ABSTRACT
In anticipation of the return of Lewis and Clark in 1806 from their expedition into the newly acquired lands of the Louisiana Territory, some settlers and pioneers could wait no longer to begin their own exploration into the central part of North America. Two brothers, Nathan and Daniel M. Boone, sons of the famous pioneer Daniel Boone, jumped at the prospects of new wealth and were among the first to explore the central Missouri region. They discovered a salt spring northwest of what is now Booneville and established a salt manufacturing process which became one of the enticements to draw other settlers to the region. By 1810 word had reached Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and other states that what became known as the Boone’s Lick Country of central Missouri was nearer to Eden than any other region west of the Mississippi. The rich fertile land strewn with tall oak and sycamore trees which lined the banks of the wide river became very appealing to adventurous settlers. These settlers came to this region with the passionate hope to set up new farms and towns and to create a better world for themselves and their families.1
