Early History of Wilson Township, Greene County, Missouri >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** As has been stated on previous pages of this history (see Chapter I.), the settlements on the James in Wilson township were the first made within the present limits of Greene County. Albert G. Patterson came to this township in 1822, and there lived until his death, a few years since; it is said he died on the place he first settled, having lived there continuously from 1822, except from 1829 to 1831 when the whites were not permitted to inhabit the country on account of its being the reservation of the Delaware Indians. Then the Pattons, John and Nath- aniel, and David Wallace were among the very first settlers. Among other settlers who came in later years was John Briscoe, who arrived in 1831, or 1832, from Tennessee, and settled where the widow of Will- iam M. Ward now lives, and died there. His sons-in-law were Jacob and Andrew Roller. The former settled the farm of Elijah Gray, and the latter the place where Scott Fry afterward located. The Rollers and Briscoes left in a few years. Elijah Gray was from Halifax County, Virginia, removed to Tennessee, and in 1840 came to Greene County, and in 1841 removed to Wilson township. Dr. Jewett lived on this same farm before the Grays came. When Elijah Gray moved into his house in Decem- ber, 1841, it was then called the finest house in Wilson township. It was built of hewn logs, with a shingle roof and a rock chimney, while most of the old settlers' houses boasted only of board roofs and wooden chimneys, daubed up with mud. L. A. D. Crenshaw came to Greene County in 1841 from Nashville, Tenn., and settled near Springfield. In 1845 he came to Wilson township, and 1848 settled in section 3 of township 28, range 22. He had no capital when he came, but has now reached a foremost position among the solid citizens of Greene County. In Wilson township he owns 1,200 acres of land, all lying in one body, forming one of the finest farms in the county. William T. Ward recently decea- sed, was an old settler of the township. W. B. Anderson began improv- ing his farm in the northeastern part of the township in 1842. The O'Neals are pioneer settlers of this township. Mrs. Mary O'Neal, wife of (?) O'Neal, gives many interesting reminiscences of her life in the primitive days of this township's existence. When she and her husband first came here the Delaware Indians passed back and forth through the neighborhood on their visits to the different hunting and trapping grounds. They were always orderly and never gave the settlers any trouble. The settlers had their grinding done at Marshall's old mill, on the James. No saw-mills were in existence here and all wooden art- icles or implements used were hewn out with an ax. Spinning wheels were made at Sidney Ingram's shop, in Springfield, but looms were usually made by the settlers themselves. Nearly every lady of 18 and over at that date could spin and weave. Game was abundant, and venison steaks were staple articles of the pioneer's bills of fare. Wolves were plenty and predatory, and the sheep folds were always placed con- venient to the dwelling in order that the sheep might be protected from the ravages of the lupine marauders. Among the early marriages was that of Lee Yarbrough and Louisa Gray, who were married March 29, 1843. John H. Miller, whose newspaper articles on the early history of this county have been consulted in the pioneer chapter, and Margaret Blakey were married July 14, 1843, on the McDaniel farm. Mrs. O'Neal remem- bers that the wedding came off in a little cabin 14 x 14 feet in size, and that about one hundred and fifty guests were present at the wedding feast, all of whom were bountifully fed and generously cared for. Mrs. O'Neal is of the opinion that no more enjoyable wedding ever occurred in Greene County. Mr. Reson Hayden owned a still house in the neighbor- hood and supplied whisky to all who cared to indulge in that beverage. There were no towns or villages in Wilson township, and no churches re- ported. The farthest point in the township from Springfield is not more than ten miles, and the people are so convenient to that city that they do not care to be bothered with a town of their own. They are also so moral and upright that they can dispense with churches. ==================================================================== 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 ====================================================================