Col. De Lassus remained New Madrid until the spring of 1799, when he was promoted to the position of lieutenant- governor of Upper Louisianna. He was a prudent and conscientious commandant, and during his term the population of the district was considerably increased. He was succeeded by Don Henri Peyroux, who had perviously been in command at Ste. Genevieve. Peyroux arrived in New Madrid, in August, 1799, and remained four years. He then resigned, and, leaving his wife at New Madrid, went to France, where he had large possessions. Being old and infirm, he did not wish to venture on a return voyage, and entered into an agreement with his wife for a seperation, relinquishing to her all his title to their property in America.
After the resignation of Peyroux, the post was under the command of John Levallee until after the transfer of Louisianna to the United States, in March 1804. At that time the population of the district, including Arkansas and Little Prairie, numbered 1,350, about one-third being French and the remainder Anglo-Americans.
The settlement at La Petite Prairie (Little Prairie) was begun in 1794, by Francois Lesieur, at a point a short distance below the present town of Caruthersville, in Pemiscot County. A town covering some two hundred arpents of land was laid out, and divided into lots of an arpent each. A fact, called Fort St. Fernando,was constructed on the bank of the river. Among the residents of the town and vicinity, besides its founder, were Jean Baptiste Barsaloux, George and John Ruddell, Joseph Payne, Louis St. Aubin, Charles Guilbealt, Charles Loignon, Francois Langlois and Peter Noblesse. In 1799 the population numbered 78, and in 1803 it had increased to 103. The village continued to prosper until the earthquakes of 1811-1812, which almost entirely destroyed it. Its site was long since carried away by the waters of the Mississippi. Other settlements were made in what is now Pemiscot County, one in the vicinity of Gayoso, one north of Big Lake, another on Little River and a forth on Portage Bay. The earthquakes drove most of the inhabitants away, and it was not until thirty years later that any considerable number of immigrants came in. One conspicuous figure remained in this section after the others had fled. Col. John H. Walker, familiarly known as Hardeman Walker, located on Little Prairie about 1810, and continued to reside there until his death. He was sheriff of New Madrid County in 1821-1822, and subsequently was a judge of the county court. One of his sisters married Dr. Robert D. Dawson of New Madrid, and another married John Martin, of Pleasant Point.
During the year of 1789, a road known as the King's road was marked out from Ste. Genevieve to New Madrid, and it was along this road that the settlements were the most numberous in New Madrid District and what is now Scott County. One of the earliest settlers was Edward Robertson, who, with his son-in-law, Moses Hurley, located near where Sikeston now is. The former in character and business methods was like Richard J. Waters. He was an extensive land speculator, and also kept a store and trading post. He was entirely uneducated, and could not write his name, but he was a shrewd business man, and succeeded in keeping most of the other settlers in his debt.
In 1796 or 1797 Capt. Charles Friend, with his family, came from Monongalia County, Va., and received a concession of land near the present town of Benton. He had been a captain in the Revolutionary War, and was at this time about seventy-five years of age. He had a family of nine sons: Aaron, Israel, Teene, Charles, Jonas, Jacob, John, Alexander and David, and two daughters. Some of the sons were married in Virginia. Aaron and Teene were dissatisfied, and returned to their native State. Jonas, John and Jacob each received the customary concession of 800 arpents of land. Two of the brothers subsequently removed to Texas. About 1811 John Ramsey removed to Cape Girardeau, and located on what is now the county "poor farm," where he remained until his death in 1837. He had a family of one son and eight daughters. Three of the daughters, Elizabeth, Ann and Mary, married, respectively, John, James and Robert Ravenscroft; and daughter, Harriet B., became the wife of Lewis Painter, and is still living; Rebecca married John Hall in Virginia, but came to the Territory with her father's family. Hall became a man of some prominence in political circles. He was a presidential elector on the Adams ticket, in 1828, and served one or more terms in the Legislature.