AUXVASSE TOWNSHIP

Matthew and Tilman Agee settled on Coats’ Prarie [sic], in Callaway county, in 1817. Matthew had a large apple and peach orchard, and made brandy. In 1833 the cholera made its appearance in his family, and one of his sons, while suffering from the scourge, drank a barrel of water in twenty-four hours and got well. Matthew Agee’s wife was a daughter of Rev. William Coats. Tilman Agee married a daughter of William Thornton when she was only thirteen years of age. The next morning after the wedding he left her to get breakfast, while he went out to work. He worked until 9 o’clock without being summoned to his meal, and then, having become impatient, he went to the house to see what was the matter, and found his wife sitting on the floor playing with her dolls.

John and Thomas Benson settled in the State of Maryland; John married a Miss Edmondson, and remained in that State. Their children were Thomas, Eden, Ruth, Elizabeth and Margaret. Eden married Sally Bell, and removed to Louisiana, where he made a fortune raising cotton. He then came to Missouri and settled in Callaway county in 1823. After his removal to Missouri he speculated largely in lands, and at his death he left his children, of whom he had thirteen, wealthy. Jefferson B., a son of Thomas Benson, Sr., of Maryland, settled in Montgomery county, Missouri, in 1832. He married Sarah Hays, and they had nine children.

The parents of Robert Blackburn lived in Fairfax county, Virginia. Robert married Jane Fields. It was a runaway match, and they were married at the cross roads. They settled in Callaway county, in 1838, and Mr. Blackburn died in 1845. His widow still survives in her ninety-first year. Their children were: William, James, Edward, Thomas, Richard, Louis, Robert H., James S., Eveline, Amanda M., Mary J. and Margaret A.

Joseph Callaway, of South Carolina, married Polly Barrett, by whom he had John, Nancy, Joseph, Jr., Polly, Elizabeth, William, Vinson, Cenia and Thomas. Mr. Callaway removed to Tennessee in 1804, and in 1818, he settled on Coats’ prairie, in Callaway county. His sons, John and Thomas, served in the War of 1812. Thomas married Elizabeth Griffith and settled on Crow fork, a branch of Arkansas creek. During the night of July 4, 1831, there came a very heavy rain which raised the creek so that it washed away his stable and smoke-house. He had a horse in the stable, which by some means, climbed into the loft, got out of the window and swam ashore. The smoke-house contained some meat and a barrel of whiskey, which Mr. Callaway succeeded in bringing ashore with a sugar trough, which he used as a canoe. Mr. Callaway died some time ago, but his widow is still living.

The widow of Harding Chick, of Christian county, Kentucky, came to Callaway county, Missouri, in 1830, with eight of her children, viz.: Elizabeth, Polly, Nancy, Fanny, Frank, Lucy, Adeline and Joseph. She had six other children: Elijah, William, Harding, Asa, Alexander and Amanda, who remained in Kentucky. Elizabeth Chick married Alexander Reade, and they had a son named John, who settled Readsville. John was a small man in stature, and he married Sarah Moxley, who was a very small woman.

Rev. William Coats was born in South Carolina. When grown he removed to Smith county, Tennessee, where he married Nancy Baker, by whom he had James, William, John, Wilson, Hiram, Lemuel B., Rachael, Frankie, Tabitha, Mahala, Nancy and Laodocea. In 1817, Me. Coats removed with his family to Callaway county, Missouri, and settled on the prairie which has since borne his name. There was no minister in that part of the county at that time, and his neighbors appointed him to preach, which duty he performed at stated intervals until his death. He organized most of the old Baptist churches in that region. His son James, married Polly Callaway, of Tennessee, by whom he had two children, Matthias S. and Laura A. William Coats, Jr., was married first to Patsey Tracy, and second to the Widow McLaughlan, whose maiden name was Celia Callaway. John married Nancy Smith. He was sheriff of Callaway county for several years, and was a good auctioneer. Wilson married a Miss Phillips and moved to California. Hiram married Permelia Walker, and was afterwards killed by lightning. Lemuel B. married Elizabeth Maddox. Rachael married Robert Reade, and is now a widow. Frankie married a Mr. McLaughlan. Tabitha married William Callaway. Nancy married Joseph P. Callaway. Laodocea married Daniel Phillips.

Thomas Day was born in Virginia, removed to Kentucky and married Mary Sanders, by whom he had Louis T., William, Ackley, Sanders, Polly, Milly, Elizabeth, Truman and Charles A. Mr. Day was married the second time to Catherine Williams, and by her he had Fanny, Rebecca, Martha, Middleton and Dudley. Louis F. married Catherine McIntire, and settled in Callaway county in 1841. Ackley married Sally Fowler, and settled in Callaway county in 1830. Milly married Garrett Davis, who settled in Callaway county in 1828. Charles A. settled in Callaway county in 1830. He was married first to Anna Speed, and second to her sister, Dinah Speed. He died in 1850, leaving two children. Mr. Day was the founder of the town of Portland, on the Missouri river.

Stephen Garrett, a Frenchman, settled in Buckingham county, Virginia. His children were Stephen, John, David, Elijah, William, Mary and Elizabeth. William married Mary Coleman, of Virginia, by whom he had Spillsberry, James, William B., Stephen, Reuben, John, Elijah, Coleman, Magdalene, Lucy and Mary. Spillsberry married Biddie Hockett, and settled in Ralls county, where he died. James married Nancy Brown, and settled in Tennessee. William B. was born in Buckingham county, November 1, 1795. When the War of 1812 began, he was a mere boy, but carried away by the patriotic fervor of the day, he enlisted and served during the war. He was married on the 3d of June, 1827, to Mary Ockaman, and came to Missouri in1829. He settled on Hancock’s prairie, in Callaway county, where, by industry and economy, united with good business qualifications, he made a fortune. He built the first steam mill in Callaway county, form which he derived a good income. His children were Wilson, Jane, Leneus B., Amanda C., John A., William H., Benjamin F., George W. and James M. Elijah Garrett married Margaret Glover, and settled in Callaway county in 1823. His children were: Mary Eliza, William E., Martha, Sedona, Chesley and Benjamin. James, Ann and Magdalene all married and settled in Tennessee; Coleman, Mary and Reuben married and settled in Illinois; Stephen settled in South Missouri; John lives in Virginia, and Lucy married and lives in Kentucky.

Nathaniel Ferrier, of East Tennessee, settled in Callaway county in 1817. His two sons, Thomas and Samuel, and his nephew, Thomas (better known as “Long Tom”), came with him from Tennessee. Thomas, the son of Nathaniel Ferrier, married the widow of James H. Goodrich; Samuel married Alice Shannon, daughter of James Shannon, who was the first settler on Hancock’s prairie, in Callaway county. Mr. Shannon was a Catholic, and donated four acres of land to his church, upon which he also built a house of worship. He was a native of Ireland, where he married. After his marriage he decided to emigrate t America, but being too poor to bring his wife, he came over by himself, and after he had made money enough, he sent for her. He met her in St. Louis, where they celebrated the event by drinking liberal draughts of the liquid which elevates the soul and makes the spirit glad. They drank a little too much, and began to quarrel about the time they were married, one claiming that it was during a certain year, and the other that it was altogether a different year. Being unable to agree, they decided to settle the matter by getting married again; so they repaired to a convenient priest, and were soon made one again. Samuel Ferrier, in his old age, removed to Washington territory, and soon afterward wrote a glowing letter back to his cousin, Long Tom Ferrier, who was then about eighty years old, telling him that deer, bears and bee trees were abundant out there. Long Tom was so captivated by this description that he shouldered his gun the next day and started for the distant land of promise on foot.

The children of Michael Gilbert, of Franklin county, Virginia, were: Kimwell, Preston, James and Michael, Jr. Kimwell married Mary Smith, and settled in Callaway county in 1834. Michael, Jr., was married first, to Elizabeth Ashworth, and second, to Eliza Kemp. He also settled in Callaway county.

William Gilman, of Virginia, married Mary Mann, and settled in Kentucky, where he had George, William J., Elizabeth, Lucy and Emily. George married Sallie Glazebrook, and settled in Callaway county in 1825. William J. (Dr. Gilman), married Laricia Callaway, and settled in Callaway county in 1829. Emily married John Gibner, who settled in Callaway in 1825.

William J. Jackson was born in Chester, England, and was an only child. He came to America in 1788 and settled in Maryland, where he became a large tobacco grower. He married Mary Belt, and they had two sons and two daughters; but only one of their sons, Richard B., lived to be grown. In 1816 he married Clarissa Greenwell, by whom he had William J., Caroline E., Thomas J., Clarissa, Richard B. and Robert W. Mr. Jackson settled in Callaway county, Missouri, in 1831, and in 1834 he was elected doorkeeper of the House of Representatives, at Jefferson City, which he filled in a highly creditable manner for twenty-one years. He was also marshal of the Supreme Court for several years. He died in 1855, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. A handsome monument was subsequently erected to his memory by the State. His son, William J., married Sarah E. Wren. He has been a justice of the peace for many years, and has performed the marriage ceremony for more than a hundred couples. He married an entire family of thirteen persons at one dollar each. He was also a great hunter in early days.

Thomas Kitchen, of Smith county, Tennessee, married the widow of James Goodrich, and settled on Coats’ prairie, in Callaway county, in 1817. he had no children, but adopted a little girl named Lizzie Linnville, who was five years of age at the time. When she was grown she married her adopted father, his first wife having died. He was seventy years of age at the time. Mr. Kitchen’s first wife was a member of the old Baptist church at Salem, but he never joined because he could not tell his experience, from the fact that he had none to tell. But he officiated with the members, and was the business man of the institution, which led to his being called a “dry land member.” When Captain John Baker’s mill was being built on Loutre creek, Kitchen, who was a carpenter, assisted in the work, and one day he slipped and fell from the top of the mill into the creek and struck a catfish, which he mashed into jelly, but escaped unhurt. After this event hed eclared [sic] that he was no longer a ‘dry land’ member, as he had been thoroughly baptized. He also called himself Thomas Jonas Kitchen, because he, like Jonas of old, had been saved by a fish.

Robert McCall, of Ireland, came to America and settled in Franklin county, Virginia, from whence he removed to Burke county, North Carolina. His children were William, James, Robert, Samuel, Henry, Alexander, Nancy and Jennie. William married Malinda Holland, by whom he had Peter H., Lydia, Robert H., Jane, William S., Mary L., James E., John M., Thomas F. and Francis, nearly all of whom settled on and near Coats’ Prairie, in Callaway county, from 1834 to 1837. Robert H., married Elizabeth M. Gilbert, and they were the parents of Doctor William S. McCall. The Doctor says that when he was learning to crawl, his mother put sheep skin gloves on his hands, and padded his knees with sheepskin, so he could crawl over the rough puncheon floor without getting splinters in his hands and knees. Jane McCall married William Bell, who settled in Callaway county in 1839. William S. was married first to Martha Smith, and second to the Widow Gilbert. He settled in Callaway county in 1839. Mary L. married Stephen Smith, who settled in Callaway county in 1839. James E. married Angeline Gilbert, and settled in Callaway county in 1834. Frances married Thomas Gilbert, and settled in Callaway county in 1846.

William Pratt and his wife, both natives of Ireland, came to America and settled in Smith county, Tennessee. They had John, William, and Lavinia. Mrs. Pratt died, and her husband subsequently married Polly Aikens, of Tennessee, by whom he had Nancy, Rebecca, Edward, Mary A., Jerusha, William, Albert G., Samuel, Araminta and Carroll. John and William Pratt came to Missouri in 1817. The former settled in Clay county. His wife was Anna Williams, and they both died, leaving four children—Charles W., Ann, Fidella and William. Charles W. married Sallie Vaughn, and lives in Callaway county. Fidella married John Allen, of Callaway county. William, son of William Pratt, Sr., married Jerusha Burchett, of Tennessee, and settled on Coats’ prairie, in Callaway county, in 1817. His children were John, Thomas J., James M., Lavinia, and Elizabeth. John died of cholera in 1833, in his 24th year. Thomas J. was married in 1839, to Lucinda Petty, by whom he had James M., John M. and Robert. Mr. Pratt was a good citizen and a kind husband and father. He died in 1876, and his loss was much lamented by all who knew him. James Pratt died in childhood, in Tennessee. Lavinia was married first to Oliver Wright, by whom she had William H. and Mary E. She was married the second time to James Hamilton, by whom she had one daughter, named Fannie Elizabeth Pratt, who married Hon. John S. Henderson, of Callaway county.

Robert Read, of Tennessee, married a daughter of Rev. William Coats, and settled on Coats’ Prairie in 1817. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of New Orleans. He was postmaster at Fulton for a number of years. He left no children; his widow is still living.

Colonel John Steele, of Virginia, married a widow lady named Sarah Holland, and settled in Callaway county in 1834. His children were Isaac, Margaret, and Sarah. Colonel Steele served as captain of militia for some time, and then as colonel for a number of years.

John K. Watson was an early settler of Callaway county. He made his living by splitting rails, and was known as the rail splitter of Callaway county.

Nathaniel Tate, of Bedford county, Virginia, had Zachariah, Henry F., Nathaniel, Jr., Richard and Polly. Zachariah married Polly Nichols, of Bedford county, and they had John G., Nathaniel N., Jessie N., Henry M., Caleb W., Richard C., Susannah and Mary J. John G. married Jeanette Hipinstall, and settled in Callaway county in 1837. Nathaniel N. was married first to Sarah Richardson, and second to Percy A. Hamlin. Jessie N. was married to first to Julia L. Hipinstall, and second to Mary Carter. Caleb W. was married first to Emily Hamlin, and second to Orva Hamlin. Richard C. married Elizabeth Hamlin, and was killed in 1863 by the Federal soldiers. Susannah married Samuel Wilkes, who settled in Missouri in 1834. Henry N. died in Missouri, unmarried. The members of the Tate family are a leading, intelligent people and excellent citizens.

James Tate, of Augusta county, Virginia, was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and was killed at the battle of Guilford Court-House, in North Carolina. His wife’s maiden name was Sarah Hail, and at his death he left a widow and five children. The names of the latter were: Polly, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and Isaac. John married Sarah Hall, of Kentucky, and settled in Callaway county, Missouri, in 1829. His children were: Calvin, Milton, Isaac, James, Elijah, Sarah, Margaret and Mary.

Mr. Tate died in 1864, in his eighty-third year. Sarah Tate married William Scott, of Kentucky, who settled in Callaway county in 1837. Margaret married Major Daniel Nally, who settled in Callaway county. James was married first to Clarinda P. Tate, and second to Sophia Lysle. He settled in Callaway county in 1823. The Auxvasse Presbyterian church was organized at his house that year, and it was the first organization of that religious denomination west of St. Charles. Elijah Tate died in Kentucky. Milton married Rachel B. Granberry. Isaac was colonel of militia for many years. He married Jane Henderson. Calvin was married first to Elizabeth Allen, and second to a widow lady named Miller. Mr. Tate went to California in 1849, and was engaged for some time in hauling with his six horse wagon. During his sojourn in California he served on a case in whish several Chinamen were witnesses, and they swore to everything but the truth, until the judge had a rooster brought into the courtroom and placed on a table, when a blank expression of dread came over the face of each Chinaman, and after that they swore to the truth.

REMINISCENCES BY PETER COOPER

In the spring of 1839, arms were small and few in Auxvasse township, and every farmer had his “clearing,” which was done by merely fencing the ground, cutting off and burning the undergrowth, and “deadening” the trees. In most cases, the number of trees that were deadened was very large, as only those that were necessary for making the fence, and what was used for fuel for the “cabin” was taken off the ground. This made a farm look more like a deadening than a clearing. It was a great place for wild pigeons, quail and squirrels to collect, to pull up the young corn, as it came through the ground, which made those with other pests, very annoying to the farmers.

In that spring, Mr. David P. Calvine and Gabriel May, organized a hunting party, each choosing three good hunters, and after hunting one week, they were to meet at Calvine’s spring, on the north side of Coat’s Prairie, and county the scalps of all birds or animals, destructive to young corn, that the hunters could kill in the prescribed time; the side or party having the smallest number of scalps, to pay for one gallon of whiskey, which was to be drunk in common, by all persons who were sure to be on hand, at that time and place.

Mr. May chose the writer with two others, for his three, and came over for me, with the injunction that we must beat them—not that the reward was great, but victory was. The day was fine, in fact, just such a day as game of all kinds was stirring. So we started out with a determination to win the whiskey; and after enjoying the sports of the day, we came in with sixty-six squirrel scalps, and with a few pigeons, crows and quails, which ran our number nearly up to eighty. When I came home to my father’s cabin that night, Mr. W. A. Wren, then a near neighbor who was there, told me that on the night before, he, on hearing a noise in his “meal-tub”, had on examination found and killed fifteen flying squirrels! Now, I had known Mr. Wren for some time, and knew him to be a man of strict integrity and undoubted veracity; but, boy as I was, I was hardly prepared to believe that. I had been here eight years, had spent all my leisure hours in the woods, had taken delight in hunting, worrying, catching and killing all kinds of wild birds and animals; and in all that eight years hunting, both day and night, I had never seen or heard of half that number of flying squirrels; and as I had read the travels of Gulliver and Baron Munchausen, I thought that sounded like a Munchausen. Fifteen flying squirrels! It was out of the question.

But I was not long in changing my mind; for just as it was getting dark, on liking towards the stable and corn-crib, I discovered the sides and roof literally covered with flying-squirrels. I hastily reported the same to those who were in the cabin. Mr. Wren and three smaller brothers and myself, prepared ourselves for “hostilities”by arming ourselves, each with poles, eight or ten feet long, and repaired to the crib to commence the bloody battle that ensued. A large dead tree stood some feet form the crib, and there seemed to be a continual stream of those little animals, ascending the body of that tree to the very top; and then they would seem to pitch off, and light on the side of the crib, form four to ten feet on the ground. Now a flying squirrel is not much at flying, and when they would leave the top of the tree, their descent towards the ground was very fast. We took positions, so that we could, with our poles, rake the whole broadside of the crib, and for more than an hour, they lit on the sides of the crib, as fast as five of us could beat them down. After the battle was over, we picked up the killed and wounded, or as many as we could find in the dark, and put them in the hollow of a large stump that stood near by. Next morning I went down to take off their scalps, to be counted on the Saturday following, at Calvine’s spring and I found in the stump 176 dead squirrels, and on the next night, we killed at the same place 286. From that time, the number diminished very fast, and in the course of three or four days, they all disappeared and have never reappeared.

The question was frequently asked, but never satisfactorily answered: From whence they came? or, Where did they come from? Saturday, the day for counting the scalps and drinking the whiskey, came. Mr. May and his three hunters repaired to the spring; Mr. Calvine and his men had already arrived on the ground. But we could find no person who was willing to count the vast number of scalps. Some one suggested that we measure them; the proposition was agreed to and a peck measure produced. Mr. May’s side had it five times full, well packed in, and Mr. Calvine’s nearly four times full; his side had to pay for the whiskey, which was twenty-five cents, Wm. Dudley furnishing it. There being a considerable crowd of men there, each having his unerring rifle, a great portion of the afternoon was spent in shooting at a target. In those days every man had his trusty rifle, and each knew how to use it, and many times that afternoon “the centre” was knocked out. Mr. May and Mr. Calvin, as well as nearly all those who enjoyed that pleasant afternoon, have long ago passed away. Mr. Wren was still living in 1877, and if he should see this he no doubt will remember the flying squirrel year and many of the incidents mentioned here. Those old rifles, too, have passed away from us, but a great many of them could now be found about Ottumwa, Iowa.

A LARGE CAVE

About on-half mile east of where Captain M. Gibson lives there is a large cave, the mouth of which is formed by an arch of a beautiful white sandstone. The middle of said arch is about ten feet high, gracefully declining both ways until they some to the ground, so that the mouth of the cave is some ten or twelve feet high in the middle and sixty feet wide. This arch runs back about 100 feet. There it stops by coming in contact with the floor, which has a gradual ascent from the mouth to where it strikes the arch. Having such a large entrance, plenty of light is shed through this room, but at the back end there is a small entrance which leads to a second chamber, in which pitchy darkness prevails. Of that inner chamber but little is now known. Some twenty years ago a company of men who were traveling with a circus went out from Portland to explore the cave. They took with them lanterns and torches, and soon disappeared out of sight. But in an hour’s time they made their appearance again very wet and all covered with mud and with their lights all extinguished, but would give no account of their discoveries, saying that when the season for their show was over they would come back and finish their explorations, but they have never done so.

John Phillips came here with the first pioneers, and settled place now known as the Green Day place, situated on the river just above Portland, and he took possession of this cave in 1816 for the purpose of making saltpetre. He built a great many hoppers in the front room, which were similar to those now seen, which the good farmer’s wife has made for the purpose of running off lye for making soap. The dust in the second chamber of this cave was rich with nitre. Mr. Phillips was enabled to make an ample supply of saltpetre for the use of the colonists in making gunpowder, which was kept up here until Fulton was laid out and the merchants thereof brought on a supply of powder which was of a superior quality to that made by Mr. Thornton, elsewhere mentioned in this work—though the best brought on then was much inferior to that made at the present day. As Mr. P. had an inclination to manufacture something, and as the merchants had broken up his saltpetre business, and as now there were a few horse mills in the country and meal in limited quantities could be procured, he moved one on to Crow’s Fork and commenced the distilling of whiskey at a spring near one now called Gum spring. Mr. Phillips raised a large family. Many of his descendants are now honorable citizens of this and Morgan county, in this State. There is now living near Portland a venerable daughter, Mrs. Charity Ferrier, who has passed her three score years and yet she was born in this county. Her late husband, Thomas Ferrier, of whom no man could say evil, has but lately passed to the unknown world.

But to return to the saltpetre cave, as it is now called. Inside, and upon that white and soft sandstone, there are hundreds of names with dates attached written, some with charcoal, some with keal, some with pencil, and some carved in the rock, dating back from the beginning of the present century up to the present time, all of the oldest dates being written with charcoal, all since 1831 being written with the lead pencil.

Some twenty years back there was a man by the name of Edwards, or better known by the name of the “red man of the woods,” from the fact that he wore a scarlet jacket, with a cap of the same sanguinary hue, and lived entirely in the woods, avoiding the habitations of man more than was necessary to procure the requisites of life. He was a harmless creature and an indefatigable worker, and would cut and put up cord-wood for those who might need his services, but always camped in the woods and got a contract to cut wood in the vicinity of the cave. He chose that as a place of abode, and lived therein for several years, and with other things, for fuel, he used up all of those hoppers that Mr. Phillips had erected so many years before, and the constant smoke that he kept there the time he occupied it as his dwelling has robbed that beautiful white rock overhead of its primitive beauty, and hence the obliteration of those long-time written names.

The surroundings of the cave are picturesque in the extreme, and truly wonderful to behold. Large sand rocks loom up around, some naked, some with a little poor soil adhering to them, with here and there a blackjack or thorn bush clinging and struggling for life. Wherever they can find a crevice in the rock, or soil enough to make a lodgment, they are there; while the soil, as well as a great part of the naked rocks, is nearly covered with cactus, known as prickly pear, which in some seasons bears numerous flowers. Though possessing no fragrance, they are beautiful to behold

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WHERE THE EARLY SETTLERS LOCATED

The Reverend William Coats built his cabin on the south side of the prairie, the place now owned and occupied by Mrs. Permelia, widow of the late Hiram Coats. The house she now occupies was not the first built by William Coats, but the house now occupies as a dwelling was built by his hands in a very early day, but has undergone some repairs since the death of William Coats.

Edward Walker located his claim on the tract of land now owned by John R. Gilman. James Coats located on the land now owned and occupied by M. S. Coats, who is a son of James Coats. William Callaway located on the land now owned by Robert Berry. Robert Read settled the place where George W. Stucker now resides. Joel Tipton located on the place now owned and occupied by James E. McCall. Joseph P. Callaway built his cabin where Newman Bolen now resides. William Pratt located his cabin on a lot now owned and used as a pasture by Calahill Pasley. Thomas Kitchen settled in the northeast corner of the prairie, and the tract is now owned by his widow. Matthew Agee settled in the southeast corner of the prairie; the place is now owned by E. G. Berry. Isaac Agee first settled on a place now owned by G. W. Maddox. Benjamin and James Goodrich, with their widowed mother, settled the place where J. R. Gilman now lives. Solomon Thomas took up his claim a mile or so northeast of the prairie, and was the first justice of the peace that was ever in the township, holding his office for about twelve years; but the people were law-abiding—so much so that Esquire Thomas had no use for a pocket; one or two sheets of paper were amply sufficient to hold all he had to record during his whole term of office.

Thomas Callaway settled on Crow’s Fork, his wife being a daughter of Rev. William Coats; she is now the only child living, having passed her four score years. She is living with one of her sons near the river Auxvasse, and is as lively and talkative as in her youthful years.

James Thornton settled the place E. W. Laurence now occupies. Mr. Thornton supplied the inhabitants here with powder for many years. Saltpetre was made in a cave near where Marshal Gibson now lives, by one of the Phillips family. After procuring the saltpetre, he would burn coal of willow, and with the sulphur he obtained at Loutre Island, with rude instruments for the business, he would manufacture gunpowder, and could be seen at musters or other public gatherings, peddling out his powder at three bits per pound. The powder had no glazing on it, and in damp weather would absorb moisture, which would cause the gun to make “long fire,” or “flash in the pan.” In dry weather it answered well for ordinary purposes. He was a man who scorned to kill small game; and when he did hunt it was for the bear or the old buck. Smaller game he left for others to kill. The writer of this was riding with Mr. Thornton one day, going to Fulton, when he came on a bear just west of where James Bellamy lives. Mr. Thornton having his gun with him, as he did on almost all occasions, it did not take him long to dismount and send a bullet through bruin’s heart, laying him out dead on the spot. The hide of the bear was brought to Mr. Calvin’s spring on the 4th day of July following, and put up for three dollars and shot for, being won by either Frank Branham or M. V. (Buck) Harrison—I do not remember which.

Nathaniel Ferrier settled on the farm now occupied by the widow of the late W. Stokes McCall, and his son Thomas settled some tow miles east of his father, on Tavern creek; his widow occupies the place.
Peter, George and Martin Harris, with their widowed mother, settled the place now known as the Neff place. Neither of the Harris boys ever married, although they lived past middle age.

Henry Hall, he who lost his hat in the thickest of the fight at New Orleans, and ran into the ranks of the enemy to rescue it but returned without it or receiving a scratch from the enemy, settled on little Tavern creek, and built a horse mill, in a few years afterwards. He also kept race horses, and was master of the turf until Boon Hayes came in, who soon shared the honors with him.

Two of the Packs and two of the Powers also settled tavern creek, as did Long Tom Ferrier (as he was called to designate him, as there were two cousins of the same name).

Long Tom was one of the boss hunters, and one day while out hunting he short [sic] and killed a suckling colt that belonged to his namesake cousin, thinking when he shot that he was shooting at a deer. When long [sic] Tom saw what he had done, he repaired to the house of Short Tom and told him what he had done, and proposed that each should choose a man to value the colt, and whatever those two men should say the colt was worth he would pay to Short Tom one-half. It was readily agreed to, and the colt was valued at thirty dollars; consequently fifteen was paid by one and received by the other, which settled the matter without hard feelings.

Esau Baker settled the place now occupied by J. E. Wren. Baker built a large cabin, twenty by twenty-four feet, of very large logs well hewed. That house is sound and good, although it has been built more than sixty years. Jacob Baker settled the place now owned by J. D. Scott, adjoining the village of Readsville. I. K. Watson took up his abode on Cow creek, now a portion of the farm belonging to the estate of the late W. H. Smith.

John Phillips settled on Crow’s fork, and built the first still-house and made whiskey just so soon as the material to make it could be procured. Another Phillips (first name not recalled) settled near the river and went into the manufacture of saltpetre in the cave just spoken of. He continued the business for many years.

PORTLAND

The town of Portland was laid out in September, 1831, by John Yates and Eden Benson, on the fractional quarter section 33, township 65, range 7.

The pioneer merchant, was Mr. Debo, who soon after opening his store, was sold out by the sheriff, for debt. The next merchant, was K. G. Boon, who was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Charles A. Day and Elisha Chase. The town contained a population in 1880 of 203 persons. It contains now a Methodist church and district school. The shipments of the town consist of leaf tobacco, hogs, grain and ties. A semi-weekly stage to Chamois carries the mail.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

A. L. Brashear & Co., general store; Blackburn & Brite, general store; John W. Brashear & Sons, live stock, leaf tobacco and grain; J. H. Bryant, railroad ties; John Crocket, hotel; George A. Hanley, harness maker; R. D. Harris, physician; A. Heinemean, saloon; Herman Holzhouser, meat market; M. Klein, blacksmith;G. Lippett, shoemaker; John W. McCall, druggist; McCall & Goodrich, railroad ties; H. G. Orstadt, notary public; Portland Co-operative Company, general store; C. F. Ries, saloon; Louis Ries, jeweler and distiller; W. A. Sweet, harness maker; D. H. Theune, express agent; John D. Thurmond, leaf tobacco; W. F. Wilson & Son, flour and saw mill.

REFORM

No plat of the town filed. It occupies the north half northeast quarter of section 14, township 46, range 8, and was first settled in 1830. F. W. Duncan built the first house. It is twelve miles southeast of Fulton, its nearest railroad point and bank location, and six miles north of Portland. It has a Christian, Baptist and Methodist church, and ships tobacco, grain, wool and live stock. The population is 150. Mail semi-weekly. W. S. McCall is postmaster.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Henry F. Bueker, saw and flour mill; Walter McCall, physician; W. S. McCall, physician, live stock, notary public and justice; Raines Brothers, general store; R. H. Taylor, blacksmith; J. W. Ward, carpenter; T. W. Worley, wagonmaker.

READSVILLE

No plat filed. The town was settled in 1856, by John A. Read, after who, it was named, and who was the first postmaster. It is seventeen miles southeast of Fulton, and contains a Methodist church and public school. It has a population of about fifty, James A. Leavelle is postmaster.

BUSINESS DIERCTORY

J. P. Crews, saloon; James A. Leavelle & Co., general store; J. W. Moore, blacksmith and saddler; Dr. A. D. Offutt, druggist. The town is on the west half of northwest quarter section 33, township 47, range 7.

HIBERNIA

Post-office, near Portland.

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