>From an historical address by Colonel James L. Minor, 4 July 1876, Published 6 July 1876, Jefferson City Daily Tribune. "The first settlers in this county came in 1812 from Campbell County, TN. They settled on the Moniteau Creek west of what is now Marion. They were John INGLISH & 3 sons; James MILLER & 3 sons; David YOUNT & 2 sons & John HARMON & son, William GOOCH and 4 sons; Martin GOOCH & 2 sons & Joshua CHAMBERS & 2 sons. Joshua CHAMBERS is the only survivor. He is 83. His wife is 79. In 1810 John HENSLEY and 2 sons and John HUNTER joined the settlement. The HENSLEYS were real backwoodsmen and Indian fighters. The elder Hensley who was the first Senator from the district, after the organization of the county, was too much crowded by the tide of immigration and in 1845 emigrated to California where he died and was buried in the Rocky Mountains. John HUNTER has left no mark except he was the first colonel of the militia. In 1819 3 settlers Dr. John BROWN, Andrew REED and John COLGAN settled 9 miles west of the city on the banks of the Missouri River. The first Circuit Court was held 15 Jan 1821 at Marion at the house of John INGLISH. David TODD was Judge; James M. CONWAY, Clerk; Paul WHITLEY, Sheriff; and Hamilton GAMBLE, Circuit Attorney. Mr. CONWAY resigned the next day and removed to Arkansas. Jason HARRISON took his place. The lawyers who attended the first session were Hamilton GAMBLE, Peyton R. HAYDEN, Robert A. EWING, John A. HEATH, Geo. TOMPKINS, Abiel LEONARD, Dabny CARR and John S. BRICKEY. The first order of business was that John SHAW be fined $1.00 for contemptuous behavior; 2nd order was Abraham COLLETT who freed his slave, Joseph. Richard MILLER was appointed the first jailor, also the first liquor license. About 1820 William & Daniel MCKENZIE of Franklin, Howard County & Misters BASS & LENTZ of Boone County had the idea of building a town two miles below the mouth of Moniteau Creek. Daniel MCKENZIE moved down and opened a store. E.V. HOLLINGSWORTH a hotel, Joshua CHAMBERS a horse mill; John L. GLAZEBROOK a blacksmith shop; Cato, a freedman of John INGLISH established a ferry & dram shop. Oldest citizens: John WYATT, 86. John HENLEY of Clark Township was born in 1797 and was 79 years old. He served under Col. Carter in Jackson's army of 1812. He settled on the farm in 1832. Mr. KORN is the oldest german, age 81. J.C. GUENTHER is 78 and his wife is 79. Capt. J.T. ROGERS is the oldest citizen of the city having resided here in 1826. Mr. Josiah LAMKIN came to his present home outside of the city in 1824." My thoughts and opinions: Gooch is often spelled Gouge in early records. I think the city spoken of is Jefferson City. ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.