"Those who came first"
Prepared by Martin E. Nass
In 1849 no survey had been made north of Boone County. In 1850 our county was called Risley County, in 1852 it became part of Webster County, and finally, in 1857, it was named Hamilton County. The first recorded land entry was to Thomas Williams on June 25, 1853.
After these persons listed, many settlers arrived. It is difficult to determine in which year they came. There is some minor dispute in the exact dates of arrival in those listed. In one case, Huitt Ross was listed in one source at arriving in 1853, in another he arrived in 1855. I listed him in both years.
The sources for this listing is Lee's 1912 History of Hamilton County, and Early Days of Hamilton County, Then and Now, by Bessie L. Lyon, 1946,