Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1921-09-15
WRIGHT COUNTY.

January Goth, 1S41, and given
the name in honor of Silas Wri-
ght, Il leading Democrat, and a
Senator from New York State,
who at that time held the dis
tinction of being the only man
who ever declined the nominate.
on for Vice President of the
United States. In 1884 the ter.
ritory which makes up Wright
county was unsurveyed, and as a
part af Greene county. In 1871,
when Wright county was form
ed, it was joined on the south by
Ozark, and in 1857 Douglas coun,
ty was organized, out of the up
per half of Ozark, and named for
Steven A. Douglas. Lincoln's
opponent.
There is nothing recored to
point out a real Indian settle,
ment within the present bound
aries of Wright county, other
than a few wandering tribes OF
the Delawares, Shawnees and
Piankashaws. Their graves are
not even known. The settlers
of Wright county by the writes,
date back to 1856, although men
from what is now Texas county
so journed here AS early as 1926.
These carrier men were from
eastern lumber camps, and were
here solely as hun;e"s. When
the u. 5. land vas opened up
for sale, ard prior to 1o4O, a
g~,eatarea of the lard passed in
to the hands of private citizens.
When Col. Palmer came in
1910 he found Samuel Thomas al
The mouth of v h%clstOnr, Robert
Moore Oh lhe Gascanade, John
W. Burns at the mouth of Elk
creek, JEFF Montgomery at the
mouth of Beaver, and Robert
Montgomery at Astoria, BenJa'
min STEPHENS resided Iouth o.
Min. Grove, James Young lived
in a cabin Just east of the pres
ent Young house. William
Franklin 10 miles north east OF
t~Iartvllle, on the Gascanade.
Isham Z. POOLS mill stood where
the Steel mill now is, the Tuck
ars had a store where the ole
Wayne farm, now ClaxtOn's farm
lslocated, the fuckers worked al
eight yoke OK team between thai
point and st. Louis, taking furs
and peltries there, and return
ing with goods suitable to the
wants of the country. The near
est postotfice was at Cave Spr
ings, on the st. Louis and
Springfield road, and this was
the only one within reasonable
distance of the settlers. Arie
Parks was postmaster and mer
chant.
In March 1851, land in Pleas
ant Valley township IA entered
by some of the following set
tiers: O.. M. and Simeon Chris
ian, in 1853 by Nomrod Ford
Isaac Rickette; Henry Moore
W. D.. Moore, Charles Il. Won
mack, Henry H. Brant, Luke
Wicker and Samuel M. Berry
in 1854; 1888 Anericus V
Hicks, elisha Riggs. James II
Adams, John l. Walters, Carson
M. Berry, II. d. Berry, Britain
Freeman, Hugh Campbell. JOIN
w. Gaskill, John ~. Gardner
and John r. Spencer, 1S45 A
William G. Brennan, Mary j
Paul, Elva Gaski'l, Hiram Rip
pee, Andrew Baker, John +
Hight, John Rippee, Williar
Newton, All. Hyde, II D. Smith
Mary Mckee and +. M. Cole.
In the pioneer days of Virgil
county all the large game wer
found here except the buffal,
which disappeared prior to 1870
The Poweshiek springs wei
opened up by Dr. j. S. Allen
llS80, II miles south of Hartvill
on the Ava road, in q most r
matte location. (These are I'll
spring just south of Mansiield)
The mineral industry dat.
back before the coming of Il
railroad, and a Mr.. Headley
accredited with hauling % mill
to a railroad and making shl
mants To St Lnuis hv Mem nlls