were nearby, and also four huge trees, three sycamores, and a great 

 elm with which Colonel Henderson was much impressed: He said, 

 "The diameter of its branches from the extreme ends is one hundred 

 feet, and every fair day it describes a semicircle on the heavenly green 

 around it, of upward of four hundred feet, and any time between the 

 hours of ten and two, one hundred persons may commodiously seat 

 themselves under its branches. This divine tree is to be our Church, 

 State House and Council Chamber." 



The convention of the "House of Delegates of the Colony of 

 Transylvania" did meet under the elm on the 23rd of May, 1775. It 

 was in session for three days, passing nine bills. "Henderson received 

 full possession of the land from the Cherokees," as Boone's bio- 

 grapher, Lucile Gulliver, tells us, "according to a pretty, ancient 

 custom. The lawyer representing the Indians, handed Henderson a 

 piece of Kentucky turf, and together they held it while the lawyer 

 declared the transaction completed." 



While in all probability, the old elm might well have survived up 

 to the present time, no historical association is on record as having 

 preserved it, or marked its site. It would have been a picturesque and 

 valued memorial of one of the most interesting sites of pioneer days. 



DANIEL BOONE'S JUDGMENT TREE 



On June 11, 1800, Colonel Boone was appointed commandant 

 of the Femme Osage (Missouri) District. 



* "It was about this time, or perhaps a little earlier, that he built 

 the cabin near the spring in the Femme Osage Valley and removed 

 his family there. The duties of his office were both civil and military, 

 and his decision in all cases was final, excepting those involving land 

 titles, which were referred to the crown or its immediate representa- 

 tive. Punishment for crime or misdemeanor was of the most summary 

 character. The accused, if proven guilty, was tied up and whipped, 

 the number of lashes being proportioned to the nature of his offense. 

 A hickory sapling that stood in the yard near the spring served as a 

 whipping post. That kind of punishment met the requirement of the 

 age, and no thief or breaker of the law was ever known to resent a 

 judgment rendered by Daniel Boone. He held his court under the 

 spreading branches of a large elm tree, which still stands on the bank 

 a few feet above the spring and is known as "Daniel Boone's Judg- 

 ment Tree." 



CONSTITUTIONAL ELM OF INDIANA 



Under the spreading boughs of an elm at Corydon, first capital 

 of Indiana, the Constitution of that State was adopted, nearly a 

 century ago. 



* Extract from article by William S. Bryan in the Missouri Historical Review. 



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