Grundy County, Missouri - Chapter 4: Title and Early Settlements, 1881

Title to Missouri Lands - Right of Discovery - Title of France and Spain - Cession to the United States - Teiritorial Changes - Treaties with Indians - First Settlemetit - Ste. Genevieve and New Bou'bon - St. Louis - When Incorporated - Potosi - St. Charles - Portage des Sioux - New AJ ad id - St. Francois County - Perry - Mississippi - Loutre Islattd - "Boon^s L.ick^^ - Coti Sans Dessein - Howard County - Some First Things - Counties - When Organized.

The title to the soil of Missouri, was, of course, primarily vested in the original occupants who inhabited the country prior to its discovery by the whites. But the Indians, being savages, possessed but i^vq rights that civilized nations considered themselves bound to respect, so when they found this country in the possession of such a people, they claimed it in the name of the King of France, by the right of discovery. It remained under the jurisdiction of P'rance until 1763.

Prior to the year 1763, the entire continent of North America, was divided between France, England, Spain, and Russia. France held all that portion th; t now constitutes our national domain west of the Mississippi River, except Texo^", and the territory which we have obtained from Mexico and Russia. The vast region, while under the jurisdiction of France, was known as itsc "" Province of Louisiana," and embraced the present State of Missouri. At the close of the "Old French War," in 1763, France gave up her share of the continent, and ^pain came into the possession of the territory west of the Mississippi River, while Great Britain retained Canada and the regions northward, having obtained '.hat territory by conquest, in the war with France. For thirty-seven years the territory now embraced within the limits of Missouri, remained as a part of the possession of Spain, and then went back to France by the treaty of St. Ildefonso, October ist, 1800. On the 30th of April, 1803, France ceded it to the United States, in consideration of receiving $11,250,000, and the liquidation of certain claims, held by citizens of the United States against France, which amounted to the further sum of $3,750,000, making a total of $15,000,000. It will thus be seen that France has twice, and Spain once, held sovereignty over the territory embracing Missouri, but the financial needs of Napoleon afforded our government an opportunity to add another empire to its domain.

On the 3TSt of October, 1803, an act of Congress was approved, authorizing the President to take possession of the newly acquired territory, and provided for it, a temporary government, and another act approved March 26th, 1804, authorized the division of the "Louisiana Purchase," as it was then called, into two separate territories. All that portion south of the 33d parallel of north latitude, was called the "Territory of Orleans,'^ and that north of the said parallel was known as the " District of Louisiana," and was placed under the jurisdiction of what was then known as " Indiana Territory."

By virtue of an act of Congress, approved March 3, 1805, the " District of Louisiana," was organized as the "Territory of Louisiana," with a territorial government of its own, which went into operation July 4th, of the same year, and it so remained till 181 2. In this year the " Territory of Orleans," became the State of Louisiara, and the "Territory of Loui-iana," was organized as the " Territory of Missouri."

This change took place under an act of Congres^s, approved June 4th, 18 12. In 1819, a portion of this territory was organized as " Arkansaw Territory," and in 1 82 1, the State of Missouri was admitted, being a part of the former " Territory of Missouri."

In 1836, the " Platte Purchase," then being a part of the Indian Territory, and now composing the counties of Atchison, Andrew, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway, and Platte, was made by treaty with the Indians, and added to the State, It will be seen then, that the soil of Missouri belonged : subject to the claims of the Indians, which it was very justly the policy of the government to recognize. Before the government of the United States could vest clear title to the soil in the grantee it was necessary to extinguish the Indian title by purchase. This was done accordingly by treaties made with the Indians, at different times.

The name of the first white man who set foot on the territory now embraced in the State of Missouri, is not known, nor is it known at what precise period the first setdements were made. It is, however, generally agreed that they were made at Ste. Genevieve and New Bourbon, tradition fixing. the date of these settlements in the autumn of 1735. These towns were settled by the French from Kaskaskia and St. Philip in Illinois.

St. Louis was founded by Pierre Laclede Lignest, on the 15th of February, 1764. He was a native of France, and was one of the members of the company of Laclede Lignest, Antoino Maxant & Co., to whom a royal charter had been granted, confirm ng the privilege of an exclusive trade with the Indians of the Missouri as far north as St. Peter's River.

While in search of a trading post he ascended the Mississippi as far as the mouth of the Missouri, and finally returned to the present town site of St. Louis. After the village had been laid off he named it St. Louis, in honor of Louis XV, of France.

-The colony thrived rapidly by accessions from Kaskaskia and other towns on the east side of the Mississippi, and its trade was largely increased by many of the Indian tribes, who removed a portion of their peltry trade from the same towns to St. Louis. It was incorporated as a town on the 9th day of November, 1809, by the court of Common Pleas of the district of St. Louis; the town trustees being Au^uste Chouteau, Edward Hempstead, Jean F. Cabanne, Wm. C. Carr andWm. Christy, and incorporated as a city December 9, 1822. The selection of the town site on which St. Louis stands was highly judicious, the spot not only being healthful and having the advantages of water transportation unsurpassed, but surrounded by a beautiful region of country, rich in soil and mineral resources. St. Louis has grown to be the fifth city in population in the Union, and is to-day, the great center of internal commerce of the Missouri, the Mississippi and their tributaries, and, with its railroad facilities, it is destined to be the greatest inland city of the American continent.

The next settlement was made at Potosi, in Washington County, in 1765, by Francis Breton, who, while chafing a bear, discovered the mine near the present town of Potosi, where he afterward located.

One of the most prominent pioneers who settled at Potosi was Moses Austin, of Virginia, who, 'in 1873, received by grant from the Spanish government a league of land, now known as the "Austin Survey." The grant was made on condition that Mr. Austin would establish a lead mine at Potosi and work it. He built a pa'atial-residence, for that day, on the brow of the hill in the little village, which was, for many years, known as " Durham Hall." At this point the first shottower and sheet-lead manufactory were erected.

Five years after the founding of St. Louis the first settlement made in Northern Missouri was made at or near St. Charles, in St. Charles county, in 1769. The name given to it, and which it retained till 1784, was Les Petites Coies, signifying, Little Hills. The town site was located by Blanchette, a Frenchman, surnamed LeChasseur, who built the first fort in the town and established there a military post.

Soon after the establishment of the military post at St. Charles, the old French village of Purtage des Sioux, was located on the Mississippi, just below the mouth of the Illinois river, and at about the same time a Kickapoo village was commenced at Clear Weather Lake. The present town site of New Madrid, in New Madrid county, was settled in 1781, by French Canadians, it then being occupied by Delaware Indians. The place now known as Big River Mills, St. Francois county, was settled in 1796, Andrew Baker, John Alley, Francis Starnater, and John Andrews, each locating claims. The following year, a settlement was made in the same county, just below tl%e present town of Farmington, by the Rev, Wm. Murphy, a Baptist minister from East Tennessee. In 1796, settlements were made in Perry county by emigrants from Kentucky and Pennsylvania; the latter locating in the rich bottom lands of Bois Brule, the former generally settling in the '* Barrens," and along the waters of Saline Creek.

Bird's Point, in Mississippi county, opposite Cairo, 111., was settled August 6th, iSoo, by John Johnson, by virtue of a land-grant from the commandant under the Spanish Government. Norfolk and Charleston, in the same county, were settled respectively in 1800 and 1801. Warren county was settled in 1801. Loutre Island, below the present town of Herman, in the M ssouri River was settled by a few American families in 1807. This little company of pioneers suffered greatly from the floods, as well as from the incursions of thieving and blood-thirsty Indians, and many incidents of a thrilling character could be related of trials and struggles, had we the time and space.

In 1807, Nathan and Daniel Boone, sons of the great hunter and pioneer, in company with three others went from St. Louis to " Boone's Lick," in Howard county, where they manufactured salt, and formed the nucleus of a small settlement.

Co/g Sans Desseiu, now called Bakersville, on the Missouri River, in Callaway county, was settled by the French in 1801. This little town was considered at that time, as the " Far West " of the new world. Daring the war of 181 2, at this place many hard fought battles occurred between the whites and Indians, wherein woman's fortitude and courage greatly assisted in the defense of the settlement.

In 18 10, a colony of Kentuckians numbering one hundred and fifty families immigrated to Howard county, and settled in the Missouri River boUom, near the present town of Franklin. '

These settlements were made on the water courses ; usually along the banks of the two great streams, whose navigation afforded them transportation for their marketable commodities, and communication with the civilized portion of the country.

They not only encountered the gloomy forests, settling as they did by the river's brink, but the hostile incursion of savage Indians, by whom they were for many years surrounded.

The expedients of these brave men who first broke ground in the Territory, have been succeeded by the permanent and tasteful improvements of their descendants. Upon the spots where they toiled, dared, and died, are seen the comfortable farm, the beautiful village, and thrifty city. Churches and school houses greet the eye on every hand ; railroads diverge in every direction, and, indeed, all the appliances of a higher civilization, are profusely strewn over the smiling surface of the State.