At the time when this county was first visited by settlers the Indian population was sparse. There was an Indian village at the site of Bellefonte, Boone County; the Delawares had a number of tepees on Long Creek, in Carroll County, and their principal town was on the James River, in Stone County, Mo.

The Cherokees, from Georgia, began their migration about 1832, and the bands were wont to proceed leisurely, and pause for awhile upon the borders of their western home.

Several bands, numbering 300 or more, are mentioned by early settlers. They had with them large herds of cattle, horses, etc., and lived comfortably in their camps, one of which, in July, 1833, was situated north of Berryville several miles. A visitor to this camp says they were very hospitable; he was almost obliged to eat with them. 'May be sometime I get hungry and eat with you,' was the logic of his host.

There were no resident Indians in this locality after 1835. Hunting parties from the 'Nation' returned frequently during the winters until game became too scarce, but their relations with the white settlers were always friendly.

No outrages by either party are known to have been perpetrated within the limits of the county.