Notes for: James CALLAWAY
Captain James Callaway was a gradson of Daniel Boone. He was born September 13, 1783, in Lefayette, Kentucky, the son of Flanders and Jamina (Boone) Callaway.
He recieved a liberal education for that period. In 1798, his parents moved to upper Louisianna where he remained a short time. He returned to Kentucky to complete his education. James finished his course and came west in 1798 with his family. They settled in St. Charles and James met and married Nancy Howell on May 9, 1805. He built a cabin and settled near St. Charles near a stream he named Krauf Run.
Three children were born to the union of James and Nancy, Thomas H., William B. and Theresa. Captain Callaway was described as a tall man with black hair and eyes, high forehead, prominent cheekbones and was as erect as an Indian. James was kind and affectionate toward his family by whom he was devotedly loved. His imtelligence and strict intregity gave him the confidence, respect and friendship of all of his neighbor.
James was in the fur business and was Deputy Sheriff for St. Charles County for several years under Captain Murray and in 1813 he raised his first company of Rangers for service agaist the Indians. The company was composed of thirty-nine Rangers.
Early morning of March 7, 1815, Captain Callaway and his Rangers left Fort Clemson on the Loutre Island in persuit of a party of Indians, about eighty, of Sac and Fox tribes. The Indians had stolen several horses from settlers in the vicinity. They pursued the tribes and came across the horses guarded by a few indian women. They secured the horses without trouble. There was not a sign of the Indians but Lieut. Reggs was suspicious and suggested that it would be dangerous to return by the route they had followed to the area as the savages were evidently preparing an ambush. Capt. Callaway was an experienced indian fighter and was wary as well as brave, but on this occasion he did not allow himself to be governed by his better judgement. He said he intended to return to the fort by the same route. Riggs said nothing more.
Three men, Hutchings, McDermit and McMullen were in advance leading the stolen horses, the company was 50-100 yards in the rear. When the three men began to ford the river to cross the indians opened fire and the men were killed. At the first sound of firing, Callaway spurred his horse forward into the river and recieved a slight wound in his left arm and escaped death only by a ball lodging agaist his watch, which was broken into many pieces. His horse was killed instantly. Capt. Callaway sprang from his dead horse to the bank, ran down the stream and plunged into the water and commenced swimming. He was shot in the head and his body sank immediately to the bottom so he was not scalped or mutilated by the indians. The other men were forced to retreat, fighting as they went. Hiram Scott was killed and several men were wounded. They escaped and went to Fort Clemson.
Captain Callaways body was not found for several days, until the water receded. The body was found by Benjamin Howell.
Flanders Callaway, having heard of his sons death, came from St. Charles to assist in finding his son's body. Flanders was present when the body was found. Capt. James's body was wrapped in blankets and buried on the side of an abrupt hill, over looking Loutre Creek. Several months later the grave was walled in with rough stones and a flat slab was laid across the head on which was engraved an epitat.