Howard County, Missouri - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read), 1883 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read)

Nomination and election of Thomas T. Crittenden - Personal Mention - .Marm-iduke's candidacy - Stirring e'. ents - Hannibal and St. Josepli Railroad - Death of Jesse James - The Fords - Pardon of the Gamblers.

It is the purpose in this chapter to outline the more important events of Governor Crittenden's unfinished administration, statinir briefly the facts in the case, leaving comment and criticism entirely to the reader, the historian having no judgment to express or prejudice to vent.

son City, Julj ?i?(l, L'i^SO. Demucratic nomination for a State oflloo in Mi.^soari is always oquivalcnt to election, and the entire State ticket was fluly clectei.l in November. Crittenden's competitor^; before the couveniion -were Gen. John S. ^Jarniailnke, of St. Lonis, and John A. Hockadaj', of Callaway county. Before the assembling of the convention many persons who favored ]\Iarniadnkc, both personally and politically, tliuU!j:ht the nomination of an ex-Confederate might prejudice the prospects of the National Democracy, and therefore, as a matter of policy, supported Crittenden.

His name, and the fame of his family in Kentucky - Thomas T. being ii scion of the Crittendens of that State, caused the Democrac}' of ^Missouri to expect great things from their new Governor. This, together with the iniportant events v.hich followed his inauguration, caused some people to overrate him, while it prejudiced others against him. The measures advocated l)y the Governor in his inaugural address wei'e such as, perhaps, the entire Democracy could eniUirse, especially that of I'cfunding, at a low interest, all that part of the State debt that can lie so refunded ; the ailoption of measures to relieve tlic Supreme. Court doeket; a compromise of the imjebtedness of some of the counties, arid his views concerning repudiation, which he contemned.

By a scries of legislative acts, i)eginning with the act approved February 22, 18.:il, and ending with that of March 26, L^sl, the State of Missouri aided with great liberality in the construction of a system of railroads in this State.

Among the enterprises thus largely assisted was the Hannibal and St. Joseph liailroad, f u' the construction of which the bonds of the State, to the amouni of $o,000,U00, bearing interest at t! per cent per annum, payal)le semi-aunually, were issued. One half of this amount was issued under the act of 1851, and the remainder under the act of 1855. Tiie bonds issued uuder the former act were to run twenty years, and those under the latter act were to run thirty years. Some of the bonds have since been fimded and renewed. Coupons for the interest of the entire $3,000,000 were executed and made payable in Kew York. These acts contain nnmeroUN [irovisions intended to secure the State against loss and to rccpiire the railroad company to pay the interest and principal at maturity. It was made the duty of the railroad com[>any to save andkee[) the St.-'.tc from aJl loss on account of said bonds and coupons. Tlie Treasurer of the State was to be oxonenvted froiii any advance of inoiie}' to nn'ct eillicr principal or interest. The State contracted witli the railroad company lor complete iadc.nnity. She was reqnired to a-^sign her statutory mortizage lieu only upon payment into the treasury of a sum of money equal to all indebtedness due oj- owing by said eu;iipany to the State by reason of having issued her bonds and loaned them to the company.

In June, 1881, the railroad, through its attorney, Geo. W. Easley, Esq., paid to Phil. E. Chi'.ppell, State Treasurer, the sum of $3,000,- 000, and asked for a receipt in full of all dues of the road to the State. The Treasurer refused to give such a receipt, but instead ijave a receipt for the sum " on accoun':." The dei:>t was not yet due, but the authorities of the road sought to discharge their obligation prematurely, in order to save interest and other expenses. The railroad company then demanded its bonds of the State, which demand the State refused. The company then demanded that the $3,000,000 bo paid back, and this demand was also refused.

The railroad company then brought suit in the United States Court for an equitable adjustment of the matters in controversy. The $3, 000,000 had been deposited by the State in one of the banks, and was drawing interest only at the rate of one-fourth of one per cent. It was demanded that this sum should be so invested that a huirer rate of interest might be obtained, which sum of interest should be allowed to the company as a credit in case any sum should be found due irom it to the State. Justice Miller, of the United States Supreme Court, who heard the case upon preliminary injunction in the .spring of 1882, decided that tlie unj^aid and unmatured coupons constituted a liability of the State and a debt owing, though not due, and until these were provided for the State was not bound to assign her lien upon the road.

Another questit)n which was mooted, but not decided, was this: That, if any, what account is the State to render for the use of the $3,000,000 paid into the treasury by tlie couiplaimmts on the 20th of June? Can she hold that large sum of money, refusing to make anv account of it, and still insist upon full payment by the railroad company of all outstanding coupons?

Upon this subject Mr, Justice Miller, in the course of his opinion, said : " I am of the opinion that the State, having accepted or a'ot thi.s money into her possession, is under a moral obligation (and I do nor pretend to commit anybody as to how tar its legal obligation sees) to so lise that money as, so far as possible, to protect the parties who have paid it against the loss of the interest which it might accumulate.

Marcli 2G, ISSl, the Lerrijlature, iu response to n special messairc of Gov. Crittenden, d.itcd Fei)ruary 25, ]S81, in v.-Jiich ho intbnned the Leiriiiature of tlie iJur|-..ose of the Hanniljal and St. Josepii company to discharge the full amount of what it claims is its present indebtedness as to the State, aud advised that provision be made for the " profitable disposal" of tlie sum when paid, passed an act, the second section of which provided.

" Si-.c. 2. WJicnever there is sufficient money in the sinkiutr fund to redeem or purchase one or more of the lionds of the State of Missouri, sucli sum is hereby appropriated for such purpose, and the Fund Commissioners shall immediately call in for ])ayment a like aniouut of the option bonds of the State, known as the "5-20 bonds" provided, that if there are no option bonds which can be called in for payment, they may invest such money in the purchase of any of the bonds of the State, or bonds of the United States, the Haun'ibal and St, Jo-'^ph raih-oa.l boiius exci;i)ied."

On the 1st of January, 1882, the regular semi-annual payment of interest on the railroad bonds became due, but the road refused to pay, claiming that it had already discharged the principal, and of course was not liable for the interest. Thereupon, accordiiitr to the provisions of the aiding act of 1855, Gov. Crittenden adverHsed the road for sale in default of the payment of interest. The companv then I lought suit before U. S. Circuit Judge McCrary at Keokuk, Iowa., to enjoin the State from selliug the road, and for such other and further relief as the court might see fit and proper to irrant. August 8, 1882, Judge McCrary delivered his opinion and judsment, as follows :

"Fir.sl. That the payment by complainants into the treasury of the State of the sum of $3,0!_)U,000 on the 2Gth of June, 1881, did not satisfy the claim of the State in full, nor entitle complainants to an assignment of the State's statutory mortgage.

"aSVcohcZ. That the State was bound to invest the principal sum of $3,000,000 so paid by the complainants without unnecessary delay in the securities named iu the act of March 2ii, 1881, or some of them, and so as to save to the State as large a sum as possible, which sum so saved would have constituted as between the State and complainants a credit pro fatilo upon the unmatured coupons now in controversy.

''Third. T!i;it the rights and equit}- of the parties are to he detcrniiued upon the Ibreiriuiiii' principles, and the State must stand charged with what woakl liavc been realiiced if tlie act of March, 1881, had been complied witii. It only remains to consider what the rights of the parties are upon the principles here slated.

" lu order to save the State from loss on account of the default of the railroad company, a further sum must he paid. In order to determine what that further sum is an accounting must be had. The question to be settled by the accounting is, how much would the State have lost if the provisions of the act of March, 1881, had been coujplied with? * * ^ * I think a ))crfectly fair basis of settlement would be to hold the State liable for whatever could have been saved by the ()ronipt execution of said act by taking up such 5-"20 option bonds of the State as were subject to call when the money v.'as paid to the State, and investing the remainder of the fund in the bonds of the United States at the market rates.

" Upon this basis a calculation can be ni:!de and the exact sum still to be paid by the complainant in oriler to fully indemnify and protect the State can be liseertaiieu. For the purpose of staling an uccounfc upon this basis and of determining the sum to be paid by the complainants to the State, the cause will be referred to John K. Cravens, one of the masters of this court. In determining the time when the investment should have been made under the act of 2\Iarch, 1881, the master will allow a reasonable period for the time of the receipt of the said sum of $3,000,000 by the Treasurer of the State - that is to say, such time as would have been required for that pur|)ose had the olilcers charged with the duty of making said investment used reasonable diligt-nce in its discharge.

"The Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad is advertised for sale for the amount of the instalment of interest due January 1, 1882, which instalment amounts to less than the sum which the company must pay in order to discharge its liabilities to the State upon the theory of this opinion. The order will, therefore, be that an injunction be granted to enjoin the sale of the road upon the payment of the said instalment of interest due January 1, 1882, and if such payment is made the master will take it into account in making the conii)utation above mentioned."

Killing Of Jesse James

it -abroad, c;nisiiig tlie Europoan press to tocm v.-ith loaders airnnuncing the fact to the continental world, was the " removal " of t!ie faniovis Missouri brigand, Jcssg W. James. The earcer of the James boys, and the banditti of whom they were the acknowledged leaders, is too wc]!-ki;own arid too fully set forth in worlds of a more sensational character, to deserve further detail in these pages ; and the " removal " of Jesse will be dealt with only in its relation to the Governor.

It had been long conceded that neither of the Jameses would ever be taken alive. That experiment had been frequently and vainly tried, to the sorrow of good citizens of this and other States. It seems to have been one of the purposes of Gov. Crittenden to break up this band at any cost, by cutting off its leaders. Soon after the Winstou train robbJry, on July 15, 1881, the railroads combined in empowering the Governor, by placing the money at h.is dispo,-al, to ofier heavy rewards for the caiiture of the two James brothers. This was accordingly done bv proclamation, and, naturally, many persons were on the lookout to secure the large rewards. Gov. Crittenden worked quietly, but determinedly, after otTering the rewards, and by some means learned of the availal)ility of the two Ford boys, young men from Kay county, who had been tutored as juvenile robbers by the skillful Jesse. An understanding was had, when the Fords declared they could find Jesse - that they were to "turn him in." Kobcrt Ford and brother seem to have been thoroughly in the confidence of James, who then (startling as it was to the entire State) resided in the city of St, Joseph, with his wife and two children 1 The Fords went there, and when the robber's back was turned, Eobert sho/ liiin dead in the hade of the head.' The Fords told their story to the authorities; of the city, who at once arrested them on a charge of murder, and thev, when arraigned, pkau oi:ii/i/ to the charge. Promptly, liowever, came a full, free and unconditional pardon from Gov. Ctittenden, and the Fords were released. In regard to the Governor's course in ridding the State of this notorious outlaw, people were divided in sentiment, some placing him in the category with the Ford boys and bitterly condemning his action, while others - the majority of law-abiding people, indeed, - though deprecating the harsh measures which James' course had rendered necessary, still upheld the Governor for the part he played. As it was, the " Terror of Missouri " was otfectually and finally "removed." and people were glad that he was dead. Robert Ford, the pupil of the dead Jesse, had

The killing of James would never have made Crittenden many enemies among the better class of citizens of this State ; but, when it came to his

Pardon Of The Gamrlers

The case was different. Under the new law making gaminghousekeeping a felony, several St. Louis gamblers, %vith Robert C. Pate at their head, were convicted and sentenced to prison. The Governor, much to the surprise of the more rigid moral element of the State, soon granted the gamblers a pardon. This was followed by other pardons to similar offenders, which began to render the Governor quite unpopular which one element of citizens, and to call forth from some of them the most bitter denunciations. The worst feature of the case, perhnps, is the lack of explanation, or the setting forth of sutBoient reasons, as is customary in issuing pardons. This, at least, is the burdc!i of complaiiit with the faction that opposes him. However, it must be borne in mind that his term of ofBce, at this writing, is but half expired, and that a full record can not, therefore, be given. Like all mere men, Gov. Crittenden has his good and his bad, is liked by some and disliked by others. The purpose of history is to set forlh the facts an! leave others to sit in judgment; this the historian has tried faithfully to do, leaving all comments to those who may .-ee fit to make them.

The Pioneer - Introduction - Ki»r1_v Adventurers - First Settlements - When and where niH !e - -l):inie! Boone and otliers - Lewis tind Cltirk - Col. Benjamin Coopor - I\amcs of Pioneers who came in 1?10 - Preparation for Living - Wild Game - Ki;iieration of ISll and 1812 - Old Settlers Erect Forts - Organizing JlilitaryC'otn)>anic* - Number of .Men Bearing Arms - Number of iten and Boj-s in Each Fort - Populalation of Bo me'-, Lick Country in ISI'2 - Settlors came to Stay. /

United St;itcs, ;!s wrll as the oountry aljout the laoutlis of tii>' Mi-si,-,- sippi river. 'L'iioy came into the up[iei .Mis.^i.-.si[j[ii and Missonri Vidk'vs in 17(i4, uudei- the k'ad of Pierre Laelede Liguost, who held a charter from tiie Freiieli governnjont, giving hitn tlie exclnsivi^ Tight of trade \\'itii the Indians in all !he country as far ncu'th as St. Peter's river. Ijacledo estalilishe<l liis colon}' in St. Louis in 17(J4, and from this point they inuuediatcly began their trading and trapping excursions into the unbroken v.-iklerne-s. Their nieihud of proceeding- was to penetrate into the interior and establish small local posts fur trading with the Indians, whence the trappers and linntcrs were outtitted and sent ont into the adjacent woods. In this way, the country' west and northwest (jf St. Louis vias ti'aversed and explore<_[ at a very early day, as far west as the Kork}- mountains, lint of the extent of their operations, but little has liecn recorded ; hence, but little is known of the posts establisiied lj\- them.

That these daring Frenchun'U hadexjilorcd that portion of Howard county lying contiguous to the Missouri river, even prior to the year ISOi..', there can be no doulit ; that tiiere existed within the |n-esent limits of the county a trading post, for several years before its settlement proper, there can be no doubt. The names of the streams, such as Bonne Femme, Moniteau, etc., attest the fact that they were of French origin, and had been seen and named by the French pioneers.

Levens and Diake, in their condensed but carefully prej)arcd history of Cooper count}', say : " While Nash and his companions were in Howard county (1804), they visited Barclay's and Boone's Licks, also a tradini: post situated about two miles northwest of Old Franklin, kept by a white man liy the name of Prewitt. The existence of this trading jiost, and the fact that 'Barclay's and Boone's Licks' had already received their name- fioni the white i)crsons who \isitL'd them, show conclusively that this jjortion of the country had been explored, even before this, by Americans. But no history mentions this trading post, nor does any give the name of Prewitt; hence, we are unable to determine when he came to the Boone's Lick country, how long he renuiined, and where he went ; he evidently left before the year 1808, as Benjamin Cooper, who moved to Howard county in that year, said there was then no settlement in this part of the state." Boone's Lick, fi*om which this region of country took its name, is situated about eight miles northwest of New Franklin, in Boone's Lick township, on section 4,-T. 49, IJ. 17, on land owned bv William N. Marshall. This place was visited by D.miel Boone at an early date, -

United States, as well as tho country ;il.)oiit tii" inmiti)^ of th'- Mi>-sUsippi river. Tliey came iiUo the up|iei- Mis>i.-?sippi and Mi.<ri(niri va.ilejs in ITtM, under tlie lead ol Pierre Laclede Ligucst, wlio ladd a cliarter tVoui the Fiench government, giving iiini tlie exelusivii right of trade witli llie liulians in all the country a* tar north a.-i St. Peter's river. Ijucledo estaldished liis ccdonv in St. Louis in l7tJ4, and Ifom this point they immediate]}- hegan tlieir trading and trapping excursions into the unbroken v.-ikierne^s. /i'lieir inciliod of proceeding was to penetrate into the interior and establisii small local posts for iratling with the Indians, whence the trappers and hunters were outfitted and sent out into the adjacent woods. In this way, the count r\- west and northwest of St. Louis v^as traversed and explored at a very early day, as far we^t as the Kocky mountains. Put of the extent of their ojjerations, but little has iieon recorded; hence, but little is known of the posts established by them.

That these daring Frenchmen had ex[dored tliat portion of Howard county lying contiguous to the ^li^souii riser, even prior to tlie vear ISOiJ, there can be no doubt ; that there exi^led within the pre-ent limits of the county a trading post, for several years before its settlement proper, there can be no doubt. The names of the streatns, such as Bonne Femme, Moniteau, etc., attest the fact that they were of French origin, and had been seen and named b}' the French pioneers.

Levens and Diake, in their condensed but carefully prepared history of Cooper count}', say: " AV'hile Nash and his companions were in Howard count} (180-4), they visited Barclay's and Boone's Lick.s, also a trading post situated about two miles northwest of Old Franklin, kept by a white man l)y the name of Prewitt. The existence of this trading ])ost, and the fact rhat 'Barclay's and Boone's Licks' had already received their names from the white iiersmis who \i-;ited them, show conclusively that this portion of the country had been explored, even be!\)re this, by Americairs. But no hi>tory mentions this trading post, nor does any give the name of Prewitt; hence, we are unable to determine when he came to the Boone's Lick country, how long he remained, and where he went; he evidently left before the year 1808, as Benjamin Cooper, who moved to Howard county in that year, said there was then no settlement in this part of the state." Boone's Lick, from which this region of country took its name, is situated about eight miles northwest of New Franklin, in Boone's Lick township, on section 4,-T. 49, IL 17, on land owned by William N. Marshall. This place was visited by Daniel Boone at an early date, -

Lewis and Chirke, on tlieir e.\]il(irinir cxpt.'dition across the Rocky rioiinttiii;-:. :ind (hr.vii (ho Cohinihia rivc-r to the Pacific ocean, arrived at t!ie nioiUli of the hSnnnc Fcmme, in Howard count\', on the 71 !i d.!V of June, IS'^ll, and camped for the night. "When tlioy arrivi>d at the month of tiie -' Big ^]oIute;ul creek," they found a point of rocks coveieil -svith liicroglypliic paintings, bnt the large nnmljcr of rattlesnakes, they fonnd there, prevented a close examination of the phice. Continning their way up the river, they arrived at the month of the Lamine on tiie 8ih of the same month, and on tlie IHli at Arrow liock.

When the}' relnrnod frfmi their journey in 180o, after having successfully accomiili>hed all the ohjei-ts tor which they were sent out, they passed down the Missouri river, tuid candied, on the 18th of September, in Hov.ard county, oppositi^ to the month of the La Mine ri\ei. Ami, as they jouniex'cd down the river on that tlay. they mast have passed the i)resent site of r.oonvillc and Franklin eai'ly on the morning of the 19th of September, 1801).

lu 1807, Nathan and Daniel ]\L Koone, sons of old Daniel Boone, who lived with tltcir father- in what is now St. Charles county, about twenty-tlve miles west of the city of St. Charles, on the Femme Osage creek, came up the Misscniri river and manufactured salt at Boone's Lick, in Howard county. After they had manufactured a considerable amount, they shi[)ped it down tlie river to St. Louis, where they sold it. It is thouglit by many that this was the first instance of salt being luanufactured in what was at that time a part of the territory of Louisiana, now the state of Missouri. Though soon after, salt was manufactured in large quantities - "salt licks'" being disco%ercdin many parts of the state. Although these were the first white persons who renuiined for any length of time in the Boone's Lick country, they were not permanent settlers, as they only came to make salt, and left as soon as they had tinished.

Previous to the year 1808, everv white American who came to the Boone's Lick country, came with the intention of only remair.ing there a short time. Three parties had entered it while on ex[)loring and surveying expeditions ; two parties had been to its tine salt licks to make salt; :ind, no doubt, niitiiv oi' the lulventiuoi!?^ >.etllcr> livinir in the eastciii part oi" this state, had often, on their hunting e\|HHlitions, pieived the trackless forest to the Boone's Liek country : but. of course, tliere is no record of these, lience, those expeditions of whieii tiiere is a i-eeord, are jil^eed as being the fir?t to this part of the country, wlicn. in reality, they may not be.

But in 18<I8, in the spring, orie adventurous s[)irit determined to forsake what apj.eared to him to be the too thickly settled portion of the state, and nio\e firtiier west to the more pleasant solitudes of the uninhabited lurt>t. In the sjiring of that year, Colonel Benjamin Cooper and his family, consisting of his wil'e and five sons, nu.)^-ed to the Boone's Lick country, and located in what is now Howard county, about two miles south west of Boone's Liek, in the ^lissouri river bottom. Here he built hiin a cabin, cleared u piece of ground, and commenced arrangements to make a permanent settlement at that place. But he was not permitted to remain long at his new liome. Governor Merriwether Lewis, at that time governor of the territory, issued an order dir^eting him to iclurn below the moutii of the Gasconade river, as he was so far advanced into the Indian country, and so far away I'rorn protection, that in case of an Indian ^var he would be unable to protect him. So he returned to Loutrc islund, about four miles south of the Gasconade river, where he remained until the year 1810.

The rich territory, however, was not destined to be left foiever to the reign of wild beasts and savage Indians. Aside from the fact that the chai-acter of the men of the early days caused them continually to revolt against living in thickly settled connnunities, the Boone's Lick country presented advantages, which those seeking a home where they could tind the richest ol' lands and the most healthful of climate, could not, and did not, fail to perceive. Its fertile soil promised, with little labor, the most abundant harvests. Its f irests were filled with every variety of game, am.l its streams with all kinds of fish. I.- it a wonder, then, that those seeking honns where these thiug:^ could tie fcnmd, should select and settle first the rich lands of Cooper and Howard counties, risking all the dangers I'roni the Indians, who lived in great numliers close around them':' Two years after the settlement of Benjamin Cooper, and his removal to Loutre island, the first lasting settlement was made in the Boone's Lick country, and this p^arty was but the forerunner of many others, wlio soon followed, and in little more tluui one-half of a ceuitirv, have

'J'lie women hclongini;- to these families did not arrive until the following July or Auu'ust. We tlo not pretend to say these men were all of the early settlers who came in FSUI. There were, [>erliaps, a few otlicrs, hut the names we have iriven embrace ncarl\' tlie entire imiiihcr who ciiiigratol in llie with Colonel .lienjainiu Cooper, in the Npring of that year. Alter their arrival in tliis " hind of p!-oini>e, " they iminediately heiiaii the ereetiou of their hoiLse?. all of which v.'crn siui^le or. double log eaijin.s, and to prejiare for fanning hy clearing and leueing small ''palehes" (A' ground. Asa gX'nerai thing, they suttled in and near the JNIissouri river hottoni. Thev knew that the e(uni!r\' was Inll nt' Indian*, and that, these weie liaMe at any time lo i.iegin their murji^rous assaults upon the v.'hite-, henee, they loeated in neiulilxirhoods, where, in ease of danger, the\ etmld render each other timely aid. That portitni of Howard count}', wiii.-h is now emlu'aeed in Fi'anklin and Boone's Liek townships, \va3 tiie first settled.

\Vlien the settlers first iMnie to this county, wild game of all kinds wa.s very abundant, and .-(/ tame as not to !)e easily frightened at the ap|)roach of while m(.'n. This game furnished the settlers with all their uieat, and, in t;;et, with all the provisions they used, for most of the time, they had but lilMe else than meat. There \vcre large numbers of deer, turkeys, elk, and other large animals, and, to Use the expression of an old settler, " they could be killed as easily as sheep are now killed in our iia-lui'cs." 'i'he settlers s[ient most of their time in hunting and lishing. as it was no use to i)!;int crops to lie ilestroyed b} wild game. Snndl game, such as squirrels, raljluts, partridges, etc., swarmed arcuind the home-; of the frontii'r^men in such numbers that when they did attempt to I'aise a crop of an\' kind, in order to save a part of it, ihey were fon-ed to kill them in' large numbers.

Not only were the settlers and their families thus well provi'.led with food by nature, but aUo their animals were furnished with evcr\thing necessary to their well being. The range was so good during the whole year, that their stock lived without being tV'd by their owners. Even when the grounil was covered with sn<iw, t he animals, t:iu^ht by instinct, would in a few minntes [law from under the snow --noiigh tirass to last them all day. 'I'iieir only u<e t)f corn, of which thev planted very little, was to make bread, and bread made of corn was the only kind they ever had.

I)uringthe two siU'ccedingyears ( ISll and 181-2 ), ipiite a number of emigrants had taken u[) their line of nnu'cli I'or the Booni''s Liek country. Many of these included families of wealth, culture, and retiuement, wdio left theii' well fnrni.-li(.'i.l Inunes and life-long tVicnds in the east, to take uj) their abode among the -ravages and wild beasts of the western wilderness. Scai'ccly, however, had they reai.'lu'd their destinatiuii, -.vlieii they hean! the ilim imittcring^ which Ibicshiulowed a long and Idood}' conflict with tlie Indians, who hud l)een induced hy the emiisarlos ot' the Biitish guvcrnment to unite witli Great Britain in her atteojpt to defeat th.e United States of America.

Beinii' t'uUy cosvinccd that the Indians were making' prej\U';itions to attack the .settlements along the Missouri river, thc'V determined to he ready to receive them propeiiy whiMi they did appe;:r, and to this end, began tlie erection of three forts in Howard county, bearing' tlie names respectively, of Fort Cooper, Fort Hempstead, and Fori Ivincaid. Fort Cooper v.'as h'cated ai)oiit two miles southwest of Boone's Lick. Fort Kincaid was east southeast, about nine miles distant, and about one mile noitli of the present Boonville railroad bridge. Fort Hempstead was about one and a half miles north of Fort Kincaid. Each fort was a series of log hous(>~, built together around an enclo-^ure. In e:\rh house lived a faniiU'/and the stock was corralcd, ;'.nd the pv'jiertv of the settlers secured at night in the enclosure. There were other sujaller forts, Ijut the abo\e were the most important. Immediately after the erection of these torts, the piuuvcrs organized themselves into a military company, with Sarshall Cooper as captain ; tir^t lieutenant, '\Vi'diam }ilcMahon ; second lieuten:'.nt , John Monroe ; ensign, Benjamin Cooper, Jr.

The above were the otKixn's chosen by their comrader^ a.nd neighbors, to comnuuid the coni[iany, \vhich consisted of 112 men, who were a'de to ijear arms. The following list compi'ises all the men and b-ivs who were in the ditferent forts : -

Tout Kixcaid

Li'e in the forts was not one of idleness and ease. It was one of vigilance and activity for two or three years. The settlers were deprived of many of the comforts and pleasures which are enjoved by the people of to-day. They had but little labor-saving machinery, and what they had was imperfect aiul inetHcient. School was taught, and religious services were held in the forts. The forts were also supplied with mills and looms. The tirst cog-wheel horse-mill erected in the county was at Fort Kincaid in 1815 ; the next one ^vas put up at Fort Hempstead. After the Indian troubles were over, l^eople came twenty miles to these mills. The first cloth made in the rniinty (in the i'orts) wiis ninmit'iictured from :i jioisonous plant, wliifli \v;is indiLiiMiou^ lo the (.-oimtry, and known as tlie nettle, Avliieli wa? covered with sharp, liritlie liair.--. Tliis chitb ^\-as used for pants and shirts for summer wear. In tlie winter, hnckskin hunting-shirts and p:!iit« were worn.

The low Hats aloni;' tlie liver, ereeks and branches ^verc covered with a thick growth <if nettles about three feet liigh, sonsctimcs standing in patches of twenty acres or more. These were permitted to remain standing until they became decayed in the winter, when tliev were gathered. They were then broken up, spun into long strings, and woven into cloth, from which the garments were made. This would be a very tedious job at the present day, when a lady"s dress requires from twenty to thirty yards of cloth ; but in those old times live or six yards was as much as was ever put into a dross. Little cluldren usually \\-ore a long leathern shirt over tiieir tow shirt. For sevei-al years during the eai'ly settlement of this country, the men and women wore garments made onl of tiie sauje kind of material. The first dry goods were sold by lloliert jlorris, at the.forls, in 1815. Th.' rmniber of men, as we have already stated, aide to hear arms, was 112. which represented a popiilation of between 500 and 600, who were then living within the present limits of Howard count}'. A few, pcrha[)s, had returned to their former homes, or had moved further down the river in the direction of Loutre island and St. Louis, u]ioi) the eve of the anticipated Indian hostilities, but the great majorit}' of the pioneers, had come to stay, and not a few of these attested their devotion to their new found homes by the sacritice of their property and their lives to the cupidity and ferocity of savage foes.

What Treated of in Preceding Chapter - This Chapter - The AVar Clouds - Indians - First Victims - Jnmes Cole and James Davis Sent on ScoutinLj Expedition - Summer of 1812 - Campbell Killed b_v Indians - Colonel Benjamin Cooper and Genera! Dodge - Spring of 1813 - Killing of Braxton Cooper - Joseph Still - AYilliam McLane - Captain Sarshall Cooper - Joe - -Peace.

Ill the preceding chaptei-, we attempted to tr;ire the e:>.rly hi-^tory of that portion of the Boone's Liek eouutry, now known as Howard county. We began with tiie date of the coining of the earliest adventurer of whom any hi^^torv makes mention; we si)oke of the tir-;t settlements, giving tiie names of the earliest pioneers, and tlioir former 7'e?idenecs : of their attempt to prepare for living in the western wilds, during the two years that followed their ari'ival ; of tlieir building forts, and ot their taking possession of these with their families, their goods, and their chattels.

It is now our province, as a historian, to relate in chronological ord( r as nearly as wo can, the events that followed, which, if I mislake not, will constitute one of the saddest, 3'et brightest chapters in the history of Howard county. It will be the saddest, because it will tell of arson, of plunder, of butchery, and of that merciless mode of warfare to which the cunning :^avage was so well adapted, and in which he was so well skilled. It will be the brightest, because it will tell of deeds of noble daring, of tidelity to duty, and the final triumph of those who were immured for three long years within the narrow limits of their beleaguered forts.

In the sjiring of 1812, the war clouds which had hitherto given every indication of the coming storm, had at length uufurled tlieir black banners in every part of the political sky. Great Britain had again " loosed her dogs of war," and with gigantic strides, was attempting to trample upon the most sacred rights of a free people. Calling to her aid, in the war against the American colonies, the hireling Hessian, she now inspired the blood-thirsty savage to espou se her cause against the unprotected whites, who were then dwelling upon the extreme frontier of the great west. These hostile Indians began their work of deatli in the spring of 1S12, and were mostly Sacs and Foxes, Kickapoos and I'ottawatomies.

Thciv drst viclinis in the Boone's liick country, were Jonathan Todd and Thomas Smith, who were living at tlie time in Fort Hempstead, hut iiad gone (hj\vii the river to '.unit ;i stray liorse, whieh liad escaped tVom the t'oi t. While iii)on their errantl the Indians attacked theiii, not far from the present line between Howard and Boone counties, near Thrall's pi-airic, and after a long struggle, in which several Indians were killed, Todd and Smith were slain. The. savages, after killing them, cut oft' their heads and cut out tlieir hearts, an. I placed them by the side of the road on poles.

As soiMi as the news of the killing of Todd and Smith was brongh.t to the fort, a party of men started out to get their bodies. After they had gone several miles, tlie}- captured an Indian wari'ior, who seemed to be walching their movements, and siailed to take him to the fort alive, in order to get information from him. As they returned after tinding the bodies of the settlers, and when they arrived within two miles of the fort, the Indian prisoner suddenly broke au-ay from them and attempted to escape. The settlers pursued him about one-half of a mile, when, finding they coubl not overti'ke him and capture him alive, they shot him, killing him instantly.

Immediately after the killing of Todd and Smith, the settlers living on both sides of the Missouri river, being desirous of finding out the true state of affairs, sent out James Cole and James Davis on a scouting expedition,, to see whether or not the Indians were really upon the warpath. Alter looking around for some time, and lujt being able to hear anything of the plan.s of the savages, they were jtrejiaring to return to the fori, when they discovered a large band of Indians in i)ursuit of them, and directly between them and the fort, in which v,"ere their faniilies and their friends, uncoU'^cious of their danger.

As retreat to the fort was cut ofl", and they could not withstand the attack of the large body of Indians in the open woods, they started for what was then called Johnson's factor}', a trading poNt kept by a man named Johnson ; it was situated on the Moniteau creek, in what is now Moniteau county, about two hundred yards from the Missouri river. They reached the tactory that afternoon, and the Indians iniiuediately surrounded the place. As Cole and Davis kne\v their friends at the differenl forts would fall an easy I'r.'V to the savages, if not warned of their danger in time to prepare foithe attack, which they seemed certain to make upon the fort, the hardy rangers determined, at all hazards, to escape and liear the tidings to them. But here the main difHculty presented itself'. As

But kno\vin<: tlio inmiinent daniiei- of their families and friends, thev resolved to make a desperate eiVort to reaeh them. So at 12 o'clock that night, they took up a plaidc from the floor of the "factory," reached the creek, and tinding a canoe, floated do«i\ to the river. Just us thev reached the river, an nnlncky stroke of the paddle against the side of the canoe, discovered them to the Indians, who started in pursuit of them in canoes. They pursued the settlers to Big Lick, now in Cooper county, where, being .closely pressed. Cole and Davis turned, and each killed an Indian. The Indians then left oil' puisnit, and the two men reached Cole's fort in safety, to announce to tlie settlers that they ^\ere indeed on tlie verge of a long and bloody war. From there the melancholy tidings were conveved to the otht-r forts, and tilled the hearls of the settlers with dismay, as they considered how feu- of them thrre were, to wiilistand the attacks of the whole of the Indi.iu nation.-, living around them.

In July, 181 "2, some Quapa Indians, disguised as Banks and Foxes, killed a man named Campbell - commonly called " Potter,'" from his traiie - about five miles northwest of Boonville, in Howard county, umler the following circumstances: Ho and a man named A lam McCord, went from Kiucaid's fort to Campbell's home, at the above mentioned place, to tie some flax, which they had been forced to leave longer than they ^vished, through fear of an attack l>y the Indians. While tlun^ were at work they discovered moccasin tracks around the farm, as though a party of Indians were watching them and seeking a favorable opportunity to slay them. So they started around to see if they had injured anything. While they were searching for them, the savages, who concealed in some underbrush, fired upon the party, and shot Campbell through the body, killing him almost instantly, but he ran about one hundred yards, climbed a fence, and fell into the top of a tree which had blown down, and the Indians, though they hunted for his body, never succeeded in finding it. Adam McCord escaped without injury, and going to the fort, reported the death of Campljell, and the circumstances under which he was kille<l.

Immediately upon his arrival. Colonel Benjamin Cooper and General Dodge, with a company of about five hundred men, comjiosed of frontiersmen and regular soldiers, started in pursuit of the Indians, who numbered one hundred and eiuhtv. The Indians, not being able

Aflcr tlie Indians liad surrendered, Colonel Cooper and General Dodge had their memorable quarrel in rcga.rd to the disposal ot' tiie prisoners. Colonel Cooper insisted, that rdthough they hud .-nrreudered as prisoners of w.w, they, as the murdci'ers of Campbell, were not entitled to proteelion, and, in aeeordance with a long established custom of the eountry, they should all lie hung. But General Dodge insisted that as they had surrendered to him, he, being the superior officer, they wei'e entitled to his protection. So fiercely did they quarrel, that at one time the two forces (Cooper commanded the froutioi-smen and Dodge the regulars ) came very near having a fight in order to settle the controversy. Finally a peaceful disposition of tiie matter was made, by General Dodge being pcrniitted to take the prisonei-s to 8t. Loui.-.

In the spring of 1813, not having seen any signs of Indians for alioul three i.iontl'S, and being desirous of raising crops during that year, as they had failed the year before, many of the settlers returned to their farms, Init in order to be advised of the approach of an enemy, they stationed a guard at each corner of the tield in -which they were at work.

During the following two or three years the}' were kept continually on the watch against the savages, for every month or two, some small band of Indians would suddenly attack and slay some unsuspecting settler, who had for the nnjnient forgotten his usual caution, or who, feeling socuvc from attack becatise the Indians had not appeared for some time, sulfered this severe penally for bis negligence. The Indians, never after this, marched a large i)and against these settlements, but cnme in small scouting parties, the members of which had only sufficient courage to shoot down some unsuspecting man, or murder unprotected women and children. They never, except in overwhelming numbers, and then ver}' seldom, made an open attack upon even a lone farm-house, but stealing up in the darkness of the night, they would set fire to the house, and slay the inmates as they' rushed from their burning dwelling; or as in the case of the killing of Sarshall Cooper, shoot the dreaded enemy of tlicir race as he sat in the midst of his -family.

lian^iiig from tlio lu-ait-st l.ough? After :ill ilu'ir treachery, woe to the"s:iv;ige who fell into the vengeful hamli of the settler.-i, for they would make short work of hiai ; an.l they knew they were iu:^tifled ii) doing this, for they acted only in self-defence.

Braxton trooper, Jr., wa^ killed two miles northeast of the present site of-New Franklin, in September, 1S13. The Indian.- attacked him as he was cutting logs to build :i liouse. A- he was well armed and a very courageous man, they had a long struggle before the Indians succeeded in killing him. The brokeii l)ushes and niarks upon the ground showed that the struggle had been very fierce. The settlers'who first ai-rlved to take away the body of Cooper, found an Indian's shirt which had two bullet holes in the breast of it, but whether the Indian died they never knew. They followed the trail of the Indians for a short dis.tance, but soon lost it, and were forced to abandon the pursuit.

William McLane was killed by the Indians near the present site uf Fa-elte, in October, 1813, un<ler the following circumstances: He, Ewing McLane, and four other men, went from McLane"s fort to select a piece of land on which some one of them expected to settle. ^Yhen they arrived at a short distance southwest of the present site of Fayette tliev were attacked by a band of about one hur.dred and tiftv Indians. As soon as ;McLane and his companions saw them, they retreated tosvards the fort, and just a., they were ascending a slant from a long, deep ravine leading to Moniteau creek, the Indians fired a volley at them. One shot struck AViUiam McLane in the back of the head, and he dropped dead from his horse. After satisfying themselves thai he was dead, his remaining comi)anions let! his body and continued their retreat to the fort, which they reached in safety. The Indians scalped McLane, cut out his heart, and literally hacked hini to pieces. As soon as possible a large party of settlers started out to recover his body, and, if possible, to avenge his death: but they found that the Indians had retreated, and left no trace of the direction which they had taken. From the cleared place around the body, and the beaten appearance of the earth near, it was .<ui)po-ed that the Indians had, in accordance with their custom, danced then- "war dance" there to celebrate tlieir victmy. After getting the body they returned sorrowfully to the fort.

}VontiiTsiiifn :ih; (lio tra!::;ie death of Ca))t;uii Sarsliall Cciopcr, who was the ai'knowlofliitMl loader of the settlers north of the Missouri river. On a darl: a\id ^turmv iiiLrht on l!ie lltii day of April, 1814, .'is Capt;un Cooper was sittint;' hy his fireside with his f;iinily, his youngest child upon his lap, the orheis pla;>ing at different games around tb.e room, and liis wife sitting In' his side sewing, an Indian warrior crept up to the side of liis cabin and picked a hole between the logs just sufHcient to admit the inuzzle of his gun, the noise of his work being drowned by the storm without . lie shot Captain Cooi)er, \\'ho fell from his chair to the floor, among his hori-in' stricken famih', ;i lifeless cr)rpse His }io\vers and skill were well known to the Indians \\hom hv' had often foiled. He \\-as kind and generous to his neighbors, whom he Avas always ready to assist in any of their undertakings. Therefore, his loss was deeply" fell l)y the settlers, whose Lcnnes lie had defended and whoso prosperity- was due largely to his advice and counsel. Joseph Cooper, in his letter to Colonel Xewton G. Elliott, in January, 1S74, in speaking of the death of Captain Cooper, his father, said: " ^Ve had taken a keel boat, from some Frenchmen, \vlio were attempting to take it up the rivei' loa.ded with wliiske}', ixiwd^r and It-'ad for the Indians. ^Ve tirst stojiju'd tliem and oi'dored tlieni back : keeping watch the next night and the night fo!lo\ving, wr ca\igbi t!ie;n in a second attemiit to jiass up the river, aiul took the boat fVom them. 1 t'nnk one of this party killed my father, We kept the keel boat and its cargo untouched for two or three years, until jieace had Iieen nnide, and no one applied for if."

A negro man named Joe, belonging to Samuel Brown, of Howard cf)unty, was killed by the Indians near ]\Ir. Burckhartt's farm , about thre(;-fourths of a niile cast of EsfiU station, on the ^Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad.

The above embraces all the names of the men, of whom we ha\e any record, who were killed in the Boone's Lick country during the Indian war from ISli' to 181'). The ]ieculiar atrocities attending the killing (if some of thcni, nnikc the stoutest shudder. But these atrocities were so common in those days that the settlers did not fear to remain here, although thev knew tliese things ini^ht hapiien to them at any time.

I'or tlirc'c long years, had the settler's li\es been a <-onstant vigil. Their savage foes were crafty and heartl(>ss, and they knew that an}- remissness of duty upon their part would re-ull in the inlOG stantancous slauglitcr of ihcm.sL-lvcs, tlnir wives, ami tlieir little ones. This Iieautiful Cdiiiitry to wliieh they had come, was toon, liowever, to be put under trilmto to tiie [iluw and the haiTtiW, and the t-oft wings of peace were to again overshadow it. Indeed, peace had already been declared, and they had entered upon the enjoymeiit of thiit deliLi'itfiil era of which the poet speaks -

Territorial La\s's - Districts and Counties - Organiy.atiou of Ilowaid Coiir,ty - Boundary - Countits which liave been tnlceu I'lum Howard - Its Origiaal Ar^a - Gen. Beuj. Howard - Settlers Executed their own Laws - First Circuit Court - Grand Jury - Attorneys - First Licensed Ferry - First Licensed Tavern - First Road - Indict raeuts - Elections - Incidents - Kate of Taxation - Eavlv Suit - First Recorded Deed - First Marriages - Old Fraulilin - Location of County Seat - Land Otlice - Memoirs of Dr. Peck - Tlie First Newspaper - Arrival of the First Steamboat-- Newspaper Coiniueuts - Dinner and Toasts - First County Court.

The territorial Imw.s were not e.xlended over this part ot'tlie country until the 3'car ISIO. Until this time, they had no government or l;'\vs oxeept .such as t'ley tlieniselves made t'or their own prt_)tettion, and which, ol' course, had no effect outside ui' the hound:iries of tlieir narrow lerritorv. With them, the single distinction wa.s between right and wrong, and they had no inediuni ground. As the result slious, they really noedeii no laws or e.xecufive othcers, for it is :i well known fact, that during the early pei iod of this settlement there were 110 serious crime; committed williin its limits. As the men each depended upon the other, ant! knew that in time of attack by the Indians their only safety lay in union, each endeavored to preserve the gooil will of his neighbor, and, as the l)est way to oljtain the good wishes and assistance of a man, is to act honestly and friendly with him, each did this, and in this way they needed no law, except tlieir own judgments. During tlie early period of the colony they ne\er l:ud au}' occasion to punish any one under their law, which was an unwritten one. Although 'tis true, some few crimes were committed, (the nature of man has not entirely changed since then), yet they were uniformly of .such a trivial character, as hardly to be worthy to be classed as crimes.

Another reason of the almost entire freedom from crime, was the certainty of punishment. Then there were no '- legal technicalities "' by which a prisoner could escape. No sooner was the criminal caught and his guilt established - no matter what his crime - than the lawmakers took the matter Into their own hands, and hung him to the nearest tree.

From IsOl, until Octnljcr 1, 1812, the territory of Mis.soui'i \v;i> ilivided into four districts. Aftiiat diitc (October 1, iyi2) governor Clarli issued a proclauiation, in accordance with an act of Congress requiring him to do so, reorganizing the four districts into tlie live following counties: !St. ('harlcs, St. Loui,-, St. (.Teue\'ieve, Cajie and New Madiid. In 181.">, llic county ot' Washington \vas created, from a part of St. Genevieve. In 1814, the of Arkansas was formed, and during liie winter of 1814 antl I8l5, the county- (<{' Lawrence was organizetl from tin- western portion of New Madrid. Under an act of the general assoml)ly, ajjproved Januarv lo, 181(5, the county of Howard was created, being the ninth organized county in the territoiy% and was taker, out of the counties of St. Louis an<! St. Charles.

It> bouiularirs when created, were established as follow?: " Ueginniiig at the moutli of the 0-iage river, which is about ten mile.> beh/w the cily of Jell'crson and opposite to the village of Barkesrviile in Callaway county ; the boundary pursued the cirt'uitons course of said stream to t'le Osage l)ouuiiary line, nic:ining tliereby the eastern bouruar\' of the Osage Indian territory, or to the northeast corner of \ ernon county, where the ()sagx- river, two miles east of the present town of Scliell City, runs near said coruei' ; thence north (along tli<- western line of .St. Clair. Ib'nry, John~;on and Ltifavette counties), to the Missouri river, striking that stream wi^t of and very near Najioleon ; thence up said river to the mouth of the Kansas river ( where Kansas Cit\' is now located), thence with tlie Indian boundary line (as desriijed in the proclamation of Gov. ^Villiam Ciark issued the 9th day of March, 1S1.5,) northwardly along the eastei-n boundary of the "Platte purchase" 140 miles, or to a point about thirty-six mik'S north and within tin.' |)rc^ent coiuitv oi' Ad:un-, in the state of Iowa, near the town of Corning in said couut\ , on the Burlington and Missouri river railroad ; thence ea-twaid with the said line to the main dividing ridgu of high irround, to the main fork of the river Cclar (wliicli is the line l)i'tweeu Boone and Callaway counties in Missouri) ; thence down said river to the Missouri; thence down the river Missouri a'.id in thr miildle of the main cliamud thereof, to the mouth of the (ireat ()->agc river, the place of beginnins."

Altliongh we liave named the counties and parts of counties, which originally constituted Howard county, yet a still more perfect idea of its extent, may be formed, when we say that it was an empire, presenting an area of nearly 22,000 squaie miles. It wa,s one third as large as the present State of Missouri ami larger than Vermont, Massacliusctls. Delaware and Rhode Island. Missouri, at that time, had not heen admitted into the sisterhood of states. The most prominent denizens who inhaliitcd this vast empire, out of whicii Howard county was erected, were the Ijuflalo, the antelo[)e, the elk, till dee and the s -arcely less wild Indian, who continued to occui>v some portions of it for many years thereafter.

By nu act of the legislature, approved Fehruary IG, 1825, Howard count}' was reduced to its present limits, its boundary being defined as follows : " Beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river, opposite the month of Moyiitav civek ; thence up said creek to the line between townshi[is 4S and 40 ; them-e in a tliiect line to the northeast corner of towusliip 51, of raiiiic 14, west ; thence in a direct line to a point one and a half miies we.st of the northeast corner of township 52, of range 17, west ; thence in a direct line to a point in the middle of the main channel of the Missom-i river, where the line between sections 17, and 20, township 51, range 17, west, intersects the same, and thence down the same, in the middle of the main chanuel thereof ( varving, however, it' necessary, so as to incii'.ih' the tirst island below the city of Boonville) to place of beginning.

iiuiioi-tiuit liistofy. It imisL bo rcmciiiliored, liowcver, that the most noted events in iiueient or modern times transpired within tlie smallest territorial compass. It must also be borne in mind, that sixty-seven years have passed since Howard county began its ]joiitieal existence, atiording, therefore, ample time in which to make a histor}' and leave to l)nsy chroniclers an abundant harvest of facts au<l incidents.

Previous to January 23, 181G, the settlers of this part of the conntry had maije tlioir own laws and executed them rigorously when occasion demanded, which was very seldom. Although the eastern portion of the State had lieen organized into counties, and the territorial laws, by means of the territorial courts, hid been extended over tiiem, still the '- Boone's Lick country " hail not been sufficiently settled lo jusiify its organization and the expense of holding terms of court within it< limits.

But even during the \va,r with the Indians the countr_y adjacent to fill' forts was settled very rapidly, although t\'\\' ventured to locate, except near enough to reach tlie fort at the first approach of danger. So that, at the time of the organization of Howard county, it contained a considerable number of settlers, although they lived in what was then called " neighborhoods," so as to be of protection to one another in times of danger from their savage foes.

Tlie tirst circuit court of Howard count}' was held at tlie house of Joseph Jolly, in Hannali Cole's fort, in what is now known a-. Cooper conuty, on the 8tii day of July, ISli). Hon. David Barton was the presiding judge, Nicholas T. Burckhartt the sheritl', and Gray Bynum cltrk. The following named persons composed the first

The tirst reguiarlj- established terry by law in the county v,-as Kept by H.iunah Cole, who ol>tained a license at this term of the court. The charges fixed b_y the court as feri'iagc were as follows : - For man and horse . . .... $ .oO

First Koad

The first road laid out In' authority of the court in the county was a I'outc from Cole's fort, on the Missouri river, to intersect the road from Potosi, in AVashington county, at the Osage river. Stejihen Cole, James Cole and Humphrey Gibson were appointed vie^vers to make thk- road.

Iniiic131Ents

The two first bills (criniiual actions) returned by the grand jury were " United States vs. Samuel K.errall," '- United States vs. James Cockrell," indorsed " A true bill."

The first elections held in the county were held at IIea<l's fort, McLain's fort. Fort Cooper and Cole's fort. The tirst civil action was styled " Davis Todd vs. Joseph Boggs."

I>:u-toii for profane ssvearing in tlic prc-jencc of the court. Colo ol)jocted to paying the tine, Init, supi)osing tliat he would ije able to roialiatc somctiiue in tho future, at hist paid it. And his time for retaliation came sooner than he expected. Tliat afterr.oon Cole, v.ho v.'as a justice of the peace, organized his court on a log in front of the lort. As Judge Ijarton was returning from dirmcr, he stopped iii front of Cole and leaned r.gn.iust a tree, ^vatching the proceedings of the justice, and smoking his pipe. Cole looked up and, assuming the stern lock of insulted dignity, s;ud : "Judge Barton, I tine you one dolhir for eonl<'mpt of my court, for smoking in its presence." Judge Barton smilingly paid his Hue and went to open his own court, acknowledging that he had been beaten at his own game.

'- Ordered by the court tiiat the following rates of taxation for county purposes for the year ISlC 1)0 established in the county of Howard, to wit : On each horse, mare, muk- or ass al)ove ." years old . . . .2-0

Early Suit

Among the early suits we find the following, wliich wc copy, because of the peculiar and ancient contract upon which the suit was instituted : -

The defendant, by M. ^IcGirk, their attorney, comes into court and defend- the wrong and injur}', and craves oycv of the said writing obliiratory mentioned in the said plaintitFs declaration, which was read to them in the following words, to-wit : "July 21tji, 1814. " C)n our arrival at the post of Arkansas, we, or either of u<5, " promise to pay, or cause to be paid unto Fraceway Licklier or his

Fikst Deed Kecokded

Know all iiieii by these presents that 1, Josepdi ilarie, of the county und town of St. Charles, and territory of Missouri, have this day iriveu, granted, bargained, sold and possession delivered unto Asa Morgan, of the count}' of Howard, and territory aforesaid, all the right, title, claim, interest, and property that I the said Joseph Marie have or may possess or am iu anywise legally or equitably entitled to iu a certain settlement right on the north side of tlie ]Misscuiri river, in the aforesaid county of Howard, near a certain place known and called by the name of Eagle's Nest, and lying about one mile, ir little west of south from ICincaid's Fort, in the said county of Howard, wiiieh said settlement was made by me sometime in tlie year 1?00, for and consideration of value by me received, the receipt whereof, is hci-eb}' acknowledged, and him the said Asa ^Morgan forever discharged and acquitted. And I do by these presents, sell, transfer, convey and quit-claim to the aforesaid Asa Morgan all the cl-'.ims and interest which I might bo entitled to either in law or equity from the aforesaid improvement or settlement right, together with all and singular, all the appurtenances unto the same belonging, or ill anywise appertaining to have and to hold free from me, or any person claiming by or through mo.

Second Deed

" To all to whom these presence shall come greeting: - Know ye thai we, Itisdon H. Price, and Marv', his wife, both of the town and county of St. Louis, and territory of Missouri, for and in consideration of the stun of four thousand eight htmdred dollars, lawful money of the United States to us in hand before the delivery of these presents well and fully paid by Elias Rector, of the same jjlace, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowlediivd atul thereof, we do hereby acquit atid discharge the said Elias Rector, his heirs and assigns forever. Have given, granted, bargained, and sold, aitd do hereby give, grant, bargain, and sell unto the said Elias Rector, his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the conditions hereinafter expressed, one certain tract and parcel of land, oontainiiig one thotisand six hundrei] arpens, situate in tlie countv of Howard, in tiie territory of ilissouri. ii'ranied oriiiin- allv 1)V the late Lioutcii.uit-Ciovcrnov C'i;irl("s DcliauU Dnlassiis.to ono Ira Kush, on the IStli thiy of Jammry. 1^00, surve^ved the 2L)th day of January, liS04, and certilied on the ISlliday of Feliriiary, of the same year, rel'ei'ence bouig iiad to the record of said ch^iin in tlie ofHce of the recorder of Isnd titles for the tcr)itory of Mis.vouri, for the coiicessiuii and for the boiuidarics thereof as set forth in and upon the taid certificate or plat of snrvey thereof will more full}', certainly and at h\rsQ appear, and ^vhich said survey is hereto annexe d and niaivcspurt and parcel of this deed, and being the same trad of laud which the said liisdon H. Price claims as assigned of tlie sheriff of th(> connfy of St. Charles, who sold the same as the property of said Ira Nash, as by deed thereof dated the 5th day of Octoljer, 1815, reference thereto being had will more fnlh' and at large appetir.

To have the said granted aud bargained premises with the appiirtcuances and i)rivileges thereon, and thereunto belonging unto hiui, the said Elias Rector, his lieirs aud assigns forever. Aud it is hereby declared to bo the agreement, understanding and intention of tlio parties aforesaid, that sliould the said tract of land be finally rejected by the United States within three years from this date, or should the same not be sancti<uied and confirmed by tlic government of the United stales, at or belore the period last mentioned, or in. case tlie said Eli.is Kcctor, his Iieirs, executors, administrators, or assigns shall by due process and judgment at law, be evicted, dispossessed and detinitely deprived of said tract of land, then and in that case, the said J?isdon H. Price, his heirs, executors, or administrators, shall only j^ay or cause to lio paid to the said f]lias Rector, his heirs, executors, administrators or ar signs, tlie said sum of four thousand eight hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States, with the lawful interest thereon, at the I'ate of six per centum jier ainium, from the date of this deed, until the time of such rejection, ni)t being sanctioned as aforesaid, or until such eviction as afores.aid, with the legal costs ujion such suit or suits at law, and which shall be in full of all damages under any covenant? in this dead, and if such claim shall be rejected as aforesaid (unot confirmetl as aforesaid, or in case tiie said Elias Rector, his heirs, executors, or assigns, shall be evicted therefrom as aforesaid, that then, and in either of these cases, the said Elias Rector, his heirs, execiitors or assigns, shall by proper deed of i-elease and quit-claim, transfer to said Risdon II. Price, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the claim of said Elias Rector, his heirs, executors and assigns to the said premises at the time of receiving the said consideration money, interest, and costs aforesaid.

clerk of tlie circuit courl wit.iiiii and for tlie coiiiily of >>t. Louis. It is quite an ancient deed and cjuito a. lengthy one, and tlie old Sp;aiish pb.i'aseoiO:rv is ll^ed - the word arpents in the descri]:)tioii of tlic laud.

First Mareiages

]->elo'.v will be found verbalim copies of some of the earliest certifioatcs of marriages tliat occurred in Howard county. In the nanics of the fjarties assuming the marital relations, some one or more of our readers, may recognize their ma.tcrnal or ]ialern:il ancestors: -

Be it remembered to all whom it may ccuiccrn, that on the lOtli day of ^lay, 181G, b}' virtue of the power and anthority vested in me by Law, a preacher of the gospel, etc., I joined in the holy state of matrimoiry Judiali Osmon and Rosella Busby, of the said territory and county, as man and Avifc. Witness my hand, this od day of Jnly ISl'i. William Thokp.

I hereby certify, tliat on the second day of Jnne last passed, T celebrated tlic rights of nr.itrinioiiy bet\\eeii -Tohn Coi^ley and Elizabeth AYhite, both of the county of Howard and territory of Missouri.

I do hereby certify, than on the 27th day of last. I celebrated the rights of matrimony between Elijah Creason and Elizabeth Lowell, both of the county of Howard and territorv of Missouri.

}^e it known, to whom it may concern, that on the 2Gth of A'pril, 1816, by \irtue of the power and authority vested in me by law, a preacher of the Gospel, I joined in the holy state of matrimony Abraham Barnes, and Gracy Jones of the said territoiy and county, as man and wife, satisfactory proof having been given of the legal notice as requested by law and parents' consent obtained.

The marriages above mentioned occurred sixty-seven years ago. In those primitive days, among the early settlers, marriages were the result of love. There vras not onlv a union of hands, but a union

The town of Old Franklin was laid off opjjosite tlie present site of ]V:ic)nville, in '- Coojier's bottom," in the fall of l-'^l'j. It was located on a tract containing 100 acres. Benjamin Estill, David Jones, David Kincaid, William Head, and Stephen Cole were appointed commissioners to locate the county sent, which was first located at Hannah Colo's fort, as stated above. On June IR, 1817, the coramissiouers settled upon Old Franklin as the most suitaljle |)lace for the location of the ccui.'t}' ioat, aiid to that pjai.-c the I'ccords, documents, etc., were removed on the second ilonday in November, 1S17, the court being opened by the sheritf on that day at 2 o'clock p. ni.

The land oiBce for tlic district of Missouri was located at Old Franklin in lylS. Gen. Thom;is A. Smith was appointed recei\'er and Charles Carroll register. The land sales occui'red in, the same year, November 18, 1818. The crowd in attendance upon these sales was said to have numbered thousamls of well-dressed and intelligent men from all ])arts of the east and south.

Memoirs Of Dr. Peck

"Wishing to give our readers the beiictit of all t'.ie facts we have collared, in reference to that early [leriod (1818 and 1819) in the history of Howard county, we here insert some extracts from the memoirs of James M. Peck, D. D., a pioneer Uaptist minister who visited this portion of the Missouri territory at the period mentioned, '\^'hat he says was written from his persomil observation, and is therefore not only reliable but deeply interesting : -

* * * On Monday, December 22. 1818, I rode through the country to Franklin, found a Baptist family by the name of Wiseman, where I had been directed to call. A hasty a[ipi)intment was circulated, and I preached to a roomful of peo[)le.

left bank of the Missouri, iiud on tlic bm-der of an cxieii>i\L' tract of ricli, alluvial boltoia land, covered with a huuvv forest, cxi'tpt where the axe and tires had destroyed the nuderirrowth, "deadened" the timber, and prc)Jared the fields for the hum'st crops of corn.

If any one wishes to Diid the site of this nourishing town, as it then appeared to pronu^e, he uuisL examine the bed of the river directly opjK)site Booiiville. IJepeated Hoods, many years since, drove the inhabitants to the bluif, with such of their houses as could be removed, where New Praniilin now stands. At the period of our visit no town west of tJt. Louis gave better promise for rapid growth than Franklin. There vvas no church formed in tiie village, but I found fourteen liaptists there.

The country on the north side of the Missouri, above the Cedar, a small stream on the western border of the present county of Callaway, was known as Boone's Lick from an early period. Also under the same cognomen was the county designated on the south side and west of the Osage river. The particular saltlick to which this appellation was tirst given was ten or twelve miles above (_)id Franklin, au'.l about two miles back tVon; the ri\cr. Tradition told that this spot, in a secluded ])Lu^e auiong the blurt's, was occuf/ied l)y the old pioneer, the veritable I)aniel Boone, f a- Li- huntiu':: camp. I^ut the name came from the late ^laj. Nathan Boone, who in company with the iMessrs. .Morrisons, of St. Charles, manufactured salt at the spring in lbOG-7. About the same- time a settlement was made on the Lout re and on Loutre Island. This settlement, except C'lte Sans I>e!<sein, was the veiitable " far west '" until 1810.

During the spring of 1810 several families frcnn Loutre settlement, and a large numljer then recently from Kentucky, moved westward and planted themselves in the Boone's Lick country, then re[>orted as the El Dorado of all new counties. Oil' from the river bottoms the land was undulating, the prairies small, the soil rich, and the timber in variety and of a tine quality. Deer, bears, elk, and other game ^v-ere in abundance, and furnished provisions, and, in many instances, clothing, until the people could raise crops.

Tf.ere were in all about one hundred and tifty families thtit came into the Boone's Lick country in 1810-11, when the Indian Avar stojiped further immigration until 1815 or 181(i. Twelve families settled on the south side of the river, not far fi-om the present site of Boonville, and several more formed a settlement south of the Missouri, some ten or fifteen miles above Old Franklin.

Amongst the emigrants, both from Loutre and Kentucky, were not a few Baptist families and two or three preachers. A church had been organized in the Loutre settlemeul, a majority of which, with their church record-;, were amongst the emigrants, and became reorganized, and I think took the name of Mount Zion.

came slealtliily into tlie settlement on tlu- LoiUie. neafh' oppo-ite the mouth ot" the G:iscon:idc river, aijd stole :i uuinlx.T ol' horses. A volunteer i'om]")any was raised, con.sisliiii;- of Stephen Colo, Wm. T. Cole, ^Messrs. iSruv.n, Gooch, Pattoii and one other person, to follow tlioivi. They followed the trail across Grand prairie to ijoone Liek, a Ijraach of Salt river, where they discovered eiglit Indians who threw off their jtaeks of plunder and scattered in the wood;. Night coming on, the party disregardeil the advice of their leader, Stephen Cole, an experienced man with Indians. Me advised setting a guanl, hut the majority exclaimed against it, and cried "cowardice." About midnight the Indian yell and the deathdealing bullet aroused them from sleep. Slepiien Cole had taken iiis station at the foot of a tree, and if he slejit it was with one eye o;)en. He killed four Indians and wounded the lifth, though severely wounded himself. Wm. T. Cole, his brother, was killed at the cr:nmencement of the fight, with two other persons. Next morning the survivors reached the settlement and told the dreadful tidings, and a pai'ty returned to the spot, buried the dead, but found the Indians gone.

This was the first of a series of depredations, murders and robberies Ju tbe.se remote settlements that continued five years. The distri''t of St. Ciiarles had the Cedar for its western boundary. Tlie Jjoone's Lick couritry was not recognized as within the organized territory of ^Missouri. The people were " a law unto themselves.'" and had to do their own fightinii;. Ever\- male inhaliitaiit of the settlement, who was capable of bearing arms, enrolled and equijiped himself for defence. Each one pledged himself to fight, to labor on the forts, to go on scoutim:: expeditions, or to raise corn for the communitv, as danger or necessit}* required. By the common consent of all these volunteer parties, Col. Benjamin Conjier, a Baptist from Madison county, Kv., was chosen commander-in-chief.

Col. Cooper was one ofKentucky's noblestpioneers. He had also been a prominent man in the war with Indians in that district, possessed real courage, cool and deliberate, with great skill and sagacity in judgment. He had also l)een an efficient man in the afiairs of civil and political life, and a man of firmness and correctness as a lucmber of the church.

Among the jirincipal officers who occupied subaltern positions as the commanders of forts and partisan leaders for detached field service, were Capt. Sarshall Cooper (a brother of the colonel), William Head and Stephen Cole.

5. Colo's Tort vas on the south side of the Missouri, a'lout a mile below- Uciouviile. Here the widow of "W. T. Cole, who was slain by the Indians on Boone's liiik, with her children, settled soon after the murder of her husband.

These forts were a refuge to the families when danger threatened, but the (.iefenders of the eouutrv did not reside in theoi only as threatened danger required. Scouting parties were almost constantly engaged in scouting the woods, in the I'ear of, the settlements, watching for Indian signs, aiul protecting their stock from depredations.

With all their vigilance during the war, about tliree hundred horses were stolen, many cattle and nearl}' all their hogs were killed. Bear meat and raccoon bacon became a substitute, and eveu were engaged in contracts for trade. They cultivated the tields nearest to the stockade forts, which could be cultivated in corn with comparative security, but not enough to supply .the amount necessary for cousumption.

Parties wei'e detailed to cultiv.nte fields more distant. These were divided into plowmen and seuiinels. 'J'he one party followed the plows, a-ul the other, -with ritles loaded and ready, scouted around the fii-ld on es'cry side, stealthily watching lest the wily foe should form an ambuscade. Often the plowman walked over the field, guidirig his horses and pulverizing the earth, with his loaded rifle slung at his back.

AVith all th.'se precautions, few men but woidd tread stealthily along the furrows. As he ajiproached the end of tlie corn-rows, where the adjacent woodland might conceal an enemy, his anxiety was at its height. When these detachments were in the cornfield, if the enemy threatened the fort, the sound of the horn gave the alarm, and all rushed to the rescue.

It was in the autumnal season of corn-gathei-ing that a party of these farming soldiers v.'cre hard pressed by a party of savages. A negro servant drove the team with a load of corn. He knew nothing of chariot races among the ancients, but he put the lash on the horses. and drove through the large doultle gateway without touching either post as had been too often his unlucky habit. The ludians were on the opposite side of the clearing, saw their prey had escaped, raised their accustomed yell, and disappeared in the woods. " Oh, Sam I" said the cajitain, whose servaut he was, " you've saved your sealji this time by accurate and energetic driving."

" Yes, massa, I tink so, " at the same time scratching his wool as if he would nuike sure that the uset'ul appendage was not missing. " De way T done miss dose gate-posts was no red man's business. I never drove trew afore without I hit one side, and sometimes i)ose of dem."

rich dijtiict of tlic Siato. ] regr.-t oxrecdingh', now it is too late, that I did not pitiicr many more tads, and record the names of iha principal families. Thoy sutfered as many privations as any frontier settlement in v*-e.<tcrn history. The men were all heroes and- the women heroines, and successfulh- and skillfully defended their families and til'' coiiiiLrv ai.'out three 3'ears witb.out the least aid from the national or territorial govei'siment. Throughout the war but ten persons were killed by Indians in all the settlements about Boone's Lick. Several other persons, V>e:-:ides tliose already mentioued, were killed in the Loutre settlements and beiow.

Those killed in tlie Boone's Lick country were Sarshall Cooper, Jonathan Todd, Wm. Cami)bcll, Thomas Smith, Samuel McMahan, \Vm. Gregg, John Smith, James Busby, Joseph W. Still, and a negro man. Capt. Sarshall Cooper came to his tragic end at Cooper's fort, where his family resided. It was a dark night ; the wind liowled through the forest, and the raiu fell in fitful gusts, and the watchful sentinel could not discern auobject six feet from the stockade. Capt. Cooper's residence formed one of the angles of the fort. lie had previously run up a long account with the red-skins. They dre.nded botii his strategy and his prowess in Indian warfare. A single brave crept stenltinly in the darkness and storm to the logs of the cabin, and made au opening in the clay between the logs barely snfilcicnt to admit the muzzle of his gun, which he discharged with fatal effect. The assassin escaped and left the family and every settler in mourning. Among a large circle of relatives and friends, the impre,-.:^ions of their loss were vivid at the period of our first visit.

After nearly three years of hard fighting and severe sufi'ering, congress made provision for raising several companies of " rangers " - men who furnished their own horses, equipments, forage and provisions, and received one dollar per day for guarding the frontier settlements - -when a detachment was sent to the relief of the people of Boone's Lick, under command of Gen. Henry S. Dodge, then major of the battalion. The mounted rangers included the companies of Capt. John Thompson, of St. Louis, 'Capt. Daughcrty, of Cape Girardeau, and Capt. Cooper, of the Boone's Lick. An expedition under command of Capt. Edward Hempstead, was sent in boats up the Missouri. In the companies were fifty Delawares and Shawnecs, and two hundred and fifty Americans. On the south bank of the Missouri, at a ])lace now known as ^liami, was an Indian town of tour huudred, including women and children, who had migrated from the Wabash country a few years previcurs. They were friendly and peaceable; but bad Indians would report bad tales of them, and Maj. Dodge under instructions, guarded them back to the Wabash country.

Scarcely had the pioneers emerged from their forts, wherein they had been immured fur three years, before they began in earnest to establish schools and tf. set up in their midst the printing press.

On the 23(1 of April, 18UI, Nalhaiucl Patten and Benjamiii Holliday, two cntoiprisiuLr citizens, i'^sued llie first ninnber of the J//<soJjr/ Intclliynccr in Franklin. This v.-as the first news[)aper pnlili.-lird west of St. Jioui.-. A full acconnt of this paper is given in the chapter eniitleil Tlie Press."

Pcrliaps one of the greatest events that occurred in tlie year 1S19, ill the tlieii brief history of Howard county, was the arrival of tlie steamer Indeiiendence, Capt. John Nelson - the tirst steamboat that had ever attempted the navigation of the ^Pissouri river. The Jiidepeadence had been chartered by Col. Elias Rector and others of St. Louis, to ascend tlic Missouri :is high as Chariton, two miles above Glasgow. She left St. Louis, I\Lay 15, 1819, and reached Franklin, in Hovrard county, on May 28. -Vniong the passengers were Col. Elias Rector, Stephen Rector, Capt. Desha, J. C. Mitchell. Dr. Stc'vart, J. \Vnnton and :Major J. D. 'WTlcox.

Upon the arrival of the Independence, a ]>ublic dinner was given the passengers and ollicci's. A puldic meeting was held, of whicl; .V^a Morgan, was chosen president and Dr. N. Hutchinson, vice-pre-ident.

Af.Uival Of The Steamboat

With no ordinary sensations of pride and pleasure, we announce the arrival this mornina', at this iilace, of the elegant steamboat Independence, C-aptain Nelson, in sailing days, (but thirteen from the lime of lier departure) iVoni St. Louis, with passengers and a cargo of flour, whiskey, sugar, iron, castings, etc., being the tirst stearal)oat that- ever attempted ascending the ]\Iissouri. She v,-as joyfully met by the inlial)itants of Franklin, and saluted l)v the tiring of cannon, which was returned by the Independence.

A respectable gentleman, a jiassenger in the Independence, wIkj has for a numlier of years traveled the great western waters, int'orin^ us that it is his opinion, that with a little precaution in keeping cleaofsandbars, the Missouri may be navigated witli as mucii facility as the Mississipiii or Ohio.

Missourians may hail this era, from which to date the growing importance of this section of country; when they view with v.liai facility (by the aid of steam) boats may ascend the turbulent watirs of the Missouri, to bring to this part of the country the articles rerjuill'2 IlISTOKV Oi' JIOWAKU AND Cll AKITON COUNTIES.

site to its siijiply, and rctuni laden with the various products ol' this fertile region. At no distant period may we sec the industrious cultivator making his ^\-;ly as liigli as the Yellowstone, and oHcring to tlie enlerjirising merchant and trader a surjilus wortliy ot'the fertile bauks of the ^lis^ouri, }ieh.ling wealtli to industry and enterprise.

On Friday last, the 2.Sth ult., the citizens of Franklin, with the most lively emotions of pleasure, witnessed the arrival of this beautifid boat, owned and commanded by Capt. Nelson, of Louisville. Her aj)[iroach to the landing was greeted by a Federal sa.lute, accompanied with the acclamations of an admiring crowd,- who had assembled on the bank of the river for the purpose of viewing this noxel and interesting sight. We may trulv regard this event as highly important, not only to the commercial but agricultural interests of the countiy. The practicability of steamboat navigation, being novvclearly deaiuaslrated b}- experiment, we shall be brought nearer to the Atlantic, "West India and European markets, and the abundant rL^sources of our fertile and extensive region will be quickly developed. This interesting section of country, so highly fa\ored by nature, Asill at no distant period, with the aid of science and enterpi'ise assume a dignilied station amongst the great agricultural states of the west.

The enterprise of Capt. Nelson cannot be too highly appreciated by th.e citizens of Missouri. He is the first individual who has Jittemi.ted the navigation of the Missouri by steam i)ower. a river that has hitherto borne the character of being very difficult and eminently dangerous in its navigation, but we are happy to state that his progress thus far has not been imi^eded b^- any accident. Anioni; the passengers were Col. Ellas I'ectcu', !^Ir. Stephen Eector, Capt! Desha, J. "C. Mitchell, Esq., Dr. Stewart, Mr. J. Wanton, Maj. J. D. Wilcox.

The Dinner And Toasts

The day after the arrival of the Independence, Capt. Nelson and the passengers partook of a diinier, given by the citizens of Franklin, in honor of the occasion. After the cloth was removed, Ca[it. Asa Morgan was called to the chair, and Dr. N. Hutchinson acted as vice-president, when the following toasts were drank : -

1st. The Missouri Elver. - Its last wave w-ill roll the abundant tribute of our region to the Mexican gulf in reference to the auspices of this day.

4th. dipt. Xel-ion . - TliQ proprietor of the steamboat Independence. The imaginary dangers of the ^lissouri vanished before his enterprising genius.

6th. The Bcpi'Mican Govermnent of the United States. - \\y facilitating the intercourse between distant points, its benign influence may be diffused over the continent of ZS'orth America.

Sth. South Arne'riva. - May an early day witness the navigation of the Amazon and LaPlata by steam power, under the auspices of an independent government.

lOtli. Tlie Missouri Territory . - Desirous to be numbered Avitli states on constitutio\ial principles, but determined never to submit to Congressional usurpation.

B}- Stephen Hector, Esq. - May the Missourians defend their rights, if necessary, even at the expense of blood, against the unprecedented restriction which was attempted to be imposed on them !)y the congress of the United States.

By Dr. Dawsou - The next Congress - ^I;'}' they be nici; cdnsistcnt in their construction of the Constitution ; and wlien they iidiait uev.- states into the union, be actuated loss by a spirit of conip'.oniise, than the just rights of the people.

By Augustus Storrs, Esq. - The memory of Captain Lawrence, late of the navy- - by the conduct of such men, may our national character be formed.

By N. Patton,Jr. - The ^Missouri territory - Its future prosperity and greatness cannot be checked by the caprice of a fev,- men in congress, while it ])os?esscs a soil of int'xhp.ustii)le fertility, at'undant resources, and a bod}' of intelligent, enterprising, independent freemen.

}^v ^>Ir. Tv. ^^'. Jordan - Tlie towns on the Missouri i-iver - M:nthey llourish in commerce, and, like those on the Ohio and ]\li>-i - sippi, witness the dailj' arrival or departure of some steamboat, ascending oi- descending this majestic sti'cani.

The government of tlie United States projected the celelu-ated Yello\vstone expedition in 1818, the objects of which were to ascertain whether the ?.Iissouri river was navigable by steamboats, and to establish a line of forts from its mouth to the Yellowstone. Tliis expedition started from Piattsburg, New York, in 1818, under command of Colonel Henry Atkinson. General Nathan Ranney, a well known citizen of St. Louis, was an attache of this expedition, al-o Captain Wm. D. Ilubbell now a citizen of Columbia. It arriveil at Pittsburg i'l the spring of 1819, where Colonel Stephen II. Long, of the to[iograi)hical engineers of the United States army, had constructed tlie Western Engineer, a small steamboat to lie used by him and his scientific eoi'p- in jiioneering tlie expedition to tlie monih of the Yellowstone. The vessel reached St. Louij, June 9, 1S19, aiul proceeding on tiio voyage, arrived at Franklin, July 13, same year. The following gentlemen were on board: Major S. H. Long, comniauder ; ^I.ijor Thomas Biddle (who was killed Angust 27, 1^31, in a duel with Spencer Pettis, on Bloody Island, and after whom, Biddle street, St. Louis, w;!s r.amed) ; Lieutenants Graham and Swift, Major Benj. O'P'allon, Jn^Iian agent: Mr. Daugherty, assistant au'cnt and interpreter ; I-)r. A\'m. Baldwin, botanist;* Thomas Say, zoologist; Mr. Jessup, gcologi.^t ; ^Ir. Seymore, landscape painter; and Mr. Peale, assistant naturalist.

On Monday, July I'J, the vessel pi-oecedcd on its voyage up the Missouri and reaeheil Council Blull's on the 17th of Septcndjer, v.here it remained for the winter.

Owing to the peculiar construction of the Western Engineer, as well as to the fact that a water craft of any kind, and especially one propelled by steam, v as a novel si)ect:icle, its progress up the river excited Ihe greatest wonder among tiie Indians, many of whom flocked to the river banks to see it, while others lied in fear to the forests or pr:uries, thinking it an evil spirit, a very devil with serpent's htad, and breath of fire and steam. The St. Louis Unquirer, of June 16, 1819, contains this description of it : -

The bow of the vessel exhibits the form of a huge serpent, black and scaly, rising out of the water from under the boat, his head as high as the deck, darted foi'ward, his mouth open, vomiting smoke, and apparently carrying the boat on his back. From under the boat, at its stern issues a stream of foaming water, dashing violently alonii'. All the machinery is hid. Three small brass tield pieces, mounted on wheel carriages, stand on the deck ; the boat is ascending tlic rapid stream at the rate of three miles an hour. Neither wind, nor human hands are seen to help her ; and to the eye of ignorance the illusion is complete, that a monster of the deep carries her on his back smoking with fatigue, and lashing the waves with violent exertion.

Additional Mail Facilities

During the first ten years of the settlement of the Boone's Lick country, there were scarcely any mail facilities :ind in fact, there was not a post-office within the present limits of Howard county, until in 1821. The news was carried by the tiaveller or s[)eci!il couriov, iVoin one settlcniciit, to iiiKitiicr, hut soirictinics week,? and iiiODths wmild iiitcrveno hcfofc the pioneers could Lear from their former homes or from their more immediate neighbors. It was with greit pleasure, thai the liiteUigencer, of April 23, 1S19, announced the following hit of nev.-s : -

It i-' eontemplated, we understand, sluu'th' to commence runiiing a shige iVom St. Louis to Franklin. Such an undertaking, \voula, no donl)t, liherally rer.unicrate the enterin-ising and meritorious individuals engaged, and lie of immense Ijonefit to the public, who would, donhtlcss, prefer this to any other mode of travelling. A stage has been running from St. Louis to St. Charles three times a week for several months past. Another from the to:vn of Illinois (now East St. Louis), to Edwai'dsville ; a line from Edwardsville to ^'iucennes, we understand is in contemplation. It will then only remain to have it continued from Vincennes to Louisville. When these lines shall have gone into operation, a direct communication by stage will then be opened from the Atlantic States to Boone's Lick, on the Missouri.

In 1819, immigrants h/cgan to come in large numbers. Tliey came in \'\,-;gons, in carriages, in pirogues, and linally on every }nitling steamer that ascended tlie turbid waters of tlie ]\Ii-souri. Embryo settlements had been made along the banks of the mighty river from St. Charles to Glasgow. This porti(m of Missouri, had already been seen liv the immigrant. Favorable reports liad l>een made of its great V^eauty, its fertile hills and valleys, its Ixiuiitiful sripplv of timber, its perennial springs and numerous water coui'ses. It was not only a new country, but its forests abounded with game, and its .streams teemed with choicest fishes. Here were found :

The bright eyed perch, %vith fins of various dye ; The silvered, in shining volumes roll'd; The yellow caip, in scales bedropt with gold; Swift tiouts, diversified with crimson stains. And pikes, tlic tyrants of the watery plains.

The immigration to this territory, and particularly to this lountv. during the present season, almost exceeds belief. Those who have arrived in this quarter are principally from Kentucky. Tennessee, etc. Lnmense nnmliers of wagons, carriages, carts, etc. , with families, have for some time past, been daily arriving. During the month of October, it is stated, that no less than 271 wagons and four-wheeled oiirriag'Cj:, ;iiiil {ift}-11ve twri-v.-lic'i'lcd anil c;irt^ pas^e'd ne;ir St. Clinrlo?, hound princiiKilly for Boone's Lick. It is falculaloil that the munber of persons accompanying these wngons. etc., cou'd not be less tluui o.OOO. It is stated in the St. Louis Enquirer, of the 10th iu.-t., that about twenty \s-aii-ous, etc., per week, had pas-ed tlu'ougli Si. Charles for the last nine or ten weeks, with wealthy and respeetabl'i inniiigr:mts from various states, nnit^'d numbfrsare supposed to amount to 12,nn0. The county of Howard, already i-espectable in number, will soon possess a vast population, an^l no section of our couutry presents a fairer prospect to the immigrant.

Although the county was organized in ISKi, there was no independent tri^mnal known as tlie county court held in tlie count v till February ^G, 1821. This court met and organized at Ok! Franklin. The judges were Henr}' Y. Bingham, Daviil It. Drake and Thomas Couwaj'. Hampton L. Boone wa^ appointed county clerk pro tPin.

Among the proceedings of the court the first day was the appoint^ nient of ]iobert Cooper guardian of the minor son of Sidney Carson, deceased. The minor son's name was Robert Sidney Carson, wlio was the father of Kit Carson, the brave scout. Elias Bancroft was ap]>ointed county surveyor, Nicholas S. Bu-ckhartt, county assessor and Joseph Patterson, collectcr.

The ciicuit court, sitting as a county court in ]>?li;, had divided the county into four townships, to-wit : Moniteau, Bonne Femme, Chariton and La Mine. Tlic county court at its first term, tive year> later (the term of which I am now speid^ing) again di-\-ided tincounty into seven townships, named as follows: Franklin, Booiie's r/ick, Cliariton, Pvichraond, Prairie, Bonne Foninie, and Mon.iteau. Since then a new township called Burton, was created out of territory taken from Bonne Fenime. Prairie and Richmond townsh.ips. "With this exception the townships remain about as thev were wlien first erected.

Pioneer Life

The Pioneers' Peculinritips - Convenieucej and Inconvenience; - The Historicol Log Cabin - .A^ricuitiiiHl Implements - Jlouseliol J Furniture - Pioneer Corn-bread - Hand lliUs and Hoiainy Blocks- Goin- to Mill - Trading Points- Bee Trees - Shooting Mutches and (Juiltings.

The people in the early history of Howtird county took no care to preserve histor\' - they were too Imsily engaged in making it. Historically speaking, those were tlie most iui[)ortant years of the county, for it was then the foundation -and corner - stones of all the county's history and prosperity were laid. Yet, this history was not remarkable for stirring events. It was, however, a time of self-reliance and brave, persevering toil; of privations cheerfully endured through faith in a good time coming. The experience of one settler was just about the same as that of others. Nearly ail of the settlers were poor ; they faced the same hardships and stood generally on an equal footing.