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 87
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Gaster was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hanged. He was hung on the open common in the southwest part of the town on the 10th day of May, 1839. This was the first and only legal hanging in Independence; but since there has been one legal hanging in Kansas City. The hanging of Gaster was witnessed by thousands who came from far and near. Two large posts twenty feet long were set in the ground, and a cross-bar connected the top; this constituted the gallows. The doomed man rode upon his coffin which rested on the boards of a common wagon. Sheriff King adjusted the noose and Deputy Reynolds drew down the black cap. The wagon was driven from beneath and the murderer was ushered into eternity.
There was another escape from the jail by a murderer named John H. Har- per. Harper shot and killed one Merideth, at an office near the southeast corner of the square, the difficulty having arisen from jealousy. Merideth with several companions had come from one of the eastern States and stopped here, to fit out for an overland journey to California. For it will be remembered, that parties starting for the Far West or New Mexico. were here frequently fitted out with wagons, horses, provisions and other necessaries for the trip. Merideth and party had remained here several days, and had become acquainted with Harper and others. One day Harper invited Merideth to take a drink with him; he did so and they both returned to his office, but soon Harper came running out calling for the sheriff, saying he had killed a man. A crowd immediately collected and found Merideth breathing his last. Harper was arrested and confined in the jail to await his trial. Before his trial came the prisoner had escaped by cutting through the wall of the jail. A reward was offerd for his apprehension and he was finally caught at or near Fort Smith on the Arkansas River. He was brought back, a change of venue was granted, and was acquitted by a court in Platte county.
In 1843 there was another escape from jail by two noted criminals, Orrin P. Rockwell and one Watson. Rockwell was arrested for the attempted killing. of Governor Boggs. It was alleged at that time, that Joseph Smith, the Mor- mon Prophet, had promised Rockwell a fine horse and carriage to murder Gov- ernor Boggs.
It will be remembered that Boggs was Governor at the time the Mormons were driven out of the State, and Joe Smith charged upon Governor Boggs the responsibility of an order for the extermination of the Mormons. Rockwell, it was said, was sent here by the Prophet Smith. After Rockwell had worked for parties in Independence, becoming acquainted and acting as a spy under the as- sumed name of " Porter," he left, saying that he should not return. In a few days
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thereafter Governor Boggs was shot and severely wounded in the neck and head. Rockwell, who it is supposed committed the deed, rode away on horseback, crossed the Missouri River and made good his escape. He was afterward ar- rested in St. Louis and brought to this county for trial. As soon as the policeman drove into Independence with the prisoner he was recognized as the man who had called himself " Porter." The other man, Watson, confined with Rockwell, had been arrested for stealing a large amount of money in New Orleans. These two prisoners were considered very desperate and brave, so the shackles were placed around their ankles. A colored woman was accustomed to give them watermelons through the grated window, and, with a case-knife which they used to carve the melon, they sawed off the shackles from their ankles, and when the deputy came in at night to feed them, they both rushed out and locked the officer in, and ran for the woods. They were, however, caught before they had proceeded far and again confined. Watson was acquitted for want of proof, and Rockwell after taking a change of venue, was discharged for the want of the appearance of the principal prosecuting witness. Watson, together with two other men, was arrested in Baltimore for the same offense as be- fore, and all sentenced to a term of years in the Maryland penitentiary. The names of the two with Watson were Breedlove and Holliday. Rock- well was afterward known in Salt Lake as a minion of Brigham Young for the assassination of whomsoever Brigham should designate. He is said to have been in the Mountain Meadow Massacre. It is interesting to trace the course of the Mormons from their first settlement in this coun- try to their final journey over the Rocky Mountains; and in another place in this work the reader will find a full history of the Mormons and their Prophet Joseph Smith, together with many incidents and experiences never be- fore published.
There is yet another incident connected with the second jail, which trans- pired in 1843. An old man who had been in the Far West came to Independence nearly destitute, having insufficient clothing to keep him warm. He stole some old clothing, was arrested, taken before the Justice of the Peace and committed to jail. The old man's grief was unbounded, and to free himself from the troubles of this life, he undertook to cut his throat and sever the artery in his arm. He succeeded in cutting his arm nearly off, and his throat from ear to ear. This was in January, the weather was intensely cold, the old man over seventy, and it was difficult to keep life in his body, but finally he recovered and was discharged, a purse of money made up for him and he was sent east.
In the year 1852 George W. Reynolds was confined in jail for the stabbing and killing of John Blythe. Reynolds escaped and hid in a stable loft just out of town, but one John Reed saw Reynolds enter the stable. An officer was called and Reynolds was recaptured. He was convicted and sentenced to five years in the penitentiary, but before reaching the prison a pardon was obtained for him.
One, Lee, escaped from jail several years ago and has never been heard of since. He was confined for the murder of Henry Stonestreet.
THE FIRST SHERIFF.
The first sheriff of Jackson county was Joe. Walker, who lived in Fort Osage township. He was appointed by Governor John Miller, in the year 1827, and on the 29th of March of the same year, was qualified in office before Circuit Judge David Todd. He afterward went to the mountains and recently died in Califor- nia. He was a man of intrepid character, delighting in the excitements of the mountains. The second sheriff was Joe Brown, who was a lame man, and who after his term of office expired, removed to the "Platte Purchase" in the northwestern part of Missouri. Jabob Gregg, who now lives in Sni-a-bar township was the third sheriff. He is living near Grain Valley. His father's name was Harmon
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Gregg. Jacob Gregg was elected to the Legislature, the lower house, in 1850, and since has been a farmer. The fourth sheriff was John King, who was elected two terms, of two years each ; in the year 1840, was sent to the Legislature with C. C. Kavenaugh. Although of limited education, he was a highly respected, honest man. He belonged to the numerous family of Kings most of whom removed to the " Platte Purchase." He died near Independence about thirty- six years ago. Joseph H. Reynolds was the fifth sheriff of Jackson county, serv- ing two successive terms, from 1840 to 1844. Mr. Reynolds was elected to represent this county in the State Legislature in 1844, serving one term, and again in 1852 for one term in the House of Representatives. He was a native of Ken- tucky, and came to Jackson county in the fall of 1834, and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1837, and he holds the same office at the present time in the city of Independence.
The next sheriff was Col. Thos. Pitcher, who now lives four miles southwest of Independence. He held the office one term. He suffered during the war from depredations committed by marauding bands, his large and costly house was destroyed with other property. Benjamin F. Thompson was the seventh sheriff and served one term. He was subsequently elected to the Legislature. He died more than twenty years ago.
George W. Buchanan, now a member of the Independence bar, was the eighth sheriff and served two terms which lasted till 1852. Then again Benjamin F. Thompson was called to the office of sheriff for two years. William Botts, who now lives four miles northeast of Independence, was the tenth sheriff and served four years.
The next to be elected to that office was John W. Burris, who was qualified in August, 1858, and remaided performing the duties of sheriff till his death, which occurred during his second term. O. P. W. Bailey, his deputy, assumed the duties of sheriff and continued till the fall of 1862. John G. Hayden was the next sheriff and served part of two terms.
In 1864 all civil offices were declared vacant, and H. H. Williams, recently from Kansas, was appointed to the office of sheriff.
Charles Dougherty was elected in 1866 and served two terms, or four years. In 1870 James Gray who died in office was elected and served part of one term. C. B. L. Boothe became sheriff in 1872 and served two terms. O. P. W. Bailey was elected sheriff in 1876 and held that office till the fall of 1880, when the present sheriff, Mr. John C. Hope was elected and qualified.
There have been numerous escapes from the calaboose, but we have chron- icled the most important in connection. with the jail. Herewith we append an ancient summons of the Justice of the Peace, Mr. Joseph H. Reynolds. It will be found of interest as a relic of arrest for debt.
SUMMONS FROM J. H. REYNOLDS.
THE STATE OF MISSOURI, TO THE CONSTABLE OF BLUE TOWNSHIP, JACKSON COUNTY.
GREETING : We command you to summon Thomas G. Sharp to appear before the undersigned, one of the Justices of the Peace of Blue township, in Jackson county, on the 22d day of June, A. D., 1839, at ten o'clock in the forenoon at my office in the same township, to answer the complaint of Samuel D. Lucas and William W. Kavenaugh, partners, trading under the firm and style of Lucas & Kavenaugh. Given under my hand this 22d day of May, A. D., 1839.
JOSEPH H. REYNOLDS, Justice.
In the year 1834 there were two taverns, as they were called in those days, one kept by William Lawrence, on the present site of the Merchants Hotel, and
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the other by Leonard H. Rennich, situated on the present site of the City Hotel. Mr. Smalwood Noland succeeded Lawrence, and after the house burned, 19th of February, 1845, he erected the present building called the Merchants Hotel. Mr. E. P. West, who now lives in Kansas City, remodeled the building now known as the City Hotel. It was also called Twyman Hotel. Garnett and Modie opened the house which is now called the Jones Hotel, then known as the Nebraska House. It was built by Lewis Jones and finished by J. W. Modie, in the year 1849. The Farmers House was arranged and built only a few years ago, it is kept by Mrs. Martha Baker.
In the winter of 1847-9 the California excitement sprang up, but previous to this a few of our citizens of border life proclivities, and having tasted the sweets of said life, longed to know more of the vast region lying beyond the Sierra Nevadas. Lewis Jones, John Bartleson, L. W. Boggs, Major Hickman and others, fitted out an expedition, safely crossed the barrier, and returned with favorable reports of the goodly land beyond-little dreaming of the immense wealth hidden away in its fields, and so soon to be developed and made attract- ive to thousands. The winter spoken of awakened attention to the auriferous region beyond the mountains, and as soon as the spring months permitted cara- vans to travel, all who could leave their home were on their westward journey. Independence was the prominent point for outfit and departure, and every description of vehicle was called into requisition. The pestilence which broke out among the vast multitudes, and slayed many, far away from home and friends, did not stop the onward progress of the rest. Thousands of them now live in that land, whose climate they say is the finest, soil the most fertile, winter the mildest, and regions the most healthful in the world. In the year 1850, David Waldo, Jacob Hale and Wm. McCoy received the contract for carrying the mail to Santa Fe and New Mexico, and Jas. Brown, (afterward Brown & S. H. Woodson,) to Salt Lake City. The first regular U. S. mail that ever passed the border left Independence in July, 1850, well guarded and prepared for defense against the hostile Indians. It was looked upon as extremely hazardous, and on its return in safety the second month, was hailed with joy as something wonderful in the history of the West.
Their first four years' contract was successfully fulfilled, and these mails were expected, and did, go and return more regularly than those within the States. Morse's invention of chaining the lightning and flashing thought along the wire with a rapidity outstripping time itself, was about this time introduced in Mis- souri, and our aid was invoked to assist in completing a line of telegraph to 'this place-it was accomplished without delay, and the battery was at work dispatch- ing messages to every available point as early as 1850. The spirit of enterprise marked us as a people, and with a liberality equal to the occasion, the scheme of uniting the town and river landing by a railroad was soon entered into, and we can truthfully boast of having built the first three miles of railroad in the State. Like other measures projected and controlled by men ignorant of and unskilled in their business, the railroad proved a failure. The Santa Fe and Chi- huahua traders continued to make this their place of outfit and departure until 1856, at which time the prairie country between here and the State line, became so attractive that the lands were inclosed into farms and the roads turned into by-lanes so crooked that the traders were disheartened with the trouble and expense attendant on their trips to the line. Added to this, the changing current of the Missouri left us without a landing place, so that by compulsion, the trade was driven from us, to other points west and higher up the river. Westport, Kansas City, Leavenworth and Nebraska City divided for many years, that which once concentrated here and built us up. Success, it is said, rides on every hour, grapple it and you may win, but without a grapple it will never go with you. Independence failed to grapple at the right time, but Kansas City did, an
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to-day she is on the high road to renown. From her commanding position she might reach out the friendly hand, use all the available means for binding us more closely together, seek to fill up the intervening gap with costly villas, beautiful gardens, princely mansions and highly ornamented grounds, thus making us one and the same with herself. Then may the prophetic declaration of Gilpin be verified, and this become, as it of right ought to be, the center of the Union.
If there is anywhere, a place more interesting than this region of Missouri, we have yet to see it. And we have yet to find a country about which there is so much apprehension.
Turner & Thornton kept a banking house on the west side of the square as early as 1858. . The names of the proprietors were Ulysses Turner and James K. Thornton. A branch of the Southern Bank of St. Louis was established about this time, and both were engaged in business till the Civil War came on.
The Southern bank became a National bank after the war, and continued doing business till 1878, when it closed and settled up its business. The present banking houses are Chrisman, Sawyer & Co., McCoy & Son, and Anderson, Hughes & Co. No bank in Independence has suffered from the hard times which have frequently been experienced by other business houses of this character.
In the year 1857 a company was formed, known as the Independence Savings Bank. It afterward became Stone, McCoy & Co. In 1868 it was changed to Stone, Sawyer & Co., and again a few months later to Chrisman, Sawyer & Co., and on the 29th day of August, 1877, was incorporated under the title of Chris- man-Sawyer Banking Company. They occupy a handsome brick building, 40 by 60 feet, three stories high, with iron vaults, improved safes, etc. The building was erected in 1869, is now valued at about $18,000. Its capital stock paid in amounts to $70,000. Its present officers are : President, Wm. Chrisman; Vice- President, Samuel L. Sawyer ; Cashier, A. F. Sawyer, and Assistant Cashier, I. N. Rogers.
The following editorial in reference to the new bank building of Stone, Saw- yer & Co., appeared in the Independence Sentinel October 3, 1869 :
"One of the most substantial and creditable improvements made in our city the present season, is the new bank building of Stone, Sawyer & Co., on the cor-
ner of Liberty and Lexington streets. It is three stories high-has been erected at a cost of about $14,000, and is altogether an ornament to the city. The cor- ner room is now about completed, and is occupied as the bank. It is fitted up very neatly, and with an eye to business, and few of our large cities can boast of more complete appointments. The large fire-proof safes are from the celebrated factory of McNeal & Urban, of Cincinnati, and are perfectly burglar proof, as well as handsome appendages to the building. The rear room will be occupied as a law office by Sawyer & Chrisman. The west room is now occupied by Ehinger & Co., as a merchant tailoring and clothing establishment, and is very neatly fitted up.
"The second story has been appropriated for offices, and will be occupied by Messrs. Barnes & Mercer, insurance agents, Mr. Walker Buckner as an insurance agency and Mr. Jno. H. Taylor, lawyer. Messrs. Bone, Gates, Comingo and Slover, as law offices. The entrance to the upper stories is between the First National Bank building and the room occupied by Ehinger & Co. Substantial iron steps and railing have taken the place of the old wooden ones, and for dura- bility and neatness are a decided improvement. Large, roomy steps also enter from the rear of the building, which, in case of fire or accident would greatly facilitate the emptying of the rooms, or the safe retreat of a crowd in the hall above.
"The third story, not quite completed, is being fitted up expressly for a public hall, and will seat, comfortably, about 500 persons. It is well ventilated, and will be entirely free from any outside annoyances, and altogether, is the most comfortable and respectable hall in the city.
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"The brick work was done by Wm. Randall, the carpentering by F. F. Yeager, the plastering by A. J. Liddell, the painting by Russell & Mossop, and the tin roofing and guttering by Bailey & Kessler, all workmen of our city, and great credit is due each and every one of them for the skill and workmanlike execution of their respective contracts."
Anderson, Chiles & Co., bankers, is one of the leading firms of Indepen- dence. It was established in March, 1875, with M. W. Anderson, C. C. Chiles, W. H. Hughes, H. C. St. Clair. Their capital stock paid in is $20, 000.
The main part of the business houses are upon the public square, a number of which are doing as large a business as any of the retail houses in our commer- cial centers, the surrounding country being settled up by a wealthy farming com- munity, who have been convinced they are enabled to buy goods in Indepen- dence upon as favorable terms as they can in Kansas City, ten miles off.
There are twenty-five of these stores, representing in their stocks all lines of merchandise required for the supply of any community.
Three hotels, thelargest of which, the Merchants, owned and kept by R. K. Morgan, will compare in elegant accommodations with any to be found in the western country.
MANUFACTURES.
But few manufacturing interests have as yet been established; nevertheless, we know of no site or town in the west offering so many and favorable induce- ments for profitable investment of capital in this direction as we find in Inde- pendence.
The growing commerce of the prairies originated the necessity of establish- ments for outfitting purposes and repair shops, and in every quarter the blow of the hammer and ring of the anvil were heard from early dawn till late at night. Robert Weston and others for years supplied the wants of the traders. This con- tinued till the Mexican troubles, when every point in the west was active in get- ting munitions of war. After peace was declared, the outposts necessarily estab lished on the borders were to be supplied, and the General Government gave em- ployment to wagoners.
The manufacture of wagons for the Santa Fe trade was, in the early days of Independence, a large business. From 1845 to 1850 parties here built wagons to be used not only by the Santa Fe trader, but also for the emigrants going to California. Lewis Jones, Hiram Young, John W. Modie, and Robert Stone also carried on the business.
Flour mills were put up as early as 1835. One on the Little Blue, eight miles from Independence, was run by Michael Rice. Jacob Hallar, in 1846, built a mill in Independence. Afterward John A Overfelt, Waggoner & Son, and later under the name of Waggoner & Gates, built a flouring and woolen mill. The flouring mill was destroyed by fire some time after, but the woolen mill is still doing a large business. At one time there was a foundry in operation, but has been closed now for some time. All of the principal streets of the city are mac- adamized in the very best manner from rock obtained just east of the town 'site. The street running east and west on the south side of the Square is called Lexing- ton street, and has a hard road-bed for more than a mile in length. Liberty street runs north and south on the west side of the Square, and is macadamized for at least a mile and a half. Rock street, which runs east and west on the north side of the square, is also macadamized through the town. Main street, running north and south on the east side of the square, is macadamized over three quarters of a mile in length. The Wayne City road is macadamized three and a quarter miles from the court house ; it runs from the public square in Independence to the bluff on the Missouri River at the Wayne City Landing, formerly called the old Independence Landing. These roads and streets are under the control of the street commissioner, whose business it is to see that they are kept in good order.
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INCORPORATION.
The Board of Councilmen of the city of Independence appeared at the upper room of the court house in pursuance of the proclamation of William McCoy, mayor, on the 20th day of July, A. D. 1849.
Messrs. J. B. Hovey, John W. Modie, Robert A. Stone, B. F. Simpson, T. J. Shaw, Porter McClannahan, Robert S. Dukes, R. D. Green and Absolom Wray produced their credentials and took their seats in council. The following is a list of mayors revised and corrected by the present register :
1849 William McCoy. 1850 Jonathan R. Palmer, J. B. Slangh- ter, for a short time.
1865 William Peacock. 1866 R. Wallace.
1867 Peter Hinters.
1851 Jesse Henry.
1868
1852 Abraham Comingo.
1869 B. F. Wallace.
1853 A. E. Tyree.
1870 J. H. Slover.
1854 Thomas J. Shaw.
1871 V. M. Hobbs.
1855 George R. Hotsenpiller.
1872 66
1856 Abram Comingo.
1873 Porter McClanahan.
1857
1858 W. L. Bone.
1875 John W. Perry.
1859 George R. Hotsenpiller.
1876
1861 J. K. Stark.
1878 Horace Sheley.
1863
1880 O. H. Mitchell.
The present city officers are : Mayor, O. H. Mitchell; Marshal, Redmon Silvers; Register, J. F. Armstrong; Assessor, A. J. Liddil; Treasurer, Christian Ott, Jr .; City Attorney, G. W. Staley; Street Commissioner, Owen Gilcrest ; Sidewalk Commissioner, Patrick Moran; City Weigh Master. John Hockaday ; City Physician, C. Jackson, M. D. Councilmen : First Ward-James W. Adams, John T. Ross, William M. Randall; Second Ward-A. F. Anderson, H. C. St. Clair, W. N. O. Monroe; Third Ward-W. A. Cunningham, William Z. Hick- man, W. H. Waggoner.
The elections are held on the first Tuesday of June every year. The num- ber of votes polled at the election in June, 1880 was 478.
The charter and general ordinances of the City of Independence were re- vised and re-enacted November ist, 1878. The charter is comprised in four arti- cles and the by-laws in forty-three ordinances, approved and attested November ist, 1878, Horace Sheley being Mayor, and C. D. McCoy, Register. The other officers at that time were : Treasurer, O. P. Bryant; Attorney, J. A. Sea; Marshal, J. M. Swearingen. Councilmen : First Ward-J. W. Adams, O. L. Sprague, W. M. Randall; Second Ward-J H. Morrison, J. W. Modie, Jno. Murray ; Third Ward-A. Comingo, W. A. Cunningham, G. D. Shultz.
THE GRAND DRIVE.
The proposed boulevard will connect the two cities by a ride of 712 miles from the suburbs of each.
We understand that the subject of building the boulevard to which we have referred has already claimed the attention of the citizens of both places, and about $15,000 have been thus far subscribed by a few of the prominent citizens of Independence, and only wait the co-operation upon the part of the citizens of Kansas City to commence work upon this most desirable improvement This enterprise, when completed, will contribute largely in bringing about the results we have predicted in the outset of this article, and rapidly enhance the value of real estate.
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