”This part of the county was quite thinly settled until some time in ‘the fifties, when considerable land was entered. A few families settled on Honey creek prior to that time. In June, 1842, Burton McGhee located where Southwest City now is and established a trading point there. About the time the Indians were removed to the Territory, settlements were started at various points along the state line some two or three of which were within the present limits of this township. After McGhee put up his store people settled near there, and Southwest soon became a point of considerable importance. …Jessee Ware, …are mentioned among the early settlers.”

Reference Data:

Illustrated History of McDonald County, Missouri, by J. A. Sturges, 1897, page 50