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Much interesting data is coming to light about the early settlers of the Big River country. The impression that the northern part of the county was almost entirely unsettled until the time just preceding the Civil War is entirely erroneous, according to H. C. Thompson of Bonne Terre, local member of the Institute of American Genealogy. Many of these early settlers have left numerous descendants and much interesting data is being gathered and tabulated.
The history of such old families and their descendants as the Frys, Bakers, Alleys, McKees, Andrews, Turleys, Smiths, Postons, and McHenrys is being compiled by Mr. Thompson with the view of giving these old families their proper place in the pioneer history of Southeast Missouri. It is true they were not politicians but they largely contributed to the stable and better citizenship of the county and state. Henry Fry, Andrew Baker and his sons, John Alley and John Andros (Andrews) were early settlers coming into what is now the Big River Mills vicinity in 1794. Later they brought their families and by 1796 quite a community had sprung up at Big River Mills.
The hardships of these early settlers is best told by the story of Henry Fry and Rebecca Baker who were engaged to be married and on March 1st, 1797 they started out to Ste. Genevieve to be married. The wedding party consisted of several of their friends and relatives. Upon reaching the Terre Blue crossing they were set upon by a roving band of Osage Indian marauders who had been to Ste. Genevieve, and these Indians took all their possessions including their clothing and horses, leaving them helpless. One of the sisters of Rebecca Baker was dragged on her back for some distance and carried the scars of this experience to her grave. Henry Fry had fifteen hundred dollars worth of furs with him to sell at Ste. Genevieve and these also were taken altho the value of them was afterwards restored through the efforts of Col. Chouteau. The party returned home and it was not until the following year that the marriage was consummated. Many descendants of this couple still live in the county, some of whom are the Hamptons of the vicinity of Elvins.
A recent release by the Missouri State Historical Society appeared in this paper on the subject of Sam Hilderbrandt, Outlaw. This story was written in the abstract style of one writing about the King of England, or someone else who was just another historical character. Sam was typical of the type of Kentucky fuedalists. He was deeply wronged, his brothers were murdered and his mother's roof was burned over her head. His wife, who was Margaret Hampton, was almost as badly treated but was faithful to Sam until his death and hers.
It is true that Sam killed his enemies deliberately and with unerring accuracy and few whom he felt had wronged him escaped his rifle "Kill Devil," however many instances of Sam's kindness and mercy are on record. There were not many times when many of the natives didn't know exactly where Sam was and where he could be found. This applies to Southern sympathizers as well as to many out-and-out "Unionists." If they had wanted to, Sam could have been caught or shot most any time. Sam was a "native son." His ancestors were the first white Americans to settle on Big River in Jefferson county. The last of the family of Sam died out with the death some time ago of Mrs. W. D. Harris, who was the sister of Sam and was named Mary Ann Hildebrand. Even in death, Sam's friends were faithful. When his body was brought back to Farmington, no one would officially identify him because they didn't want his killers to get the reward offered for him "dead or alive."
Hunting for birth and death dates as recorded in old family Bibles and on tombstones in the old cemeteries scattered throughout the county and in the private cemeteries on farms is not only exceedingly interesting but sometimes highly amusing as exemplified by the following story.
Rapping on the door of a farm house east of town recently, the enquirer was told to come in. Asking if there was a cemetery near, he was told that there was one on the farm but the owner said he hadn't been near it for seventeen years. Asked why he had neglected his relatives for that long a period he said there had been a "varmint" burrowing in the ground surrounding the graves (probably a weasel) and he "aimed" to shoot it. Taking his shot-gun and trying to sneak up on it, it saw him first and disappeared into its burrow. He thought maybe he could poke it out and for this purpose cut a long sapling and was poking into the hole when he heard a voice say "Quit that, you're poking my eye out." Looking around he saw Sam Doss standing behind him. Sam was quite a well known ventriloquist but even the farmer said he had always given this cemetery a wide berth.
