The Turnbo Manuscripts
by Silas Claiborne Turnbo
1844-1925
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RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER
By S. C. Turnbo
In recounting pioneer days of Missouri Mr. W. F. (William) Stone of near Protem Taney County gives the following. "I am a son of Ambrose Yancy and Sidney (Jones) Stone and was born in Maries County, Mo. April 23, 1642. The locality where my parents lived when I was born was on Little Tavern Creek which flows into Big Tavern. The last named stream goes into the Gasconade River. His father was born in the state of Alabama. His mother was born in Madison County Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee and came to Maries County Mo. in the year 1830 to brave the terrors of an unsettled country. The couple were quite young when they arrived there and did not live to see old age dying comparatively young. His father is buried in the Union Hill Cemetery on the Gasconade River in Maries County. His mother lies at rest in a grave yard in Miller County, Mo. Mr. Stone in giving the names of early residents in the neighborhood where he was born mentions Billy Scott and Aunt Betty Scott his wife, also Asa Rowden, and Edward Moss. The last named was a Baptist Preacher. George Capeheart, Billy Chrisman and Johny Miller. Bobby Rowden built the first mill in our neighborhood which was built on Rowdens Creek. This stream took its name from the Rowden family and runs into Little Tavern Creek. The mill was a small affair and ground corn only. I remember all these people and the mill when I was near 6 years of age. One of my fathers brothers Rig (Gilmore) Stone and his wife Aunt Celia also lived in our neighborhood. John Stone was my grandfather. He was born in Wales in 1755 and soon after he was grown lie came to the United States and finally shifted to Missouri where he died in Maries County in 1851 at the age of 96 years. He was buried in a grave yard on Big Maries Creek. In giving the names of a few settlers on the Gasconade River not far from his old home neighborhood he mentioned John Moon who was also a Baptist Preacher from the state of Indiana. His wifes name was Judith. David James a Kentuckian also lived on the river. Col. Johnson who bore that title when I could first remember him was from Virginia. Tom Kinzie built the first mill on a small creek that empties into the Gasconade River. The mill was operated by a spring that formed the creek. The mill stood ½ mile from the river and the spring run out of the ground in the hollow a short distance above the mill. There were also David Hoops and Miskel Johnson the last named served in the Confederate Army as an officer. The first school I went to was in the Sinful Bend of Gasconade River. This Bend derived its name from plenty of whisky, big log rollings and dancing parties. The school was taught by Berry Smith in a little log cabin that was built for that purpose. This was in 1850 when I was 12 years of age. Some of my school mates were Silas Moon, Samuel Moon, Benton Elrod, Richard Stotes, John Vaughn and Will Huffman. Among the young ladies who were students in this school were Siana Moon, Mary Ann Stotes and Lucinda Stotes. I well recollect the first religious services I ever was at," said Mr. Stone. "The meeting was held at Mr. Billy Scotts. They were the united Babtist known now as the Missionary Baptist. This was in 1848 when I was 6 years old. The name of the Preacher was Edward Moss and they had communion service and foot washing. I cannot recollect the first pair of shoes I wore. But my father tanned his own leather and I have not forgotten how I use to be on my knees for hours at a time beating tan bark to pieces until I was exceedingly tired. We tanned the leather in old fashioned tan trough."
Mr. Stone was a member of Co. E. 10th Mo. Confederate Infantry Gen. M. M.
Parsons Brigade. Capt. Alex Trammel was the commander of his company and
Col. Stein was his regimental commander.
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