History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens., Part 57

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 57
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 57

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Indeed it is not certain but that, or to speak more accurately, it is quite certain that more than one distinct race preceded the Indian here. The best authorities are agreed that there were at least two.

Of one, the Mound Builders,1 there can be no doubt ; 2 and of the presence of the other, the Cave Dwellers, but at a time extremely un- certain in the distant past, their skeletons and works in caves, and other relicts seem conclusively to show.3

1 Views of Louisiana (1811). - H. M. Breckenridge. Pre-Historic Races. - Foster.

2 There is an interesting mound near Weston left by these people, and other mounds elsewhere in the county. There is also an able article on the subject, " Ancient Wonders in Platte County : Relics of the Mound Builders," in the Landmark, of March 23, 1877, by Judge E. P. West, which was read before the Kansas City Academy of Science, and published in the February number (1877) of the Western Review.

3 The Commonwealth of Missouri. - Barnes.

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532

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

But whomsoever the Indians found here they drove out, and doubt- less with less mercy than that with which they themselves were afterwards expelled.

THE INDIANS.

By the best historical evidence which modern research has been able to bring forward, it is generally accepted as a fact that the Indians came originally from Eastern Asia to America, by way of Behring Strait, and that by natural increase of numbers, and subsequent im- migration, being a roving and migratory race, they finally distributed themselves throughout the entire Continent, North and South. The date of their first appearance in Mexico has been fixed with reasonable certainty at A. D. 5541- coming from the Northwest. These were succeeded and superseded by others of a later immigration in 1170.

When our own ancestors, the Europeans, came, they found the Indians divided into a great number of tribes, large and small; in some instances confederated for mutual protection and assistance, but usually entirely independent of each other.2 But later investigations have proven that all these tribes belonged to a few great families, occupying separate and immense districts of country and speaking entirely different languages.3

SIOUX AND ALGONQUINS.

However, so far as the history of Platte county is concerned, it is necessary to speak only of two principal families -the Sioux or Dakotas, and. the Algonquins or Ojibwas.4 Tribes of each of these, from time to time, owned and occupied the territory now included within the limits of this county.

The Sioux or Dakotas, who included the Missouris, the Otoes, the Kansas, the Iowas, the Osages, the Winnebagoes and many others, were settled west of the Mississippi to the Rocky mountains, and beyond, and north of the Arkansas into British America, even beyond and west of Pecos river.

The tribes of the Algonquins occupied and held all of New England and the Northern States east of the Mississippi, and all of Canada, extending their possessions north to, and east of the Great Salt lake.

1 Aboriginal America. - McColloh U. S. Ethnological Reports.

2 History of the United States .- Bancroft.

3 Synopsis of the Indian Tribes .- Gallatin.

4 Otherwise also called Chippewas or Delawares.

533

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Among the hundreds of tribes included in this family are the Sacs and Foxes, the Pottawatomies, the Shawnees and the Kickapoos.

Between the tribes bordering on the Mississippi, of the two great nationalities, respectively, referred to above, tradition tells us that almost constant wars were waged. This we know was the case for years after the French and Spanish came. True, tribes of the same family often went on the war path against each other, and sometimes one side or the other would call in the half of a tribe of another family, as was the case at the battle of the Little Platte, mentioned further along. But this, probably, was rarely resorted to. Among the Indians, for generations before the white man came, the Mis- sissippi was the dividing line between the two great. peoples of the North and West, as were the lines that separated the free from the slave States before the late war.

THE MISSOURIS.

To this fact, probably, it was largely due that the Missouris, a pow- erful tribe who owned and occupied the Missouri river country for miles on either side, and from the Mississippi up to the Iowa line and beyond -it was due to this, perhaps, their border situation and the consequent interminable wars in which they were compelled to en- gage, that they were gradually exhausted and ruined, and finally hardly less than exterminated. This great tribe, distributed through- out all this region of country, and that gave their name to the mighty river whose waters flow majestically through our State from the mountains to the sea - the Missouris, who stood up a powerful nation when the Indians were heroic and great, with the warlike Sacs and. Foxes on the one hand and the fearless Osages on the other - they, the original proprietors according to our earliest knowledge, of the soil which we are proud to call our own, had already virtually passed away when first we came, and other tribes had succeeded to their titles and homes.

In 1764, according to Col. Bouquet, the Missouris numbered 3,000 fighting men and were considered one of the principal tribes on this side of the Mississippi. But in 1833 they had been nearly or quite broken up as a tribe, and had been consolidated with the Ottoes. Their principal village was on the Missouri just below the mouth of the Grand.1

1 Expedition against the Ohio Indians. - Bouquet.

534

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

THE OSAGES, THE SACS AND FOXES, AND THE IOWAS.

The ruin of the Missouris left their territory a fruitful source of contention among the Osages, the Sacs and Foxes and the Iowas.

The Sacs and Foxes were one of the most powerful tribes (for they were practically one tribe) of the Northwest. They were originally located in the Lake Michigan country, but afterwards they extended their claims to the Missouri. The Iowas were another important tribe, situated on the Upper Missouri in Iowa. They very naturally claimed the upper part of the Missouris' country, which included what is now the Platte Purchase. But, on the other hand, south of Missouri were the Osages, one of the principal tribes on this side the Mississippi, and who claimed not only the territory of the Missouris on the south side of the Missouri but also all on this side as well. They recognized neither the claims of the Sacs and Foxes nor of the Iowas to any of it. Frequently coming over on this side on their hunting expeditions, collisions of course unavoidably with the Iowas and others occurred. How many of these took place before the white man came to record them as a part of the history of the country, or what were their results, no one now can tell. But neither the conflict of claims nor the conflict of arms had closed in 1809, when early white pioneers began to pene- trate into what is now Western Missouri.

BATTLE OF THE LITTLE PLATTE.

To this, therefore, it is due that we have been favored with the facts for record of the first battle known to have been fought in the immediate · vicinity of this county - the battle of the Little Platte. The follow- ing description of the battle is reproduced from an article published in the Landmark of date March 23, 1883, and prepared at the dicta- tion of Mr. Valentine Bernard, an early settler and an honored citizen of this county. Wherever necessary for brevity or perspicuity we have omitted unimportant sentences, and even changed the language in places : -

"The Sacs and Foxes occupied lands in what is now the Platte Pur- chase during the time intervening between 1804 and 1809.1 The Iowas were also here, continuing up to 1836.2 Frequently the Osages came across on this side of the Missouri, and caused much disturb- ance by plundering and warring with other tribes.

1 Only a part of them is meant; and some of them continued here until the "Pur- chase" was made.

2 Only a part is meant.

535

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

"In 1809 one of the above tribes had wigwams on the Little Platte,1 near the mouth of Second creek, and were engaged in fishing and hunting. Black bass, cat and buffalo were abundant, as also were ducks and geese. It was while thus enjoying themselves, and in sup- posed security, that they were attacked by the others and taken com- pletely by surprise. Nevertheless a spirited and hotly contested fight followed.

"But the Osages being outnumbered and not well prepared for battle, fought at a great disadvantage, and were compelled to fall back, They therefore moved rapidly along the south or "shingle rock" side of the river, hotly pursued by their enemies, some of whom took advantage of the high banks on the north side and fired into them from there. A running fight was kept up for quite a distance, but finally the Osages succeeded in reaching the Missouri at Old Randolph (just below the present site of Kansas City), where they crossed, and thus placed themselves out of danger.

"Some time afterwards a pocket diary of one of the Osages-prob- ably kept by a French half-breed-was found at that place, which gave the numbers engaged in the battle. It was written in corrupted French, and placed the strength of the Osages at 1,200. The Sacs and Foxes were put at the same figures, but the strength of the Iowas was not stated.

" For years after the battle flints, knives and other articles of warfare, and even bones were found, where it was fought. The number of killed and wounded has never been known, for the Indians were al- ways careful to conceal their losses. But it was doubtless large.2

Other fights followed this one, but none in this immediate vicinity or sufficiently near to justify reference to them here.

AMONG THE WHITES.

The Government, when it came to deal with the. Indians in this locality, recognized the title of the Sacs and Foxes and of the Iowas to the country, and treated with them accordingly. A part of the latter tribe continued to occupy a portion of the Platte below the Iowa line until about the time of the " Purchase," in 1837. Some 200 or more of the Sacs and Foxes (the Foxes ) were also here, and continued here until they disposed of their interest in their country to the United States at the same time that the Iowas disposed of theirs. After the

1 Now Smith's Fork.

2 Davis' History of Missouri, page 57.

536

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Purchase they were removed to their reservation with the others of their tribe across in Kansas.

POTTAWATOMIES.

A band of several hundred Pottawatomies were also here for a time - kept here by the Government, for about eighteen months in 1837-38. While here they were located on what is now called the Pottawatomie prairie, about fifteen miles north of Platte City, and on the bottom and bluffs opposite Ft. Leavenworth. In 1838 another band of this tribe passed through from their former homes in Illinois. All of the Pottawatomies were removed to reservations provided for them on the Kansas river.

KICKAPOOS.

A band of the Kickapoos were the only other Indians known to have ever resided in what is now Platte county, and they were here only temporarily. They were sent to this county by the Government in 1837, and remained here but a few months, pending arrangements for their settlement on a reservation west of the Missouri. The Kickapoos were stationed at the falls of the Platte, now the site of Platte City. They were a band of the Shawnees, and came originally from the Wabash country. Their progenitors, however, the Shawnees, were originally found in Ohio, where the whites first crossed the Alle- ghanies.

" THE ISSUE HOUSE. "

To supply the Indians while here with provisions and other neces -. saries, an agency or post-trader station was established, and a store or warehouse built called the " Issue House," which was located where Abner Whitney's dwelling house now stands. Thompson, Wallace & Co. had the contract to supply the post with beef, bacon, meal, corn and the like for the Indians; and others also had contracts with the post. Wilson Williams 1 was the keeper of the Issue House.

In an early day there was also a post-trader station at Smithville, 1

just across the line in Clay county, for the subsistence principally of the Sacs and Foxes and the Iowas.

REMINISCENCES.

Numerous interesting reminiscences of the Indians in Platte county are told by some of the older citizens of the county. A number of

1 Soon afterwards accidently killed himself.

537

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

the young men of that day, early settlers here, are still living, and are far from being borne down by old age.

Mr. Alfred Owens, now in his sixty-seventh year, remembers very distinctly when the Sacs and Foxes and the Iowas lived in the Platte country. " The Indians," he says, " were generally very peaceably disposed toward the whites. The Sacs and Foxes," he thinks, " were a much more sober, industrious and worthy class than the Iowas.

" The latter were extremely drunken, dissolute and trifling. . Their chief, Whitecloud, was a fit representative, in this respect, of his people - dissipated, treacherous and overbearing. Being an old man when he died, his son, Frank, had grown up and succeeded him as chief. He, Frank Whitecloud, married a daughter of Joseph Robi- doux, a French half-breed, and the first settler on the present site of the city of St. Joseph, Mo. Robidoux's mother was an Iowa Indian. The chief village of the Iowas was about three and a half miles north of Agency Ford, in Buchanan county. They had no village in this county, but frequently came down here on hunting expeditions.

" The principal village of the Sacs and Foxes (or the Sacs) was at Old Sparta, in Buchanan county. Metellacup, a noted brave of this tribe, and a thoroughly honest man, was often in Platte county. The chief of the tribe, Sourkut, was a man of fine presence and strong natural intelligence. He was thoroughly high-minded, and had the respect and confidence of both the Indians and the whites."

When Mr. Owens was a mere boy his father removed to the Indian Agency at Smithville, near the border of the State, now near the line between Clay and Platte counties, and there he, of course, had excel- lent opportunities to observe and study the character and habits of the Indians.

Dr. Marion Todd, another old citizen of the county, also remembers the Indians very well. " Woubunsee," he says, " was the war chief of the Pottawatomies, and Caldwell, a French half-breed, their council- chief. Woubunsee's wife was a white woman, Sally Slocum. Cald- well, whose father had been a British officer, was always a bitter enemy at heart to the United States. He had also served in the British army. He was present at the battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh was killed. During the Florida War he strongly sym- pathized with the Seminoles, and it was only the impossibility of reaching them that prevented him from joining them. He was about sixty years of age (in 1837) and was a man of fine physique, and well educated. The Pottawatomies were here only a short time, and came from Illinois.

CHAPTER II. EXPLORATIONS AND PIONEERS.

French and Spanish - First American Visitors - Steamboat Expedition ~ Rialto - First White Settlement - The Natural Advantages of Platte County becoming Rec- ognized - Second Creek Settlers - Expelled in 1836- Other Pioneers - The Lib- erty -Ft. Leavenworth Trail.

FRENCH AND SPANISH.

Prior to the cession of Louisiana to the United States, in 1803, but little progress was made in the settlement of the country along the Missouri, or anywhere west of the Mississippi. Up to that time, al- though the French and Spanish had had control of the country for more than a hundred years, but two or three permanent settlements on the Missouri had been established. The only interest they seemed · to take in the country was to explore it for mines of the precious metals or to trade with the Indians.1

The French, who were here first, long labored under the delusion that there were valuable mines to be found, and as early as 1705 made an expedition up the Missouri, coming as far as the mouth of the Kansas. The Indians then here (the Missouris) they reported to be friendly and hospitable, and cheerfully disposed to engage in trade.

FIRST AMERICAN VISITORS.

But after the Louisiana Purchase a marked change began. The fol- lowing spring, in 1804, an expedition was fitted out at Government expense to explore the Missouri to its source and the far Northwest, and to report on the character of the country and the practicability and probable value of trade with the Indians. This was headed by Capt. Werriwether Lewis and Lieut. Wm. Clark, each afterwards Governor of Missouri Territory. They ascended the Missouri to the mouth of the Yellowstone, and thence the Jefferson (as they called it) as far as it was practicable to go. From there they crossed over to the Columbia, which they descended to the Pacific. The expedi- tion returned to St. Louis after an absence of more than two years. It consisted of 43 men.

1 " History of the Mississippi Valley." - Monette.

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539

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Their ascent of the Missouri was made partly in boats and partly by land. One body had charge of the boats and the other was divided into two parties, one traveling on each side of the river. This was done as a precaution against danger, and to report the pres- ence of Indians, and pass upon the character of the country, etc. The members of one of these parties were the first white men now known to have ever set foot on Platte county soil.1 Prior to that the nearest white settlement was at Cote Sans Dessein, a small village of French traders in Callaway county.2 The nearest Spanish were at Santa Fe, in New Mexico.

1804-1819.

From 1804 to 1819, inclusive, numerous settlements were made and military posts established up the river. The Indians were still here, and although there were never any important Indian wars in the country, the presence of the military and of Government agents were necessary to prevent possible outbreaks and protect the early settlers and trade. Settlements were made along the river above Loutre Island as follows: At Old Franklin in 1807; 1 in Saline county in 1810; at Old Chariton and in Cooper county in 1812 ; in Cole and Jackson in 1818; and in Clay in 1819.

However, as early as 1808 a Government fort was established as far up as Jackson county, located at or near the site of the present town of Sibley, and called Ft. Osage. From there traders, hunters and others explored all the lower Platte country ; 4 and Mr. Valentine Bernard, a pioneer settler of this county, says that " squatters " had settled in what is now Platte county prior to 1819.5

THE STEAMBOAT EXPEDITION.

In March, 1819, an exploring expedition was projected by the Gov- ernment for the Upper Missouri. The object of the expedition was to discover how far the Missouri was navigable for steamboats, and to explore generally the country along the river. The boats were the Johnston under Capt. Colfax, the Expedition under Capt. Craig, and the Jefferson under Capt. Offutt. A party of naturalists and scientists accompanied them - Profs Say, Jessup, Peale, Seymour, Biddle and

1 Lewis and Clark's Expedition of 1804-7.

2 Ante, p. 25. But Davis' History of Missouri says that this place was not settled until about 1808.

3 History of Missouri. - Davis.

History of Missouri. - Davis.

5 Landmark, March 23, 1883.

540

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Swift.1 On the way up numerous traders, adventurers and others joined the expedition, and some who were looking for eligible loca- tions to settle. Among those of the latter class were Valentine Bernard, already referred to, and three companions of his, all after- wards early settlers of what is now Platte county.2 Smith Calvert, also subsequently an early settler, was along - a mere boy then, and in the capacity of a cabin boy.3

However, on the way up, and before Mr. Bernard and his com- panions joined the expedition, the Jefferson was wrecked by a snag opposite the site of the old town of Cote Sans Dessein. The Johnston and Expedition came on, the Johnston ascending nearly to the mouth of the Kansas rives and the Expedition to Carr island, opposite the site of the present town of Iatan in this county.4

But Mr. Bernard and his companions disembarked at Rialto, then a small trading post for the whites and Indians, situated just below the present town of Weston, where they concluded to locate. " There," says Mr. Bernard, " we found some French and Ameri- cans, who treated us very kindly." 5

RIALTO - FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT.

From the statement of Mr. Bernard, just quoted, it appears that Rialto was perhaps the first point at which a white settlement was made within what are now the limits of Platte county. The town of Rialto, however, was not regularly surveyed or platted until after Platte county was organized.6

Mr. Bernard's letter on "Reminiscences " presents an interesting view of pioneer life at that early day.

" We lived near Water Springs," he says, " and each year a few more settlers were added to our number. Hunting deer, turkeys, ducks, geese, snipe, squirrels, etc., and fishing, principally for black bass, which abounded, were almost every-day employments. Our sugar we manufactured ourselves, making it from the sap of maple trees, which were abundant ; and wild honey could be found in almost every hollow tree.

" Each neighbor had his own little crop of corn and other products,

1 Missouri as It Is In 1867. - Parker.

2 Valentine Bernard in Landmark, March 23, 1883.

3 W. M. Paxton's "Historical Sketch of Platte County," in Landmark.

4 Missouri As It Is in 1867 .- Parker.

5 Landmark, March 23, 1883.

6 For early and general history of Rialto, see Chapter on, "Weston Township."

541

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

and every one had a mill. Our mills were of the ' Armstrong Patent,' and were run by ' elbow grease.' They were simply a piece of sheet- iron perforated with small holes and capped lengthwise over a board with the rough side out. Though simply constructed, they did fine grinding, when properly operated by a spirited, industrious maid, or a vigor, masculine arm.

" Even now, when I think of the rich hot hoe-cakes we used to have, with venison and wild honey, and of the good times among the settlers, it makes me almost ready to start in search of the fountain of perpetual youth which De Soto failed to find, and of a land somewhere in the far-off, like the old Platte country was in the days long ago. To be sure, we had to work some, and at pretty hard work, too - clearing, grubbing, making rails, plowing among the stumps, and all that ; but we had many comforts and not a few pleasures, and life seemed to flow on as a gentle storm in perpetual sunshine.

" Ah ! those were happy days then, days that to me, alas, will never return again. Like the wild flowers that grew on the banks of the spring branch, near where I used to live, they have been blighted by the frosts of time. And I, too, have fallen into the seer and yellow leaf."

1820-1836.1

After the steamboat expedition of 1819, the great fertility of the Platte country and its many advantages for successful agriculture and the support of a prosperous community rapidly became known, and but for the fact that it was still the property of the Indians, upon which the Government would not knowingly permit white set- tlements to be made, it would unquestionably have been settled very fast, as it afterwards was - after the Indian title was extinguished. As an Indian reservation it was of course forbidden ground to white settlers ; and they knew very well what that meant, as the Oklahoma settlers do to-day. But, notwithstanding this, not a few adventurous spirits ventured in from time to time prior to 1837, to select homes in what they had come to regard as the " Land of Promise " -a land of wild honey, rich soil and abundant game.

SECOND CREEK SETTLERS - EXPELLED IN 1836.

The principal, though not the earliest settlement in the county, prior to the Platte Purchase, was the one on Second creek in the vicinity of Barry. Since about 1823, according to Mr. Valentine Bernard, there

1 Not including the years 1819 and 1837.

542

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

had been quite a settlement on the Clay county side near Barry, and the latter place had become quite a trading post for the Indians in the Platte country on the one side and the white settlers on the other in Clay. Very naturally, therefore, the whites occasionally ventured across the line and settled on the rich lands of the Indian reserve un- til quite a colony of them had collected on this side.

But in 1836 they were subjected to a rude awakening from their dreams of security. The Government authorities issued a peremptory order for them to move out- abandon their claims, farms, houses, every thing; and the troops at Ft. Leavenworth followed up the or- der by expelling those who were not prompt to go. At that time the following, with others, composed the settlement : 1 Nathaniel Boyd- ston, H. Vance, Benj. Cornelius, Eph Gillam, Marville Jones, Lean- der Jones, Joseph Porter, Jno. Rupe, David Rupe, Robt. Asher, Chas. Cook, Solomon Eades, William Asher, Felix Beaucamp, Joseph Todd,2 William Woods, William Brown, Robt. Chaner and Arnold Chaner. Three of the settler's houses were burned by the soldiers -those of Robt. Asher, Charles Cook and Solomon Eades.

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Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156