© 2002-2012 MG Ryder E-Mail Home Regarding Genealogical Research Last Update: February 20, 2012
 Painter

History of Greene County, Missouri 1883
R. I. Holcombe, Editing Historian
In the latter part of 1831, Samuel Painter came in from Montgomery county, Illinois, where he had lived about five years. He was formerly from Lincoln county, Tennessee, to which place he removed in 1813, when his son Jacob, who still lives in Springfield, was but two veers old. Mr. Painter and his family, consisting of his wife and three sons—John, Jacob and Elisha— remained a few months in Springfield, after which they removed to the beautiful prairie in the north part of the county, where they remained about one year, near Ebenezer. Mr. Painter sold out to Thomas Wilson, and then removed to what was called the "Mill Bottom," on the James, the place first settled by Mr. Ingle, and afterward by a man named Seigler. Jacob, at the same time, removed to the place known as the "Brashear's Cave" farm, four miles southeast of Springfield. About the time of the laying out of the town they both returned to Springfield, where the old gentleman remained until his death, which occurred in 1836. Jacob still lives in the Third ward, and is, without doubt, the oldest white settler in the city. In 1845, he purchased, for ten dollars, the ground on Olive street where his present house and shop stand, and where he has ever since resided. Col. S. H. Boyd thus refers to him, in his historical essay, delivered at the meeting of pioneers, July 4th, 1876:

"He was a professional gunsmith, and has turned out thousands of fire-arms, and he gained quite a celebrity for his pistol pattern, known as "Jake's best." Californians, in 1849, '50, and '51, bought them in preference to any other. Jake married the daughter of William Freeman, a Soldier of the Revolution, who died in 1836, and was buried on the Gardner farm, two miles east from Springfield. Jake remembers well the house of John P. Campbell, the only one, where now is our city, in 1831. William Fulbright, Benjamin Cannefax, Joseph Rountree and Joseph Miller were the nearest residents to where now is Springfield., Jake, in those far-gone days, was accustomed to church-going, to hear the Rev. Thomas Potter, an uncle of Col. Thomas Potter, a leading, man and politician of Greene county. The county was full of game and the water-courses filled with fish. Jake was champion then, but he always played fair and, practiced no deceit, even upon the finest game and fish. Jake never told a falsehood, and he says honey was used as a lubricator for wagons, it being so plenty then. He has continually resided here since 1831, except for a few days, when he went into the country to his brother's. Some claim that he is not now the oldest settler; that he lost that right when he left, as he left in a hurry. The story is that Henry Fulbright, son of William Fulbright, came from St. Louis, and brought the cholera with him, in 1835; and that when Jake left, he left for good. But it subsided, and Jake returned. Knowing the demoralization effect cholera has upon a Tennesseean, the court decided that Jake's domicile was not abandoned, and that he is entitled to carry the knife. Jacob Painter has filled well his part—always the quiet, fearless advocate of right, he never had an enemy, political or personal. Such is the oldest living settler of Springfield." [147-148]
Quoting again from Mr. John H. Miller, that gentleman says:

"In the year 1831, Dr. James H. Slavens, then a young preacher from Warren county, and who married Joseph Rountree's oldest daughter, Amanda, in 1832, was the first Methodist that ever preached in this county. I will here mention old man Sol. Cotner as being one of the early settlers, who, with Jacob Painter, could kill more game, and they were considered the most expert hunters in the country, and long after wild game had disappeared, they could find and kill deer almost in sight of town, when no one else could.

SPRINGDALE CAVE.

About six miles from Springfield, on the Springfield and James river bridge road, and on the line of the Springfield and Southern R. R., about three-quarters of a mile above Gallaway station, is a cave of considerable note. From it issues one of the finest streams of water in Greene county and the Southwest, and on account of this spring, it became the site of one of the earliest settlements, having been entered in 1840 by Jacob Painter. During the war it was owned by Benj. Brashears, Confederate soldier and ranger, who is said to have contracted a cold which caused his death while hiding in the cave from his enemies, the Federals. Some time after the war it came into the possession of T. B. Fisher and bore his name until recently.
JACOB PAINTER. This gentleman is the son of Samuel and Betsy Painter, and was born in Burke county, N. C., in 1810. When he was two years of age his parents moved to Tennessee, and when be was fifteen they moved to Montgomery county, Ill. In 1831 he came to Greene county, Mo., and settled at the "Big Spring," five miles southeast of Springfield. In 1832 Mr. Painter built a mill near his home. He built it all himself, hewing the timber and forging the iron for the machinery used. This was about the first or second mill erected in the county. People came for fifty miles to get their corn ground. He also ran a blacksmith shop, and he would fill up the hopper of the mill and start it grinding, and then work in the shop until it was ground. He is also a lock and gunsmith, and carried on the business before any one else in the county. He made for years, on an average, two pistols per day, selling them for ten dollars a pair to those outfitting for trips across the plains. Mr. Painter was married, in 1830, to Miss Betsy Compton. Their union was blest with two sons and two daughters. His first wife died in 1836, and in 1839 he married Fannie Freeman of this county. They had four sons, all living. His second wife died May 15, 1880. Mr. Painter is the only one living of a family of six children. He is living in the same house built by him forty-five years ago. He is one of the old landmarks of the county, and politically is, and always has been, a Democrat. [819]

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY SETTLERS
TOLD AT THE DINNER OF 1907

REV. J. J. LILLY
Toastmaster

Uncle Jake Painter had a gunsmith shop in the northeast corner of the Square. It was an important factor in our early life. He made and repaired rifles and "Jake's Best,'' a single barrel pistol, was a necessity to all who crossed the plains. The "hammer'' was on the underside of the barrel and all were "sighted and trained'' before leaving the shop. He was a genial old gentleman and lived to a ripe old age.


Mr. Butterfield established his barn and shops on the lots now occupied by the Reps Dry Goods Co., and part of the lot covered by the Heer Dry Goods Co. Part of the property was owned by Jake Painter on which was his gunsmith shop. Mr. Butterfield was a man of few words, and approaching Mr. Painter said: "I want to buy your lot.'' Mr. Painter asked: "What will you give?'' The answer was, "One thousand dollars.' 'Mr. Painter replied, "I will give you the deed tomorrow,'' and the transaction was closed, which I suppose is the shortest real estate deal ever made in Springfield.

Mr. Painter moved his shop to his home lot on the corner of Olive street and Patton alley, and it is said he was never again seen on the Public Square. I, myself, do not remember to have seen him away from his shop in the thirty years he lived in Springfield, after he moved from the Square.
In the early days of our city it was the custom of the inhabitants to perch upon some of the many stumps in the middle of the Square and look afar off down the Old White River trace (now St. Louis street) and tell with perfect certainly an approaching cavalcade of Tennesseeans, Carolinians, Kentuckians, or Old Virginians. The Tennesseeans would be moving along in wagons with upturned wagon beds-loaded with precious white-headed children, as regular in height as stair-steps, drawn by two horses and a mule spike. The Carolinians would be straddled on mules and jacks. Tennesseeans always had a grease bucket to lubricate the running gear part of the wagons; Carolinians had tar buckets, filled with Carolina pine tar, to heal up the bruises and grow the hair tight on the naked places of their dumb brutes. Tennesseeans were bareheaded, barefooted, and wore copper-colored breeches, with legs run through about a foot and a half too far; Carolinians, high quartered black leather shoes, and were afraid of snakes. A flintlock gun and a dog of the "Sooner'' kind always was a part of Old Virginians. This was seventy-five years ago and but few of these witnesses are now living. Jacob Painter was one, however, whose memory was not treacherous, and in his old age could look upon the historic panorama of Springfield, and paint in simple and interesting colors to the edification of all who love the early history of their home. Jacob was a natural born angler, and many years ago would while away the whole of a Sabbath day on the banks of the Jordan with a pin hook and a pawpaw pole without a nibble which, however, never discomfited his placid and even temper. There being no churches and houses of worship then, he regarded this not only harmless, but a beautiful study of one part of the great book of Nature. The smallpox came to Springfield one time and Jacob took to the brush. After many weeks be cautiously returned and was surprised to find so many people still living.

History and Directory of Springfield and North Springfield
George S. Escott
In the latter part of 1831, Samuel Painter came here from Montgomery County, Illinois, where he had lived about five years. He was formerly from Lincoln county, Tennessee, to which place he removed in 1813, when his son Jacob, who still lives in Springfield, was but two years old, Mr. Painter and his family, consisting of his wife and three sons-John, Jacob and Elisha-remained a few months in Springfield, after which they removed to the beautiful prairie in the north part of the county, where they remained about One year. on the place now owned by William H. Payne, near Ebenezer. Mr. Painter sold out to Thomas Wilson, and then removed to what was called the "Mill Bottom," on the James, the place first settled by Mr. Ingle, and afterward by a man named Seigler. Jacob. at the same time, removed to the place known as the "Brashear's Cave" farm, four miles southeast of Springfield.

About the time of the laying out of the town they both returned to Springfield. where the old gentleman remained until his death which occurred in 1836. Two of his sons, John and Ehas, are also dead. Jacob still lives in the Third ward. and is, without doubt, the oldest white settler in the city. In 1845, he purchased, for ten dollars, the ground on Olive street. where his present house and shop stand, and where he has ever since resided. Col. S. H. Boyd thus refers to him, in his Historical Essay, delivered at the meeting of Pioneers, July 4th, 1876:

"He was a professional gunsmith, and has turned out thousands of fire-arms, and he gained quite a celebrity for his pistol pattern. known as `Jake's best.' Californians, in 1849, 50, and 51, bought them in preference-to any other. Jake married the daughter of William Freeman, a soldier of the Revolution, who died in 1836, and was buried on the Gardner farm, two miles east from Springfield. Jake remembers well the house of John P. Campbell the only one where now is our city, in l83l. William Fulbright, Benjamin Cannefax, Joseph Rountree and Joseph Miller were the nearest residents to where now is Springfield. Jake, in those far-gone days, was accustomed to church-going, to hear the Rev. Thomas Potter, an uncle of Col. Thomas Potter, a leading man and politician of Greene County. The county was full of game, and the water courses filled with fish. Jake was champion then, but he always played fair and practiced no deceit, even upon the finest game and fish. Jake never told a falsehood, and be says honey was used as a lubricator for wagons, it being so plenty then. He has continually resided here since 1831, except for a few days, when he went into the country to his brother's. Some claim that is not now the oldest settler that he lost that right when he left as he left in a hurry. The story is that Henry Fulbright, son of William Fulbright, came from St. Louis, and brought the cholera with him, in 1835; and that when Jake left, he left for good. To a Tennesseean, that pest was more terrible and frightful than a thousand painted Indian warriors. Samuel Campbell, brother to John P. Campbell, a Mr. Foren, and some colored people of the Fulbrights, died of it. But it subsided, and Jake returned. Knowing the demoralizing effect cholera, has upon a Tennesseean, the court decided that Jake's domicile was not abandoned, and that he is entitled to carry the knife. Jacob Painter has filled well his part; always the quiet, fearless advocate of right, he never had an enemy. political or personal. Such is the oldest living settler of Springfield."

[34]
Note: This information is readily available on the Internet. I have copied it and placed it here to make it convenient to other Painter family researchers. It is written so very long ago that it is in the Public Domain and is not copyrighted. Check my source code for the URL's from which it was obtained.