Johnson County, Missouri - Chapter 6, 1881

Chapter 6

French Possesssion of Louisiana - Purchase by the United States - Description of Early Settlers - " District " of Louisiana created by Congress - Successive Governors - Aaron Burr - Captain Meriwether Lewis - St. Louis to 1812 - " Missouri Gazette."

In the year 1800 there lived in Europe a ruler, whose dark and mysteri¬ ous genius, while it made him the weird magician of national destinies, also made him the terrible Moloch of destruction. " Crowns crumbled at his touch;" and under the shadow of his stern, titanic power, numerous princes of the continent lay cowering. His ambitious eye wandered from north to south, from east to west, and as his fearless soul did not quail before the death-heights of the Alps, so his unrestrained ambition leaped across an ocean, and made him covet the beautiful valley which the imbe¬ cility of his predecessors had caused to be forsaken. The fierce figure, who reveled in the slaughter of a continent, was Napoleon Bonaparte.

By the power of his terrifying name and the wily diplomacy of his won¬ derful intellect, Napoleon wrested from the King of Spain the territory of Louisiana west of the Mississippi. The treaty, by which the retrocession was made, was concluded October 1, 1800, and is known in history as the treaty of Ildefonso. This change of possession excited the jealousy of England, who, having power on the high seas, prevented any actual pos¬ session by allowing no passage of troops to the valley. Napoleon, seeing that it was practically impossible to hold Louisiana, conceived the idea of selling it to the American ambassadors then at his court with full power from the infant republic to "effectually secure our rights and interests in the Mississippi river, and in the territories eastward thereof." Though the mat¬ ter of the purchase of the vast tract known as Louisiana was beyond the stipulated duties of the American ministers, a contract was signed by which

Historical Sketch Of Missouri

Watching with bitterness the growing power of England, upon the con¬ clusion of the treaty, he uttered with fierce sarcasm, the prophetic words: "This accession of territory forever strengthens the power of the United States; and I have given England a maratime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride."

The consummation of the foregoing sale was not reached until Decem¬ ber, 1803, when, after the purchase having been ratified by President Jefferson and the national Congress, M. Laussal, who had just received the territory from the Spanish authorities, transferred Louisiana to Com¬ missioners Claiborne and Wilkinson, at New Orleans.

Speaking of the feeling occasioned in St. Louis by this momentous act, Elihu B. Washburne, with an extensive acquaintance with the French and French history, says in a recent address: "It was on the 10th of March, 1804, that the transfer of sovereignty was made. It was with feelings of sadness and regret that the great mass of French residents of St. Louis found their allegiance severed from France. This transfer of the sover¬ eignty sank deep in their hearts. On the 10th of March, 1804, tenderly and reverently the proud ensign of France was lowered in the presence of a great multitude, and amidst tears and sighs, and then was flung to the breeze of heaven the starry banner of our own republic on the balcony of the residence of Charles Gratiot, who saluted with respect and affection this emblem of his adopted country. Adapting themselves with wonder¬ ful facility to the new order of things, the population soon became recon¬ ciled to the change. A new impetus was given to trade and business, and immigration began to flow in. An era of prosperity was opened up to them, of which they had little dreamed, and soon realizing how beneficial was the change of sovereignty to every interest, they became loyal, true and devoted American citizens."

And no wonder that there were sighs and tears! The young Acadian colony must stand or fall with the eastern Republic, of which they knew so little. The flag of their native land was furled to float no more.

At the time when Delassus made the transfer to Amos Stoddard, the population of Upper Louisiana was estimated at about 9000 whites. It was nominated in the agreement by which the purchase was effected that the United States should protect the inhabitants in their landed possessions and in their religion.

The following description of the early settlers of Missouri and their sur¬ roundings, is pertinent at this point - the date when immigration began slowly to come in from the United States. We take it from the "Pioneer Families of Missouri," a book full of curious interest and graphic portrayal:

" In those days there were no railroads or steamboats, nor even stage coaches, to convey passengers from place to place, and the early settlers had to depend on their own resources. Some built flat-boats and keelboats, into which they loaded their goods and families, and floated down the Ohio and its tributaries, to the Mississippi, and then toiled up that stream to the Missouri, and up the latter to their destination, dragging their clumsy boats by tow-lines, or forcing them along with oars and poles. Others packed their goods, and wives and children on horses, and came through the wilderness, supplying themselves with meat from the wild game which they killed with their rifles as they came along. And still others, too poor either to own horses or build boats, shouldered what few articles of worldly goods they possessed, and came on foot.

" They all located in the woods, near the water courses, and built their houses adjoining some nice, cool, bubbling spring. The idea of settling on the rich prairies never occurred to them. They imagined that the prairies never could be cultivated, because there was no water on them, and no timber to fence them. They did not know, then, that water could be had by d igging ponds and cisterns, or that fences could be made by fencing and ditching, or by hauling rails from the adjoining timber.

"Their houses were built of rough logs, with puncheon floors, clap-board roofs, and great, broad, flaring chimneys, composed of sticks and mud. Sometimes they had no floors in their houses, except the ground, beaten smooth and hard, and swept clean every day. Iron nails were not to be had, and the boards of their roofs were fastened with wooden pins, or weighted with poles and stones."

So lax had been the manner of granting lands under the old French and Spanish authorities, as to cause much trouble upon the accession of the country to the United States. In order to keep faith with the earliest inhabitants, and prevent the influx of population from the east from taking their lands, congress, in 1812, passed an act " confirming in fee simple, absolute on that day," to the inhabitants of the several towns and villages, all lots and tracts of lands, " inhabited, cultivated or possessed prior to the 20th day of 'December, 1803." This forever settled the question.

On the 10th day of March, as previously stated, Amos Stoddard removed to St. Louis and began his duties as governor, on March 26, 1804. Congress, by an act, divided the territory so lately acquired into two parts, viz: the " Territory of Orleans," (comprising what is now the State of Louisiana) and the " District of Louisiana," (comprising an immense tract, including the land now occupied by the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, together with undefined portions to the west and north).

By the act of division as above described, the executive power of the territory of Indiana, just east of the river, was made to rule over the " Dis¬ trict of Louisiana ;" Gen. W. H. Harrison became therefore the governor. In 1805 the " District " became by a further law of congress a " Territory."

James Wilkinson was immediately appointed governor by President Jef¬ ferson. For his office he took possession of an old government building in St. Louis, which point still continued the center of trade and power.

About the discovery of this western land of fruits and flowers, of forests grand and old, and prairies that roll for countless miles like the slow, surg¬ ing billows of the restless ocean, clings the weird traditions of the wildest romance, and how could it be otherwise? For three thousand years Europe and Asia had constituted the world. And now, was opened up a country, bounded upon one side by a matchless stream of water, upon the other by mountains that shamed the Alps, while all within was rich in vegetable and mineral products. W as it not a country where the Empire of the World might stand forever?

Aaron Burr possessed a princely intellect, but political life for him was full of bitter defeats and dire disappointments. Left behind in the race for presidential honors, his hands stained with the blood of Hamilton, with malice in his heart toward the government, he turned away from the scenes which had given him his fame, adown the windings of the beauti¬ ful Ohio he wandered, stealing like a serpent into the home of Blennerhasset, then on to the Mississippi. And as he slowly wound his way upward to the city of St. Louis, and the shadows of evening closed about the slow moving boat, but an atom in the heart of the continent, and the unbroken stillness of night settled down, Aaron Burr conceived one of the most daring projects of history.

On reaching St. Louis his well-known plan was indirectly made known to Gov. Wilkinson, who, becoming alarmed at its vague though gigantic proportions, immediately informed the administration at Washington. Jef¬ ferson at once procured the capture of Burr. Had the conspiracy suc¬ ceeded, the prediction of Napoleon would not have been realized, and the American Republic never could have attained the strength occasioned by having the Mississippi within her borders.

Lewis had won distinction early in life as a volunteer in suppressing the whisky rebellion in Virginia. After discharging the duties of private secretary to Thomas Jefferson from 1801 to 1803, he was commissioned by Congress to explore the western wilds of the " Territory of Louisiana," and seek out the source of the Missouri. Captain William Clark was ap¬ pointed his assistant. After undergoing many trials and hardships, and accomplishing by unwavering fortitude his mission, he visited St. Louis, upon his return journey to the national capital. Here he was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants. When the results of his almost solitary march through the canons of the Yellowstone were made known to Con¬ gress, he was awarded special honors. In 1807 he succeeded Wilkinson as Governor of the " Territory of Louisiana." His rule was of short dura¬ tion. In 1809 while passing through Tennessee on a business journey to the National Capital, under an aberration of mind he committed suicide.

Benjamin Howard was the next Governor and was succeeded in 1810 by William Clark, before mentioned as the assistant of Lewis. He remained in office until the admission of Missouri into the Union.

1. The district of Cape Girardeau , including all the territory between Tywappity Bottom and Apple Creek. In 1804 its population was 1470 whites and a few slaves.

2. The district of Ste. Genevieve^ including all the territory from Apple Creek to the Meramec river. Population, 2350 whites and 520 slaves.

4. The district of St. Charles , including all the inhabited territory between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Population, 1400 whites and 150 slaves.

By reverting to a previous chapter of this sketch, an outline of the set¬ tlements previous to 1800 apart from St. Louis will show by natura enlargement the course of the settlements named above.

In 1804a post-office was established in St. Louis and Rufus Easton made postmaster. But in 1808 the most remarkable event occurs in its history. Joseph Charless establishes the Missouri Gazette. To-day this small sheet of octavo size is the Missouri Republican.

When we consider the size of these two papers, the territory over which they have each circulated, their contents, we are astounded at the progress made within the nineteenth century. Then, this newspaper contained let¬ ters from Washington transmitted through weary journeys by land and water and months of danger. Now, under the magic transformation of this short period of time, it contains, daily and even hourly, news from, the remote parts of the civilized world.

On November 9th, 1809, St. Louis was incorporated as a town. Among the names of the first body of trustees is that of Edward Hempstead, of whom more will be said hereafter.

The regulations of the trustees upon the citizens of the town were very light. One of the most important was that they must band themselves together to form a fire company, and must keep their chimnies swept once a month, under a fine of ten dollars.

printing office, twelve stores, two schools - one French and one English - and .the merchandise and imports of the town were valued at about $250,- 000. Peltries, lead, and whisky made a large portion of the currency. During the spring of 1811, the first market was built on Center square (La Place d' Armes), which was between Market and Walnut, Main and the river."

The streets of St. Louis, at this time, must have presented a wild and strangely grotesque appearance. Here commingled, were the French settler, still displaying his nationality by fashionable dress and bright colors; the trapper and hunter and voyageur , in costume half civilized, half savage* boisterous, bold, and happy; the English resident, grave and sedate; the red Indian and the negro slave. The center of life gave little promise of the "Future Great."