on events of historic interest.

Daniel Boone was not content while living with his son in St. Charles. The settlement and village was not of his nature, and one day, Aunt Mary says, her father told her that Daniel without a word of parting, took his old rifle and a young negro slave of his son, Nathan's, and disappeared. No one knew where he had gone, days passed and no tidings came. He was at that time over eighty years of age. The neighbors and friends of the family became very much excited and urged Nathan Boone to get up a searching party to try and hunt him up, but Nathan told them it was no use, they could never find him, and that as far as he was concerned he had no fears, because his father was so thoroughly posted in woodcraft, that it would be absolutely impossible to lose himself so long as he stayed in the woods, and that he knew his father would never leave the timber belt. Days passed into weeks, and weeks into months and late in the autumn, as suddenly as he had disappeared, back came Daniel with the negro slave. He told them of his wanderings and claimed that he had been up the Missouri River and thence across the State and to the mouth of the Kaw River, and that he had come back by the way of the wooded water-sheds of the Osage, and he seemed to be as happy and spry as a boy. He told of his discovery of some salt springs on his travels and fully described the whole trip. This was the last hunting trip of Daniel Boone, for he passed away shortly, and was taken by Nathan Boone and friends and buried in the Bryan cemetery in (1allaway County, this State.

Nathan Boone was prominent in the early history of the Slate of Missouri. lie was a member of the first Constitutional Convention ever held in Missouri, in 1820. Nathan Boone was also the surveyor who surveyed out the famous Boone Lick Road, the first State Highway in the State of Missouri. It ran from St. Charles, Missouri, to

Old Franklin, Missouri, and was the fore-runner of the Santa Fe Trail and the old Oregon Trail. Nathan Boone surveyed this out in the year 1814, some years before Missouri was admitted to the Union. The State Legislature, in 1913, appropriated three thousand dollars to place " markers" along this now historic trail, and yet, the man who surveyed and laid it out, and gave it to Missouri, lies in an unmarked grave in an old field on the border of Greene and Bade Counties. Not even a rough stone marks the grave, and the careless farmer plows by and the plowshare turns the soil over the grave of this historic man.

Nathan Boone when he came to this country did not come without first having looked the country over. Years before, while in the employ of the Government as a Government surveyor, he had surveyed over this country and had fallen in love with the Ozark Hills, and as he grew old, and had retired from active life, in the year 1837 he brought his family and slaves and settled just two miles north of Ash Grove. Here he engaged in farming, and became very wealthy. At the time of his death he owned some twelve hundred acres of land and many slaves, and other personal property. Aunt Mary says, when she wras young and when her father was in the Government service, he was, in addition to being a surveyor, a Captain of a Company of Dragoons and that his trips often took him among the Indians. He also surveyed and made a plat of the Canadian River for the Federal Government. His last years were spent in the quiet of his home. He lived a life of retirement and in 1856 died and was buried on the old homestead. Then followed the Civil War. The Boone family went with the South. Franklin T. Frazier, a son-in-law of Nathanial Boone, was a State Senator from this district. He voted for secession from the Union and later went witli that part of the legislature that went to Neosho, Missouri, to set up another State Capital and pass and act of secession and failed. After the war and the Boone family returned, nothing was left, their slaves had been set free, all personal property gone, and just the land was left. The Boone family had been reared in ease and luxury and knew nothing of work before the war; their slaves tilled the soil and the income was a matter of course. The result was, the Boone family had hard luck financially and with the exception of Aunt Mary Hosman and Mrs. Franklin T. Frazier lost the fortune that their father had left them. They left again for the South so that today none of the family of Boone remain, who bear the name of Boone. It is true the Hosman family and the Frazier family remain, but the name of Boone has passed away, and Nathan Boone, that great character of early Missouri, who was one of the most prominent men in the making of this state, sleeps in an unmarked and almost unknown grave among the hills of the Ozarks.

John Crisp

In the year 1818, Redden Crisp and his son, John, came to Cedar County. From there they went out east of Dadeville to what is now known as Crisp Prairie, and settled. About the year 1820 John Crisp married Malinda English. John Crisp and his wife went to what is now known as the old home place, about one-half mile northeast of the Crisp store. There they raked up the leaves, spread out their blankets and spent the first night. Next day, both helping, they started to build a little log house which served as their home for the next few years. During the year 1849, he went to California to dig gold. Mrs. Crisp with her children was left at home in charge of the farm and a few slaves. One day while he was away, she saw a savage approaching the house. She went in and closed the door. It was fastened with a wooden pin. There was a way of reaching in from the outside and opening the door. This the savage tried to do, but Mrs. Crisp kept striking at his hand with a wooden poker until she broke the Indian's arm. In order to gain revenge, he shot off his gun with one hand into the grass to set fire to the cabin. Only the path around the house saved it until the slaves in the field got there and put the fire out.

Orleans. His gold he brought back in a leather trunk. There were many thieves on the boat, and all the rest he had for twenty-four days and nights, was sitting astride his leather trunk. He had been gone three or four years. Of course he had gone to California along with one of the numerous wagon trains of that day. While in New Orleans he bought more slaves to cultivate his farms.

Mrs. Crisp died soon after his return. They had nine children. Only one of these, Aunt Lettie Baldwin, is left. About the year 1855 he married Millie O'Connor. Ten children were born to them. Five of whom are still living. John Crisp had 1,600 acres of land all in one body. He had entered all of this except the 160-acre homestead. Mrs. Crisp died in 1874. Mr. Crisp, 1876. His sale lasted for three days.

In last week's issue of the Leader I noticed, under the head of "Scraps of History of Southwest Missouri," that John Crisp was the first settler of Dade County and that he had to go forty miles to the nearest justice to get married. I was well acquainted with "Uncle John." His fine farm is just two and one-half miles west of this town. He settled it in 1820. It is one of the finest tracts of land in Southwest Missouri. His wife, a Miss English, lived at that time one mile southwest of this place. He mounted his intended wife on a large ox and took his rifle on his shoulder and walked by the side of the ox to Justice Fulbright's at Springfield, where the justice made them man and wife. After getting married he bought his outfit for housekeping, consisting of two tin cups, two tin plates and two knives and forks, in Springfield, and his wife carried it home on her ox. The old gentleman has been dead eighteen years. He was an uncle of Hon. John T. Crisp, of Jackson County, Missouri.

Reminiscences Of J. W. Caemack

I have been solicited to give a statement of myself, also of some facts to my knowledge of Dade County, Missouri. And in response to the solicitation I submit the following statement for publication in the Dade County History:

May 26, 1838, I was born in Overton County, Tennessee, near Livingston, where my father, John Carmack, resided until April 1st, A. D. 1853, when he embarked for the west with his family of wife and seven children, three boys and four girls, equipped with two yoke of oxen and wagon, one horse and carriage, two cows and two dogs. My mother, grown sister and little brother, three years old, rode in the carriage, the three little sisters rode in the wagon. My father and larger brother walked and drove the cows, the dogs followed. I was mounted upon the rear wheel ox upon a new saddle, with line in hand tied around the horns of the lead ox. This position I held from Tennessee to Dadeville, Missouri, landing June 14, 1853. I was then 16 years old, had been conductor of this train the entire march (conductors are very important). Here we met Col. Thos. Dale, Dr. Samuel Bender, and Reverend N. Fisk, who were Tennesseeans. They prevailed upon my father to locate here. We drove two miles west of Dadeville and camped at W. A. McMaster's. Next day my father went to look for a location. My brother, 14 years old, took care of our teams. I hired to James G. Berry to work in harvest. He paid me 35c per day. In a few days my father had bought of David Pylc his homestead claim. Then entered the land in Sections 5 and 8-32-25. Mr. Pyle vacated and we moved in at once, where he remained until his death, December 24, 1856. hi this neighborhood, Dr. J. H. Mulky, Peter Gearheart, Burket Jonos, J. M. Gaunt, James G. Berry, W. G. Dodson, Alfred Divine and Bird Hembree, had located.

They all had children and no school to send them. The above named parties resolved to have a school. Burket Jones gave a school house site upon his land near a spring. All parties went to work cutting and hauling logs for the building. My father made the boards to cover it with, while others put up the building. Levi Jones and I made rails for 25c per hundred to get money to get nails to put the roof on with and to pay for muslin to make the window lights. The windows were made by cutting a log out of the sides of the house, then stretching cloth over the openings, writing desks were made by boring auger holes in the logs of the building, driving wooden pins in the holes and laying boards on the pins; the seats were made of split poles with wooden legs. The gables of the house were weather boarded up with clab-boards. Door shutter made from side boards of old wagon box and fastened with chain and padlock; no floors in the building, no stove. Being anxious for school the building was proclaimed ready and christened as West Center School House, this being the sixth week in construction from the stump to completion. At this juncture, Mrs. Burket Jones prepared a sumptuous dinner and spread to all participating in the building work. When summoned all parties and their families appeared on the scene of action. The men folks bringing their guns for a deer drive after dinner. After dinner the men with guns and Uncle Burket Jones with dogs marched to a clump of bushes a half-mile from his house. The gun men took stands near by, uncle Burket went to the opposite side of the thicket with the dogs and ran -the deer out (about twenty in number). John H. Dill, John M. Gaunt and my brother, Hardin, each shot a deer. Uncle Burket came to the house, hitched his horse to a bobsled and went for the deer, brought them in, unloaded them at his door yard, where they were dressed and divided and the hides sent to the tan yard. Carter S. Pyle was at the feast, here he proposed to teach a three months' subscription school and would take in any kind of stock or produce. This proposition was accepted, and on the following Monday morn- ing he opened school with 26 scholars (warm weather), no floor in the building, no stove, and in a few weeks had more pupils. His school was a success. When the term was ended and subscriptions paid up, he was the best prepared man for the winter in the neighborhood. He had corn, potatoes, onions, turnips, cabbage, beets, tomatoes, hay, oats, pumpkins, chickens, sheep, hogs, pigs and calves (choice calves worth $2.50 each).

School district then organized under the law. Levy made to run three months school next year, also for incidental expenses, flooring the house and buying a stove. Mr. Pyle then proposed to teach the next school and wait for his pay until the taxes levied was collected. This proposition was accepted and the school taught. At taxpaying time the taxes were promptly paid by all except J. G. Berry, who was opposed to the organization and levy. He was sued for his school tax, the board obtained judgment and execution against him, then sold a horse under execution for $3 to pay said tax; then the name of the house was changed from West Center to that of Point Victory. Later a move was made and carried to change the site one-half mile and to build a new school house. In this wrangle two of the board had a fist fight, but proceeded to move the site and build a new school house. Then christened the building as War Eagle. Some years later the name was changed to Jones, which name it now bears, still situated on the Jones land. This district has turned out some very efficient teachers.

First Settlers

in the first settling of this neighborhood the settlers had to labor under many disadvantages, go through various hardships. We had good land, but covered with wild grass about knee high. When .broken out would produce all kinds of grain and vegetables we needed to live on, no money to pay for labor (John Tyler was president of the I'. S.) I made 10 feet rails at 25c per hundred to fence a good sized farm, took most of my pay in bacon at 3c per pound for my father's family. My father was unable to work for some time before his death. After his death I had to look after my mother and family. During my father's life time, we had fenced and broke out 20 acres of land. He had a few sheep, hogs and cows and two yoke of oxen at his death. In the spring following his death, I broke ground with oxen for a crop, Eber E. White let me have a horse to make my crop. My brother, Hardin 17 years old, took our teams and wagon and freighted goods for the merchants at Dadeville and Greenfield from Boonville and Syracuse, Missouri. We raised cotton from which my mother and sisters manufactured our wearing apparel. Mr. Wright Graft had a tan yard that furnished leather for shoes for the neighborhood. The demand for shoes was very urgent. Mr. Sammy Mack, the shoemaker, would take the hides from the tanner before they were blacked and just as they were rubbed out of the tan, oose and dried, would make the shoes. When finished they were about the color of a bull frog. Then the polish was put on by disolving copperas in water. Pour this upon the bottom of an iron wash kettle then rub with a cloth to polish. This shoemaker also manufactured horn combs for all the neighbors. At that time I was not acquainted generally over the county, but as far as I was concerned the conditions seemed to be about as that of our neighborhood. The west half of Dade County was sparcely settled prior to the war of 1861. Of my father's family of nine that landed in Dade County, Missouri, June 14, 1853, only three are living. My eldest sister, Mrs. Dr. Hamilton, who is 85 years old, living in St. Louis, Missouri. Myself, now near 79 years old, J. G. Carmack, 67 years old now at San Francisco, California. My mother lived to the age of 93 years. She was the last Revolutionary daughter of Dade county, daughter of Paul Chapin of New Jersey, who was a drummer boy in Washington's Army and was a commanding Major in the war of 1812.

My educational experience before leaving the State of Tennessee: I had attended school nine months, could spell, read and write. After establishing our school at Point Victory in Morgan Township, I attended two, three months terms, where I mastered the old Blue Back Speller, the fourth Reader, Smith's Grammar and Smiley 's Arithmetic. Later on I hired to John M. Gaunt to work for three months at $10 per month. With this $30 I went to Professor Rhea who was teaching in Springfield in a little brick school house on St. Louis street near what was called the Dead Sea (a place they made whiskey). This was called a High School. He took me in for three months giving me board and tuition for my $30. He advanced my studies in addition to reviewing, gave me history, algebra and geography. In studying this geography and with his explanation, found that this earth was not flat as supposed. When the term closed, he gave me a very complimentary grade card, which served me well later on. I got a job of work and got me some more clothes. Alexander Rutledge was then County School Commissioner, I approached him for examination for teacher's certificate to teach in Dade county. He took my examination, granted the certificate, then proffered to help me get a school. In a very short time he wrote me telling me he had a school for me in his neighborhood at a school house near the old Bates Mill on Limestone Creek near Smith Pelt's farm. I went, took and taught the school with success. By this time the Civil War was at hand, so I taught no more until after the close of the war, then taught in the Public Schools in this county for six years. Since that time, I have worked at various avocations, farming merchandising, milling and livery. My home had been in Morgan township since 1853. Cast every vote I have given in Morgan township except one I gave in the field while a soldier in the late war. What I could say of Dade county politics would not be of much interest as all are aware that dishonest politicians, the boodlers and inefficient officers have lowered our financial standing.

Attach To My Statement Made Of My First

The only one Iving of the entire list is the last name mentioned and he is nearing the century mark in years. Many of my acquaintances at that time who were then young men are still living in Dade county at this date, 1917. One young man at that time of my acquaintance, I will mention viz: Thomas McConnell, a neighbor of mine who died just after the close of the Civil War, June 14, 1864, when Kinch West's guerrillas burned Melville. When leaving the town, they passed by his house (he in bed sick). They carried him out into the yard with his wife and two children, then set fire to his house burning it to the ground with contents. The neighbors joined in and built him a little house upon the premises where he remained until his death. His family consisted of wife and two little boys. T. A. McConnell, late sheriff of Dade county and J. B. McConnell now occupying the home. His widow, N. C. McConnell, later on remarried to Eldridge Miller. To this union were born C. I. and Clarence Miller. Mr. Miller died and she was again left a widow and as such died after having lived a long and useful life, and was highly respected by all who knew her.

Greenfield And Its People In 1867

After a dreary ride over the rocks which lay between this town and Bolivar I landed in Greenfield, April 8, 1867. The "Greenfield House," located on the southwest corner of Main and Garrett Streets, where the neat little cottage occupied by Postmaster Bowles, stands, was the only hotel in the town, and my first stopping place in Dade county. The building was a two-story frame, two rooms long facing Main Street. The upper story was reached by an outside stairway leading up from the porch which extended along the front of the building. The hotel was conducted by John W. Murphy and wife. Across Main Street was the two-story frame residence of the Rev. W. R. Fulton, pastor of the Presbyterian church. D. W. Edwards now owns the residence and has added to and changed its appearance materially. On the next block south and near the Public Square was, and is, the house owned by D. C. Easton, and now the residence of his daughters, Misses Ollie and Frank. Across the street was the residence of

R. S. Jacobs; the broad porcb added by its present owner, J. E. Shaw, makes a decided change in its front. On the corner south, fronting the Square was Mr. Jacob's one story frame, where he had his general merchandise store, with John Bell, clerk. The building was about twenty by forty feet with a ware-room on the west about fifteen feet wide. West and near the center of the block was a oneroom frame building- unoccupied. On the corner where the Bade county bank stands, was the one-story frame where John E. Garrett had a general store. On the lot occupied by Eastin's " Daylight Store" was a low twostory frame, two-rooms long, fronting the Square, with a one-story frame at the northwest corner. Nelson Mc- Dowell and Robert McBride, owners. In the lower south room Robert McBride and John W. McDowell had their stock of goods. Mr. McBride lived in the north lower room, and also had two rooms above with the one story frame for a kitchen. Tn the third room of the second story Judge McDowell had his Real Estate Office. South of this building was a one-story frame, some thirty feet deep. It had not been occupied for some years, and the front had nearly disappeared, what was left had a distinct leaning to the south. Newton H. McClure bought the building straightened the frame and made it into a neat store from which he dispensed a stock of general merchandise. The C. E. Tarr brick now stands in its place1. South and on the corner fronting the square was a twostory brick, the south two-thirds owned by Win. K. Lathim and stocked as a general store. On one side in front was the post office, John J. Lathim, post master. Its furniture consisted of perhape a dozen boxes for letters, as many, only larger for papers, a cancelling stamp, pens and a bottle of ink. When the tri-weekly mail came in from Bolivar, we were all scooted into the street, while the mail was being distributed. I think it was in the latter part of the year, that the west end of that part of the building from the roof to the second floor dropped out and was not repaired until bought by Jesse W. McBride and rearranged for a drug store on the first floor and a residence above. The north one-third was owned by Dr. Samuel B. Bowles and on the ground floor, he dispensed drugs. The entire second floor was vacant. On the south side of the square on the corner where Mr. Snead had his drug store was a little one-story frame, some fifteen by twenty feet, where Dr. Samuel Bender had his office. On the lot where Harrison Bros, now sell furniture, there stood a one-story frame about fifteen by twenty-five occupied by J. S. and Wm. H. McBride, twin brothers, as a general store. Jesse W., a younger brother, was their clerk. On the corner where the people now go for their mail was a two-story brick with an attic. The building was about forty-five feet long, fronting the square, two rooms deep with a one-story ell at the southwest corner. A broad hall ran through the center of the main building. The east lower front room was used by all the courts, Circuit, County and Probate and was also the office of Nelson B. McDonnell, county clerk. The rear room was the office of Arch M. Long, clerk of the Circuit Court, and ex-officio Recorder of Deeds. The west lower part of the building was occupied by R. B. (Uncle Dick) Cook and family, also the east rooms on the second floor. The west front room, second floor, was Shafer and Merrills' Law office, and the rear room, the Vedette office, John W. Murphy, owner and editor. Mason Talbutt and John P. Griggs compositors. The attic was used by the McBride Bros, as a store-room. East across the street was a low-story frame, some thirty feet long, fronting west. The lower story just being fitted up by Lewis M. Murphy for a tin and stove shop. The upper story was vacant. North, across the street, on the site of Grether's Hardware Store, Watson had kept up a small one-story frame, where he sold whisky. His license expired July 4th and was not renewed. About where the "Bijou" stands was an old frame of one-story, with a side room on the south which Jesse Cartwrite used as a stable. The main room was not occupied. Xext north, in the center of the block stood the fourteen by fourteen foot law office of W. C. McDowell. Next, a one-story frame where John Harrison made and sold harness and saddles.

Next and on the corner, a frame house of four or five rooms, the residence of Jno. II. Howard and family. Across the street, on the corner now occupied by the B. S. Jacobs Bank building, there was a one-story frame about sixteen by forty feet filled with a stock of general merchandise owned by John H. Howard and Company. There was a shed room on the north where Temple E. Bell had a harness and saddle shop. The square was a picture of desolation. In the center a pile of broken brick and plaster, what was left of the courthouse, burned during the war, and around it stood a lot of apparently dead locust trees, used as hitching posts, the ground tramped and cut up between. Not a vistage of grass or fence to be seen.