St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

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St. Clair County Courier
7 April 2005

What a splendid country is this southwestern Missouri. Unsurpassed in the glory of its landscape and the equability of its climate, in the abundance and purity of its waters and the wealth of its soil, native grasses and coal fields, it offers to the capitalist, farmer and manufacturer one of the grandest fields of enterprise between New York harbor and the Golden Gate. In the heart of this beautiful region and in the beautiful valley of the Osage lies St. Clair County. Here was the famous hunting ground of the Osages and other tribes of Indians; here they drank of its healing waters; here they built their wigwams, and until the palefaces came, were monarchs of all. But civilizations had dawned, the east had become perfect day and the star of the empire had taken up its march and westward wended its way. Nature had been lavish of her gifts. The woodlands and the prairies were filled with game and the Indians were loth to part with the magnificent country, the heritage of centuries, but the unfettered white man came and the red man was despoiled of his hunting ground. He left it, but not always in peace and the hatchet and scalping knife have left many a crimson stain to attest the love of the Indian for the home of his fathers.

There were but few of the children of the forest left in this section and they were friendly when the white man trod the soil of St. Clair County. The log cabin of the pioneer took the place of the Indian wigwams, and the beautiful valley of the Osage soon resounded to the music of the woodman’s ax, the crack of his unerring rifle and the grand old hills and magnificent prairies began to echo with the voice of civilization and its fruitful soil returning to the pioneer a bounteous return for his labor.