USA > Missouri > Jackson County > The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county > Part 18
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Van Buren township was laid off by order of court May 3, 1837. " The court divides 'Shnee-a-bar' township in this county into two townships by an east and west line running through the center of township 48 in all the ranges that were included in 'Shnee-a-bar' township and make all the county south of said line that formerly belonged to Shnee-a-bar township into a new township to be called ' Van Buren.'" All of the above order was made on the petition of the. inhabitants of Shnee-a-bar township.
Prairie township was ordered organized June 4, 1860. "Now at this day comes William Dupuy and S. Maddox and presents a petition of sundry citizens of the west part of Van Burnen township in Jackson county, praying the court to divide said township of Van Buren into two municipial townships by the follow- ing line, viz .: Beginning at the farm owned by Thomas M. Field and running southward along the line of the county road and terminating at the Cass county line at the southeast corner of the farm formerly owned by Col. James A. Fisher, which said petition being by the court here seen and understood and for the reasons set forth in said petition the court doth divide said municipal township of Van Buren by the line above set forth making all that part of Van Buren township west of said line into a new township to be called by the name of ' Prairie' township, in Jackson county, Missouri, and the territory included in said new township shall be known in law as Prairie township, of Jackson county, Missouri."
Westport township was established by order of court May 17, 1869, and the fol- lowing is a copy of the order : "The court orders that a new municipal township be formed out of that portion of Kaw township described as follows : Beginning at the southwest corner of section 18, township 48, range 33, thence north along the State line to a point 60 chains north of the southwest corner of section 18, township 49, range 33, thence east at a variation of 80° 30' to the center of Big Blue River, thence south in the center of said river to where it intersects the south line of 14, township 48, range 33, thence west along the south line of sec- tions 15, 16, 17 and 18 to the place of beginning, and that said township be called Westport township."
Brooking township was organized by order of County Court, March 13, 1872. "The court orders that a new municipal township be formed out of that portion of Washington and Blue townships described as follows : Beginning at the mouth of Round Grove Creek, thence up said creek to where it crosses the half section line running east and west through the center of section 29, town -. ship 49, range 32, thence with said line to the range line between ranges 31 and 32, thence south to line of Prairie township, thence west to Little Blue Creek, thence up said creek to where the south line of section 22, township 48, range 32 crosses the same, thence west with said line to the half section line on south
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
side section 19 of said township, thence north to the center of said section, thence west to Big Blue Creek, thence with said creek to place of beginning, and that said township be called Brooking.
The Court on the same day appointed T. L. Cassell constable for the new township of Brooking to serve till the general election, and till his successor should be qualified. He was required, in accordance with the custom to give bond in the sum of one thousand dollars.
CHAPTER VI.
OLD SETTLERS OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Meeting at Kansas City December 30, 1871-Names of Old Settlers, with Date of Settlement-Of- ficers of the Association-Resolutions -- First Address-The " Far West"'-The Pioneers-Tom Rule-The Site of Kansas City-Dates of Important Events-Meeting March, 1872-Old Settlers Assemble Juty 4, 1872 - The Life of Daniel Boone, by Dr. Johnston Lykins-Meeting of Pioneers July 4, 1874-Speeches of W. H. Wallace, Gen. Bingham, Jacob Gregg, Johnston Lykins, Cot. Van Horn, and others-Prizes Awarded-Death of Daniel Boone-Meeting April 24, 1880-The Pioneers - Address by Mr. Mc Coy-The Last Grand Meeting of the Fathers and Mothers, May 22, 1880 -- Speeches of Jacob Gregg, Alexander Majors, J. C. Mc Coy, Dr. Winfrey and Mirtin Rice -- An Old Timer's Poem-Rev. Father Donnelly-Old Residents and Date of Coming.
A meeting of old settlers of Jackson county was held at the Council Cham- ber, Kansas City, December 30, 1871. It was called to order by Dr. Lykins, and Walter Bales was made chairman and Daniel Geary secretary. On motion of Col. R. T. Van Horn, the settlers of twenty-five years proceeded to organize the
OLD SETTLERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
The following names, with date of residence, were then recorded :
David Dealy, February, 1823.
John R. Swearingen, March 6, 1825.
John Majors, March 6, 1825; settled in Lafayette county in 1819.
Thomas Pritcher, November 10, 1826.
William Mulkey, 1826.
Mobillon W. McGee, 1827.
William Dealy, February, 1823.
Walter Bales, October, 1831. John C. McCoy, August, 1830. Johnston Lykins, July 8, 1831. Samuel Campbell, November, 1834.
William O. Shouse, October 25, 1837.
Ansel Collins, April, 1834. Levi W. Bradley, December 17, 1833. John W. Polk, 1838. Lucius Carey, 1840. Major H. Alley, December, 1844.
Frances M Allev, December, 1844.
Wallace Smith, October, 1841.
James H. McGee, born in county 1837.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
William Bales, born in county December 28, 1834.
James C. Evans, born in county April 25, 1833.
John T. Dealy, born in county August 26, 1845.
The society then being organized elected David Dealy, President ; Dr. Johnston Lykins, Vice- President, and John C. McCoy, Recording and Corres- ponding Secretary. The following gentlemen were then made members by vote of the society :
R. T. Van Horn, J. W. Cook, Kersey Coates, Theo. S. Case, Joseph C. Ranson, Daniel Geary, Sands W. Bouton, John Hayden, D. Y. Chalfant, A. B. Earle, T. B. Lester, Charles Long, John Baeurlein, Peter Schmidt, John C. Groom.
A resolution was adopted that any citizen of twenty-five years residence could become a member of the society by subscribing his name to the roll.
On motion of John W. Polk, the editor of each newspaper in Jackson and adjoining counties were voted honorary members of the society.
The following resolutions were then adopted :
Resolved, That the officers of this society be, and they are hereby authorized, to take such steps as may be necessary to the permanent organization of this society under the laws of Missouri, and all such other action as may be necessary to the permanent organization of this society and carrying out of the object of the same, viz : the collection and preservation of the history of the settlement of Jackson county and western Missouri, its preservation and compilation.
Resolved, That the secretary be authorized to keep the list of members open for the enrollment of the names of those desiring to become members, and who come within the rule prescribed-a residence of twenty-five years-at any time, and all such are hereby made members of this society.
Resolved, That the President or Vice President and Secretary shall have authority to call meetings of this society at any time and that six members shall constitute a quorum to do business.
Resolved, That John R. Swearengen be appointed Assistant Secretary at In- dependence, to receive the names of members and perform all the duties necesary for the eastern portion of the county, in the same manner as the regular Secretary.
R. T. Van Horn, John W. Polk, John C. Groom, Kersey Coates and Theo- dore S. Case were appointed a committee at that meeting to draft a constitution and by-laws for the society. After some other business by the society a paper was read by John C. McCoy.
THE FIRST PAPER READ BEFORE THE OLD SETTLERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
This first paper was by John C. McCoy, and is worthy a place in the lasting records of Jackson county :
My Old Friends and Neighbors :
You will agree with me, I think, that it is eminently right and proper for us to have occasionally a social friendly gathering of as many of the few remaining survivors of the first settlers of this favored region as can make it convenient to meet together, where we may interchange friendly greetings and recall almost for- gotten memories of incidents and persons once familiar in "Auld Lang Syne," and at these meetings, like stand points or mile stones by the road-side in life's journey, look back along the track of our past journey. A retrospect down the long dim outline of our past pilgrimage will doubtless be reflected with shadows and sunshine, with dark clouds and clear sky-will recall many long forgotten incidents and mem-ories, some of them casting a shadow of sadness and gloom, and many of them lighted up with the joys and blessings of other days. From half a century to three score years and ten (and some even longer) have we been steadily borne onward as we hope toward a better land.
Not inappropriately might we compare a few venerable survivors like a few scattered trees of the old primeval forest, scattered by the storms and covered by
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the frosts of many winters, one after another their companions have lost their verdure, withered and have fallen, but what a vigorous dense growth has taken their places, what a wonderful transformation has the face of nature undergone within the recollection of us all.
Those of us who, during the past half century have been eye witnesses of the gradual but rapid development of this goodly land, can appreciate the change. In early youth we removed to and settled in a country universally known over the continent as the "Great West." We have until to-day remained citizens of this region, but are to-day citizens of the "Great Center." All of the vast terri- tory almost unknown and untraveled, lying from the Mississippi westward to the Pacific ocean, was once known as the "Great West." Towns, steamboats, post- offices, and children were named "Far West," in honor of that wonderful country. Persons hailing from that far-off country were regarded with pecular interest in the old States as travelers from a distant land, and in the hall of Congress and in de- liberative assemblies they were addressed as "gentlemen from the Far West,"- but where is that famous land to-day ?- even the name is unused and unknown.
Col. Bartleson, Gov. Boggs, Joab Powell, Jim Baxter, Tom Rule and a host of the first pioneers of this region, long years ago chased that vanishing phantom land over the western plains, the snowy range, the Sierra Nevadas, and lost sight of it forever in the broad Pacific. Only one of the number, as far as I know, holds on to the chase, poor Tom Rule, who used to preach a pretty fair back- woods hardshell sermon, and boasted that with only hickory withes and a jack-knife he could make a very good wagon, refused to be comforted or give up the chase after his beloved " Far West."
Only last year I met him on Grand Avenue mounted on a mountain mustang, his face, what little of it could be seen besides hair, looking very much like a small piece of buffalo meat, and with hair standing out like porcupine quills. He was spurring and belaboring his jaded mustang in an easterly direction, evidently, as I conjectured, bound to head off his favorite " Far West " as it came 'round the world from sun-rise; he may have given up the chase however at old Davy Bur- ges', where he expected to spend the night. The panorama which has been un- rolled before the eyes of old settlers who still survive, by the westward rolling wave of civilization and empire, has been so rapid and wonderful, that we may with propriety exclaim : "A nation is born in a day."
The very ground upon which we now stand, was only a few years ago a wild uncultivated wilderness, now transformed as if by magic into the busy, crowded, proud city we see it to-day. Truly, "the wilderness and the solitary place have blossomed like the rose." Let us endeavor to recall some of the features of the landscape then and now. A clearing or old field of a few acres lying on the high ridge between Main and Wyandotte, and Second and Fifth streets, made and abandoned by a mountain trapper. A few old, girdled, dead trees standing in the field, surrounded by a dilapidated rail fence. Around on all sides a dense forest, the ground covered with impenetrable brush, vines, fallen timber and deep impassable gorges. A narrow, crooked roadway winding from Twelfth and Wal- nut streets, along down on the west side of the deep ravine toward the river, across the Public Square to the river at the foot of Grand avenue.
A narrow, difficult path, barely wide enough for a single horseman, running up and down the river under the bluff, winding its way around fallen timber and deep ravines. An old log house on the river bank at the foot of Main street, oc- cupied by a lank, cadaverous, specimen of humanity, named Ellis, with one blind eye and the other on a sharp lookout for stray horses, straggling Indians and squatters, with whom to swap a tin-cup of whisky for a coon skin. Another old, dilapidated log cabin below the Pacific depot. Two or three small clearings and cabins in the Kaw bottom, now called West Kansas, which were houses of French mountain trappers. The rest of the surroundings was the still solitude of the na-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
tive forest, unbroken, only by the snort of the darting deer, the barking of the squirrel, the howl of the wolf, the settler's cow-bell and mayhap the distant bay- ing of the hunter's dog, or the sharp report of his rifle.
This, my old compeers, is a brief and imperfect outline of the place in which we now meet, and which many of us will recognize as it appeared to us then. I
need not attempt to describe the picture as it appears to us now. It is spread out before us. The ceaseless hum of the busy, restless multitude, the rumble and clatter of a hundred locomotives and trains and a thousand vehicles of all degrees. The continual scream of the steam whistle and a thousand other sounds all con- tribute to make up a medley of discordant music, far different from that once heard by us around the " old field," from the sonorous cow-bell and the melan- choly howl of the wolf, and tells us unmistakably, that something has happened in the neighborhood of the " old field," and we are confirmed in the conviction, when we look around us-miles of crowded thoroughfares lined with stately, mag- nificent buildings, the Court House, Opera House, the towering Broadway and other hotels; the church spires and schools, and the greatest monument of genius and enterprise, the great iron bridge spanning the river, in short a wilderness of houses has crowded in and taken the place of the venerable six thousand year old forest once clothing these hills.
Well, my dear old friends, have you become accustomed and reconciled to the scenes which now surround us? They call it progress and manifest destiny and all that. We have this day called a halt at our milestone, to take a look back- ward along the line of march, and this reminds me that this writing was designed to be a short historical sketch of men and events, which were notable in this re- gion forty years ago. As a historical sketch I confess it is a failure thus far, and without spinning my yarn to a length which would probably put some of my friends to dozing, I cannot do more now than to make a brief mention of a few of those historical facts.
The treaties between the United States government and the Osage and Kan- sas Indians, ratified in 1825, extinguished the Indian title to all the country lying in western Missouri, and what is now the State of Kansas, except the reservations for these two tribes situated in the latter State. These treaties opened the border counties lying in Missouri territory for the settlement of the whites, and the people were not slow to avail themselves of the privilege; consequently in 1825 the first settlers entered this county.
Fort Osage (Sibley ), situated on the river near the northeast corner of the county of Jackson, was established in 1803 by Merriweather Lewis, the first gov- ernor of Louisiana after its purchase, and continued as a military and trading post until the country was settled. Before 1825, Francis Chouteau, father of P. M., and brother of Cyprien Chouteau, both now of Kansas City, had a trading post on the south bank of the river about three miles below the city. In 1826 every vestige of his improvements was swept away by the great flood which occurred in the Missouri River that year. This flood made a clear sweep of all improve- ments situated in the bottoms, but was no higher than that of 1844-and this reminds me that prehaps P. M. Chouteau, the present city collector, is the old- est resident, still living, in this county although not an old man. The county seat was located, and the town of Independence begun in 1827 When I passed through the town four years afterward, the square was thickly studded with stumps of trees. Westport was laid off into lots in 1833, J. C. McCoy, proprietor. Westport Landing is situated about three miles north of the town on the river, and has grown to be a place of considerable importance. A town was laid off there which was named Kansas City first in the year 1839, but the proprietors of the ground disagreed in some particulars and the town made but little progress until r846, when it was laid out on a larger scale a second time (not with a grape vine), since which time it has been increasing with varying prospects.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
But my friends I find that the historical part of this sketch must be curtailed. Your patience is doubtless already exhausted, and the space I ought in decency to claim has more than been exhausted, and I beg leave, therefore, to wind up my uninteresting yarn very rapidly taking no thought of my going. I will in addition merely mention some of the most interesting and important events which now occur to me which have transpired in this county, viz :
The first advent of Mormons, 1830.
The Mormon war and expulsion, 1833.
The great flood in the Missouri, 1844.
The Osage war, 1836.
This little war has been overlooked by modern historians, not even men- tioned by them for the last thirty years. I will at some future time try to rescue from oblivion the heroes and daring deeds of that glorious campaign. Suffice it now only to say that it was a military raid from the border against the Osage In- dians. Some of those ruthless savages committed murder upon several hogs belonging to settlers near Westport. The command numbered 560 officers and men, consisting of one Major-General, two Brigadiers, four Colonels, besides Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Chaplains, Surgeons, etc., ad infinitum, being 98 officers to command 432 privates. It is needless to tell you that the expedition was a success. Old Girand's squaws, papooses, and six other savages, if still living, have a sorrowful recollection that the way of the transgressor is hard. I will take occasion ere long to sharpen my pen and chron- icle a few of the interesting facts connected with that famous war, but for the present, my old friends, I beg that you will allow me to close this hastily written, imperfect sketch to permit those of you who have fallen asleep during its delivery to wake up, and with a heartfelt expression of the hope that we all may meet again, if not here amid the transitory, vanishing scenes of earthly conflict, at least in that better land where weary, way-worn travelers may forever be at rest.
J. C. McCOY.
A meeting of Old Settlers was held in Kansas City the latter part of March, 1872. There was a large attendance of members of the society, the men who first broke the sod of Jackson county and those who drew from the bowels of the earth the first fruits of the abundance that has since given its fertile fields the proud name they now bear. On account of the absence of the President, the Vice President of the Association, Dr. Lykins, called the meeting to order, and in a short address announced its objects, which were to take what further steps were necessary to perfect their organization and to make the beginning of an . authentic history of the county.
The proceedings of the first meeting, held at Kansas City, December 30, 1871, was ordered read, but owing to some oversight they had been left and their reading was therefore dispensed with.
Addresses were delivered by E. A. Hickman, J. J. Robinson and others ; on motion of Mr. E. A. Hickman, Dr. Waldo was requested to write up the history of the Santa Fe trade.
The following new members were announced. The dates after each name indicate the time at which they first became settlers : Alexander Harris, Novem- ber, 1839; David Waldo, May, 1828; James D. Meador, January, 1845 ; Redmon G. Silvers, born, May, 1833; Samuel Ralston, October, 1842 ; Thos. B. Swearingen, born, November, 1843; Benjamin F. Wallace, October, 1833 ; Beverly Todd, 1844; Samuel Robinson, born, November, 1833 ; John Lewis, July, 1830; William McCoy, June, 1838 ; Edwin P. Hickman, November, 1830; James B. Yager, June, 1837; John Dickey, March, 1846; John M. Wallace, October, 1833 ; John C. Wallace, May, 1843 ; Wiley M. Aiken, February, 1841; W. T. Mclellan, October, 1844; Porter McLannahan, August, 1841; Edwin A.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Hickman, May, 1829; Reuben Wallace, October, 1833 ; John Wilson, April, 1834; Redmon D. Mckinney, October, 1825; Hugh L. Dodds, September, 1839; C. R. Barnes, March, 1839; Philip Uhlinger, May, 1840; Martin L. Kritzer, 1838; Jaqueline A. Lobb, October, 1836; J. H. McMurry, October, 1832; Wm. Botts, October, 1841 ; Benjamin F. Davidson, October, 1844; John W. Smart, July, 1842 ; John A. Overfelt, September, 1841 ; Bennett Hale, April, 1833 ; Amos Allen, October, 1838; Henry C. Owens, born, February, 1838; William Parker, October, 1838; Perry G. Brock, born, March, 1831 ; Henry C. Parker, November, 1837 ; J. J. Robinson, September, 1843; Lyncburg, Adams, spring of 1820; W. C. Adams, born, March, 1836.
On motion, David Waldo, E. A. Hickman and the editors of the Independ- ence papers, with Theo. S. Case, J. C. McCoy, aud the editors of the Kansas City press, were appointed a committee to select historical notes.
The following resolution was offered by J. J. Robinson :
Resolved, That we invite all friends to give us short written sketches of any and all of the old or early settlers of Jackson, and of any event; and that such communications be addressed to the Chairman of our Historical Committee.
On motion, E. A. Hickman, John Wilson, J. J. Robinson, J. A. Lobb and Henry Parker were appointed a Committee of Arrangements for holding the next meeting of the Society.
It was also carried that a meeting should be held on the 4th of July, on the fair grounds at Independence. The Committee were empowered to select speak- ers and arrange interrogatories for historical facts.
A committee, consisting of Geo. Sinclair, W. C. Adams, Warham Easly, Benj. F. Wallace, were appointed to enroll the names of old settlers as members, and forward them to the Secretary, after which, and the transaction of some minor business, the Society adjourned.
OLD SETTLER'S RE-UNION AT INDEPENDENCE.
July 4, 1872, was a day long to be remembered by both the young and old of Jackson county-the events of which mark an epoch in the history of the county, over which the most pleasing recollections will ever linger. It was the assembling together of the old settlers-the pioneers who laid the corner stone of the present magnificent structure, and have been spared to witness its grandeur- who came to this section, some of them half a century ago, when it was a perfect wilderness, inhabited only by the red man.
They were met also by a younger generation, who, even in this latter day, reverence old age, and had come from every household to do honor to the pioneers of Jackson county.
The weather was all that could be desired-bright, genial, pleasant, and all nature seemed inclined to smile upon the scenes of the day. At an early hour the road leading to the fair ground was literally thronged with wagons, carriages, buggies, horsemen and pedestrians. At a later hour the train from Kansas City augmented the number, until the ample grounds could hold no more.
The gray-haired grandfather and grandmother, familiar with the events of the last century, were there perhaps for the last time-the middle aged man was there with his wife and bouncing children-young men, gallant beaux, blushing damsels-rosy lipped angels and innocent prattling children were all there. The farmer, the mechanic and the professional man for one day had laid aside busi- ness and assembled to honor the old settlers.
The members of the I. O. O F. of Independence had formed in procession, preceded by the band, and followed by an array of children, marched to the grounds, where the first order of the day was the reception of the Kansas City delegation, after which a number of old settlers formed in line inside the amphi- theater. Then followed an eloquent address in behalf of the youth to the Old
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