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TELEGRAPH Short History of the Invention of the Telegraph and Morse Code Samuel F. B. Morse, (born April 27, 1791, Charlestown, Mass., U.S.—died April 2, 1872, New York, N.Y.), U.S. painter and inventor. The son of a distinguished geographer, he attended Yale University and studied painting in England (1811–15). He returned home to work as an itinerant painter; his portraits still rank among the finest produced in the U.S. Independent of similar efforts in Europe, he developed an electric telegraph (1832–35), believing his to be the first. He developed the system of dots and dashes that became known internationally as Morse code (1838). Though denied support from Congress for a transatlantic telegraph line, he received congressional support for the first U.S. telegraph line, from Baltimore to Washington; on its completion in 1844 he sent the message “What hath God wrought!” His patents brought him fame and wealth. The Western Union Telegraph was completed in Missouri on October 24, 1861. This new method of communication ended the short tenure of the Pony Express. ​ Written by: Carleton Mabee Fact checked by: The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica Last Updated: Feb 12, 2023 • Article History ​ ​ The Western Union Telegraph The Western Union Telegraph was completed on October 24, 1861. This new method of communication ended the short tenure of the Pony Express. ​ The Western Union Telegraph was completed on October 24, 1861. This new method of communication ended the short tenure of the Pony Express. Covering the rapid spread of telegraphic communications starting from 1844 and the completion of the first transcontinental telegraph line in 1861. ​ Sept 1837: Samuel Morse files the first patent for the telegraph system in the United States. 6 Jan 1838: Samuel Morse sends his first public demonstration message over two miles of wire at Speedwell Ironworks in New Jersey . Originally, Morse decided to lay his wire underground in1843, but the project was stopped after 15 km of wire was laid because the line was failing. Morse learned that Cooke and Wheatstone in England were now using poles for their lines, and he decided to follow that lead. 1 April 1844: Work begins in Washington on laying the line to Baltimore using poles. They used chestnut poles of seven meters in height, and 60 meters apart. Two wires were laid, Number 16 copper wire, covered by cotton thread with shellac, and a covering mixture of "beeswax, resin, linseed oil, and asphalt." ​ There was a charge for sending a telegraph. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The first telegraph office – expense of a telegraph 1845: November 14, 1845 report in New York Herald on telegraph lines coming into operation. 1 April 1845: First public telegraph office opens in Washington, D.C., under the control of the Postmaster-General . The public now had to pay for messages, which were no longer free. 15 May 1845: Morse forms the Magnetic Telegraph Company ·October 1845: Samuel Colt partners with William Robinson (a New York book dealer) to form the New York and Offing Electric Telegraph Association. A line is laid from an observation tower built on Coney Island to Manhattan to get news from shipping traffic to the New York Mercantile Exchange more quickly. ·November 1845: In the fall of 1845, the Magnetic Telegraph Company begins service from Philadelphia to Norristown, Pennsylvania , due to great public interest in the work. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Map shows extent of operational lines by the end of 1846. At the start of the year, there were only four short lines in operation 5 June 1846: With completion of the line in-between Baltimore and Philadelphia , line from New York City to Washington, D.C.by Magnetic Telegraph Company is now operational. ​ 1846: 27 June 1846: Commercial line between New York City and Boston completed by F.O.J. Smith . On July 4, the next steamer from Europe to Boston (the Britannia) arrives. Does not appear that telegraph was used, and Herald reports how news traveled from Boston to New York in 10 hours. Next steamer (Cambria) arrives in Boston on July 18 and the New York papers use the new telegraph line. 1847: January 1847: The New York Evening Express uses the new Albany-New York telegraph line to beat the pony express of New York Herald to press. 2 October 1847: Toronto-Montreal line opens line to Quebec City . On Southern project, line segment between Charleston, South Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina opens. 20 December 1847: Line operations from east reach East St. Louis, Illinois . 1848: 15 January 1848 Line opens from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, Wisconsin . March 1848: Eastern lines reach Detroit, Michigan . March 1848: Line from East St. Louis, Illinois crosses Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri . Storm on 4 May 1848 topples one of the masts used to string wire across the river.` 1849: 15 November 1849: First steamer to arrive in Halifax from Europe has news telegraphed directly to New York. 1850: 1850: About 12,000 miles of line from 20 companies now exist in the United States. 29 March 1850: Line reaches Danville, Virginia . 1851: 1851: The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company, which later became Western Union , is organized in Rochester, New York . May 1851: Wilmington, North Carolina reached by line. · The telegraph spread to continental and intercontinental service, rather like an all-encompassing spider web. 20 December 1858: Line west to Kansas City, Missouri from Boonville, Missouri is completed. Mid 1859: Western United States line reaches east to Carson City and to Virginia City by latter part of the year. 3 April 1860 The Pony Express starts operations, running from St. Joseph, Missouri (where the rail and telegraph lines from the east ended) to San Francisco (Sacramento to San Francisco leg by steamer, rest by horse). 3 April 1860 Line starts operating from Springfield, Missouri to St. Louis, Missouri via Bolivar and Jefferson City. The line was later extended to Fayetteville, Arkansas and Ft. Smith, Arkansas . The road from St. Louis to Springfield to Ft. Smith was known as Telegraph Road or Wire Road, later Old Wire Road . Mid-October 1860': Western line is extended east to Fort Churchill . This is as far east as line reaches before work to finish transcontinental line start in July 1861. End of telegraph era 27 January 2006: Western Union discontinues telegram services. Indian company BSNL continues telegraphic service into 2013. ​ Source: Wikipedia ​ Additional information can be found at Bellis, Mary. "The History of the Electric Telegraph and Telegraphy ." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020,

WORLD WAR II ​ (1939 ) Hard times worldwide caused the rise of dictators. Adolph Hitler, dictator in Germany, was a threat to Europeans. Benito Mussolini was a threat in Italy. Europeans felt they had to fight for their freedom. World War II began on September 1, 1939 , when German aircraft, tanks, and motorized troops attacked Poland. By early 1942 all major countries of the world were involved in the war. The war opened the Atomic Age, and brought changes in warfare. Trucks would speed the infantry men to the battle front after aerial bombing. Bombers and guided missiles were used. Airplanes, warships, and ground forces worked together with split second timing during attacks. Paratroops dropped from airplanes or landed in gliders. The war was fought in almost every part of the world. The chief battle grounds were in Asia, Europe, North Africa, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. Italy surrendered on September 3, 1943 , Germany on May 7, 1945 , and Japan on September 2, 1945 . General Douglas MacArthur accepted the unconditional surrender on the deck of the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, and took over in Tokyo. A somewhat uneasy peace returned to a war-weary world. The United States was trying to stay out of the conflict, but there were three problems that affected the United States: the Germans were torpedoing Allied shipping, Germany had promised Mexico some American territory, and the U.S. had loaned Britain and France a lot of money. The United States did not enter the war until December 1941 , after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. At Wake Island the Japanese took many prisoners, including a Boonville man, Charles Huber, who was with a construction force. He remained a prisoner until the war ended. The U.S. wanted to stop German and Japanese aggression against other countries. 2,012 men from Cooper County served in World War II. All those serving from Cooper County are listed on a memorial plaque at the Cooper County courthouse. The 54 men killed in action during this war have a star by their names. Thomas Hart Benton Peril of War series painting Embarkation State Historical Society of Missouri Art Collection (1941) The United Stated Entered World War II after the Japanese bombing of the American fleet in Pearl Harbor. (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) ​ “Missourians fought on nearly every front of the war with around 450,000 Missouri residents serving in the military. Soldiers from Missouri were stationed in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor came under attack. Missouri soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Each campaign of the war involved Missourians overseas and those who served at home. Shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Thomas Hart Benton worked on The Year of Peril, a series of powerful war paintings financed by medical supplier Abbott Laboratories for the war department. Among the series, Benton honored the soldiers of WWII with this image of a Black soldier who trained in Kansas City. The image foreshadows the desegregation of the armed forces instituted by President Harry Truman after WWII.” (1945) The formal end of WWII took place onboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “WWII raged on from 1939-1945, causing massive devastation in its wake. It would be the deadliest war taking the lives of 60-80 million people, including the 6 million European Jews who were murdered in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust. The end of the car came when the U.S. Army Air Force detonated two nuclear bombs over Japan. The dropping of the atomic bombs, along with a Soviet invasion of Japanese-occupied Manchuria in northeastern China put an end to the war. The first unofficial news of surrender came from local radio stations on August 14. Missourians honked car horns, shouted from windows and filled the streets to celebrate the end of the war. In St. Louis, office workers threw paperwork into the air like confetti, while others banged washboards and danced in the streets. The official word came later that day when President Truman confirmed the news. Japanese officers offered unconditional surrender to General Douglas MacArthur and other U.S. and Allied officers on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.” Official surrender of Japan is signed on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Sept. 2, 1945, (P0409) State Historical Society of Missouri. WORLD WAR II WEBPAGES ​ HISTORY CHANNEL BRITANNICA NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM NEW ORLEANS 42 MAPS THAT EXPLAIN WORLD WAR II WORLD WAR II DIGITAL HISTORY WORLD WAR II NATIONAL ARCHIVES RECORDS PRESERVING THEIR STORIES: INTERVIEWS WITH WWII, KOREAN, VIETNAM AND IRAQ WAR VETERANS WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE WORLD WAR II LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

THE WAR OF 1812 IN THE BOONSLICK Cooper County men have volunteered for service in many wars; however, only two have taken place on Cooper County soil: The War of 1812 and the Civil War. Both left both sad and bitter memories with relatives of those wounded or killed in battle. Missourians were involved in three brief wars between 1837 and 1847 . These were: The Seminole War in Florida in 1837 , the Mormon War in 1838-39 , and the Mexican War in 1846-48 . Many Cooper Countians volunteered for service in these wars. ​ The War of 1812 in the Boonslick By Michael Dickey Many people associate the War of 1812 with the burning of the white House in 1812 by the British. But a lesser-known related War of 1812 also involved the early settlers in Missouri and various tribes of Indians. On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. The War of 1812 is one of the least remembered wars of the United States, and Missouri’s involvement is even less known. Though forgotten, the war had significant consequences for the nation’s history. On August 24, 1814 British troops occupied Washington DC burning the White House, the capitol building and several government buildings. Francis Scott Key wrote the National Anthem following the unsuccessful British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor on Sept. 13-14, 1814. The British encouraged the Indians to fight on their side, promising the Indians that they would help them retain their land that was quickly being settled by Americans. The Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815 resulted in a crushing defeat for British forces. In 1959, it gave us the number one hit song on the Billboard Hot 100, “The Battle of New Orleans” by singer Johnny Horton. General Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek Indian Nation in August of 1814 and gained national notoriety for his victory at New Orleans. His war record propelled him to the presidency in 1828 and set the tone of the nation for decades to come. (1812) Forts are Built Hannah Cole, Stephen Cole and their families came to the area of Cooper County that is now Boonville in 1810, nearly two years passed before the War of 1812 broke out. Before this time, the life of the settler was fairly quiet. Nature supplied them with nearly all that they wished to eat or drink. When a place of shelter for his family had been provided, the settler could spend his time hunting and fishing. These were pleasant pastimes for him and they also provided some of the necessities for life. This life of ease and rest was suddenly changed by the beginning of the war. Great Britain declared war in 1812 against the United States. The Indians wanted to keep their land, and joined the war on the side of Great Britain. The settlers immediately began to build forts for their protection. A few months after the first Hannah Cole’s fort was built, a band of about four hundred Indians suddenly made their appearance in the neighborhood. When they came, there were two men by the name of Smith and Savage out hunting. As the hunters were returning, the Indians killed Smith and then scalped him. Savage was able to return to the fort. As the Indians were chasing Savage, they came in full view of the fort. Several of them could have been killed. Some of the people in the fort wanted to kill the Indians; however, Hannah Cole wisely told them not to shoot. The following day some of the settlers captured a French boat, which came up the river loaded with powder and balls to trade with the Indians. The settlers immediately took possession of the twenty-five kegs of powder and five hundred pounds of balls which the boat contained. After the settlers had crossed their families and prisoners to the north shore, in the captured boat, the settlers let the Frenchmen return down the river in their empty boat. The settlers did not want the French to arm the Indians and have the Indians use those weapons against them. As the dominant tribe in Missouri, the Osages had grown increasingly restless as more white settlers were moving West onto their lands. The once friendly American Indians had become belligerent and very dangerous as they did not want to lose their traditional hunting ground. The government was concerned about the safety of the settlers and warned them to move closer to St. Louis for protection. However, the settlers replied to Governor Howard that this area of Missouri was now their home and they were prepared to defend it. When the Declaration of War with England reached St. Louis in July, 1812 there were only 178 soldiers of the regular army in all of the area that would later be named Missouri. Soon after the war broke out, Territorial Governor Benjamin Howard wrote to the settlers in the Boonslick area, urging them to move to the eastern part of Howard County for protection. The settlers defiantly defended their choice to stay on the frontier, and replied to the Governor: “We have maid our hoames here & all we hav is here & it wud ruen us to Leave now.We be all good Americans, not a Tory or one of his Pups among us. & we hav 2 hundred Men and Boys that will Fight to the last and we have 100 Wimen and Girls that will tak there places wh. makes a good force. So we can Defend this Settlement wh. With God’s help we will do.So if wehad a fiew barls of Powder and 2 hundred Lead is all we ask.” It has been said that if it had not been for the lead mining in Cooper County, which provided ammunition for the war, we would have lost the War of 1812. Fort Cooper had been built as a potential center of defense for the Howard county area in case of an Indian uprising. Sarshall Cooper was chosen by 112, including many prominent citizens, as their Captain. He was a natural leader and skilled woodsman, and his knowledge and judgement were trusted by all his men. Cooper’s Fort became the center of the Howard County military community. ​ The settlers who had crossed to the north side of the river returned to their homes in the spring of 1813 , but the Indian troubles continued for another two years. A Heroine of Cooper's Fort The most dangerous time of the war were last six months in 1815 . The settlers were crowded into the forts, had little food to eat, and it was too dangerous to go out of the fort to search for food. The Death of Sarshall Cooper . A sad event of the war was the death of Sarshall Cooper after whom Cooper County was named. One evening, he was sitting at his fireside with his family holding his youngest child on his lap. Other children were playing around the room and his wife was sitting by his side sewing. It is thought that a single Indian warrior crawled up to the fort and made a hole just large enough for the muzzle of his gun to go through the clay between the logs. The noise of his work was drowned by the howling storm. The Indian fired his gun and killed Sarshall instantly. He fell to the floor amidst his horror-stricken family. Sarshall Cooper - small picture of the framed fabric from the vest he was wearing when he was shot. Family heirloom of Joyce Cooper Campbell. ​ A treaty of peace between England and the United States was signed on December 24, 1814. The Indians were advised of the peace treaty; however, they continued to carry on independent warfare, without the help of the British, to try to keep their land. It was not until 1833 that every Indian claim to land titles in the state of Missouri were eliminated. THE WAR OF 1812 IS OVER . Once the War of 1812 was over, and the threat of Indian hostilities gone, the population began to increase quickly. Like most settlers, those who came in the 1820’s to 1830’s, chose to settle close to the Missouri River, but soon started to venture into the heartland of Missouri. Many of the native Americans came from Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas, seeking cheap land. The two countries that contributed greatly to the population increase were Germany and Ireland. In the year 1820, only about 12% of Missouri’s population was foreign born. ​ Below are photos of a flintlock rifle located in the Arrow Rock Museum and two of many musket balls found at the site. Bottom left photo is at the Museum at Arrow Rock with Museum Administrator, Mike Dickey along with my friend Gene Smith. Mike Dickey and Jean Smith viewing long rifle used during War of 1812 Wayne Lammers Collection Flint Lock Rifle used during War of 1812 Wayne Lammers Collection War of 1812 Thoughts ​ It is hard for most of us today to imagine what life was like living in a fort during the the War of 1812 to 1815 . We live in a time of ease when we can heat and cool our homes at a touch of a finger and order anything we desire on line and have it delivered. ​ Try to step back in thought to the period of 1810 to 1815 , when the early Missouri settlers were living in forts for protection from large bands of Indians who wanted their ancient hunting grounds back, and were being encouraged to believe that the English would get it back for them IF the Indians helped to defeat (eliminate) the Americans. ​ Early settlers traveled to central Missouri, at that time Howard County, on the North side of the Missouri River, most likely in covered (Conestoga) wagons. When they arrived, Fort Cooper already contained some single men, a few military and frontiersmen and a few families. ​ Imagine that you are part of a family of two adults and five children. You have brought with you only the most basic cooking utensils, quilts and bedding, tools, guns and ammunition, food for the trip and anything else that you can stuff into the wagon. You probably have no money with you, as there is nothing to buy, but you will probably have some barter items. ​ You settle into a small cabin in the fort, usually just one room. You heat the log cabin and cook your food with heat from the fireplace. It is hot in the summer and probably drafty in the winter. ​ Some of the problems you will encounter: There are many different personalities in a small enclosure. Cooperation and harmony must prevail, especially in times of attack. Everyone must perform the duties assigned to them, even when fear and panic set in. When under attack, which could last for a few days or a week or more, all the animals must be kept inside the fort or they would be killed by the Indians. Feeding the animals for a long period of time, cleaning up after them, and removing their waste is not a pleasant or easy task. Human waste was a problem during times of attack. Other sanitation problems must be considered: how to get clean water for drinking for people and animals, clean water for cooking, cleaning people – especially children, and for cleaning wounds when someone is injured or shot. There would not be a doctor at the fort so someone would hopefully have some knowledge of herbal remedies, and have dried herbs set aside for emergencies, sickness and for tea. Bandages were often made from rags, old clothing and/or fluff from cattails or even milkweed. Forts were usually in the center of a cleared area so enemies could be easily seen. Unfortunately, the pioneers could also be easily seen by the Indians. Large forts, sometimes with 200 or more people, require a lot of food. Wild game normally furnished a majority of their food, but being unable to get out and hunt safely, sometimes meant that the animals inside had to be sacrificed to feed the people. Wild animals were not accustomed to the noise of constant gun fire and would leave the area if frightened, reducing food sources. Nuts, dried tree fruit and berries could be gathered, dried and stored during safe times for emergencies. Some grain crops such as corn, wheat and oats were grown, but during peaceful times the deer, birds and other animals would often feast on the almost ripe grain and the Indians could also set fire to it and it would be destroyed. Sometimes, harvesting the grain could be hazardous if an attack might occur. Corn bread and sourdough bread were probably made, but the choice of what to use for flour could be problematic, although certain types of acorns and nuts could be made edible and used for flour. Even sturdy clothing and shoes tend to wear out. Often men’s and some women’s clothing were made from deer skin, as that was the only material available. If native flax or nettles were available near the river bank, they could be soaked and pounded into workable fiber and eventually be made into a type of cloth. But, without a loom or spinning wheel, it would be hard to make the fibers into cloth. Elderly, or widowed women with small children, also had a hard time doing their share of work without a husband. In many cases there was no official at a fort who was licensed to marry people, but marriages were still performed. ​ Life was a challenge, but those early settlers survived and thrived, and we all owe then a great debt of gratitude for their courage. These hardy pioneers truly were the “salt of the earth.” Barbara Dahl, Editor

HOW GOOD WERE THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”? Did YOU miss out on them? ​ Ask an older relative or family member about what they knew about rural life prior to 1935, especially without electricity or a car. How hard was it for people to complete daily chores without the following items that we take for granted today?: ​ Electricity for light, electric stoves, refrigerators, Indoor plumbing Electricity to pump water from a well Central heat Hot showers or baths Washing machines, clothes dryers, irons, Telephones, cellphones, computers Freezers, blenders Air Conditioning, flash lights Hair dryers, curling irons, electric razors Crock pots, Instapots, air fryers, coffee pots Automatic transmissions on cars Dependable tires for cars and trucks Chainsaws, weed whackers, lawn mowers , Who took care of sick animals with no area vets? How would you contact a doctor in an emergency when you have no phone and only have an old wagon and a horse for transportation? ​ It’s 11 P.M. in 1937 and you have a flat tire out in the middle of nowhere, no spare tire and no way of contacting someone. What do you do? ​ Where did you buy your groceries, where did you buy your clothes, and needed household items? How do you get to town?

LOUISIANA PURCHASE FROM A PROVINCE OF FRANCE TO A STATE IN AMERICA THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE After the new world was discovered, Europeans came to explore the new region. Some came for wealth and others came to satisfy their desire for adventure. ​ In 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer and comrade of Christopher Columbus, came to Florida and explored that area. On his second voyage to Florida, in 1521 , he was killed by Indians. ​ Hernando de Soto was inspired with the same hopes and ambitions, and was not discouraged by Ponce de Leon’s failure. De Soto collected a large band of Spanish and Portuguese men to come to the new world in 1538 . In addition to his men he brought three hundred horses, a herd of swine, and some bloodhounds. On April 25, 1541 , de Soto reached the banks of the great Mississippi, a few miles below Memphis. He explored to the northwest, but no one is certain whether he reached central Missouri. ​ He crossed the Mississippi and pursued his course north along its west bank into the region of our state now known as New Madrid. As far as historians can tell, he was the first European to set foot on Missouri soil. ​ At the same time de Soto was exploring, Francisco Coronado, another Spanish explorer, led an expedition, of three hundred Spanish adventurers, mostly mounted, thoroughly armed, and well-provisioned. It is well authenticated that Coronado entered Missouri in the southern part, but how far north he went, we do not know. Some have claimed that he reached the Missouri River in the central part of the state. ​ ​ PROVINCE TO STATE TIMELINE 1682 Explorer Robert Cavalier and Sieur de La Salle took possession of the Louisiana Province for France, in which it gained control of the Louisiana Territory in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. 1762 Spanish government officials assumed direct control of the Louisiana Territory. 1800 Spain returned the Louisiana Territory to France. 1803 The Louisiana Purchase was signed. 1805 Territory of Louisiana was established; the seat of government was St. Louis. 1812 A portion of the Louisiana Territory was renamed as the Territory of Missouri 1816 Howard County was organized from the Territory of Missouri 1818 Cooper County was organized from part of Howard County 1821 (August 10) Missouri becomes the 24th State ​ 1762 France cedes Province of Louisiana to Spain. (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “France ceded the Province of Louisiana to Spain through the Treaty of Fontainebleau in return for assistance in the Seven Years War against England. News of the deal traveled very slowly in the 18th century and the French governor was unaware that his territory had been delivered to another country. The French continued their work in the region by setting up trading posts and trading fur unbeknownst they were living on land now owned by Spain.” Louisiana 1762-1800, showing boundaries of territory delivered by France to Spain under treaty of Nov. 3, 1762. State Historical Society of Missouri Map Collection. 1800 Spain returned the Louisiana Territory to France. (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “Ownership of the Louisiana Territory became a burden to Spain as it faced a troubling economy. France, however, was rebuilding its empire in the Caribbean and in the Gulf of Mexico under its military leader Napoleon Bonaparte. France also wanted to keep the Louisiana Territory out of the hands of Great Britain, so it offered to trade territories in Tuscany, Northern Italy, for Louisiana in a secret treaty in 1800 . Rumors of the secret agreement brought anger and concern among Westerners who feared that the French power would control the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans. Efforts were underway by the U.S. government to quickly find a way to purchase the territory and secure its important trade port and navigation waters that led to the Gulf of Mexico. 1803 Louisiana Purchase is Complete (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “The Louisiana Purchase by the United States from France would nearly double the size of the U.S. and became one of the largest land transactions in history. Rich in gold, silver and fertile soil, as well as large tracts of forests, the land brought much wealth to the country. With American independence from Great Britain, France had concerns whether it could maintain and defend a colony on U.S. soil and Napoleon needed money to renew a war against Great Britain. President Jefferson sent James Monroe to Paris to negotiate the treaty for the Louisiana Purchase that was signed April 30, 1803 . In exchange for almost 828,000 square miles, the United States would pay France $11,250,000 and assume $3,750,000 worth of American claims against France. Both France and Spain would be granted access to all ports of Louisiana. The U.S. agreed to incorporate Louisiana into the Union as soon as possible”. ​ The United States purchased a total of 828,000 square miles of land from France for 15 Million dollars, which is approximately eighteen dollars per square mile. This purchase increased the size of the United States from the Mississippi River westward to include what are now the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, plus large portions of what are now North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, east of the Continental Divide. Also included were the portions of Minnesota west of the Mississippi River, the northeastern section of New Mexico, the northern part of Texas, New Orleans and portions of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River. It also included small portions of the present Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. ​ Click here for the The Story of the Louisiana Purchase Click here for the Map of size of LOUISIANA PURCHASE and extensive background Louisiana 1803-1819, showing boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in 1803. State Historical Society of Missouri Map Collection. 1803-1819 The land that is now known as Missouri, was a section of the area that was once part of the Louisiana Purchase. This 1804 map shows the District of Louisiana. ​ In 1805 the Territory of Louisiana was established; the seat of government was St. Louis. In 1812 a portion of the Territory of Louisiana became the Territory of Missouri. ​ (1805) President Jefferson appoints James Wilkinson to be the first governor of the newly-formed Louisiana Territory at the encouragement of his vice president, Aaron Burr. Once appointed, Wilkinson and Burr plot ways to set up a new country west of the Appalachian Mountains, separate from the United States. Before becoming territorial governor, Wilkinson had been hired a "Spanish Secret Agent 13" by the Spanish governor in New Orleans to promote immigration to Spanish lands in Missouri. Wilkinson was removed from office two years later in 1807 due to corruption, treason and multiple transgressions. ​ Missouri Life “Meet Missouri's First Governors” ​ 1808 Osage nation First Land Treaty (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) In 1812 , the Missouri Territory was created as a separate territory out of the District of Louisiana land. The entire state was called The Missouri Territory, until it was admitted into the Union, once it was sectioned off from the remaining Louisiana Purchase land. At this time, Howard County was still part of the 5 large counties that made up the Missouri Territory. The 5 Counties were St. Louis, St. Charles, New Madrid, St. Genevieve, and Cape Girardeau. ​ References : The Territorial Papers of the United States , Territory of Louisiana-Missouri, 1806 -1814 ​ The Territorial Papers of the United States , Territory of Louisiana Missouri, 1815-1816. ​ Missouri Historical Maps Missouri Historical Maps District of Louisiana, 1804 Missouri Territory, in 1812 Missouri Territory, in 1816 Missouri Territory in 1819 and State of Missouri 1n 1821 ​ In 1816 the Missouri Territory was divided into 7 counties: Lawrence, Cape Girardeau, Washington, St. Louis, St. Charles, New Madrid, and Howard.

COOPER COUNTY TRAIN DEPOTS The first MKT Depot was built in Boonville around 187? just before the railroad reached Sedalia on its way to Boonville. The railroad continued on to Boonville, crossing the Missouri river on its way to Chicago. The original Depot was on the west side of the tracks and was used mainly for freight. After the second depot was built, the first Depot was used for storage until 1950 when it was removed. Two pictures of the first Depot. Notice that the terrain was much different than it is today. (WL Collection) Picture of people waiting at the station. Pictures of Pleasant Green and Pilot Grove Depots. (WL Collection) The second MKT depot, built in 1911 on the West side of the tracks, was a Mission style building which today is the location of the Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and it is also the start of the KATY walking and bike trail. The Katy Rail Road built 5 Spanish Mission Style Depots, and the Boonville Depot is the only one surviving. (Picture of current depot with caboose and signal light donated to the City by Wayne Lammers. (Fall picture of depot is on the first page of the website.) All photos from the Wayne Lammers collection First Boonville Train Depot Notice steep incline Close Up of First Boonville Train Depot First Depot Add pictures from earlier train section The text should be identical. The second MKT depot, built in 1911 on the West side of the tracks, was a Mission style building which today is the location of the Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and it is also the start of the KATY walking and bike trail. The Katy Rail Road built 5 Spanish Mission Style Depots, and the Boonville Depot is the only one surviving. Add pictures First Boonville Depot Second and Current Boonville Depot Lamine Train Depot Pleasant Green Depot ​ ​ ​ IN OUR OWN BACKYARD ​ ​ ​ ​ The beautiful, historic Katy Depot as it looks today. PICTURE of Boonville Depot People travel far and wide to visit beautiful places with historic backgrounds. Boonville residents have only to step outside. One such location is at 320 First Street, the home of the Missouri, Kansas, Texas (MKT) Railroad Depot. Although the MKT arrived in Boonville on May 31, 1873, the Spanish mission style depot, which was for the convenience of passengers, wasn't constructed until about 1910. There were originally five identical such depots built—three in Oklahoma, one in Kansas, and one in Missouri. The one in Boonville is the only one that survives. Once a thriving part of Boonville, the depot used to see as many as 25-30 trains come and go on a daily basis. Many of them brought visitors to stay or see the sights. It was also a popular way for traveling salesmen, or "drummers," to travel around the country with trunks of samples. But the need for passenger trains decreased as automobiles came into everyday use. The last passenger train stopped in Boonville on May 1, 1958, and reduced the depot to just a freight stop, until finally, on October 4, 1986, the last freight train passed through Boonville. Today, the depot, which is owned by the Department of Natural Resources, still stands and is affectionately referred to as the Katy Depot. It is the home of the local Chamber of Commerce, Tourist Information Center, and District offices of the Division of State Parks. While the tracks of the MKT are gone, the trail lives on. An old, restored rail car is also on display. Today, the 237.7 miles between Machens and Clinton, Mo, make up the Katy Trail State Park on which thousands of bicycle enthusiasts pass through Boonville each year. ​ Adapted from: Historically Yours by Elizabeth Davis

COOPER COUNTY TRAIN DEPOTS The first MKT Depot was built in Boonville around 187, just before the railroad reached Sedalia on its way to Boonville. The railroad continued on to Boonville, crossing the Missouri river on its way to Chicago. The original Depot was on the west side of the tracks and was used mainly for freight. After the second depot was built, the first Depot was used for storage until 1950 when it was removed. Two pictures of the first Depot. Notice that the terrain was much different than it is today. Photos from Wayne Lammers Collection First Boonville Train Depot Notice the steep incline Close Up of First Boonville Train Depot First Depot The second MKT depot, built in 1911 on the West side of the tracks, was a Mission style building which today is the location of the Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and it is also the start of the KATY walking and bike trail. The Katy Rail Road built 5 Spanish Mission Style Depots, and the Boonville Depot is the only one surviving. First Boonville Depot Second and Current Boonville Depot Lamine Train Depot Pleasant Green Depot Pleasant Green Depot

COOPER COUNTY BANKS DURING THE DEPRESSION The Bank of Speed “Speed” is an unincorporated town in Palestine Township, Cooper County, Missouri. The Bank of Speed was the center of what was once a thriving community. It was incorporated on October 9, 1909. The amount of Capital Stock was $10,000, which in 1909 was a great sum of money. ​ Fast forward to January 1, 1928. Harold E. Mitzel took over the bank operation in 1928 and served in that capacity through the Great Depression until June 30, 1937. According to E. J. Melton, (who wrote “History of Cooper County” in 1938), the Bank of Speed was “the only bank in Missouri that did not have to close its doors during the bank crisis of the early 30’s.”After the Boonville National Bank and the Bunceton State Bank closed, Mr. Mitzel went through the books and then advised the board of directors how many depositors would likely demand their money. They were backed by well-supported loans, but there wasn’t enough cash on hand if there was a run on the bank. The board decided to borrow $20,000 from the Federal Reserve in St. Louis. ​ Mr. Mitzel took the bus to St. Louis and came back with $20,000 cash in his pockets. When he got off the bus in Boonville, he ran into O. J. Schlotzhauer who asked what he had in his pockets. Mitzel told him and let the story spread. ​ When depositors came to the bank and asked how much of their money they could get, they were promptly told, “All of it.” Knowing their money was safe was all they needed to know. From then on, they either withdrew only what they needed or made deposits. The bank was saved. ​ The loan from the Federal Reserve? It was paid back in thirty days. ​ Resource: A Town Called Speed, by Gerhardt, Roy B., c/1984 ​ ​ Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove October 29, 1929, went down in history as Black Tuesday, and America went from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression. Banks failed and millions of people lost their jobs, homes, and life savings. ​ Things were still bad in November 1932, but Henry A. Seltsam, cashier and secretary of the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove, had a plan. It was a daring plan that Seltsam presented to the bank directors on Monday, November 7, 1932. ​ “It is not fair to the faithful to permit steady withdrawals to undermine the bank’s stability, and then be forced to close with subsequent division of the remainder. I favor closing the bank tomorrow. “There is one chance to save it. If all the depositors will sign a moratorium not to draw out for 18 months what they now have on deposit, we can save the bank.” ​ After much discussion and planning, the plan was accepted. All banks were closed the following day for the Presidential election, but the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove remained closed on Wednesday as well. Working day and night, Seltsam and director Wallace Burger began collecting signatures. The catch: the voluntary impounding of funds would not go into effect until, and unless, 100 per cent of the depositors signed the agreement. Every depositor had an opinion about the plan, but most agreed the bank must be saved. Finally, with the signatures of all depositors, the bank re-opened and deposits grew. Pilot Grove might have been on the road to recovery, but the nation was not. ​ While signatures were being collected in and around Pilot Grove, the people were voting for a new President. Franklin D. Roosevelt was that man. FDR took office on March 4, 1933, and immediately ordered every depository in the nation closed. After each was audited, only the financially sound were allowed to re-open. And thanks to the foresightedness of Seltsam and the directors, the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove was one of the first to do so. ​ Source: Pilot Grove Bicentennial

TOWNSHIPS FORMED Adapted from Discover Cooper County by Ann Betteridge: Cooper County Townships were not all formed at the same time. Townships changed names and territory throughout the early history of the County. The first election after Cooper County was organized was held August 2, 1819 and four townships were established...Arrow Rock, Miami, Tabeau and Lamine, which included the town of Boonville. ​ In May, 1820 , the original townships remained the same and Moreau Township was added. Cooper County was bounded on the east and south by the Osage River, on the west by the Indian Territory, and on the north by the Missouri River. Lamine Township at that time included about all within the present limits of Cooper County, plus some territory not now included in its limits. ​ In August, 1820 , Osage and Jefferson townships were added. When Saline County was formed, Arrow Rock, Miami and Tabeau went away. Moreau went to Moniteau County. ​ On July 12, 1855 , the following townships had been established and still exist in the County: Boonville; Lamine; Saline; Clark's Fork; Moniteau; Kelly; Palestine; Clear Creek; Pilot Grove; Blackwater; and Lebanon. ​ A total of 14 townships were established by 1877 . Moniteau was divided into north and south, and since 1897 the final township configuration has remained the same. ​ At one time Cooper County was dotted with many small family farms. Many of these small farms have been in the same family for over 100 years and are known as “Century Farms”. But after the Depression, and the locusts and dust storms of the 1930s , and the drop in farm prices in the 1980 ’s, many small farms were lost to creditors and were often purchased at bargain prices, then were consolidated into larger farms. The trend towards large farming operations has resulted in a drop in county population. ​ Living in an rural area that is not crowded has its advantages - people are more friendly, neighbors are close, but not too close, and people are usually very supportive of their schools and communities. People you don’t even know wave as they pass on the road. That will never happen in the city. References – Small Cooper County Towns History of Cooper County by W.F. Johnson: Townships pages 218-249 A Pictorial History of the Boonslick Area Bicentennial Boonslick History Map of Cooper Counties' townships BLACKWATER TOWNSHIP Physical Features : This township is a peninsula, being almost entirely surrounded by the Lamine and Blackwater rivers. The soil is rich and very productive. The minerals found in the township were partially responsible for the settlement of the township. Minerals found there are iron, lead, and salt. In 1888 , there were six salt springs and a great number of fresh water springs in this area. Salt was manufactured at salt water springs from as early as 1808 through 1836 . The manufacture of salt was carried on extensively by Heath, Baley, Christie, Allison, and others. Settlement : William Christie and John G. Heath temporarily settled in this township in 1808 . They remained only long enough to manufacture a small quantity of salt, then returned down the river. James Broch, the first permanent settler, arrived in 1816 , and planted an acre of cotton which produced a high yield. Some of the first settlers were: Enoch Hambrich, who came in 1817 ; David Shellcraw in 1818 ; Nathaniel T. Allison, Sr. In 1831 ; Fleming Marshall and Robert Clark in 1832 ; Nathaniel Bridgewater in 1835 ; and Edmund M. Cobb and Larkin T. Dix in 1834 . In 1937 Blackwater had two general merchandise stores, a grocery store, two hardware stores, two barber shops, a beauty shop, blacksmith, post office, lumber company, bank, a hotel, one elevator, two doctors and the Blackwater Stone Company. Today, all that remains is the post office, city hall, bank, hotel, and the train station aka “The Depot” which is used as a community center. There are a few antique and trendy shops along Main Street as well as a restaurant. “The Hollow,” a large event venue, once Fahrendorf Feed and Hardware Supply, is used primarily as a reception area for Wildcliff Weddings and Events. The Blackwater Preservation Society is active in maintaining this attractive and unique town. The only town remaining in Blackwater Township, is Blackwater. References for Blackwater Township at CCHS: History of Blackwater ​ BOONVILLE TOWNSHIP Physical Features : The Missouri River is on the north; the Petite Saline Creek runs through the southern part of the township and the Lamine River borders a portion of the western part of the township. This township’s soil is very productive, and is especially good for growing fruit. Large quantities of coal have also been mined from this area Settlement : The first settlers of the township were Stephen and Hannah Cole, who settled there in 1810 . William McFarland, the first Sheriff of Cooper County, was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina. In October, 1816 he settled on the north side of the Petite Saline Creek. In 1818 he was a member of the Territorial Legislature from the southern district of Howard County. He was elected a member of the Legislature from Cooper County in 1822 , 1824 , and 1838 . Luke Williams, a Baptist preacher, was a farmer and lived about five miles west of Boonville. Justinian Williams was born in Bath County, Virginia, and while young, emigrated to Kentucky. Later, he moved to Howard County and from there settled at Boonville in 1818 , organizing the first Methodist Church in Cooper County the same year. He was a cabinet maker by trade. He was also the local preacher in Boonville for several years. In 1834 he built a steam boat and was its commander for several years. Marcus Williams was the first mayor of Boonville. He came to Boonville from Kentucky. He was a brick mason by trade, and manufactured the first bricks ever commercially made in Cooper County. In 1840 he made the first stoneware ever manufactured in western Missouri. Boonville Township was the first township in the county to be settled. Between 1830 and 1840 a number of men settled in Boonville and engaged extensively in the mercantile business. The years 1840-1850 were a time of great prosperity in Boonville. During the Civil War, there was a period of confusion, violence, anger and disruption in Boonville. The economy of the township stood still, and the effect of the war lingered for some time following the war. The troops on both sides had stolen or commandeered most of the horses and livestock and any food they could find. Buildings and homes had been destroyed and crops ruined. Just following the war was the growth of railroads in the county, which started a new period of prosperity. In Boonville, the first municipal water system was completed in 1883 and a telephone system was also started in in 1883 . Main street was paved with bricks in 1898 . Street lighting by electricity replaced the gas lights. In 1924 a new east-west highway bridge over the Missouri River brought more traffic to Boonville and more people, as the road went down Main street. Factories and new businesses also came to Boonville at this time. Today Boonville is the largest city in the County and still prosperous, although not as busy as in earlier years. The older buildings along the main street, and the early churches have been well preserved and are still in use. Especially interesting are Thespian Hall, the old jail, Roslyn Heights and the Hain House. Many of the beautiful older homes are listed on the National Register. Most of the Main Street buildings are still in use and are well maintained. Several of the older buildings in the city have been repurposed. The old KATY Railroad Bridge, spanning the Missouri River, is one of the focal points of the city, which is rich in history. Billingsville, once a busy community is now an unincorporated area in the township, a small settlement consisting of a lovely church, a mix of old and new homes and a large well-kept cemetery. At one time it was one of several busy stage coach stops in the county. References for Boonville Township at CCHS: History of Billingsville, Prairie Lick and Stoney Point; Boonville An Illustrated History Boonville An Historic River Town Also, see list of thing to see in Boonville near the end of the website. ​ CLARK’S FORK TOWNSHIP Physical Features : The township is watered by Clark’s Fork and the Petite Saline Creek with their tributaries. There is probably more prairie in this township than in any other township in the County. Settlement : John Glover was the first settler of this township. He came in 1813 and built a log cabin on the south bank of the Petite Saline Creek. The next settlers were John C. Rochester and Zephaniah Bell. John C. Rochester was a grandson of the founder of the city of Rochester, New York. John lost a fortune by having to pay a large security debt. He wanted to come to a new country where society would accept him. He married Sallie Kelly, a daughter of James Kelly, who was a soldier of the American Revolution. Mr. Bell was a farmer. George Crawford was the first assessor of Cooper County. He was also a member of the legislature from Cooper County. Judge George Weight settled in Clark’s Fork Township in 1822 , and he taught school in Cooper County. He was a good violinist, and in his early days taught a dancing school. He was judge of the County court and county surveyor of Cooper County for many years. There were several brick kilns and a lime kiln in the area. Water-powered mills were built. Flour and meal were so important that four mills did a good business in the community. The mills were: Rankin’s Mill, Jewett’s Mill, Connor’s Mill, and Gooch Mill. In 1847 , Jacob Schilb and family came to the United States from Bavaria and settled near Gooch Mill. They began to make crockery: jars, crocks, and jugs. Old Overton, at the edge of the Missouri River, had a tomato processing factory and it had a ferry boat landing nearby. The Missouri Pacific Railroad built a depot there. There were four covered bridges in the area: Crawford, Hurt, Connors, and Big Lick. They all spanned the Petite Saline Creek. Not only did the bridges save fording the stream, they also provided shelter from rain and storms, and provided a cool place for tired, hot horses to rest. Unfortunately, all of the covered bridges are now gone. The Lone Elm public school closed in 1963 when county schools were consolidated. There is now a large church at Lone Elm named Zion Lutheran Church. The church has a very successful private Christian Day School that is providing an excellent education for area students. There are two remaining small, unincorporated settlements in Clark’s Fork Township – Lone Elm and Clark’s Fork. CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP Physical Features : Clear Creek Township is one of the oldest townships in Cooper County. It received its name from the creek which flows through it in a northwesterly direction. It flows over a pebbly bottom causing its waters to be unusually clear, which makes it truly a “clear creek.” The surface of the township is rough in the northern and western portions but there is rich farmland in the southern and eastern portions. The Lamine River and numerous smaller streams flow through the township. It is 44 square miles in area. Settlement: Isaac Ellis, Alex Brown, and a Mr. Scott settled in the northwestern part of the township in about 1816 . Another early settler of this township was James Taylor, who had three sons, William, John, and James. He witnessed the long series of earthquakes which occurred in New Madrid in 1811 . He moved to Cooper County in 1817 . He had a large plantation, and raised, and always had on hand, large quantities of corn, which he stored in cribs. He would not sell the corn unless he received the price he asked. He also would not sell the corn to those he thought were not thrifty. One time when corn was very scarce in the county, and very little could be had, two men came to Mr. Taylor’s house asking to buy some corn on credit. One was very poorly dressed, with his pants torn off below his knees, and what there was remaining of them patched all over. The other was almost elegantly dressed. Mr. Taylor sold the poorly dressed man, on credit, all the corn he wished. He told the other one that ‘he could get no corn there, unless he paid the money for it, and that if he had saved the money which he had squandered for his fine clothes he would have had enough to pay cash for the corn.” Mr. Taylor was a leader in the Baptist church and a kind neighbor. Mr. Taylor was known as “Corn Taylor”. Jordan O’Bryan, a son-in-law of James Taylor, was also one of the early settlers of this township. He was elected to the state legislature in 1822 , 1826 , 1834 , and 1840 . In 1844 , he was elected state senator for four years. James Taylor’s son, John, continued raising corn as his father did. He built a large plantation home which was completed in 1859 . The house, later named Crestmead, has been restored. It has been in the Betteridge family since 1903 . At the same time, he was building Crestmead, he served on the committee to build Mt. Nebo Baptist Church. ​ In 1823 , Samuel Walker arrived and located in the southern part of the township. His father, Winston, had already built a fort in this area. In 1814 , Stephen Young and Lawrence Sommers, the first German immigrants, arrived in the township. Following in his tracks were numerous Germans, who settled most of the northern and western portions of the township. The Germans proved themselves to be a very industrious and thrifty people. Most German immigrants to this township came between 1830 and 1850 . Between 1840 and 1850 , the following men and their families came from Germany and other places in Missouri: Adam Aulbach, Jacob Beck, Theodore Bester, John Deil, Jacob Deil, Bertram Felten, Fran Grotzinger, Gergory Klenklen, Henry Jansen, Melchior Kraus, Andrew Neckerman, Anton Schibi, Michael Schoen, F. M. Larm, Franz Stolzenberger, Bernard H. Twenter, John B. Twenter, Anthony Youngkamp, John G. Walz, Anton Wessing, and George A. Zoeller. They mostly settled on the hills which the Americans thought too poor to cultivate, and become very prosperous. They succeeded in raising good crops and in making a good living. In hilly areas they cultivated grapes very successfully. The Missouri, Kansas, and Texas (MKT or KATY) railroad ran about five miles through this township, furnishing the inhabitants transportation for their surplus products. "Here are some of my reminiscences of my Great Grand Grandmother, Maria Martin Day, "Grandma Day". This is from a book written by Agnes Immele Meriwether called "Bernhard Martin and His Descendants" from 1962. Grandma Day, I feel, is one of Cooper Counties Heroes. She had a hard, good life and I'm proud to be connected with her and her stories". - Wayne Lammers PLEASANT GREEN In 1816 Alex Brown, Isaac Ellis and Mr. Scott and their families settled in the area which came to be known as Pleasant Green. In 1823 , Samuel Walker arrived who was the owner of a large federal grant of land. Judge Smith Walker and his father Winston built a small brick house on edge of the Walker land and named it “Pleasant Green”. The name was also given to the nearby Methodist Church founded in 1825 (still in use) and eventually the town. The town was located on the MKT Railroad line and was an important shipping station for 40 years. In its most prosperous days it had three general stores, a bank, a drug store, hardware store, barber, small hotel, two grain elevators, livery stables, blacksmith, post office and a telephone office. People started to leave in the late 1920 ’s and 30 ’s due to the depression and changes in transportation. Cooper County’s first bank robbery took place in Pleasant Green in 1926 . Today, Pleasant Green and Burrwood are the only evidences of the busy town that once existed there. ​ Every year since 1953 the Township has had an annual sanctioned radio. Pleasant Green is the only town that has ever been in Clear Creek Township. References for Clear Creek Township at CCHS: History of Clear Creek Pleasant Green Underground ​ KELLY TOWNSHIP Physical Features: The surface of the township consists mainly of prairie with some timbered portions. Moniteau Creek, with its tributaries, extends through two-thirds of the township from east to west, and the Petite Saline Creek waters a portion of the western part of the township. The township was named in honor of John Kelly, one of its early pioneers. Settlement: James Kelly was a Revolutionary War soldier. He, along with Charles Woods and James D. Campbell, served as soldiers in the War of 1812 . The Kelly’s came from Tennessee. William Jennings came from Georgia to Cooper County in 1819 , and owned a large tract of land. He was the first preacher in the township, and was the pastor of “Old Nebo” Church for many years. ​ James D. Campbell was an early justice of the county court and acted as justice of the peace for many years. He was a prominent politician, always voting the Democratic ticket. Charles Woods, also known as General Charles Woods, was for many years the leading Democrat in his neighborhood. Joseph Reavis settled in the township in 1823 . He and his sons manufactured excellent wagons. Their trade extended for miles around. Their wagons were sometimes purchased by the Santa Fe traders. The first school was taught by Joseph S. Anderson in 1824 . He taught until 1828 when he was elected sheriff of Cooper County. In 1832 he was elected to the legislature from Cooper County. Rice Challis, an early settler in this township, was a carpenter. The soil of this township is very productive and the farmers are generally prosperous. The Union Pacific Railroad was a short distance south of the township. Until 1937 , the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad ran eight miles directly through its center, affording the inhabitants easy facilities for the shipping of their products. Corn, wheat, and soybeans were among the principal products, with many farmers raising live stock as well. At the height of its prosperity, hundreds of cars of cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry and mules were shipped to St. Louis each year. The town grew rapidly and by 1899 the town had two drug stores, 3 general stores, 2 millinery stores, 4 grocery stores, a hotel, 4 barbershops, 3 blacksmiths, 2 physicians, 2 lumber yards, one livery stable, a carpenter, a public school, a private school, a flour mill, 4 churches and a population of 1,000 people. Beginning in 1896 , Bunceton was noted for its annual Fair. The Fair was eventually replaced by the 4th of July Days that Bunceton celebrates each year. Although individuals do not bring projects to be judged like in most fairs, there are games to play: dunking booth, cake walk, pedal pull, bounce house, pony rides, to name a few, along with fiddle contests, an ice cream social and street dance. A parade is held every year. This special event is open to the public and fun to attend. Since its founding, Bunceton has suffered from many fires which have destroyed three mills and much of the main street business area. As the town began to lose population after the train was rerouted and bypassed the town, much of the business area deteriorated and has been removed. One building which has been used for several things is the Princess theater, built in 1917 , which has been later used as a funeral home, a bar (Lucky's Place), and currently it has been made into an apartment. ​ At one time, when the railroad came through town, Bunceton grew to be the second largest town in Cooper County. Today, Bunceton is the only town in Kelly Township, with a current population of­­ 354. References for Kelly Township at CCHS: Bunceton 1868-1888 Bunceton 1868-1993 ​ ​ LAMINE TOWNSHIP Physical Features: The surface of the township is rolling and was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber. Most of the soil is rich and, in some localities, very productive. Three sides of the township are surrounded by water. Settlement: The township was settled first in 1812 . The very first settlers were David Jones, a Revolutionary War soldier; Thomas and James McMahan; Stephen, Samuel and Jesse Turley; and Saunders Townsend. Others came soon afterwards. In 1812 a fort, called McMahan’s Fort, was built in this township, but was later attacked by Indians in 1814 and burned to the ground. This township was at one time, one of the wealthiest townships in the County. Lead deposits were found and mined. A large quantity of high-quality lumber and cord-wood was cut every year from the plentiful woods and was shipped by men of the Blackwater and Lamine River areas. The streams have abundant fish. Tornadoes have not been kind to Lamine and eventually the town was moved closer to the river and the railroad, and is sometimes called “New Lamine. Lamine Township has only one very small settlement at this time – Lamine. References for Lamine Township at CCHS: Our Town, Lamine Missouri ​ LEBANON TOWNSHIP Physical Features: Lebanon township is bounded on the north by Clear Creek and Palestine townships, on the east by Kelly township, on the south by Morgan county, and on the west by Otterville township. This township was organized about 1826 . ​ In the western part of the township the surface is rough and partly timbered. There are fine stretches of prairie and rolling land in the southern and eastern part. ​ Settlement: Thomas J. Starke, of Otterville, wrote an interesting history of Otterville and Lebanon. He read the history on the 4th day of July, 1876 , at a meeting of the citizens of Otterville. He spent almost 70 years in Cooper County where he grew to manhood, married and died. He was the father of Mrs. D. S. Koontz of Boonville. The first settlement of the township was New Lebanon, six miles north of Otterville. During the fall of 1819 and spring of 1820 the following people came to New Lebanon to settle: Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. James L. Wear, John Wear, James H. Wear, Samuel Wear, Alexander Sloan, Robert Kirkpatrick, Colin C. Stoneman, William Stone, Frederick Casteel, Reuben A. Ewing, James Berry, Thomas Rubey, Elizabeth Steele, a Mr. Smiley, Rev. Laird Burns, John Burns, John Reed, Silas Thomas, James Taylor, Hugh Wear, who as a brother to James L. and John Wear, James McFarland and Rev. William Kavanaugh. Rev. Finnis Ewing was a minister of the gospel, and one of the original founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was from Kentucky. He became a minister in 1803 and with Samuel McAdam and Samuel King, founded the Cumberland Church in 1810 . New Lebanon settlers pitched their tents and began building a church and seminary. It was built of hewn logs. Each person brought their share of the logs. These logs were double, that is, each log was 24 feet in length, being joined in the middle of the house by means of an upright post, into which the ends were mortised, making the entire length of the church 48 feet, and 30 feet in width. This building served as a place of worship until 1860 , when the new brick church of the present day was built on the site of the old one, which was torn down. The Rev. James L. Wear was for many years a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. ​ Rev. John Reid was another minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He first lived at Honey Creek and afterward moved to many different places. Reid was driving a team for a man who was moving to this country with Mr. Ewing, who had bells on his six-horse team. The young man liked the jingle of these bells so well that he begged Mr. Ewing to allow his teamster to divide with him, in order that he might share the music, but Mr. Ewing “could not see it” and refused to make the division as asked. Reid bought a number of cowbells and hung one on each horse of his team, which soon had the effect of bringing the preacher to terms. Mr. Ewing was so much bothered with the discord made by these coarse bells that he soon suggested a compromise by giving Reid his sleigh bells, provided he would stop the cowbell part of the concert. New Lebanon is the only settlement left in New Lebanon Township, but it has been beautifully preserved. The church and school are in excellent condition, as is Uncle Abe’s Store. There is also a large cemetery. A visit to New Lebanon allows you to take a rare step back in time and is worth a visit. References for Lebanon Township at CCHS: History of New Lebanon ​ NORTH AND SOUTH MONITEAU TOWNSHIPS Physical Features: These two townships, originally one, are separated by the Moniteau Creek. They are bounded on the north by Clark’s Fork and Prairie Home townships, on the east and south by Moniteau County and on the west by Kelly Township. The surface near the Moniteau Creek tends to be rough, gradually giving way to prairie both in the north and south. Settlement: Pisgah is the second oldest town in Cooper County. The area was first settled in 1818 . Thomas B. Smiley, an early settler, was elected to the Legislature from Cooper County in 1820 , with Thomas Rogers and William Lillard. Thomas Smiley was a man of considerable information and a good historian. He raised a large family of children and died in 1836 . Mr. Shelton, a blacksmith, settled near the town of Pisgah in 1818 . He was well-known for his good work with metals and at that time was the only blacksmith in the county outside of Boonville. Some of the early settlers in this area were Seth Joseph, Waid and Stephen Howard, William Coal, Sames Stinson, Hawking Burress, David Burress, Charles Hickox, Samuel McFarland, Carroll George, James Snodgrass, Martin George, Alexander Woods, James Jones, David Jones, and Augustus K. Longan. David Jones settled at Pisgah before 1820, since his vote was recorded in that year. He and Archibald Kavanaugh were elected to the state legislature in 1830 , 1832 , and 1834 . In 1836 he was elected State Senator, and was re-elected in 1848 . ​ Pisgah and Mount Pleasant churches were built by the Baptists in the early days and were led by John B. Longan and Kemp Scott. The first school in this township was probably taught by James Donelson. He only professed to teach arithmetic as far as the “double rule of three.” A Mr. Summers and Judge Smith kept a store at “Old Round Hill.” Richard Bonsfield built a store at Pisgah. Today, there are no towns or churches left in South Moniteau Township and there remain two, almost extinct towns, in North Moniteau Township – Pisgah and Cotton. Pisgah has a lovely church, Pisgah Baptist, which is still active. The Pisgah Baptist church was organized in 1819 and is the second oldest Baptist church in Cooper County. At one time there was a croquette factory, grist mill, chair factory, carding mill, three general stores, a blacksmith and a drug store located there. Pisgah was the first town in Cooper County to have its own community center. Cotton is also located in North Moniteau Township. It once was home to a large grist mill and a was busy little town. Dick’s Mill, the last standing in mill in Cooper County is still there, but not in operation and Dicks’ school is also still standing. ​ OTTERVILLE TOWNSHIP Physical Features: Otterville Township originally included part of Lebanon Township, but later covered all of Lebanon township west of the Lamine River. Settlement: In 1826 , Thomas Parsons came to this area and found three families living west of the Lamine. These were the James G. Wilkerson, William Reed, and William Sloan families. Thomas Parsons established the first hatters’ shop south of Boonville. Elijah Hook, a hunter and trapper, came from Tennessee and James Brown who came in 1827 and was a Kentuckian, farmer, and hunter. He had hunted with Daniel Boone. James Davis also came from Tennessee. He was an industrious farmer and great rail splitter. James Birney, a prominent farmer, came from Kentucky in 1827 . Frederick Shurley, the mightiest hunter in all the land round about Otterville, settled southeast of Otterville in 1827 . He was with General Jackson in the Creek War, and was present at the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend, where the Indians had made their last stand. He used to tell with deep interest, the thrilling incidents of this war. Nathan Neal came from Kentucky in 1827 and settled two miles north of Otterville. George Cranmer came to Boonville in 1828 and to Clifton City in 1832 . He was a millwright and a mechanic. He and James H. Glasgow built what was known as Cranmer’s Mill, where the KATY railroad crossed the Lamine River. He named the area Clifton, which was previously known as Cold Neck. Clifton City There are many interesting stories about the town of Clifton City. Matthew Cox, a hunter and trapper of this area, was known for his tales. He told of being in a bear’s grip, when the bear pushed him off a high bluff which was nearly 500 feet high. They would strike and bound against the rocks every few feet, until they reached the bottom of the bluff. You would naturally think it was “Farewell Matthew,” but strange as it may seem, he escaped with a few slight scratches. The bear had, fortunately for Matthew, been on the underside every time they struck, till they reached the bottom, when the bear turned loose of the hunter and closed his eyes in death. Matthew Cox’s tales were generally much like this; almost always they ended favorable to him and fatal to his enemies. This tale made “Matthew’s Bluff” well known to everybody in this neighborhood. In 1907 , the original train depot at Clifton City burned. It was replaced by a new slate roofed depot and later moved in 1925 . The first train made its maiden run in 1873 . The last train made its final run passing through Clifton City, in 1986 . The mail came in by train and was carried to the post office to be delivered. Several train wrecks date back to 1879 and 1918 . Wrecks were blamed on a mix up in train orders. The train would whistle coming into town twice a day, but today, the whistle only lives on in memories of the days gone by. Just off JJ, North of Hwy 135, was the location of the Stage Stop. Rumor has it that an old shed, close to this Stage Stop, is where the Jessie James gang would hide from time to time. The James gang at one time was caught not far from there on their way out of town. Jesse had a lot of friends at Clifton City and visited there often, or whenever he was passing through. In the late 1800 ’s, Clifton City had a bank, a beautiful brick building standing on the South side of town. In 1886 , W.B. Over the years the building has been a home to several different business - a café, grocery store and many other things. Today it still stands as a place for storage, and is slowly losing its beauty. The bank closed in 1929 . One of the greatest improvements for the rural people in Clifton City was made when farm to market roads were established. The roads were built in 1934 and 1935 . There are now two paved roads going through Clifton City. The coming of cars and trucks hurt the railroad shipments. The new roads made it easy and less expensive for farmers to take their produce and cattle to market with their own trucks. So this was the beginning of a slow death to the small town of Clifton City. The town of Otterville was first called Eldon. Later it was named for the great number of otters found in a creek which flows past the town. In 1860 the Missouri Pacific Railroad was built and ended in Otterville, and the town grew and prospered. Eventually the rail line was extended to Sedalia. As a result, Sedalia prospered and Otterville lost population and businesses. ​ Otterville The town of Otterville was first called Elktown and Ottertown before being named Otterville. It was laid out by Gideon R. Thompson in 1837 . A public square was laid out and some buildings were built near the square. The town square at this time was where the Otterville School stands today. Otterville was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Missouri on February 16, 1854 . One hundred years after the town of Otterville was incorporated a city water system was added. There was no post office in Otterville until March 24, 1848 . When the post office started in Otterville, the mail was carried by horseback. Then the Missouri Pacific railway came through and that allowed the mail to be brought to town by train. The post office quit dispatching the mail to the trains in about 1965 . Since then the mail is sent and received from Sedalia by truck. Today Otterville Township has two small towns – Otterville and Clifton City. References for Otterville Township at CCHS: Recollections of Clifton City, Clifton City 1873-2019 and Otterville Sesquicentennial ​ ​ PALESTINE TOWNSHIP Physical Features: The surface of the township is mostly level, with the exception of a strip of rough land near the western side. There is evidence that this area was once an Indian settlement. ​ Settlement: The first people to come to this township were Joseph Stephens, William Moore, and Samuel Peters. Joseph Stephens Sr., and family, settled in Palestine in 1817 , being led to their new home by Major Stephen Cole. In 1818 , Samuel Peters settled two miles farther north at a place called Petersburg. William Moore came from North Carolina with his family, including seven sons and three daughters. Margaret married Judge Lawrence C. Stephens in 1818 ; Sally married Col. John G. Hutchison, and Mary married Harvey Bunce, the founder of Bunceton. When Samuel Peters began to build his home, he invited his neighbors to come and help him, saying that he would kill a hog and have it for dinner. Since this was the first hog ever butchered in this part of the state, and as very few of the settlers had ever tasted pork, it was not too difficult to persuade them to come and help. Before this time the settlers had lived entirely upon wild game. Always, on such occasions, they had a little “fire-water” to give life to the occasion. Colonel Andrew and Judge John Briscoe settled in the same township in 1818 . They were both very prominent men, and leaders in their parties, Andrew being a Whig, and John a Democrat. Some of the other early settlers were Henry, Hiram, Heli, and Harden Corum; Mr. Tevis (the father of Captain Simeon Tevis); Thomas Colins; Jacob Summers; Michael, James, and William Son; John and Joseph Cathey; James David and John H. Hutchison; Nathaniel Leonard; John and Andrew Wallace; Henry Woolery; Holbert and Samuel Cole; James Bridges; James Simms; Russell Smallwood; Thomas Best; Greenberry Allison; William C. Lowery; and Anthony F. Read. Mr. Greenberry Allison dug the first cistern in the county, which proved to be a great success. Many of his neighbors imitated his example, as before this time, they had been forced to depend upon wells and springs for water. Old Palestine, or Palestine, was the first permanent settlement in the central part of the county. It was a thriving community from the 1840 's to the 1870 ’s. The building of the Osage Railroad from Tipton to Booneville caused the town to move from the original location on a hilltop to the valley below. The town in the valley was called “New Palestine” until the name was changed to “Speed” in the early 1900 ’s. ​ New Palestine grew rapidly and hastened the decline of Old Palestine. The railroad built a stock yard, and there were several businesses opened in Speed, including a bank. In 1876 there were 100 inhabitants and in the 1890 census there were 141 residents. Once the railroad no longer ran through Speed, the once prosperous town lost population and now there are no businesses there and only about 20 residents. Palestine Township took the lead in education from the beginning. The first schools were taught by Lawrence C. S. Stephens, Dr. William H. Moore, and a young man from Virginia, also named William H. Moore, who was considered the best teacher in his day in this part of the country. ​ The first dancing school was opened in 1832, at the home of B. W. Levens, about a quarter of a mile east of Bunceton, by a man named Gibson. He was a polished gentleman, an excellent teacher, and was the first to introduce “cotillions,” which were, until that time, unknown in this part of the country. Mr. Gibson at that time had two other schools; one in Boonville and the other at Arrow Rock. He taught two days at each place during the week. Bell Air was first settled by L.P. Bell in 1848. In 1860 the village contained a lovely Southern Methodist church, a doctor, a clothing store and tailor, a steam sawmill, a general merchandise store, a post office, two-story high school and elementary school, and a barber. It was also the location of the magnificent Ravenswood mansion. The school has been remodeled and now serves as a home for the Nelson Leonard family. Today only the remodeled school house, the church, and Ravenswood remain. There are only two very small settlements left in Palestine Township – Speed and Bellair. Both had been very prosperous when they were served by a railroad. Today there are only a few homes and three churches remaining in the entire township. ​ ​ PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP Physical Features: This township is very irregular in shape. mostly easy to cultivate. In the early. At present this township has a large percentage of cultivated land. Settlement: The township was settled about 1820 . Among the early settlers were John McCutchen, John Houx, Jacob Houx, L. A. Summers, James McElroy, Samuel Roe, Sr., Samuel Wooldridge, Enoch Mass, Absalom Meredith, Azariah Bone (who was a Methodist minister), John Rice (a blacksmith), Mr. Magee (after whom “Magee Grove: was named), and Samuel Gilbert (who had success as a cancer doctor). This township was distinguished in the early times by the number and variety of camp meetings which were held there. The Presbyterians and Methodists were rivals for the honor of conducting the biggest and best camp meeting each year. People attended from great distances. Thomas P. Cropper was the first noted teacher in this township. He taught in 1828 and 1829 . Pilot Grove is located in the northeast quarter of the township and surrounded by large and beautiful farming country. Bill Anderson and his Civil War guerrillas rode into the Pilot Grove Post Office one bright afternoon in the spring of 1864 . The citizens were made to form a line while they were stripped of their personal valuables. Mr. William Mayo, one of the citizens, refused to give up his beautiful gold watch, and started to flee. Mr. Thomas Brownfield joined him. The guerrillas chased them, and overtaking Mr. Mayo, killed him with a pistol. Mr. Brownfield was wounded but was able to hide from the enemy and come away alive. The other citizens were not harmed. In the summer of 1864 , during a revival meeting in the Southern Methodist Episcopal church at Pilot Grove, Capt. Todd surrounded the building with a company of about sixty savage-looking bushwhackers, who rudely entered the church, stopped the service, and ejected the worshipers. After eating food prepared for the occasion and selecting the horses they desired from the many tied to the trees nearby, they left, taking with them two citizens, Peter Mitzell and Otho Zeller, as hostages. Their safety depended on the good conduct of the citizens in not pursuing or informing on them, because there were state militia stationed at different places nearby. These two unfortunate men were killed that night some miles east of Pilot Grove, near Lone Elm Prairie. Their bodies were found a day or two later. The same party of bushwhackers, returning a day or two later, passed through the German settlement three miles west of Pilot Grove and killed two citizens, John Diehl and Mr. Vollmer. These men thought they were Federal troops because a number of them were dressed in blue. ​ Pilot Grove Newest Barn Quilt ​ A new barn quilt, designed by Winky Friedrichs, a charter member of the Cooper County Historical Society, was dedicated on September 26th, 2021, becoming the 21st barn quilt erected in Cooper County. The quilt block, named “Pilot Grove Crossings,” is attached to the east wall of the Cooper County Historical Society Research Center in Pilot Grove. It’s not a traditional quilt block like “Grandmothers Flower Garden” or “Sun Bonnet Sue”. It is unique, in that it is deliberately very historic in its design, and is meant to tell the story of the early history of Cooper County, and the travel routes that ran through the area. The Indian tribes who lived and hunted in the Cooper County area were mostly Osage and Missouria. The area provided excellent hunting grounds, as there were buffalo and other game in abundance. Buffalo had, with hoof and horn, scraped a huge "wallow" of about 2 acres, in the impenetrable prairie grasses, which then held enough water to later allow trees to grow and flourish, becoming the "Pilot Grove," a landmark for early travelers on the wild prairie, especially to the Southwest. The Spanish and the French, who arrived before Missouri was a territory, and the first settlers, also used the trails made by the Indians. Cooper County is in the middle of the state of Missouri and Pilot Grove is near the center of the County. The subtle quilt bock background is the “Log Cabin” design, which depicts the homes of the first settles, as their homes, and the forts they later lived in during the War of 1812, were made from hand hewn logs. The quilt colors represent the colors used by the native Indians – especially black from charcoal, and the colors red and yellow ochre which are oxides, found in nature, along with indigo blue from plants, to depict the early travel routes used by many people from prehistoric to later times. The earliest settlers came along the trail on the upper right-hand side of the quilt block down to what would later become Boonville. Several of the trails left from what would eventually become nearby Pilot Grove. In early days this area was a crossroads from the Missouri River from the north, going east-west and south, symbolized by the X on the quilt. Several of the trails left from what would eventually become nearby Pilot Grove. The quilt block was painted by members of the Children of the American Revolution as a project of Maryellen McVicker for the Boonslick Tourism Council. We owe them many thanks for sponsoring this quilt and helping us to tell the early story of Pilot Grove. CHOUTEAU SPRINGS At one time there were 40 acres of land named Chouteau Springs, which included three sulfur springs and two clear water springs. This land was part of a grant in 1792 from the Osage Indians to Pierre Chouteau, which was later purchased by William Ashley. The property was operated as a popular summer resort in the 1840 ’s. During the Civil War, both General Joe Shelby and General Sterling Price camped there, but not at the same time. Bushwhackers and guerillas took much of the food stored in the cellars and took away most of the livestock and poultry. After the War, some people tried to profit from the mineral springs by going to close by towns and selling the water in 2-gallon pottery jugs from the back of a wagon. The springs discharged water at the rate of ten gallons per minute or 14,400 gallons per day. Following the War the railroad came to the area and people could travel to the resort by train, and a team and buggy would take them to the hotel, operated by the famous cook – Grandma Day. (A picture of her clock is featured on the Timeline). In 1900 the resort was expanded to include baths, bath houses, a swimming pool (with its rotten egg smell) and cottages for summer residents. There was a pavilion for concerts and dances, a large swimming pool and a bowling alley. The hotel was torn down in 1938 , along with the bowling alley and livery stable. The resort was closed in 1962 . Now all that is left of this area are the springs. The Chouteau Water is very high in sulfur and the federal government marked it as too high for human consumption. In the 1950 ’s the government shut down the wells to the public and closed the pool. Pilot Grove is now the second largest town in Cooper County and the only town in Pilot Grove Township. It is still a very active community but very few businesses remain. References for Pilot Grove Township at CCHS: Pilot Grove Centennial 1873-1973 Wooden Bowling Ball no finger holes Chouteau Spring Pavilion in the late 1890's. Photo by Max Schmidt Swimming Pool Water Jug Photos courtesy of Wayne Lammers PRAIRIE HOME TOWNSHIP Physical Features: This township is generally level, being mostly prairie. The soil is good and produces well. The northern portions of the township were settled by thrifty Germans. Settlement: The oldest settlers were James McClain, Lucy McClanahan, Adam McClanahan, Jacob Carpenter, Absalom McClanahan, Michael Hornbeck, Samuel Carpenter, William N. McClanahan, William G. McClanahan, and Jeremiah Smith. It appears that these men were located in this township previous to 1820 , as their votes were recorded in that year. Some of their homes may not be confined to the limits of the township, but they were not far distant from the line. In the 1830 's, a stage coach depot was located along the road between Boonville and Jefferson City. Known as "Midway." The stop was about 1 ½ miles east of the present site of Prairie Home at Tompkins' Inn. Some years later, around 1857 by some reports, or 1865 by others, James Boswell constructed the first building in what was to become Prairie Home. The most common explanation of how the town got its name is that it came from Boswell, who lived a short distance east of the store. He referred to it as his "prairie home." the name can also be credited to the town's location "on a beautiful prairie”. A third possibility for the town’s name is that it was named after the Prairie Home Institute, a private boarding school, which was founded in 1865 by the Rev. A. H. Misseldine. However, this leads to the question of how the Institute came to be named, which may be answered by either of the previous two alternatives. In 1872 parts of Clarks Fork, Moniteau, and Saline townships were carved out to make up the new Prairie Home Township, said to be laid out around the Prairie Home Institute. In 1876 , Prairie Home was described as having a post office, one store, a public school and the private boarding school. It was not until June 16, 1894 that the actual town of Prairie Home was laid out. The town of Prairie Home is the only town located in this township. References for Prairie Home Township at CCHS: A Brief History of Prairie Home ​ The History of the Don Carlos Family: Early Social and Political Influencers Authored by Dr. Christine E. Boston, Assistant Professor (Lincoln University), and Michelle Brooks, MA Student (BLS, 2018, Lincoln University) The Don Carlos family was one of the original pioneer families to arrive in Cooper County, first arriving in the area in 1828 . Carter Morgan and Talitha Don Carlos, the founding patriarch and matriarch of the Missouri family, opted to settle outside of Prairie Home, Missouri, at the suggestion of a local politician, who spoke highly of the area. Over the next 180 years the Don Carlos family grew not only in size but in social and political influence in the area, setting the foundations for many local traditions that continue to this day. This article will chronicle the story of the Don Carlos family and their impact on Cooper County. According to family lore, the Don Carlos family was one of power and influence. Hailing from the Spanish royal family the original immigrant member of the Don Carlos family came to the United States because he lost his land and title, a result of the 1739 War of Polish Succession that was fought among France, Spain, and Sardonia. He came to the New World seeking out new adventures and possibilities, first arriving in New York and then moving to Virginia. This is where Carter Morgan’s story begins. Carter Morgan Don Carlos was born in 1803 . While born in Virginia he was reared in Tennessee, first by his father and then later by Uncles after his father went missing when he was 12 years old. At 21 he moved to Kentucky and met and married his first wife, Talitha. A year later they moved to Missouri, before settling in Cooper County three years later. Carter Morgan is known for his organizational accomplishments, which included founding and serving in various fraternal organizations in Moniteau County and his push to secure the railroad to pass through California, Missouri, which unfortunately was unsuccessful. He and his wife had four children; the first of the 22 children Carter Morgan fathered from his three wives. The Don Carlos children were not only numerous but played significant roles in the formation of Cooper and Moniteau Counties: ​ Hillard Don Carlos served as Cooper County Assessor between 1877 and 1882 , as well as established the first drug store in Prairie Home. After a short tenure outside of Missouri he returned to Bunceton and established the Carlos Drug Store. Benjamin Franklin Don Carlos is considered the originator of the Prairie Home Fair, one of Missouri’s longest running fairs. He was also responsible for securing the first telephone line to Prairie Home. Christopher Columbus Don Carlos served as the Cooper County Assessor in 1872 and Sheriff/Collector from 1882 to 1886 . He served in leadership positions in various local organizations, including the Moniteau Lodge, Liberty Grange, and Moniteau Agricultural and Mechanical Society. William Don Carlos was the first President of the Prairie Home Fair Board in 1915 . The remaining children also played important economic roles in the region by farming, running small businesses, or working in the local communities throughout Cooper and Moniteau Counties. Their children (Carter Morgan’s grandchildren) also played noteworthy roles in the area, living and working throughout the region as engineers, laborers, teachers, and farmers. ​ Archaeological excavations at the Don Carlos Homestead site began in April 2017 and continue to this day. Led by Dr. Christine E. Boston of Lincoln University (Jefferson City, MO), these investigations hope to shed additional light on the domestic and agricultural life of the Don Carlos family. Several students and volunteers have been involved in these investigations, which have led to the recovery of farming equipment, domestic wares (e.g. ceramics and glass bottles), building materials, and more. Additional information regarding the consumption patterns, socioeconomic status, and agricultural lifeways have been gleaned from the archaeological artifacts recovered, but further investigations are ongoing. References: Ford, James Everett. (1936) “A History of Moniteau County, Missouri.” The University of California. Goodspeed. (1889) “History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage Counties, Missouri.” The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago. Johnson, William Foreman. (1919) “History of Cooper County, Missouri.” Historical Publishing Company. Melton, E.J. (1937) “Melton’s History of Cooper County, Missouri.” E.W. Stephens Publishing Company, Columbia. Stiffler, R. Ewing. (1963) “Jeremiah Smith, Missouri Pioneer: His Kin and Descendants.” Privately published. SALINE TOWNSHIP Physical Features: Saline township lies in the northeastern part of the county. It contains quite a large amount of hilly territory and much bottom land. The water contains quite a bit of salt. ​ Settlement: Joseph Jolly, with his two children, John and William, settled in this township as early as 1812 . He set out the first apple orchard and built a mill which would grind a bushel of corn an hour. William Jolly was a gunsmith, wheelwright, blacksmith, cooper, miller, distiller, preacher, doctor, and farmer. John Jolly operated a ferry across the Lamine. Some of the other early settlers were William Lamm, James and John Turner, Joseph Pursley, Levi Cropper, Henry Levins, B. W. Levins, Josiah Dickson, Charles Force, John Farris, Jesse Wood, Davis Fine, Joshua and Lacy McClanahan, George Dickson, Frederick and James F. Connor, John Calvert, Adam and Absalom McClanahan, Elverton Caldwell, Noding Caldwell, Joseph Westbrook, ​ Washington and Houstonville were two towns that were laid out in this township; however, they both disappeared due to flooding. The town of Wooldridge is located in this township and has suffered greatly from frequent flooding. Overton and Gooch’s Mill are also located in this township, but are now very small communities. References for Saline Township at CCHS: Some Mighty Good Years - Overton References : Information on some former and current settlements ​ Place Names of Cooper County, Missouri Lists Name (and former names) of towns, short history, how to get there and when, if ever, they had a post office in that town. Ramsey Place Names Cooper County Place Names 1928-1945 Tells how towns got their names. Missouri Genealogy Website Immigration Naturalization Records 1824-1906 Information available at CCHS : Discover Cooper County by Looking Back by Ann Betteridge Town Centennial Books: History of Billingsville, Prairie Lick, and Stony Point; History of Blackwater; Bicentennial Boonslick History; A Pictorial History of the Boonslick Area; Boonville An Illustrated History; Boonville An Historic River Town; Bunceton 1868-1988 and 1868 – 1993; History of Clear Creek; Recollections of Clifton City; Clifton City 1873 – 2019; Our Town Lamine MO; History of New Lebanon; Otterville Sesquicentennial; Some Might Good Years – Overton Pilot Grove Centennial 1873 – 1973; A Brief History of Prairie Home Full text of "History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, etc. ​ ​ HOWARD COUNTY NEWSPAPER DESCRIPTION OF BOONVILLE 1822 ​ Missouri Intelligencer Franklin, Missouri 31 December 1822 UPPER MISSOURI For the Missouri Intelligencer No. 6 COOPER COUNTY Cooper was created a separate county in the winter of 1818 , and then comprehended all that tract of country which lies between the Missouri and Osage rivers, and extending west to the western line of the Osage purchase; since which time the counties of Lilliard and Saline have been taken from the western, and Cole from the eastern end of it. Cooper is at present bounded west by Saline, south by the Great Osage river, east by Cole, & north by the Missouri river, which divides it from Howard and Boone. This county runs along the Missouri about 26 miles and extends north to south nearly 75. It is thought, however, that at no distant period, one or more new counties will be formed in the southern extremity of this county. Here is a great variety of soil. The southern part, on the Osage river, is poor and broken, not however without being interspersed with some good bodies of land; but in that part which lies on the Missouri, and which will probably be the permanent county of Cooper, the land is extremely rich, and lies well for cultivation, being beautifully variegated with alternate gradual elevations and pleasant values. There are a number of excellent springs in every part of the county; and what besides renders it very convenient for agricultural pursuits, is the variety of its groves and prairies. The prairies are from one to five miles in width; they are very rich and supported by groves of excellent timber of about the same extent. ​ Jolly’s Bottom, in the lower end of this county, named after Mr. J. Jolly, who first settled it, is a large body of first-rate land. In this bottom are a number of well cultivated farms, and enterprising agriculturalists. Mr. Charles Forse, residing at the head of this bottom, has in successful operation a sawmill constructed on the principle of the inclined plane. ​ A town called Washington, was laid off in this bottom, the lots sold, and a few of them improved; but since the spirit of town making ceased, Washington has received no improvements. ​ Above this bottom, and between it and Boonville, a distance of about six miles, there is a bluff of good land, which is well settled. Water courses—Cooper County abounds with a number of fine streams. The Lamine is the largest, which heads in the dividing ridge between the waters of the Missouri and Osage. It receives in its course the Blackwater, the Muddy, the Salt, and Heath’s forks, and empties into the Missouri about five miles above Boonville. ​ The Petit-Saline, heads about 15 miles nearly southwest from Boonville, and, after watering a large settlement of nearly 20 miles in length, falls into the Missouri, in Cole County, having a run a general course nearly parallel with the Missouri its whole length. The head of the Morea, the Gravi, Tabo, and Grand river, forks of the Osage, head in this county. The settlements on the Little Moniteau, & south fork of the Lamine are, at present, the farthest south. ​ Minerals, and Mineral Waters There are many salt springs in this county, two of which are worked, one by Mr. B. Lockhartt, the other by Mr. R. Heath. Lead ore makes its appearance in several places in this county, though no mines have yet been worked. Several persons in digging wells have come to banks of mineral ore of a beautiful appearance; its kind has not yet been ascertained, but it is supposed to be Sulfur. Stone-coal and iron ore, in large bodies, are found in many parts of this county, on the south fork of the Lamine. There is in the vicinity of the Iron Banks, good streams for erecting forges and furnaces, and from them to Boonville there can be an excellent road. These banks must, at no great length of time, be a source of wealth to the Upper Missouri. Excellent quarries of lime and free stone are found in the more broken parts of the county; and on the Moniteau there is a quarry of cream-colored marble and white sandstone. ​ There is a Sulfur spring on the Grand River fork of Osage, which is said to possess medicinal qualities. Mr. John Corum, of this county, visited this spring last summer, and made use of the water for rheumatism, from which received great benefit. ​ Religion The majority of the adults of this county are professors of religion. There are four Baptist churches in this county, the aggregate of the members of which is upwards of 200. Rev. J. B. Longan, Rev. Luke Williams, Rev. William Jennings, Rev. Jacob Chism, and Rev. Peter Woods, are among the Baptist clergy of this county. Presbyterians are very numerous, and are increasing under the superintendence of Rev. F. Ewing and Rev. Robert Morrow, who are citizens of this county. The Methodists are the least numerous, though not the least zealous of the religious sects in this county; they are, however, fast increasing in numbers under that able and excellent Methodist local preacher, Mr. Justinian Williams. ​ Productions. Experience has proved that the highland prairies of this county are very little short of the best lands in the state of Tennessee for cotton, wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, hemp, tobacco, etc., as these articles are produced here in great abundance. ​ Horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. are raised with little trouble. ​ Roads The principal roads in Copper lead south eastward towards the seat of government, and westward towards the upper counties on the Missouri. They are generally well-cleared. Boonville, the seat of justice for this county, is beautifully situated on a high bluff on the south side of the Missouri, immediately opposite Franklin. This town was laid off on a liberal plan by the late Capt. Asa Morgan and Charles Lucas, the former proprietors, in 1819. The commissioners appointed to locate the permanent seat of justice, received from the proprietors fifty acres of land within the said town. The lots were sold, and the proceeds appropriated to the erection of public buildings. There are four streets running parallel with the river, and eight crossing them at right angles. Those parallel with the river are, 1st, Water Street, 150 feet from the water. 2nd, high Street, which is on higher ground. 3rd, Morgan Street; and 4th, Spring Street. —The Public Square contains two acres and is situated in a very high part of the town between High street and Morgan street. There is in Boonville an elegant Brick Court House, 30 by 45 feet, two stories high, finished off in an elegant manner, which cost $8,000, and was paid for out of the fund arising from the sale of lots in the donation to the county, by the proprietors of the town. A jail, 24 feet square, and two stories high, the walls of which are three logs thick, is built on a reserved lot, some distance from the Public Square, which cost about $2,400, and forty-one neat Dwelling Houses, inhabited by about 116 souls, besides a number of smaller buildings of various kinds. ​ History Among the first settlers in this county were Messrs. Stephen Cole, G. Rupe, David Burris, and William Savage, who left the settlements on the north side of the river, and settled in this county, with the late Sarshall Cooper, whose name the county bears. These, with some others selected farms, & began to make improvements; but the hostility of the savages compelled them soon to act on the defensive; and having met together at Mrs. Cole’s, they built a fort on a commanding eminence, near the Missouri. They were, however, in a short time compelled to evacuate it, and retreat over the river to Fort Kincaid, where they tarried until the rage of Indian warfare was over, and then returned to their homes. ​ Population In the year 1817 there were not more than twenty families within the present bounds of Cooper. It now contains upwards of six thousand inhabitants; and is generally healthy, except near the Lamine, and in the Missouri bottoms. ​ *The author of “Upper Missouri” acknowledges himself indebted to a respectable gentleman for the foregoing information (From pages 2 and 3 of the paper notated.) Hattie May Boles Plays the Governor’s Piano Photo by Wayne Lammers Here is a photo that I took of Hattie May Boles playing on the Grand Piano in the Governor’s Mansion at a Christmas Tour there, in 1978 . My family took Hattie to Jefferson City for this tour. As we saw all the beautiful decorations, she spotted the Grand Piano in the large ballroom on the first floor. It had one of those large golden ropes to keep people away. “I always wanted to play one of those!” she said to me. ​ So, some of you may know me and the way I work. I sometimes take things a step further than normal. I went to the Missouri State Highway Patrolman that was standing guard on the main floor overseeing the security of the Governor’s Mansion. I got permission from him and others for Hattie to play a couple of songs on that piano. I felt that she could play some Christmas songs that would be appropriate for the occasion. I went to Hattie and said “You have permission to play a few songs.” Her mouth dropped open and she was so surprised and astonished to think that she was going to play this beautiful piano inside the Governor’s Mansion. ​ The Patrolman and I removed the rope to the Grand Piano and she sat down and began to play and sing some hymns and Christmas songs. The crowd started to collect around and also began to sing the songs that Hattie was playing. It wasn’t long before Governor Joseph Teasdale came down from his living quarters above and wanted to know who was playing “his piano”. Hattie got to meet and greet the Governor of Missouri that night. She was so happy and talked about this for a long time, about the time she, the daughter of a slave, Hattie May Boles, got to play and sing with the Governor, on that Grand piano inside the Missouri Governor’s Mansion. ​ ​ ARROW ROCK This lovely little town was once part of Cooper County and was very instrumental in the early settling and development of Cooper County. A corner of the site still does overlap into Cooper County. ​ Arrow Rock State Historic Site ​ The first truly “permanent” American settlers led by the Cooper family established small settlements in the river bottoms of Howard County opposite of Arrow Rock in 1810 . Other settlements several miles south of Arrow Rock were established by the Jones, McMahan and Turley families. During the War of 1812 , these settlers built defensive forts as protection from the Sac & Fox and Ioway Indians allied to Great Britain. When Fort Osage closed in 1812 , the fort’s trader George Champlain Sibley moved his operation to the Arrow Rock bluff from 1813-1814 to maintain friendly relations with the Osage Indians. By 1815 , a ferry was established at the site of Arrow Rock. Westbound settlers poured into the area, crossing the Missouri River on the Arrow Rock ferry. Santa Fe trading caravans departing from nearby Franklin crossed on the ferry beginning in 1821 . From 1819 to 1833 , the ferry was owned by Judge David Todd, the uncle of Mary Todd Lincoln. Judge William B. Napton observed that 1827 was especially busy year for the ferry as the population of Saline County swelled that year. Henry Cooper of Howard County took over operation of the ferry from 1833 until at least until 1865, and the river landing was known as “Cooper’s Ferry Privilege.” At the end of the War of 1812 , Baptist missionary John Mason Peck wrote “Some families came in the spring of 1815 ; but in the winter, spring, summer and autumn of 1816 , they came like an avalanche. It seemed as though Kentucky and Tennessee were breaking up and moving to the Far West. Caravan after caravan passed over the prairies of Illinois all bound to the Boone’s Lick.” Cooper County was organized out of Howard County on December 17, 1818 and formalized by the Legislature on February 1, 1819 . Cooper County encompassed present day Saline County at that time. The Legislature created Saline County out of Cooper County on November 25, 1820 and in January 1822 , the Saline County Court created Arrow Rock Township. The town itself was commissioned on June 10, 1829 and originally called “Philadelphia.” Some documents refer to the town as “New Philadelphia.” In February of 1833 the state legislature changed the town name to coincide with the familiar landmark. Joseph Huston, one of the town commissioners built a two-story federal-style brick building in 1834 . Arrow Rock's location on the Missouri River and the Santa Fe Trail undoubtedly led weary travelers to ask Huston for overnight accommodations. He began building log or frame additions to the building and by 1840 was widely known as a hotel-keeper. The J. Huston Tavern also housed a store and a ballroom used for dances and as a meeting hall. As the building passed to other owners, it became known as the Neill House, Scripture House, City Hotel and Old Tavern. The J. Huston Tavern is the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi and is today operated by the Missouri Division of State Parks in partnership with the Friends of Arrow Rock, Inc. Settlers in the Boonslick Country were predominately migrants from Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee and transplanted slavery and southern culture here. Arrow Rock developed as a thriving river port, exporting tobacco and hemp from the neighboring plantations. Hemp was made into ropes and bags for baling cotton. Wheat, corn, beef, pork and mules were also shipped from Arrow Rock to supply the cotton districts of the Mississippi delta. The agricultural production of the Boonslick Country depended on slave labor just as cotton production did in the South. This symbiotic relationship led most residents of Arrow Rock and the Boonslick Country to support the South during the Civil War. Saline County and other Missouri counties with a high population of enslaved African Americans became known as “Little Dixie.” Arrow Rock’s population peaked at 1,000 by 1860 . The town population began declining after the American Civil War. The war disrupted agricultural production and river commerce which afterwards was displaced by railroads. Arrow Rock failed to secure a rail line and bridge across the Missouri River. The rapid post war growth of urban areas such as Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago began drawing away residents with the promise of better jobs. The town’s economic decline was further exacerbated by disastrous fires in 1864 , 1872 and 1901 . By the turn of the century the population had dwindled to under 300 and the town was in a state of decay. Prior to the Civil War, Arrow Rock’s black residents worked as household or domestic slaves or as laborers at the docks and business warehouses. Following emancipation in 1865, Arrow Rock’s African-American population grew as former plantation slaves moved into town. Gradually they were able to purchase their own homes, mostly on the north side of town. By 1880 , 51% of the town’s population was African-American. Their presence undoubtedly kept the town from completely disappearing. However, owing to segregation, they had to develop their own churches, schools and social institutions. The last black resident of the community died in 2009. Arrow Rock’s connection with the Santa Fe Trail led to national recognition by the Old Trails Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1912 . As DAR interest in the community grew, they persuaded the Missouri legislature to purchase and preserve the “Old Tavern” (J. Huston Tavern) in September of 1923 . Acreage around the Tavern was purchased as a state park. This was the beginning of the historic preservation movement in Missouri and the first acquisition of the new Missouri State Park system. In 1963 , the National Park Service recognized Arrow Rock’s connection to the Santa Fe Trail and the entire town and state park was designated a National historic Landmark. The park grew to 169 acres about a third of which lies within town boundaries. The site boundary also overlaps into Cooper County. In 1976 the facilities designation was changed from state park to state historic site to empathize its cultural mission. The recreation area of the historic site features a 48-unit modern campground, picnic facilities and playground, a four-acre fishing lake and a mile and half hiking trail. Forty acres of ground are being restored to native prairie grasses and forbs. An 18,000 square foot visitor center was constructed on the historic site in 1991 and provides museum exhibits pertinent to the history of Arrow Rock and the neighboring Boonslick Country, including Cooper County. The Friends of Arrow Rock, Inc. formed in 1959 as a non-profit organization to preserve historic structures outside the state historic site boundary. They also provide guided tours of the community and operate educational programs for elementary school children. The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theater was established in 1960 in the abandoned Baptist Church and is recognized as Missouri’s oldest repertory theater. Several antique, art and crafts shop exist in the town.

WHAT TO VISIT IN COOPER COUNTY Videos ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A 10-minute video on a walking tour of homes and buildings in Boonville from the Edward Lang. ​ Collection Note: 12 years ago when the video was made, the tourism building is now the River, Rails and Trails Museum. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A 10-minute video trip of interesting homes and buildings in Cooper County from the Edward Lang Collection. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A drone's eye view of Boonville as seen on HGTV's Hometown Takeover. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Something unique in our area - barn quilts! ​ Note: Tour booklets with directions are available, free of charge, at of charge at: Cooper County Historical Society, River Rails and Trails Museum, The Friends of Historic Boonville and the Chamber of Commerce. HISTORIC MARKERS AT COOPER COUNTY COURTHOUSE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ War Memorials on the Courthouse grounds Marker honors the Union soldiers killed during the Civil War Plaques in Cooper County Courthouse Honoring Cooper County residents who served in World War II 2 Granite Memorial Benches at Cooper County Courthouse Honoring Veterans of WWII and Viet Nam War North side of Courthouse lawn--Vietnam Veterans Memorial Granite Bench and Tree. Dedicated Nov 11, 2015 by Daughters of the American Revolution, Hannah Cole Chapter South side of Courthouse lawn - WW II Veterans Memorial granite Bench. Dedicated Nov 12, 2018 by Daughters of the American Revolution, Hannah Cole Chapter Courthouse Lawn Marker stating “They died that freedom might not perish from the earth”, Lists names of Cooper County men who died in World War I Marker erected by John A. Hayes, post number 240 GAR to commemorate the battles of June 17, and September 13, 1861 and the capture of Boonville on October 16, 1864 Statue honoring the Boy Scouts of America – 40th anniversary crusade to strengthen the of the American Revolution, marking the Santa Fe Trail, 1821-1921 Inside of Courthouse in the lobby - Plaque listing all Cooper County residents who served in World War II Veterans Memorial Park designed by Missouri sculptor and artist Sabra Tull Meyer, features a beautiful eagle and is located across from the Courthouse on the northwest corner of High and Main Street. The Veterans Memorial Park is located near the Boonville Bridge Route 40. ​ ​ INTERESTING SITES IN BOONVILLE Walking Tour of Boonville – See Rails, Trails and River Museum for map at River, Rail and Trails Museum - Excellent collection of early Boonville artifacts. Free admission - GoBoonville.com Mitchell Antique Car Museum – See River Rails and Trails Museum for tickets at: River, Rails & Trails Museum, Boonville - GoBoonville.com Hain House (contact Friends of Historic Boonville ) Thespian Hall (contact Friends of Historic Boonville ) Old Cooper County Jail and Hanging Barn (See Friends of Historic Boonville ) Boonville Cemeteries (See tour map here ) Boonville Churches (See tour map here ) Hannah Cole Statue in Morgan Street Park on the corner of Morgan and Main Street, Boonville KATY Bridge – walk on the old Railroad Bridge with the iconic lift span which was originally part of the MKT railroad KATY Depot – now the Chamber of Commerce building with an old KATY caboose and train signal lights Walking or driving Tour of Homes on Historic Register – (see Historic Register website information in historic homes section of website) Roslyn Heights State DAR Headquarters – (listed as Johnson, Wilbur T and Rhoda Stevens House on National Register) Currently not open for tours Hotel Frederick and Restaurant Morgan Street Park on corner of Morgan and Main Street, Boonville This park features a statue of Hannah Cole and also bronze busts on pedestals of prominent early Cooper County residents who were very influential in their fields: David Barton, George Caleb Bingham, Frederick T. Kemper, James Milton Turner and Walter Williams. (See more about these men in the Early Personalities section of the website.)​ Harley Park – Indian Mounds, great view of the Missouri River Bell Park on High Street – great view of the Missouri River Site of Hannah Cole Fort – First Battle of Boonville and First Missouri State Fair on Morgan Street on the east side, site of old hospital. Grand Army of the Republic marker – marks site of the Second battle of Boonville, on East side of old hospital grounds. Additional marker of the Second Battle of Boonville at the Boonville Correctional Center grounds. Veteran's Memorial Park near Boonville Bridge This barn quilt, which hangs in the River, Rails and Trails Museum, was made by the FanAttics Quilt Club of Boonville. It replicates the 20 hand painted Barn Quilts that are on Cooper County barns. FULL AND HALF-DAY TRIPS Outside of Boonville ​ Barn Quilts – See Rails, Trails & River Museum, Cooper County Historical Society, Friends of Historic Boonville or the Chamber of Commerce for tour map Cooper County Cemeteries (See tour map here ) Cooper County Churches (See tour map here ) New Lebanon Presbyterian Church, school, cemetery, Uncle Abe’s Store Mid 1800’s structures in excellent condition Old Schools - New Lebanon, Lamine and Dick’s Mill (See more about schools here ) Cotton - Dick’s School – one of three remaining one room schools in Cooper County and the only remaining mill (Dick’s Mill ) in Cooper County Last Remaining Stage Coach Stop in the County – on Route 5 between Billingsville and the Petite Saline River Santa Fe Trail Head Park in New Franklin Boonslick State Park with the Salt Lick Pilot Grove - Mt. Nebo Baptist Church ; Old Jail and City Hall, City Park – history of Harriman’s Mill and original Millstone; Rural Pilot Grove - Pleasant Green Plantation , Methodist Church and Cemetery; Burwood and Crestmede Tour of Burwood - Hwy 135 by appointment 660-834-3406 KATY Trail bike trail. Brownfield Roadside Park on old Highway 50. Historical Marker overlooking the area of Jesse James train robbery. Warm Springs Ranch Home of Budweiser Clydesdales (off of Interstate 70) Visit Warm Springs Ranch to book your tour Blackwater - Mid-Missouri Museum of Independent Telephone Pioneers A museum showcases a unique collection of telephone equipment and memorabilia. It is housed in a beautiful building that was originally the Bank of Blackwater. Also visit the ”Depot” train station, now the community center, and the old hotel and restaurant. There are a few antique and trendy shops along the very attractive Main Street. A charming step back in time. Arrow Rock – This lovely little river town was once part of Cooper County and was very instrumental in the early settling and development of the County. A corner of the site still overlaps into Cooper County. It features an excellent historical museum , and the old Huston “tavern” still in operation, plus a variety of State Historic Site : Arrow Rock State Historic Site There are many short trips to take in the Boonville area, but also many things that could turn into a full day trip by visiting several unrelated places out in the County. Here is a suggestion for a full day trip: (But bring your own lunch) Take Highway 5 South out of Boonville. Cross I-70 and take Highway 5 towards Billingsville. About 2 ½ miles from I-70, you will see a sign for Billingsville . Turn left, then right and you will see St. John’s United Church of Christ (1866) and the well-kept cemetery . Return to Route 5 (South) and in less than 1/8 mile , on the right side of route 5, you will see a small stone building with a wooden door. This is the last remaining stage stop in Cooper County (1860). Shortly past the stage stop is a bridge over the Petite Saline River. As you drive over it, imagine that you are driving through the long covered wooden bridge that was once spanned the river there. Continue on Route 5, heading south, and in about 31/2 miles, on the right, you will see a sign for Bellair . Look right, through the trees, and you will see the yellow Pauley house , then on the right side you will see the Bellair Methodist Church (1860 ) with its beautiful stained-glass window. Across from the church is the Leonard home, (1913 ) which was once a school. Soon after the Leonard home , on the left of the highway, you will see the magnificent Ravenswood mansion, which is no longer open to visitors. Continue south until you see a sign on the right for the Hannah Cole Roadside Park and Briscoe cemetery . This is the burial place of Hannah Cole and some of her family. Return to route 5 and turn right onto Highway E. You will pass the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church (1856 ) . At the intersection of E and A, turn left onto Route A, which will take you past Crestmede (1865 ) and into New Lebanon. Here you will see the C umberland Presbyterian Church (1860 ) , Uncle Abe’s Country Store (1926 ) , the New Lebanon School (1889 ) and the New Lebanon cemetery . All are in perfect condition. Continue on A to Otterville where there is a Civil War site along the railroad tracks at the Conservation Center . At Otterville pick up Route BB towards Clifton City. BB turns into Route 135. On 135 you will see Burwood (1880 ) which offers tours, and Pleasant Green Plantation (1820 ) . Continue on 135 through Pilot Grove , which is now the second largest town in Cooper County. Pilot Grove is also the home of the CCHS. Stop in on Friday from 9-12 PM. Also see our Barn Quilt and visit our research center . Email us for an appointment: cchs2016@iland.net See the old Calaboose jail. Continue on 135 until you reach Hwy 70 and as you return, remember the great time you had exploring a part of Cooper County! ​ HISTORICAL/MEMORIAL MARKERS IN COOPER COUNTY Hannah Cole gravesite at Briscoe Cemetery and Park maintained by Hannah Cole DAR (Route 5 and E) near Bellair ​ CIVIL WAR SITES Civil War sites and markers (see list and description at the end of the Civil War website section ) Hannah Cole Fort Area and 1st Battle of Boonville Site, Rural Boonville, June 17, 1861 DNR Marker at Missouri Correctional Center the first land battle of the Civil War in Missouri DNR marker at Lyon’s Park in Pilot Grove - July 1861 , Also raid by ”Bloody Bill” Anderson Marker at Thespian Hall – Second Battle of Boonville Sunset Hill Cemetery Boonville – mass grave of 8 Union soldiers Wilkin’s Bridge near Billingsville General J.O. Shelby and General Sanborn violent battle October 1864 Otterville Trenches – December 1861 – May 1865

COOPER COUNTY RIVERS & STREAMS RIVER TALK “Headwater ” is the origin point of a stream. “Mouth ” is where it empties into another body of water. Thus the headwaters of the Lamine are in Pettis County while its mouth is in Cooper County on the Missouri River. A “Tributary ” is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stream (or parent) river. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. A “Confluence” is where two or more bodies of water meet together, and usually refers to the joining of tributaries. A “Spring ” is a point at which water from an aquifer flows to the surface. A “Seep ” is a wet or moist place where groundwater oozes to the surface. A “Creek ” is a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river. A “Stream ” source can be from a spring or it can form at a point where the drainage of rainwater comes together. ​ ​ RIVERS AND STREAMS Cooper County has been blessed with an abundance of water from springs, creeks, streams and rivers. The two main rivers are the Lamine and the Blackwater. The main creek is the Petite Saline. After joining the Missouri River, the water travels to the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of Mexico. ​ The LAMINE RIVER is a 63.8-mile- tributary of the Missouri River in Cooper County. It is formed in northern Morgan County , about 4 miles southeast of Otterville by the confluence of the Flat and Richland creeks, and flows generally northwardly through Cooper and Pettis counties. In northwestern Cooper County the Lamine collects water from the Blackwater River and flows into the Missouri River northeast of Lamine and 6 miles west of Boonville . At Clifton City, the river has a mean annual discharge of 455 cubic feet per second. Below the mouth of the Blackwater River, its discharge averages 1,279 cubic feet per second. The river was named by French explorers for the mining operations in the area, the river has also been known as "La Mine River" and as "Riviere a la Mine." Source: Wikipedia ​ The water from Chouteau Springs (two clear water and 3 Sulphur water springs) in Pilot Grove Township flows into Chouteau Creek then into the Lamine, which eventually reaches the Missouri River. These springs discharge water at the rate of ten gallons per minute or 14,400 gallons per day. ​ The BLACKWATER RIVER is formed by the confluence of the North Fork Blackwater River and the South Fork Blackwater River in Johnson County approximately 6 miles northwest of Warrensburg . The river flows generally east-northeastwardly through Johnson, Pettis , Saline and Cooper counties, past the towns of Sweet Springs and Blackwater . It flows into the Lamine River in northwestern Cooper County, approximately 4 miles southeast of Blackwater. The Blackwater River is 16 miles longer than the Lamine River, of which it is a tributary. The Blackwater River is a 79.3-mile-long tributary of the Lamine River via the Lamine and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River . The Blackwater River was named from the character of its banks and water. Source: Wikipedia PETITE SALINE CREEK is a stream in Cooper , Moniteau and Morgan Counties. It is a tributary of the Missouri River . Petite Saline Creek was so named for the salty character of its water. ​ The stream source area is along the Morgan-Moniteau county line just north of U.S. Route 50 two miles east of Syracuse and three miles west of Tipton at an elevation of about 920 feet. The stream flows north into Cooper County crossing under, and flowing parallel to, the west side of Missouri Route 5 . The stream turns east again crossing under Route 5 just south of Billingsville . The stream flows generally east passing under Missouri Route 87 southeast of Boonville . The stream continues east to southeast passing under Missouri Route 179 south of Wooldridge . The stream enters the Missouri River bottom just south of Wooldridge in eastern Cooper County and the confluence with the Missouri is in the northern corner of Moniteau County across the river from McBaine and an elevation of 564 feet. ​ Lewis and Clark passed by the Petite Saline on June 6, 1804 and made mention of this creek in their journals. ‘Passed the mouth of a creek called ‘saline’ or ‘salt’ creek. This river is about 30 yards wide and has so many licks and salt springs on its banks that water of the creek is brackish. One very large lick is 9 miles up on the left side. The water of this spring is strong. So much so, that it is said one bushel will make 7 pounds of good salt.” Source: Wikipedia COVERED BRIDGES There once were five covered bridges in Cooper County: Crawford, Hurt, Connors, Shoemaker, and Big Lick. They all spanned the Petite Saline Creek. All the covered bridges were replaced many years ago by either metal or concrete structures. Sadly, there are no known photos of any of the covered bridges in Cooper County. This is a sketch of the covered bridge on highway 5 between Boonville and Billingsville by Florence Friederichs. The Swinging Bridge Pretend you are a child in 1930 and your dad is going to drive you across the brand-new swinging bridge for the first time. You are tall enough to see the steep hill going up to the bridge. The truck starts across the wide boards that don't look a bit safe. You dad is driving very slowly, but you can hear creaking and bumping of the metal against metal and the wooden planks. You press your nose against the passenger window and see the dirt-brown Lamine River looming 30 feet below. The trip across the 231-foot bridge seems to take too long. Then comes the stomach-churning descent on the other side. Your dad shuts off the engine and you hop out to watch vehicles behind you crossing. Some drivers turn around, not brave enough to venture across. When the bridge is empty, your dad reaches out his hand and says, “Let's walk across.” Your heart pounds at the thought. He grabs your hand, leading you up the steep hill. A gentle breeze causes the bridge to sway. You take one step and another until both feet are planted on one of the wooden boards. The world is moving beneath your feet, pitching and rolling, like a carnival ride. Your dad tells you that farmers wanted a bridge built northwest of Pleasant Green, Missouri. They hired a man named Joe Dice, who had built other bridges like this one. A lot of local people helped build this bridge. Your dad showed you two thick groups of wires that helped reinforce the structure. More than 300 individual wires make up each bunch. Two 22-foot-deep holes on each end of the bridge were filled with hand-made concrete that served to anchor the bridge. Pretend now, it's 1994 and you are an old person. You see the bridge floor collapsed from heavy flooding, sinking into the river. It is no longer safe. The Cooper County Historical Society tries to save it, but the cost is too expensive. In 1996, you stand and watch as the bridge is removed from the Lamine River. You think back and can almost feel that bridge swaying beneath your feet. Swinging Bridge near Lamine Underside of Swinging Bridge over Lamine Old Bridge over Lamine River

OTHER AREA HISTORICAL RESEARCH SITES River, Rails & Trails Museum and Visitor's Center 100 East Spring Street Boonville, Missouri, 65233 Phone: 660 882-3967 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4pm year-round, and 10am - 2pm Saturday and Sundays April through October The Visitor’s Center and Museum is located in the former Hirsch Wholesale Grocery Company warehouse, which was built in 1902 alongside the MKT Railroad tracks. In 2016 the City of Boonville converted the building into the new Visitor’s Center and Museum. The museum houses a half-scale replica of a Lewis and Clark keelboat, a Mitchell wagon, and railroad memorabilia including a model train display. A model steamboat, items from the sunken “Missouri Packet” steamboat and general Boonville history items are on display, as are items from the former Kemper Military School. There is also a children’s fort play area and several interactive displays. It is an excellent stop for information about Boonville and the Boonslick Region. ​ South Howard County Historical Society and Museum 110 E. Broadway New Franklin, Missouri 65274 Phone: n/a Facebook The South Howard County Historical Society was organized in 1989. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of documents, papers, and objects relative to the history of Howard County, MO, and to promote an interest and appreciation for local history. SHCHS meets four times a year on the first Tuesday of the following months: March, June, September, and December. Our 7:00 p.m. meetings consist of a short business meeting and a program devoted to our local history. The public is always invited! ​ Boonslick Historical Soc iety P.O. Box 426, Boonville, MO 65233 Phone Number: n/a Facebook History Focus: All aspects of the Boonslick Region, especially Howard, Cooper and Saline counties from the late 18th through mid-20th century. Funding: Non-profit, memberships and donations. ​ Boone’s Lick Road Association P.O. Box 8076 Columbia, MO 65205 The Boone’s Lick Road Association (BLRA), incorporated in Missouri in 2011, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is twofold: First, we want to preserve and tell the fascinating stories of the first major road into the heart of Missouri. Secondly, we hope to secure federal recognition of this road as a National Historic Trail. We aim to be the most comprehensive and authoritative source for information and research into this historic trail. ​ Arrow Rock State Historic Site 39521 Visitor Center Drive Arrow Rock, MO 6532 Phone: 660-837-3330 Email: ArrowRockStateHistoricSite@dnr.mo.go Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily March through October. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday, November through February. Free admission.