Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-10-09
First Settlement in Missouri ozarks.
(Howell County Gazette.l

II. y, Smlth Detter known as "Uncie
Dick" was born in hunters camp on
Current river, in Shannon county,
Missouri, August IL, 1912. His great
grandfather, w. R1Smith, was killed
and scalped by an Indian on Jacks
Fork, in Texas county, in 1916. He was
Revolutionary soldier. His mother
died when he was small boy. His
father passed away in 1862 and left
him an orphan. He never went to
school day in his life. Enlisted in
the Union Army September 10, 1868, at
Rolla, Mo-, in Company A, 18th Mis-
souri, cavalry. He enlisted as private
and in about three months was made a
corporal. Soon afterwards he was ap-
pointed drill master of the company.
Later was commissioned commissary
sergeant of the company. He started
in at $13 month and the promotions
brought him up to $22 month. He
never was away from his company dur
ing service. He was mustered out at
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, April 9,
1866. Came back to Howell county
April II, 1866.
1t wasin the year 1914, two years af-
ter the war of 1912, when we trim
med up Great Britain for second
time, that the first white settlers To-
Gated in the Ozark region. In the
spring of 1914 VIM. R. Smith, great
grandfather of aUncle Dick" Smith,
and party of hardy pioneers left
Slaughtersville, KY, to go west. They
made the trip on horseback. In the
party, besides VIM. R. Smith, were
his son, r. d, G. Smith, VIM. Thomas,
John Pevyhouse, James Hodge, VIM.
Perkins and "Grandadn HudGelstone,
all lwell known pioneers of this section.
They crossed the Mississippi river at
Jackson and journeyed over Indian
trails to the present site of Thomas
vile. They brought their families
and household goods.
In the fertile bottoms of Eleven
Points river these proneers built
homes snd barricades to guard against
wandering Indians, bears and wolves.
They cleared the bottom land of tim
ber aad putin crops of corn and gar
den vegetables. There was plenty OF
timber along the streams, but the
hills were bare and became known as
"The Barrens." Not tree was stand
ing for many miles where West Plains
now is located. Large herds of elk
and deer roamed over the country.
There were Indian villages on several
of the streams, the nearest being two
miles northwest of Thomasville. An
other village was located on North
Fork, near the mouth of Lick Creek,
and large tribe made their home on
Jacks Fork, near the forks of the
creek. They were Cherokees.
In the fall of 1915 several of the most
daring hunters of the Thomasville
country, led by Wm. Thomas, a noted
bear hunter, with big pack OF hounds,
journeyed to Jack k's Fork to hunt bear.
They went into csmp near the forks
of that creek. One morning while the
hunters were on the chase, w. II.
Smith, grandfather of "Uncle Dickn
Smith, was left to watch the camp
He was 102 years old and had been in
the Revolutionary War. A rowing
band of Indians saw the smoke of the
camp. They slipped up undetected
and killed the old man. An Indian
chief got his scalp. When the hunt
ers returned they found the lifelese
body ahd buried it near the spring at
the forks of the creek.
This grave has been located by "Un-
Gle Dickn Smith. More than one hum
dred years have passed since his great
grandfather met death at the hands Of
the savages. Mr.. Smith will erect q
monument on the spot to tell the story
OF his death as it was told HIM as he
sat on his grandfather'sk knee, r. d. G..
Smith, who raised him.
Along the creeks where the timber
was thick there were many bee trees to
be found. Here the bear was In his
glory, for nothing tickles bear more
than honey. Bruin would scent the
honey, climb the tree where the bees
were storing away the sweets, and at-
tempt to gnaw down the tree. Some
times the bees would sting the bear
and drive him away, but his shaggy
wool and tough hide prevented the
bees from doiug much damage.
Three years later a second colony
came to Thomasville. In this colony
was John r. Woodside, the first pros
ecuting attorney Of the county, which
then included what is now known al
Oregon, Howell and Shannon counties
Mr.. Woodside also later became the
first Judge Of the Twentieth Judicia
Circuit Another prominent member
" ~ fhio nolnn1 mos Paw VIM nowr .