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 23
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" A new generation will surround them, gray-haired veterans of a war that added luster to our history, and will listen to the eloquence of their honored chief, whose voice and sword has always belonged to his common country. It will be worth a score of every day gatherings, to be present upon this occasion, and we sincerely hope that every one of the members of General Doniphan's command,
1867
Mary J. Clark,
1844 1842 C. J. White,
1857
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that can possibly get there, will put in a personal appearance. We want to see them."
OLD CATHOLIC CEMETRY, KANSAS CITY.
One by one the marks by which the old timers note the increase of the city's growth are disappearing. One by one the old landmarks-if any institution of this infant giant of towns can properly be called old-are going, swept out of sight and obliterated by the never-ending march of progress. The last to go is the old burying ground on Penn street. Notwithstanding the fact that every inch of the ground has been made sacred by the tears of mourners and sanctified by the prayers of bereaved ones, the cemetery must be vacated, a writ of restitution served on the silent tenants of the hill top, to make room for their animated suc- cessors. No matter that each tree and shrub in the little plot of ground derived a portion of its vitality and growth from the overflowing fountains of the orphan's heart, or that each flower has been bedewed by the tears of parents for their loved ones, the homes of the dead must make way for the residences of the living.
Little did the old Catholic fathers dream, as they dedicated the ground to its holy purposes, that in thirty years their secluded, out-of-the-way little cemetery would be in the center of the most prosperous, rapidly growing, and altogether the most phenomenal city of America, or of the world. The old graveyard, where lie the buried hopes of a generation, is in the way, and must go, taking with it all the tender,
CLUSTERING MEMORIES OF THE PAST.
In less than a year, in all probability, the cemetery will be graded down to the street level, and its site occupied by dwelling houses, or perhaps business blocks. The cemetery has not been used for five years, the last interment being made in 1877. The spot has been unkept and uncared for since that time, the grading of the streets rendering the place difficult of access, and the building up of the neighborhood with dwelling houses has made it neccessary to "improve " the graveyard, and it was decided last fall to begin the work of removing the coffins this year. The frost, in coming out of the ground this spring, loosened the earth on the embankments made by grading the streets and the soil caving away ex- posed several coffins. Certain ghouls of the daily press of Kansas City, in their thirst for a sensational article, which thirst is as reprehensible as it is common, magnified the scare and attempted to horrify the public. The enbankments were boarded up and the work of exhumation and removal of the dead to St. Mary's on the hill began. Already thirty-two graves have been opened and orders for the removal of twelve more are made. The work will be carried on rapidly to completion. Rev. D. J. Doherty is giving lots in the new cemetery gratis to those who desire to have the remains of their friends removed. After the first of June the officers of the church will have all the bodies of the unknown dead, and of those whose friends are unable to bear the expense, removed, and by the first of October the cemetery will be vacant.
HISTORY OF THE OLD CEMETERY.
The history of the spot of ground for so many years used by the parishioners of the Catholic church is very interesting.
The property first came into the possession of the church in 1834. On the 5th of April of that year, Father Roux, one of the advance guards of civiliza- tion, purchased forty acres of land of Pierre La Liberte, one of the first settlers, for sixty dollars. Ten acres of the tract was deeded to the church. A log structure was at once erected, and for many years was used as a place of worship by the devout of the parish. This log church was torn down some years since when Penn street was graded. On another part of the lot Father Donnelly put
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up his historic log cabin. As was customary when Kansas City consisted of but one or two houses, the church yard was used as a burial ground, and thus it was that the graveyard grew up around the log church. The record of interments was begun January 1, 1846, although it is probable that one or two burials had been made prior to that date. The record shows that people were brought from distant points in the territory of Kansas, for funeral services here.
THE FIRST ENTRY
is in the handwriting of Father Donnelly, the pioneer in the cause of religion. The death was of an Indian girl known as Mary, who was of the tribe of Otta- was. The funeral services were conducted by Bishop Edward Barron, who was visiting Father Donnelly at the time. As a historical reminiscence it might be interesting to note that Bishop Barron was a brother of Sir Henry Winton Bar- ron, Waterford, and was vicar apostolic of Liberia and of the Guineas. In 1845 he resigned his charge on account of ill-health and came to America and to the West to recuperate. In 1854, during the yellow fever season in the South, Bishop Barron, with the spirit of self-sacrifice characteristic of his brotherhood, went to Georgia to care for the sufferers, and on the 12th of September of that year died in the cause of humanity.
The entries on the book are very infrequent during the early days, the next being dated June Ist, an explanatory note saying that the burial occurred during Father Donnelly's absence. The early occupants of the graveyard were princ- ipally French settlers and Indians. Among them was Mary Montredieu, also of the Ottawa tribe. A little incident connected with this girl was very frequently related by Father Donnelly. One evening he noticed some one in the burying ground near a grave, and going out found an Indian lad, a brother of the girl, planting a little sapling near the head of the grave. The tree grew and is now one of the largest in the cemetry. During the year 1849 several entries on the record are by Rev. A. Lannier. In 1850 Father Donnelly returned from Independence to again assume charge, and all subsequent entries are made by him. December 23, 1853, Pierre La Liberte, the original owner of the graveyard, was laid away to rest. In the list of burials which follows a great number of the deaths are shown to have been from violent causes, banks caving in, falling trees, and the bullet reaped almost as large a harvest, proportionally, as now. One very suggestive entry states that the person who was buried was killed in a riot on Delaware street. The names of several persons designated as slaves appear on the book previous to 1861. The Bluff street bridge also had an example for its fatality in 1858. Pat- rick Kelly was buried, his death resulting from a fall from the " Market street bridge." In 1859, Dr. Benoist Troost was interred, his age being seventy-two years. War times came on and the burials multiplied. The first victim of the unpleasantness whose name appears was John Boland, who was killed, so the rec- ord shows, by a train falling through "a bridge burned by the secession rebels near St. Joseph."
And so the entries run until May 14th, 1873, when the book is filled closing with the following :
May 14, 1873 .- I am obliged to close this volume at this date. The forego- ing records preserve the names of all persons interred in the Catholic cemetry to this date. The total number is about 1,406. Not only must I commence a new volume, but in a few months, begin to bury the dead in a new cemetery already paid for.
B. DONNELLY.
The new record which follows the entries are made by Father Donnelly until the time when Father Doherty took charge of the pastorate. The last interment in the old cemetry was a man killed by a boiler explosion in West Kansas. The whole number was 1,886, the last being made December 20, 1876. The first in the new cemetry was January 2, 1877.
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CHAPTER VII.
THE SANTA FE TRADE.
Originated and Started from Old Franklin, Howard County-Began at Independence in 1831- About the Year 1837 the Trade Sprung Up at Westport-Names of Firms at Independence Engaged in the Trade-Starting Out of a Caravan-Hostile Indians-The Earliest Traders -Lost on the Plains and Dying of Thirst-Council Grove-Surgical Operation in the Desert -Santa Fe-Revolt of the Indians in 1680-New Mexico in 1840-Names and Distances of Camping Places Between Independence and Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe trade first began at Old Franklin, a little town on the Missouri River, in Howard county, and continued from this point till the year 1831, when it sprung up at Independence. The town of Independence being a hundred miles further west, and near the great bend of the Missouri River, it was thought to be a more favorable place for fitting out caravans for Mexico, since also the route could be made from Franklin to Independence much better by water than land. At Independence the bulk of the trade continued till about the years 1838-40, when it began at Wesport, and subsequently at Westport Landing (now Kansas City). Some of the men who early engaged in the Santa Fe trade were Nathan Simons, Philip Thompson, Robert Isaacs, Edward Samuel, Josiah Gregg, and many others.
Some of the persons engaged in the trade at Independence were Col. Samuel C. Owens, one of the principal wholesale dealers connected with the Mexican trade. He was a general merchant, having a general store on the southwest cor- ner of the square. Many of his goods were bought in Philadelphia, brought to Pittsburgh over the Alleghany Mountains, then shipped by boat down the Ohio River to Cairo, then up the Mississippi to St. Louis, thence up the Missouri River to Independence Landing.
Samuel D. Lucas had a store on the north side of the square, near the center of the block, where he did a large business.
John O. Agnew had a general store also on the north side, and dealt largely in goods designed for the New Mexican trade.
Robert Courtney had a store on the southeast corner. The firm was after- ward known as Courtney & Mickelborough, then Courtney & Lewis.
McCoy & Lee had a store on the south side of the square, and continued from 1839 to 1845. Lee died about the year 1848.
Henry Speares was a merchant trader, and accompanied the caravans to their destination in New Mexico. He continued for a long time in this occupation ; afterward went to New York City, and finally failed and committed suicide on account of losses met on the Black Friday crash in Wall street. He was a Ger- man Jew. There were others engaged in the same trade, and some of them quite extensively. The two landings for boats that brought merchandize to Indepen- dence were at Wayne City, and the other Owen's Landing. The trade became so extensive that the United States government established here a custom house office, so that goods kept in original packages could be subjected to a rebate.
The large trade necessarily created a demand for wagons, and their manu- facture was commenced at Independence. Frank Simpson, John W. Modie, Robert Weston, and later Hiram Young, a free negro, who still lives in Inde- pendence, were engaged in the wagon manufacture.
Early in the trade, goods were carried on pack mules. The packs consisted of two parts fastened together by means of straps passing over the back of the
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mule. A train consisted of from ten to 150 pack animals, and usually about five or six pack horses to each man, sometimes as high as fifteen to a man. These caravans would travel fifteen, twenty or twenty-five miles a day, and in some cases as many as thirty miles in a day.
The train of traders usually started out of camp early in the morning, some- times before sunrise, and made a long halt for dinner, encamping again for night before dark and getting everything prepared to prevent a surprise by the Indians. The stopping places were suited to the conditions of grass and water, sometimes a long and weary distance would be necessary before they could reach an advan- tageous camping ground. In some cases when extremely hot, they would travel in the night and take longer halts at noon. In a hostile country where danger was apprehended from Indians, guards would be posted as soon as a halt was made, and always by night as well as by day the rifle was within reach.
The introduction of wagons for these expeditions was made in the year 1824 by a company of traders, about eighty in number. A portion of this company employed pack mules. There were some twenty-five wheeled vehicles, of which some were road wagons, two carts, the whole conveying about $25,000 to $30, - ooo worth of property. Colonel Marmaduke, afterward a State official in high position, was one of the party. This first expedition, transporting their merchan- dise on wheels, made the journey with little difficulty, probably less than could have been reasonably expected from its being the first attempt. It should be re- marked here that probably no where else on the American continent can be found a route of 8co miles in extent more easily traversed by wagons than the one between Independence and Santa Fe.
When this trade began, small companies of traders could cross the plains with little trouble anticipated from the Indians, but soon the hostile red man so often imposed upon by the white, sought every opportunity to rob aud even kill when it could be done without too much exposure to himself. The traders were in a great measure blamable for the treacherous conduct of the Indians. They would cheat and often kill in cold blood every Indian who came near the camp when he was friendly and intended good rather than harm.
When the traders returned from Mexico their proceeds were usually partly in specie and partly in buffalo robes and furs ; and sometimes, although set upon by marauding Indian bands, they could easily persuade the savages to retire, if resolute, and this, too, without the killing of a man, for the Indians seldom jeopardizes the life of a brave unless in revenge or in open warfare. When the Americans appeared defenseless and afraid, the Indians became more bold and took such advantages as they could. A story is told of what happened to a party of half dozen traders in the year 1826 on the Cimarron River. The party were bringing through a herd of five hundred horses but had only four servicable guns between them, hence were virtually unprotected against the Indians.
A party of Indians, discovering their defenselessness, came in a friendly manner, talked a little while, and then went away. Soon, however, they return- ed, about thirty strong, all on foot. They said that they were tired of traveling on foot, and desired each a horse. The Americans, knowing the uselessness of refusing, quickly consented; but the Indians were not satisfied with one horse apiece, so they asked for two. This being granted also, they drove into the herd with a whoop, and ran them all off.
At another time an incident transpired on the banks of the same river-the Cimarron-which had a strong tendency to render the Indians more hostile. Two young men by the name of McNees and Monroe, were straggling from the main caravan, the Indians came upon them and shot them. They were buried accord- ing to the fashion on the plains, and just as they were returning to camp, another party of Indians came along on the opposite bank of the river. They evidently
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
desired a friendly conference, of course, not having even heard of the outrage upon the two whites. Some of the traders desired to vent their revenge upon these Indians, caring not to inquire if they were concerned in the murder of their friends or not, but simply because they were Indians, fired upon them, and killed all except one, who returned to his tribe to relate the sad fate of his comrades. Such acts as these served to make the Indians hostile. The Indians became more and more desperate against the pale face, and lost no opportunity to wreak their vengeance. The same caravan mentioned above was attacked several times be- fore they reached the United States, and many of their horses taken away. The traders realizing their danger, petitioned the Government for an armed escort, and accordingly, Major Riley, with three companies of infantry, was sent out to accompany the expedition as far as Choteau's Island, in the Arkansas River. The next day the Indians attacked the caravan, and killed one man. A courier was dispatched for Major Riley, who soon came up, and continued several days, till no danger from the "children of the desert" seemed to threaten. Captain Wharton was also in aid of the traders, with two companies of dragoons.
In 1843, large escorts were under convoy of Captain Cook. The exact origin of these expeditions to Mexico, or the very first, is not definitely known.
James Pursley, while trading with some Indians near the sources of the Platte River, heard of settlements in New Mexico, and in the year 1805, made his way to Santa Fe, where he remained till his death. James Pursley is said by Captain Pike to have been the first American who crossed the plains to Santa Fe. Other writers say that a merchant of Kaskaskia, named Morrison, had, in 1804, sent a French creole, by the name of La Lande, to Santa Fe, who, also, on ac count of his kind treatment, never returned to the United States.
The first great impetus given to the traffic with New Mexico, and the Indians in the mountains southwest of here, was about the year 1812, after the glowing account of this new region by Captain Pike, on his return, had been published. Pike had been sent out by the Government, to explore the region.
The first expeditions, however, met with many disasters. One party was taken to Chihuahua, and thrown into prison, where they were kept for nine years. Another party suffered with almost starvation on the journey. A man by the name of Glenn, from Ohio, reached Santa Fe with his caravan in 1821, by way of the upper Arkansas. In the year 1821, Captain Becknell, of this State, went to Santa Fe by the far western route. Captain Becknell and his little party start- ed from old Franklin with the purpose of trading with the Comanche Indians, but when they reached the Rocky Mountains, they fell in with a party of Mexican rangers, who had little difficulty in persuading them to accompany them to Santa Fe. Here they disposed of their few goods at a handsome profit.
Up to this time-1821 -New Mexico had received nearly all her goods and supplies from the interior provinces, whither they had been transported from Vera Cruz; these goods were sold at exorbitant rates, common calicoes selling as high as two and three dollars a yard, and other articles in proportion. When Captain Becknell returned to the United States and gave a glowing description of the country many others at once embarked in the enterprise. Colonel Cooper with a few neighbors with pack animals, started in the month of May, 1822. They reached Taos in safety.
A month later, Captain Becknell started a second time, having thirty men and about $5, 000 worth of goods. He was desirious of avoiding the circuitous route which had been previously taken, accordingly, when he reached the place called "The Catches," he took a straight course toward Santa Fe, not anticipat- ing the fearful trials he was destined to meet with on the arid and pathless des- ert. He hoped to be able within a reasonable length of time to reach Cimarron River.
They had provided sufficient water to last them two days, but this scanty
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supply being exhausted, the suffering of man and beast was intense. On they pressed, expecting soon to obtain relief from the terrible thirst which parched their throats. The blood of slain dogs was drunken, they cut off the ears of some of their mules to obtain blood to quench their thirst, but it seemed to madden and exasperate them. They separated in squads and followed the "mirage" or " false ponds," as these alluring pictures are called, all to no pur- pose. They knew a horrible death was near at hand, and not knowing that they were upon the very banks of the Cimarron, resolved to retrace their steps and meet almost certain death before they should again reach the Arkansas. They were not equal to the journey, and would certainly have perished on those ver- dureless plains had not a stray buffalo come within range of one of their rifles, his stomach distended with water recently quaffed from the river just beyond. One of the party afterward relating the circumstance to a friend, said: "No cooling draught from a limpid mountain spring was ever half so sweet and re- freshing to my lips as that obtained from the stomach of that slaughtered buffalo." Knowing from the condition of the buffalo that water in abundance must be close at hand, they pressed on, and immediately came to the Cimarron River, where man and beast partook of God's beverage to man. The party finally reached Santa Fe by way of Taos without further serious difficulty. Since that time many other traders have crossed the same country, but being better acquaint- ed with the distances and topography of the country, have provided against the possibilities of the scarcity of water.
When an expedition was being fitted out many things were almost indispens . able, such as provisions, proper clothing, training the animals, etc. The ordinary supplies for each man were about fifty pounds of flour, the same of bacon, ten pounds of coffee, twenty pounds of sugar and some salt, these are considered in- dispensable in the line of provisions, while sometimes, crackers, beans and other articles of food are found in the train. A supply of fresh meat can nearly always be obtained from the buffalo, and the traveler is excited with joy when he can for the first time see this king of the plains. The most common substantial clothing is provided for the men, some with linsey or leather hunting clothes, others with jeans, and still others with flannel suits.
Oxen were first used in 1829, by Major Riley, and after that about one-half the animals in a train were oxen, and it was found that they could make the trip in about the same time as mules. The tenderness of the feet of oxen, to some extent, render them less valuable than mules, though the hoof of the mule some- times became dry, hard and slippery, so much so that he could not haul a heavy load without shoes of iron or steel. The horses, mules, oxen and provisions being provided for the journey, the next thing was to load the merchandise. So expert had some of the wagoners become in loading, that they could stow away a vast amount of goods in a small amount of space, and so pack the articles to- gether that they could not jostle or move from the exact position in which they had been placed, through the whole journey of 800 miles, the goods would be found to have sustained less injury than in going a mile in a common farmer's wagon over an ordinary turn-pike road. When the loads are all arranged, the men and animals in their places, the grand caravan leaves Independence with as much joy and light-heartedness as a party going to a Fourth of July celebration ; but how changed when they have experienced all the hardships of the plains. Generally, a thorough organization was not effected till out on the journey some distance from Independence. This point was sometimes at the place called Council Grove, which is about one hundred and fifty miles from Independence. Council Grove consists of a long strip of forest trees about half a mile in width, extending for many miles along the bank of a creek of the same name, and in- cludes such trees as the oak, walnut, ash, elm, hickory, and other varieties. There is a legend or story told of this Council Grove worthy of mention, and
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that is : "Here the Pawnee, Arapaho, Comanche, Leloup and Eutaw Indians all of whom were at war with each other, meet once a year and smoke the pipe of peace."
When the different parties reached this place they would camp till all arrived and then effect an organization and appoint their officers to aid in mutual defense against the hostile Indians. Sometimes the merchandise of the whole caravan was valued from $200,000 to $300,000, and consisted of over a hundred wagons and two hundred men effective for service. After the organization had been effected, the company was divided into eight watches, each watch standing one- fourth of every alternate night, though when the company is small the number of watches is reduced, and each man had more of this disagreeable duty to perform. No man able to bear arms in the caravan is exempt from night-watch duty, not even to procure a substitute. The captain seeing all preparations complete, sounded the familiar note of "catch up !" Then all was commotion and bustle till each teamster, one after another, responded " All's set." Again from the cap- tain came the word, " Stretch out !" "Fall in !" and the long line of wagons was on their way across the plains. The command of "catch up," is joyously re- ceived by the caravansers after the weary delay of preparation. Let us follow a caravan across the plains. We are now far beyond Council Grove and entering the Arkansas valley at a point 270 miles out from Independence. Cries of " The Indians!" strike great terror into the minds of the novices, and every wolf yell, every bellowing of the ox, and every snort of the horse seems to indi- cate that the animals are snuffing the crouching savages approaching the camp.
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