Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-04-24
UNCLE" GEORGE H0UX.

EDITOR INrELL1GENCER: The SUBJ (
ect of this sketch was born IN fayette ,
county, Kentucky, in 1897. He came to
Howard county, Missouri, in 1871, and
anded at Old Franklin in company With
MS fathers family and some others.
David Todd was our first circuit Judge;
Thompson, John F. Ryland, Leonard
and French were the attorneys. The
first three aiterward sat upon the su-
preme bench, which they occupied with
honor. The country became 80 slckly
at Old Franklin that Mr.. Houx sold
whele block, we'll improved. for $3.50,
and took a note for payment, on man
whom he had never seen, and who ll7eo
in Pettis or Saline county. MIR. Hoax
came to this county in 1924, and when
he called on his strange debtor. he had
to stoep to get into the shanty. There
was no town at the site where Boonville
now stands. He crossed the river at
that point on his way up. He and DIR.
Hutchison made the first shipment of
produce from the Boonville and Old
Franklin landing, in 1920, to New Or
leans, each taking keel boat lead, and
it took them six months to make
the trip. Mr.. HOAX lost $500 on his,
and the doctor traded hls ier medicine ;
he saw, while at New Orleans. large.
fine, fat beef cattle sell for S11 Is per
head; and good COWS, with young
calves, at s. each. The thing thai
brought the best price in New Orleans
at that time, was whisky, selling at 2
cents per gallon. st. Louis was then
small village, with two little ware
houses, and sash saw mill which seem
cd to rua about as fast as a clock pen
dulum. Ste. Genevieve was next, hard
ly as important as st. Louis; then cam
Cairo, whore they had to cut the ice t
get through; then New Madrid; the
,, Memphis, with two families and black
e smith shop. Then Vicksburg, then cal
l., ed Walnut Hill then Natchez, with
t house or two; then another little Frene
town, the name OF which is not remen
bered; then Baton Rouge, a town the
about the size of Higginsvllle, and tt
| prettlest site for city on the route
: that time; there was but one steambo
y on the river, stern-wheeler, called IL
o Dolphin, tor St. Louis. He tried boa
> ing for three years, but losing none
- finally gave it up and moved to th
Y. county. But before moving, he made
i, trip in company with Roger Barto
er - Elicit. and young man by t
M name OF Benjamin Barnes, as pill
'7 Crossing the river at Arrow Rock, tn
g. saw drove of elk as soon as they
n upon the bank; they camped ne
he where Higginsville now stands.
sh killed an elk, and had hunters me-
an the next day he stood on the mou
whereMayview now stands. and thoug
as he stood there, that this ceun
weuld not be settled up in a hund1
ZEN years. The mound was then cal
ent uouth's Hill or Knob. This man He
AXIS had fight with the Indians, on the s
/" where Mr.. Riaings' house now stan
,,s 'ns The Indians retreated to the timber n
DIS, where Parson Jennings now resit
ire, where the Heath party were vlcteric
,'s. , and for number of years the Indis
bones were seen by the Pool family.
ma Flournoy and others finding some Of
VINO skulls with the teeth in state OF pre-
,,b- vation. Mr.. H0ux and MIR. Jshr
he Herr laid eff the old town OF Mayvl
10 and named one of the streets H.
win street, in honor OF the old Indian
a, ge neer.
Uncle George tells me that when
"s'- got to Old Franklin he had but one
os. half dollar-for fear some of your r
are, ers may not know what is meant
cut half dollar, l will say there wa
small change in those days. If
ad- owed man half dollar. and had 6
mall yer dollar, you cut it in two in the
,rs die tor change.
cut He also tells how he got his first
. coat. He caught and dressed rab
buses 'o,s and sold them till he got SO, whe
Each bought colt, which he kept some
ually and then sold it for forty dollars.
then bought his coat; had 1t made
reiu, as was the fashion, so that the tails
Van would sweep the dust. This was ,
n be he was learning the saddlers trade
he says taat he was so proud of the
some that when he had it on, on Sunda
t, but would pass his employer on the {
,.,., without speaking to him.
5 line While on his tramp through the
t. or try he visited the spot where II
now Is, and says that he saw thou
of elks. Their pilot killed one,
,lack- they caught seven elk fawns ant
stcher deer tawn, but they died before
a ,a,,e, got them home.
md as Uncle George says he will call
an be and continue this narrative. Fo
present, am yours, ETC.,
ALPH. A.