Boonville in Cooper County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

In Memory of Hannah Cole

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 5, 2025

1. In Memory of Hannah Cole Marker

Inscription.
In memory of
Hannah Cole
A pioneer mother who established the first home south of the Missouri River and built a fort near this site in 1810.

Erected 1932 by Hannah Cole Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.

Location. 38° 58.324′ N, 92° 44.558′ W. Marker is in Boonville, Missouri, in Cooper County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 40) and Center Street, on the left when traveling south on Main Street. The marker is in front of Laura Speed Elliott Middle School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Main Street, Boonville MO 65233, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it

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is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Capture of Union Troops (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thespian Hall (about 600 feet away); The Civil War in Boonville (about 700 feet away); Roslyn Heights (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kemper Military School & College 1844-2002 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hannah Allison Cole (approx. 0.3 miles away); David Barton (approx. 0.3 miles away); James Milton Turner (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boonville.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Hannah Cole. Missouri Women: Women of the Past, Inspiring Women Today

Hannah Cole arrived in Missouri in 1809 with her husband (William Temple Cole) and kids. The next year, the Indians killed her husband and she found herself alone in the wilderness
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 5, 2025

2. In Memory of Hannah Cole Marker at Laura Speed Elliott Middle School
with 9 kids to take care of. For whatever reason, she decided to stay in Missouri and soon built a house on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River (where the city of Boonville is now). Hannah & her family were among the very first white families to settle in the area. And I mean settle, not just row by like Lewis & Clark. Hannah’s house was turned into a fort & used by settlers for defense during the war of 1812, where it provided a safe water source for settlers. The first County Circuit Court session was held there and she obtained the first business license to operate a ferry (in 1816) across the river. After Boonville was settled and established as the county seat, her fort was used as the first school, church and voting place in the county. Hannah eventually moved about 15 miles south of town where she died in 1843.

(Submitted on July 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

In Memory of Hannah Cole Marker looking south on Main Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 5, 2025

3. In Memory of Hannah Cole Marker looking south on Main Street

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.