The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-06-05
HISTORIC TREE DECAYING.
lin Under Which Daniel Boone Held
Court Located.

The Daniel Boone Judgment Tree. un-
Ter which the famous Indian fighter
ed court during the early part of the
9th century. has been the subject of
considerable discussion both as to what
nd where it was. 1t has at various
mes been reported to be a poplar. an
IN n n sycamore, and i'm order to set
tie the question an expedition was sent
vt by the Missouri Botanical Garden
o locate the tree and get accurate in
3rnation concerning it.
This expedition has reported to the
arden that what is undoubtedly the
Daniel Boone Judgment tree is located
n the old Boone homestead at Darts
'ottom. five miles east of Femme
age village and five miles west of the
,il'aRe Of Defiance. Mo. Femme Usage
. the name given to q creek by Daniel
'0'ne because an Usage woman was
drowned there. 4 pOstofice was for
uerly located in the small village named
lftcr the creek. but this was abandoned
bout u years ago and all mail for the
Fillage goes through Augusta on a rural
QUITE.
Tho tree is growing on the bank of o
halloW %ravine. about 100 feet northwest
f the stone house which was built by
Nathan Boone. Daniel Boone's young
.st son, and about 40 feet south of the
II log house of the pioneer. The tree
which is an American elm, is 60 feet
Ugh. forked about three feet from the
rounds each branch measuring nine
cot in circumference at the fork. The
main trunk is 16 feet six inches in cir
conference two feet from the ground
Tie main branch TO the west is badly
'1to the heartwOod. The main branch t.
the east, which grows more nearly up
icht. is in fairly good condition. The
entire tree, however, Is in a poor state
# preservation. Several large branche
which have been broken off by ice and
wind ar" lodged in the tree.
According to Walter Il. Stevens
Centennial History of Missouri. Boone's
visit to that state from Kentucky in
iT9S was inspired by the Spanish gov
,rnwcnt, but he found the region SC
much to his liking that he decided to
settle there and made his home in Mar
thaSville. Later, he moved to Femme
Usage, where a son had built a log
cabin. This was later replaced by 8
n%retentious stone house, where Boone
lived until his death.
This house was apparently the first
stone structure built in st. Charles
county, and required eight years for it,
completion. An the stone used was
hauled on stone sledges drawn by oxen
from n hillside on the east part of the
arm. The interior is in black walnut
az VII NAN tA0NC SHa 40 - -
handmade, wooden-pegged variety of the
period.
After the settlers began to flock to the
vicinity Of the Boone homestead he was
elected "Syndie" of the district. which
made him the leading citizen of the To-
rality. One of his duties was to hold
court from time to time. passing on
both civil and criminal cases. Offend
ers were not i~nfreduently sentenced to
receive a number of laSheS on the bare
back. .l. -s E
When the United States obtained con
troll of this region the jurisdiction of the
territorial courts waS-eXtended to in
dude the district presided over by Boone.
The habit of appealing to the ''Syndie'
and accepting his opinions without Ques.
ton was too firmly fixed in the minds of
the settlers. however, to admit of ac-
centins the new arrangement, so that as
long as Boone lived he continued t
hold court under the elm tree in front
If his home and here the troubles and
grievances of neighbors were adjusted
according to the principles of common
Scase.-NeW York Times,