100 YEARS AGO IN BONNE TERRE.
Lead Belt News, Flat River, Missouri, Friday, Dec. 13, 1957.

Recently, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in their column headed "Through The Years" appeared this item, "November 14, 1857.  Sugarmaking began in Bonne Terre where the yield was exceptionally good.   Some of the planters were producing one and a half hogsheads of sugar from a half acre of sugar cane."

Sugar was an important product of this area, one hundred years ago and less. Lead was being mined as a part time venture of the farmers and then only when their crops were safely harvested.

The Pratt [Pratte] family and the Aubuchon family farmed the land north what we now call Benham Street, but it was then called Division Street.  The Hill family was east of them.  The Valle and LaGrave families farmed on the
site of the St. Joseph Lead Co., property.   The Rongey, Marshall, Thomure, Norwine, Baker, Fry and Hildebrand families were on farms in this vicinity as well as many others. --- Bonne Terre Register.