First half of Landrum’s History of Lawrence County Missouri; pages 2-3 in Lawrence County Historical Atlas, 1879, Edwards Brothers, Philadelphia, PA.

The first settlement made in Lawrence County was in the spring of 1831 by Judge John Williams, four miles southeast of Mt. Vernon. The same year many others settled; principally from Tennessee. In 1833, '34, '35, and '36 many others followed. The first settlers were generally poor in this world's goods, but were honorable, industrious and economical, with willing hands and stout hearts, and by the exercise of their industry and economy soon gained enough of this world's goods to make them in good circumstances. In those days the boys, and old men too, had each a rifle gun, (shot guns were not so fashionable as now,) and when they went to mill, or to the woods to make rails or chop wood, they carried their rifles with them, and would take home meat enough, in the shape of wild game, to last them quite awhile. The industrious wives and daughters of the pioneers of this county made all the material and manufactured their own, as well as their husbands' and brothers' clothing. Not only everyday, but Sunday clothing, also. During the long winter nights the hum of the old spinning wheel could be heard long after the old man and boys had gone to bed. Until the “men folks" went to bed the old mothers and daughters would card a “batch" of rolls ready for spinning as soon as they could have room to sit on their wheels before the large fire. 'I'he skilfulness with which those pioneer mothers and daughters could use in making rolls to spin would astonish some of the modern mothers and daughters.

The first settlers generally built their dwelling houses of scrutched log. In the construction of these houses they would take into consideration the room required for loom and spinning wheel, in addition to bed-room. A few of those houses are still standing and are occupied by some of the descendants of the pioneer fathers. Many of the settlers of this county who read this will call to mind the days of their childhood, when their fathers were going to have a house-raising, and invite their neighbors for miles away.

The first settlers were noted for their hospitality, sociability and liberality. They had house-raisings, corn shuckings, quiltings, cardings, spinnings, cotton-pickings, &c., that brought the people together for miles away. They assisted each other in their work. The old folks enjoyed themselves by talking over their trials in getting a “start” in this country, of the arrival of new-comers, and in partaking of the bountiful supply of “good things to eat," furnished by the hostess, consisting generally of venison, turkey, bear, honey, milk, coffee, corn bread and hot biscuits. After the work was done, the old folks would generally go home to “feed and attend to things;” the youngsters would stay for a dance or play. In neighborhoods where the young folks were church members they would pass away half the night or more in some innocent play. In other neighborhoods dancing after music made on the “fiddle” was the programme. All would go off quietly, without any disturbance in the way of fights or drawing revolvers. Revolvers were unknown in those days. There was but little use for laws or law-makers, but if any one offended in committing a dishonorable act, he was brought quickly to justice, and the whole settlement discarded him, until he proved himself, by acts as well as words to be a changed man.

The first settlers, or at least some of them, also prided themselves in raising hounds to chase (deer, wolves and foxes. Hard feelings would sometimes exist, for a short time, between the owners of those dogs, arising from differences of opinion as to the swiftness, training, &c., of their respective favorites. Such interest was taken in their training that, though strange it may seem, many were trained to know what kind of game their masters desired them to chase, and would not be led off by any other kind passing in their way. This was done by the use of the horn when a wolf chase was desired; gun, without born, when a deer chase desired, and so on, or as the fancy of the owner preferred. This practice of training dogs, and hunting game was kept up until about twenty-five years ago. The game becoming so scarce that it did not pay to devote the time and attention necessary to training and hunting. In those days the territory now composing Lawrence county was sparsely settled; wild game was plentiful; the howl of the wolves was often heard in daytime; they could be seen prowling around the sheep-pen or hen-house, watching an opportunity to steal a lamb or chicken ; deer and turkey could be seen daily in large numbers feeding through the woods and over the broad prairies.

In those days hard times, scarcity of money, greenbacks and resumption acts were not discussed. The pioneers of this county had all the money they needed. It did not take much to do them. If they needed clothing, all that the men were required to do was to furnish their wives and daughters with walnut bark or shumac berries for coloring purposes. In a short time the measure would be taken for coats for the father and boys (size of vest and pants could generally be guessed off) and in about one week a bran new suit of brown, black or mixed jeans, would be ready for use. Agricultural implements, slides, carts and wagons were manufactured at home. Leather boots and shoes were also manufactured at home. The money that was brought in by new-comers was kept in the country, except occasionally a land entry would be made, and a few “store goods” purchased. The first settlers bought all of their groceries and “store goods” from Boonville, about two hundred miles north of here, on the Missouri River, the principal trading point. They carried their grist to mill over many a weary mile. A great many, however, were content with mashing their corn in a mortar prepared for that purpose. In 1835 the first mill was built, in the northeast part of the county. It was called Lumley's mill.

A number of families accompanied Judge John Williams from Tennessee in 1831, but on reaching the creek and breaks near the eastern part of the county, all turned back disheartened except the Judge and his son, Samuel S. Williams, whereupon the creek was called Turnback, and still bears that name. Mr. S. S. William settled two miles west of Mt. Vernon in 1833.

The following were among the first settlers of the territory now composing Lawrence County as far as I can ascertain, also the year of their arrival:

David McKinzee, who came the next year after Judge Williams and son, and who settled on Spring River about 8 miles northwest of where Mt. Vernon now stands cleared off and cultivated a small field which was the first land cultivated in the county. Jesse H. Duncan, James Mayfield and George Duncan, came in 1833, and settled on Spring River, west of S. S. Williams. James Burrough, George Gibson, James Gibson, Elijah Hillhouse, C. G. Cowan, William Bracken, J. M. White, A. A. Young and others, settled in the county in 1834. A. A. Young, better known as Uncle Young, was the first preacher that settled in the territory now Lawrence County. He is still living in the county, and is still in the ministry.

James M. White, better known as Uncle Jimmy, who still lives in the county at Verona, organized the first Sunday-school that was organized in the county, near his present residence. A brief history of the government of Sunday-schools in those days would perhaps be of interest to the people of the county at the present day: Sunday-schools were looked upon as schools of learning to both old and young who had not the time or opportunity of attending schools through the week. On Sunday morning the families of the neighborhood (and a neighborhood in those days extended for miles around) would rise early, have breakfast and get ready for Sunday-school. They would prepare and take with them their dinner and such books as perchance they had. The Bible and Webster's blue-backed spelling-books as a general thing being the stock on hand. When at the school-house, which had been hastily erected of logs, they took their seats upon benches which were made of small trees split open with wooden pins in the round side for legs. and began their studies. At noon they would have about one hour “play time” for the children. During this recess the old people would talk about their Bible lessons, occasionally giving their opinions as to “newcomers,” who had not yet joined them in their Sunday-school enterprise, and other topics of the day. At the proper time in the evening they would “turn out” with the understanding that they would all meet again the next Sunday morning.

Uncle Jimmy White still remains a zealous worker in the Sunday-school cause.

In 1835 Joseph Bearden, William Lumley and others, arrived and settled here.

William Lumley was an old Revolutionary soldier, and his body now lies mouldering in the dust, on Turnback Creek, near where Lumley's mill stood, on the Mt. Vernon and Bolivar road. In 1876 the good citizens of the neighborhood in which he was buried, raised by subscription, money enough to cause a substantial stone wall to be placed around his grave. This was done in memory of the only Revolutionary soldier whose body lies in Lawrence County. Joseph Schooling, Jesse Williamson, Sampson Wright, Zepheriah Gum, Philip Hash, Robert B. Taylor, William Mullins, Robert Hash, Ralph Elkins, Capt. John Gullett, and others settled here in 1836. Capt. Gullett and R. B. Taylor are still living in the county, the others are dead or have moved away. Benjamin Stahls, William Truett, Washington Smith, Robert Kimmons, Price Anderson, Richard and Samuel Price, A. B. Baugh and others arrived in the year 1838. Those named are all dead. In 1839 many others came in and settled, among whom were John Toliver, Asa Womington, Jas. Cherry, Wm. Orr, Stephen Powell, William Connell, Thomas M. Polk, a cousin to James K. Polk, Ex-President of the United States, and Jesse M. Taylor. The last named is still living in the county. Ambrose Coleman, William Coleman, John W. Richardson, Jeremiah Love, La Fayette Mayberry, James McCanse and others arrived in 1840. John Ingram, Wyatt Harris, Sr., Dempsey Jackson, Elijah Lingo, James McCulley, James A. Gutherie, John Link, Jesse Mundon, Andrew Moore and Bradford Samuels, and others arrived in 1841. The last named two are still living in the county. The others named are all dead. Having no means of getting list of all the names of the pioneer settlers, I have to be content with such as have been reported by some of those who are still here. From the year 1841 up to the organization of the county the settlement was rapid.

Lawrence county was organized by an act of the Legislature on the 14th day of February, 1845. However, it was named and its boundary defined by an act of the Legislature, February 24th, 1843, up to this time the territory composing Lawrence county was a part of Barry and Dade counties. Barry county was taken from Greene in 1835. The county seat was fixed at Mt. Pleasant about two miles west of where Peirce city is located. Messrs. Larkin Newton, of Newton, Elijah Gray, of Greene, and Samuel Malugen of Jasper county were appointed by the Legislature as commissioners to locate the seat of justice, of Lawrence county. Joseph Schooling, Joseph Rinker and R. B. Taylor, were appointed by the Governor Justices of the County Court. Washington Smith was appointed Sheriff.

The first county court held in Lawrence county was at the residence of R. B. Taylor two and one half miles northeast of Mt. Vernon, on Monday, April 7th, 1845. R. B. Taylor was a member of the court; he is still living at the same place. Aaron Winters, Assessor, Washington Smith, Collector, and John D. Allen, County Surveyor. R. B. Taylor and John D. Allen are the only first officials of the county that are now living. The population of the county at this time was about 3000. On the 4th day of May, 1845, the county seat was located where it now stands, on the south half of the southwest quarter, of section 30, township 28, range 16, near the center of the county. The county boundaries are as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of section 25, township 26, range 25, thence north along said range line to the township line dividing townships 29 and 30, thence west along said township line to the northwest corner of section 1, township 29 of range 29, thence south along the section lines to the southwest corner of section 25, township 26, range 25, the place of beginning, containing 592 square miles, or 378,880 acres.

The first circuit court ever held in the county after its location was at the house of George White, Esq., now owned by Rev. J. E. Fenton, about one mile west of Mt. Vernon. Hon. Charles S. Yancy, Judge, Thomas Hash, (who still lives in the county) Clerk, Washington Smith, Sheriff. John Williams, the first settler in the county, was the foreman of the Grand Jury.

This court was held on the 20th day of October, 1845. The following named persons were returned by the sheriff as grand jurors, and sworn: John Williams, dec’d, foreman; Dempsey Jackson, dec’d; Geo. W. Messick, living; John H. Colley, dec’d; Daniel Wann, dec’d; A. B. Woods, dec’d; John Mahan, dec’d; Matthew Lowder, dec’d; Geo. M. Gibson, dec’d; Alfred Moore, dec’d; John B. Wood, living; James M. White, living; Wash. H. Stroud, dec’d; Jacob Fisher, dec’d; John Ingram, dec’d; Robert Jennings, living; Absalom Williams, dec’d. This grand jury found one bill of indictment, and that was against Ethan A. Brown for selling goods without a license. Robert W. Crawford, dec’d, and John C. Price, yet living in Mt. Vernon, were the leading attorneys of the county at that day.

On the 5th day of May, 1845, the County Court divided the County into six municipal townships, to wit: Mount Vernon, Spring River, Ozark, Green, Vineyard and Mt. Pleasant.

The first court-house built was in 1846. Matlock & Sanders, of Springfield, the builders. It was a frame building two stories high, 18 by 30 feet, and not very commodious. The building is still standing on the north side of the square, and has been fitted up for a dwelling and millinery shop, and is now occupied by Mrs. S. Boothe. A Jail was erected the same year of hewn logs, then inches square. The Jail was built by Wyatt Harris, Sr., and Bradford Samuels. The last named is still living in the county. Wyatt Harris, Sr., is dead. In 1854 a large and commodious brick court-house was built. On the 4th day of July, 1845, the organization of the county was celebrated by a bran dance. In preparing for this celebration and sale of lots, invitations were sent to neighboring counties, and promptly responded to by hundreds who came to celebrate the national anniversary and the birth of a new county. An arbor was made from the black jacks and other forest trees on the spot where the court-house now stands, beneath which the sale of lots was held, and afterward an old-fashioned barbecue served up. Buck Whann, was the orator of the day, other short speeches were made, and a good time enjoyed by all. After the business and the barbecue had received proper attention the arbor was cleared away and bran strewn over the floor to prepare it for dancing; old, middle-aged and young joined in the dance, and everything passed off harmoniously. The music consisted in a single violin played by Dick Chitwood, who was well known by many of the first settlers. He could play but two tunes, “The Rye Straw” and “Chicken Pie;“ those two airs were alternately played and universally enjoyed by all. James M. Kellogg, familiarly known as “Kale,“ who is still a citizen of the town, took part in this bran dance. James M. Kellogg erected the first building at the county seat. This building was about 16 feet square, and used as a store-house. In 1845 the Union Hotel was built by Wm. M. Matthews, and is, and has been all the time used as such, now being occupied by Mrs. Sallie Matthews, the widow of Mr. Wm. Matthews. During the same year many others settled at the county-seat, among whom were Judge Thos. R. Whaley, now deceased, John W. Payne, now a resident of Dallas, Texas, P. M. Wear, deceased, Harrison Haley, deceased, Daniel Bradford, deceased, and Ephraim Gaither, deceased. In the year 1856, Lawrence county had its first newspaper which was printed and published at Mt. Vernon. There are now seven newspapers in the county: Fountain and Journal, printed and published by Euphrates Boucher, Lawrence Chieftain, by Cecil & Bro., at Mt. Vernon, Peirce City Empire, by Thos. Carlin, Peirce City Record, by R. J. Alexander, Verona News, by W. F. King and W. F. McCullah, Immigrant‘s Guide, by Thos. Carlin, Peirce City, Southwest Missouri, by E. Osborn, at Marionville.

Lawrence County, as many of her citizens can testify, shared the fate of Southwest Missouri during the civil war. It was the scene of many skirmishes between Union and Confederate soldiers, some of whom are now living neighborly together in peace and friendship.

From the organization of the county up to the present time, the following named persons have held county offices, to wit:

REPRESENTATIVES.

COUNTY COURT JUSTICES.

1845-6--Joseph Schooling, Joseph Rinker and R. B. Taylor.
1846-8--R. B. Taylor, Joseph Rinker and Joseph Schooling.
1848-50--Thos. Hash, Joseph Rinker and Joseph Schooling.
1850-2--R. B. Taylor, Daniel Wann and Geo. Brite.
1852-4--James Cherry, Wm. Wann and D. E. Gibson, living.
1854-6--James Cherry, James White, and David E. Gibson.
1856-8--Jas. Cherry, dead, Jas. White, dead, and T. R. Whaley, dead.
1858-60--T. R. Whaley, dead, James White and Thomas Colley.
1860-2--Jas. Fike, dead, Thos. Colley, dead, and R. H. Landrum.
1862-4--R. H. Landrum, Thos. Colley, and James Fike.
1864-6--R. H. Landrum, Thos. Colley, and James Fike.
1866-8--R. H. Landrum, John B. Woods and N. C. Spilman, dead.
1868-70--R. H. Landrum, John B. Woods and N. C. Spilman.
1870-2--G. W. Rinker, living, John B. Woods and N. C. Spilman.
1872-4--Geo. W. Rinker, J. T. Ward, living, and D. E. Gibson, living.
1874-6--J. W. Hopper, living, John T. Ward and J. R. Hillhouse, living.
1878--William Gammon, William Goodman and W. C. Whinery, elected for the next term. Gammon for four years, the other two for two years.

From the organization of the county to the first of January, 1867, the county court had Probate Jurisdiction.

At the November election, 1866, the first Probate Judge was elected.

SHERIFFS.

CIRCUIT CLERKS.

COUNTY CLERKS.

ASSESSORS.