In 1832, during the Black Hawk war, a company was formed in this county, commanded by Captain A. Goodrig, but we have been unable to procure the names of the company in full. And although the war was settled before they reached the scene of action, this company deserve great credit for the bravery and public spirit they manifested, by enlisting and marching forward to protect their country from the depredations of hostile tribes; and they really deserve as much consideration as if they had fought.

"In those early days in Randolph County," justly remarks our informant, a worthy old pioneer, "the people were all upon an equality -no aristocratic distinctions prevailed. The man with the buckskin hunting-skirt, and the woman with a calico dress, were as much respected and esteemed as though dressed in the garbs of kings and queens. Distinctions in dress are a scandal to the nation, and should by all means be banished; and every good man should pray for a return of the good old days of primitive simplicity."

Churches and Schools.-Thirteen church organizations are all we could learn of in this county, and are principally of the Methodist, Baptist, Christian, Presbyterian, and Episcopal denominations. Mt. Pleasant male and female College, located at Huntsville, was organized about one year ago, and is under the control and patronage of the United Baptists, and has a reputation of being well conducted and liberally patronized. In 1858, there were 47 schoolhouses, and 3239 school children in the county. The amount of money apportioned for 1859 was $2277.

HUNTSVILLE, the county-seat, is located near the center of the county, about six miles west from the North Missouri Railroad. It now contains an ably-conducted college, (Mt. Pleasant College;) 4 churches-Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, and Christian;

Masonic and Odd Fellows' Lodges; 2 newspapers, the "Citizen" and "American ;" a book-store; 2 flouring and 3 saw-mills; and a full complement of enterprising business men, representing every branch. The other towns are all growing rapidly, and are good business points, surrounded generally by a well-settled country, peopled by industrious and intelligent citizens.

Roanoke, population, 300; Renick, 200; Milton, 100; Jacksonville, 100; Thomasville, 150; Allen, 75; Smithland, 50.

RAY COUNTY.

This county is situated on the left bank of the Missouri River, bounded on the east by Carroll, north by Caldwell, and west by Clay County, and contains about 556 square miles. In 1860 there were 106,742 acres of land in cultivation, divided into 1600 farms, which possessed the following live stock of one year old and upward:

This county was named in honor of John Ray, a member of the Convention to form the State Constitution. In 1821 it had a popu lation of 1789; in 1830, 2657; in 1840, 6553; in 1850, 10,000; and in 1860, 14,076.

Physical Features.-There is a desirable division of prairie and timber in this county. The bottom lands of the Missouri are exceedingly fertile, but a portion of them are subject to inundation, in times of the highest freshets. They are well adapted to the culture of many agricultural products, and especially favorable for stock growing. The timber consists of the same varieties as the adjoining counties, except blue ash, white walnut, and sassafras, which we have not seen higher up the river than the eastern boundary of this county. The county is drained by Fishing River, Crooked River, and the "Wahkan-dah," all of which have an abundance of fish. Two miles east from Millville is a sulphur spring, considered valuable for its medic inal properties. Stone coal is abundant in many parts of the county,

also excellent limestone for building purposes or manufacturing lime. Both saline and fresh water springs are numerous.

History. The first settlements upon the territory now embraced in Ray County were made in 1816, by Isaac Martin, Abraham Linville, Isaac Wilson, John Turner, William Turnage, and others, on Crooked River, near the present site of "Buffalo City." At first these new settlers subsisted almost entirely upon game, but after they had raised erops they added roasted corn. When the corn became hard enough to grind, they made wooden mortars and pestles to "grind" it with. Their sieves were made by stretching a perforated deer-skin over a hoop. An improvement was made upon the mortar by the introduction of hand-mills, and in 1818 Isaac Martin erected one to run by horse power, the posts of which are still standing. In those days the Iowa and Sac Indians were numerous and friendly. Bears were plenty, and very troublesome in destroying corn and pumpkins. Deer, elk, turkeys, and smaller game were also very abundant. The first school taught in this region was by Meadow Vanderpool, in 1819, and the first goods were "cordelled" up the Missouri River by John Shields, and sold at Old Bluffton, near Camden. In 1819 the first steamboat navigated the Missouri River, and came up as high as Camden, and was a great curiosity to the natives, many of whom could not for a time be induced to approach within several hundred yards of it. (See Chapter on "Early Navigation of Western Rivers.")

The county business was formerly transacted at Old Bluffton, where the first court was held in April, 1821, by John Thornton, Isaac Martin, and Elisha Cameron as county-court justices; Wm. L. Smith, clerk; and John Harris, sheriff. The first court held at Richmond, the present seat of justice, was on the 5th of May, 1828, of which Wm. P. Thompson, Sebron J. Miller, and Isaac Martin were judges; George Woodward, clerk; and Larkin Stanley, sheriff. In 1827, John Wallard had a corn-field upon the ground now occupied by the present public square of Richmond. The courts continued to be held at Bluffton until 1828, when the county-seat was removed to Richmond. The only memorial that remains of this once important pioneer seat of justice is upon the county records, and in the memories of the early settlers of the State. The illustrious names that are interwoven with its seven years of judicial history sufficiently attest the importance of the former position of Bluffton; and although, as a town it has ceased to exist, the memory of its former history will be lasting. Hon. Hamilton R. Gamble was first circuit attorney, who, upon his resignation, was succeeded by Abiel Leonard

and Charles French. George Tompkins, Peyton R. Hayden, Cyrus Edwards, Gen. Duff Green, Jno. F. Ryland, and Amos Rees were acting attorneys at Bluffton at the above-mentioned date. For many of the foregoing items of early history we are indebted to Holland Vanderpool, Esq., a very worthy citizen of Ray County, whose father established the first school, and whose family have done much to bring the county to its present prosperous condition.

Industrial Pursuits.-Ray County is supplied with 22 merchants, 1 branch of Union Bank, 1 newspaper, 8 lawyers, 20 physicians, 3 druggists, 13 grocers, 1 silversmith, 2 tinners, 25 blacksmiths, 30 wagon-makers, 4 saddlers, 5 tailors, 8 shoemakers, 10 carpenters' shops, 2 tobacco manufacturers, 19 saw-mills, 12 flouring-mills, 6 coopers, etc.

Of Churches there are 18, embracing Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformers, Baptist, and Catholic. There are 67 school districts in the county, and 60 school-houses, with 4743 pupils and 77 teachers.

RICHMOND, the county-seat, was established about 1827. It is pleasantly situated south from the center of the county, about seven miles from the Missouri River, on high, undulating land, surrounded by an excellent and well-settled farming region, and has for many years been a place of considerable business, having had, in 1836, seven stores, and a number of mechanics' shops, etc., and now contains a bank, newspaper, several churches, and schools, and a population of about 1000.

Camden, the principal shipping point of the county, is on the Missouri River, seven miles from Richmond, and 125 above Jefferson City. It was first settled about 1833, and has taken the place of Old Bluffton, which was a short distance above, on the river, and whose glory has long since departed. Population about 500.

Millville is situated about twelve miles northeast from the countyseat, and contains 200 inhabitants.

Knoxville, in the north central part of the county, has a population of 200. Of other towns in the county there are Albany, Elkhorn, Morton, and Tinney's Grove. For post-offices, see full list in another chapter.