The Wests came from England and settled along the Saluda River in North Carolina. They were there for many years before and after the Revolutionary War.

Our lineage moved from there to the Pendleton District of South Carolina around 1800. Later some moved to Dickson County in Tennessee. Others moved to Shawneetown, Illinois and to Hopkins County, Kentucky in the 1820s. Then they started showing up in Miller Couty, Mo., in the 1830s by way of Crawford County, Mo. William West, the "Petrified Man" had already been here and his son William West Jr. was still here in what is now Miller County. William West Sr. was the brother of Isaac West Sr. and the uncle of most of the Wests who stayed around here. Abner West was the son of Isaac West Sr. and the nephew of William West Sr. (The famous petrified man) and the first white settler of Miller County. Again I say, most of us are direct decendants of Abner West.

The Wests were farmers but a lot of them were millwrights. It took a little expertise in engineering to dam up big creeks and small rivers to run the mills that they built. Evidence of this were the mills they either built or operated, on both the Little Tavern and the Big Tavern Creeks. These mills were very important for the growth of an area. The Wests lived on these two creeks, from where they cross Highway 42 at Myerstown and Iberia, north to where the Big Tavern crosses Highway 52, just East of St. Elizabeth. Many of the Wests lived with the Osage Indians that had a large settlement here at the Big Tavern - Hwy. 52 crossing at "Lost Hill". John Laffoon West built a cabin on this hill and the cornerstones were still there a few years ago.

The Wests usually lived on creeks or rivers where they could apply their skills. Some of these places, before they came here, were:

On the Deep River in North Carolina.

Buffalo Creek in South Carolina.

Reedy River in South Carolina.

Big Harpeth River in Tennessee.

The Tennessee River where they operated a pig iron furnace, that is to

this day called West Point.

Tradewater River in Hopkins County, Kentucky.

Jones Creek in Dickson County, Tennessee.

According to Schulz' History of Miller County. The West family were the first white settlers in a territory now forming several counties. This was the year 1807. A few years later, the government prohibited white settlers from this area. The Wests were already there and they stayed. This ban was in place for about 3 years.

The head of this household was William West. As I have outlined, some of us are direct descendents from him. The rest of us are descendents from his brother Isaac. Which ever, we are all from the same bloodline.

William's first home was close to the Arch Cave on the Big Tavern Creek. A homemade tombstone was found, for a small West boy who died in 1810, in this area. Every now and then, other West tombstones, have been plowed up by farmers or by highway construction. All in this area.

Sometime around the year 1811, William sold or abandoned his improvement (homestead) and seems to have started to move, either to Arkansas or south Missouri. This writer's guess would be Leasburg Mo. Or Shawneetown Illinois. William died on the way and was buried by the side of the "trace". The "trace" being a wagon trail used by the early pioneers. The widow and her children returned to Miller County, close to where they had homesteaded. They lived out their remaining years there.

Many years after the death of William, a friend named Richard Warren, heard about this "petrified" man, on display in Springfield Mo. When he inspected the body, it turned out to be William West. He was told, the body was found near the place where William had been buried. The body had been petrified by limestone water. The body had been dug up by men building a road near the old trace. Before Richard Warren could notify The West family, the body was taken someplace in the east and further trace of it lost.

William West Jr. son of the first William, lived on the Big Tavern Creek for many years. He built and operated, West's Mill, below the Arch Cave, on that stream. It was one of the first mills of this area. I have talked with the people who now own this land. They remember using parts of this old mill, that stuck out over the creek, for diving boards, when they were kids. They had no idea what had been there.

This area was also the tribal land of the Osage Indians. They were friends of the white man and protected the Wests and the other settlers from the warlike Crow and the other hostile tribes. The history books of Miller County, say the Osage were giant people. Better than six foot tall was common and seven feet was not unusual. This is why the other tribes feared them. Indian bones were found in the Arch Cave close to the West Mill. They were on display at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City, for many years. The Indian Association made them remove the bones from display. The chief of the Osage Tribe was named Tuscumbia. They named the county seat of Miller County after him.

Another interesting story is John West. He is outlined in this lineage record. He was the son of Hardin West. When he was 17 years old he went "prospecting" in Colorado. When he returned, he told his bride-to-be, Mary Burd, to hold out her apron. When she did, John filled it with gold. I have heard my dad tell this story many times. The gun that John carried with him on this venture, is on display at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City.

After John and Mary tied the knot, they had a son named Daniel "Doc" West. Daniel and his wife Sally West (Skaggs), operated a mercantile store at Vancleve Mo. near the Little Tavern Creek. There was a "well-like" hole in the ground where there had been an old mill. Maybe it was part of the old mill. When Daniel was looking down in this hole, his gold-plated glasses fell in and are still there to this day. Daniel's great-grandson still owns this land. He told me that if you set a metal detecter on gold and wave it over this hole, it goes crazy.

WEST FAMILY:

William West, according to Schultz' History of Miller County, was the first white settler in what is now Miller County. He died in 1812.

The family that concerns our ancestors are the descendants of Isaac West and his wife Susanna West (Anderson). They lived in the Pendleton/Greenville district of South Carolina. The other West that concerns us is William, who I believe is Isaac's brother. This William West is the first settler and the famous "Petrified Man" of West history.

Abner West, who this writer believes is the nephew of William and the bloodline of most of us. In the "History of Maries County" by Dr. King, he lists the children of the first William West. This list is incorrect because the majority of them are Abner West's children, and were born 10 to 15 years after the death of William West. This was an easy mistake because Dr. King was an authority on Maries County not Miller County, and had very little to go on but "Heresay" and other people's history books. Dr. King's book is a must for anyone tracing their family in this area.

I am going to try and clear up some of this history by Information that I have obtained through research of census reports etc.,
information from other Wests, lots of miles driven to courthouses, cemeteries,etc., and from history books printed by the Maries County Historical Society If you are tracing your family history, go to the Maries County Historical Society located in the courthouse at Vienna Mo..You will find the best information and the most courteous and helpful people, I have ever met.

If you are a West, Woody, or Burd and you don't have a book put together by Maurice Burd and Blodwen Boyle (West). The book is called "The Missouri Burds". It is the best family genealogy that I have ever seen. It has old pictures of the Wests, Burds and Woodys. It has a picture of Jennings Woody's grandfather. It has many West pictures of the old ones. I started this research of the Wests because there was very little information printed about them. I thought that was a shame when they were the very first settlers in Miller Co. If I had seen this book, I wouldn't have bothered. It is not in print and there are none left. I know there is one in Jefferson City and there might be one in Columbia. Go look at this book!!!!!

If I were making out a standard lineage chart for our particular tree, The Isaac West family would be family No.1. Isaac West had at least 3 brothers, John, William and Solomon. He was married twice, once to Susanna Anderson and to another woman we know only as Mary. Isaac and Mary had at least one son named George Washington West.

Isaac West and Susanna Anderson had the following children:

I believe the King history is correct concerning William West Jr. I believe he had at least 2 sons while living here. They are :

"Dee' of which there is no record.

Warren A. "Doc" West who married Nancy Thompson and had 10 children: 3 girls and a boy died in infancy.

A. Polly married J. W. Stokes. they had no children.

Sarah married Shell Sisk. Their surviving son, Arthur Sisk, lived in Bismarck.

Mary married Dick Vaughan. They had 2 children die in infancy, 1 child Audrey married in Oklahoma and had one child.

William married Josephine Sweeney. Their son Roy West married Daisy Martin. They had 10 children. the 8 surviving are Edward, Edna Walsh
(West), Nettie Walker (West), Ida Mueller (West), Lawrence, Fred, Ted, and Mildred.

John Laffoon West married Permelia E. Fancher, 2/3/1840.
1850 census: Miller Co.
John L. age 37 (S.C.)
Permelia age 26 (Tn)
Josephine age 8 (Mo)
Susan age 6 (Mo)
Adeline age 3 (Mo)
Mary age 6 months.(Mo)
Martha Watson age 18 (ILL)
Joab Watson age 17 (ILL)
Elizabeth Watson age 14 (ILL)
Hannah Watson age 8 (Mo)
1860 census: (Richwood Twp)
John & Permelia have added:
Livonia G. age 7 (Mo)
John C. age 4 (Mo)
Byron P. age 3 (Mo)
Baby age 3 months (Mo)
Marion West to Susan Wisdom, 7/9/1849.
Marion age 23 (Tn)
Susan age 21 (Ky)

William West to Sarah Jane Blize, 12/24/1849.
1850 census: Miller Co.
William West age 21 (Ky)
Sarah age 18 (Mo)

1860 census: Miller County, (Richwood Twp)
James Blize age 22 (Mo)
Nancy J. age 16 (Mo)
Sarah West (Blize) age 27 (Mo)
George M. West age 8 (Mo)
William, Sarah and their son George West are buried at Belk.

Wm. West to Susan Scott, 1/13/1851.

Harden West (Osage Co.) to Sarah Hicks, 8/11/1867.

In the 1840 census there were only four families of West listed in Miller County. They Were:
1. John Laffoon West and his wife Permelia Fancher (West)
2. Hardin West (John Laffoon's brother) and wife Catherine and their seven children. five boys and two girls.
3. Sarah Laffoon West, (John and Hardin's mother)(Abner West's widow) and her 3 girls.
4. William West (I believe this is William West Jr.)

Abner West had a brother named Isaaac J. West that settled in the Kentucky, Ilinois area around Shawneetown. The Wests that you see in
the census with (Ky) and (ILL) roots are more than likely his, and part of our line. These descendants slowly drifted up here and because
they named their children after their parents, aunts and uncles, they really made it confusing. John Laffoon West went over there to live
till the Civil War was over.

The following are Abner West Lineage:------------------------

Thomas Woodson West (brother to Harden) married Barbara Rothwell and had the following children:

A. Sarah West married Charles Pearson, Nov. 14, 1880, in Maries County. They had the following children: Allie Alma who married James Riley Burd, Arizona who married Adoph Copeland, Gerzilla also married a Copeland, Effie married Weldon Eads, Jesse Grover married Lucille Birmingham, Columbus Chester married Pearl Burd ( Pearl Burd was mother's best friend) and Lydia E.

B. Arzilla West married Frank Hedge and they had the following children: Hester, Everett, Annie, leslie and Myrtle.

C. Thomas died in Infancy.

D. Mary A. West married James Burnett.
1870 census: (Osage Twp)
James H. Burnett age 33 (Mo)
Mary A. age 19 (Mo)

E. Mark married Sarah Livingston and had 2 boys: Colman W., and William "Carney" West.

F. John H. West married Peggy Jane Thompson. They had: Andy, Oliver, Francis, Rose, Lena, Henry, Elsie and Lettie.

Thomas & Barbara are in the 1860 census: Osage Twp of Miller Co.
Thomas age 38 (Ky)
Barbara A. age 32 (Mo)
Malinda age 16 (Mo)
Alexander age 11 (Mo)
Polly A. age 9 (Mo)
John H. age 3 (Mo)
Thomas & Barbara were always taking care of other children, Nieces, Nephews, g-children. It's hard to keep track of which children are theirs

1870 census: Miller Co. (Jim Henry Twp)
Thomas W. age 49 (Ky)
Barbara age 42 (Mo)
John H. age 13 (married Mary J. Thompson)
Mary C. age 7
Arzilla age 5
Mark age 3
1880 census: (Osage Twp)
Barbara West age 49
Sarah age 17
Arzilla age 15
Mark age 12
1880 census: (Osage Twp)
James Burnett age 34
Mary A. (West) age 27
John age 6
Ellie age 3
Barbara age 8 months.
1900 census: (Richwood Twp)
Barbara West age 73 (wd)
Letta age 8 (g-dau)

Susan West, who Dr. King refers to as Sarah, married Thomas W. Whitaker. I know this because she is my g-grandmother. They had the following children:

A. Mark Harden Whitaker married Mary L. Rothwell. My dad was named after this man, who was named after Harden West.

B. John W. Whitaker died childless in Miller County.

C. Matilda Jane Whitaker married James "Jim Hannah" Washington Rowden. She was known as "Aunt Sis" and ran the hotel in Iberia for years. My dad made up a poem about her that went like this; "I can see the lights of Iberia, I can see the lights of Casey's store, and I hear "Aunt Sis" a calling, Come on in, there is always room for one more"

D. Sarah Emeline Whitaker married William Pleasant Skaggs. They moved to Arkansas and had 12 children.

E. Argaylus F. Whitaker married Mary O. Shelton. His nickname was
"Gay" and he taught school in both Maries & Miller Counties. They
both died on the old homeplace just below Brays Mill.
No Children.

F. James M. Whitaker marriee Susan Brasier and moved to Oswego, Kansas. We believe they had a family.

G. Archelaus G. Whitaker married Nancy Crismon. They had 10 children. This is my grandparents. They lived at Brays Mill all
their lives. My cousin Calvin and his son Rex Whitaker still live close to Brays Mill.

Harden (Hardin) West was married 4 times. First wife was Catherine Millhollin, second wife was Catherine Williams, third wife Martha Barnhart and the fourth wife was Sarah Hicks. Harden and Sarah Hicks had 4 children, Dee, Marion and "Doc" were born in Missouri and they had a girl named Lucy born in Texas. While still living here in Missouri Harden & Catherine Williams had the following children:

A. William went to Utah and Idaho. He died in Paris, Idaho. He had a family but nothing is known about them here.

B. David West died single.

C. Richard West married Ailsie Burd. They had 4 children, a daughter who married Thomas Crandall, a son named Hardin, Two other boys named John & Thomas, lived in Dallas County.

D. John West married Polly (Mary) Burd. They had 2 children. Catherine "Kate" West married George Burns. Daniel "Doc" West married Sallie Skaggs. They had 5 children born in Maries County. They are: Iva West married Isaac Barnhart, Veva West married Tony Wilson. Clarence C. West of St louis, Harry G. West of Kansas City, and Paul West of California.

1880 census: Maries County (Boone Twp)
John West age 43 (Mo)
Mary West (Burd) age 35
Daniel M. age 10
Catherine (Kate) age 5
1900 census: Maries County (Boone Twp) (Daniel has own family)
Daniel M.West age 30
Sallie (Skaggs) age 25
Clarence age 8
Veva age 6
Harry G. age 2
Iva M. age (baby)

E. Thomas West married Anna Burd and had three children: Warren A.
West, George West, and Nora West married Dr. J. E. Neeley.

1880 census: Maries County (Boone Twp)
Thomas West age 42 (Mo)
Annie (Burd) age 45 (Tn)
Nora A. age 12
Warren B. age 10
George W. age 8
1900 census: (Boone Twp) (George W. West has own family)
George W. age 27
Lula M. age 27
Warren E. age 4 months
1900 census: (Boone Twp)
Thomas age 62 (Tn)
Anna age 66 (Mo)

F. Mark West married Lucy Holmes and they had 8 children: 2 died in infancy, Caroline married George Sherrill, Harriet married a McWhorter, Ella married Alex Pickering, David married a Williams, Jane married a Norris and Mary married Richard A. Street. Mark West married a second time to Isabelle Perkins. They had one son A. C. (Boy) West.

1880 census: Maries County (Miller Twp)
Mark West age 40 (Mo) (Wd)
Mary C. age 18
David age 13
Sarah J. age 11
Caroline age 7
Harriet age 5
Ellie age 3

Hardin and Catherine Millhollin had four children:
Ameline never married.
Sallie & Emeline both married Doc. Green of South Carolina.
Jane married Thomas Barnhart and had several children: William,
George, Mark Nancy Pendleton (Barnhart), and Martha Robertson
(Barnhart)

Polly West married Calvin Grady and had seven children:

A. Mary Susan Grady married Henry Tyler and had 2 children, John & William Tyler. Another son died in infancy.

B. Nancy Grady married James K. Polk Hicks. They had the following children: Martin C., Sarah J., Mary E., James M., Thomas, John R., and George.

C. Sarah Grady no record.

D. Francis Grady married William Humphrey. They had the following children: Eather, Edgar, Rosco, Paris, Lula, Dempsey, Eva, and Flossie.

E. Hardin Grady no record. (born 1857).

F. Emeline Grady no record. (born 1858)

G. Thomas J. Grady married Sarah J. Jones. They had the following children: Walter, James, Melvin, Elmer, Eva, Laura, Cora, Clyde, Lawrence, Asa and Annie.

Calvin married 3 times. His second wife was Sarah Colvin.
They had the following children:

A. Asa F. Grady married Sarah Thompson. They had 2 children, Walter
& Calvin.

B. Hannah Elizabeth Grady married Henry F. Carroll. They had 7
children: Asa, Bert, Icy, Evelyn, Roy May, and Gertie.

C. Rebecca Grady married a Howard, then a Davis.

Calvin and his third wife, Martha J. Haskins, had no children.
Calvin & Polly (West) are buried at Belk Cemetery.

Eleanor West to David Wright, March 12, 1824 in South Carolina.

William M. West married Vina Garland and later Susan Brasier.
1860 census: (Osage Twp) Miller Co.
William age 53
Susan age 45
Stacy age 18
Sarah E. age 16
Warren age 15
Levina age 13
Dekalb age 5
Alexander age 14

1870 census: (Osage Twp) (Warren has his own family)
Warren age 24 (Mo)
Nancy B. age 18 (Mo)
William age 2 (Mo)
John J. age 2 months.
1880 census: (Jim Henry Twp)
Warren A. West age 35 (Mo)
Nancy B. age 29 (Mo)
William M. age 13
John J. age 11
Foley A. age 9
Sarah J. age 7
Arizona age 4
William J. ??

1870 census: (Osage Twp)
William M. West age 63 (S.C.)
Susan age 53 (Va)
DeKalb age 14 (Mo)
Stacy Hill (West) age 27 (Mo)
Mary Hill age 8 (Mo)
Hannah Hill age 6 (Mo)
Doctor age 4 (Mo)

1870 census: (Osage Twp)
Michael Airhart age 50 (Mo)
Sarah age 30 (Mo)
Thomas West age 16
Sarah West age 15

Stacy (Anastasia) West married Hiram Winnington.
1860 census: (Richwood Twp) Miller Co.
Hiram age 35
Stacy age 40
Sarah E. age 12
John age 8
James age 6
Susan age 3

George West, born May 27, 1833-Jan.16, 1882. He married Harriet Birkett, August 1858. Lived and died in Crawford County.

John laffoon West married Permelia Fancher. They had the following children:

A. Thomas Hampton Benton West. This boy's tombstone is leaning against a barn at a Farm close to "Lost Hill" in Miller County.

B. Samantha Josephine West married Anderson Shelton.

C. Susan Caroline West married William DeKalb Rowden. They had 4
children: Albert, Lizzie, Guy, and Stella Rowden.

D. Satira Adaline West married Jordan A. Allen.

E. Mary Olivia West married Thomas Reed. Their daughter Josephine Nancy Reed married Hugh Nathaniel Lyon.

F. Livonia West married Charles W. Griffith. They had at least one child Carl Griffith.

G. John Calhoun West married a woman named Elizabeth. They had the following children: George, Mazie,and Pearl. John later married Jenny Weatherly.

H. Jennie West married John McGinnis. They had the following children: John. Lily, and Della.

I. Byron Perry West no record.

J. Binum Melvin West married Eliza Jane Weatherly. They had the following children:

Rose, Mabel, and Ollie. Later Binum married Mary Lee Janes. They had one child John Cecil West.

K. Martha or Matt Ellen married John Haley. They had 5 children: Mary, Arthur, Lily, Floyd and Clyde.

L. Edward Laffoon West married Francis Weatherly. They had 5 children: Trevor, Pearl, Ethel, Nona, Lily and Grace.

You will find many of these Wests buried at Leasburg Cemetery at Leasburg Mo.

William Thomas West to Sarah Ann Vanderpool, 3/31/1870.
William Thomas West to Mrs. Emily Jane Davis, 10/31/1880.

Mark W. West to Sarah Livingston, 7/18/1890.

Susan West to Thomas W. Whitaker, 9/19/1842. (My G-Grandfather).

Mary Ann West to William Aust, 12/31/1865.

1880 census: (Richwood Twp)
William D. age 35 (Mo)
Mary A. age 28 (Ky)
William T. age 10 (Mo)
Delila J. age 9
Charles age 7
Sarah C. age 6
Josephine age 3
Nancy G. age 2
Lucy A. age 2 months
Elizabeth West age 53 (Ky) (mother-in-law)

Sarah West to Franklin T. Brashier, 11/13/1862.
1880 census: (Jim Henry Twp)
F. T. Brashier age 43 (Ky)
Sarah E. age 35 (Mo)
Marion age 17
Susie C. age 14
Sarah age 11
Eliza age 9
Melvena age 7
Tennessee age 4
William age 1

Satira Adeline West to Jorden A. Allen, 6/2/1861.

Susan West to Francis M. Brashier, 7/12/1855.

Phoebe West to Thomas Howser, 1/11/1870.

Livonia (Samantha) Josephine West to Anderson W. Shelton, 10/17/1858.
1860 census: (Richwood Twp) (living next to John & Permelia West)
Anderson W. Shelton age 23 (Tn)
Samantha J. age 18 (Mo)

1860 census: (Richwood Twp)
Eliza West age 32 (Ky)
Mary A. age 10
William T. age 8 (married Sarah Ann Vanderpool & Emily Davis)

1860 census: (Jim Henry Twp) Miller Co.
John W. West age 47 (Ky)
Cynthia A 34 (VT)
James M. age 20 (ILL)
Thomas W. age 19 (ILL)
Mary E. age 17 (ILL)
Sarah M. age 12 (Mo)
John age 9 (Mo)
Alzada age 7 (Mo)

Susan C. West to William Rowden, 12/24/1863.

Sarah J. West to Creed Hicks, 12/20/1863.

Arzilla West to Frank L. Hedge, 10/24/1888.

1900 census: (Richwood Twp)
Frank L. Hedge age 32 (PA)
Arzilla age 34 (Mo)
Hester age 10
Everett age 9
Annie age 6
Lesley age 2
Myrtle age (baby)

Elizabeth West to Prior Humphrey, 10/3/1882.

Maries County WESTS:----------------------

Jacob H. West to Mary A. Giesler, 4/16/1876.

1880 census: Maries County (Jefferson Twp)
Jacob age 25 (Mo)
Mary age 20 (Mo)
David M. age 2 (Mo)
1910 census: Maries County (Jefferson Twp)
Jacob age 53
Mary A. age 52
Bola E. West age 21
George W. age 19
Roby age 13
Della age 11
(Next Door)
Logan C. age 27
Emily J. age 23
Alfred M. age 2

William W. West to Elizabeth J. Skaggs, 1/6/1884.
1900 census: Maries County (Jefferson Twp)
William W. West age 43 (Mo)
Elizabeth J. age 43 (Mo)
Henry M. age 15
Jesse A. age 13
Mary E. age 11
John L. age 9
Oliver C. age 6
Thomas J. age 5
Mamie C. age 2
1910 census: (Jefferson Twp)
Elizabeth J. West (Skaggs) age 53 (Wd)
Henry W. age 25
John L. age 18
Oliver C. age 17
Thomas J. age 15
Mamie age 13
Viola age 9

Warden (Warren) West (Dallas Co,) to Sarah A. Johnson,12/17/1885. I believe this is the g-son of Richard West and Ailsie Burd. This would
make him a descendant of Abner West.

Newman West to Harriet Green, 7/7/1890. (Newman has remarried)
Newman age 39
Theresa age 26
Birtie age 18
Joseph age 16
Girtie age 13
Minnie age 16
Opal age 2