Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-05-29

et Inc settlements from the Mississippi
TO the Grand river. They stole nearly
or quite three hundred horses from
the people during the war. The Fox.
os, lowas and kickapoos, also commit
ted deprcdations in the settlemcnis.-
For more than two years these settle
menis were regarded and treated as
beyond the pale of Government pro-
lection. 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 a 'law unto lhcmsclves,'
and never were more than one hundred
families, and several hundred human be.
ngs better governed. There were no
depredations on persons and property
by any of the settlers They required
no court houses or jails, and attorneys
and counscllors could have found no
use for their professional talents. Eve.
ry man and every boy who could hold
a rifle, was soldier and placed his
name on the muster roll, in ono of the
volunteer companies, and did ready
service. Col. Benjamin Cooper, who
had had large experience in Indian
warfa'e in Kentucky, was made Com
mandcr. in. chief by common consent.
He was cmincntly qualified for a lcad>
er and adviser. Among the volunteers
were Sarshall Cooper, VIM. Head and
Stephen Cole.
As dangers thickened around, the
families resided within the srockadcg
while the citizen soldiers, besides rang.
ing in advance TO watch the enemy.
had TO hunt game for provisions, and
raised corn for bread.
Much Of the stock was killed or drivi
en- of by the Indians, and bear bacon"
and hog meat" were terms inserted
in contracts with each other. Around
the forts large fields were enclosed in
! common, and while some were guiding
the pIow others were stationed as sen.
tries on the borders. SkirmiShcs with
the Indians we're frequent. If they
threatened the fort while the detach.
mcnts were in the corn.feld, the sound
of the horn was the ralIying signal.
There were ten or twelve persons
killed at various points in these troub,
Ious times. Their names were Sar.
shall Cooper, Jonathan Todd, William
Campbell, Thomas Smith, Samuel Me.
Mahon, William Gregg, John Smith,
James Omsby, Joseph w. Sill, and u
negro man.
Of all these murders none excited so
deep feeling as that of captain Sar
shall Cooper, who was killed at his
own frcside in Coopcr's Fort Ii was
on the 9th Of April, 1915, on dark
and stormy night, when the winds
howled through the surrouuing forests,
that willy savage crcpt to the side of
Captain COopcr's cabin, and made an
opening between the logs, so as to ad.
nit the muzzlc of mis- gun, which he
discharged with fatal effect. The fa,
thcr and husband was sitting by the
fire with the youngest child in his arms,
his wife engaged in household affairs
and the other children lounging on the
cabin floor. A single crack of the
rifle was heard, the room was filed
with smoke, and the husband aud faith
er was dead in short time!
His prowess and bravery were wei
known to the Indians, for his skill had
often foicd them. The pioneers Of
Missouri, who knew him, speak of hi.
heroic and manly virtues to this day.
OF course no additional immigrant.
Joined the early settlers during tie war
NUMBER ~.
During the whole period Of the war
which, on the part Of the Indians, com
menccd in the North. west in 1911, tC
its close in 1915, the Boonc's Lick set
dement's received no protection from
the Territorial authorities. They were
alleged to be beyond The territoria
jurisdiction, which (as they were in
formed by Gov. Clark in 1910 exten
ded 10 the Cedar on the north side, ant
to the Usage river on the south side o
the Missouri. In proof of their de
fenceless condition, and of the dan
gers to which they were exposed, W,
give the original copy of communica
ton to his excelloncy the late WIN
Clark, Governor of the Territory, by
Gray Bynum, Esq, to whom, through
the Hon. David Todd, VIC are indebt
ed for the historical fragment.
Mr. Bynum still resides near the oil,
Boone's Lick.
D.,,,.', C,.,;a,. q .,J-..,.,.. 4