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There are no records of the slaves brought to Monroe County in the early settlements but they increased in approximately the same ratio as their white masters. In the 1840 census, the first after Monroe County was organized, there were 1687 slaves, making up one-sixth of the population.

In 1850 the number had increased to 2048 out of a population of 10,541 and in 1860, the last census before they were freed, 3021 slaves were listed in a total population of 14,785.

Slave trading was not much practiced in Monroe County. The slaves were brought with the settlers and as a rule remained on the farms of their masters until they died. A very strong young negro slave would be valued as high as $3000. Slaves were not sold to neighbors or friends, or even to strangers, to any great extent by the pioneer slave owners. There were no public auctions such as were held at Hannibal, and in most towns throughout the South few, if any heart-rending scenes of mothers parted forever from children, of fathers snatched away from families, or of mulatto or octoroon girls sold to white masters as was the practice in the South. There was little, if any, of the “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” atmosphere about the slaves in Monroe County.

The slaves generally were docile, obedient and faithful; they called their masters “Marse Henry” or “Marse John.” In some instances after the war they stayed on with their masters in the capacity of general factotum or servant.