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 53
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These allotments of land, it will be seen, occupied the entire country south- ward from the Platte River in Nebraska to the southern line of the Indian Terri- tory, and extending west to the wild Indians of the plains, thus covering the most of Nebraska, Kansas and the Indian Territory. In 1836, 45, 000 Indians had been concentrated in this territory and there were as many more to come ; and they did come soon afterward, making a total of 90,000. Besides these lands they had been given money for their eastern reservations, the total of which was $26,983,068, which, when they came here was being paid to them in annuities, This made them immensly richer than they had been in the east, and since their trade there was regarded by the people as a valuable thing, it is easy to see that after their removal it was far more valuable.
EFFECT ON WESTERN TRADE.
The removal of the Indians to this country, from 1832 to 1840, and the trade caused by them as they came into the county, did not immediately effect the French settlement at the mouth of the Kaw, but it greatly stimulated the growth of other places along the border, but none more than the present town of
388
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
Westport. Rev. Isaac McCoy, who has already been mentioned in connection with the Indian removal, and the establishment of Shawnee Mission, determined to settle in the country, and so entered the land four miles south of the French settlement, at the intersection of the roads from that settlement and from Inde- pendence into the Indian country. This was in 1831. The following year his son, John C. McCoy, who figured so prominently in the early history of Kansas City, established a trading house at this place, having the Indians to trade with on the one side and the new settlers in Missouri on the other. At that time steam- boats were running on the Missouri River, and M. Chouteau of the American Fur company was receiving his supplies from St. Louis by them. These goods were, of course, landed at his warehouse. Mr. McCoy received his first stock of goods in the same way and by the steamer John Hancock, but he caused them to be landed in the woods above Chouteau's house, at about the place where Grand avenue now reaches the river. This was in 1832, and it was the first landing ever made at what afterward became the Kansas City levee.
WESTPORT FOUNDED.
In 1833, Mr. McCoy's ideas of his new trading post had become so enlarged that he laid off the ground adjacent to it into town lots and called it Westport. The new town thus founded grew rapidly, and in a short time Messrs. Lucas & Cavanaugh, Capt. John A. Suter, A. G. Boon, Street & Baker, and Alfonda Van Biber had established trading houses and opened an extensive trade with the neighboring Indians. Mr. McCoy being a surveyor was soon induced to accept an engagement from the Government in surveys that were then being made south and west of the river, and hence sold his trading house to Wm. M. Chick. But these were not all; many others came in from year to year, and among them Messrs. W. G. and G. W. Ewing, who afterward became a most extensive concern.
At this time the principal landing place for goods was at Blue Mills, eight miles below Independence, but the distance made it desirable to the Westport merchants that a nearer landing place should be had; hence some of them fol- lowed Mr. McCoy's example and caused their goods to be landed at the French set- tlement, first at Chouteau's warehouse, but afterward higher up the river, as the sequel will show. This was the second recognition of the trade advantages of this point, the settlement of the French here having been the first. But as above stated, the occurrence of these events at Westport had little immediate effect upon the French settlement. It continued as it had been from the first, the center of a most extensive trade conducted with far off Indians by the primitive methods of the early pioneers. The trade at Westport soon became larger, but it was of a different character. It was a point to which the Indians came personally to trade and from whence the government traders with the different tribes were supplied. Westport thus became a great center for this near-by Indian trade for precisely the same reasons, and on precisely the same principles that led M. Chouteau to locate his general agency for the American Fur company on the ground now occupied by Kansas City. It was the most central point that had command of good transportation facilities for receiving supplies, and the development of its trade confirmed the judgment previously exercised by M. Chouteau as to the natural advantages of this angle of the river, as a point of distribution and concentration of trade from the country south and west. -
389
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SANTA FE TRADE.
Its Origin and Character-Its Real Beginning-The Effect of Steamboats-It Locates at Inde- pendence-Changing to Westport-Character and Methods of the Trade-Statistics to 1838.
While this extensive French-Indian and fur trade was being conducted at the French settlement, and while this near-by Indian trade was being developed and conducted at Westport, another interest was being developed, which, in after years, gave the third recognition of the advantages of this angle in the river, for an extensive distributive trade, and contributed largely to the development of Kansas City. This was the once great overland trade with northern Mexico, popularly known as the Santa Fe trade. This trade was for many years of great magnitude and importance, and attracted much attention in all parts of the coun- try. The arrival and departure of the caravans were watched for with as much interest, and were as regularly and scrupulously chronicled by the press, as are the arrivals and departures of steamers at great commercial ports.
ORIGIN OF THE TRADE.
This trade seems to have originated with the Indian traders, or rather they were the first to discover its possibility ; and others, mostly American frontiers- men, inaugurated and conducted it until the Mexicans themselves became inter- ested, and formed a considerable portion of those engaged in it. Though popu- larly known as " The Santa Fe Trade," it was in reality a trade with all the north- ern provinces of Mexico, Santa Fe being merely the port of entry from the United States.
These northern provinces were of very early settlement. Dr. Gregg, who resided in the country for nine years, and had unusual facilities for historical and statistical research, informs us in his "Commerce of the Prairies," that while the settlements so far north as New Mexico are of traditional and doubtful date, the country was certainly known and inhabited by Spaniards as early as 1550. He found historical statements, though of questionable authenticity, that the country even so far north as Santa Fe, was penetrated and conquered soon after the cap- ture of the City of Mexico by Cortez, and he found a well authenticated record of colonization in the valley of the Rio del Norte, near Santa Fe, or on that ground, as early as 1595.
Whatever may have been the date of the first settlement, New Mexico, Chi- huahua and California were defined provinces, settled and populous at the begin- ning of the present century. The interior, New Mexico, Chihuahua, Durango, Zacaticas and Sonora, were then receiving their supplies of foreign merchandise from the sea coast at Mazatlan, Matamoras, Vera Cruz, Tampico and Guaymas. About this time, the courriers des bois in the employ of the fur companies and In- dian traders, pushed westward by the advance of civilization, penetrated far beyond the wooded country from whence they took their name, and traversing the illimitable plains of the West, discovered these settlements, and on their re- turn, reported the fact, and their isolated situation. The prospect of a rich trade with an isolated people, who were then nearer the frontiers of the United States than the existing sources of supply, was too tempting to the adventurous and commercial spirit of the Indian traders and frontiersmen, not to be improved.
The first attempt to reach this country on a trading expedition is stated by
390
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
Capt. Pike, in his narrative of his explorations in search of the head-waters of Red River, to have been in 1804, when a merchant of Kaskaskia, named Morrison, sent out a French Creole by the name of La Land with a pack of goods on his back, with instructions to traverse the Platte Valley, and if possible penetrate to Santa Fe. The expedition was entirely successful, and La Land reached Santa Fe in safety, but was so well pleased with his success and the county that he never returned, but took up his residence among the Mexicans, and went into business on his employer's capital. Capt. Pike also speaks of a James Pursley who, after wandering for some time, perhaps years, in the unexplored regions of the Northwest fell in with some Indians on the Platte River near the mountains, who told him of New Mexico, and he with a party of the Indians went down to Santa Fe in 1805.
In 1806 Capt. Pike, afterward General Pike, killed at the victory of York, in Upper Canada, in 1813, was sent to explore the country on Upper Red River, and if possible discover the sources of that stream. Capt. Pike passed around the head of Red River, and crossed the Rio del Norte, which he mistook for the Red River. Believing himself in the territory of the United States, he went into winter quarters and built a small fortress for the protection of his little party until spring, when he proposed to descend the river to Natchitoches. However, he was in Mexican territory, and not over eighty miles from Sante Fe; hence the Mexicans soon became aware of his presence, and the governor at Santa Fe sent a party to bring him in. The commandant of this party assured him that the Gov- ernor had heard of his presence and his objects, and, learning that he had missed his way, had sent an escort to guide him, and animals to convey his men to a navigable point on the Red River, and would be pleased to see him at Santa Fe, which might be taken in on the way. Trusting to the friendship of the Mexicans, Capt. Pike went with them; but no sooner had he reached Santa Fe than a dif- ferent line of treatment was adopted. He was sent with an escort to the com- mandant-general at Chihuahua, where his papers were seized and he and his men sent under escort to the United States by the way of San Antonio de Bexar.
THE FIRST EXPEDITIONS.
On his return to the United States he published a description of the northern provinces of Mexico and their situation, which proved of the most exciting char- acter. Soon afterward, in 1812, an expedition was fitted out by some parties about Franklin, in Howard county, opposite Boonville. £ From Dr. Gregg's account it appears that this party, like many that followed in the early years of the trade, conveyed their goods on pack animals. The names of the party are not all known, but among them were Messrs. McKnight. Beard and Chambers. They followed Capt. Pike's route as near as possible, and reached Santa Fe in safety, but here they received treatment which they were little expecting, and for which they were little prepared. Previous to the Declaration of Independence by Hidalgo, in 1810, all trade with Mexico was prohibited, except by permission granted by Spain. These adventurous men, relying upon that declaration believ- ed all restrictions removed until they reached Santa Fe, when they learned to their sorrow that Hidalgo had been captured and executed, and that the royalists, with all their restrictions on trade, were again in power. The party were imme- diately arrested as spies and sent to Chihuahua, where they were imprisoned for nine years. Their goods were all confiscated. Two of the party escaped in 1821, and made their way back to the United States, and the next year the repub- lican forces under Iturbide having gained the ascendant, the others were all re- leased,
The removal of the restrictions on trade incident to the success of Iturbide encouraged others to launch into it, and in 1821 a Mr. Gillam, who had a trading house at the mouth of the Verdigris River, sent through a small party in perfect
391
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
safety. The same year Captain Beckwith, with four companions from the vicinity of Franklin, went out to trade with the Indians, but falling in with a party of Mexican rangers, and learning from them of the removal of the restrictions on trade, they pushed their way through to Santa Fe, arriving also in 1821.
REAL BEGINNING OF THE TRADE.
The profits of those early trading parties were so great, and their reports so flattering and exciting, that the next year, 1822, a large number of parties, with large amounts of merchandise, went out. The isolated situation of the northern provinces at the time caused prices of all imported merchandise to range very high. Common calico sold as high as two and three dollars per vara, the Spanish yard of thirty-three inches, and everything else in proportion. In 1822 Col. Cooper and sons, from the vicinity of Franklin, Captain Beckwith and others, conducted expeditions across the unexplored prairies with the greatest hardships and with much suffering. The trade may be said to have been fairly inaugurated that year, and the route so far determined that substantially the same trail was followed for many subsequent years.
STEAMBOATS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE TRADE.
Steamboats had then just begun to run on the Missouri River. The first boat to arrive at St. Louis was the General Pike, August 2d, 1817. The first boat on the Missouri River was the " Independence," which ascended the stream in 1819, probably as far as Council Bluffs. She passed Franklin May 28, where a dinner was given to the officers, but we have no record of her dates at points higher up. In August and September of the same year the steamers " Western Engineer," " Expedition" and "R. M. Johnson," ascended the stream with Major Long's scientific party, bound for the Yellowstone.
The Missouri River trade appears to have been attractive to steam-boatmen, but the difficulties of navigation appear to have been quite a restriction. How- ever, this new method of water transportation soon had its effect on the Santa Fe trade, as the traders were only too ready to avail themselves of it to escape the longer transit overland. As their stocks began to be enlarged and their number increased, the boats became valuable in delivering them at points higher up than Franklin.
IT LOCATES AT INDEPENDENCE.
The points that at first competed for this trade at this angle of the river were Blue Mills, Fort Osage and Independence. Blue Mills, which was situated about six miles below Independence, soon became the favorite landing point, and the exchange between wagons and boats settled there and defied all efforts to remove it. Independence, being the county seat, was the larger and more important place, and became the American headquarters of the trade and the outfitting point as early as 1832. It continued so until the trade was temporarily suppressed in 1843. Independence preferred Wayne City as a landing point, and made great efforts to secure its adoption. The river front was paved with stone ; still, how- ever, the landing point continued to be at Blue Mills, and the headquarters and outfitting at Independence, which, under the rapidly growing trade, experienced an era of rapid development and great prosperity.
ANOTHER CHANGE OF BASE.
However, Independence was not to be allowed to enjoy a monopoly of the trade for any great length of time. The Mexican traders finding accommodations for themselves at Westport, so much nearer the prairies, where they could herd their teams while awaiting the arrival of their goods at Blue Mills, soon took ad- vantage of that fact. The large numbers of them that stopped there, and the
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393
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
trade they naturally caused, added an additional element to the prosperity of Westport, and there began to be some outfitting done there, but in a smaller way than at Independence. Among the first to avail themselves of the advantages afforded by Westport were such of the old Indian traders as had become engaged in the Mexican trade. Understanding the river and the country, as well as the methods of conducting a frontier trade, better than others engaged in it, they were quick to perceive the advantages to this new trade of a landing nearer to their new headquarters than that at Blue Mills. Knowing the character of the landing at Chouteau's warehouse, and perceiving the advantage of the superior pasturage for their teams on the prairies, and the saving of the eighteen miles haul over wooded roads, they began to land their goods at Chouteau's warehouse. As early as 1834, Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain landed a cargo of goods at this point for the Mexican trade, and for their Indian posts on the plains. Others followed their example, and then a tendency to make headquarters at Westport and use Chouteau's warehouse as a landing place arose and gradually increased, adding the Santa Fe business to that of the Indian and fur trade already done at this place and Westport. It was this tendency more than anything else that suggested the idea of a town where Kansas City now is, and led to the organiza- tion of a company for that purpose in 1838, at which time the trade had assumed very large proportions.
CHARACTER AND METHODS OF THE TRADE.
In the earlier years of this great trade, pack animals were largely used for conveyance. The first expeditions, prior to 1822, appear to have been conducted on foot with packs on the backs of the traders, after the fashion of a peddler. In 1822 and 1823, pack animals were mostly used, and in 1824 and 1825, the cara- vans were composed partly of pack animals and partly of wagons. From 1826 on, only wagons were used. For many years no party started from the border strong enough to feel it safe to attempt the passage alone, hence they adopted the custom of rendezvousing at Council Grove, in what is now the State of Kansas. Here they united in such numbers as to feel safe in attempting the passage, and organized, electing a captain and such minor officers as they deemed requisite.
The men engaged in the trade were of the most hardy and courageous class ; and it was well, for their life on the plains was one of peculiar dangers and hard- ships. From Council Grove to within a few miles of Santa Fe, they were beset with hostile savages. The caravans marched four wagons abreast with guards all round, and were so corralled at night as to form a barricade, which was well guarded. Affrays with the Indians were of frequent occurrence, and many of the earlier parties lost some of their men, and some were nearly annihilated. Some were compelled to cache their goods, that is, bury them in the earth to keep them from falling into the hands of the Indians, and escaped themselves only with the utmost hardships and suffering, Others again were lost for days on the prairie, without water, and nearly famished. One instance is recorded by Dr. Gregg of a party that were saved only by finding a buffalo fresh from a stream to them un- discovered, with stomach full of water, which, after killing the animal, they eagerly drank, and esteemed it the most delicious draught they had ever tasted. Although opening and developing a trade of such vast importance to the United States, and although constantly beset with hostile savages, the government furnished but three military escorts, and these only so far as to the American line, then the Ar- kansas River, These escorts were in 1829, 1834 and 1843.
STATISTICS.
Dr. Gregg, in his "Commerce of the Prairies," gives the statistics of this trade from the beginning down to 1843, from which the following table is taken, to show its growth to the close of the year 1837 and its magnitude at that time :
394
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
Years.
Amount Merchandise.
No. Wagons.
No. Men.
No. Pro- prietors.
Taken to Chihuahua
1822
$
15,000
70
60
$
1823
12,000
50
30
1824
35,000
26
100
80
3,00
1825
65.000
37
130
90
5,00
1826
90,000
60
100
70
7,00
1827
85,000
55
90
50
8,co
1828
150,000
roo
200
80
20,00(
1829 .
60,000
30
50
20
8,000
1 830
120,000
70
140
60
20,00
1831 .
150,000
130
320
80
80,00
1832 .
140,000
70
150
4℃
50,000
1833
180,coo
105
185
60
80,00€
1834
150,000
80
160
50
70,000
1835
140,000
75
140
40
70,000
1836
130,000
70
I35
35
60,00
1837
150,000
80
160
35
80, coc
Of the fur and Indians conducted from this center, no statistics were ever preserved ; but at the close of 1837, when the Santa Fe trade had reached such proportions as are above given, these others were almost, if not quite, as promi nent.
KANSAS CITY UNION DEPOT.
395
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
CHAPTER V.
THE FOUNDING OF KANSAS CITY. -
The Situation in 1838-The First Ferry-The Santa Fe and Indian Trade Tend to Kansas City-Purchase of the Prudhomme Estate for a Town Site- The Survey and Sale of 1839- Troubles of the Company Retard the Town-What Was Thought of It-Its Early Trade- A Description of Early Kansas City-Efforts to Divert the Santa Fe Trade-Its Suppression in 1843 - Statistics-Situation in 1843-The Great Flood of 1844-The Events of 1843 to 1846-The Mexican War.
Having now briefly sketched the history of the three principal elements that entered into the commercial foundation of Kansas City, it comes next in order to set down the circumstances under which the town originated, the manner in which it was founded, and the course of events entering into its development.
THE SITUATION IN 1838.
At the time to which each of the preceding chapters brought this record, to 1838, the entire country west of the Missouri River and the State line of Mis- souri and Arkansas was in the possession of the Indians. The tribes on these borders were all in receipt of large annuities from the Government which gave rise to a rich and profitable trade with them. There was in existence a trade of about equal volume between this western border and southern Mexico, crossing the intervening Indian country, and there was still in existence a large volume of the old French, Indian and Fur trade. These three elements of trade gathered at this angle of the river as at a focus, for the reason already stated, that this was the nearest point toward the scene of each of them that could be reached by water transportation. To stop lower down the river, or advance higher, were alike detrimental.
At that time Missouri was still quite a sparsely settled State. The western half of it had been settled in part for not exceeding twenty years, and the tide of immigration into it, though considered large in these times, was trifling when compared with the immense movements of population since witnessed into other States. What is called the "Platte Purchase," that is, the territory embraced in Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Nodaway and Atchison counties, had been added to the State in 1836, the State line prior to that time having run directly north from the mouth of the Kaw River. This country was not opened for set- tlement until 1837, and though its settlement was rapid for those days, it was still an unorganized country.
THE FIRST FERRY.
The settlement of this Platte purchase had an important effect upon the future city. Up to that time there had been no ferry across the river here, other than the canoes heretofore referred to, but with the opening of this new country there was a spasmodic movement into it from the south side of the river. To accommodate this movement Peter Roy, a son of Louis Roy, who settled at the foot of Grand avenue during 1826, established a flat-boat ferry, and in order to provide better access to it than the old road heretofore mentioned, he cut a new road through the woods from about where Walnut street crosses Fifteenth street down by the present junction of Main and Delaware streets, and thence down a deep ravine which followed down Delaware street to Sixth, thence across by the corner of Main and Fifth streets, diagonally across the Public Square and thence to the river a little east of the present line of Grand avenue from Third street
396
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
down. This road afterward became a factor in the concentration of the Indian and Santa Fe trade at this place. The ferry, thus established by Mr. Roy, was conducted by him but a short time when he sold it to James H. McGee, who then lived on a farm south of Sixteenth street. McGee sold the ferry in less than a year to Rev. Isaac McCoy, of whom mention has already been made, who con- ducted it until 1843, when he sold it to his son, John C. McCoy. Mr. McCoy subsequently sold a half interest in'it to John Campbell, and in 1854 the other half to Messrs. Northrup and Chick.
THE SANTA FE AND INDIAN TRADES TEND TO KANSAS CITY.
At this time, 1837 and 1838, many of the Santa Fe traders had adopted the custom heretofore mentioned of stopping at Westport to await the arrival of their goods at Blue Mills. To them, and to the Indian traders at Westport, a new land- ing only four miles distant, at the French Settlement, offered great advantages over one eighteen miles distant, at Blue Mills. Hence, with the facilities afforded by the new road cut by Petite Roy, there arose a strong tendency to receive their goods at this point. It then became manifest that the best landing point was higher up than Chouteau's house, on the property belonging to the estate of Gabriel Prudhomme, who died about this time. This point was at the foot of Grand avenue, Walnut, Main, and Delaware streets, and the new road gave access to this new locality. Here there was a natural rock landing superior, by nature, to those of Blue Mills and Wayne City, notwithstanding all the improvements that had been made upon them. It was this fact that determined the site of Kansas City, by determining the exact spot of transfer between boats and wagons of these two great branches of trade.
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