Hi Jim: I am the proud owner of the original Hannibal's Historical Highlights by Gordon W. Sturge (who happened to be my history teacher at Cato-Meridian High School back in the dark ages). My sister found this book for me at a garage sale up there for .50. The one thing this book does not have is an Index. Maybe someday I will make an index-- good idea anyway. From the book, page 11,"The first white settler within the present limits of the town of Hannibal was Thomas Sprague, who came from Massachusetts in 1802. He located on the south line of the town on lot 95, built the first house, which was, of course, a log one, and likewise made the first clearing. The first marriage was that of Daniel Thomas and Prudence Sprague in 1803. Carr Sprague, born in 1805, was the first white child born in the town. The first death was that of another child, a daughter of Thomas Sprague, in 1806. During the years 1803 and 1804 the Sprague family seem to have been the only inhabitants of the present town. In 1805, however, a number of settlers arrived, prominent among them being Watson Earl, Joseph Weed, Israel Messenger, David Wilson, Samuel Barrow, Sterling Moore, and Orren and George Cotton, all of whom located at Hanibal Center. Being a millwright, Orren Cotton, in company with Watson Earl, built there, about 1806, the first grist mill in town. He was a lineal descendant of Dr. John Cotton, the great Puritan preacher of Boston. Samuel Barrow was one of the first surveyors." Page 14 "Among other prominent residents were ------William Earl, Page 33, "Early Hannibal Industries and Directory in 1866-67, Dress Makers and Milliners--Helen Earl, Stone and Brick Masons-- Edwin Earl There are no biographys, per se , in the book . The author was a little remiss . Dorothy