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 58

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Union historical company
Number of Pages: 1068

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 58

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In 1855 the Excel and several other small boats plied irregularly on the Kaw and with such success that in December of that year a company was formed, and several boats built for that trade. Those mentioned as plying on the river in 1856-7, were the Excel, Kate Cassel, Financier, Emma Harmon, Express, Lightford, Wa-tos sa, and Lizzie, the latter of which was built at Kansas City and afterward employed as a ferry boat. The navigation of the Kaw was then regarded as successful, though the boats did not run regularly. In 1859, how- ever, two boats ran most of the season as a regular line, but the river appears to have been abandoned after that, though they were said to have found no difficulty in navigating it. These boats were Silver Lake and Gus Linn.

URMOIL IN KANSAS.

The course that was being pursued by the Pro-Slavery party, the invasions of the Territory at elections by Missourians, the manifest tendencies of the Legisla- ture, together with a spirit of intimidation on the part of the Pro-Slavery party, became very exasperating to the Free-State party and they began movements, look- ing to assistance. On the 14th and 15th of August, 1855, a convention of free- state men was held at Lawrence, at which they adopted resolutions setting forth that Kansas was without any legal law-making powers, and recommending the holding of a convention of bona fide citizens at Topeka, September 13th, for the purpose of consulting upon all matters affecting public interest but specially the propriety of State organization. This was followed by another similar meeting at Big Springs, September 5th, at which was formulated the platform of the Free State party. The proposed convention at Topeka received the indorsement of this meeting and immediately steps were taken by the Free State party to raise delegates for such convention, and it was held. It provided for the election of delegates to a constitutional convention at Topeka, which election was held, only free state men voting, October 9th; and the convention met October 23rd and formulated a constitution which was submitted to the people and adopted Decem- ber 15th, only free-state men voting. Under this State organization Dr. Charles Robinson, of Lawrence, was elected Governor, at an election held January 15, 1856; W. G. Roberts, Lieut. Governor ; P. C. Schuyler, Secretary of State ; C. A. Cutter, Auditor ; J. A. Wakefield, Treasurer ; H. Miles Moore, Attorney- General ; M. F. Conway, S. N. Latta and M. Hunt, Supreme Judges.

Meanwhile, the Pro-Slavery party were far from being inactive. Wilson Shannon, of Ohio, was appointed Governor to succeed Gov. Reeder, Aug. 10th, 1855, and arrived at Kansas City, Sept. Ist. He was fully in sympathy with the Pro-Slavery party, and at once established the executive office at Lecompton. Prior to his arrival, however, the Pro Slavery party, through Acting-Gov. Wood- son, began preparations for military operations, and a long line ot generals and colonels were appointed. The independent attitude of the free state men, and the large accessions to that class of population from the east, rendered it neces-

427

HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.

sary, in the judgment of the Pro-Slavery party, to prepare for the use of force, to hold the Territory against them.

Meanwhile, public feeling was intensely excited and feverish, and there began to be personal collisions and murders. On the 21st of November, Charles W. Dow, a free-state man residing with Jacob Branson, at Hickory Point, near Law- rence, was killed by Franklin N. Coleman, a pro-slavery man. The next day there was a meeting of the free-state men at the scene of the murder, and that night S. J. Jones, pro-slavery postmaster at Westport, Mo., who had been ap- pointed sheriff of Douglas county, Kansas, arrested Branson for taking part in the meeting. This was the beginning of efforts to enforce the laws against free-state men. On his way to Lecompton, Jones was overhauled by a party of free-state men, and Branson was liberated. Jones sent to Shawnee Mission, where Gov. Shannon was at the time, for aid, and the people of Lawrence, fearing a raid from Missouri, began to gather their forces for the impending struggle. A public meet- ing was held and the citizens were placed under arms, and neighboring settlements of free-state people were notified and began to arm. On the 27th, Sheriff Jones informed Gov. Shannon that open rebellion existed at Lawrence, and Gov. Shan- non directed Maj .- Gen. W. P. Richardson, of the militia, to collect as large a force as he could, and proceed to the assistance of Jones. The next day he notified the President of a fearful state of affairs, saying, " It is vain to conceal the fact; we are standing on a volcano." The same day Lucian J. Easton, Brigadier General, ordered his brigade under arms, affirming that a state of open rebellion existed in Douglas county.

Early in December indictments were found against the leading free-state men by the courts setting at Lecompton. Companies of free-state men gathered at Lawrence from Bloomington, Wakarusa, Palmyra and Topeka, and the pro- slavery militia began to collect at Franklin, a few miles below, and at Lecompton, a few miles above, while a party of Platte county, Mo., Riflemen appeared on the opposite side of the Kaw River. Gov. Shannon applied to Col. Sumner, com- manding at Fort Leavenworth, for United States troops to suppress the Lawrence rebellion, but Col. Sumner would not act without orders from Washington. By the 6th of December, one thousand five hundred Missourians had collected at Franklin, and that day Thos. W. Barber was shot and killed by pro-slavery men while returning to Bloomington from Lawrence. On the 7th, Gov. Shannon vis- ited Lawrence, and on the 8th concluded a treaty of peace with Gov. Robinson, Gen. J. H. Lane and other leaders, and on the 9th ordered the militia disbanded.

Thus ended the first struggle, but it seemed only to intensify the bitterness of the antagonism already existing. Besides the killing of Barber, trains of provis- ions from Kansas City to Lawrence had been stopped and robbed by the Pro- Slavery party, and when peace was concluded, it was no peace, but the turmoil continued, and the country became infested with lawless bands and individuals, and life and property became unsafe. It was soon apparent to both sides that the planting of freedom or slavery in Kansas was to be attended with bloodshed, and both parties began to prepare for that result.

During the winter some of the Southern States appropriated money to send men to Kansas, and parties began to be made up, all of which were armed for the fray and organized into military companies. At the same time the Free-State party sent men to plead their cause in the Northern States, and to ask for aid in men and money, both of which were freely given in various ways. The prospect for the coming spring was anything but peaceful.

THE EFFECT ON KANSAS CITY.

As already stated, Kansas City became the gateway to Kansas with the be- ginning of the settlement of that Territory. Its relations to the new population were, therefore, so intimate that such a state of affairs as is briefly sketched above

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HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.

could not exist in the new Territory without being reflected in the affairs of Kan- sas City. The hopes of trade from the new population were delayed in their realization by the troubled state of affairs ; and as it was the place of debarkation for both pro-slavery and anti-slavery immigrants, it became disturbed by the dis- turbance across the border. Besides this, the Kansas struggle was otherwise ex- ceedingly depressing to Kansas City, though she still prospered and continued to grow. It retarded the Santa Fe trade and nearly cut off the plains trade. It was previously the custom of Indian agents to bring the annuity money due the Indians to Kansas City, and take it thence to the agencies without a guard; but during this trouble a strong guard had to be sent out with it. The local trade with Kansas towns suffered equally, and from the same causes. It was unsafe to ship goods through the Territory because of roving bands, who, upon political pretexts, managed to do so large an amount of robbing that they assumed more the character of banditti.

The towns of Leavenworth, Lawrence and Atchison were rapidly settled, and soon overtook Kansas City in population. Then Leavenworth became a strong competitor for the western trade. And in this contest, with about equal population, she was strengthened materially by the fact that government roads were made from there, by a requirement on the part of the Government that its own freight should be transported from that place, and by a State pride hostile to building up a town in Missouri. During the memorable contest in that young State in 1855 and 1856, this feeling ran so high that in the disorganized and an- archical condition of affairs, trains leaving Kansas City were frequently guarded. Notwithstanding all these impediments, Kansas City held the trade; it was found after awhile that it was impossible to transfer it to Leavenworth. The roads di- verging from thence were rough and the streams unbridged and impassable. After the new route was laid out from Leavenworth by United States authority, and upon the prestige that gave her a few Santa Fe traders were induced to start their trains from there, but when they reached the Kaw River they found it im- passable, and had to return to the mouth of the stream and get a ferryboat from Kansas City to cross them, when they took the old accustomed trail.

THE TROUBLES OF 1856.

The events of the spring of 1856 fully realized the sad expectations of all parties. Immigration continued to pour in from the east, and as early as March nearly every boat on the Missouri River was searched for articles which the pro- slavery men had pronounced contraband, and free-state emigrants were robbed and sent back. In April, Maj. Buford arrived in Kansas City with a large body of armed men from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. In May, Gov. Robinson, Geo. W. Smith, Geo. W. Deitzler and other free-state men were ar- rested for treason under the stringent laws of the Territory. An attempt was made to arrest Ex-Gov. Reeder, who had remained in Kansas and taken an active part in free-state movements, but he made his escape to Kansas City where he was secreted at the American Hotel (now old Gillis House) by the Eldridges, who then kept it, and from there he made his way in disguise as a laborer and on the deck of a steamboat to Illinois.

The District Court sitting at Lecompton, declared the Free State Hotel, at Lawrence, and the Herald of Freedom and Kansas Free State nuisances, and ordered their distruction. This order was executed May 21st, by a large party of pro-slavery men under direction of Sheriff Jones. These men were mostly southern men, who had come to Kansas in armed companies for the purpose of driving free-state men from the Territory, and were commanded by Col. H. T. Titus, of Virginia. After the distruction of the hotel and newspaper offices, the stores were robbed and much property ruthlessly destroyed. This led to retalia- tion by the free-state men, and Kansas was soon filled with small armed parties

429

HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.

of all kinds, the most prominent among which was John Brown's Free-State party. During all this season, parties of armed men continued to arrive from the south, some of whom remained in Kansas City, but most of whom made their headquar- ters at Westport and from thence projected incursions into Kansas. One of these parties was led by H. Clay Pate, a citizen of Westport, who at one time captured two of John Brown's sons, and who was himself captured by John Brown's party. Another was led by Gen. J. W. Reid of this city, and another by Col. E. M. McGee, of this city, besides those led by Buford of Georgia, Titus of Vir- ginia, Whitfield, Coleman, Bell, Jenigen and others. Besides John Brown's Free- State party already mentioned, there were others led by Shore, Walker, Crocklin, Abbott, Cook and Hopkins. There was also an occasional infusion of United States troops, under command of Col. Sumner and Maj. Sedgwick, when called upon by Gov. Shannon to suppress violence and restore order ; and in August Gen. J. H. Lane added materially to the free-state forces by bringing in a party of emigrants through Iowa and Nebraska, all free-state immigration through Mis- souri having been stopped. Fights and battles and routs between the contesting parties were of frequent occurrence. Thus while Kansas was being filled with people, it was being overrun with armed bands, and industry and trade were depressed. To add to the horrors of the situation, the season was unfavorable for farmers, and before the close of the year the people had to be aided by relief sent to them from the east. In August, Gov. Shannon was removed and Gov. Geary appointed in his place who continued in office until March, 1857, when he was succeeded by Robert J. Walker of Mississippi. This disturbed situation continued until the fall of 1857, when, at the October election, Gov. Walker maintained peace sufficiently to admit of a tolerably free ballot of bona fide votes, which resulted in free-state triumph, after which the contest was abandoned by the Pro-Slavery party so far as armed effort was concerned. While these troubles continued, they were exceedingly dispressing to Kansas City. The people of Kansas City with few exceptions were in sympathy with the Pro-Slavery party, but still had little sympathy with the methods employed by it. They wanted the trade of the new population, and were averse to methods that disturbed society and deprived them of it.

COL. KERSEY COATES.

At this time, Col. Kersey Coates was a very important man in Kansas City. He was then, as now, a man of more than ordinary determination of character, cool, courageous, and active, and the leading free-state man in Kansas City. He came to Kansas in the fall of 1854 as an agent for a party of Philadelphia capitalists, to buy lands and make investments where, in his judgment, it was most profitable to make them. He first went to Leavenworth and then to Law- rence, looking over the field for investments, and finally came to Kansas City. With that far seeing judgment for which he has since become distinguished, he selected this place for his investments, and in the spring of 1855 purchased large amounts of land adjoining this city, and took up his residence at the American hotel. At the time of which we now write, he was counsel for Gov. Robinson and the prisoners confined with him at Lecompton for treason, and was a bold outspoken free-state man in a community overrun with border ruffians. The people of Kansas City, though perhaps little in sympathy with his political views, regarded him as an important tie between them and the people of Kansas, and looked to him largely for the efforts and measures which were to bring them the trade of the new Territory. He was thus supported by them, and in a meas- ure protected against the pro-slavery men from the south, who soon came to regard him as a most dangerous man for their cause, and who would gladly have kidnapped or killed him if they had felt it safe to do so. Afterward, when the tide turned against them, several of them had to appeal to him for protection,

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but, it is needless to say, never got it when inconsistent with the peace and good order of society.

In the fall of 1856, he visited Washington in behalf of the free-state prisoners confined at Lecompton, charged with treason under the laws at that time prevail- ing in Kansas. During his absence the pro-slavery men had determined upon kidnapping and perhaps killing him on his return. He was met at St. Louis by pro-slavery men from Kansas City and warned of his danger, which shows the esteem in which he was held by men who, though opposed to him in politics, admired his influence in commercial affairs. He spent the winter in Wisconsin where he procured appropriations from the State Legislature for the relief of citizens of Wisconsin living in Kansas, the object being understood to be the strengthen- ing of the free-state forces for the portending struggle of 1857.

Another man who deserves special mention here was J. P. Howe, the city marshal. He was cool and fearless, and when warrants were placed in his hands diected against any of the lawless peace disturbers from the south, never flinched in his duty. Many interesting incidents are told of his affairs with these men, many of which were exciting at the time and are amusing now.

RIMES BI

RICHES -CO

GRIMES BUILDING, KANSAS CITY, MO.

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HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GROWTH OF KANSAS CITY PRIOR TO THE WAR.

Improvements of Streets and Roads-Trade and Steamboats-Rival Cities -- Rapid Growth of Kan- sas City-Stages and Mails-The Commerce of the Prairies-The First Banks, Jobbing Houses and Telegraph-The First Commercial Organization-The Panic of 1857-The En- largement of the City.

Notwithstanding the troubles in Kansas, and the hatred thereby engendered, on the part of free-state people toward all Missourians and Missouri towns, Kan- sas City gained considerable advantage from the settlement of the Territory while these troubles were pending, and after their close, in 1857, experienced an era of remarkable development and growth.

COUNTY ROADS AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

A matter of profound interest to Kansas City, during these years, and until 1861, was wagon roads to the country, and it was much discussed. This being the only means of reaching the trade of the rapidly settling new territory, Leav- enworth, Atchison, Lawrence, St. Joseph, Independence, Westport, and even Boonville, attempted to gain a share or a monopoly of it, by improving roads. Kansas City dared not be behind. But in this contest, Leavenworth and Law- rence were the principal competitors, St. Joseph and Boonville being too far away, while Independence and Westport were so near that her superior land- ing placed them at a disadvantage. Kansas City had the advantage of a bottom road up the Kaw Valley, and a divide road to southern Kansas, hence her work was mostly to be done near home. The Shawnee road and bridge across Turkey Creek were opened in 1858. A better road to Westport, through which all freight, mails and emigrants went from Kansas City, began to be agitated in Feb- ruary, 1856. The road was improved somewhat, but in July, 1857, a company was formed to macadamize it. The work commenced in September, but was so much delayed that it was not finally completed before the war.

The importance of street improvements began to be agitated in the winter of 1856-7. Colonel M. J. Payne had been elected mayor in the spring of 1855, which position he held until the spring of 1860. In 1855. under his administra- tion, the edge of the bluff was cut away, and the levee widened and paved for about a quarter of a mile, and during the two or three succeeding years, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth streets were graded, and also Broadway, Wyandotte, Delaware, Main and Market streets (Grand avenue), from the river back to Fifth. In the fall of 1859, an ordinance was passed for macadamizing Main street. The Court House on the square was built in 1856, by J. W. Ammons, contractor, the commencement being made October 30th; but the market house, which was intended to accompany it, was not built until 1860.

TRADE OF 1856-7-THE STEAMBOAT BUSINESS.

The Journal of Commerce, at a later period, estimated that the trade of Kan- sas City during these two years did not exceed two million of dollars, but with the close of the struggle, in 1857, the country filled up speedily, the trade was en- larged, and the city grew rapidly. The Santa Fe trade prospered, and the plains trade resumed more than its former proportions, while the trade developed by the settlement of southern Kansas all came to Kansas City, and with that and the outfitting of immigrants, her business became very great, so much so that a

432

HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.

correspondent of the St. Louis Intelligencer noticed that she had the largest trade of any city of her size in the world, and was the point at which all freight and immigrants for Kansas disembarked. The Journal of Commerce, at one time during these years, described the appearance of the levee as that of a great fair, it was so piled up with all kinds of merchandise.

This was the great steamboat era on the Missouri River, and everything that entered the upper country then came by boat. In the year 1857 there were a hundred and twenty-five boats at the Kansas City levee, and they discharged over seventy-five million pounds of merchandise. There were then a fleet of sixty through boats from St. Louis, and a daily railroad packet leaving the termi- nus of the Missouri Pacific at Jefferson City. Kansas City was then said by boat- men to be receiving more freight than any other five points on the river. In May, 1857, the boats were employed to carry the mails, which they continued to do until superseded by railroads.

In August, 1857, the packet company made this their terminal point, and all freight for ports higher up the river was transferred here to another line of boats, and tickets were sold by the stage lines through Kansas accordingly. After the completion of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad to St. Joe, which occurred March 1, 1859, a line of boats were put on the river between St. Joseph and Kansas City, as an extension of the shipping facilities of that line to the natural point of distribution.

RIVAL CITIES.

By reason of the excitement about Kansas, and the consequent large immi- gration, Leavenworth, Lawrence and Atchison got about an even start with Kan- sas City, so far as population was concerned, and at once entered the lists as competitors for the local trade of Kansas and the trade of the plains and New Mexico. The natural asperities of this rivalry were much intensified by the Kansas troubles. The Missouri border having been the base of operations of the border ruffians, was held in great detestation by the free-state men of Kan- sas, and when that party finally triumphed in the Territory it gave great advantage to Kansas towns. The feeling was very bitter toward Kansas City, for she being the center of trade on the border and their only formidable rival, she was made the object of all their antagonisms. Prompted by State pride, commercial jealousy, and political hatred of border ruffians, every effort was made that could be to divert this trade from her. Roads were laid out and made; their own advant- ages were industriously and extensively advertised throughout the north and east, and attempts made to create a public impression that Kansas City was an unsafe place to ship merchandise to, or for free-state people to stop at. During the border troubles of 1855-6, armed bands met wagons and teams on the prairies and forbade their coming to Kansas City, and agents were sent down the river to represent to people coming up on the boats that Kansas City was unsafe for themselves or their freight. To such an extent was this carried that at one time, in 1856, a party, claimed to be these agents, broke up a piano box on our levee, and the fact was widely published as an evidence that merchandise or freight con- signed to Kansas City was not safe.

RAPID GROWTH AND TRADE OF KANSAS CITY.

Notwithstanding these facts, Kansas City grew rapidly. There was a great demand for mechanics to build houses. Houses were scarce at all times, and at times rented for more per annum than their original cost. Many additions were added to the city, among them McGee's addition ; and Col. McGee advertised it so extensively and sold lots on such favorable terms to those who would build, that it improved rapidly and soon became a considerable town in itself. It then got the name of " The Addition," by which that part of town was known as

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HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.

separate from the city proper, and it retains that distinction yet. In 1858 (Oct. 20) there was a great sale of lots, the result of a combination of property owners, after extensive advertising.

The details of the improvement of this period cannot be given, but it was a time of great commercial excitement and prosperity. In August, 1857, The Journal made the following statement of progress from May Ist. It was about a sample of the five years :

HOUSES BUILT.

City proper-

2, 3 and 4 story bricks 97

1, 2 and 3 story frames . 184

In Addition-

2, 3 and 4 story bricks 31

1, 2 and 3 story frames 284

Total

527

VALUE OF REAL ESTATE.

May I.

Aug. 23.

Levee lots, each .

$250

$ 400

Other city lots .

500

IIOO

Addition, on the avenue

500

900

Addition, other streets .

250

500

During the same time there were 13,440 wagons loaded for the plains, em- ploying 20, 160 men and 36,960 animals, and carrying 40,976,000 pounds of freight. There were also received from the plains 27,000 buffalo robes, 131,000 pounds of hides, 19,000 pounds of pelts, 40,000 pounds of wool, and furs to the value of $19,000. The mercantile business of the city for that time was, city proper, $1,075,coo ; addition, $50,00 .

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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 58

Author: Union Historical Company Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Union historical company Number of Pages: 1068

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Union historical company
Number of Pages: 1068