Goodspeeds, 1889
Lands were entered in this county by the following named persons prior to 1850, and the persons so entering them were many of them among the pioneers who remained to do their part toward the development of the county. Names, unless known to have been wrongly spelled, are given as they appear in the record. It has been found impracticable to present them in the chronological order of the entries, but care has been taken to ascertain the township in which each claim was located:

Township 10, Range 21: Hiram A. Lindsey, 1845.

Township 8, Range 22: Jacob Robinson, 1841; James Harvey Jones, 1838; Thomas May, 1836; Richard W. Adams, 1836; Casander Robinson, 1840; B. H. Zachary, 1838; Hugh E. Porter, 1838; W. W. E. Moreland, 1839; Samuel Adams, 1838; David Porter, 1838; Andrew L. Black, 1837; William Porter, 1838; Alexander Black, 1837; Isaac Hughes, 1837; W. W. Adams, 1842; Cabel Zachary, 1836; Colby Dennis, 1838; James Rodgers, 1838; John R. Willis, 1841; James P. King, 1837; Philemon Williams, 1836; Caleb B. Zachary, 1836; Bartlett Zachary, 1838.

Township 9, Range 22: Archibald D. Hogins, 1841; Owen B. Hogins, 1839; Isaac Wood, 1839; H. H. Herring and L. M. Wood, 1836; Parsons Jackson, 1839; John B. Brown, 1839; John Simpson, 1840; John Bales, 1839; Samuel Adams, 1840; Nathaniel Simpson, 1842; Joab Durham, 1839; John Smith, 1839; Newton W. Brown, 1840; Adam T. Smith, 1836; William J. Parks, 1836; Shelton Wooster, 1836; Clayton R. Clark, 1844; Williamson Spears, 1839; Jeremiah Moreland, 1839; Robert McCaney, 1836; Nancy Seager, 1839; William Houston, 1839; John King, 1839; William Johnson, 1839; Edward M. Simpson, 1839; Samuel Turner, 1839; Willis Collier, 1839; William C. Simpson, 1839; Jones Rogers, 1839; John Grounds, 1836, Charles Haynie, 1836; Hillary H. Herring, 1836; John Marshall, 1836; James and Phillip Madden, 1836; Peter Thornbury, 1836; Thomas Madden, 1836; David Slinkard, 1836; Christopher N. Gassett, 1839; Jeremiah Moreland, 1839; Logan M. Wood, 1836; William King, 1839; Lewis Johnson, 1839; Isaac L. Shelby, 1836; William Morgan Williams, 1846; Lewis Garner, 1850; Edward E. McConnell, 1839; Thomas May, 1840; James Madden, 1839; Thadeus F. Moreland, 1845.

Township 10, Range 22: Mary Johnson, 1845; Robert B. Johnson, 1846; William Spears, 1844; George L. Patrick, 1844; Thomas King, 1847; E. G. Gilbreath, 1844; William M. H. Newton, 1844; Auger Price, 1844; Willis Darks, 1850; E. Newton, 1844; James P. Blancit, 1850; Catharine Whitlock and others, 1845; A. B. Joyner, 1846; Joseph Adkins, 1847; Samuel Towel, 1845; Thomas Sling, 1848; Hiram Tomlinson, 1848; Reuben Pierson, 1846; J. D. Pulliam, 1844; William H. Colthorp, 1849; John S. Price, 1844; Jesse May, 1844; William S. Swigart, 1849; Joshua Jones, 1849; Sterling May, 1845; George L. Patrick, 1847.

Township 11, Range 22: Hamilton W. Blackwell, 1848; William Mears, 1848; B. W. Cox, 1848; Byrd George, 1848; James E. Harris, 1850; Martin W. Bunch, 1848; Sampson D. Free, 1848; Uriah Russell, 1848; Joseph Atkins, 1848.

Township 12, Range 22: William Mears, 1847.

Township 7, Range 23: Jordan Thomson, 1841; Maurice Brown, 1841; John Cravens, 1841; Rufus C. Sadler, 1831; John C. Ward, 1843; L. O. Sadler, 1841; Henry Buckman, 1841; Uriah Thompson, 1841; N. Cravens, 1841; Isaac N. Burnham, 1841; Loreuzo D. Rody, 1839; Ervin Rowland, 1839; Sandy Lipe, 1839.

Township 8, Range 23: W. W. E. Moreland, 1841; William H. Polk, 1836; John Howell, 1840; Rachel Crawford, 1829; John Knight, 1836; John R. H. Scott, 1839; James Ware, Jr., 1836; Phineas Williams, 1830; Thomas N. Mahon, 1841; David D. Watson, 1841; Edward E. McConnell, 1842; Hugh E. Porter, 1841; Daniel Porter, 1841; Minty Granthorn, 1841; Jacob Rogers, 1841; John R. Willis, 1841; Joseph James, 1830; James Patterson, 1836; Thomas G. Robinson, 1841; Matthew Willis, 1841; Peter Spingler, 1832.

Township 9, Range 23: John Simpson, 1836; Andrew Houston, 1838; James T. White, 1839; Augustus M. Ward, 1839; Andrew D. Wolf, 1840; Joshua Simpson, 1839; Benjamin Ray, 1837; John Linton, 1837; Job Chrisman, 1836; Leonard Sorter, 1839; Littleberry Robinson, 1848; Moreau Rose, 1837; Edward E. McConnell, 1836; Josiah Cravens, 1837; Joseph James, 1837; William Collier, 1837; Kesiah Mason, 1836; B. H. Zachary, 1836; Philemon Williams, 1836; Joe Chrisman, 1836; Andrew Brown, 1838; David Ward, 1839; John Denning, 1847; John J. Dorsey, 1848; Andrew M. Fulton, 1836; Thomas Powers, 1836; David Ward, Sr., 1836; Anthony Smith, 1850; William Sawyer, 1836; Presley Jamison, 1838; Thomas G. Robinson, 1840; Thomas S. D. Young, 1848; John W. Patrick, 1836; Maj. Thompson, 1837; John Teague, 1838; Gabriel W. Payne, 1848; Peter Carpenter, 1850; H. J. Shropshire, 1837; John H. Johnson, 1837; William Johnson, 1837; James W. Karnes, 1836; Samuel Whitney, 1839; Thomas Simpson, 1838; John Howell, 1836; Sterling May, 1837; Champion Choto, 1837; John Houston, 1838; Richard W. Adams, 1837; Seth J. Howel, 1838; Isaac N. Robinson, 1837; Joseph James, 1837; Elijah B. Alston, 1836; John M. Wilson, 1841; Francis Logan, 1836; Joseph Smith, 1845; Anthony Smith, 1849; Robert McMurray, 1836; William Sawyer and William Evans, 1836; Isaac N. Robinson, 1837; Preston Jamison, 1838; Thomas Arnold, 1837; William B. Walker, 1839; Greenberry Robinson, 1839; Jacob Robinson, 1839; Samuel Adams, 1837; James Keesie, 1836; Philip Jones, 1839; Robert Dielchay, 1839; Josiah Jenkins, 1830; Overton B. Alston, 1847; Nicholas Brewer, 1836; John R. H. Scott, 1837; John R. Somerset, 1838; James K. Polk, 1836; L. O. Saddler, 1836; John B. Howell and P. Jones, 1838.

Township 10, Range 23: Oliver Barsham, 1847; John W. Patrick, 1840; Richard M. Lee, 1840; Cader Lee, 1839; Henry P. Bell, 1840; James Harris, 1840; Joseph James, 1848; John G. Brown, 1848; William Lee, 1840; Britton Lee, 1840; John M. Wilson, 1841; Margaret Payne, 1847; William R. Hill, 1840; George W. Smith, 1845; Absalom Pryor, 1840; Jephtha C. Payne, 1841; Nathaniel C. Pryor, 1849; George W. Garrett, 1840; Augustus M. Ward, 1840; James B. Harris, 1840; Jerome B. Annis, 1842; Laban C. Howell, 1840; James Richey, 1842; Joseph Stewart, 1850; Tolwer Blockard, 1850; Joseph W. Ryan, 1840; Russell Lee, 1847; Benjamin F. Hartley, 1839.

Township 11, Range 23: Eli Cowen, 1839; Oliver Barsham, 1847.

Township 12, Range 23: William R. Horner, 1839; Benjamin Pitts, 1839.

Township 6, Range 24: George W. Wigginton, 1839.

Township 7, Range 24: Rufus C. Sadler, 1841.

Township 8, Range 24: Harmon H. Brewer, 1835; Webster McCaslin, 1830; Clayton R. Clark, 1834; Lorenzo N. Clark, 1834; Willian D. Reed, 1830; James H. Jones, 1839; James Shepard, 1830; John and M. T. Logan, 1836; John Knight, 1836; George Jamison, 1835; James Murphy, 1835; Joshua Cates, 1839; Frederick J. Moors, 1836.

Township 9, Range 24: Hezekiah Dailey 1836; Leonard J. Garrett, 1837; Wesley Garrett, 1838; L. Armstrong, 1840; Robert H. Armstrong, 1845; James Hargraves, 1837; William M. Gwynn 1836; Samuel Davis and William M. Gwynn, 1836; William Aills, 1837; Moses Ham, 1838; William Fritz, 1837; Aaron J. Livingston, 1837; Jacob Ham, 1837; James P. King, 1837; Dixon Reynolds, 1836; Gilbert Robins, 1837; Hugh Dunivan, 1843; William C. Garrett, 1837; John Drennen, 1838; John Dunning, 1838; Thomas Powers, 1836; William May, 1838; William Tatum, 1839; William Collier, 1842; Thomas Madden, 1836; Josiah Perry, 1836; James Cravens, 1836; Peter Allen 1836; O. D. Hogins, 1838; James Logan, Jr., 1837; David Logan, Jr., 1840; Nimrod W. Dart, 1839; Thomas Robins, 1838; E. B. Alston, 1836; David Thompson, 1839; David E. Smith, 1850; Francis Logan and Robert McMurray, 1836; William W. Wilkins, 1838; Nancy Roberts, 1830; Lorenzo N. Clark, 1836; Hugh Logan, 1836; G. D. Hayes, 1839; Henry B. Hays, 1836; Daniel B. Norris, 1838; Jonathan Logan, 1836; Alonzo C. Sadler, 1836; David Perkins, 1830.

Township 10, Range 24: Abraham Laster, 1840; Frederick Laster, 1840; Burr H. Zachary, 1848; Thomas B. Porter, 1840; Joseph M. Porter, 1840; James W. Boydston, 1841; Bartlett Zachary, 1840; George Lewis, 1844; Jane E. Hall, 1849; John Watson, 1849; William S. Ogilvie, 1849; Henry Ward, 1840; James B. Wilson, 1840; John M. Baskin, 1848; William H. Royer, 1848; Reese B. Ward, 1843; William Hamlin, 1849; Allen J. Hargraves, 1850; Seth J. Howel, 1840; William McCord, 1847; William Gray, 1841; James M. Ferguson, 1848; Wesley Garrett, 1840; William Williams, 1848; John Malloy, 1841; Henry B. Hays, 1840; John Penn, 1848.

Township 11, Range 24: N. Fleming, 1849; Edwin Edwards, 1848;

Township 12, Range 24: Spencer Homer, 1844; Nathan Byrd, 1844; John Arbaugh, 1844.

Township 7, Range 25: James Cravens, 1847.

Township 8, Range 25: Ray Marsh, 1833; Noadiah Marsh, 1836; Joseph Stont, 1839; O. D. Hogins, 1850; Alexander Williams, 1836; Lee Foster, 1836; Anderson Nicks, 1839; Jonathan Logan, 1838; Daniel Connor, 1831; Arphens A. Sadler, 1836; William K. Lee, 1839; John Knight, 1836; Elias W. Courtney, 1839; Nathan Nesbitt, 1841; James Murphy, 1836; Thomas Wilton, 1839; Augustus M. Ward, 1839; Thomas Whittaker, 1838.

Township 9, Range 25: Abraham Lastor, 1836; Thomas West, 1836; Joshua H. Cates, 1836; Jesse Brashear, 1836; Eli Patty, 1846; Henry S. Weathers, 1850; William E. Johnston, 1849; Renny Belen, 1839; Pleasant W. Hamblin, 1850; William A. Gwynn and Samuel Davis, 1836; Jonathan Conrtney, 1836; Joseph Ring and Samuel Murray, 1837; John Fribs, 1836; Peter Allen, 1836; John S. Davis, 1836; Joseph King, 1836; James Cravens, 1836; Samuel Davis, 1836; Anderson Nicks, 1839; Malachi Iseley, 1839; William H. Bates, 1837; Robert H. Brown, 1838; Jarat Wright, 1839; William A. Anderson, 1839; O. D. Hogins, 1837; Robert H. Brown, 1838; James W. Smith, 1836; Peter Allen, 1837; Simon Logan, 1839; William Logan, 1836; Thomas Anderson, 1836; Twitty Pace, 1836; Philemon Williams, 1837; Edward Davis, 1838; John Cargill, 1837; L. Whittle, 1836; Zadock Brashear, 1846; Lorenzo N. Clark, 1836; Walter Threadford, 1836; James Cargill, 1836; Robert Cargill, 1836; Matthew T. Logan, 1836; Miles T. Scott, 1836; James Logan, 1836; Heirs of David Logan, 1836; John Logan, 1836; William A. Anderson, 1836; I. Taylor, 1836; James W. Smith, 1836; David Pearson, 1836; Dickinson Burt, 1839.

Township 10, Range 25: James Morris, 1840; Willis Steele, 1840; George Lewis, 1844; Mandy F. Bartlett, 1847; William Johnson, 1840; Louis Hargraves, 1849; William Ake, 1840; Thomas I. Young, 1840; James Young, 1840; Robert R. Balls, 1847; Hartwell Morris, 1848; Bartlett Zachary, 1840; M. A. Kendall, 1848; James Cravens and others, 1840; Isaac Kersey, 1840; George Moore, 1843; Thomas Hale, 1844; Joseph T. Mileham. 1840; Claiborne Ake, 1840; Felix G. Ake, 1840; Isaac Kerser, 1840; William Crawford, 1840; John Ward, 1840; Jesse E. Crook, 1842; James Hargraves, 1847; John C. Cloud, 1848; Joseph James, 1839; John Swaggerty, 1840; Henry Ryan, 1840; William T. Hyden, 1847; Twitty Pace, 1839; Davis Hargraves, 1840; Robert Hargraves, 1840; John Ward, 1840; John Hamblin, 1840; Benjamin L. Pace, 1850; John Armstrong, 1840; John Johnson, 1850; William Williams, 1851; John Springer, 1841; Sarah M. Williams, 1840; Renny Belen, 1840; Jacob Arbaugh, 1841; E. N. Davis, 1850; Henry Ryan, 1840; Thomas West, 1844; Henry S. Weathers, 1850; Frances Arbaugh, 1839.

Township 12, Range 25: Jonas L. Tebbuts, 1848; Joseph Stewart, 1848; Louis Eubank, 1848; John H. Davis, 1848; James F. Hill, 1848.

Where different claims in the same township were pre-empted by one man, the earliest date only is given. Many of these are the names of Johnson County's pioneers men who left comfortable Eastern and Southern homes, surrounded by all the evidences of a high civilization and, 'by the sweat of their face,' by toil and privations, made a new country to 'blossom as the rose,' while upon the hillsides, the cross roads and in the valleys, the church and the school house have been erected, and the whole county filled with a happy and prosperous people.

To accomplish these great changes, time has been required, and surely and rapidly the grand old men and women, who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage are passing away. The number now remaining who can relate the incidents of the first settlement is small indeed.

The pioneer days are looked back upon as a happy, careless period, when people were so few that they valued each other more and would not be outdone in hospitality. The barbecue, which most of the people of the county attended merely to see one another and have a good time, has largely passed away. The marksmen, and every man was a marksman then, had their shooting matches, where the steadiest nerves and clearest eye won a beef, or some money. Almost every family had its whisky or peach brandy to refresh the guests who visited them, although many of the same persons lived to see public feeling place liquor among the forbidden things. There is quite a colony of Germans in this county.