Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1835 16 FOX AND LEXVIS. he traded at Liberty, and did his milling at Smithville. He said that squirrels were rarely seen, but became abundant after the country was settled. There were no quails. Paroquets, with green a11d YGIIOW luma0e. went in ocks, sereamino as thev g . 2:: . 2: .. passed. Bald eagles were common, and wolves and owls made nighthideous. Before removing to the west of the Falls, Mr. Todd had a sugar camp at the mouth of Todds Creek. LONGPOIXT, BILLY FOX AND BILLY LEWIS. Billy Fox settled half way between the Falls and Liberty. The stage there changed horses. He was a genial and compan- ionable host. Villia.n1Lewis.who lived with him.was a curiosity. He was called Laughing Billy Lewis. His stentorian laugh would shake the hills. He would come to town, and. when merry. would commence his performance. Everything was the subject of ridicule. In a few minutes the whole town would be out. He proved the old saying true. that laughing is catching. After his loudest and merriest eat-hinnation. all present would join in ehorus. until one would think Bedlam had been turned loose. I have heard l1im tell how he outwitted a steamboat captain. He had but one dollar. and had not paid his passage. The captain tapped the bell. and Lewis begged him to let him ta.p it again. He did so. and then burst i11to one of his loudest laughs. The passen- gers came forth. and were merry. The captain tried to stop the sport. but the passengers enjoyed it. Finally. Lewis offered his dollar if he would let him go on tapping the bell. The captain ac- eepted it. thinking that Lewis would soon get tired. But he was mistaken. He grew more and more hilarious. until the captain gave him bark his dollar. and agreed to charge no fare for his passage. ROBERT CAIN IussessetI all the kindness. hospitality and good nature of the tpit-al pioneer. .o kindness was ever asked of him in vain. He had nothing too good for a guest. He was true a11d generous to a fault. He was rieh in lands and stoek; b11t he could not cope with the arts and frauds of eiili7.ation. and he left but little for his elliltlrell. J0 I I N B( lII.\A "RE Iool; -lntt-ge of the Issue House in 18215. It was located on his elaitn. lle sold goods to the Indians and early settlers. He led a hat talion to the .Iornton \ar. and for )eats was a leader i11 civil and ntilitar atlairs. J. II{. I )I.ICY (OX Still lin-. on the old .Iilitar Road. three miles from Barry. He .se-etc-cl land in l.il.. while living in tla). He often visited the Fort with tnarketing. front the tirst year ofits loeation i11 1827. Ile was born in Virginia .Ianuar. 43. 1.906. Yl1en he was a (lllld