GENEALOGY SOCIETY IS OF HELP TO MANY

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogy Society was formed May 18, 1970, with Clinton M. Wunderlich as president. The 25 original members were interested in finding more information about the early residents of the county because some of the members were descendants of the first settlers.

Many of these early pioneers contributed to shaping the history of the land west of the Mississippi. Membership in the organization was not confined to just residents of the county, but to anyone interested in pursuing their family history.

The society is now in its 22nd year, and membership has increased to 180 members. "The interesting thing about this growth," explained Alma Lee Slinkard, one of the early members, "is many of our members live in other states, but they take an active part in the organization and assist with our projects when they are able. They have roots in Cape Girardeau County, and are loyal to the area and the state of Missouri, and are very interested in the history of Missouri.

"When the organization was formed, Riverside Regional Library donated a room where members could work and keep genealogical records. We started with only a few books census records, chiefly. Today we have so many record books we are running out of shelf space."

In the Genealogical Room are many microfilmed records of the past to assist persons interested in tracing their family trees, even though they are not members of the society. The records date to the establishment days when Don Louis Lorimier was commandant of the county. He was the first and only commandant, from 1793 until 1803, when the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory. But the change of administration did not become effective in Louisiana until 1804.

Members of the society are interested in collecting stories about pioneer settlers that have never been recorded. They appear in The Collage, a paper published quarterly by the organization. It contains family records and other historical data.

One story dealt with Daniel Boone, who was invited to take up residence in what became Missouri. He was invited by the Spanish in 1798, when Don Zenon Trudeau was lieutenant governor. Boone was to bring his family and take up residence in the St. Charles District on the Femme Osage. A grant of 1,000 arpens of land was given him and the survey was dated Jan. 9, 1800.

Boone accepted and lived on the land two years before he moved to where his son, Nathan Boone, was residing.

When Boone accepted the invitation, he asked Don Charles DeLassus, the lieutenant governor who succeeded Trudeau, if he had to improve the land within a year because of his age. Boone was 70 and his wife was 68. He was told he didn't because of his service to the country.

Before Boone's death, the government was not going to honor the Spanish claim given Boone. But the House of Representatives and the Senate on Feb. 8, 1814, confined the title, and President Madison signed the bill two days later.

The society has copied all the probate, funeral, guardianship, and Old Lorimier Cemetery records to enable persons researching family material to find it faster. Microfilm copies have been sent to Jefferson City.

The society also contributed $500 to Friends of Old Lorimier Cemetery for a protective fence. "We make money selling books and records," explained Slinkard. "Ken Schimme takes charge of keeping our business records.

The society meets evenings every other month at Riverside Regional Library. Programs are interesting and are held at Riverside Regional Library.

Mrs. Donald Adams is president; Nancy Todd, vice president; Alice Spellman, corresponding secretary; Diane Steel, recording secretary; and Slinkard, treasurer. Anyone interested is invited to obtain information, attend, and join. Dues are $10.