474 PIKE COUNTY. 



Barnes, Willis J. Milner, Wm. Ellis, Burwell Orr, and John 

 Neal. 



Name. — The name of Zebulon Montgomery Pike (after 

 whom this county is called) will descend to posterity as one 

 among the most gallant heroes which any age or country ever 

 produced. He was the son of an officer in the American army, 

 and was born in the State of New Jersey, on the 5th day of 

 January, 1779. At a very early age he received a commis- 

 sion as Ensign, and afterwards of Lieutenant, and attached 

 himself to his father's company, which was then stationed on 

 the western frontier of the United States. Whilst engaged 

 in his military duties, he endeavoured to supply the defects of 

 his early education by diligent study. Almost without any 

 aid he made considerable proficiency in the Latin, French, 

 and Spanish languages, the elementary branches of mathe- 

 matics, and polite literature. He had the habit of writing 

 upon the blank pages of some favourite volume any thought 

 that occurred to him whilst reading. The following extract 

 is from the blank leaves of a book, which he valued very 

 highly, and will illustrate his lofty spirit : — " Should my 

 country call for the sacrifice of that life which has been 

 devoted to her services from early youth, most willingly shall 

 she receive it. The sod which covers the brave shall be 

 moistened by the tears of love and friendship ; but if I fall far 

 from my friends, and from you, my Clara, remember that the 

 choicest tears which are ever shed are those which bedew the 

 unburied head of the soldier ; and when these lines shall meet 



the eyes of our little , let the pages of this little book 



be impressed on his mind as the gift of a father, who had 

 nothing to bequeath but his honour ; and let these maxims be 

 ever present to his mind, as he rises from youth to manhood. 

 First, preserve your honour free from blemish ; second, be 



always ready to die for vour country." 



^ ^ ^ " Z. M. Pike. 



" Kaskaskias, Indian Territory." 



In 1805, this ambitious youth was sent by the government 

 of the United States at the head of an expedition for the pur- 

 pose of tracing the Mississippi to its source. He embarked at 

 St. Louis, on the 9th of August, 1805, with twenty men, in a 



