Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-06-04
Historical sketches--No. III.
BY J. NJ. PECK.
THE BOONEsLICK COUNTRY.

THE BOONESLlCk COUNTRY.
The early settlements in the tract Of
country, formerly known as 'Boone's Lick,
and which, in the war that followed, were
made 'ststions,' were located and named %
follows:
L.. Coles, slresdy noticed, Sauth Of the
Missouri river and below the ssie Of Boon.
vilis. The 6rst families h 1870. ss,ne sromI
the Loutre, IN what's now the Southwest
ern part of Montgomery county. This was
called during the war Coles Fort
9. Heads Fort, on Moniteau Greek, OF
about twelve families, Of which can give
the names Of Capt. William Head, and the
Msssrs. Copeland, Arnold, Watkins, and
the two Pipsrs.
8. McLsin's settlement was near, and on
the other bluffs, some three or four miles
North of old Franklin. 1t was called 10
time of the war and long after Fort Hemp.
stead. Mr.. McLain was Baptist preach
er from Kentucky. Here also we're the
families of Samuel Brown, G. Burckhsrtt,
James Richardson, J. Alcom, Lindsey Car
son, the father of the celebrated Kit Car
son. two families by the name of Wilds,
Messrs. Fugste, Stiles, Cooley, and others;
in all about twenty-five families.
4. Kincaid's Fort, Yves in the bottom one
mile above old Franklin, where we're three
families by name Of Monroe, Sbsdrach,
Barnes, with others; in al about twenty
families.
s. Cooper's Fort, between the Boons's
Lick and the river, about ten or twelve
miles above Franklin. Here were three
families Of Coopers, BeDjsmin Sarshsll and
Braxtcn, brothsrs) Robert Hancock, Adam
Woods, Jno. Busley, Stephen Jackson, John
Ferrell, Gray Bynum, Esq. Josiah Higgins;
john Berry, Esskiel Williams, William
Thorp, { also Baptist preacher still living
in Clay county, Mr.. Goods, snd Herman
Gregg, with two or three others. Mr..
Gregg, was the father Of the late author of
I"The Commerce of the Prairies."
/ 6. AnGerson's Fort, was about two
miles from Col. Cooper's, where separate
station was maintained during the war, Of
ten or twelve families.
On the South side Of Missouri, and above
Coopsr's station, was Cox's bottom settled
by lessee Coz, ,Lis Sons and sons.in.law, and
one or two other families. They enclosed
their cabins with pickets, but were attack
ed by the Indians in 1919 Mr.. Gregg was
killed, and being so few in number, they
crossed the river and took refuge in Coop
er's Fort.
Indian hostilities commenced on the re-.
mote frontiers previous to the war with
great Britain, in 1879. At this period there
were about one hundred families in the
Boone's Lick country. The Potowatomie
Indians were the chief depredators, though
very probably other Indians did their part.
}, At that period branch Of the Potawotomie
nation roamed, hunted and committed rob-
berries and murders north Of the settlements
from the Mississippi to the Grand river
They stole nearly or quite three hundred
horses from the people during the wsr. The
Foxes, Iowss, and Kickapoos, also com.
mitted depredations in the settlements
For more than two years these settlements
weie regarded and treated as beyond the
pale of Government protection Gov.
Howard regarded that his Jurisdiction as
the Executive Of the Territory Of Missouri,
extended no farther West than the Cedar,
|. on the North side, and the Usage river on
the south side of Missouri.
In the Boone's Lick country the people
were law unto themselves and never
!, were more than one hundred families, and
several hundred human beings better gov
erned. There were no depredations on per.
sons and property by any Of the ssttlers.-
They required no court houses or jails, and
attorneys and counsellors would have found
no use for their professional talents. Eve
Iry man and every boy who could hold ri.
fe, was soldier and placed his name on
the muster roll, in one of the volunteer
companies, and did ready service. Colo
mel Benjamin Cooper, who had had large
Experience in Indian warfare in kentucky,
was made Commander in- chiefly common
consent. He was eminsntly qualified for q
leader and adviser. Among the volunteers
were ssrshall Cooper, William Head and
, Stephen Cole.
As dangers thickened around, the fami-
lies resided within the stockades while the
citizen soldiers besides ranging In advance
Ito watch the enemy, had to hunt game for
provisions and raise corn for bread.
l. P.l l..tl>A I,syon