Capt. James Richard Callaway (1783–1815) was an officer in the
Missouri Rangers during the
War of 1812.
He was a grandson of
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...
, nephew of
Nathan Boone
Nathan Boone (1780–1856) was a veteran of the War of 1812, a delegate to the Missouri constitutional convention in 1820, and a captain in the 1st United States Regiment of Dragoons at the time of its founding, eventually rising to the rank of lie ...
and grand-nephew of
Richard Callaway
Richard Callaway (June 14, 1717 – November 8, 1780) was an American frontiersman, military officer, politician, and hunter who was one of the first white settlers in modern-day Kentucky. Born in Essex County, Virginia, Callaway joined Daniel B ...
.
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Birth and early life
James Callaway, was born in
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
September 13, 1783 to Flanders Callaway and
Jemima Boone, Daniel Boone's daughter. In 1798 his family moved to
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
. He returned to Kentucky in 1799 to complete his education.
After returning to Missouri, he married the former Nancy Howell in 1805, and they settled in Howell's prairie, in what is now St. Charles County, where he built a home.
Callaway and his wife had three children who were born in St. Charles County, Missouri: Thomas Howell Callaway (1806-1832), William Boone Callaway (1807-1869) and Theresa Etaline Callaway Schneider (1811-1886).
Callaway was involved in the fur trade and local business. He was a deputy sheriff in St. Charles County for several years, as well as collected taxes.
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Military service and death
Callaway was appointed Cornet of a troop of Missouri Rangers in 1808. He was promoted to Captain in 1812, and the following year raised a company, for either the ongoing conflicts with indigenous people or the War of 1812 (accounts differ.) He participated in the expedition of General Howard in 1813 and the
Battle of Credit Island
Credit Island is an island in the Mississippi River on the south west side of Davenport, Iowa within the Quad Cities area. Its name was derived by the use of the island as an early Indian trading post. Credit could be obtained on the pro ...
in 1814 in a military capacity. Callaway was killed in battle with Native Americans near Loutre Creek in March 1815.
He was buried by his father where he had been killed in what is now Montgomery County, Missouri.
In memoriam
Callaway County, Missouri
Callaway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was 44,283. Its county seat is Fulton. With a border formed by the Missouri River, the county was organized November ...
, was organized in 1820 and named in honor of Capt. Callaway.
Around 1904, Rev. W. H. Burnham began raising money to erect a monument in Callaway’s honor. A 14-foot bronze memorial was erected in the courthouse yard in
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is the largest city in and the county seat of Callaway County, Missouri, United States. Located about northeast of Jefferson City and the Missouri River and east of Columbia, the city is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri, Metropolita ...
, and dedicated in July 1905.
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The monument cost between $500-$600 in 1905 (approximately $17,141-$20,803 in 2023 dollars).
In 1912, Willam Bocks Rigg (1874-1964) published a book of poetry that included stanzas leading to the death of Callaway.
"The Kingdom Post No. 210 of the American legion on July 13, 1941, erected and dedicated markers for the graves of three soldiers slain with Captain James Callaway by Indians on Loutre creek, Montgomery county, March 7, 1815. The Federal government co-operated in furnishing the stones for the graves.—''Fulton Daily Sun-Gazette'', July 10, 1941."
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References
Further reading
* Note: Richard Callaway was the uncle of Flanders Callaway and great-uncle of James Callaway.
*
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External links
Captain James Callawaybiography from ''History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 94 - 98'' on the Callaway County official website.
Callaway Family Association archived fro
the originalon 1 Jul 2023, retrieved 1 Jul 2023.
* . Includes photo of monument.
*. Includes photo of monument.
*. Includes photo.
* Includes photos of the site on
Loutre Creek where Callaway died and the burial stones.
1783 births
1815 deaths
People from Kentucky
American military personnel killed in the American Indian Wars
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