FIRST - White Woman Settler Cooper County, Missouri - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

County of marker: Cooper County
Location of marker: MO-5, 14 miles S. of Boonville, 2 miles NW of Bunceton
Erected by: Pilot Grove Chapter, D.A.R.
Date Erected: October 30, 1932

Marker Text:

"Hannah Cole and her family’s first home, circa 1800 near today’s Boonville, was said to have been similar to an Indian bark hut.

"Hannah Cole and her family’s first home, circa 1800 near today’s Boonville, was said to have been similar to an Indian bark hut. That structure was replaced with a one-room log cabin that included a fireplace and one window and a door. The marker for Hannah Cole’s grave in the Briscoe Cemetery pays tribute to “the first white woman settler of Cooper County whose unfailing courage in facing the dangers of a wilderness and a cruel Indian war entitle her to be called a pioneer mother of early Missouri civilization.” ~ Lake News Online   Jan 17, 2019

"Hannah Cole arrived in Missouri in 1809 with her husband (William Temple Cole) and kids. The next year, the Indians killed her husband and she found herself alone in the wilderness with 9 kids to take care of. For whatever reason, she decided to stay in Missouri and soon built a house on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River (where the city of Boonville is now). Hannah & her family were among the very first white families to settle in the area. And I mean settle, not just row by like Lewis & Clark.

"Hannah’s house was turned into a fort & used by settlers for defense during the war of 1812, where it provided a safe water source for settlers. The first County Circuit Court session was held there and she obtained the first business license to operate a ferry (in 1816) across the river. After Boonville was settled and established as the county seat, her fort was used as the first school, church and voting place in the county. Hannah eventually moved about 15 miles south of town where she died in 1843.

"Boonville hasn’t shied away from their women’s history. If you search Monroe street you can find a plaque marking Hannah’s fort. There is also Hannah Cole Primary school and a statue of her in the Morgan Street Park, located just off Main Street.

"The statue was erected during the Lewis and Clark anniversary in 2004. For that I suppose I can forgive them for surrounding her statue with busts of men.

"You can also visit Hannah Cole Roadside Park next to the Briscoe Cemetery, where she is buried, 15 miles south of town on Highway 5. ~ Missouri Women

Her Find-A-Grave   listing. Details but more history on the link below.

"The burial place of Hannah Cole and many of her family, the Briscoe Cemetery on Highway #5 had long lain in waste. Revival of interest in local history and the restoration of historic spots in Cooper County has brought this spot to the attention of the public.

Hannah Cole died in 1843, at the age of 89 years. Just a few years later, her great, grand-daughter, miss Sue Bunce, was born. This little girl, Sue, lived at the Cole homestead until she was twelve years old. Regularly every Sunday weather permitting her Negro, "Mammy" took her and all the other children, both white and black, large enough to toddle, the distance to the grave of Little Sue's mother, who was buried at the pace of her pioneer grandmother, Hannah Cole, of whom the Negro "Mammy" related many stories to eager little ears. Little ones, who later delighted their children with the stories of the pioneer ancestor. ... Many of these stood the little mound, glowing with pride to have heard the oft repeated stories"

"Cole, Hannah née Allison; born 1762; died 1843; wife of William Temple Cole (killed by Indians in 1810 in Audrain County, Missouri); First white woman settler of Cooper County, Missouri, whose unfailing courage in facing the dangers of a wilderness and a cruel Indian War, entitles her to be called a Pioneer Mother of early Missouri Civilization - inscription on Bronze Plaque on monument erected by Pilot Grove Chapter of D. A. R. in 1932. "From Melton's history: a towering powerful woman and boss of her brood. She was a hard worker, and asked only that her children follow her to field or feed-lot." _~ MOGenWeb

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