Cass County, Missouri - Chapter 1: Introductory, 1917

The history of Cass County, Missouri, is necessarily connected with the history of the State and country around us. We will refer in a gen¬ eral way to the elements and conditions of our common country, so far as in the writer's opinion effects our county. Truths come to us from the past, by history, as gold is washed from adjoining mountains or ridges in precious particles. Common decency demands we should hold in reverence the memory of those who served and occupied before us, whose deeds of valor, and still more important whose persistent push in the new countries, made it possible for us to have and enjoy what we now possess.

History, of a country, State, county or community is but the per¬ petuating events and biography of those who lived and occupied prior to our advent. Biography is history individualized. It takes the episodes and events, illustrative of the character and accomplishments of the peoples of a community, State or nation to tell us the why of their pro¬ gress or decay. What effect had the lives and character of individuals in shaping these events. In writing our county history we will endeavor to give events as we get them from other pens and writers and the mem¬ ory of persons. This last source from which we gather past history has been too long neglected.

Biography of families who early settled this county, who have added their influence to shape the local affairs of our county, ought to impress us who enjoy the fruits resultant from their privations, labors, hard¬ ships, disappointments and successes. We reflect that there was a time when the vast domain west of the Mississippi was inhabited by wild men and wild beasts. We are even told it was, upon a time, an inland sea. When man came to America, however, there were great possibilities for him in this country of the west, out of which Cass County was carved. In the early part of the eighteenth century to France and Spain fell this western domain to bring into civilization. France seems to have ceded to Spain, Spain recedes to France, and France in turn cedes to the United States. It isn't the province of this history to elaborate upon these transfers, yet we will refer to them to recall dates so far as they effect the ultimate carving the present boundaries of this county out of this domain, Louisiana Territory, and State of Missouri.

October 30, 1795 (some have put it 1763), the French Government ceded to Spain what was known as Louisiana. On the first day of Octo¬ ber, 1800, by the treaty at St. Defonso, Spain retroceded the same terri¬ tory to France. A very interesting history is of these dates. The great Napoleon was embarrassed by war. Practically all then nationalized Europe had drawn their swords. Napoleon needed money. Jefferson, President of these, then, United States, saw the disadvantage of the west Mississippi being held by another power, opened negotiations with Napo¬ leon, for Napoleon was France at that time, for the purchase of the Louisiana territory. So far the treaty of Paris, on the 30th day of April, 1803, the commissioners from the French republic, and the commis¬ sioners from the United States signed a treaty ceding to the United States for the consideration of fifteen million dollars "the colony or prov¬ ince of Louisiana." (See Laws of Missouri 1804-1824, volume one (1) page one and following.)

Napoleon realized his losing a great prize in disposing of Louisiana, is shown in his address to his commissioners prior to the ceding of the country, viz.: "I am fully sensible of the value of Louisiana, and it was my wish to repair the error of the French diplomats who abandoned it in 1763 (?), I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk of losing it, but if I am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more to those who force me to part with it, than to those to whom I shall yield it. The English have despoiled France of all her northern possessions in America and now they covet those of the South. I am determined that they shall not have the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but a trifle compared to their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexation they have manifested on seeing it return to the power of France, I am certain that their first object will be to gain possession of it. They will probably commence the war in that quarter. They have twenty vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and our affairs in St. Domingo are daily getting worse since the death of LeClere. The conquest of Louisiana might be easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting it out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an attack upon it. Such a measure would be in accordance with their habits and in their place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to deprive them of all prospects of ever possessing it, to cede it to the United States. Indeed, I can hardly say that I cede it, for I do not yet possess it; and if I wait but a short time my enemies may leave me nothing but an empty title to grant to the republic I wish to conciliate. I consider the whole colony as lost, and I believe that in the hands of this rising power it will be more useful to the political and even commercial interests of France than if I should attempt to retain it. Let me have both your opinions on the subject."

These ministers or commissioners failed to agree and Napoleon fur¬ ther said: "The season for deliberation is over. I have determined to renounce Louisiana. I shall give up, not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, without reservation. That I do not undervalue Louisiana I have sufficiently proved, as the object of my first treaty with Spain was to cover it. But though I regret parting with it I am convinced it would be folly to persist in trying to keep it. I commission you therefore to nego¬ tiate this affair with the envoy of the United States. Do not wait the arrival of Mr. Monroe, but go this very day and confer with Mr. Living¬ ston. Remember, however, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, and I do not wish to commence it by levying new taxes. For the last century France and Spain have incurred great expense in the im¬ provement of Louisiana, for which her trade has never indemnified them. Large sums have been advanced to different companies, which have never been returned to the Treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for these. Were I to regulate my demands by the importance of this ter- ritory to the United States, they would be unbounded; but, being obliged to part with it, I shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must have fifty millions of francs, and I will not consent to take less. I would rather make some desperate effort to preserve this fine country."

Within eighteen days from the speaking of these words Louisiana became a part of the United States. The treaty provided amply for the protection of the rights of settlers and it was a pleasure to the great Bonaparte to congratulate his late subjects upon their new relation. Upon completing the treaty Mr. Livingston, one of the commissioners on behalf of our country, is reputed to have said: "I consider from this day the United States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she has entirely escaped from the power of England." Bonaparte is further quoted as saying: "By this session of territory I have secured the power of the United States and given to England a maritime rival, who, at some future time, will humble her pride." These prophetic words have been verified fully. Amos Stoddard took actual possession for the United States of upper Louisiana on March 9, 1804. The authority of the United States over Missouri dates from this day. The purchase of Louisiana was known to embrace a great empire and secured a heritage to the peo¬ ple of our country for all time, but its grandeur, its possibilities, its inex¬ haustible resources and the important relations it would occupy among nations, never entered the brain of the wildest dreamer nor the profoundest statesman. The pioneer, who in early days pitched his tent upon these broad prairies, or penetrated the lonely forests of this country little thought of the mighty tide of physical and intellectual progress so soon to flow in his footsteps, to populate, build up, and enrich this vast domain which he conquered. We will never know the debt we owe these hardy forerunners, who year after year lead civilization further and further across the valleys, plains, hills and mountains of this new purchase.

"The district of Louisiana," composed of the country so ceded by France to the United States, lying north of the thirty-third degree of north latitude, was organized as a territory of the United States by an Act of Congress approved the 24th day of March, 1804. By the same act said "District of Louisiana" was put under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory for governmental purposes. (See chapter two of Laws of Mis¬ souri, 1804-1824, page 5.) The "District of Louisiana" was changed to the "territory of Louisiana" by Act of Congress approved March 3, 1805, (same laws, chapter 3, page 6). The name of Louisiana Territory was changed to Missouri Territory by Act of Congress approved June 4, 1812. By the same act the "executive power was vested in a Governor, who should reside in the said territory." This act has a very interesting pro¬ vision for the selecting a legislature. It provides the representatives shall "be convened by the Governor, in the town of St. Louis on the first Mon¬ day in December next." (Same laws, chapter 4, page 8.)