Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-07-04
1ur Agents.
WHO WAS THE FIRST SETTLER?

manor a communication from DIR. jas.
A. Ouarles upou the subject Of the ear
" settlement of Lafayette county, ana
who was the first white person 10 take
III a permanent abode in the county.
# is an interesting subject, and when
it is remembered that there are a NUM-
her of residents now in the county who
came here at a very early date, some IN
1917 and 1S18,it is strange that 1t IS not
definitely known upon whom rests the
honor of being the first settler. Yet 1t
is not certainly known and the CON-
munication Is a timely one, and II
there is sufficient evidence to deter
mine it, let it be settled.
If | understand DR.. Quarles he IN
tended to show that there was some
one here when Gillead .Rupe came to
the county and that he was not the
first to come and effect a permanent
settlement. In this | cannot agree
with him. knew Rupe personally,
have passed some very Interesting
hours underhis hospitable roof,ano nave
listened to him until after the hour Oh
midnight as he told in his characteristic
style the thrilling stories OF MS adVent,
ures with the savage Indians Inc WHO
animals of the forest, that occurred
O after he came to the county. he
always claimed to be the first to come
and make a home here, and l never
until recently heard it denied.
Among other reason given ny Dr.
Ouares why Rupe was not the hrst Is
the statement of VIM. Houx tnat ne
attended the wedding of Rupees daugh-
ter in Boonville in 1917, and as the
first settlement was prior to that time
the honor does not belong to Rupe. L
will not question the veraclty OF MI.
Houx. as / know he would not lnten-
~tionally mistake a fact for any purpose.
But 1 may attribute something 10 the
errors of memory which often, at all
periods of life, are not reliable, put Is es-
pecially so in persons OF advanced aye.
1t is now six-eight years since the time
when he states he was at the wedding.
1t is a long time to remember sucn an
event. How many, that have been
permitted to live so long and pass
through so many eventful years, many
of them of great excitement, well cal
culated to unsettle the memory, would
remember such an event so tar back III
the past? But if it is true, it does not
nrove that Rupe did not come himself
70 the county previous to that time. Ii
is well known that many persons, par
ticularly the early emigrants, would
visit the country to which they WISH
TO remove, to examine it and make
preparation to receive their families
Is il not reasonable to suppose that
Rune. knowing that this country was
inhabited only by Indians, would pre-
fer to come alone, look at the country
select a location and prepare a house
that would shelter and protect his fam
ily when it came, rather that start on
with them to explore an unknown re-
gion, not knowing where he was
going or where he would land.
Another reason is, that Rupe did no
enter tue land upon which he resided
until 1919. This is easily answered
Tine evidence that l will adduce, show
that he came in 1915. If so he coul'
hold his land under the pre-emptiol
law five wears without entry, or unit
1920. But it is q fact hat the land l
this county was not subject to entr
until 1919, the year that he made I'll
entry. He could not have made til
entry sooner
will now turn TO the other side an
L INV $3.50
give some of the reasons why Rul
should be accorded the honor OF BEN
the first to make a home in the presel
territorial limits of the county. Ihe'
will consist in the statements OF pc
sons who came here at an early perlC
who knew him well and ought to kno
more of the early history of The coun
than any other class. James Hickil
nephew of Rupe, stated to me tn
he was through this county with a su
veying party before there was any 81
Element here. He admired the count
more than any he had ever seen a.
afterWard when he went to Boonvll
where Rupe then lived, told him OF
great beauty of the country the fertll
and productivenesss of its soil and Il
it abounded with bear, elk, turkey a
other game. Rupe was a man OF gr'
courage and was fond of hunting a
wild, daring adventures, and Diet
mined TO see this land of promise Il
Hicklin had described to him. lie
Boonyilie to come here II HlcE
did not see him again until he emlg
ted here in 1916, when he found l
here He had come the year before
in 1915. :,
The Hon. G. 7. Ryland, the cid
son of Judge John F. Ryiand, no'
resident OF California, came TO
county at a very early period and re
ed with his father for a long period
the farm within a half mile of the he
of Rupe. He knew him well and
on the most friendly terms with h
He was frequently with him in his
illness and was at his bedside Wher
died. When on his rece.lt visit h
he stated to me that Rupe often ST.
to him that ne was the first to c.
and make apermanent settlement h
He believed it and never heard 1t {
tradicted.
DIR. Sanford Smith came with
father to the county when a child
. has lived ever since on the farm w
he now resides within a mile OF
former home of Rupe. He was
intimate with him and was with
frequently during his last illness
at the time OF his death. He bell
Rupe came here as early as 1915
was the first to penetrate the TO
and establish Il home here.
John A. Graham has resided
from infancy and is very well info
as to the history of the early
Element of the county. He doe
doubt that Rupe was the plonee
was the first to erect a house l
county.
DR.. Nathaniel Mitchell came t.
county about 1928. He was 4
sentative of the county in the lt
ture at an early date, and waspro
as well posted about the early h
of the county as any one that evel
in it. His son, David, says IN
father always stated that Rupe "
first person to come and take
permanent abode here.
John A. Porter, who now
near MAYHEM, came to this cot
1887. About The year 1910 he OPP
blacksmith shop and often did
for Rupe. From him and othe
settlers he learned enough to CO
him that Rupe was the pioneer
o. county.
[ will only add the statement
other person, that OF Mrs. no
the aged widow of VIM. Robins
now resides with her son, y
Robinson, near Lexington. 81
TO the county at Il very early
and the manner i'll which she Ca
the time required to make the
would astOnish the rapid trav
this fast age. She came from
see in a keel BOAT managed b.
The Journey was down the IL
and Ohio rivers and up the Mi