History of Cass County, Missouri, Part 4

Author: Glenn, Allen
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Topeka, Kan : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 904


USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 4


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In 1821 the United Missionary Society established a school for the education of the Osage Indians, at a point about six miles above the then village and on the banks of the Marias des Cygne River. This right was then granted to the society by the Osages. This place or near this place was afterward known as or located "Harmony" in the present limits of Bates County.


A writer in the early days of the Osage settlement says, "Excel- lent timber was in abundance; first-class prairie for plowing, pasturing and mowing; good quality of building stone. The river bottoms are low for cultivation, without drainage, but the prairies are high and well located for drainage. These prairies are covered with grass from two to seven feet high and was an impediment to travel. These prairies reaching back, yielding in this uncultivated state as much as two tons of hay to the acre per season. There was good timber and here and there excellent springs of water.


Little progress was made by this school on the religious life of the Osages, neither did the Indian take to agricultural pursuits which crowded out his hunting or pleasure of the chase. The Osages always held faithfully to their contracts with the government. In the war of 1812 the Osages were sought by many intrigues and ways by both British and hostile tribes to induce them to join against our govern- ment, yet the Osages steadfastly adhered to our government and never forfeited by misconduct the indulgence of our government. Ft. Sibley, Ft. Clark and Ft. Osage, is one and the same place.


CHAPTER VIII.


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TRADERS, TRAPPERS AND HUNTERS.


THE VANGUARD OF CIVILIZATION-FUR BEARING ANIMALS OF THIS SECTION- DANGERS AND PRIVATIONS ENDURED-THE FUR TRADER-PASSING OF TRAPPERS AND HUNTERS-WILD ANIMALS WITHIN THE MEMORY OF THE WRITER-BEE HUNTING-THE COMING OF THE SETTLER-CUSTOMS- AMUSEMENTS-HARDSHIPS-"OLD TIME RELIGION"-FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP-THE EARLY CHURCH IN RHYME.


A class of pioneers who ought not to be overlooked, are the early traders, trappers and hunters. These were the fearless men and women who braved the early hardships and privations, which made conditions of existence possible for you and for me. They opened the paths through the unknown forests and over prairies where, in after years, civilization built the lovely homes and fields. It will never be known where the trapper first visited the present boundaries of Cass County, yet the evidences of their presence, some time, are found on every hand. We learn from past annals this domain was once profusely occupied by the furred animals, like the beaver, the otter, the wolf, the bear, the buffalo, and elk, and kindred neighbors of all. The furry coats of these inhabi- tants of the forest and dell have for a century past been the ornamental dress and comfort of humanity, through the daring of the early trapper. With scanty comforts and meager food, he labored on, and many have forfeited their lives in the cause of humanity, unwept and unhonored by their successors. The bones have bleached and decayed, and trodden over by their successors in settling this country. Not a trace have we preserved of their memory of the deeds, the fruits of which redound to posterity.


The trader, for a small recompense, took the fruits of this labor to the outside, or more civilized world. The hunter with his mighty


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gun came in his time to push the trapper, the hunter and the poor Indian further back on the frontier. All gave way to the march of the plow- man, mechanic and merchant, in their turn. Another writer has said, "Wild animals of almost every species known in the wilds of the west were found in great abundance. The prairies and woods, and streams and various bodies of water were all thickly inhabited before the white man came and for some time afterward. Although the Indians slew many of them, yet natural law prevailed here as well as elsewhere- wild man and wild beast thrived together.


Serpents were to be found in such large numbers, and of such im- mense size that some stories told by early settlers would be incredible if not for the large array of concurrent testimony which is to be had from most authentic sources. Deer, turkey, ducks, squirrels and various other kinds of choice game were plentiful and to be had at the expense of killing only. The fur animals were abundant. Such as the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, panther, fox, wolf, wildcat and bear.


The writer, in his boyhood days, has seen several droves of dozens of deer within three or four miles of Harrisonville, in a single day, and wild turkeys by the hundreds at roosting time, around the present fair grounds and along Muddy or Town Creek. He saw two wild deer killed along where the railroad runs, on the east side of the Ament Mound, about two miles south of the county seat. Prairie chickens, too numer- ous to mention, would gather in the fall season of a frosty morning on the houses, trees and fences, in and around Harrisonville.


Bee hunting was another profitable recreation of early days. There came also the professional bee-hunter. He would see his majesty, Mr. Bee, sipping the sweet from the flowers of early spring-and we had flowers in great profusion-the hunter's keen eye would watch the course of the bee and follow him to some tree-the home of the bee-in the forest. Not always nearby, by any means. Then came the frolic of robbing the bee of the fruits of his long summer work.


While all these proceedings had their doleful consequences it was not all without its reacting pleasures; mixed with privations come joys. There was the joy of recreating sports of shooting matches, and quilt- ing parties, both of which obtained in these very early days, and were enjoyed to the fullest extent, by both lad and lassie. The quilting parties were especially pleasant and agreeable to both girl and boy, old and young, for this particular sport excluded none. During the day


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men would busy themselves about, some splitting rails, others at other work, while the women remained (not indoors) but at the house to do the quilting and the cooking. When the day was past, the night would be spent in hilarious dancing, all participated in by the grandparents, as well as tottling grandbaby. And this was not infrequently kept up until the wee small hours of the night. Then when all was over guests and host would separate-some reaching their homes some twenty miles and more distant after the break of day. In the same wagon would be seen the aged grandparents, the young man and his best girl, or riding on horseback could be seen the gallant young man with his fair lady behind him on the same horse.


In those days with all their hardships, privations and lonesomeness were not without their compensating joys and pleasures. In all this there was an extreme dignity, yet in a measure equality, absolute fidel- ity, one to the other. The young as well as the old had for the opposite sex none but the purest thoughts and emotions. Many common faults and errors of the young were unknown. The neighbor's daughter was as safe with the neighbor young man on these long rides alone, as were the young gallants own sisters. This was socialism in its highest and purest sense. You naturally ask, what has this to do with trading, trapping and hunting ? It is this, it is the touch between the advance of one civilizing force, with the receding of the preceding civilizing class. Both pioneers, in the highest sense, yet their very makeup and nature causes the one to depart on the advent of the other. This is but a repe- tition of the world's progressive influences.


Aside from these quilting bees, was the corn huskings, the foot rac- ings, and in after years the horse racings. All of these had their gen- uine sport and gave life, activity and joy to the otherwise humdrum life of the early settler. By and by came the church meetings at the sev- eral homes, before the day of church edifices, and then the old-fashioned camp meeting, where God and people met-where His name was glor- ified and magnified. "Old-time religion was good enough for all." These literally house to house, or home to home meetings, were inspiring to settlers in both a social and religious way.


In 1837 a house of worship was built within the borders of the county, we are not certain, but think in Polk Township. It then was the furthest church south of the Missouri River along the western tier of Missouri counties to the Arkansas line, unless we call the mission at Osage City-among the Osage Indians at Pappinville-a church.


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"And they resolved, in thirty-seven, As David did in ancient days, To build unto the God of heaven, A house in which to sound His praise."


Martin Rice, a historian and poet of Cass County, speaks of this early church, in poetic rhymes, as follows :


"Ah, no! a few miles west of this, There stood a grove on rising ground, And in an opening interstice, Their house of worship first was found.


"But memory leads me further yet, And further backward still it roams, See these Christians as they met To worship in their cabin homes.


"No house of public worship then, They needed not the sounding bell To call to prayer those pious men, They knew the time, observed it well.


"And when the man of God appeared, In homespun coat, or hunting shirt, The careless sinners might have heard, Those Christians sing in sweet concert.


"Or listening to his words apart, They noted not his homely coat, But his appeals from yearning heart, And not from manuscript or note.


"Materials for that house of God, Were brought by many a willing hand, That now is resting 'neath the sod, Near where that house of prayer did stand.


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"And thus did they the house uprear, A Temple to the living Lord, Believing He would answer prayer, And give His servants their reward.


"Now, seldom are the living led, And for devotion here repair, But ah! the many, many dead, Are constantly reposing there.


"Here, first their songs of praise were heard, And prayer was made for help divine, No other church had then appeared, Between them and south Missouri line.


"If we except the Mission school, For Indians placed on the Osage, This was the opening vestibule, Which led to Christian heritage."


The names of these pioneer brethren and their brothers in Israel have long since passed from these church records, and no individual memory remains of them, their histories are only upon the lettered stones in the old church yard where the bodies have so long lain.


AN OX YOKE OF PIONEER DAYS.


AN EARLY DAY STAGE COACH.


CHAPTER IX.


TRANSPORTATION.


ALWAYS A PROBLEM-THE BRIDLE PATHS-RIVER TRANSPORTATION-ROUTE FROM FT. SIBLEY TO OSAGE VILLAGE-ROUTES OF EARLY SETTLERS- DANGERS-GASSAWAY-EARLY SETTLER'S MODE OF TRAVEL-CENTERS OF COMMERCE-TYPE OF EARLY SETTLER-"CUT ROADS"-MODERN TRANS- PORTATION-CASS COUNTY'S RAILROADS-IMPROVEMENTS IN HIGHWAYS.


In all ages transportation was and always will be the great problem to civilization. So far as our part of an inland country, just opening to the touch of the white man, the Osage village, located at or near the present site of Papinville, was the metropolis. This was the central point from which and toward which all trade, crude as it was, radiated. The white man sought to trade with the Indian. This was the central place of all Osage dealings. The Osages controlled the fur, hide and other articles of then commerce. It was the point where information was obtainable relative to lead, zinc and other mines. It was early and earnestly sought by white traders, as well as early adventurers, whether hunters, trappers or traders. There newcomers were looked upon, at first, with disfavor by the Indian occupants. There was great difficulty in finding an inlet and outlet for this commerce. Some trade went over the then bridle path to St. Louis and points on the Arkansas River. Bear in mind there were no highways, as was soon made, and exist today. This overland trade was too long, tiresome and expensive to so continue long. The white man had nothing to do with this inland center of trade. He had to meet conditions as they appeared to him. It was his work, to work out a way to the outside world for the valuable trade he found here. The waterways here were bad. The Osage River


(5)


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leading to the Missouri River at seasons was quite treacherous, danger- ous and unreliable.


In an early day the Governor of the Territory beheld quite a flotilla of flat boats (about a dozen) propelled by human strength, around the then village of St. Louis, and proclaimed a holiday and great cele- bration over the event. He in an address predicted this was but the forerunner of great commercial activity for the town and country. It did, indeed, prove to be the opening of a way for the, then, interior commerce. This brought the outside world near to the center of trade, by locating trading points on the Missouri River-one at a point, a short distance above the present site of Booneville. This was probably near the mouth of the present Blackwater stream-perhaps using the names, of today, where Blackwater, Saltfork and Lamoine River joined and emptied into the Missouri. Franklin of early history was opposite this point on the north side of the Missouri. From this point the over- land traffic went by bridle path southward near the present location of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad to where the railroad swerves on the Bates County line to the present site of Nevada. From this place of swerving the bridle path went straight to the Osage village.


Another river point was at Fort Sibley (sometimes called Fort Osage), located between the present Lexington and Independence. A town still remains in this locality and called Sibley. From this point the trade came and went by a bridle path, leading nearly due south to Osage village. The course was most probably, not as usual, along the small water courses, but along the high ridge or backbone between the several small streams, through eastern part of the present Jackson, Cass and Bates Counties, to the objective point, the village of the Osages, on Osage River. This route would take the course through "Grain Val- ley," "Lone Jack," original town of Pleasant Hill, near East Lynne, cross- ing Grand River, either at Settles Old Ford, or a crossing near App's Barn, in section 7, township 42, range 30. It most likely was at the latter named place. Here there are evidences remaining to this day of an ancient travel.


Tradition and natural conditions lead us to the belief our early white settlers came by one of these two routes, pushing back to the east and west of the bridle path to locate their cabins and open up farms. It is apparent that the hunter and trapper and small farmer would first come from the first named point on the Missouri. Where the


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route crossed Grand River in what is now Henry County, parties would diverge, travel up Grand River, and locate along this stream.


It is readily seen that owing to these locations being close to the Osage village and the Indian hostility to farming, settlements would be retarded by the Indians and slower to become permanent. Doubtless many a settler has sought this route and left his bones somewhere along this route. These earliest settlers will never be known, having perished by wild beast's attacks, the rigidness of the winter storms, and fevers of the hot summers, as well as falling victims to Indians. These were heroes and heroines, indeed. We do not appreciate what we owe to them, that, too, whether they so perished by pushing to the front from the one route, or the other.


There was a tradition among the early settlers in the boyhood days of the writer, that the first settler in the borders of Cass County, Missouri, was named Gassaway. He is said to have settled near the river bank on Grand River, at the south end of what in later days was known as "Cockrell Lake." This point is in section 17, in township 43 of range 31, on land now owned by C. L. Vansandt.


Evidence still remain that at some time in the distant past there has been an occupant here. The lake on the south side of Grand River at this point in an early time was known as the "Gassaway Lake." Not until a time with the memory of the writer was it known by any other name. Afterwards it was called "Bates Lake" and more recently "Patrick Lake." What became of Gassaway the memory of early settlers has not been preserved.


Evidences of early settlers lower down the stream are found. How- ever these things may be the probability is the first permanent settle- ment of the county was in the north part. Wherever it was, the transpor- tation to and from the settler's home and the outside world was of the crudest sort. By foot, by oxen, on horse, these early settlers would wend their way to market. Fort Sibley, and later, elsewhere, taking their furs, hides, small batches of wild fruits, grains and stock-in like manner bringing home family stores. With the quick and rapid development of this country these modes of traffic and transportation multiplied under the genius of our early settlers. Early were seen wagon roads cut out. The ox teams bore the inland commerce to the rivers, from where it went to market by river.


New towns sprang up along the rivers, particularly the Missouri,


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to vanish as quickly as trade took its march westward. Franklin was a thriving town in 1816 and afterwards became the starting point for a time for the Santa Fe trade. Sibley, at the same time was an impor- tant town, having the advantage of being an army post. The soldiers at Sibley, doubtlessly, traveled over what is now Cass County, and see- ing its fertility and resources, became in time actual settlers of our county. In a degree this accounts for so many of our people having seen early army service.


The greatest harmony prevailed among these early peoples. As a rule in 1816 they were a high-minded, refined and cultivated class. They were not of that disappearing class of ignorant, irresponsible ele- ment, "low and indecent grade, worthless for any useful purpose of society."


The practice of the Sabbath being given over to hilarity and use- less sports was changed, and in its stead this day was given to worship and meditation. Church spires began to rise here and there along these towns. In week days carts and wagons from the country came to town over new-cut roads, to market their produce and gather provisions.


A stranger landing in one of these river towns, inquiring for per- sons or places in the country was directed to take a certain road, "the two cut road, or the three cut road." These were cuts on trees, marking the line of travel, long since out of date. The change of this manner of transportation soon changed, and to this day we are reaching out for better facilities to get our produce to and from market, and our mode of travel. The traveler was much impeded by the high prairie grass, alternating with fine forests, arranged in order, and yet, he was irre- sistibly drawn by the appearance of these lovely scenes.


This seeking after the lead fields, pelting and fur trade along these river towns the center of the outlying trading and trapping posts, the growing settlement, showing rapid commercial development, caused a demand for capital, and made the then system of barter and the use of lead, peltries and whisky as currency more and more inconvenient, but the supply of specie, apart from the disbursements by the govern- ment, quite inadequate. After much depression, money came to these people and the problem of transportation was largely solved. With it came the greatest material development known in the history of this country.


When we reflect over these conditions we wonder how these scattered


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settlers, impoverished as they were, ever extricated themselves therefrom. They did, to their own high honor, be praised, and our welfare be to them thanks. It was the brain and brawn of these sturdy pioneers which brought us through these early trials. What has been done since ? What are you and we doing to the credit of the future?


In one short life, we have seen the bridle path give way to a great public road thoroughfare. We have seen the flesh propelling power give place to steam and electricity. We have seen the river traffic, propelled by human power, go before the steamboat and railway. Look upon the water courses and see the steam and, electrically propelled freighter bearing its burden, the produce of the prairies, forests and mines of the West to the markets of the world. The railway locomotives drawing their long line of cars, of freight and human souls, traversing the land and water, throughout the wide domain of the county. These servants of man are doing that which man cannot do. The boat and the car rushes from city to city, from State to State and from country to country, "from myriads of towering columns gushes, in mimic clouds, the quick breath of our newborn Titan. The ancient rocks echo to his shrill voice, and tremble as he rushes by. He troubles the waters and rides on their crest defiant. From the pine of the frozen north to the palmetto of the sunny south, his train track tunnels the mountains, belts the prairie and spans the flood. Mightiest of kings is this son of fire! Proudest of monarchs is this genius of the lamp and of the foun- tain." As these reign supreme, the people bless the genius who trained him to use.


What wondrous changes have been wrought in this pristine wilder- ness of the west, where once the Indian and the wolf disputed with us the empire over nature. No steam whistle heralding the thundering train alarmed the feathered songster of forest, grove and prairie. No lightning flash spoke with the thought from ocean to ocean, and vocalized with a miraculous organ beneath the depths of the sea. Man and woman, side by side, toiled by hand-labor in field and shop, where now we have harnessed the giant cyclops of fire, steam and electricity to do our bid- ding. Toil and weariness have, in a degree, been laid aside by man, whilst the engine plies steadily on to do the work. Small inaccessible villages have grown to beautiful inland cities, seats of science and learn- ing and pleasant abodes of cultivated men and women. The telephone, the automobile, the electric lights and the thousands of blessings which


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bring the remotest parts of the earth together are among the means of transportation handed down to us.


Cass County now has, approximately, two hundred miles of railroad ; Kansas City and Southern along the western part of the county; the Mis- souri, Kansas and Texas, running east and west through the county near the center; the Kansas City, Clinton and Springfield, running from the northwest to the southeast, through the county; the St. Louis and San Francisco, running from northwest to southeast, through the county; the Kansas City and Rock Island, across the northeast corner of the county ; the main line of the Missouri Pacific, across the northeast part of the county, and the southern branch of the Missouri Pacific, from north to south through the center of the county. Every part of the county is now easily accessible to a railroad. There is no county in the state with better railroad facilities.


The county, throughout, has many good well equipped wagon roads. The county is admirably situated for the construction of good roads. Much interest is now being taken to build rock and other class of good roads throughout the county. The county has as great number of auto- mobiles as any rural county. The north line of the county being within twenty miles of Kansas City and no part of the county exceeding a dis- tance of fifty miles from this great market, automobiles serve as a highly useful mode of transportation to and from Kansas City.


By reason of our automobiles, railroads and other methods of trans- portation we are nearest of any part of the country to Kansas City. Naturally our advantage in location and facilities of transportation make our markets of the very best. We have the first claim on feeding and supplying this city with its 300,000 population. What our farmer has to market, he can put into this market and return to his home in a day's time.


The present public spirit of our present day energetic people we bid fair soon to have connection with Kansas City not alone by rock and highly improved wagon roads, but be borne to this city, individually, and with our produce by electric cars. Day by day we get closer to this market, and ere long we will be a part of and quite a factor in that city's life.


CHAPTER X.


NATURE'S GIFTS.


LUXURIANT VEGETATION-PRAIRIE FIRES-HOW THEY AFFECTED WILD ANI- MALS-WILD FRUITS AND NUTS-AN ENCHANTING LANDSCAPE-NATIVE TREES AND FLOWERS-COMING OF THE FROST-ANIMAL LIFE-ADVENT OF THE WHITE MAN.


Cass County is bountifully blessed with nature's gifts. Ours is pre- eminently an agricultural county. The luxuriant growth of grasses and vegetable matters of the ages, deposited annually in their season, has built a soil not to be surpassed. When we reflect on the stories of early pioneers, and the traditions coming down from occupants, prior to the white man's advent, relative to the difficulty of travel over the prairie and forests by reason of this immense vegetable growth, and realize that this has been repeated for ages, and its deposits gone back to the soil, we are struck with wonder. Grasses so high as to impede travel. Timber too dense to penetrate. All going back to the soil. The offal of the herds of buffalo, deer and kindred, also made rich fertilizers. Such conditions as these awaited the white man when he came to take possession of the land. It is no wonder such soil brought forth in their season the wild flowers of great varieties, wild fruits in profusion, with nuts and other products of the forests in great abundance. Then when the white man came and deposited the seed of corn, wheat, oats, hemp, flax, tame grasses and all the seeds which go with higher civilization, he reaped many- fold times the amount of his sowing.




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