"Many heroic exploits and chivalrous adventures are related to me which exist only in the regions of fancy. With me the world has taken great liberties, and yet I have been but a common man." ....Daniel Boone

Pictures of Matson
Daniel Boone's First Settlement in Missouri

When Daniel Morgan Boone scouted out Missouri for his father in anticipation of moving here, he received a Spanish Land Grant at a location along the Missouri River in St. Charles County, presently known as Matson. At Matson he built Boone's Fort and started farming. Daniel Boone also received a land grant nearby.

The location of the fort and of Daniel Boone's land has been easily defined. Daniel Boone wanted to build a town here and in fact did. He named it Missouritan and was in favor of having it become the first state capitol of Missouri. However, flood waters washed the town away and forced the settlers to move elsewhere.

I thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures I took at Matson, Daniel Boone's first home in Missouri. I will add more as we go along.

The arrow points to an old stone house located on the land that belonged to Daniel Morgan Boone. It is believed that this may be one of the houses he built here.

When Daniel Boone came to Missouri, he was appointed a Judge Syndicate. He held court under a large tree which came to be called "The Judgement Tree." That original Judgement Tree was destroyed by lightening some years ago, but this picture shows you where it stood, just behind the tree in the photo on Daniel Boone's land. The house visible in the background is on the bluffs on the opposite bank of the Missouri River which is just beyond the trees in the picture.

Sources: All photographs by Margy Miles, 2002 - 2006