Old Settlers of Jamesport Township
The first settler, as we have mentioned above, was
Thomas N. Auberry, -who came from Ray county in 1834 and settled
about two miles from where the town of Jamesport now stands. His
place took the name of Auberry Grove. Mr. Auberry came from Kentucky
and he located on section twenty-nine.
His Eccentricity
Thomas Auberry was an old pioneer of the genuine backwoods stripe.
He was a sort of "Jack of all trades," could turn his hand, and
voice for that matter, to most anything. He was a preacher, doctor,
farmer, horse-trader, horse-racer, surveyor, and could play cards so
as to come out ahead about as -often as his opponent. Before he came
to this part of Ray county now called Daviess, he platted the town
of Richmond in 1830, laying it off in blocks and lots. It is
reported that his wife was an Indian woman, by name Ruvedas, the
daughter of a chief, and that when she died he helped to bury her,
assisting .in the burial service, and placing in her coffin, as was
customary with Indian rites, a large amount of jewelry belonging to
the deceased. She was buried in the grove known as Auberry Grove.
Auberry was a valuable acquisition to his neighborhood on account of
his numerous qualifications, and his willingness to put them to
profitable use.
The township did not settle fast. The settlers gathered about
Millport, and . at that time, with the exception of the west side,
had located in the timber. In 1831, 1835, and 1836, the timber land
had decidedly the advantage of the prairie in point of settlers.
Many believed the soil poor and that it was an impossibility to turn
the sod of the prairies. Along the banks of the Little Muddy and the
southwest corner of the township the first settlers located, Auberry
Grove being the principal settlement in the township and that
section for several years. In 1837-38 quite a number came in from
Virginia. James Callison, Richard Will, John McClung and Robert
Miller, all came from that State and in the above named years. They
were soon after followed by Isaac Jordan, James C. Hill, and a
number of others. It was not long before they had secured themselves
comfortable homes. Of course, the same routine of pioneer life was
their lot. Miles of travel to go to mill, .a trip to Brunswick,
Camden or Lexington for a few groceries, dry goods, and a jug of wet
goods, in exchange for deer skins, venison hams, honey, o etc., was
now and then taken, and the usual amount of wild game filled their
larders with meat. Soon after the year 1840 the rich and inviting
prairies were found to be as rich in productive qualities as they
were beautiful to the eye, and Jamesport then found her population
growing, and soon a large portion of her open prairies became
fertile fields, and where the wild game had roamed free and
undisturbed, was now being rapidly filled with lowing herds; flocks
of sheep fed upon the luxuriant wild grasses which covered the-broad
expanse of open country. There was little to disturb the monotony of
pioneer life. The Black Hawk. War had passed away, the Mormons had
come and gone, and there was little to do, but improve their rich
farm lands,. and garner the proceeds of their toil.
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