Early Settlers and Settlements, Taylor Township, Greene County, Missouri >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** The very first settler in Taylor township was one Davis, mentioned in the first chapter of this work, who came, it is said, in 1822 or soon afterward, and located on the farm now (1883) owned by Col. John H. Price, in section 13-29-20. Mr. Davis was afterward killed by the Indians. Edward Thompson occupied the farm after Davis, and then came Samuel G. Martin, who held it until 1836, when Crabtree Price came into possession and lived thereon until his death. Rev. Mr. Mooney, a Baptist minister, came upon the Julian Foster place, on the James, about the year 1827 or 1828, and in the latter year rented his farm from the Delawares. John B. and Edward Mooney were living here in 1830. Nicholas Darnold lived on this farm at the time of his death, in 1837. Other early settlers were Samuel Martin, presiding justice of the first county court and his brother, Cowden Martin, both from North Carolina, who came in 1829, to section 24; old Jerry Pearson, who settled a little below the Powell spring, on Pearson creek, in section 5; and Nicholas Darnold and Benjamin Harper. On the south side of James river, Edward Thompson, a Tennesseean, settled in 1830, and four years afterward removed to the Kickapoo prairie. Andrew and Richard C. Martin, sons of Samuel Martin, lived on the James at an early date, the first in section 23, and the latter in 27. John L. McCraw came to the county in 1836, and settled the place where he died. The Galbraith place in section 31, was, sometime previous to 1836, occupied by the family of a French woman by the name of Mrs. Page. Rev. Thomas Potter, a preacher of the Christian church, was an early settler. James Martin, in 1836, settled the farm of Thomas W. Sawyers in section 36. Mr. Sawyers, one of the old and respected citizens of the township, came to the county in 1840. In the fall of 1837, William Dillard came from Monroe County, Tennessee, and settled on section 17 on the place first settled two years before by Braxton Sams. Mr. Dillard died April 12, 1877, aged nearly 95. He was a native of Buncombe county, North Carolina. Immediately preceding his death, Mr. Dillard was the oldest citizen of Greene County. It is believed the first white male child born in Taylor township was Wm. Thompson, a son of Edward Thompson. The first white child of either sex was a daughter of Cowden Martin. Wm. Thompson was born in 1830; Miss Martin, a year earlier, in 1829. The first death was that of Thomas Martin, on the James, in 1831. The body was buried on the home place. Cowden Martin died of cholera, contracted in Springfield, in 1835. The first marriage remembered was that of William Darnold and Sallie Thompson, in 1833. The groom was a son of Nicholas Darnold, and the bride a daughter of Edward Thompson. Another early wedding was that of John Cardwell and Faith Darnold, at the residence of the bride's father, Nicholas Darnold, in the spring of 1837. Judge Samuel Martin performed the ceremony in the latter instance. It is claimed that the first regular physician in the township was Dr. Wm. C. Cald- well, of Virginia, now living at Fair Grove. The first minister was Rev. Mr. Mooney, the Baptist preacher before mentioned, who held the first services at private houses. Soon after came Rev. Thos. Potter, of the Christian denomination. The first school was taught in 1836, in an old log house on the Danforth farm, but the name of the first teacher has been forgotten. The first settlements in this township were made along the James fork of the White river, now called simply the James river, but as well known by its oft-mispronounced title, "the Jeems." Old settlers say that the James river was remarkably high in 1830 or 1831; higher by four or six feet than it has ever been since. The highest water since the country has been settled up was in June, 1855. Fish were formerly very abundant in the stream, but have become scarce by reason of the dams thrown across. In the month of March, 1849, Wm. Ireson, a school teacher, aged about 35, was drowned in the James, at the Neaves ford, in trying to cross the stream on horseback. The water was high, and Mr. Ireson neglected to take off the martingals, and so the horse could not swim. The man's body was recovered the next day, about 100 yards below the ford, and buried by Finley Danforth, at the Danforth church. In April, 1856, a young lady, the daughter of John Breedlove, was drowned in the James, near the Baughman ford. Miss Breedlove and a younger companion were crossing the stream on a foot log. The latter fell into the water and pulled Miss Breedlove after her. Singularly enough, the younger girl was washed ashore and saved, while Miss Breedlove was drowned. The alarm was given and her body was recovered and brought ashore while still warm, but life was extinct, and all efforts at resusciation failed. Miss Breedlove was about 18 years of age. Another case of drowning occurred near the lower Neaves ford, the victim being a stone-cutter named Forrester. It was supposed that the unfortunate man was also trying to cross on a foot-log, as he had made inquiries for such a crossing. His dead body was found floating in the stream several days afterwards. The gret cyclone of April 18, 1880, which is described in full in the general history of this volume, was especially sever in Taylor township. The house of John L. McCraw, Sr., was unroofed, the kitchen blown away, and much valuable timber prostrated. The house of John L. McCraw, Jr., was entirely destroyed, some of the debris being blown entirely away. The out buildings were destroyed and one cow, three head of sheep, and some hogs killed, while all the horses were more or less crippled. The damage amounted to between $700 and $800. The cyclone struck the farm of T. J. Henslee, sweeping fences, houses, barns, and everything before it. Mr. Henslee was swept out of his house and dashed against a post twenty feet distant, sustaining severe injuries. His leg was fractured in two places, and his right arm bad- ly sprained. From these injuries, Mr. Henslee has not yet wholly recovered. Mrs. Henslee's shoulder blade was broken, and James Baker, a farm hand, was injured in the back and had three ribs broken. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================