Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/134

 74 HISTOKY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI deal of the finest aud most fertile soil; the district was well watered, having an abun- dance of creeks aud springs aud bordered on the Mississippi river. No other site along the river surpassed this as the place for a town. Nature seems to have destined it as the site of a considerable city. It is a remarkable thing that the settlers of Cape Girardeau district were nearly all of them Americans. It is said that in 1804 there were only five French families in the dis- trict. One of the most remarkable of the French settlers was Barthelimi Cousin. He was the secretary for Lorimier and the offi- cial interpreter and surveyor. He was, per- haps, one of the most remarkable men ever in the district. He was a native of France and probably came directly to Cape Girar- deau when he emigrated to this country. He was a highly educated man, spoke a number of languages fluently, was polished, culti- vated, and knew the world. He had ability to meet people and to make friends with them. All the new settlers applied to Cousin for assistance. He drew up their petitions and their permits and was the means of in- diicing many of the early settlers to come to the district. He lived near the corner of the present Main and Themis streets. He was granted a large tract of land on White AVater and Byrd's creek. It was said of him that he was a careful student of mathematics and physics; that he continued his mathe- matical studies during his entire life. One evidence of his knowledge of physical laws was the fact that he built a water mill on two flat boats which were anchored in the Missis- sippi, the action of the current generated the power to drive the mill. He died in 1824. Some of the other settlers were Steinback and Reinecke who formed a partnership in trade. Their house was north of Cousin's, standing near the site of the Union Mills. Solomon Thorne was a gun-smith, he also lived in the town: the town's blacksmith was John Rishe; David Wade was the carpenter and John Patterson and David Seavers were some of the other settlers in town. Cape Girardeau was laid off as a town in February or March, 1806, by Barthelimi Cousin. At this time the entire town was owned by Louis Lorimier. As surveyed then, and its limits fixed, it extended from North street on the North to William street on the South, and from the river west to Middle street. The streets within its area were the same number and width as they are at the present time. The first lots were sold at .$100 each. Among the early purchasers were John Risher, John Randol. Solomon Ellis. William Ogle, Ezekiel Abel, John C. Harbi- son. William White. Some of the other early residents were: B. & F. Steinback. Robert Blair, Dr. Erastus Ellis, James Evans, Fred- erick Gibler, Levy Wolverton, Robert Worth- ington. Frederick Reinecke, Joseph McFer- ron and George Henderson. Louis Lorimier lived in a long, low frame house which had been constructed before the laying out of the town, on the lot now occu- pied by St. Vincent's academy. This house was called "The Red House" and was re- ported to be haunted. There were four or five brothers of the Ellis family who came to the district from Georgia. Charles G. Ellis built a large, two-story, log house on the corner where the Opera House now stands. This was for a good many years the leading hotel in the town. Ellis was also a merchant and carried a general stock of goods. He was also instrumental in organizing the Cape Girardeau ililling Company. This company