COUNTY REPORTS. 281 



COLE COUNTY. 



Cole county was named in 1820 in honor of Capt. Stephen Cole, 

 ■who erected Cole's fort, where the town of Boonville now stands, during 

 the war of 1812, as a protection against the British Indians or allies. 

 This county and Moniteau form the center of the State, the east line of 

 Cole being 15° 27' west, of longitude of Washington, and the county 

 seat (which is also the capital of the State) 38° 35' north latitude. 



Streams. — The Osage river forms the eastern and southeastern 

 boundary for a distance of about 40 miles, the Missouri river the 

 northern boundary line for a distance of about 30 miles. The Moni- 

 teau creek enters Missouri river one mile above the old town of 

 Marion, Rock creek two miles below Marion, Gray's creek four miles 

 above Jefferson City, Wear's creek at Jefferson City, Moreau creek 

 four miles below and the Osage eight miles below. The North, South 

 and Clark's branches of the Moreau and Honey creek water the cen- 

 tral sections. Tavern creek, Bois Brule and several unnamed feeders 

 of the Osage the southern sections. Springs exist in every part of 

 the county. 



Geology. — The second magnesian limestone is the native stone of 

 the county. On the Moreau creek, two miles southwest of Jefferson 

 City, the second sandstone finds a home, while in the vicinity of Rock 

 creek and north to Marion encrinital and Chouteau limestone hold the 

 leading place. Near the mouth of Rock creek saccharoidal sandstone 

 abounds also on Clark's fork in township 43, range 13. Lead is found 

 in almost every township in the county. Iron ores are found in all 

 parts of the county. The county has an area of about 400 square 

 miles. Population ( 1889 ) 23,000. 



Good improved lands are worth from $35 to $75 per acre, accord- 

 ing to location, although there is a great amount of good fruit and 

 grazing lands in the county that can be bought at from $10 to $15 per 

 acre. All the fruits grown in this latitude succeed well in this county. 

 There are no regular commercial orchards in the county. L. Y. Dix 

 has planted out about 3000 trees — about 1600 pear and the balance 

 apples and peaches. Small fruits are grown quite extensively near 

 Jefferson City. About 200 cases of strawberries are shipped daily 

 during the season from Jefferson City. Raspberries, blackberries and 

 gooseberries yield remarkably well when properly cultivated. The 

 county is well provided with good schools and churches, and we have 

 a good, law-abiding, Intelligent class of citizens as are found in any 

 county in the State, or any state in the Union. Respectfully, 



A. J. Davis. 



