Low-Budget Museum of the Midwest | Houck's History of Missouri

The Cape Girardeau District during the period of the Spanish government was bounded on the north by Apple creek; and on the south until 1802 the Tywappity Bottom was vaguely considered the boundary between this district and the New Madrid District.[1] To settle the southern boundary definitely, Casa Calvo in that year made an order fixing the limits of the District on the south five leagues below the post and running thence west, and Don Antonio Soulard, the Surveyor of Upper Louisiana, was directed to make a survey of the line. This boundary line ran east and west four or five miles south of the present town of Commerce, Scott county.[2] The western boundary of the district was also uncertain and this led to a controversy between Lorimier and Peyroux, the latter objecting to grants made by the former west of his post on the St. Francois, claiming that all this river was within the New Madrid District, also charging that Lorimier made unauthorized grants of land of a league square in that locality. To this DeLassus replied that Lorimier had no right to make grants of land of a league square to any one, but that the St. Francois river could not be located in any one district on account of the course of its branches which extended as far as the neighborhood of New Bourbon.[3] Subsequently DeLassus ordered Peyroux not to interfere with Lorimier's German grantees on the forks of the St. Francois west of Cape Girardeau. The New Madrid District seems to have been bounded on the southwest by White river, but since the right to trade with the Indians was granted to Lorimier, and he was made Spanish agent for the Indians as far as the Arkansas river, it is also probable that his jurisdiction as Cape Girardeau Commandant was recognized as far south as that river. According to Stoddard the jurisdiction of the Commandant of the post of Cape Girardeau extended "without any definite boundary to the westward."

Before a settlement was established on the Mississippi within the Iimits of the present county of Cape Girardeau, this stretch of the river was designated on the old maps as "Cap Girardot," and so known to the voyaguers passing up and down the river. On the map of Lieutenant Ross, published in 1765, we find the bend of the river above the site of the present city named "Cape Girardot," and yet no settlement existed at that time in this region. How this locality received the name of "Cape Girardot" cannot now be definitely known. It is conjectured by Mason[4] that the name is derived from that of an ensign of the French troops named "Girardot," who as as early as 1704 was stationed at Kaskaskia. The supposition is that a person named "Girardot" removed from Kaskaskia to the west side of the river and took up his residence in the charming woodlands extending to the water's edge on the promontory above the present town, trading and trafficking there with the Indians, and that thus the name was bestowed on this river promontory by the early voyageurs. No authentic information is now available as to this point. The church records of Ste. Genevieve give the name of one "Girardot" as an ancient inhabitant of the country, residing in 1765 at Fort de Chartres.[5] It should also be observed that the name is spelled on the ancient maps "Girardot" and "Girardeau," and also "Girardo." Perrin du Lac in 1802 spells the name "Girardot. " In 1797 the settlement which had grown up around Lorimier's residence was also referred to as "Lorimont" by some of the petitioners for land,[6] but this name did not supersede the traditional name.

Evidently the beauty of this location and landscape attracted early attention; In 1788 when Colonel George Morgan with his party of adventurers traveled through this territory, many persons urged him to establish the capital of his supposed principality on the western shore of the Mississippi about twelve leagues above the mouth of the Ohio, as near as can now be ascertained, at the present site of Cape Girardeau. Hills gradually sloping upward from the river bank to undulating high lands, extending for many miles northward, made this place a natural trading station. From this point the St. Francois basin stretches south 300 miles along the Mississippi river, and west 60 miles to the St. Francois and Black rivers. Isolated hills rising like islands in a sea, the remnants of a once continuous chain of highlands, which by the constant erosions of centuries had been washed away, leaving only these detached hills as evidence of its former existence, arise here and there in this alluvial district, and arrest the attention of the careful observer. Through this basin also run, generally north and south, numerous low, black and sandy alluvial ridges of marvelous fertility. Where the last outrunners of the Ozarks gently slope in a southeastern direction to the river and the low lands of the St. Francois basin, a region, at the time of which we speak, full of game and fur-bearing animals of every variety, Louis Lorimier established his trading post in 1793. The uplands extending north and northwest from his settlement were then covered with a growth of towering oaks. Here only on the west side of the Mississippi in an isolated belt extending about twenty-five miles from his trading post, and sweeping in a southwest circle to the St. Francois and Black rivers the leridendron tulifera - the tulip tree - the magnolia of the north - grew to immense proportions, - from five to eight feet in diameter, and one hundred feet to the first limb. Beneath these forest giants grew the ash, the hickory, the hackberry, the elm, the sassafras, the mulberry, the pawpaw, the hazel, and the beech on the edge of the low lands spread its wide extending branches over the fertile soil. Blue-grass was the natural growth of the country. The creek bottoms were lined with cane. Numerous springs broke from the hill-side and meandered their way through the woods to these creeks running the whole year through with clear and cold water.

In this favored spot Louis Lorimier established himself in 1793 under authority of Baron de Carondelet, as follows:

Under this broad and extensive grant Lorimier exercised control over these Indians in the territory between the Missouri and Arkansas until the change of government.

These Shawnees and Delawares first began to migrate in considerable numbers, to the west side of the Mississippi in about 1788 [8] and principally it is thought through Lorimier's efforts were induced to leave the United States. He was connected by marriage with the Shawnees, his first wife, Charlotte Pemanpieh Bougainville, being a half-blood Shawnee.[9] This marital relation gave him great influence with these Indians, and those allied with them. He understood their customs, knew their prejudices, was a perfect master of their language and possessed their unbounded confidence. One Lorimier, likely the ancestor of this Louis Lorimier, under the celebrated St. Luc de la Corne, General of the Indians, had command of the Shawnee and Delaware contingent at the siege and capitulation of Fort William Henry.

Lorimier was born in 1748 at Lachiene on the Island of Montreal. A Lorimier family resided there at an early period in the history of the colony. These Lorimiers were undoubtedly descendants of Captain Guillaume de Lorimier, a son of Guillaume and Jeanne Guibault de Lorimier, natives of Paris, and who came to Canada in 1695.[10] Louis Lorimier and his father before him traded with the Indians at the Portage of the Miami and Maumee rivers at a place called Pickawillany, in 1769. In the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, the exact place where Lorimier's store stood is described as follows. "thence westerly to a fork of the branch of the Great Miami river running into the Ohio at or near which fork stood Laramie's store, and where commences the portage between the Miamis and the Ohio and the St. Mary's river which is a branch of the Miami which runs into Lake Erie."[11] The name is often spelled "Laramie", because "Lorimier" is thus pronounced by the French. The Lorimier trading place in Ohio in 1782 was known as "Laramie's Station," and also as "The Frenchman's store." During the Revolution Lorimier was a violent Tory. His place was the center of Indian and British intrigues, and many Indian foraging expeditions were equipped there. On one occasion, in 1778 accompanied by forty Shawnees then living on the Miami, and hence misnamed Miamis, Lorimier and D'Aubin made a raid into Kentucky, attacked Boonesborough and captured Boone and took him to Chillicothe, the principal Shawnee village on the Little Miami. "Laramie's Station" was known on both continents. General Clark and his Kentuckians, in 1782, surprised, captured and plundered the store and Lorimier barely escaped with his life. He never re-established himself in Ohio. For a time seems to have lived at Vincennes -- and from there removed west of the Mississippi. General Wayne afterward in 1798, built a fort on the main fork of Auglaize at a carrying place which was known as "Laramies Encampment," likely at the place where he had his store before driven away.

A letter on file in Ste. Genevieve in a suit instituted against Lorimier there, by the Miami Company, in 1787, makes it clear that the Lorimier of "Laramie's Station" is the veritable Louis Lorimier who established the Spanish post of Cape Girardeau. This Miami Company was a fur trading concern with considerable capital. George Sharp and Thomas Sheperd managed its affairs at Post St. Vincent, by which name Vincennes was then known. Both these worthies have long since faded into perfect oblivion. A letter, however, gives us a glimpse of long forgotten matters,- the reasons that seemed "pretty good" to Mr. Sharp why Lorimier left the country, why they advanced him "a few things" and also definitely advises us that Lorimier went to the country of "the Spaniards" with the Shawnees and Delawares. Hugh Heward, too, who had his habitation at the "Mouth Illinois," and evidently a man in authority in the Miami Company, has vanished completely, even as the Miami Company. But here is the letter:

In 1787 Lorimier resided in the Ste. Genevieve district, engaged in the Indian trade apparently in partnership with Peyroux and Menard. He then lived on the Saline about five or six miles from the present town of St. Mary's, not far from what is now New Bremen, probably at or near a place still called the Big Shawnee spring. After settling with the Miami company, under authority of Baron Carondelet already mentioned, he removed to where the city of Cape Girardeau now stands, and became founder and commander of the post. As showing the extent of his business, and former trade relations at Vincennes it is worth mentioning, that while living on the Saline, in July 1791, he made a note for 2062 livres, payable "in shaved deer skins" to adjust a debt due Francois Vigo and Antoine Gamelin both then residents of Vincennes, and that this note was duly recorded in New Madrid, being witnessed by Louis Largeau. This note was also given probably in settlement of an old account.

In 1792 the threatened invasion of Louisiana by French-American filibusters greatly excited the Spanish authorities. Much reliance was placed, to secure correct information, upon the Shawnee and Delaware Indians, and which were under the control of Lorimier, and consequently his services were in great demand. But in his trading operations, he had come into conflict with the Spanish commandant Portelle, of New Madrid, consequently some friction existed between them, and he was induced with some difficulty, fearing arrest, to visit Portelle at New Madrid, then supposed to be greatly in danger of attack. Being assured as to this matter, he visited New Madrid, and on the suggestion of Portelle, he then employed Louis Francois Largeau as his secretary and he kept a daily journal of his operations during that exciting period. Largeau had been secretary of Portelle before that time, and it is not at all unlikely that he was sent as secretary with Lorimier to observe his conduct, and that thus the Lorimier Journal originated. This journal, however, found preserved in the Spanish archives, gives a vivid picture of the daily occurrences during 1793-4, near the mouth of the Ohio. Lorimier's servlces during this period led to the establishment of Cape Girardeau as an independent post in May, 1793.

In 1796 Gen. Collot was at Cape Girardeau, and, in his opinion, it was the most favorable location for a military establishment above the Ohio, dominating the mouth of that river and protecting upper Louisiana from an hostile attack, and he says, that the importance of this location did not escape the attention of "M. Laurimier, Francais, au service d'Espagne, dont les talens militaires et la grande influence indiennes sont tres-utiles a cette puissance," and that the Shawnees and Loups were under his control and command. He thought a naval station ought to be establisbed at this point.[13] When Lorimier received his concession from Carondelet to establish himself, and Indians, and trade from the Mississippi to the Arkansas rivers, Lieutenant Governor Trudeau wrote him as follows.

After the threatened invasion had collapsed, principally through the energetic action of the new Federal Government, Lorimier seems to have been much employed by the Spanish officials. In 1796 he traveled through the wilderness of Indiana and Ohio as Spanish agent to induce the subdued and dejected Indians to emigrate to upper Louisiana. That, as an emissary he visited the various Indian tribes on such a mission, appears from a letter of Winthrop Sargent, addressed to Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State, in which this scheme of the Spanish authorities to induce the Indians to emigrate into upper Louisiana is set forth. He says that "for this purpose Mr. Lorromie (Lorimier), an officer in the pay of the crown, made a tour over all the country last fall (1796), since which time several Indians have been seen on the same errand, and generally furnished with plenty of cash to defray their expenses. A large party of Delawares passed down White Water, about the fith of May, on their way to the Spanish side, bearing the national flag of Spain, some of them from St. Louis. They have, above the mouth of the Ohio on the Mississippi, several row galleys with cannons."[15]

No doubt Lorimier, after he settled in upper Louisiana, with his Shawnee and Delaware "savages", proved to be a very active and valuable man to the Spanish authorities, in inducing these Indians and others to take up their residence in the colony. When he crossed the Mississippi and settled in upper Louisiana he became a Spanish subject by taking the oath of allegiance. Nor is there any reason to suppose that he was very friendly disposed to the United States. He, as well as the Shawnee and Delaware Indians who came with him, had suffered great loss and defeat in the Northwest territory. His store had been sacked and plundered, and station burned. The villages and corn-fields of these Indians had been destroyed and set on fire. Of these Indian corn-fields, General Wayne said in 1794, "the very extensive and highly cultivated fields and gardens show the work of many hands. The margin of these beautiful rivers, the Miamies of the lakes (Maumee) and Auglaise, appear like one continued village for a number of miles, both above and below the place; nor have I ever bebeld such fields of corn in any part of America from Canada to Florida." And it was from this country, so well cultivated and advanced, so rich and fertile, that many of these Indians and Lorimier had been expelled a few years before, and from which the remainder were virtually expelled by the Americans after Wayne's campaign.

In 1795 through Juan Barno y Ferrusola, as his agent or attorney, Lorimier first petitioned Governor-General Carondelet for a grant of Iand where Cape Girardeau is now situated. This petition was indorsed with a favorable recommendation of Don Thomas Portelle, Commandant of New Madrid, and dated September 1st, 1795. Carondelet, on October 26th, 1795, made the land grant as requested and instructed Soulard to "put the interested party in possession of fourty arpens in front by eighty in depth, in the place mentioned in the foregoing memorial," on the express condition, however, that the concession should be null and void if within the precise time of three years the land "is not settled."[17] On October 27th, 1797, Soulard certifes, that he has placed Lorimier in possession, and that his grant is located at "the same place as the village of Cape Girardeau," and also states, that he delivered him a "figurative plat on which was noted the dimensions and natural and artificial boundaries of said land." In addition to this grant on October 26th, 1795, Carondelet granted Lorimier other land on condition that within one year he "make a road and regular improvements."[18] It should be noted that this concession of land was made to Lorimier several years after the exclusive trade privilege with the Shawnees and Delawares between the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers had been granted him. His grants aggregated about 8,000 arpens, and since, for some time prior to the concession, Lorimier had established himself on this land, the conditions imposed by Carondelet were certainly not onerous. In 1799, Lorimier, according to Leduc, had in course of erection a large building as a residence on his land. This building, known as the "Red House," was located on the lot at present occupied by the St. Vincent Catholic church. Says Collot "une tres-belle ferme, ou il fait sa residence." At that time a large level space intervened between this house and the river, now called "Aquamsi Front." Not far from his house was the big spring, on the corner of Williams and Fountain streets, and from there a spring branch then ran in a northeastward direction to the river. The sloping hillsides around the spring were covered with a fine growth of timber, and here Lorimier's Indian relatives and friends often encamped when they visited him, or were called to his post on business or to receive presents. An Indian village was located near the present Fair grounds, not far from the road which now leads to Jackson. The land grants made to Lorimier by Carondelet undoubtedly were connected with his journey into the Indiana and Ohio wilderness in 1796, to induce the Shawnee and Delaware Indians to cross the river and settle among the Spaniards.[19]

In 1798 Gabriel Cerr� made a claim to the land inhabited and cultivated by Lorimier, and a controversy arose between them about the matter. Lorimier appealed to the Governor General, Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, who decided the case in his favor, but ordered land to be given to Cerr� elsewhere to the same amount, saying Lorimier had rendered services which entitled him to the land. He remained undisturbed on his grant thereafter, maintaining order in his settlement, and among the Indians, and enjoyed the confidence of the Spanish authorities at New Orleans. Incidentally we learn that during this perlod, General Ben Logan, of Kentucky, returning from New Orleans by land, visited Lorimier at Cape Girardeau in order to Secure a negro woman whom the Shawnee Indians had captured from him on one of their raids into Kentucky, and who was in the hands of Lorimier. He did not find him at home at this time, but made another trip afterward for the same purpose and says he found him in bad health, that he then told him that this woman was his only help, and so Logan took a few ponies in settlement of his claim.[20]

After the death of his first wife[21] in March 23, 1808, Lorimier married Marie Gerthiaume, daughter of Francois Berthiaume," a gun-smith for the Shawnees who at the time resided about five miles above the mouth of Apple creek, and not far from the Shawnee villages and where afterward was established Ingram's mill. The Wife of Gerthiaume was also either a half or whole-blood Shawnee woman. Menard says that Lorimier's second wife was "a natural daughter of Beauvais St. Gem, who commanded the Shawnees on Grant's Hill" when General Braddock was killed. He claims that this Beauvais was a brother of his great grandfather, who was also present at that rout, but says that his grandfather Pierre Menard was not present, as Governor Reynolds would have it.

Lorimier was commander of the post when the first settlers from the United States crossed the river and settled in the immediate vicinity of Cape Girardeau, in 1795. He was engaged in the Indian trade up to the time of his death in 1812, and then had on hand a large stock of goods. His purchases for the trade he made from Bryan and Morrison, of Kaskaskia. He built the first water-mill which was known as the "lower mill," in the district on Cape LaCruz, about where the bridge of the Scott County road south of Cape Girardeau is now located. Afterward he built another mill on Hubble creek, the stone work being done by the Butchers and Bloom, of Ste. Genevieve. Isaac Ogden was the mill-wright. The mill-stones for these mills were brought from the Ohio. Abner Hathaway was the miller for both mills. All the horses and ponies ranging in the woods were claimed by Lorimier, and after his death, his claim to the same was assigned to John Logan[23] who had married his widow.

Bartholemi Cousin, acted as secretary for Lorimier, and was deputy surveyor of the district, and intepreter. He was a man of education, of linguistic attainments, master of the German, French and Spanish languages and many Indian tongues, and, says Menard, "a man of great talents" who had "rendered important services to the Government" and accordingly was "held in great consideration." Nearly all the immigrants who came from the east side of the river to Cape Girardeau district applied to him to write their petitions for permission to settle and requetes for land. He seems to have greatly favored this American emigration. Lorimier too no doubt appreciated the increased value of his great landed concession and the importance his post must attain by a large population. Lorimier himself was not an educated man, he could not read, but could write his name. He was a man of keen intellect and great executive ability. He did nothing without thoroughly understanding the subject, never signed a document without having it fully exlained. That he knew how to promote the public welfare is evidenced by the fact that in ten years, from 1793 to 1803, he made the Cape Girardeau district the richest and most prosperous community of upper Louisiana, not excepting St. Louis. Stoddard, speaking of the various settlements of upper Louisiana, says of the Cape Girardeau district, "Certain it is, that the richest and most industrious farmers in this part of the world are proprietors of the lands in this district, not more than four French men living in it, and the rest being English-Americans." [24] DeLassus, in a letter dated January 13, 1803, to Don Manuel de Salcedo says that he "must further recommend him (Lorimier) as a man of the highest utility for any military service, especially in what concerns the Indians," and suggested that he be promoted to some military post with pay. Salcedo said of him, "The merit of Don Louis Lorimier is of the most distinguished character, and is worthy of the greatest notice of the Government, which at all times has shown it to him, soliciting for him the favor of the sovereign in order to obtain the grade of Captain which your lordship asks in his favor."

Cape Girardeau was not regularly laid out as a village or town by Lorimier while he was Spanish commandant of the post. The fact that he claimed all the land upon which the village of Cape Girardeau was located, as well as all the land in the immediate vicinity, and that after the cession this great claim was rejected by the Commissioners, was ruinous to Cape Girardeau at a critical time in the history of the place. Yet even with this draw-back, the population of Cape Girardeau county in 1820 was 7,800, and of St. Louis county 8,200; the greatest part of the population in St. Louis county residing the town, and the population of Cape Girardeau residing on farms.

Cousin, the most conspicuous resident of the post, resided not far from Lorimier near the corner of the present Main and Themis streets, in a small log house. The road along the river was then called "Rue de Charette." Above Cousin's residence in 1799 there were located near the river, according to tradition, the trading houses of Steinback and Reinecke, Michael Quinn and perhaps others, all American traders doing business here. Solomon Thorn, a gun-smith, also resided in the village. Thorn, who came to Illinois with the George Rogers Clark regiment, was a soldier in Capt. Dillard's company. After the conquest he lived at Vincennes, then resided at Kaskaskia, and thence moved across the river to the Spanish country. He bought the lot he lived on from Samuel Bradley, who seems to have resided at the post for a time. This Solomon Thorn was a brother of Daniel Thorn, who appeared in many cases as a witness before the Board of Land Commissioners for the district of Kaskaskia, and made a bad record. Solomon although not as greatly discredited as Daniel, also left a doubtful record there.[25] After he settled in the Spanish country he was employed by Lorimier to work for the Indians living on Apple creek in 1798 and 1799, and in different parts of the district, repairing guns, and in other public service, and received a land donation from him. He never lived long in one place. At one time he owned Cypress Island, situated opposite Cape Girardeau; but sold his interest there in 1824. Where he finally died is not known. One John Risher was the blacksmith of the place, and received as a present, or purchased from Lorimier the piece of ground upon which St. Vincent's college is now located, and where after the cession he laid out a town and named it "Decatur." Other blacksmiths were John Patterson and Charles Seavers, who both lived at this post in 1802. David Wade was the carpenter, and also sold lumber -- of course, hand-sawed.

The small water-mill on Cape La Cruz, originally built by Lorimier was afterward operated by Steinback who married Lorimier's daughter Agatha, in 1808. Another small water-mill, belonging to Rodney, was in operation on Hubble creek near the present village of Dutchtown. Farther up Hubble creek Ithamar Hubbell ran a mill, and in Byrd's creek the Byrds also had a mill. The largest mill of the district was situated on White Water and belonged to George Frederick Bollinger. This mill was celebrated far and wide, and is operated as a water-mill to this day. Pioneer settlers on the St. Francois, Black and even White rivers, 75 or 100 miles away, came to this mill to have corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. The mill-dam was at first built out of logs, but Bollinger in after years erected a stone mill-dam.

No regular Catholic church was erected at Cape Girardeau during Spanish rule, and no church of any other denomination was permitted. Tradition says that a small Catholic chapel existed near what is now the corner of Lorimier and Independence streets. Rev. James Maxwell, Vicar General of upper Louisiana, certainly occasionally held service at the post. Likely after the cession the chapel fell into decay and ruin. The lot on which it stood was subsequently acquired by James McFerron.

The American emigrants settled in this district, early established schools, and the names of several of the early school-teachers have been preserved. Thus it is known that William Russell and Dennis Sullivan, (otherwise also a blacksmith) taught school in the Byrd settlement and that Frederick Limbaugh (Limbach) was a German teacher in the German settlement. The teacher at Mt. Tabor school in the Ramsay settlement is not now known, although it is a well established fact that at Mt. Tabor was established the first English school west of the Mississippi river. It is supposed that McFerron was the teacher there.

The Cape Girardeau district was almost exclusively settled by Americans. Only four French names are found among the Spanish grantees of this district, Godair, Largeau, Mariot and Berthiaume, and even these it seems did not live long, if at all, in the district. The first American settlement in the Cape Girardeau district was formed just outside of Lorimier's grant, three miles southwest of the post of Cape Girardeau, and the first settler here was Andrew Ramsay, who opened his planeation in 1795. For subsequent American emigrants his plantation became for several years an objective point. From his place all the new immigrants wbo came to Spanish country to settle were directed to desirable locations, accompanied often by Ramsay personally, who, of course, was deeply interested in securing American neighbors. Many of these settlers established their homes not far from where he had located. Ramsay came to the Spanish country from the neighborhood of Hager's Ferry, at mature age, accompanied by a large and well grown-up family, It is said that he was among the Virginia troops at Braddock's defeat. It is certain that his brother, John Ramsay, who subsequently settled in what is now Scott county, was in a Virginia regiment, After Ramsay had established himself near the post of Cape Girardeaul he was followed by several of his family connections.[26] Thus it was that Alexander Giboney Nicholas Seavers (Saviour,) Jeremiah Simpson, and Dr. Belemus Hayden, with their families and servants, and his sons-in-law, William Dougherty and Samuel Tipton came to this district. All these settled in his immediate neighborhood on the waters of Ramsay and Giboney creeks, except William Dougherty who established his plantation on Hubble creek near the present city of Jackson. Ramsay was a man of some property, a slave owner and exercised a decided influence in the settlement during the Spanish government, as well as after the cession of the country to the United States. In 1804 he was one of the largest land owners of the district. He removed to White river near where the city of Batesville, Arkansas, is now situated, in about 1815, and died there. In 1802 De Lassus was greatly impressed with the Cape Girardeau company of Americans which met him on his march to New Madrid about five miles north of Lorimier's post, and in his report says, "I must remark that this company is composed of the best young fellows one can see," all well mounted and armed; and Lorimier, he says, "took the precaution to make them a standard bearing the arms of the King." There being then no fort or village in the Cape Girardeau district, the Cape Girardeau company took the militiamen who came with DeLassus to their homes scattered throughout the country. DeLassus, Vall�, and the guard with the standard were entertained at the home of Lorimier, who, DeLassus reports, treated them "with the greatest generosity." We can well imagine how the enterprise and independence of this new American element in the Spanish dominions must have impressed DeLassus.

The Byrd settlement was located on the waters of Byrd's creek and tributaries, about sixteen miles northwest from the post of Cape Girardeau. Amos Byrd, senior, the founder of the settlement, was born in North Carolina, or rather in the disputed territory between North Carolina and Virginia, in 1737.[27] He was reared in the Watauga Valley; afterwards he removed to the Holston river southwest of Knoxville, where he located Byrd's "Station" or "Fort." In 1783 when Green county was organized he was a member of the first County Court, In 1799 accompanied by his family and connections he removed to the Spanish country and became the pioneer settler on the creek that bears his name. The liberal land policy of the Spanish no doubt induced him and his family to emigrate. The entire Byrd family and connections who thus emigrated, settled on Byrd, Little Byrd and Cane creeks. The waters of these creeks flow over gravelly beds and lime-stone rocks in a southwest direction to White Water, through a gently undulating country, covered at the time of this settlement with native blue-grass. The sloping hills and creek valleys resembled an open park in which grew every variety of oak, elm, hickory and the majestic poplar (tulip tree). Byrd "Fort" in Tennessee, was not far removed from Gillespie "Fort," and thus it came that three of his sons, married daughters of the Gillespie family. With Amos Byrd[28] came his sons, Abraham, John, Stephen, Amos, junior, and Moses, and his daughters Polly, married to William Russell, Clarissa, who afterward married James Russell, and Sallie, who married George Hayes. In this Byrd settlement John Byrd built the first mill and distillery on Byrd creek, and also established a blacksmith shop. He died in 1816. Abraham and Stephen Byrd both became conspicuous members of this new settlement after the cession of Louisiana, as we shall note hereafter. William Russell was a native of Scotland, he first settled in Virginia and afterwards removed to East Tennessee, where he married Polly Byrd.

In 1797 Ithamar Hubbell, a soldier of the Revolution in the New York State troops, settled on the creek which has since been known by his name, but was then known as the "Rivi�re Zenon," so named in honor of Zenon Trudeau, Lieutenant Governor of upper Louisiana at that time. Hubbell located where the town of Gordonville is now situated, and at this point established a water-mill which was until a few years ago in operation, and subsequently he also established a saw-mill at the same place. John Summers, and John, junior, several miles north of Hubbell made a location a year before Hubbell settled on this creek. Also Andrew Summers near the head-waters of the creek. About eight miles north of Hubbell's place, Colonel Christopher Hays, under a direct concession of Governor Caso Calvo, in 1800 made a settlement. Several miles south of Hubbell's mill Martin Rodney opened a plantation, and at the bend where the creek leaves the hills and enters the bottom near the present village of Dutchtown, John Logan took up his residence and erected a water-mill. Adjacent to Logan's place Jeremiah Simpson, Jacob Jacobs, James Hannah, the Randalls, James Caruthers and Thomas Foster established themselves. At the junction of Randall creek and Hubbell creek, John Shields received a concession, and immediately north of his place Abraham Byrd, senior, had a farm.[29]

Germans were among the very first white men that traversed the immense region between the Mississippi river and the Rocky mountains. One of the followers of La Salle's ill-fated expedition to the mouth of the Mississippi which landed on the coast of Texas, was one Heins (Heinz) according to Father Anasthasius Douay "a Witenberger." Hiens accompanied La Salle from the coast of Texas northeast across the plains, Together with another white man, living among the wild Indians of the plain, named Ruter (Ritter) evidently also a German, he assassinated Litote, La Salle's surgeon. This Ruter was a chief among the Indians and stood in high honor, because he had taught them how to sail their boats. These Germans evidently were sailors, likely ex-pirates who may have been followers of the greatest of all pirates of the Spanish Main, the German Mansfeldt. But Tonty, in his Memoirs, in speaking of Heins, says "he was an English buccaneer." For expeditions such as La Salle commanded, doubtful characters of all nations were picked up and enlisted. When we consider this it is hardly to be wondered that he was murdered by his own followers. The celebrated John Law, however, was the first who induced German colonists to settle in the colony of Louisiana. On the Arkansas river he had a grant of a large domain -- a dukedom -- and this he proposed to settle with German farmers. To this promised land he sent a colony of Germans, but before all these colonists arrived the Mississippi Bubble collapsed, and they were left lost and stranded in an immense wilderness. Those who had reached the shores of the Arkansas river abandoned the possession of Law and went back to New Orleans and, together with those who were at New Orleans, secured concessions above the city fronting on the Mississippi river, and to this day known as the "German Coast." There by their industry and perseverance they established a flourisbing settlement. We know of no other German settlement in the province of Louisiana until about 1799?, when was laid the foundation of a solid and compact German settlement on White Water river in the district of Cape Girardeau. In that year, Joseph Neyswanger settled on this stream between White Water river and Caney fork. He came from North Carolina. Near him John Freeman (Freimann) also settled in the same year. Thus the settlement began, and within a few years a number of other Germans from North Carolinaa and Swiss Germans established themselves in this locality, i.e., Michael Snell (Schnell) (1804); Daniel (Kreutz) Crytz (1800); Valentine Lorr; John Probst (1800). On the main river, however, Major George Frederick Bollinger in 1800 was the most conspicuous settler and pioneer. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and both before and after the cession of Louisiana one of the leading characters of the territory. He secured a grant of 640 acres at what is now known as Burfordsville, for many years known as Bollinger's Mill. Major Bollinger came from Lincoln county, North Carolina and on a trip he made subsequently to his settlement in the Spanish domains induced one of the first Protestant preachers, and no doubt the first German Protestant preacher, to come to this district in the latter part of 1803. The Bollinger family were Swiss Germans or of Swiss German descent, and the connection emigrating into the Spanish country was numerous. They all settled up and down White Water and thus formed the farthest western settlement of the country at the time. These German settlers were secretly favored by Lorimier and Cousin, his secretary. Cousin located on a large tract of land immediately adjacent to Bollinger's Mill, undoubtedly influenced by the idea that this settlement would become the most important in the district, and thus the value of his land greatly enhanced. About two miles north of Bollinger's Mill White Water forks, the main stream running almost due north and the other fork running northwest and known as Little White Water,[30] and near this fork and up both branches of this stream these German pioneers opened farms.

The first settlers on the upper portion of Castor river, just where the river empties its waters into Mingo Bottom, where the village of Zalma is now situated, was Urban Asherbramer (Aschenbrenner or Aschenbrauner); who settled there in 1800 and erected a water-mill to grind corn. This mill is yet operated as water-mill. Near him Philip Bollinger settled. Daniel Asherbramer (Aschenbrenner) who settled on White Water with William Bollinger in 1804 was evidently a relative of Urban. Other settlers on this river were Joseph Watkins (1803) and Robert Harper sometime prior to 1803, also Edward Hawthorne. These were the earliest pioneers on that part of Castor river, in what is now Bollinger county.

Another settlement of early date in Cape Girardeau district was made on what is now known as Randall's creek, but during the Spanish war as "Rivi�re Charles." Here the Randalls, from Hamilton county, Virginia, arrived in 1797. John Randall obtained a grant situate eight miles from the village "Lorimont" and about one and a half miles east of the present town of Gordonville. Samuel Randall, Medad Randall, Abraham Randall, James Ranall, and Enos Randall all made settlements about the same time on and near this creek, and in 1809 a compact settlement existed in this neighborhood. Among other settlers we also find William Williams (1798). McKendree chapel is located on his grant." Joseph Waller, from Tennessee (1797) also lived on this creek, but afterwards secured a grant on the Mississippi river about twelve miles above Cape Girardeau, where he established a ferry across the river, which was long known as "Waller's Ferry."

On the edge of the Grand Marias, freely translated by the Americans as "Big Swamp," but really not a swamp, the first settlers were, John (Seaver) Saviour (1797); David Bowie, a son of Reazin Bowie of Marias des Peches (Fish Lake) in what is now Mississippi county and Hypolite Mariot (1799) evidently a French hunter attached to Lorimier, and to whom he afterwards assigned his land.[32]

At the headwaters of Cape La Cruz (erroneously spelled Cruche) Isaac Williams made a settlement in 1803, but remained only a short time and then removed to Mississippi territory. Immediately south of Williams on the forks of Cape la Cruz creek William Lorimier, a son of Don Louis Lorimier, was supposed to have a farm, and adjacent to him on the west, Lorimier's first secretary Louis Francois Largeau made a claim, but whether he ever occupied it is not known. His rights to this property however were afterwards sold under execution and purchased by John Hays. About half way between Cape la Cruz creek and Randall creek Enos Randall, already mentioned, made his settlement in 1797. Moses Hurley also seems to have been a resident of this locality, because his name frequently appears as a witness. Immediately north of the post of Cape Girardeau adjacent to Lorimier's grant, Pierre Dumay secured a settlement right which be afterward transferred to Pierre Menard. This Dumay lived in New Madrid and was a native of Vincennes, and served there in the militia. Not far from the mouth of Flora creek Stephen Cavender settled.

At the mouth of what is known as Indian creek, then called Table River (Rivi�re Table), Cornelius Averit (t) or Everett established himself. A projecting rock resembling a table, on the south side of this creek, originally gave the name to this creek, and this rock was long pointed out by rivermen as the "Devil's Tea Table," but it has lately been blasted away by the railroad now running along the west bank of the river. Where Apple creek enters the river Pierre Menard of Kaskaskia secured a grant from the Spanish authorities, but no settlement was made there. Probably he had a trading house at this place or supposed it would be a favorable point to locate such an establishment, because the villages of the Shawnee and Delaware Indians were not far from the mouth of Apple creek, and likely for this reason managed to secure a concession. Above the big bend north of Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi, Joseph Chevalier in 1799 made claim under grant of De Lassus. This Chevalier was from Kaskaskia where he rendered military service in 1790. South of Chevalier, on the river, George Henderson set up a claim under Lorimier, dated 1808.[33]

Shortly before the cession of Louisiana Lorimier promised to pay the troops which he was ordered by De Lassus to muster into service to punish the Indians near New Madrid, with grants of land, no other means being at his command to pay for this military service.[34] Of course no authority existed under the Spanish law to make such a grant, but nevertheless he made a grant of 300 arpens to each of the one hundred and sixty-four men who had served for six weeks in that campaign. These grants were all subsequently confirmed.

Footnotes

[1] According to Stoddard the Cape Girardeau district extended from "Tiwappaty bottom on the Mississippi to Apple creek, a distance on the Mississippi of about thirty miles, and without any definite boundary to the westward." Stoddard's Louisiana, p. 214.

[2] General Archives of the Indies, Letter of Don Carlos DeLassus to Soulard, dated Nov. 25, 1801; letter to Don Carlos DeLassus, dated Jan. 30, 1802; letter of DeLassus, dated May 20, 1803; letter of Soulard, dated Oct. 1, 1802; letter of Peyroux, dated Jan. 11, 1803.

[3] See letter dated March 8, 1800, in New Madrid Archives, Vol. 2.

[4] Kaskaskia and its Parish Records, p. 11, (Chicago 1881).

[5] From the Church records of the Parish of St. Anne of Fort de Chartres it appears that one Sieur Jean B. Girardot, October 14, 1721, was an ensign of the "troupes de Marine" and marries Therese Nepveu, had son who was baptised July 30, 1726, and named Pierce, God-father was Mons. de Liette, commandant of the provine of Illinois, God-mother Marie M. Quenal. Pierre de Girardeau, "ensign d'infanterie, fils de feu Mons. Jean Rierre de Girardeau, officier des troupes detachees de la Marine," married Madaline Loisel, widow of "Mons. Andre Chevalier, garde magasin pour le Roy au Fort de Chartres." In 1782 her son Jos. Chevalier, by her first husband, married Marie de Guire daughter of Andre de Guire at Ste. Genevieve, her second husband, Pierre de Girardeau, then also deceased.

[6] See Requete of John Giboney in 1797 for land; also that of John Randall in 1798.

[7] In Stoddard the name is spelled "Cape Gerardeau". - Stoddard's Louisiana, p. 214.

[8] Harmar Papers, Vol. 1, p. 478.

[9] As shown by the inscription on her tomb in the old Cape Girardeau graveyard. From the name Bougainville, it would appear not improbable if we are allowed to speculate, that she may have been a natural relative of Louis de Bougainville, Chief of staff of Montcalm

[10] Guillaume de Lorimier came to Canada in 1695. He was born at St. Leu and St. Gilles diocese of Paris, son of Guillaume and Jeanne Guibault; on his arrival in Canada he was appointed Commandant at Fort Rolland, in 1705 mamed Marguerite Chorel, born 1666, a name well known in Canadian annals -- and died at Montreal July 27, 1709; Madame Lorimier seems to have been in good circumstances. In the Jesuit Relations it is said that she loaned money on personal property, thus to a man on his shirt. 67 Jes. Rel., Burrough's Ed., p. 69. She died March 28th, 1736. One of his daughters Marie Jeanne, married Joachim Le Sacquespee; one of his sons, Claude, born 1705, married Louise Le Pailleur, January 7, 1730; his other sons were named Nicolas and Guilliaume. The children of Claude and Louise Pailleur were named respectively Marie Marguerite, born 1730, at Lachiene; Cathenne Elizabeth, Marie Louise, Mane Hypolite, married Benjamin Mathieu D'Amours, Jos. Ant. Guillaume mamed Madaleine D'Amours, and Francois Thomas married Marguerite De Sabrevois. His son Jos. Ant. Guillaume also lived at Lachiene and had several children. Francois Thomas de Lorimier was sieur de Verneuil. That Louis Lorimier was related to this family may be inferred from the fact that he named one of his sons "Verneuil," and who was generally known as "Verny."

[11] Harvey's History of the Shawnee Indians, p. 121.

[12] Heward seized the goods and Lorimier sued him for damages in the Cahokoa court in 1787, but the court held that the matter should be settled by arbitrators to be selected "from either side of the river." Illinois Hist. Collection, vol. 2, p. 299 (Alvord).

[13] Dans L'Amerique, vol. 1, p. 300.

[14] This letter copied as translated in the History of Southeast Missouri, p. 261.

[15] Dillon's History of Indiana, p. 374.

[16] Letter of General Wayne, August 14, 1794, to the Secretary of War.

[17] Carondelet calls the place where Lorimier established himself in 1793 simply "Girardeau."

[18] On the map of Cape Girardeau and its environs, made by Warin, Adjutant General of Collot, these roads are laid down as well as other improvements then existing in that locality.

[19] So completely was he identified with the Indians and as responible for their conduct in the minds of the early American settlers, that after his death in 1812, Garah Davis, a blacksmith made a claim against his estate of $1.50 "to one hog killed by an Indian," in 1808.

[20] Draper's Notes, vol. 18, p. 166.

[21] This is the inscription upon her tomb in the old Cape Girardeau graveyard; "To the memory of Charlotte P. B. Lorimier, consort of Maj. L. Lorimier, who departed this life on the 23d day of March, 1808, aged 50 years and two months, leaving four sons and two daughters.

Vixit, Chaoniae praeses dignissima gentis;
Et decus indigenum quam laps iste tegit;
Illa bonum didcit natura ----* magistra.
Et, duce natwa, sponte secuta bonum est,
Talis honos memorum, nulla cultore, quotannis
Maturat fructus nitis oliva suao.

And translated is as follows:

She lived the noblest matron of the Shawanoe race,
And native dignity covered her as does this slab.
She chose nature as her guide to virtue.
And with nature as her leader spontaneously followed good,
As the olive, the pride of the grove, without the planter's care.
Yearly brings its fruit to perfection.

* This word by time obliterated on the slab.

[22] dit Barume - dit Bethune.

[23] This John Logan was the father of General John A. Logan. After the death of his first wife, the widow of Lorimier, he removed to Jackson county, Illinois, nearly opposite Cape Girardeau county, where he married the mother of Gen. Logan.

[24] Stoddard's Louisiana, page 214.

[25] The American State Papers, 2 Public Lands, p. 125.

[26] History of Southeast Missouri, p. 272. It is said that the Ramsays were related to Daniel Morgan, and no doubt participated in the Revolutionary war. Andrew Ramsay had three daughters, Margaret, who married Stephen Jones, (anh afterwards removed to Arkansas; Mary, married to Captain Peter Craig, who was killed at the battle of the Sink-hole in the year 1814, in St. Charles County) and Rachel, who became the wife of John Rodney. In addition he was accompanied to the Cape Girardeau district by five sons, Andrew Ramsay, Jr. and James, who married respectively Pattie and Rebecca Worthington, John, who married ----- Hannah, William, who married Elizabeth Dunn, and Allen Ramsay. Andrew settled on Ramsay creek near his father's plantation, but subsequently he, John and James removed to what is now Mississippi County. Alexander Giboney was a brother-in-law of Andrew Rammsay, having married his sister Rebecca, and he was accompanied by his family in 1797 when he emigrated to the Cape Girardeau district and settled on Giboney creek one mile west of Ramsay's plantation. Alexander Giboney died in 1804. His family consisted of four sons, John, Robert, Alexander, and Andrew and three daughters, Aurelia, wife of Jacob Jacobs, Isabel, married to Dr. Ezekiel Fenwick and Margaret, married to Lindsay D'Lashmutt. Alexander Giboney, junior, was killed at the battle of of the Sink-hole at the same time Peter Craig was killed. The whole Ramsay connection was accompanied by a number of slaves. Among other settlers on Ramsay creek we find William Bonner (Boner) (1797); Jonathan Ditch (1798), who seems to have emigrated from what is now the District of Columbia; John Weaver and Peter Weaver (1797); Joseph Thompson, senior, (1797); Enoch Evans of Virginia (1801); Charles Bradley (1802); Joseph Worthington (1803); Joseph Harris (1803); Baptiste Godair (1803); Nicholas Revielle, who in 1801 describes his farm as being on Ramsay creek, about 100 yards on the west side of the creek, at a place known as Big Lick; was a mechanic and white-washer by trade; Peter Godair in 1799 also had a settlement right on this creek, and which he sold to Enoch Evans in 1807.

[27] Amos Byrd is noted a delinquent on 1800 acres on Hinkston's Run, Kentucky, entered by J. Ruddle, 1796.

[28] Abraham, Stephen and John respectively married Elizabeth, Mary and Ann Gillespie. Abraham Byrd had three sons and six daughters. His sons were Amos, William Gillespie and Stephen, his daughten were Ingabo, mamed to John Bird of Bird's point, Mary, married to W. W. Horrell, Nancy, mamed to Edward Kelso, Sabina, married to John Allen, Clarissa, mamed to Thomas Horrell, and Emily, mamed to John F. Martin. Stephen Byrd had a family of four sons, William, James, John and Amos, and four daughters, Eliza (Mrs. Thompson Bird), Mary, Serena (Mrs. John Campbell) and Sallie. Amos Byrd, junior, had three children, Sallie (Mrs. John Wilson), Elizabeth (Mrs. George Cockran), and John. Moses Byrd had a family of five sons, William, Amos, John, Abraham and Adolphus, and four daughters, Polly (Mrs. John McLain), Sallie (Mrs. Joseph Brown), Patsy (Mrs. John Minton) and Edith (Mrs. Foster). (History of Southeast Missouri, p. 277.)

Among other settlers on Byrd creek were Josiah Lee, senior, who came from Kentucky in 1797 and first settled on Randall creek, then known as Riviere Charles, and subsequently on Hubbell creek then known as Riviere Zenon. Josiah Lee, junior, his son, who had a grant for service also lived on this creek adjacent to his father. Another settler was Alexander Andrews, senior, who came from Kentucky in 1797. David Andrews resided on Cane creek in 1799, but in 1797 on Randall's creek. Joseph Young (1799); John Boyd, who came from Kaskaskia and settled here in 1799; John McCarty, a black-smith, who we are told was a Roman Catholic and owned one slave, also lived on this creek in 1799; Joseph Crutchlow settled in the country in 1797, but on this creek in 1800. Elijah Everitt resided near the forks of Big and Little Bird Byrd creek, and seems, prior to his emigration, to have resided in the Spanish country, as he claimed to be a subject of His Catholic Majesty and a Roman Catholic. William Hill on Cane creek in 1799. Jacob Kelley on the forks of the two Byrd creeks (1800) made a settlement; he was the owner of five slaves. James Cooper (1802) settled adjacent to Stephen Byrd, so also John May. Other settlers were, Patrick May (1802); David Patterson (1803); Philip Young, near the headwaters of one prong of Byrd creek known as "Young's creek" (1803); John McGee (Magee) (1803); Hugh Connelly (1799); Mirhael Quinn (1803); John Dougherty (1800), a carpenter and worked for Lorimier; neglected to work his grant and afterwards gave as an excuse that Lorimier told him that he wanted him to work for him, and that mechanics did not have to work or cultivate the land ceded to them, William Jackson (1803); Jeptha Cornelius (1803); Austin Young (18033; John Smith had a sugar camp on this tract placed there by him or by Abraham Byrd, assignee; George Cavender, son-in-law of McCarty (1803); Dennis Sullivan (1803), both a blacksmith and a school teacher. James Boyd settled adjacent to Stephen Byrd in 1799; Michael O'Hogan located adjacent to Amos Byrd, senior, in 1803; Robert Patterson had a farm adjacent to Mugh Connelly and David Patterson on Cane creek. In addition we find Edward F. Bond; John Hays, assignee (of) Crutchlow; Andrew Patterson (1805); Morris Young (1805); James Russell (1806); Peter Krytz, as legatee of Duwalt Krytz; Henry Howard (1804).

[29] On the west bank of the creek in the order named were settled, John Drybread (1797), a German; Joseph Fite (Fight) likely also a Gennan; John Losila (1797), a Gennan; Renna Brummit (1799); John Latham (1801) also in New Madrid; James Dowty (1798); Henry Sharadin; Elijah (Elisha) Dougherty (1803); Robert Green (1799); William Dougherty, heretofore named, (1798); and Jesse Cain (1799) who afterwards lived on the Maramec in St. Charles district. William Dickens (1798); James Mills (1799), located where the city of Jackson is now situated, and Charles Fallenash (1799) -- this Charles Fallenash was one of the first settlers near Springfield, Ohio, near the mouth of the Scioto; was a great Indian fighter and at one time was a fur-trader among the Indians. In 1793 he married and lived at Massie's Station for about one year. Then he resided in the Chillicothe region, where he abandoned his wife, a reputable woman, to go on scouting expeditions. He was renowned as a scout in Ohio -- (Draper's Notes, Vol. 19, p. 169). In 1810 he was at St. Charles, and is supposed to have accompanied Astor's expedition, -- (Draper's Notes, Vol. 6, p. 312). He is described as a large stout man, "a kind of Indian-Frenchman," -- (Draper's Notes, Vol. 16, Tnp of 1860). It is not certain at what time Fallenash moved away from the Cape Girardeau district. He sold his Spanish grant to Edward Hall in 1804. He probably lived in wbat is now Northwest Arkansas early in the 19th century. A small creek emptying its waters into White river just above Crooked creek is called "Fallenash" creek, and it is more than likely that this creek derived its name from this old hunter and Indian fighter who there may have hunted, trapped beaver and died. George Hays (1803) located several miles above the present town of Jackson. On the east bank of the creek were settled in the order named, John Strong (1798) just south and north of Ithamar Hubbell's place; Waters Burrows (1798); Zachariah Doroty (1800); Lewis Latan; David Patterson (1803); John Patterson, from Kaskaskia; Medad Randall (1798); Thomas Bull (1803) from Kentucky -- on his place Bethel church was built in 1806. Jacob Foster, senior and junior, came to the country in 1799, and resided near the Rodney place on Foster creek. Martin Rodnev arrived in 1798. John Ferrell lived on this creek in 1803; James Campbell on St. Francois (1801); Elisha Whittaker (1802); James Caruthers (1799). David and John Ferrel had a grant at Cedar Cliffs about a half mile below where Hubbell creek enters the bottom, and they settled there in 1803. Andrew Franks settled near them on the edge of the bottom; so also in 1802 Elijah Welsh, Peter Ballew, James Murphy and William Murphy, all on the edge of the hills leading from the present station of Whitewater to Cape Girardeau. Louis Tache, dit Eustache, had a grant adjacent Thomas Bull and Peter Ballew already lived, -- must have moved from the edge of the bottom to where the present town of Jackson is situated, because he received a grant at that point. Jonathan Foreman came to the country in 1798 and erected a flour mill on his land in 1800, his grant being located about a mile west of Jackson. Other settlers in the neighborhood of Jackson were Samuel Pew (1802); Henry Hand (1799); Charles Demos (1803); John Hand (1803); Lewis, Drusilla and Hezekiah Dickson (1803); William Hand (1802), and also Lavina Mills. Near Ithamar Hubbell's place Mathew Hubbell settled, so also Allen McKenzie, and immediately north of his place Andrew Franks, heretofore mentioned as having a place on the edge of the bottom, also lived. Moses Hurley, in 1798, in Big Prairie was on Hubbell creek during the Spanish occupancy of the country, so also Edward Robertson; William Harper; Joshua Goza; Walter Burrows (1797) from Kentucky.

[30] Immediately north of Major George F. Bollinger, Peter and John Krytz (Kreutz) settled; next to them John and Jacob Cothner, followed in order by John and Jacob Miller. Above the forks of Big and Little White Water we find, in what is now Cape Girardeau county, Daniel Bollinger and Henry Bollinger secured head-rights; and still further northwest, in what is now Bollinger county, Mathias Bollinger, Philip Bollinger, John Bollinger, senior, and Daniel Bollinger. John Bollinger, senior, had three sons, Dewalt, Henry, and Philip. Mathias Bollinger had one son, David. Philip Bollinger had two sons, Frederick and Henry; all these settled up and down and in the neighborhood of these streams, and so also William Bollinger (1802). Other settlers were, Joseph Baker (Becker); Daniel Clingen Smith (Clingensmith) (Klingenschmidt) had a mill and John Krytz (Kreutz), who all had farms in those days on Little White Water. Dewalt Krytz (Dewald Kreutz) settled about two miles east of John Cothner near Byrd creek. Farther up west, Jacob Slinker, and Frederick (1801); Jeremiah Paynish (1801); William Tismon (1802); John Hoss (1801); Conrad, Adam and Peter Stotlar (Stadler) (1802); Peter and George Grount (1802): Handel Barks (Bergs) (1803); Frederick Limbaugh (Limbach), a German school teacher, and his two sons Michael and Frederick, junior, (1800); Peter Hartle (1802); Benjamin and Daniel Heldebrand (1804); John P. Aidenger (1802); Daniel Brant (1802); may be the same as in New Madrid in 1798 -- Isaac Miller (1804). Where White Water leaves the hill country and flows through the bottom lands, a number of American settlers established themselves and secured grants, Francis Murphy (1796); James Murphy (1799); Raisin Bailey (1802); Alexander Pa(r)ish (1802); Alexander Thorn (1802); James Horace Austin (1803); Smith (1803); Jacob Shar(r)adin (1803); William Smith (1802); Daniel Brant (1802); George (M). Morgan (1803); John Shields, no location, 1804); Charles Sexton (1803); William Samer; Daniel Asherbrauner; John Hoss; John Abernathee; Jeremiah Paynish, alias Boining; Christopher Aidenger (1801); John Ramsay, Jr., owned one slave (1800); William Patterson (1803); Alexander Summers.

[31] Other settlers on this creek were John Giboney (1797); James Cox, senior, and his son-in-law, Simeon Kenyon (1797), and his son James Cox, junior, all from Kentucky; Benjamin Hartgrove or Hargrove; Nicholas Seavers, Sr., 1797); Andrew Franks, (1798); John Guething (1798), a carpenter employed by Lorimier in public works, and in apprehending and keeping in custody prisoners; Hugh Criswell (1799); Joseph Thompson, who emigrated to this district from Vincennes where he had rendered military service in 1790 -- (all on Ramsay creek and the Mississippi); James and Joseph Worthington (1799); James Hannah (1799); Jacob Jacobs (1799) -- from the district of Columbia; Daniel Duggan or Duggin, dit Count de Monnangel; James Arrell or Earls (1798) from Kentucky; Samuel D. Strother (1797), from Kentucky, first settled on the Saline in Ste. Genevieve district, but in 1799 lived on this creek; James Dowty, a German (1799); William Thompson; Jeremiah Tompson (1798), afterwards moved to Mississippi territory; Elisha Whittaker (1802); Benjamin Lougherty or Laferty (1803). In 1797 Josiah Lee also lived on this creek. Other settlers here were, Gilbert Hector (1799); Jonathan Ditch.

[32] Also William Doss resided on the edge of the bottom, (1800), but afterwards removed to lower Louisiana; Solomon Thorn, the gunsmith on Apple creek also had a grant here; so Mathew and Jesse Scruggs and Terence Dyal or Dial (1799); Charles Bunch (1800), was employed as a messenger for the Post of New Madrid in this year. Edward Robertson in 1797 lived here, sold out to Andrew Ramsay and moved to Big Prairie, where he was allowed to keep a tavern and house for the sale of spirituous liquors; Jeremiah Simpson, sold to Mathew Scruggs. Mugh White received a grant on the Illinois road -- on the edge of the Grand Marais (Big Swamp) where the Rock Levee begins. White says, he came Cave de Roque in the Indiana Temtory. Micajah Harris (1802) settled on the edge of this bottom.

[33] Other settlers on the Mississippi river in the Cape Girardeau district were: Samuel Cheney (1797) from Virginia; John Tayon and John Johnson (1800); David Downard; Benjamin Rose (1797), who settled above William Ross. William Smith from Kentucky also made a settlement near William Ross, but assigned his right to Thomas W. Waters, one of the early merchants of Cape Girardeau in 1805. Edward Hogan had a farm opposite Thebes, Illinois, in 1797; the big railroad bridge now passes over his grant. Hogan acquired his right from Alexander Millikin who came from Tennessee in 1797.

[34] We insert here the names of the members of this Spanish-American military company, arranged alphabetically, as follows: Alexander Andrew, Jr., David Asherbrauner; Harris Austin; Washington Abernethie; Cornelius Averitt; James Arrell; Daniel Brant; Jonathan Buys; William Bollinger (John's); Henry Bollinger; Charles Bradley; John Burrows; Henry Bollinger (Daniel's); David Bollinger (Daniel's); Philip Bollinger; Henry Bollinger (Philip's); Frederick Bollinger (Philip's); David Bollinger (Mathias'); Daniel Bollinger (John's); John Bollinger (John's); Stephen Byrd; Abraham Byrd, Jr.; John Byrd; Moses Byrd; William Bonner; Samuel Bradley; Thomas Bull; George Frederick Bollinger; Mathias Bollinger; Daniel Bollinger, Sr.; James Cooper; Jeremiah Conway; Jeptha Cornelius; Peter Crytz; James Cox; Hugh Connelly, Jr.; George Cavender; Timothy Connelly; Hugh Criswell; Lemuel Cheney; James Cooper; Daniel Clingensmith; Ezekiel Dickson; Charles Denlos, (died before the cession and his widow made claim for grant); Elijah Dougherty; John Dougherty; David Downard; James Dowty; William Dougherty; Peter Frank; Barton Franks; Jonathan Forman, Jr.; Jacob Foster, Jr.; George Grount; John Guething; Baptiste Godair; Robet Giboney; David Green; Michael Guinn; Daniel Grount; John Giboney; Jonathan Hubbell, Sr.; George Hays; John Hoss; John Henthorn; Jonathan Hubbell (Itham); Ebenezer Hubbell; Daniel Hubbell (Mathew's); Jonathan Hubbell (Jonathan's); Lemuel Hargrove; Williamm Hand; John Hand; John Hays; George Henderson; Daniel Helderbrand; Benjamin Helderbrand; Thomas Hening; Gilbert Hector; Christopher Hays; William Jackson; James James; Isaac Kelly; Simeon Kenyon; Benjamin Laugherty; Lewis Latham; John Latham; John Lorance; Valentine Lorr; Josiah Lee, Jr.; John Losila; Charles Lucas; James Mills; George Morgan; James Murphy; Rolland Meredith; Daniel Mullins; Joseph Magee; John May; Hipolite Marote; Allen McKensie; William Murphy; Joseph Niswanger; Joseph Niswanger, Sr.; Michael O'Hagan; David Patterson; John Patterson; Samuel Pew; Alexander Parish; Andrew Patterson; Jacob Probst; Adenston Rodgers; James Ramsey, Jr.; Abraham Randall, Jr.; Enos Randall; Thomas Rodney; Zebulon Reed; James Russel; Nicholas Revelle; Andrew Ramsey, Jr.; Andrew Ramsey, Sr.; Anthony Randall; James Randall; Samuel Randall; Medad Randall; Enos Randall Sr.; Martin Rodney; Andrew Summers; John Summers, Jr.; Frederick Slinker; John Saviour; John Sineson; Charles Sexton; Alexander Summers; Jacob Sharadin; John Sharadin; Dennis Sullivan; John Henry Smith; William Strother; Samuel Strother; William Smith; Adam Statler; Conrad Statler; John Thompson; Williamm Timantz; Solomon Thorn; Jeremiah Thomas; Joseph Thompson, Sr.; Joseph Thompson, Jr.; John Tucker; Elijah Whittaker; William James Williamson; George Welker; Levi Wolverton; Isaac Williams; John Weaver; Elijah Welsh; Jacob Welber; Thomas Wellborn; Joseph Worthington; Philip Young; Austin Young; Joseph Young; John Zellahon.

Houck's History of Missouri

CHAPTER XV.

Footnotes