Caldwell County MO Archives History .....THE TERRILL FAMILY OF BRECKENRIDGE 
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Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com August 30, 2008, 4:09 pm

THE TERRILL FAMILY OF BRECKENRIDGE
	Narrators:  Mrs. Sarah Haggerty, 70, and Mrs. H.D. Eldredge of Hamilton

     These Hamilton women were well acquainted with Mrs. Mary Terrill and her 
children since Mrs. Sarah Haggerty taught for years in Breckenridge.  
     Mr. and Mrs. Jerome B. Terrill and children came to Missouri in wagons in 
very early days.  She was only sixteen when she was married.  They came to the 
Breckenridge country when the place was a mere settlement without a name, 
except the Grand River country.
     She brought with her as a part of her dower her slaves who lived with her 
many years.  He brought among other things, his library, a very fine one for 
those days.
     Before locating at Breckenridge, they went to Westport Landing when it 
was only a steam boat landing, then decided to come up to Caldwell County 
where a kinsman was located.  He bought land and it was on some of this land 
that the town of Breckenridge was laid out in 1856.  He was one of the 
Breckenridge town company.  He named the town after his friend, Col. 
Breckenridge of Kentucky.
     From their home, before the town started, they could see one vast expanse 
of prairie.  The only trees in their vision were those along streams and a 
cluster of poplars on a Foley farm north west of Breckenridge.
     They built a log house which is yet standing, as far as I know.  I recall 
her saying that one of the happiest days in her life was when finally she had 
a level puncheon floor so she could rock a cradle.
     Groceries and other necessities of life were brought from Hannibal but 
there were few trips taken.
     Mr. Terrill was killed within a mile of his home by falling from a 
railway train Nov. 1864.  That left her to struggle on with several small 
children.  Her latchstring always hung outside, as a gathering place for the 
young people.  Camping parties to Trosper Lake and Grand River frequently had 
her as a chaperon.
     Uncle Bob, one of the Terrill slaves, was for years a well known 
character in Breckenridge.
     The elder Terrills are buried in the Terrill private graveyard one half 
mile east of Breckenridge.
     Interviewed  August 25, 1934.


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