This is an article I found in the NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY,
September 1966, Volume 54, Number 3.
CANTRELL CREEK'S FIRST WHITE SETTLER by J. R. Cantrell. There were three
main branches of the Cantrell family who settled on Cantrell Creek in
Webster Co., Missouri. Yet, I think there was none more interesting than
Duke Cantrell, the first settler.
He was born circa 1793 in South Carolina. During the early settlement of
middle Tennessee, he removed to Warren Co. and thereafter married Elizabeth
Linder(?), who was born about 1793 in North Carolina. Between August, 1812
and May, 1816, Duke Cantrell was received, by experience, into membership at
the Old Bildad Baptist Church there. The records fail to show it, but he
was evidently dismissed or excluded from the church shorly, as he removed to
Indiana. However, he soon returned to Warren Co., and the church restored
his membership between June, 1816 and May, 1823.
During this term of membership, the records add the first bit of color, or,
that is recorded color, to his life. "Dec., 1822-Tilman Potter and Benjamin
Cantrell site Duke Cantrell to answer in the case of stripping to fight."
In this case, Duke suffered the possiblity of exclusion from the church.
However, he managed to give satisfaction, avoiding exclusion, which is
indicated by an entry, dated January, 1823.
The Old Bildad Church records, covering the period from June, 1823 to March,
1825 are missing, but at this time, Duke again was apparently dismissed or
excluded. No later mention is found of him in the church or county for that
matter.
In my research, I had tracked this elusive pioneer from South Carolina to
Warren Co., Tenn., then to Indiana and finally back to Warren Co. Once
again he had disappeared though, and I asked myself where did he go now? My
answer came one day, when quite by accident, I picked up a copy of Tennessee
Cousins, by Ray. Inside, I found Duke Cantrell listed as an early comer
between the Middle and South Forks of the Obion River in Weakeley Co., Tenn.
And sure enough, the census of Weakeley Co. for 1830 and 1840, materialized
him. He failed to appear in 1850, but I was no longer puzzled as to his
whereabouts.
About 1840-41, he had removed to Wright Co., Mo., with at least part of his
family. There he settled upon a small stream which still bears his name.
He built his house upon a high bank which afforded a lovely view of the
area. There was a fine spring near, and in generall, the place was ideal
for a home.
Duke Cantrell had more children than the four listed below, but
unfortunately I have been unable to find any data on them. They evidently
remained in Tennessee.
Duke Cantrell's children were:
1. A. Cantrell-born circa 1820, in Indiana. He married Jane....., who was
born circa 1823 in Tennessee. Nothing else is known of this family, as they
seemed to have disappeared from Wright Co. before 1860.
2. David Dial Cantrell, born circa 1824 in Tennessee. He married Mary
Ann(Polly) Hyde(?) in Wright Co., Mo. He was a blacksmith by profession,
and a very close friend to my great-grandfather John James Cantrell. Dial,
as he was called, died on February 1, 1858 in Webster Co., Mo. His wife
died about 1863. The death dates were found in the probate records of
Webster Co.
3. Oliver Cantrell, born circa 1828, in Tennessee. In 1850 he was living
with his brother Dial, unmarried, and afterward there is no record of him.
4. Alford Cantrell, born circa 1833, in Tennessee. He died about 1854,
before ever marrying. It seems that he suffered with epilepsy, and as the
story goes he fell into Cantrell Creek and drowned. He had been to visit my
great-great-grandfather Abraham Cantrell, and this occurred on his way home.
They found his hat floating in the creek, and some time afterwards recovered
his body. He was buried in the 16th Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
Duke Cantrell is enumerated on the Wright Co. census of 1850, but after
that, there is no record. Once I pondered the idea that again he had
removed. But my grandfather Woodson Collins Cantrell came to my rescue,
ending my search of three years. "Duke Cantrell was a venturer," he
said."
"But after he came to Missouri, he grew too old to roam. He died on
Cantrell Creek and was buried in the old 16th Cemetery. A field stone marks
his grave."
Cantrell Creek still honors its first white settler, and yet, there lives
hardly a man who remembers him. Nevertheless, Duke Cantrell, the venturer,
had finally come to stay!
The following are the footnotes of the articule.
Cantrell Creek seems to have been a meeting place for the Cantrells. Duke
Cantrell came there about 1840-41, from Weakeley Co., Tenn. Then about
1850, my great-great-grandfather Abraham Cantrell came to the area from
Warren Co., Tenn. About 1855, Nancy Smith Cantrell, the widow of Gabriel
Cantrell came there. These were the early arrivals, and in my opinion the
main branches of the family to settle there. However, as the years rolled
by, other Cantrells came there, but they were few in number and closely
related to the ones who had preceded them.
Practically the whole Cantrell population of the United States are descended
from John Cantrell (born 1724) who had 21 sons and 2 daughters.
The original records of the Old Bildad Baptist Church were copied by Thomas
G. Webb, of Smithville, Tenn., as they pertained to the Cantrell family, et
al. Mr. Webb was kind enough to place the records at my disposal for a time.
Therefore, all mention of the church comes from this source.
Duke's son A. Cantrell was born circa 1820 in Ind., according to the Wright
Co., Mo. census of 1850.
The part of Warren Co. where Duke lived was incorporated into the county of
DeKalb when formed in 1838.
The part of Wright Co., in which Duke settled, was added to the newly formed
county of Webster in 1855.
Part of a statement given to me in September, 1964, by Woodson Collins
Cantrell, age 89, of Springfield, Mo. He explains that he knows of Duke
through his father. "My father and grandfather were both good friends with
Duke, his children and grandchildren. I personally knew, two of Duke's
granddaughters," he states.
The 16th Cemetery is located in High Prairie Township, near Cantrell Creek,
Webster Co., Mo. This cemetery is situated on about four acres of land
which was deeded by my great-grandfather John James Cantrell for the purpose
of a graveyard. There also was a Church of Christ there, but over years of
disuse, the building came into such ill repair that it finally was destroyed
in a storm.
As to the time of Duke Cantrell's death, there is no certain way of knowing,
but it is believed to have occured between 1850 and 1858.