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New Madrid Co |
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI: page 6-7: "The boundaries of the state were at last fixed so as to extend south to parallel thirty-six degrees, north latitude, running thence west to St. Francois river, thence up and in the middle of the main channel thereof, to parallel thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, and thence west on this parallel to a point where a meridian line extended due north and south would intersect the mouth of the Kansas river, thus moving the boundary west about four townships. On the north the boundary line was fixed where this median line would be intersected by a parallel of latitude, which passed through the rapids of the river Des Moines - and thus on the north boundary was curtailed so as to excluded a little more than one tier of counties now in Iowa. Under the Act of 1820, MO had this boundary on the map of the United States. In the work of securing for the new state at least a portion of the territory on the south proposed by the territorial legislature, the services of J. Hardeman Walker were no doubt of great value. Local tradition has inseperably connected his name with the extension of the limits south to the 36th parallel between the Mississippi and St. Francois rivers. In 1818 Walker was one of the most energetic, public spirited and enterprising citizens of the territory, living on a large plantation near Little Prairie, south of the line proposed in the original petition. As soon as this boundary of the new state was made known, Walker began a vigorous and persistent agitation to secure such a change as would include the country south of New Madrid and the Little prairie settlements and plantations. he no doubt urged the adoption of the memorial of the territorial assembly, praying for the enlarged limits; but the manner in which he succeeded in actually securing the extension which brought in the Little Prairie country is lost to history. It is, however, asserted that this change was effected principally through the personal efforts and influence of Walker. Undoubtedly he was aided by John Scott, of Ste. Genevieve, then the congressional delegate from the territory, and by the powerful influence of the leading lawyers and politicians residing at Jackson, at that time the great business and political center of the territory south of St. Louis; Alexander Buckner, afterwards United States Senator, Gen. James Evans, Judge Richard J. Thomas, and many other influential men, then living there. The influence of Dr. Dawson, of New Madrid, member of the territorial council, and brother-in-law of Walker, also, no doubt, was enlisted in this matter. However, this may be, I have it from those who ought to be familiar with the facts as his contemporaries engaged in the practice of law in New Madrid and other southeastern counties, at the time the state was admitted, that to J. Hardeman Walker we owe it that the additional territory now embraced in the limits of Pemiscot county, and most of that within the counties of Dunklin and New Madrid, was added to the new state. It is thus that the intelligent, energetic, and well-directed effort of a single individual is often made manifest. page 6 (notes): "Born in Fayette, county, Tennessee, in 1790; came to MO Territory in 1810 and settled near Little Prairies, (now Caruthersville), where he continued to reside until his death in 1855. When in 1811-12, on account of the earthquakes, most of the inhabitants fled the country, he remained; was sheriff of New Madrid county in 1821-22, judge of the county court, and held many other local offices; a man of great public spirit and enterprise; owned a plantation fronting several miles on the Mississippi, a portion of which is now in the city limits of Caruthersville, a town he laid out in 1851, near the old village of Little Prairie. In politics Colonel Walker was a Whig. His only child, a daughter, married Rev. George W. Bushey. One of his grand-daughters married Captain Simms." Return To History of Southeast, Missouri A Narrative of Its Historical Progress These pages are a collection of genealogical information to help you research families in White County IL Included you will find historical information, county resources, queries and much much more. Many volunteers have contributed information to these pages. Their names will appear on the pages and information they have provided. These pictures may not be copied or used in any publication or for any other purpose without the contributor's written consent. This is a free site. There is not a charge to view these pages. | |
