Ulmer Ancestry

Nodaway County Early Beginnings

In 1804 Lewis and Clark started their expedition. Patrick Gass, who was one of the sergeants in the expedition, made a note in his journal stating: "Sunday, 8th July (1804). We were under way this morning before daylight. The river is crooked and narrow. At one, we came to a large island, with only a small stream on the north side which we went up. A large creek called Nadowa flows in from the North, and on this side we encamped."

Lewis and Clark saw scarcely anyone but Indians on their trip up the river. On their return trip in 1806 through the area they met many trappers, hunters, and traders. But for many more years the area was only Indian territory.

On July 15, 1830 a general treaty with the Indians was made. By 1836 the territory had mainly Indians, Slave traders, outlaws, robbers, and thieves. None were subject to any jurisdiction of the State. This was still Indian land at that time. In order to bring law and order and restraints to those who demoralized the Indians and committed offences on the people of Missouri the annexation of the area was made on June 7th, 1836.

On October 15, 1836 a treaty was made with the Indian Chiefs. This gave the State of Missouri title to the area. The Indians gave up their ownership for the sum of four thousand five hundred and twenty dollars in merchandise. The treaty was ratified by Congress on February 13, 1837.

It was not until 1839 that a white man actually lived in Nodaway County. Some of the early settlers of the area I will mention in this article, but I also want to point out that Thomas G. Ulmer and his son George McCullough Ulmer came to the area in 1860, only 21 years after the first white man first began living in the territory. The area was still very much in it's pioneer days at the time of their arrival.

During the 1840s and 50s many of the houses the settlers lived in were only 8 x 10 or 10 x 12 log structures. Some had no windows and only a blanket that they pulled over the door at night. The furnishings inside were only what the people made from what was available there. No chairs or beds and such furniture was hauled over the rough country to the new homes of these settlers. There were no roads, only trails. The roads were later made by having someone plow a ditch though the area chosen as best route and all others followed it till the road was worn and became somewhat more passable. Only the necessity items were hauled on the wagons. The heavy loads were not able to travel the rough country.

Many of the families had sheep for wool that could be used to make clothes. Some had little more than a iron skillet or a dutch oven (a deep iron skillet with a lid) that they used to cook with on an open fire outside of the cabin.

The area had lots of honey bees and the honey was a main source of sweetener for the settlers. There was plenty of wildlife for them to hunt. Deer, turkeys, prairie chickens, pigeons, quail and many other animals were abundant in the area.

Fences were rail fences that kept stock from the gardens and areas they wanted to protect. Corn was a main source for bread although some had wheat ground for breads. It was often some distance to a mill to have the wheat and corn ground and often the mill was not running when they got there. They'd have to travel to another mill sometimes to find that it may also be out of commission for what ever reason. Some times it was low water or the river was frozen that stopped the mills.

Some of the early settlers prior to 1843 in the area were;

William Bryant - credited as being the first settler in the area that later became Nodaway County. Although it is reported he left his wife and kids often to trade whiskey to the Indians. He himself drank much of the whiskey, leaving his family to do most of the actual settling.

Joseph Hutson - first settler in Lincoln Township. He built his cabin on Mill Creek and was the first to live west of the Nodaway River.

Henry Owens - neighbor of Joseph Hutson.

Daniel Sears - neighbor of Joseph Hutson.

Wade H. Davis - settled about seven miles east of present day Maryville in 1839.

Allen Mozingo

Red Whitton

Thomas Adams

Isaac Cox

John McLain

Col I. N. Prather

Wm. Cox

John B. Morgan

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