Early Settlers, Greene County, Missouri, Pond Creek Township >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** According to the Greene County Atlas, published in 1876, David Reynolds was the first settler of Pond Creek Township. He came from East Tenn- essee in 1834, and settled in section two, of township twenty-eight, range twenty-four. His death occurred a few years ago. Edward Blades, the father of R. D. Blades, settled in section 10, in the year 1836. He was a native of North Carolina, but emigrated to Missouri from McMinn County, East Tenn. William McDaniel settled in 1836, on section 11, coming at the same time with Blades. Robert Batson settled in section 3, in 1840. Samuel Garroute emigrated from Greene County, Tenn., to Gasconade County, Mo., and after living there perhaps ten or fifteen years came to Pond Creek in 1837, and located in section 27. Anthony Garroute and William D. Garroute came from Ohio in 1838. James Garro- ute came about the same time. The Garroutes have been public spirited citizens of the township. They are all descended from an old soldier of the Revolution who came over with the French troops to assist in securing the independence of the Americans, and after the war was over remained in this country, and settled in New Jersey, whence his descen- dents have emigrated West. A man named Connor lived at an early date for a period of two years on Pickerel creek. John Loose lived on a branch of the Pickerel, near the southern line of the township, but he also only remained two or three years. Magruder Tannehill came about 1840 and settled in the southeast corner of the township. In the southwest corner Robert Carr settled on the waters of the Turnback. G. W. Brittain, now one of the leading farmers of the southwest part of the county, emigrated to Missouri in 1833 or 1834, first settled ten miles west of Springfield, and afterwards came to Pond Creek Township. N. B. Neil, from East Tennessee, settled in section 7 in 1836. Stephen Batson came from Ohio in 1842, and lived on the Pickerel, near the south line of the county, but afterward removed. Esquire John Laney was one of the old settlers. George M. Laney came to Greene County in 1848. The first school taught in this township was by Robert Batson in a private house built by R. D. Blades on his father's place on the northwest corner of section 10. Stephen Batson also taught school in the township, as did also William B. Garroute. The first school house was built on section 10; it was a log, 14 x 15 feet in size. The first church erected was the Bethel church, a frame meeting house, used for meetings of various denominations, which stood on section 16. It was burned down in May, 1872. The first white child born in the township was either William Blades, son of Edward Blades, or Jackson McDaniel, the son of William McDaniel. The latter was born August 30, 1837. The first female child was Betsey Blades, born in May, 1837. She was a daughter of Edward and Penelope Blades. In the Atlas, it is set down that in Pond Creek township the first marriage was that of Duncan Hood to Nancy Blades, but old settlers say that a marriage antedating this was that of Harvey Hazelton and Martha Reynolds. The marriage service was performed by Rev. Thos. Ashley. The couple afterward removed to Oregon, where an unfortunate disagreement occurred, and a separation followed. Mrs. Hazelton returned to Pond Creek township and died in 1879. The first death was a child of David Reynolds that died immedi- ately after its birth, May 9, 1844; a few days afterward Edward Blades died. Both bodies were buried in the graveyard on the old Reynolds place. The first sermon preached in the township was by Rev. Thos. Ashley, a Methodist, who held services in the house of old David Rey- nolds in the year 1838. ==================================================================== 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 ====================================================================