1836 B. F. Baker

1839 O. H. Clifford

1839 Joseph Knox

1836 William Mann

1837 William McCarty

1838 Elijah Preston

1839 M. S. Reeves

1839 Jacob Stauffer

1839 Henry Walker

1838 Harve White

1838 William Whitney

1838 Asel Ball

1836 David Carlyle

1836 B. Collins

1839 Joseph Cox

1836 David Curtis

1839 Caleb Gibbons

1837 John Graves

1837 Elisha Hereford

1836 Matson and Van Landt

1839 William Linville

1837 William Moberly

1838 Elizabeth Monroe

1839 Jessee Newland

1837 Isaac Ryan

1836 John Ryan

1839 George Shriver

1837 Elab Stone

1839 B. Wilkerson

1838 Joseph Wolfskill

1838 William Yancey

1840 C. H. Ashley

1840 W. Atkinson

1840 Josiah Austin

1842 Elizabeth Crawford

1840 Ashby and Crews

1840 Lyman Dayton

1842 Richard Dicken

1840 Joseph Hughes

1840 N. Z. Johnson

1841 James Leeper

1840 Jessee Newlin

1840 Frances Preston

1840 M. T. Treadway

1839 William Campbell

1839 James Cole

1839 William Hereford

1838 John M. Johns

1839 R. H. Jordan

1837 Nathan Parsons

1838 A. J. Welch

1838 S. A. Alexander

1838 Cyrus Ballew

1838 J. C. Ballew

1839 W. L. Brown

1838 J. G. Caldwell

1838 Chris Coats

1836 Whitfield Dicken

1837 Henry Duncan

1836 Rhodias Fewell

1837 Joel H. Green

1839 Hall and Stone

1837 Abner Johnson

1838 Aquila Jones

1838 Joseph Jones

1837 Asa Lanter

1836 Ruben Leaton

1838 William LeBarron

1838 J. A. Lewis

1838 Solomon Lewis

1838 R. T. Marce

1838 Elisha McGuire

1837 B. D. Midgett

1838 R. M. Mills

1837 R. R. Mills

1837 John A. Moore

1838 J. Murray

1837 George Murro

1838 J. K. Reddick

1837 John Ringo

1838 Anselm Rowley

1838 Harris Shaw

1836 Alex Silvey

1836 John Silvey

1837 W. P. Stovall

1837 John Stucky

1838 C. Williams

1838 John Wolfskill

1838 Joseph Wolfskill

1837 W. C. Wright

1839 Madison Fisk

1835 David Girdner

1836 John Kelly

1836 Rodrick Matson

1839 William McCarty

1835 Ruben McCroskrie

1838 William Pailthrop

1837 Alfred Rockhold

1835 John Rockhold

1836 Robert Snowden

1837 John Stone

1835 Samuel E. Todd

1835 W. F. Todd

1839 E. S. Andrews

1840 Z. G. Ayer

1835 B. F. Baker

1839 William A. Black

1838 Elijah Boon

1840 John W. Boyle

1840 John Brigle

1839 William Brumnett

1838 Peter Cain

1838 John S. Campbell

1838 Robert C. Campbell

1838 William Carlisle

1839 John Carmichael

1838 William P. Clark

1838 William M. Crawford

1840 David Curtis

1840 William Curtis

1839 Nathan Cox

1838 William C. David

1838 James A. Davis

1838 Alex Dockery

1838 John Doss

1840 John Findley

1840 William Finley

1840 Mathew Gibbs

1840 David Girdner

1839 Elias Guthridge

1840 T. A. Harbert

1838 Benj. Hargrave

1840 John Hargrave

1839 Joseph Harper

1838 John Hart

1840 C. H. Hayes

1838 David Hicklin

1839 John B. Hines

1840 Roah R. Hobbs

1840 H. S. Hoskins

1838 Milton P. House

1838 William O. Jennings

1842 N. Z. Johnson

1838 W. A. Jones

1838 Jonathan Jordan

1839 Danl Y. Kesler

1843 John Kirk

1838 James Leeper

1838 Andrew Ligett

1838 William Linville

1839 H. I. Martin

1838 Mose Martin

1838 William Martin

1839 J. D. Martin

1840 J. Massigee

1840 George McCoy

1839 William Miller

1840 James Nave

1840 Jesse Nave

1840 Wyatt Ogle

1838 William F. Peery

1842 N. S. Pond

1838 Samuel V. Ramsey

1840 R. W. Reeves

1839 R. T. Rowland

1837 L. Scollay

1838 Payton Sherwood

1842 Stephen Shrive

1844 H. Simmons

1840 J. Smith

1840 William Smith

1838 Abram..Sportsman

1838 Thomas Stone

1838 Sam Venable

1839 William Venable

1844 Jame Walls

1838 Dudley Ware

1838 Isham Ware

1838 Rice Ware

1839 Hugh Welch

1838 Mark White

1840 John Yates

William Douglas

1840 J. J. Jordan

1840 David Kimbal

1840 Chapman Lightner

1840 James Lightner

1840 John H. Perkins

1840 Robert Phillips

1840 Thomas Ray

1840 William J. Wallace

1840 J. C. White

1840 Elizabeth Yeates

1835 James Austin

1835 John Austin

1835 Purmont Bland

1836 L. A. Brady

1836 Thomas R. Bryan

1837 Jesse Coats

1837 James Earl

1836 W. P. Frazier

1836 William Fryer

1835 Spencer H. Gregory

1837 John T. Gudgell

1837 James Hamilton

1836 Henry Hoagland

1837 James Huntsman

1836 Zach Lee

1836 John Lewis

1835 Isaac MeCroskrie

1836 H. McFarland

1835 Wratt Ogle

1837 William Taylor

1836 Oliver Walker

1839 Samuel Collins

1835 Thomas Fields

1836 Thomas Fields

1838 M. Fisk

1838 Nathan Freeman

1836 Jacob Gobin

1839 H. H. Gray

1837 William Hudgins

1835 Peter Irons

1836 Henry Karsner

1838 James Lawson

1838 Fred Lyda

1839 Peter Malone

1835 William Mann

1835 Ruben McCroskrie

1838 William Mead

1835 William Parker

1837 James W. Pearman

1835 S. W. Reynolds

1836 Josiah Taylor

1836 John L. Tomlin

1836 John Trotter

1836 Alex Woods

1838 Thomas Woolsey

1836 Zeph Woolsey

1839 Charles Ashley

1839 John Austin

1839 A. F. Ball

1839 Thomas R. Bryan

1839 David Carlyle

1839 John Cox

1839 Solomon Cox

1839 Andrew Culbertson

1839 Thomas Dobbins

1839 Samuel Forrest

1839 William Garwood

1839 Sol R. Hooker

1839 Eli Hobbs

1839 John B. Leeper

1839 William Lyman

1839 Inny Moberly

1839 Eli D. Murphy

1839 George Pace

1830 Archibald Ward

1839 James White

1839 Thomas Williams

1846 James M. Allnut

1848 Thomas E. Boucher

1847 Levan Brookshire

1847 David I. Breeze

1846 John Cooper

1847 Dr. William Carlisle

1846 Levi D. Cox

1848 Barmock Curtis

1846 J. A. Dryden

1846 James N. Falkner

1849 Henry Frith

1848 William E. Frith

1847 Abr.Gann

1848 William E. Gibbons

1846 William Hale

1847 John Hargrave

1847 James Hicks

1847 F. C. Hughes

1847 James Jennings

1846 Thomas Kirk

1848 Thomas Litton

1849 Luther Lowe

1848 William Mansfield

1846 Thomas J. Marlin

1841 Add Martin

1848 James W. McClure

1847 John M. Minnick

1847 Jesse Offield

1847 Samuel Pepper

1846 Henry H. Simons

1847 John Simpson

1846 T. Sterling

1849 R. S. Stockwell

1848 A. G. Waddell

1846 Amos Walker

1847 Dr. George Williams

1839 Tom Botts

1839 Mose Caldwell

1839 Nathan H. Gregory

1839 Elijah Harvey

1839 Joseph Miller

1839 Ezekiel Norman

1857 J. A. Adams

1858 W. C. Adams

1860 J. P. Alexander

1854 W. F. Alexander

1857 C. A. Anderson

1857 I. M. Anderson

1844 E. M. Austin

1838 J. L. Austin

1860 G. W. Babb

1854 Henry Baker

1847 I. I. Baker

1857 J. W. Baker

1848 N. A. Baker

1858 James Bench

1859 J. W. Bills

1852 James Blackwell

1850 N. J. Bliss

1856 J. F. Bonderer

1855 W. H. Boone

1844 G. M. Brassfield

1852 J. N. Brassfield

1858 J. H. Breedlove

1859 John Brigman

1857 A. L. Brown

1838 C. R. Campbell

1842 E. Carlyle

1857 B. B. Carr

1855 L. A. Chapman

1844 W. W. Clark

1858 R. M. Cleveland

1857 J. F. Coberly

1857 A. C . Coburn

1849 W. R. Coe

1854 Mose Cole

1854 Wilson Cole

1855 J. R. Collier

1844 F. W. Combstock

1833 Hon. Abel Cox

1832 I. Cox

1850 J. C. Cox

1856 G. L. Cranmer

1856 Robert Cranmer

1852 J. M. Davis

1852 George W. Dennis

1859 T. R. Dice

1843 D. N. Dryden

1859 D. W. C. Egerton

1843 C. C. England

1858 J. E. Fahey

1840 John N. Flaherty

1856 Seymore Gale

1850 J. C. Gallatin

1858 R. A Gaunt

1856 T. H. Gibson

1853 W. R Gilbert

1853 B. B. Gill

1834 J. M. Girdner

1860 M. P. Girdner

1855 G. W. Gish

1836 L. Gordon

1860 W. C. Grant

1856 B. P. Green

1857 James Gregg

1860 M. Gregory

1860 C. C. Griffin

1860 Goodlow Grouse

1853 R. L. Hale

1858 W. B. Hale

1856 Charles Hamilton

1839 John C. Hargrave

1837 L. Hargrave

1855 Leander Harlow

1851 W. B. Harris

1839 R. Hawkins

1859 Robert Haynes

1856 A. J. Hedrick

1838 James Herriford

1857 J. E. Hill

1858 J. E. Hitt

1840 G. W. Hooker

1849 Z. T. Hooker

1854 J. S. Hoskins

1842 J. W. Hudgins

1842 John Hudgins

1848 Benjamine Hurst

1859 Henry Hutchinson

1842 J. P. Hutchinson

1850 William Hutchinson

1857 Lewis Jones

1858 T. D. Jones

1847 G. W. Kent

1848 W. F. Kent

1850 B. Kester

1855 J. C. Kester

1858 J. P. Kester

1853 J. W. Kester

1848 F. M. Kingcaid

1859 Lawrence Kinsella

1840 J. B. Kirk

1843 J. H. Kirk

1838 E. Kirtley

1844 B. F. Knox

1859 R. V. Lauderdale

1848 R. N. Lay

1858 J. H. Leavell.

1854 Andrew Leeper

1834 G. B. Ligett

1856 Samuel Lightner

1834 Wiley Linville

1856 J. S. Litton

1844 Samuel Luses

1843 Ruben Mansfield

1856 J. J. May

1851 W. R. May

1859 A. L. Mayberry

1854 J. B. McCoy

1855 James McDonald

1859 J. A. McMillen

1842 W. R. McVey

1858 H. O. Meek

1857 J. F. Meek

1859 Otis Millon

1849 L. J. Minnick

1846 W. E. Minnick

1860 R. S. Moore

1856 D. N. Morris

1841 John T. Moss

1850 S. B. Mumpower

1855 W. G. Mumpower

1840 G. B. Nave

1858 Otto Newschafer

1850 G. H. Oliver

1849 J. F. Oliver

1848 W. W. Patrick

1859 W. B. Patterson

1859 William Perron

1857 F. M. Phillips

1858 G. W. Phillips

1843 J. J. Phillips

1857 J. R. Phillips

1845 W. D. Phillips

1855 J. H. Poe

1857 B. W. Portersfield.

1859 Andrew Prager

1850 William Prewitt

1849 G. W. Purcell

1854 J. V. Ramsey

1855 G. F. Renchler

1848 N. L. Reynolds

1840 S. W. Reynolds

1854 J. T. Roberts

1854 Thomas Roberts

1849 W. P. Robinson

1857 A. T. Rockhold

1853 Isaac Rockhold

1853 J. K. Rockhold

1856 Julian Rockhold

1843 Samuel Rockhold

1849 W. C. Samuel

1857 O. H. Saunders

1857 J. W. Scott

1856 Emily Shinkle

1842 J. F. Simms

1852 F. M. Smith

1857 John M. Spears

1859 G. W. Steen

1846 James Steen

1843 John Sterling

1836 Joseph Stone

1858 J. P. Stuckey

1858 A. F. Summerville

1844 E. L. Taylor

1835 Leo Tiberghein

1845 J. Y. Todd

1838 M. Tomlin

1858 Michael Trumbo

1837 James Turner

1835 T. B. Turner

1859 J. E. Wait

1843 Joshua Walker

1854 W. R. Walker

1838 Elisha Walls

1854 J. A. Walls

1858 William Walter

1860 G. M. Walz

1857 Jacob Walz

1837 F. D. Ward

1859 J. T. Ware

1856 J. D. Warren

1848 J. H. Warren

1854 T. L. Warren

1856 R. M. Weatherby

1853 W. J. Wier

1851 F. L. Willard

1850 J. G. Willard

1851 P. H. Willard

1848 D. H. Williams-

1855 G. A. Williams

1844 I. T. Williams

Within the last 50 years, a great many beneficial changes have been made in Livingston County. The first trails were Indian trails. Trappers, traders, and bee tree hunters followed these trails. Then the settlers followed them. After the county was organized in 1837, some of the first business were roads and bridges. Roads connected points where rivers and creeks could be forded. Then individuals operated ferries. Early roads were: Bloomington (Macon County) / Plattsburg road; Colliers Mill on Medicine Creek / Chillicothe / Utica; in 1840 Colliers Mill, Cox neighborhood north of Chillicothe, McGee’s ford, near the mouth of Honey Creek / Council Bluff, Iowa; Chillicothe / Springhill / Bethany (David Girdner carried mail horseback on this route); Chillicothe / Smith’s Tavern Brunswick; Chillicothe / Slagle Mill / Linneus; and others. Later roads were laid out on section lines where needed and practical.

With the coming of automobiles, there came need for much improvement. While still dirt roads, many cross-country roads were marked on trees, fences, and telephone poles as the Pike’s Peak Ocean to Ocean, Cannon Ball, Blue J, Ben Hur, and others. Federal highways US 36 and 65 were first narrow slabs, then widened and improved. The WPA programs in the thirties put crushed rock on many country roads. Then state farm-to-market roads, gravel, and black-tops were laid out so as to put most farms within two miles of an improved road. There is still a great need for stronger bridges in many locations.

Perhaps the greatest natural disaster to occur in this county was the 1909 flood. Many people lived in bottom areas at that time. On the night of July 5th heavy rain, called a cloudburst, occurred in northwest Missouri and southern Iowa. The message of a wall of water coming down the valleys was spread by telephone, warning people in the low-lying areas. In the Medicine Creek bottoms east of Sturges, Claus Jacobs with others were driving cattle to higher ground. They were caught by the wall of water. He was thrown from his horse and gained safety in a tree where he spent the night, to be rescued by boat the next day. A new McCormick binder was in this bottom. Only the top part showed above the water.

In the Grand River bottoms the raised railroad beds temporarily delayed the rush of the muddy water. The damage was great. Shocked fields of wheat and oats were washed away. Many livestock, chickens, fences, buildings, and bridges were lost. Corn and hay crops were destroyed. Miles of railroad track were washed out. Only one life was lost, a telephone repairman who fell from a pole and was unable to swim. Other counties throughout north Missouri suffered heavy losses.

The 1909 flood at Chillicothe was recorded at 33.6 feet. In 1947 a recording of 33.8 feet was reached. This time there was less lost. Floods are a frequent occurrence in bottom area. In 1851 at the time of the big flood in Kansas City, the rainfall in Chillicothe was 54 inches for the year. Floods have been caused by ice jams and drifts in streams and on bridges.

Much channel straightening has been done. Soon after 1900 a ditch was plowed with a big plow and 18 head of oxen in the Medicine Creek bottoms east and southeast of Chula for about 2½miles through rip-gut sod. This became the creek channel and cut off a big bend of the creek. It was known as the Manning ditch. In 1918 and 1919 the channel was straightened for several miles beyond this. A drainage district was formed. Meek was contracted on the upper end. He used a dredge boat. The lower part was dug with a drag line. Other districts completed this to the river. This channel improvement was partially successful for a number of years. Many bridges washed out as the channel grew wider with each high water. No provisions were made for maintenance. Drifts plugged the channel until it was closed for a distance of about seven miles. The water sought other channels and at flood times inundated great areas of bottom land. One benefit was the good soil deposited on the gumbo. About ten years ago, through the efforts of landowners, the channel was reopened. Much -leveling and bulldozing has been done and most of the bottoms are now planted in corn, beans, and milo.

The history of other bottom areas is quite the same. Shoal, Muddy, Honey, and other creeks were straightened and leveed. On Grand River many bends were cut off. Attempts at tiling were made in some areas, notably the American bottoms west of Chula. They were not successful.

The costs of much channel improvement were high and at times when money was scarce. Some assessments were not paid off and the land was turned over to the bonding companies. They later sold this land, much under $20.00 per acre, which was a fair price at that time for the condition it was in.

Army Engineer plans for the Grand River basin have thus far been of little benefit to Livingsion County. The Soil Conservation Service has given assistance in many projects.

There are locations in the county where bridges have been, but no longer exist. Many bridges are very old, horse and buggy bridges. They are not safe for today’s needs. A hundred years ago, this county found money to build adequate bridges. I believe at least one is still in use. Now the money is not available for that purpose. In this county several streams merge that drain a much larger area. A county should not have to bear all the expense for those bridges.

In the early days the church, with protracted meetings oyster suppers, ice ream suppers, bazaars, quilting circles, flower shows, Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas programs, provided social contacts. The schools with spelling bees, box suppers, and Christmas entertainments did the same.

In 1858 there was an Agricultural and Mechanical Society. In the early 1900’s there was the Anti-Horse Thief Association, circuses, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows, and Medicine shows. Wheeling, Avalon, and Chula had fairs. Nearly every town had a band. The fair and horse races were held at the fair grounds, north of Chillicothe, the present location of Simpson Park and the Country Club. Occasionally there was a balloon ascension. Later Chautauquas were popular in summer and Lyceum programs in winter. A Farm Congress was held each fall in Chillicothe about the time of World War I.

In more recent years and in connection with farm youth activities, the event was changed to a fall festival held at various locations. About 1960 a movement was started to secure a permanent place for such activities. After much cooperative effort, a fair grounds was secured at the Chillicothe Municipal Airport. Permanent buildings were erected and they are the site of the Livingston County 4-H and FFA Fair held each fall. It is an event that all the people of the area can be proud of.

From 1934 to 1942 there was a distinctly agricultural event, corn husking contests. Eighty minutes top speed, peg or hook with deductions for husks in the wagon and ears left in field. Fred Shinnemen represented Livingston in the State Contest in 1936. In 1927 he won the state contest and represented Missouri in the national contest in Minnesota. Snow and ice were on the stalks and as he shucked bare handed he was severely handicapped. In later years Dwight Jagger and Ursil Meeker represented Livingston County in the state contests. County contests were held. The national event drew as many as 100,000 people.

As corn shucking gave way to mechanical harvesting the event changed. In 1958 the state Mechanical Corn Harvesting contest was held on the Ted Vanlandingharn farm east of Chillicothe. In 1960 the National event was held on the same farm. The corn was good, well over 100 bushels per acre. Senator Lyndon Johnson was there as a featured speaker.

Rivers and creeks have always provided good fishing. Many large catfish have been caught. With the Missouri Conservation Commission providing fish for stocking ponds and lakes, they have been good fishing spots. Also restocking the area with whitetail deer has made it good for big game hunting. The proximity of Swan Lake and Fountain Grove Wildlife Area has made many duck and geese in Livingston County. Rattlesnake and Coyote hunting are also popular farm sports.

When the settlers came to Livingston County, many of them walked or rode horseback. The wagons were full of a great variety of needed articles and were pulled by horses or oxen. The family cow and some breeding stock were herded along. The first mules and jacks came up the Santa Fe trail. They were brought back by traders who had taken goods to Santa Fe. The jacks were crossed with draft horses and road horses that came from the east. This produced a mule that was superior to those of the southwest. A greater abundance of feed in this area and a big demand for draft animals to pull wagons to California and Oregon made this area good for producing horses and mules.

Cattle were of English breeds: reds and roans, sometimes called Durhams, also Shorthorns, and later Herefords, Angus, and Galloways. Early breeders of Shorthorn cattle in this county were P. H. Minor, 1870, and John Morris, who also bred Berkshire hogs and Cotswold and Shropshire sheep. Another Shorthorn breeder was T. F. B. Sothum, who in 1890 lived three miles north of Chillicothe, and had a private switchtrack on the Milwaukee railroad. Later, as markets were established, more dairy cattle were raised. Adams Creamery, Fairmont in 1870, and Swift & Company were early buyers. Also grocery stores took in eggs, cream, and butter in trade. In the twenties and thirties there was a trend to dairying. Many farmers milked cows by hand, ran the milk through a hand-cranked separator, and sold cream, or shipped it on the railroad.

Hogs were brought in very early as they were quite Adaptable and able to shift for themselves. Also they provided bacon and salt-cured meat that could be sold and carried on long journeys. It is recorded that the Spanish explorer, DeSoto, in 1540, on his journey from Florida to the Mississippi River and Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, drove along a small herd of hogs. They thrived and multiplied.

Sheep were a necessary part of pioneer life. They provided wool for clothing. The history of 1886 records very large flocks in Missouri.

The completion of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was a great thing for the livestock industry. Stock could be shipped to larger markets. Cattle and hogs were driven to Chillicothe and other towns on the railroad. Many crossed Graham’s Mill bridge from several counties away. The year 1858 was a year of poor crops and many cattle died the following winter. Much of the first freight shipped on the new railroad was cattle hides.

Later the Wabash and Milwaukee Railroads provided outlets to other markets. Chula became the largest livestock shipping point on the Kansas City/Ottumwa division. Fourteen carloads were shipped from Sturges one night. Every town had a stockyards and buyers who assembled carloads. Most farms raised hogs and cattle. Two and three-year-old steers were fed and shipped to Kansas City and Chicago. With a load of livestock a shipper got a free ride to market in the caboose. He paid his way back on a passenger train. From Ira Blue came stories of shippers becoming well acquainted with the trainmen. They would crowd around the conductor and take cigars, fruit, and candy from him, then before leaving the train give him a generous tip. Another story is of one of them grabbing a brakeman as the train was pulling out, holding him until the train was down the track. It had to stop and back up to get its brakeman. Certain trains hauled the stock cars that came immediately behind the engine and coal car. A great number of feeder cattle were shipped through Livingston County to feed lots in Iowa and Illinois.

With the improvement of roads, trucks began to haul more livestock. They would pick up any number at the farm anytime roads and weather permitted. Also they could haul back feed, coal, and supplies. Several years ago the railroads discontinued hauling livestock. About 20 years ago trucks hauled much hay out of this area to dairy farmers in south Missouri. Now with more use of fertilizer in that area the demand has diminished.

Many upright silos of wooden staves, bricks, concrete blocks, and poured concrete, were put up between 1910-1950. They were a great aid in feeding and watering cattle. With the coming of bulldozers trench silos became popular. Many are still used. Now there are a few modern glass-lined silos, but not as many as in other areas.

Recent years have seen the introduction of so called exotic breeds of cattle. They carry different characteristics and give the advantage of cross breeding. These breeds are perhaps more popular in this area due to the success of an early, well-known breeder.

Livingston County has a great deal of land that is not suitable for plowing and continuous growing of row crops. It has always been more of a cow and calf area. The old cow is the best animal available to convert grass and crop residue to human food. She has helped farm the rougher areas and feed the family. She can reproduce herself and does not require costly repair parts.

Fifty years ago many farms had flocks of sheep. They produced wool and a crop of lambs, and many people liked to handle and feed them. Dogs, coyotes, and parasites were always a problem. Now not many are raised.

Hogs have paid for many farms. They are rapid growing and are efficient converters of grain to meat. Almost every farm kept some hogs, raising two litters a year, and using them to clean up corn fields, hog down corn, and to follow cattle in the feed lots. Now fewer farmers raise hogs. They require more labor, scoop shovels are less popular, and outside money is more available. Many hogs are now raised in confinement with fewer producers raising larger numbers per unit.

Fifty years ago a flock of chickens was on nearly every farm, including Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandotte, Langshangs, Leghorns, and other breeds, along with turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, and bantams. Now very few farms have chickens. Until the tractor replaced horses and mules, they were the only source of power except for oxen. Farming would have not progressed without them. In this county were many breeders of good quality horses and mules.

John Stewart, a native of Pennsylvania, came into this area at an early date as a buyer for the American Fur Company. He thought Nave Town (Springhill) would be a good place to settle down. When he returned to St. Louis he bought a stock of goods and returned with his family. He ran a hotel and packing house. Cured pork was hauled by wagon to a point on the Grand River about 1½ miles down the river from the later site of Graham’s Mill. There it was loaded on flat boats and floated down the river to St. Louis. He also outfitted four wagons to go to California in 1849.

Edward Carney, a native of England, came to Chillicothe in 1870. After the Wabash Railroad was completed, he operated a packing plant southwest of Chillicothe on the Utica road. He employed about 30 men, and had several buyers who rode through this county on horseback buying livestock.

Chris Boehner came from Germany in 1871, and to Chillicothe four years later. He operated a packing plant in the northwest part of Chillicothe, southwest of Simpson Park. In the winter of 1884 he slaughtered 2000 hogs. A brick building and a pond are still at this site on the Windle property.

Indians who occupied this area grew corn, beans, and squash. But they, like the early settlers, depended largely on wild game, fruit, nuts, and berries. When the settlers came, the prairie land was covered with tall blue-stem, Little of this still exists. Some may be seen in old cemeteries and along railroads. The Missouri Prairie Foundation is preserving areas of native grasses in other parts of the state. Crops that the settlers grew were for human use and for livestock feed. There was little market for it. At the early mills it could pay for the grinding and be traded for other supplies.

In 1849 a steamboat, the Lake of the Woods, came to the forks of the river. It was loaded with wheat by A. T. Kirtley, Wm. Mead, and James Campbell. At St. Louis it sold for 500 per bushel.

In 1867 George Milbank built a mill in Chillicothe. He offered to buy wheat at any time. This created a market. At this time wheat was sowed by hand, cut with a cradle, and threshed with a flail. Corn was planted with a hoe, sometimes an axe and covered with a hoe. Also, rye, oats, hemp, and tobacco were grown. Then improved plows, mowers, McCormick binders, followed by horse-powered threshing machines, and balers greatly expanded the growing of crops. Steam engines came into use for threshing, saw mills, and breaking prairie and bottom land from tough sod. Gang plows with several bottoms had a hand lever for raising and lowering each plow.

Bluegrass, clover, and timothy were grown for hay and pasture. Hay was mowed, raked with a sulky or bull rake, and stacked with a pitch fork or overshot stacker. Jenkins Rake and Stacker Factory and Foundry moved from Browning to Chillicothe in 1889. It employed 75100 men. There was a broom factory and cigar factories in Chillicothe and other towns. There was a good market for hay to livery stables and for shipping on the railroad.

The first part of the 20th century was the days of the big threshing machines, powered by long drive belts from a steam engine and later by tractors. Those were the days of threshing rigs in every community. Wheat, oats, rye, and timothy were cut with a binder and shocked. When dry and the corn crop laid by, the threshing rigs started out. The crew was an engine man and a water hauler for steam engines, a separator man, whose usual stand was on top of the separator, 6-8 bundle wagons, 4 pitchers in the field, 2 grain haulers, a spike scooper, and sometimes a man on the straw stack, and kids with water jugs. It required plenty of help from neighbor ladies and hired girls at the house to prepare a noon meal and supper. They always set a bountiful table, a great variety of food, and dessert with coffee and iced tea. Sometimes farmers would haul in bundles and stack them in conical stacks near the barns. They could be threshed later with a smaller crew. Straw stacks made good winter feed and shelter for livestock. Some set posts in the ground and laid poles and planks over them. The straw stack was made in. the top of this.

Later a number of upright silos were built. it was somewhat the same system for filling silos with corn or sorgo. In the thirties the corn binders had worn out and money was scarce to replace them. Much corn was cut by hand. In the dry years corn never tassled out and a binder would not handle what was left over after the grasshoppers ate most of it. It required many acres to fill a silo. The usual wage was $1.00 per day with dinner. Prior to silos much corn was cut by hand and shocked for winter feed.

Fruit and apples were grown on nearly every farm. That which was not needed for home use was barreled and shipped. There were large orchards in the Utica and Wheeling areas. In 1908 the Chula News carried a notice of a farm for sale with 500 apple trees and 800 peach trees.

About 1930 soybeans were introduced, first used as a hay crop, mowed before maturity, raked with a sulky rake, shocked with a pitch fork, and hauled in for feeding or threshing. About this time Korean lespedeza also became popular as a legume that would grow on any soil and provide pasture, hay, and seed. It would re-seed, no matter how close it was pastured. Some barley was grown. It sometimes winter killed. Grain sorghum became popular after the combine came into use, as it withstood drought and flooding better than corn. Cattle, hogs, and horses ate most of what was produced except for wheat and some hay.

Tractors replaced horses and mules, and following them came corn pickers, combines, -and hay balers, first with auxiliary gas engines and later PTO-driven. Then they put rubber tires on everything, and starters and road gears in tractors. Now it is very different with self-propelled combines and windrowers, drying bins, grinder/mixers, trucks, forage harvesters, stackers, big balers, chisel plowers, mulchers, fertilizer trucks, and chemical insect and weed control, sometimes applied by airplanes.

Also, the farm has changed, Small farms have been combined, fences taken out, homes abandoned, buildings burned or bulldozed, and much ground diverted to row crops. This would be better in grass, if there were more cattle to eat it, which is not the case at this time. However, there is also a surplus of corn, wheat, and beans. Even farmers have changed. There is less general, independent, self-sufficient farming and more specialization. Some are strictly grain farmers. Some are living in town and going out to farm, and many are farming several farms miles apart.

Grass is the forgiveness of Nature-her constant benediction. Its tenacious fibers hold the earth in its place and prevent its soluble components from washing into the wasting sea. It invades the solitudes of the desert, climbs the inaccessible slopes and forbidden pinnacles of mountains, modifies climates, and determines the history, character, and destiny of nations. Unobtrusive and patient, it has immortal vigor and aggression. Banished from the thoroughfare and the field, it bides its time to return, and when vigilance is relaxed or the dynasty has perished, it silently resumes the throne from which it had been expelled, but which it never abdicated. It bears no blazonry of bloom to charm the senses with fragrance or splendor, but its homely hue is more enchanting than the lily or the rose, It yields no fruit in earth or air, and yet, should its harvest fail for a single year, f amine would depopulate the world. - John J. Ingalls

Track laying gangs from the east and from the west met at a point in Section 4 on the David Mumpower farm, three miles east of Chillicothe on the 13th of February, 1859. Besides gangs of workmen, these were present: William Kent, David Mumpower, George Babb, Sol Hoge, and others. Two railroad locomotives were on each side of the gap. As the last rail was put in place and the spikes driven home they set off a blast of whistles that echoed through the county for miles. From miles around people came in wagons, on horseback, and on foot to join in the celebration.

David Mumpower was born in Washington County, Va., in 1815. He lived nine years in Clay County, Mo., moving to Livingston County in 1850. He died in 1891 and is buried in Jones Cemetery. S. B. Mumpower, who later lived on the farm, was 10 years old at that time, and was present at the scene.

The railroad did a flourishing business as it had no competition for some time. The limit on speed was 18 miles per hour and the rate for passengers was 5 cents per mile.

Anderson, Marcellus J. and Rosemary 14-56-25 1874

Balman, Marvin and Viola 5-59-23 1868

Bartholome, George, and Eckert, Altie B 8 and 9-59-22 1871

Bills, C. Press and Mary 4-58-25 1840

Blycker, Bonnie Austin 5-56-25 1837

Bonderer, Gerald and Margaret 12-57-25 1869

Bowen, Lewis and Linnie 7-56-23 1866

Casebeer, Margaret, John, and Charles 19-59-23 1850

Chapman, Mrs. Nolan (Esther) 9-56-24 1868

Coberley, William Daniel and Mary Frances 24-59-23 1857

Cole, J. W 34-59-25 1873

Culling, Ira A. and Dorothy 36-57-25 1853

Culling, Warren G. and Patricia 36-57-25 1873

Dorney, Maurice, Jr 1-56-24 1868

Drummond, Irene Ballenger 17-59-23 1854

Duncan, Thomas and Edna 24-56-22 1857

Gilbert, Michael S 23-58-23 1853

Graham, Gerald C. and Ruth I 17-59-23 1871

Gray, Harold and Ruth E 18-56-22 1865

Hayen, Harry and Joyce 17-57-23 1876

Hill, Ethlyn Warner 19-56-25 1871

Hooker, Wallace T. and Edna 19-59-23 1850

Hooten, Ola Burner 23-56-24 1855

Hudgins, Gary W. and Sheryl 13-57-25 1843

Jacobs, Orville and Evelyn (Donovan) 36-59-23 1868

Jennings, Leroy and Gwendolyn (Metzner) 11-58-23 1868

Johnson, L. M. and Mildred 25-56-25 1868

Jones, Mr. and Mrs. David Wendell 8-56-24 1868

Jones, J. Roy and Frankie 5-56-24 1868

Jones, Lawrence G 20-56-24 1868

Jones, Victor and Karlene 21-56-24 1868

Larsen, Charles and Rosemary (Boucher) 16-56-25 1859

Littrell, Melvin L 9-57-22 1855

Lucas, Gladys C 12-58-25 1860

Lutes, Keith and Alice 8-56-22 1866

Mansfield, Herbert E., Eugene W., and Cox, Mary E. 17-58-25 1870

Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Claude 18-56-22 1865

Morris, Ora C. and Grace 20-59-23 1842

Morris, Ora C. and Dorothy 1-58-24 1862

Morris, Ora C., Dorothy, and Mabel 6-58-23 1864

Morris, Ora C. and Dorothy 6-58-23 1873

Neis, Geneva and Neis, Victor 33-59-23 1870

Peery, John L 18-59-25 1839

Phillips, John J. and Okie 7-59-22 1850

Remick, Hazel Stamper 18 and 19-57-24 1838

Rickenbrode, Holton R. (Rickenbrode) 26-56-23 1869

Rickenbrode, Holton R. (Roberts) 13-56-23 1876

Roberts, Verl E. (Roberts) 33-59-23 1873

Roberts, Verl E. (Uhrmacher) 33-59-23 1870

Rockhold, George W 24-57-25 1848

Sanson, Harry and Viva (Watson) 16-57-22 1871

Seiberling, George and Ruth 36-57-24 1868

Silvey, Willard A 18-56-22 1836

Smith, Mrs. Brock 10-59-23 1865

Steele, Mr. and Mrs. Francis M 6-56-23 1868

Steen, Lee M. and Opal L 5-58-23 1853

Stone, Mrs. Edith B., Grace, and Calvin 30-57-24 1864

Thomas, T. J., and Thomas, Eileen 21-56-24 1870

Thompson, Mrs. Arthur (Nellie) 14-58-24 1840

Transue, Cecil, Jessie, and Shirley 16-59-22 1876

Trumbo, Buel 30-59-22 1861

Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth 17-58-23 1862

Ward, Don and Eleanor 6-59-23 1856

Ward, Norman R., and Randy 6-59-23 1855

Warner, Mrs. Clinton (Zeola) 18-56-25 1869

Warren, Dale and Rema 4-57-22 1866

Webb, Clifford and Lola 7 and 18-56-25 1851

West, Richard L., and Burgess, Thelma M 7 and 18-59-24 1840

Wilson, Floyd R., and Wilson, Alta L 26-58-25 1868

My grandfather, Patrick Anderson I, was born in Ireland in about 1822. He came to the United States at an early age and settled in Fort Clee, New Jersey, where he was married to Mary Ann Campbell. To this union three children were born: Patrick II, John, and Margaret. The family came to Missouri in 1870 where my father bought 40 acres of land in Livingston County, 12 miles southwest of Chillicothe, between Ludlow and Dawn. This is now on State Road DD.

Purchase of the first land (40 acres) was made in the year 1874 from the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. Now the Milwaukee is a quarter mile west of the house.

My grandfather died soon after coming to Livingston County. My grandmother, Patrick II, and John built a small, one-room house where they lived a few years. In about 1880 they built a large five-room house. My father was married on October 20, 1883, to Clara Harvey at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Utica, Mo. To this union 12 children were born in the house that was built in 1880. Two of my three children were also born there in 1936 and 1937.

My grandmother lived with us until her death in 1909 at the age of 84. My uncle John also lived with us for many years, he never married. My Aunt Margaret kept house for the late Andy Hedrick for many years. Late in life she was married to Patrick Curran of Chillicothe where she lived until her death in 1935.

My father and uncle John engaged in general farming. They bought more land and raised corn, oats, wheat, cattle, hogs, and horses. In the late 1920s they owned 320 acres. We had a good life on the farm, always having plenty of food. All we had to buy was flour, sugar, and coffee. My father would go to Chillicothe in the wagon in the fall of the year to get supplies for winter. We would drive a team of horses or mules and our carriage to church in Utica, six miles away, on Sundays (St. Joseph’s Catholic). My father would take us to the circus in Chillicothe, the highlight of our lives.

My brother, the late Joseph Anderson, and I took over the home place, 40 acres from my father and 40 acres from my aunt Margaret, in 1934.

1 was married on August 3, 1935, to Rosemary O’Rourke in St. Joseph’s Church in Chillicothe. We have three children: Marcellus, Jr., now living in California; Elizabeth Ann and Mrs. Jane Carey, both of whom live in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. We have six grandchildren: Chris, Susan, Marcy, and Gregory Anderson, and Mike and Shelia Carey.

We lived on the farm from 1935 to 1961 when we moved to Shawnee Mission, Kansas. We have had the farmhouse remodeled and will retire there this year, 1976.

Patrick I and wife, Patrick II and wife, and all of my deceased brothers and sisters, with the exception Of two, were buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Chillicothe. Dennis was buried in St. Joseph, Mo., and Catherine McGinnis was buried in Warrensburg, Mo. I have one sister, Sister Mary Fidelia, living at the Nazareth Convent at St. Louis, Mo. I have one brother living: John Edward Anderson, Kansas City, Mo. I have 37 great-grandchildren surviving.

My brother, Hugh Patrick III, spent three years in the U. S. Navy in World War I. Several of the boys from the fourth generation were in the service during World War H.

My first ride in an auto was about 1914. The late Dr. Simpson of Chillicothe came by our farm on a Sunday and gave us a ride up the road and we walked back home.

Our near neighbors, when I was a boy, were Col. A. W. Cies on the west, the Shields family on the north (where Roy Shields still lives), the Carl Hunt family (who moved to Canada in about 1916), the Gregory Lawson family (who were very kind to us when my brother, Timothy, died at the age of 16 in 1916). They had one of the first autos. They took my family to the funeral at Utica, and to the cemetery in Chillicothe. Albrittan Lawson still owns and lives on the farm.

The creek running through our farm was called Rattlesnake, not because there were snakes, but because it was so crooked.

A large ditch was dug through our farm, it was called Dredge Ditch. This was about 1910. It started east of Braymer and ran to Grand River south of Chillicothe. The landowners were taxed for this; my father’s tax was $100 per year for 19 years. It did a good job draining the swampland. The workers lived in one of our large sheds while digging the ditch.

Risley School was one mile north of our farm. It was named after the owner of the farm, Mr. Risley. My uncle John later bought the farm. All my brothers and sisters and I went to this school. Two of my sisters went to St. Joseph Academy in Chillicothe and some of us went to Dawn High School.

Children of Clara and Patrick Anderson: Mary Adeline Anderson, born January 15, 1885; Andrew Anderson, born April 16, 1886; Amos Anderson, born January 10, 1887; Catherine, born October 31, 1890; Hugh Pat, born February 21, 1893; Dennis William, born August 19, 1895; Anna (Sister M. Fidelia), born March 16, 1898, left February 5, 1921, to join St. Joseph Sisters; Timothy, born July 4, 1900, died November 2, 1916; John Edward, born January 4, 1903; Marcellus Joseph, born May 21, 1905; Joseph Harvey, born July 29, 19 10, died May 16, 1953; Clara Elizabeth, born March 15, 1913, died August 24, 1949; Patrick Anderson, died April 4, 1939; Clara Anderson, died February 27, 1943; John W. Anderson, died April 1, 1941; Andrew Anderson, son of Patrick and Clara Anderson, died February 7, 1942; Margaret Anderson, wife of Andrew Carr, died April 28, 1935; Margaret Anderson Curran (sister of John and Patrick), died April 29, 1935, at 90 years; little Michael Anderson (son of Joe and Emily), died Sunday, March 31, 1946, 2 years, 9 months; Joseph Harvey Anderson, died May 16, 1953; Grandma Anderson, died 1909, age 84 years; Aunt (Mat) Martha Harvey (wife of Uncle Lon Harvey), died October 17, 1950, at Kearney, Nebraska. - Marcellus J. Anderson

Robert Bartholome (1833-1917) was born in the Province of Saxony, Prussia. Like all youth of the country, he spent three years in military service. He also obtained a good education in the public schools. His parents were Elias and Elizabeth Bartholome. The father was born in 1786 and the mother in 1793. Elias was a soldier in the Prussian army for a number of years, participating in the Battle of Waterloo, also the Battle of Leipzig. For his services in the conflict he obtained a gold medal. He also received four other medals for service to his country. Two of these he disposed of for quite a sum of money. He died in his native land in 1863 leaving seven children other than Robert: Henry in Oregon, Paul and Sophia in Illinois, and Wilhemina, Susannah, and Margaret in Prussia. The sons were all farmers except George, who was a shoemaker.

Robert immigrated to this country in 1859. On August 23,1871, he married Elizabeth Goos (1843-1935) of Livingston County, Missouri. Her father, Claus Goos, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He served in the Prussian War in 1864, coming to America in 1870. Robert and Elizabeth were baptized as Lutherans in Germany. They were the parents of ten children:

Minnie (Bartholome) Burtch 1872-1954

Dora Bartholome 1884-1941

Robert Bartholome 1887-1954

Catherine (Bartholome) Triplett 1877-1969

August Bartholorne 1875-1967

Edna (Bartholome) Tolson 1891-1966

Emma (Bartholome) Dudley 1880-1960

Elizabeth (Bartholome) Engelman 1882-1969

George Bartholome 1896

Altie (Bartholome) Eckert 1893

The parents are buried in the Wallace Cemetery.

After they were married in 1871, at the home of mother’s sister, they moved to the 60 acres, Section 9-59-22. There was a log house there. The older children were born there. He bought additional land consisting of 192 acres. The four younger children were born in the present house, which was built in 1890. The front part and two north rooms were added in 1904. The carpenter was Bill Davis of Laredo.

Before I was born, in April of 1893, a dark cloud formed late in the evening, and a cyclone struck Banner schoolhouse, a fairly new building with extra room for wraps and dinner buckets. It scattered the building for miles. The teacher’s clock and bell were found 10 miles northeast near Haseville. Later a new Banner schoolhouse was built. The cyclone moved the front part of the Bartholome house seven inches off the foundation, broke several windows, blew away the hen house and granary. At the former Henry Eckert place it blew the house away. The Bisbee family lived there. They had just left the house and entered the cave. Later a new Banner schoolhouse was built.

All the Bartholome family attended this school. We had wonderful teachers who taught reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, history, grammar, geography, and singing. We had spelling and ciphering matches. On the last day of school several exhibits were shown. Folks came from miles around.

Years ago we attended Sebago Church and Sunday School. Our first car was a Model T, and later a Model A. The last car George bought was in 1966 and was a red Chevrolet. He raised cattle, hogs, sheep, mules, and chickens. Row crops included corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, clover, timothy, and lespedeza for hay. We had a large garden and two large orchards. We raised the following varieties of apples: Jonathan, Ben Davis, Genetin, Willow Twigs, Huntsman’s Favorite, Whitney, Yellow and Red Delicious, and red and yellow crabapples.

Varieties of pears raised: Bartlett, Dutchess, Anfou, Seckel, and winter pears. Some pear trees are 90 years old and still bear fruit. We also had blackberries, black and red raspberries, and strawberries. We sold a large amount of the fruit. We had good pasture. There is a timber branch that runs through the 60 acres, a pond, a cistern, fruit and shade trees near the site.of the log cabin of nearly 100 years ago.

I can remember when we got our mail at Eversonville; later at a Postoffice in Gibsonps store in Chula. We put up a mailbox in 1904 and it was 3/4 of a mile from the house. The route was changed about 1920 and now goes by the house.

John Oldaker and his wife Mary came from Wyoming County, Illinois, in 1868. They bought 160 acres (SW ¼ Sec. 3-59-23) from the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. A year later, his brother Jacob and wife Laura, and their father Rhamey and mother Elizabeth came from Ohio. They each bought 40 acres from John. Later John and Mary moved to Rolfe, Iowa.

This was an area of good farming ground. In 1879, Rhamey bought 40 acres near Medicine Creek which is still a part of the farm. After Rhamey’s death, Jacob bought his land from the other heirs. In 1936, a son, H. B. (Dick) Oldaker, bought the farm from his father’s estate. He lived there until his death in 1963. He never married.

Jacob Oldaker (1845-1925) and Laura (18581934) were married in 1876. Their children were: Charles 1877, Orie 1879, Bessie 1881, Ray 1884, H. B. 1887, Laura 1890, and J. A. 1892.

Orie married William A. Clingingsmith. Their daughter married Jess Balman of Livingston County. A son, Marvin and his wife Viola Collins Balman, bought this from other heirs in 1964. - Marvin and Viola Balman

Stephen Bills: was born December, 1823, in New Hampton, North Carolina; married Harriett Boone December 5th, 1840; bought a farm in Livingston County shortly after 1840. He went to California during the gold rush in 1849, by ox team and wagon, and returned in 1853, living in a log house at the time. Shortly after his return, he built the frame house on the present farm. He died in August, 1859. Harriet Bills died August 5,1908. The farm then went to J. W. Bills, his son, who owned the farm until 1933, then sold it to his son, C. Pres Bills.. The farm has always been general farming with crops and livestock.

There is a Bills family cemetery on this farm. Harriet Boone was born in 1824 in North Carolina. She was the daughter of Eliza and Nancy Evans Boone, They moved to Livingston County in 1834. Her father and two brothers were in the Mormon war in 1838. - C. Pres Bills

Our great-grandparents, John and Mary Austin, came to Livingston County from White County, Tennessee. Their ancestors were originally from Scotland. They with other settlers pitched their tent and camped on Shoal Creek in the southwest part of the county. In 1833, the night of November 12 was very memorable to the early settlers of Missouri as "the time when the stars fell."

They were the parents of eight children: Andrew N., William C., David C., Spence Hall, Lovey M., John Melathy, Mary Ann, and Louisa Jane, all of whom resided in Livingston County at the time of their father’s death.

Spence Hall Austin was our grandfather and was a farmer and stock dealer. A portion of his farm was in orchard. He was married to Frances Ann Smith on June 6, 1878. They had one son, James Ola Austin, and also made a home for Emma Flamm who came to live with them after the death of her mother.

James O. Austin married Laura Culling on December 24, 1906, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary December 24, 1956. They were the parents of five children: Zeola Austin Warner, Bonnie Austin Blycker, Corwaine Austin (deceased), Luthera Austin Clegg, and Eddison Austin.

Spence Hall Austin died March 23, 1901, and was buried in Bethel Cemetery.

James O. Austin died March 10, 1957. Laura Austin died May 29, 1967. Corwaine Austin died March 18, 1975. They are all buried in Bethel Cemetery.

There is a spring about 125 yards north of the old house. When asked about the deep depression nearby, my father, James O. Austin, said it was made by wagons of people on their way to Oregon who camped near the spring.

September 9, 1838, John Austin purchased at the land office at Lexington, Mo., the NW ¼ of the NW ¼ Sec. 4-56-26. The document was signed by President Martin Van Buren.

John Austin was appointed postmaster of Austinville postoffice, Livingston County, in 1841. - Bonnie Austin Blycker

One of fifteen children, Joseph Flavian Bonderer was born to John Peter and Catherine (Probst) Bonderer on September 9, 1827, in St. Gallen Canton, Switzerland. In May of the year 1855 he sailed for America, landing at New Orleans. He traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and secured employment working on a farm for which he was paid wages of $6.75 per month. After six months he left St. Louis, traveling up the Missouri River to Brunswick, and then overland to Utica. Here he established the business of burning lime, quarrying, and contracting rock. In 1860 he entered the military service and was stationed at Breckenridge, Missouri. After serving two years he came back to Utica and re-established his lime kiln and rock contract work which he continued for a period of twelve years. Several buildings still standing in Chillicothe were quarried and constructed by Mr. Bonderer. They include the county jail and the rock work of the St. Columban Church. (This quarry is still in the present Bonderer farm.)

In 1860 Flavian married Catherine Barbara Seitters of Alsace-Lorraine. Catherine’s family had settled in the "Low Gap" country near Plymouth about the same time Flavian came to America. The romance began when Flavian was visiting the Seitter family and saw a picture of Catherine. (Catherine was in Illinois with her sister.) Anyway Joseph remarked after seeing the picture, "Send for her to come home, I want to marry her." The wedding took place on December 18, 1860.

The farm was purchased in several different pieces from the year 1873 to 1878. It consisted of 182 acres plus the five acres of the quarry, which is a half mile from the rest of the farm.

To Joseph and Catherine fourteen children were born, six of whom survived. Joseph died January 25, 1900, and Catherine died on April 29, 1912. Both are buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Chillicothe, Missouri.

Lawrence Flavian, the eldest son, married Stella McMillen April 26, 1892, at the Catholic Church in Utica and they moved immediately to the farm. Their possessions were carried in one wagon and they led their one cow behind it. They lived on this same farm until 1941 where they reared eight children-six boys and two girls. One child, a boy, died in infancy. The farm, which they purchased from Lawrence’s mother and the rest of the heirs, became theirs in 1904.

The farm located one and one-half miles west and a mile and a half north of Utica on the south side of Grand River is about half bottom ground and the rest rough hill timberland. When Stella and Lawrence moved to the farm, there was one small house and barn, a small orchard and forty acres cleared. The family cleared the rest of the farm; put the bottom land in crops, the hill in pasture; raised cattle and hogs and constructed a large barn in 1909. Their home, a large two-story house consisting of 8 rooms, was built from lumber sawed from trees growing on the farm. It was built onto the existing house, making 11 rooms in all.

Gerald and Margaret immediately began to modernize the home. They put in running water, bathrooms, hardwood flooring, clothes closets, added a garage and family room and landscaped the yard. They expanded their flock of Corriedale sheep, which Gerald started in 1940. They kept 100 to 125 registered ewes and sold their sheep at purebred sheep sales, state and nation wide.

Lana Lee, their only child, was born March 8, 1946. Lana loved to work with her father and the sheep. She helped him show at all the county as well as the Missouri State Fairs. Their sheep were entered at the American Royal and several other State Fairs including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Texas. Lana had her own sheep project in the 4-H club, of which she was a member all the years she was eligible and lived on the farm. She, as well as her father, won her share of blue ribbons. Gerald was president of Missouri Corriedale Association for several years as well as a director from Missouri to the American Corriedale Association.

January 14, 1959, the farm home of the Bonderers was completely consumed by fire. Nothing was saved. They had been gone from the home only an hour when they returned to find it completely engulfed in flames. They built a small house at the same location, but they also bought a lot in Chillicothe and erected a home to live in, where they still reside. Margaret went back to the school room and Gerald continued operating the farm. They sold their sheep soon after this and increased the cow herd-mostly Charolais crossbred.

The farm has been increased in size and now contains 260 acres. One hundred twenty acres are in cropland and the rest is in pastures with two large lakes and two smaller ponds, one which is used for water to the house and barn.

Margaret is active in school and community affairs and Gerald’s pet project is Farm Bureau, which he helped to reorganize in the late thirties. He is a charter member and has held every office as well as having served on several committees. He has been an invited guest to the Governor’s Conference for Agriculture for several years.

Lana married Warren Henry of Evansville, Indiana, in March, 1971. They have just recently moved into a new home they had built in Gladstone, Missouri. Though Mr. Henry works as a systems analyst, he is connected with farming, being employed by Farmland Foods, Inc. The family hobbies, including Lana and Warren, are dancing, card playing, hunting, and fishing. Gerald attends the Catholic Church while other members of the family go to the Methodist Church.

The farm is very important to every member of the family and hopefully when the next centennial rolls around, this farm will carry on the heritage of the Bonderer family.

The children attended a little country school two miles from the farm which was called "Brush College." They walked this distance with the Sherman children who lived one-half mile west of them. The Bonderers were always active in school, church, and community affairs. Lawrence was Western District Judge of the County Court for six years from 1908-1914. During this time the present courthouse was constructed. He was active in extension work and helped get a county extension agent in Livingston County, was a charter member of the Farm Bureau which was formed in the county in the 20’s. Though the land was subject to overflow from Grand River and several crops were lost to floods, not nearly as many were lost as could have been, for the farm was all leveed by the family, using mules and a slip, as well as hand shovels. They worked with the Extension Service on fertilizer test plots for crops and pasture. The Bonderers, and a neighbor W. B. Merriman, shipped in a car load of limestone long before it was crushed and used in the county as a common practice. Gerald, next to the youngest son, stayed on the farm after the other children left and helped carry on the tradition of progressive farming. He first planted hybrid corn in the late 30’s and in 1940 sold Pioneer Hybrid Seed Corn to his neighbors and friends and really started the use of hybrid corn in the county. He got a ton of nitrogen fertilizer from Bob Garst and found out what it could do for his crops-he has used nitrogen on every acre of corn grown on the farm since that time. His corn has averaged over 100 bushels per acre for over thirty years, wheat between 40-50 bushels per acre, and soybeans over 40.

The farm, located 1½miles north of Highway 36, was always a problem as f ar as mud roads were concerned. During the depression, when W. P. A. was started, they let the W. P. A. open the quarry and crush rock. Their only pay was the g r a v e I i n g of this road. The Bonderers bought their first automobile in 1915-a Hupmobile-their next car was a Buick and somehow the Buick has been a tradition in the family since. Until the twenties farming had been done mostly with mules and "boys," then in the early 20’s a tractor was purchased, a Fordson. It rode harder than a mule and couldn’t pull much more but didn’t get tired.

In November, 1941, Gerald bought the farm from his parents, who moved into Chillicothe, Missouri. They lived at the Calhoun Street address until their deaths. Lawrence died in 1957 at the age of 88, Stella passed away in 1962 at the age of 92. They had celebrated their sixty-five years of marriage with a family gathering. Both are buried in the Catholic Cemetery.

Gerald married Margaret Grouse on January 17, 1942. Margaret’s family were also early settlers of the county. The Grouses settled in the Springhill Community three years prior to Bonderers coming to Utica. In fact, Gerald’s grandmother’s brother, Chris Seitters, married Margaret’s grandfather’s sister, Christina Grouse. The early Bonderer and Grouse families were friends and visited back and forth, traveling by buggy. They always remained overnight, for the distance between Springhill and Utica was too great to make in a day and get any visiting done. Lawrence Bonderer could remember families getting together in the fall of the year to make grape wine. - Gerald and Margaret Bonderer

Anthony Bowen was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in 1838. He was the son of Moses and Sarah Bowen. He moved with his parents to Daviess County, Mo., in 1855. Two years later, the family moved to Livingston County and settled on a farm in Blue Mound Township. He spent his youth and early manhood on the farm helping his father.

When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the Union Army. He held a captain’s commission in a Missouri regiment and served throughout the war. After the war he returned to Livingston County where he spent the remainder of his life. He homesteaded 160 acres in Fairview Township in 1866 where the present owner, Lewis Bowen, and his wife now live.

He was from a family of 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls. He never married, but when he bought his farm three of his sisters made their home with him until his death in 1908. After his death, his sisters remained on the farm and rented the crop land.

In 1915 Lewis and his brother, Bert, bought the farm and continued to farm in partnership until Bert’s death in 1934. At that time Lewis and his wife bought Bert’s interest and continued to live there. In 1928, they built a house across the road from the old house. Mound Creek runs through part of the land. The farm has some creek bottom, 60 acres of timber, and the rest upland.

In early years they raised cattle, hogs, corn, wheat, and oats. In later years they added soybeans. In early years they did their farming with horses and mules. In 1947 Lewis bought his first tractor, which he still has and uses for odd jobs around the farm. In 1965 Lewis retired and rented the farming land.

Before rural mail delivery they had to get their mail at a post office one-half mile from the house. It was called the Ida Post Office, and it was run by Mrs. Mary Greener. When rural delivery came, they received their mail through the Dawn Post Office. Later they were transferred to Chillicothe, where they continued to be on Rural Route 2.

The burial grounds where the Bowens are buried are Burnside Cemetery in Fairview Township and Christison Cemetery in Blue Mound Township. - Lewis Bowen

Daughter and sons of R. S. and Hattie (Hooker) Casebeer. Our farm, in Sec. 19-59-23, was a part of the Solomon R. Hooker farm. See Wallace and Edna Hooker farm history.

My grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Jones, came to this country in 1868. They brought their children, Esther, Dave, Ben, John, and Tom (my father). Father was fourteen at the time. He saw what was to him a strange crop growing here; later he found that it was corn. The family was from South Wales. They were sixteen days on the ocean. They landed at Castle Garden, New York. They arrived at Utica, Missouri, on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, the only train through here at the time (June, 1868). Utica was the largest town around here then. From there they walked to Dawn. They couldn’t tell when they got there and walked on past it. Father could speak no English at first, only "yes" and "no."

My grandmother died within two years. My grandfather bought part of the present farm in 1868. Father and grandfather lived there until father married Ida Patrick (my mother) in 1883. Their children were: Sam, Orville, Esther, Grace, Harvey, and Ethel (who died in infancy). The family attended Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Members of the family are buried in the Welch and Christison Cemeteries.

The farm is located two and a half miles east of Dawn. A big branch ran through it and there was a pond. There were two mounds, said to be Indian mounds. There was a little timber at the north end. Crops were corn and wheat. We raised hogs and fat cattle which were sold and shipped; some were kept for our own use. We had a vegetable garden, fruit orchard, strawberries, and raspberries. One year we had so many peaches we put up 400 quarts and fed some of them to the hogs.

The first house had two rooms; later a kitchen was added. Later on, a two-story house was built. Part of the old house was moved down back of the chicken yard. We had dances there. My uncle came and played the fiddle.

We usually slaughtered five to seven hogs each year for our own use. These were cured in the smokehouse. The side meat was hung and the hams were packed in barrels. One time thieves got the side meat but missed the hams. Meat was stored in the icehouse. - Mrs. Nolan Chapman, Sr.

This farm, the W ½, SE ¼ , Sec. 24-59-23, was owned in 1857 by Mary A. Coberley, who came from Ohio in 1850. It was deeded to her son, Jessie F. Coberley (1825-1897). He served in the Civil War and is buried in Wallace Cemetery. In 1925 the farm passed to a son, George W. Coberley (1879-1955). He is buried in Plainview Cemetery. In 1951 the farm passed to Jesse F. and Annie (Wilson) Coberley, then in 1966 to William Daniel and Mary Frances (Weitzel) Coberley. The old homestead was on this farm. As it is hilly ground, it is now used for pasture.

John Willis Cole was born on and has lived all but 1 ½ of his 79 years on a farm in Jackson Township that has been owned by his family for three generations. His grandparents, Moses and Sarah Cole, came to Livingston County from the vicinity of LaPorte, Indiana, in 1854. Moses was born in New York, June 17,1828. Sarah was born in New York, July 7, 1832, only three months after her parents, Peter and Sarah (Dare) Willson, arrived with their three other children from Taunton, England. Moses and Sarah were the parents of five children, Willson born in 1853, Willis born in 1855, Walter born in 1867, John D. born in 1869, and Daisy born in 1873.

Their son Willis married Susanna Wagner, April 17, 1879, and moved onto the acreage described in this article. They were the parents of nine children. Three sons, Cloddie, Fredrick Moses, and James, died in early childhood. Maye married Everett Stith; Gaye married Orville Maxwell; Ella married Thomas Bills; Ollie married Virgil Boone; Mary married Harry Shuler. John Willis, the present owner and occupant, married Grace Hicklin, April 17, 1938. They have two children, Mildred and Carl Willis, both living in Chillicothe. Carl and his wife, Marna, have a son, Michael.

The Cole family was closely associated with the Hicks rural school prior to its closing in 1960. Mr. and Mrs. Cole and their two children attended grade school there. Mr. Cole was on its board of directors for several years as was his father, and Mrs. Cole taught there before her marriage. Three generations, namely Moses, Willis, and J. W. Cole, were active members of the Masonic Lodge at Springhill.

Their farm is 2 ½ miles west of Springhill, a town important during the early settlement of Livingston County. A small store is said to have started there in 1836 and it had grown into a thriving community (at that time larger than Chillicothe) by the time Mr. Cole’s grandparents settled in the county. A Farmers Store was established there in the 1920’s. This was a cooperative which sold groceries and general merchandise and also purchased farm produce such as eggs, live poultry, milk, and lard. Mr. Cole was on its board of directors for several years. The store passed into private ownership in the 1950’s and is no longer in existence.

This centennial farm originally consisted of 80 acres (east half of the southwest quarter of section 34, township 59 of range 25 which lies along Indian Creek in Jackson Township and contains both creek bottom and hill land. It was first issued from the U. S. Government in 1840 to William S. Miller.

In the early days a subscription school was located on the southwest corner of the property. Attendance required payment to the teacher. Nothing is known of the school’s physical appearance except that split logs were used for the seats. Willis Cole was one of the pupils at this school.

Moses and Sarah Cole purchased the land July 28, 1873, from John T. and Hester Moss. A house and other farm buildings had been built on the property prior to that time but Moses and Sarah never lived on this acreage. They continued to reside at their home on property nearby and eventually acquired nearly 400 acres of land.

At that time most farm work was done by hand or by one-row machinery pulled by horses. Corn was cultivated with single or double shovels one row at a time; sometimes two or three trips through the field were made for each row. Small grain was cradled and hay was mowed by hand. Moses bought one of the first mowing machines in the vicinity and was careful to take it in from the field each night for fear that workers, whose labor it replaced, might damage it. He also had a machine for cutting grain but men had to follow this machine and tie the cut grain into bundles.

Willis Cole bought this 80 acres from his parents in 1897; the present residence was erected that same year. Native lumber was used in the construction of the frame house. Willis, with the help of a neighbor, did most of the labor for a total cost of $550.00. An 1898 tax receipt shows an assessed valuation of $660.00 and a total property tax of $7.59.

During the early 1900’s the farm’s main crops were corn, wheat, and oats. Willis Cole raised horses and mules for sale in addition to those needed for his own farm work. He also raised Galloway cattle. In addition to Indian Creek, two smaller creeks run through the property providing stock water. If a creek should run dry, there was a 58-foot well that supplied drinking water for the stock as well as for the household. Water was pumped in succeeding years by windmill, gasoline engine, and electric motor.

The present owner, J. W. Cole, began his farming career prior to his father’s death in 1922. He purchased this farm May 28, 1937, from the estate of his parents. The main cash crop today is soybeans, which Mr. Cole first raised in 1940. He recalls paying 650 per bushel for the first seed. In his farming career of over 50 years he has raised corn, wheat, hogs, and Angus cattle on his 400 acres of land. His lifetime has spanned a period of revolutionary change in farming procedures. When he began farming, machinery was drawn by horses and jobs, such as stacking hay and picking corn, were done by hand in contrast to today’s use of powerful, sophisticated machinery. - J. W. and Grace Cole

Edward Ballenger in 1855 was given by the U. S. Government a land grant of 160 acres in Sec. 17, Twp. 59, Range 23, Cream Ridge Township. He married Elizabeth Louisa May, January 11, 1852. He was the son of Minor W. and Anna Ballenger of South Carolina and later of Boone County, Missouri.

His brother, Jonathan Thomas, was born in Boone County, February 4, 1838, and came to Livingston County with his widowed mother ten years later. He married Martha A. Parks of Boone County, September 21, 1858, and they became farmers on 120 acres of the original 160 acres in Sec. 17, and 20 acres in Sec. 20. They were the parents of eight children. Jonathan and his wife were faithful members of the Union Baptist Church where he also served as deacon, Jonathan died February 2, 1890; his wife died February 28, 1902. Both were buried in May Cemetery.

The youngest child, Jesse born 1877, continued to live on the farm with his mother after the death of his father. September 8, 1897 he married Rosa May Harman, daughter of Peter Harman and Amanda Jane Darr. Rosa taught in rural schools several years. Their only child, Irene, was born September 19, 1900. Jesse lost his mother and young wife on the same day, February 28, 1902. He died May 14, 1903. All were buried in May Cemetery.

Irene grew up in Chula in the home of an aunt, graduating from high school there. She taught school several years, attended college three years in Maryville, Mo., and was graduated from Brown’s Business College in St. Louis. She married William F. Drummond, Greencastle, Mo., at Carrollton, Mo., April 28, 1923. He was a veteran of World War 1, 89th Division, 356 Regiment, serving overseas 11 months. He was a graduate in accounting from St. Louis University. Four children were born to them, William Kenneth, Donald Foster, Ronald Lee, and Dorothy Irene. Mr. Drummond died in Independence, December 8, 1952, and was buried in May Cemetery.

The widow, Irene Ballenger Drummond, present owner of the farm, has lived there since 1955 in the original house built about 100 years ago by her grandfather, Jonathan Ballenger. She now has 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. She is active in the Chula Baptist Church, and has been Tax Collector for Cream Ridge Township 16 years. - Irene Ballenger Drummond

Henry M. Duncan was born in Kentucky, January 13,1809. When he was a small boy he moved to Chariton County, Missouri. Then in 1837 he married Nancy Woods, who was born November 9, 1818, in Missouri, the daughter of Silas Woods. She had a brother named George Woods, who moved to the State of Oregon, and became the third Governor of the State of Oregon, 1866-1870. Henry and Nancy Duncan had 10 children, and moved to Livingston County, Missouri, in about 1853. They lived in a log cabin and homesteaded 80 acres and purchased another 80 acres.

They had four sons: Thomas Adam, born in January, 1853; George, born in February, 1844; Benjamin, born September 19, 1854; and Henry L., who was born in July of 1859 and died in 1861. There were six girls: Josephine, July, 1840; Irene, March, 1842; Nancy, November, 1846; Mary, November, 1849; Margaret, March, 1851; and Cornelia, born April, 1857.

George Duncan was named after his Uncle George Woods (the Governor of Oregon).

Henry M. Duncan died in 1863 of consumption. Nancy kept the farm going with the help of the boys, George had to go to the Civil War and when he got out, he migrated out West. Ben also left. This left the burden on Thomas Adam Duncan I.

Thomas Adam Duncan married Sophia Twombly in 1880. They lived in the same log cabin until 1882. Then they moved into four rooms, and in 1909 four more rooms were added. They had three children: Keturah, born in 18811967; Lulu. born 1889-1971- and Thomas A. Duncan II, born 1891-1966. They lived on this farm with their mother, Nancy, until she died in 1894.

Then he, Thomas A. Duncan II, bought out the heirs in 1895, and lived there until January, 1930. Thomas Duncan II lived on this farm in another house he built in 1924, and his two sisters lived in the same house their mother and dad had lived in. Thomas A. Duncan II married Minnie Ann Woodard, born 1897-1968. They had three children, Neomi, June, and Thomas N. Duncan III.

Thomas A. Duncan II, Lulu, and Keturah received the farm in 1940. They owned it until 196 1, when Thomas N. Duncan III and Edna Duncan, the present owners, took possession. Thomas N. Duncan III married Edna Mae Powell in 1948. She was born south of Marceline, Missouri, in May of 1926, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charley Powell.

Thomas and Edna have three sons, all named after their great uncles and grandad. They are: Thomas N. Duncan IV, born August, 1949; George, born December, 1952; and Ben, born April, 1958. Their children are: Thomas Alva Duncan V, born January 28, 1974; Marti Ann, born January 14, 1975; and Jessee T. Duncan, born July 18, 1973.

The Thomas Duncan family now owns 1700 acres around the Hale community. George Duncan occupies the house that was built in 1882. Neomi Duncan Milberger moved to Kansas City and has three children, Diane, Beverly, and Eddie Carl. Neomi and her husband now own the Milberger Pest Control Company.

June Duncan Johnson lives at Avalon, Missouri, and owns 650 acres of farming land.

The members of the older Duncan family are buried in the Leaton Cemetery on the bank of the Grand River, and the rest of the family are buried in the Cameron Cemetery north of Hale. They attend the East Grace Methodist Church.

The family is known for its Registered Angus business. - Thomas and Edna Duncan

One of the pioneer families of Livingston County was the family of Miles G. Gilbert.

Miles G. Gilbert was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, in 1804. His father, Martin Gilbert, obtained a grant of land there from the United States Government after his service in the Revolutionary War.

In 1832 Miles G. Gilbert went to Logan County, Kentucky, and married Mary Carr. In 1853, with their family of five children, Michael, Miles, James, Wilbur, and Susan, they came to Livingston County, Chillicothe, Missouri. They purchased a farm of 400 acres northeast of Chillicothe. While the timberland was being cleared and a log cabin being built for their home, the family lived in Chillicothe. While in Chillicothe Miles G. Gilbert was one of the trustees of the first Methodist Church built in Chillicothe in 1855 on north Locust Street.

Miles G. Gilbert died in 1858. He left a will and his wife, Mary W. Gilbert, was named executrix. She made a division to her children as directed in the will, giving each money, land, and a Negro slave (valued at $500.00). With the money given to them, Michael M. Gilbert went to school and became a doctor. He practiced in Jackson County and later went to Arizona, near Mesa, where he died in 1915. James L. Gilbert went to school in Lebanon, Tennessee, and studied for the Methodist ministry. Susan married N. M. Smith, a dentist, and lived in St. Louis until her death in 1890.

Miles G. Gilbert and a companion rode horseback to Vernon, Texas, where they homesteaded a large tract of land which was their future home. He came back to Missouri in 1863 and married Lucy Harriett Williams, daughter of George Williams of Sturges, Missouri. He died in 1925.

Wilbur R. Gilbert bought land from other heirs and acquired 240 acres of the original farm. He sold this to W. B. Popham in later years. W. R. Gilbert raised Registered Hereford cattle and farmed. His son, Harry Gilbert, was Recorder of Deeds of Livingston County. After finishing his courses in college, James L. Gilbert married Lyndia Nolan. They went to Vernon, Texas, near his brother, Miles G. Both James L. and Miles served in the Confederate Army under Col. W. M. Bush in 1863. In 1866 James L. Gilbert and family came back to Missouri where he continued his ministry. He died in 1906 and was buried in Ross Cemetery.

Mary W. Gilbert died January 8,1889 and was buried in Edgewood Cemetery. Miles G. Gilbert bought land from the heirs of the original farm and sold a tract of it to Michael S. Gilbert, son of James L. Gilbert, on April 5,1890. After clearing timber from the land a frame house was built by Gilmer Ogan, the new home of the family of Michael S. Gilbert I. After the death of Michael S. Gilbert in 1946 the farm was sold by the heirs of Michael S. Gilbert to Michael S. Gilbert II. The present owner of this land, Michael S. Gilbert, is the fifth generation of Gilberts to own land in Livingston County.

Miles G. Gilbert left a will written in 1857, leaving to his wife, Mary, all property including 440 acres, livestock, cash, bank stock, and slaves (eleven names included in the will), and at her death or remarriage, to the five children. Also there was to be an ample amount left of the money for their educations. - Michael S. Gilbert and Mrs. Grace Martin

James Graham was born on December 11, 1833, in Roscoe, Coshocton County, Ohio. He married Margaret McCoully on November 26, 1857. He enlisted in the Ohio National Guard as an Ohio Volunteer for 100 days. He served from May 14, 1864, to September 13, 1864. Serving as a private under Captain John S. Daugherty, Co. G, Reg. 143; James was discharged at Camp Chase. He received a certificate of thanks and honorable service signed by Abraham Lincoln. These documents are dated December 15, 1864.

Moving to Missouri with his family in 1871, he purchased 80 acres which is located in Sec. 1759-23. This land was bought from the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Co. Later he purchased other land adjacent to the farm and operated a general farm. He died March 29, 1894. His wife, Margaret, was born in 1840 and died in 1914. Both are buried in the May Cemetery.

They were the parents of William O., Alice Leavell, Flora Carry, Emma Bethards, John, Lewis, Samuel F., and Granville Graham.

William O. Graham (1859-1930) later owned the farm. A bridge contractor, he built many bridges in the area. After his death, the farm was owned by his wife, Melda, and children, James, Lula, Butcher, Alice Cox, and Margaret Graham. Since 1947 it has been owned by Gerald C. and Ruth Graham. Granville Graham owned a well-boring rig which was powered by one horse. He drilled many of the wells in this area. James Graham was a cashier in Chula and Chillicothe banks. - Ruth Graham

Samuel A. Gray was a soldier in the Civil War for three years and returned home to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On February 23, 1865, he and Margaret Montgomery were married and left for the prairies of northwest Missouri to buy land and make their home. They came by steamboat from Pittsburgh to Hannibal, and by railroad to Chillicothe. They brought with them a trunk and $1,000.00 which her father had given them. The money was sewed in her dress belt for safe keeping. They had friends from Pennsylvania with whom they stayed until they were settled. They bought 200 acres from the railroad, a mile and a half northeast of Avalon. Their first home was a two-room log cabin. Down

the hill was a spring from which they carried water. The land was mostly timber that had to be cleared before it could be farmed.

Grandfather went by horseback to Chillicothe to get mail, food, and supplies; and went to Utica to the mill for flour. He crossed the river by swimming his horse. Bushwhackers were still around and he was in danger since he was from the northern army.

Here 10 children were born. Two pairs of twin girls died in infancy. Two others died in childhood. Four grew to maturity, Robert, Luella, William, and Harry.

After clearing the timber they planted hedge rows for fences. One row stood for years as a landmark between Grand River and Fairview Townships. In 1869 grandfather helped build the Presbyterian Church; later he was a member and deacon. In 1884 he built a new two-story house near the public road that had been put in. Grandmother’s father from Pennsylvania came here to help them build it. They also built a hen house and two barns across the road.

On February 23, 1915, they celebrated their 0th wedding anniversary. Three of their children were present - Mrs. Luella Canning, William, and Harry Gray, his wife and daughter, Margarite, who was the only grandchild at the time. September 5th, 1919, Samuel A. Gray passed away, followed by Mrs. Gray in July of 1934. They are buried in the Avalon Cemetery.

On September 9, 1924, Harold Beever Gray was born to Harry and Zoa Gray. He was the second grandchild. When he was ten years old they moved over to the old home place. Harold Gray and Ruby Hutchison were married in Chillicothe on July 2, 1944. He was inducted into the army in November of the same year, and was discharged in July of 1946. They are the parents of four children: Harold Samuel, 1945; John Orval, 1947; Donna Kay, 1951; and Ronald D., 1955.

On July 5,1957, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gray celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in the same home that his parents had 42 years earlier. Mr. Gray passed away in 1967 and Mrs. Gray in 1968. Margarite and Harold divided the 200 acres, Harold taking the east 60 acres and the 40 acres on which the old house stands. He raises crops, cattle, and hogs. - Harold and Ruth Gray

During the Revolutionary War three Yeomans brothers came to America as soldiers for the King of England. After the war was over they were given land grants in Canada and settled in Belleville, Ontario.

John Herkimer Yeomans was born in Belleville on July 29, 1827. He was a grandson of one of the three brothers and was named after a British general of the Revolutionary War, General Herkimer. He grew up in Belleville and was a carpenter and farmer. He traveled to Australia for a time. He was married to Miss Phoebe Knight, and while living in Belleville they were the parents of three children: Augusta, born in 1860; Lill, born in 1862; and John Asa, born on July 10, 1864.

In 1865 John Herkimer came to Chillicothe and worked as a carpenter, helping to build the building still standing on the northeast corner of the square, known as the Slater Building. He liked the climate and the town so much that he sent for his family. They moved to Chillicothe in 1866. While living in Chillicothe they had two more children: George, born in 1872; and Mabel, born in 1875.

On July 11, 1876, John purchased an 80-acre farm from R. B. Price, located five miles southeast of Chillicothe, and built a house on the farm to which the family moved in the spring of 1877. The children all attended the rural Oak Grove School, which was one mile north of the farm, and also Sunday School, which was held in the schoolhouse on Sundays. Phoebe Yeomans was a Sunday School teacher.

The eldest child, Augusta, died at the age of 23 of an ailment called quick consumption at that time. Lill married Elisha Israel, a Civil War veteran, and moved away. John A. and some neighbors bought a horse powered threshing machine and did threshing around the neighborhood. They did so well with it that they traded it for a new Nichols and Shepherd steam outfit. Around 1890 John A. bought the 80-acre farm across the road and did carpentry work and raised hogs to pay for it.

John Herkimer suffered a stroke and died on June 3, 1894, at the age of 66. His wife, Phoebe, continued to live on the farm with the children until her death, December 27, 1906. They are both buried in the Edgewood Cemetery in Chillicothe. The farm was inherited by the two sons, John A. and George. Later on John bought George’s 40 acres making him owner of the original 80-acre farm. John met Miss Iva Walton and they were married on April 2, 1896, in Chillicothe at her parents’ home. They built some more rooms on to the back of the house and lived there. They were the parents of two sons, Norman Knight, born on January 18, 1897, and John Walton, born August 22, 1898.

In 1910 John A. was elected Judge of the Eastern District of the County Court and served two terms for a total of four years. During this time the present courthouse was constructed and his name is on the cornerstone. In 1915 the family joined the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church. John A. was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of the World organization and the AntiHorse Thief Association. The present barn was

built in 1909 by Van Fullerton. The first automobile owned by the family was a 1916 Model T Ford. Norman and John W. attended the Oak Grove School and high school in Chillicothe. Norman is a veteran of World War I.

In 1932 John W. married Miss Mary Ballew, the school teacher at the Oak Grove School. They lived with his parents while building a house on the 80-acre farm across the road and moved into it when it was completed. Their children are: John Edward Yeomans, born September 3, 1933; Roy Eugene Yeomans, born February 21, 1935; and Joyce Emma Yeomans, born October 26,1939. They also attended the rural Oak Grove School and high school in Chillicothe.

Norman married Miss Hattie Overstreet from Newtown, Missouri, and for a short time they lived with his mother, then moved to an adjoining farm which they purchased. They are the parents of one son, Dr. Ronald Norman Yeomans, born December 8, 1940. In 1947 they moved to Newtown and Ronald attended elementary school there. They then moved to Fayette, Missouri, in 1955 and he attended high school there and also was graduated from Central Methodist College.

John A. Yeomans died from a stroke on April 21, 1939, and is buried in Edgewood Cemetery. At his death the original 80-acre farm went to his oldest son, Norman, and the 80-acre farm across the road went to his other son, John W. Ivy continued to live on the farm until her death in May of 1973. She is also buried in Edgewood Cemetery. Norman and Hattie moved back to Chillicothe in 1964 and continue to reside there.

John E. Yeomans, the oldest grandchild of John A. Yeomans, was married to Miss Dottie McQueen in 1952. They are the parents of two daughters, Teresa Lynne and Cheryl Diane. They are presently living in Chillicothe where he is employed by Milbank Mills.

Roy E. Yeomans married Barbara Wimer in 1971. They have four children, Polly, Bobby, Mark, and Douglas. They live in Prairie Village, Kansas, where he is employed by the Kansas Highway Department.

Joyce E. married Harry Hayen in 1960. They are the parents of three children, Debra Joyce, Lisa Kaye, and William Harry. They are the present owners and live on the original 80-acre farm, having purchased it from Norman and

Hattie Yeomans in 1973. Harry is engaged in farming.

Ronald N. Yeomans married Miss Helen Neptune in 1963. They are the parents of two children, Elaine and Eric. They are presently living in Phoenix, Arizona, where he is a doctor specializing in the field of gynecology and obstetrics.

First settler - John Herkimer Yeomans

Birthplace - Belleville, Ontario, Canada

Date of birth - July 29, 1827

Moved to Livingston County -1866

Occupation - Carpenter

Married - Phoebe Knight

Died - June 3, 1894

Buried - Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Mo.

Descendants: Augusta - 1860; Lill - 1862; John Asa - 1864; George -1872; Mabel -1875

Purchased farm - July 11, 1876

Second owner - John Asa Yeomans

Birthplace - Belleville, Ontario, Canada

Date of birth - July 10, 1864

Moved to Livingston County - 1866

Occupation - Farmer

Married - Iva Walton

When - April 2, 1896

Died - April 21, 1939

Buried - Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Mo.

Descendants: Norman Knight Yeomans, January 18, 1897; John Walton Yeomans; August 22, 1898

Third owner - Norman K. Yeomans

Birthplace - Chillicothe, Mo.

Date of birth - January 18, 1897

Occupation - Farmer

Married - Hattie Overstreet

When - 1940

Descendant: Ronald Norman Yeomans

Fourth and present owners: Harry and Joyce Hayen

Harry was born May 5, 1937, in Linn County, Mo.

Joyce was born October 26, 1939

Married - in Livingston County, Mo. on April 3, 1960

Descendants: DebraJoyce, July 3, 1961; Lisa Kaye December 17, 1962; William Harry, October 3, 1969

Farm History

Location: Five miles southeast of Chillicothe, Missouri.

Type of land: Prairie

There is an old buffalo wallow on the farm.

The original house was built in 1877 and an addition was built on around 1896.

The original barn was built in 1909 by Van Fullerton and is still standing. - Joyce Hayen

Our (Warner) family originated in Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather, William Warner, was born in Barks County, Pa., July 20, 1807. The great-grandmother, Mary Ann (Stauffer) Warner, was born in the same county on June 30, 1819. They were married in Shelby County, near Flat Rock in Indiana. They were the parents of 13 children. Lewis Warner (who was my grandfather) was their fifth child. He was born March 1, 1846. His wife, Sarah Ackenback, was born October 18, 1847. They were married December 20, 1868. They were the parents of seven children; Melissa, September 21, 1869; Mary Ann, June 1, 1871; Alonzo, May 9, 1873; Martin (my father), February 7, 1876; George William, March 11, 1878; Pearl, December 31, 1880; and Linnie, September 17, 1883. All the children were born on a farm located one mile north of Ludlow, Mo., and 1 ¼ miles west.

Description of the 80 acres: W ½ of SA of Sec. 19, Township 56, Range 25, containing 80 acres, more or less. Lewis Warner bought the land from the railroad May 10, 1871. Sarah died January 12, 1885, at the age of 37. Lewis died November, 1902, somewhere in the West. Martin bought the land from the heirs in 1903. He married Lola Bryan in 1902. They moved to the place and lived there from 1902 to 1926. They had two children: Lewis, born in 1904; and Ethlyn Hill, born in 1921.

In the early years there was an orchard on the farm. A fire started from the railroad and destroyed it. It is creek bottom land and general crops. Quite a number of hogs were raised and these were driven, on foot, to Braymer to be loaded on the train. All the family went to the little country school, the Yahns and the Warner School which still stands. - Ethlyn Warner Hill

Solomon Rice Hooker was born November 20, 1805, in Windham County, Vt., a son of John Hooker of English-Scotch descent, who came to Vermont from Scotland in the early settlement of the state. Solomon Hooker was a cousin of General Joseph Hooker. Lucinda Mariah (Webber) Hooker, second wife of Solomon R. Hooker, was born November 20, 1815, in Worthington, Mass. Mrs. Hooker was a daughter of John and Hannah Webber, whose ancestors came from Holland.

Some years before the Hookers came to Missouri, Mr. Hooker’s sister, Mary, had married Warren Waite, and had moved to Chillicothe, Mo. The Hookers stayed with the Waites while a log cabin was built. Both Hooker and Waite were carpenters. History states these men built the first. frame dwelling in Chillicothe, Mo.

Mr. Hooker purchased 80 acres of land four miles north of the then small town of Chillicothe, Mo.; "W ½ NW Sec. 7, Rich Hill Twp., Nov. 4, 1839" Ch. XXI, p. 1175, History Caldwell and Livingston Counties. On this site a log cabin was built in which the five Hooker children were born. Namely: George Webber, born 1840; Henry, born 1842, died of measles at age five; John Edward, born 1845; Harriet Eliza, born 1846; and Zachary Taylor, born 1849.

In the spring of 1850 the Hookers sold this farm, intending to go to California. Due to a cholera outbreak there, they abandoned the idea and bought a farm four miles farther north, N ½ 19-23-59. Here Mr. Hooker built a large, frame house, later known as "Grassy Creek Inn." Here food and lodging could be had for passengers and drivers of the stage. This stage carried mail between the towns of Trenton and Chillicothe. On August 22,1851, he was appointed Postmaster of Grassy Creek Post Office.

On the night of June 17, 1863, he was shot, and the house was burned, however, he survived the injury. Fearing further retribution, the Hookers, homeless and the father wounded, decided to leave Missouri for the duration of the war. Livingston County was now under martial law and governed by a provost martial who granted Mr. Hooker’s request to leave the state. They went to Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, to stay with the Warren Waites family, who lived there. It was the same Waite family with whom they stayed back in 1839 down in Missouri. Before beginning the exodus to Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Hooker provided for the keep of their 14-year-old son, Zachary Taylor. Their near neighbors and closest friends, Mr. and Mrs. James May, consented to keep Taylor during the spring and summer months until the Hookers returned. Dr. John Marlow and his wife were to keep Taylor the fall and winter months and send him to a near-by "subscription" school.

George, the eldest son, joined the "Confederate" army in 1861, was wounded, and left for Wyoming in 1863. John Edward, second son, too young to join the army, left in 1864 for Montana in search of his brother, and died the same year near Nevada City, Mont. Their daughter, Harriet, accompanied her parents to Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Hooker and their daughter, Harriet, returned to Missouri in either the fall of 1866 or the spring of 1867. George, their oldest son, returned from Wyoming to Missouri some time in 1866. A new house was begun for the Hookers to live in. My father gave the following information concerning the house: "It was the same size, same plan, a replica of the old one, built on the old ‘mudsill’ foundation, but not nearly so nicely finished inside." He also said that it was completed in 1870.

Once again Mr. and Mrs. Hooker were united in their own home with their three children, George, Harriet, and Taylor, who cared for them the rest of their days. Mr. Hooker died February 4,1879, and Mrs. Hooker died February 11, 1882. Both were buried in Macedonia Cemetery, about five miles north of Chillicothe, Mo.

A large Water Oak tree that stood some 20 feet north of the burned house, survived many years after the fire. Its charred trunk bore mute witness of those sorrowful days of the past. "The Postmaster of Grassy Creek," too, had learned to survive a bodily wound and to live several useful years afterwards. After the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Hooker, the two Hooker brothers and their sister remained on the home place until 1887. That year the sister married W. T. Harper, a widower with a small daughter named Lizzie. George and Taylor purchased their sister’s share in the farm, Harriet (Hooker) Harper died May, 1893, and was buried in the Macedonia Cemetery.

Taylor Hooker married Dixie Wallace, October 29, 1890, a daughter of William J. Wallace and his second wife, nee Elizabeth Williams. Mr. Wallace was the first settler in Medicine Township, Livingston County, Mo., spring of 1837, on NW ¼ , Sec. 5, Twp. 59, Rg. 22. "History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties" p. 926. Dixie was a schoolteacher and a missionary to Chile, South America (1884-86). She and Taylor "set up" housekeeping on the home place and made a home for their brother, George, until his death March 20, 1915. Dixie died January 24, 1924. Taylor died February 27, 1929. George, Taylor, and Dixie are buried in the May Cemetery, three miles southwest of Chula, Mo. Our father, Taylor Hooker, left each of his children an equal acreage of the old farms; Hattie (Hooker) Casebeer, George W. Hooker, and myself, Wallace T. Hooker. My wife, Edna Case Hooker, and I have lived on 80 acres N ½ of NE ¼ Sec. 19, Twp. 59, Rg. 23, of the farm since 1922. - Wallace Hooker

Jacob Stover Burner purchased a large tract of land from the United States Government, October 25, 1855, and later sold off parcels to others. He also gave a plot of ground for part of Blue Mound Cemetery. He kept forty (40) acres the NE ¼ of NW ¼ , Sec. 26, Twp. 56, Range 24, which has been handed down and sold to members of the Burner family for one hundred twenty years.

Jacob Stover Burner and wife, Eliza Cave Burner, raised a family of six children: Andrew, who was a lawyer in Carrollton, Mo.;

Mary E. Burner Mead; Susan M. Burner Hooker; John Samuel; Sara C. Burner Goff, and Thomas H., who passed away before 1899. All except Andrew lived and farmed near the Blue Mound area.

Some time later Jacob S. Burner and wife sold 40 acres (the NW ¼ of the NE ¼, Sec. 26, Twp. 36, Rng. 24) to Henry Bean and wife. Then on August 23, 1879, John Samuel Burner, son of Jacob Stover, bought this 40 acres back from Henry Bean, which makes this 40 acres 97 years in the family.

John Samuel Burner married Laura Isabella Haynes and farmed in this vicinity his entire life, having been given 40 acres, in Sec. 26, Twp. 56, Rng. 24, this NE ¼ of NW ¼ , as a wedding present by his parents, Jacob Stover and Eliza Cave Burner.

The family of John Samuel and Laura Haynes Burner consisted of 11 children: Laurenia, who married a Doctor Wooden; John Jacob, who married Ollie Holmes; Maud Estella married Herb Elsas; Virgil A., who never married; Sarah Ellen, who passed away at the age of twenty-two; Grover Cleveland married Christina Newton; Charlie Allen died at age twelve; Minnie married Roy Wooden; Franklin Ashford married Frankie Mathews; Viola May (Ola) married Thomas Hooten; and Laura Ann (Lena) married Roy Siders. All made their homes in Livingston County.

In August of 1927, Thomas Hooten and wife, 01a Burner Hooten, bought these two 40-acre sites, located in Blue Mound Township (the NE¼ of the NW¼ and the NW¼ of the NE1/4, Sec. 26, Twp. 56, Rng. 24), from her father John Samuel Burner, and have made it their home. Thomas passed away in 1946. They had three children: Marion, who is living with his mother on the farm; Martha, who married Fred Telaneus and lived near Chillicothe, but since his death has made her home in Hannibal, Mo.; and Merle, who passed away February, 1967. - Ola Burner Hooten

This acreage is part of the land purchased by John Rockhold from the U. S. Government, May 1, 1843. He was a very early settler in Livingston County, having purchased other land in 1835. The Rockholds were originally of German origin. He is the great-great-grandfather of the present owners.

Warren T. Hudgins, grandfather of the present owners, married Nannie May Rockhold. His father was John Hudgins, born in Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky in 1826. He came to Livingston County with his parents in 1842. He served in the Mexican War and in 1849 went to California. In 1853 he married Susan Stamper and they were the parents of twelve children. He was a member of the Mooresville Christian Church and a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at Breckenridge. He died suddenly November 25, 1910, and was buried in the Mooresville Christian Church Cemetery.

The following was printed in the Breckenridge newspaper at the time of his death:

"It is to the sturdy pioneers, of John Hudgins type, that the younger generation of today, owe the blessings of a great commonwealth like Missouri the. He and others of his kind, subdued the wilderness, and laid the foundation of what may now be termed, an Eden, for man’s habitation.

"John Hudgins came with his parents to Livingston County) when it and the counties adjoining it, were one vast wilderness. The family came from Kentucky, where they had been neighbors of that old scout and hunter, Daniel Boone. Indians were still to be found in this section of the country, when the Hudgins family arrived and white settlers were scarce. Game of all kinds was very plentiful. Hunting and trapping formed the chief occupations.

"In 1846 Mr. Hudgins enlisted and went to the Mexican War with his cousin, Warren Hudgins, and J. F. Meek, George W. Cranmer, and William Marlow, all of Livingston County. He was the proud possessor of a number of beautiful medals, that he had received at the different reunions of the Mexican War Veterans. He delighted in showing these to his friends, they were to the old veteran as, the trophies of the hunt.’

"He ever delighted to tell of his crossing the plains, in 1849, to the gold fields of California. He went the southern route along the Yuma River. Few men who went this route ever lived to return to their home and tell of their adventures. Nothing gave the venerable man more pleasure than to tell of this hazardous venture.

"In the early fifties he carried the mail from Brunswick to Gallatin, Mo., making one trip each way in a week. To the lonely housewives, along his route, there was no more welcome visitor than John Hudgins, for he brought to them the news from the outside world, and often a letter from the folks at home, ‘way back east.’ During the Civil War, he performed a like service for the government in carrying the mail from Breckenridge to Liberty, Mo. He had many thrilling adventures on this route, often being in danger of his life.

"After the Civil War he settled on his farm near Mooresville. Here he reared his family and followed the peaceful and happy life of the Missouri farmer. After the death of his wife he continued to reside here, with his daughter Miss Erin, as his homekeeper."

CALIFORNIA IN 1849

On the 6th day of May, 1849, 1, John Hudgins, Mooresville, Livingston County, Mo., drove out of my father’s yard with eight yoke of oxen hitched to a large Kentucky Turnpike wagon loaded with about 6000 pounds of provisions, mostly flour, bacon, sugar, coffee, with 10 gallons of alcohol and 1 gallon of cholera medicine. I owned three-quarters of the outfit, and Warren M. Hudgins, a cousin, owned one-fourth. My two brothers, James and Humphrey, aged respectively 17 and 15, accompanied us.

The first day out we joined six other wagons belonging to the following parties from this county: Stone Brothers and McCrosky, two; Lawson, one; Patrick, one; Gobin and Shafer, one; and Woolfcale, one.

We expected to go the South Pass route, and intended to cross the Missouri River at St. Joseph. The spring was cold and wet which made the grass late and traveling slow. On the I Ith we were in the west part of Clinton County. We sent a man ahead to see about crossing the river. He reported that the ferry was two weeks behind, and the people there were dying with the cholera like hogs. We heard that there was a small boat at Westport Landing, or Kansas City, as it is now called.

We turned south through Smithville and Barry, drove up the bottom to the ferry, and crossed ourselves, with the negro boss who had charge of the boat, which was a small one and would only take one wagon and one yoke of oxen at a load. It took two trips for each outfit. We cordelled the boat up against the current each trip on the south side about one-fourth mile so as to make up for what she drifted down each trip.

There was a ledge of rock five or six feet above the water on the south or Jackson County side. Along the edge of the water was a lot of clothing that had been thrown away, the cholera having run out or killed all but three persons that we saw, one merchant, one blacksmith, and the Negro ferryman. We got everything safe across and got out past Westport (Kansas City).

Next morning, the 13th, Uncle Antony (Patrick’s servant), took cholera. We gave all the medicine and nursing that we could, but we were camped out on the prairie out of sight of timber. John Stone and I rode some five or six miles and found some dead willows which the prairie fires had killed. We cut a large bundle each and carried them to the camp to build a fire for the sick man, but it did no good. He died in the tent with mud and water all around. The oxen chained to the wagon, were up to their knees in mud. We laid by two days. Antony died in the night, and as soon as it was light, we yoked up the oxen and started the wagons, and left a detail of four men to bury the dead, myself one of them.

We had spades but no picks. The ground was so soft that we did not think that we would need them. When we got down about two feet we came to hard pan that we could not dig with the spade, so we hollowed and fitted it as well as we could, rolled him in his blankets and covered him up. Then we cut sods and raised a mound four feet high over him. His master and comrade from childhood had gone on with the wagons and I never saw more sincere grief. They had been more than brothers from early childhood.

Next day we camped at Big John Spring, still cloudy and raining showers, four cases of cholera but we cured them with frequent doses of medicine. Here a train overtook us with the horse, saddle, and saddle bags of Reuben McCroskie who had started to overtake his wagon horses. ‘Back three days after we left home, our change in our route had put him one day more behind. He left an old acquaintance’s camp after eating a hearty breakfast, and was found before noon dead beside the road. S. Stone, his partner, sold his horse to Patrick and that night she was stolen by the Kaw Indians. I found their trail and wanted to follow to their village, take the best horse that we could find, and keep it until they brought the stolen horse back. Patrick was afraid we would get into trouble with the Indian agents at Council Grove.

The weather cleared and we pushed on to Diamond Spring. The wagons, teaming us until we thought we were strong enough for the Camanchees. Thirty-eight wagons, and about 150 men and boys, one woman and three children, were organized by their electing Captain Gully, Captain J. Patrick, Lenten, and three Sargents, divided the men into three guards. Each came on duty once every three days. They had charge of the cattle and camp guard. The night watch was divided into three reliefs of two hours and a half. The duty of the Sargents was hard. He had to stay up until he put the third relief on post. We had a written contract which all signed binding every man to obey orders or be expelled from the train. There was in the train some 10 or 15 men, who had served in Mexico in the First and Second Missouri Cavalry, and some of us had crossed the plains twice before and were pretty well acquainted with the wiles of the Indians.

At Big Cow Creek we saw the first buffalo sign and a few old bulls, but did not hunt any until we got to the big bend of the Arkansas. G. Stone and I killed two fat cows and nearly every man that had a horse chased and shot at buffalo. As we were returning to the road that evening loaded with fat cow meat, some half dozen men that had come to us when we were butchering the cows that we had killed, had all the meat that they could pack on their horses. A bunch of two hundred or more buffalo calves that had been left behind in the mad chase of the herd ran close to us, and every man except G. Stone and I fired into them. None fell, but some must have died from wounds. This wanton destruction seems to be the native instinct of the western pioneer.

We crossed the Arkansas at