Fort Osage Township

Fort Osage Township

Fort -Osage township is bounded north by the Missouri River, which separates it from Clay and Ray counties; east by Ray and Lafayette counties; south by Sni-a-bar township, and west by Blue township. This township is well watered, having the great Missouri on the north, the Little Blue on the west, and Fire Prairie Creek flowing through the center of the township, and discharging its waters into the Missouri, after coursing its way a short distance into Lafayette county. There is considerable timber in the north, along the Missouri River; also, following the course of Little Blue. Elsewhere in the township there is little timber, the banks of Fire Prairie Creek being almost destitute of trees. The sur- . face is rolling, though along the course of Fire Prairie Creek the level bottom lands are very wide.

Fort Osage township was one of the three original townships into which the county was divided, and although these three - Fort Osage, Blue and Kaw - were defined on the same day. May 22, 1827, Fort Osage was the first defined on therecords, and hence can properly be called the first township in Jackson county. It will be seen from the following boundaries that Fort Osage township, at that time, included more territory than is now comprised within the limits of all of Jackson county, since at that early day and for several years thereafter Jackson county included what is now comprised in Cass and Bates counties. The order reads as follows :

" To commence eastwardly at the eastern line of this county, thence running with the Missouri River westwardly to Prine's Ferry on the Missouri, thence south- wardly by a direct line so as to strike Little Blue at Fristoe's Fish Trap, thence up the same creek to the mouth of Cedar Fork, thence due south to the southern boundary of the county, thence east to the southeast corner of the county, then north to the beginning - all of which territory lying withm the limits of the above described boundary shall compose the township of Fort Osage."

The first Justices of the Peace and those recommended by the County Court and appointed by the Governor, were William J. Baugh, Jesse Lewis and Joel P. Walker. The first white family in the county hved in this township, at Old Fort Osage on the river.

Numerous hills dot the surface of the township, arising from the surrounding prairie to an elevation of from fifty to one hundred feet, and their formation appears to be successive strata of fossiliferous limestone.

Among the old setders were : John H. Sanders lived near the center of the township. He came from Kentucky and lived here till his death. He was a prominent man in the county and a farmer of considerable means. He bought and sold largely in mules.

Colonel James Chiles lived west of Sibley about four miles, and Frank Chiles, his brother, lived on an adjoining farm. Both were prominent men in the county, James especially, was a politician and held many important offices. James Chiles now lives in Texas, being a man of eighty-five years of age. He came from Kentucky when a young man and became one of the first settlers in Fort Osage township.

Major W. Hudspeth came from Kentucky, and settled in the west part of the Six Mile District. He was a prominent man in the county and lived there many years, where he reared a large family, and died at the old homestead.

Samuel Kimsey was one of the very earliest settlers in the county, and especially in Fort Osage township. He lived in the western portion of the township. He was a good farmer and lived there till about the year 1876, when he died at the old homestead.

Col. John Hambright was an early settler about two and a half miles south- of Sibley. He Hved on the State road and kept a stage station, till there was no more use for stages. He died there about six years ago.

Joseph St. Clair lived here in an early day, having settled on a farm about one mile northwest of Buckner Station. He is still living on the same farm, being a man of about seventy-five years of age.

James T. Brown came from Kentucky, and settled in Sibley in 1852, and there lived till he removed to Independence. He practiced medicine there about ten years.

W. H. Hughes came from Kentucky in 1853, and settled one and a quarter miles south of Sibley, where he lived till 1865, when he came to Independence, and is now engaged in the banking business.

Col. A. G. Steele came in 1854, and settled one mile east of Sibley, where he still resides. Samuel Johnson, William Sailors, James Johnson, Nathaniel Teaugus, Lewis Jones, Joseph R. Walker, Joel P. Walker, Ex-Governor Boggs, and others were among the prominent early settlers.

When General Sibley came he built a large frame house about half a mile west of the old Fort. The house contained twenty doors and windows, and was considered a large house for those times. In this house the family of Gen. Sibley lived

Mrs. Gen. Sibley had a piano which was brought from St. Louis and used in this house, and it is said to have been the first piano brought west of St. Louis. The house was gone many years ago, and it was said by some to have been burned. That old house was the first one built in Sibley, as also in the township of Fort Osage. The next house was built by Abraham McClellan, about one and a quarter miles southwest of the old Fort, on a farm now owned by A. G. Steele. A portion of the house still stands. It was an old log house built about the year 1822, one and a half story double house. It will be remembered that Abraham McClellan was one of the prominent men of Jackson county in its pioneer days.

Fort Sibley

This fort was established by the United States Government, and built on the brow of the hill overlooking the river to the north and east, about one mile north of the present site of the town of the same name. The indications are that it was about ten rods long and eight or ten rods wide, with a ditch around the whole inclosure, also a kind of stockade so built as to make it extremely difficult or entirely impossible to get into the fort except through the gate. There are still pits or holes where the old fort stood, for a distance of about two rods on the brow of the hill there are these marks which can be distinctly seen. The fort was established as an Indian trading post, garrisoned by a company of soldiers. The fort was abandoned in 1825, and soon fell into disuse and decay. The fort was named from the commander, General George C. Sibley, and the township derived its name from the fact of there being a fort here and the Osage Indians having occupied the land. Sibley was thereafter the name of the village which was built near the site of the old fort.

The town of Sibley, situated near the center of the southern limits of Tp. 51, R. 30, on the south bank of the Missouri River, Sec. 34, and 35. The following is the conclusive record :

" The plat of the town of Sibley was laid out by the undersigned proprietor, in the year 1836, and I acknowledge this plat filed in the Recorder's office to be my act, and at the same time I do reserve to myself or my heirs or assigns the rights of ferry to and from said town within the limits thereof.

The first lots sold in the town were lots Nos. 7 and 8, block No. 14, by Archibald Gamble to Michael S. Corre. The next lots were sold to Thomas G. Settle, these were lots 9 in block 10, and 2 and 9 in block 14, and 3 and 8 in block 28. The next were sold to Albert Gushing and were in lot 10 block 14. The next were sold to Frederick Biltzhoover, lot 7 block 10, lot 2 block t6, lot 3 block 23, and lot 10 block 40. After this the one-third of the town lots were sold to Josiah Spaulding and one-third to George Collier, together with a large tract of land.

The three proprietors, Archibald Gamble, Josiah Spalding and George Collier, owned all of the town lots except the few lots above mentioned and several sold subsequently to other parties, till October 9, 1880, when the interest of the three original proprietors above named was sold for taxes, and bought by Dr. J. C. Page, of St. Louis. Dr. Page has since sold lots to Wm. Teegardin, Benjamin Johnson, Charles McMillan, P. H. Cook and Albert Robertson. A petition to the County Court in February, 1881, for the purpose of vacating the streets and alleys of the original town was granted, and a copy is herewith given :

Notice Of Application

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned petitioners will make application to the County Court of Jackson county, Missouri, at the February term thereof, 1 88 1, to be held on the first Monday in February, 1881, in Kansas City, Mo.,' for the vacation of the following described parts of the following streets and alleys in the unincorporated town of Sibley in said Jackson county, Missouri, as laid out in the plat of said town, executed by Archibald Gamble, June 4; 1836, and recorded in Plat Book i, on page 60, in the recorders office of said Jackson county at Independence, Missouri, to-wit :

Comanche street from the south line of said town of Sibley to the south line of Second street ; Mandan street from the south Une of said town of Sibley to the south line of Second street ; Otto street from the south line of said town of Sibley to the south line of Second street ; Kansas street from the south line of said town of Sibley to the south line of Second street ; Comanche street from the north line of Second street to North street ; Otto street from the north line of First street to North street ; Kansas street from the north line of First street to North street ; Eighth street from the west line of Santa Fe street to the west line of said town of Sibley ; Seventh street from the east line of Kansas street to the west line of said town of Sibley ; Sixth street from the west line of Santa Fe street to the west line of said town of Sibley ; Fifth street from the east line of Kansas street to the west line of said town of Sibley; Fourth street from the east line of Kansas street to the west line of said town of Sibley ; Third street from the east line of Kansas street to the west line of said town of Sibley ; all of North street, all of that part of Water street that lies north and west of a line extended eastward from the southeast corner of Block one ( 1 ) to the river all the alleys in blocks fifty-three (53), fifty-two (52), fifty-one (51), fifty (50), fortynine (49), forty-eight (48), thirty-eight (38), thirty-seven (37), thirty-six (36), thirty-five (35), thirty-four (34), thirty-three (33), thirty two (32), twenty-one (21), twenty (20), nineteen (19), eighteen (18), seventeen (17), sixteen (i6), two (2), three (3), four (4), and five (5).

That said application will be made by the undersigned as owners of the grounds and lots lying on both sides of and fronting on the parts of streets and alleys above described, and for the reason that the same are no longer needed for public use.

The remainder of the streets and alleys in the old town except Santa Fe street, running north and south. Fourth and Fifth streets extending from Santa Fe street to the eastern limits of the town, wer? vacated on petition of the following persons : W. H. Teegardin, Benjamin Johnson, Albert Robertson, John Baker, P. H. Cook, J. A. Martin, George D. Cole, Wm. T. Neill, C. B. Thompson.

Most of the town was burned by the Federal soldiers during the Civil War. It was said that Federal boats passing on the river were fired upon by bush-whackers and others, from this point, and the soldiers taking it for granted that this was the headquarters of rebels and enemies of the government, hence the destruction of the town. Only eighteen houses were spared, more than twice that number having been reduced to ashes. The town has n^ver recovered from this.

During the great flood of 1844 several hemp warehouses were swept away by the river overflowing the northern portion of the town, the water rising to the depth of twelve feet in the streets of the village. When the people saw the water overflowing its banks, and apprehending a damage, removed the contents from the war^ehouses and chained them with long cables and rope to cottonwood trees, but the flood broke the cables and swept the buildings away.

There have been severe fires since the burning in the civil war, but the one which destroyed some of the old landmarks occurred on February 26, 1878, when a building belonging to W. B. Cobb, and one belonging to T. J. Anderson; these two the only remaining business houses m the town. The one belonging to Mr. Cobb was one of the first houses built in the town. It was put up by George Harra about the year 1840. The fire is supposed to have originated by accident in the flue. The Bryant Bros., who had rented the building from Mr. Cobb, and carrying on a drug business, lost their entire stock. Mr. Charles S. McMillan and James R. Pollard were carrying on a dry goods trade in Anderson's building, and succeeded in saving their entire stock. After the fire the Bryant Bros, engaged in farming, and McMillan & Pollard sold goods from the school-house, being the only accessible building in the town. These young men have built a new store near the site of the old building, and intend there to carry on a general merchandising business.

The post-office was established here in about the year 1840. Among those who have served as post-master are John S. Pryor and the present incumbent, S. S. Neely. Mr. Neely was commissioned post-master in the spring of 1878. Mails from Independence twice a week.

The Christian church, a frame building about 60x40 feet, was built in the year 1871, and cost about $4,000. It is well seated. The present pastor is Elder D. M. Granfield. There is a membership of about one hundred. A Sabbathschool is maintained, with an average of about fifty scholars.

The school-house is situated on the bluff, in the eastern part of the town, and will seat about sixty pupils. It is a one-story brick. A. W. Mann is the present teacher. This school-house was partially destroyed by a cyclone, April i8, 1880. The cyclone also demohshed a brick storehouse in the center of the town, and also blew down a irarae house in the southern part of the town. The cyclone appeared to come from the southwest, and did no great damage except in the town of Sibley.

A large flouring mill, owned by M. P. Embree & Co., was destroyed by fire in 1878. The mill was built in 1868 by the Embrees and James Proctor at a cost of about $1,800, and did a large merchant and custom trade till it was burned. It has not been definitely known whether the fire caught from a hot bearing or a spark from the smoke stack. A mill, while in progress of completion soon after the war, was burned. It was being built by Mr. Chiles. It would seem that Sibley has experienced more than its share of destructive fires. There is a blacksmith shop operated by George D. Cole. That portion of the town which has been vacated will be devoted to the cultivation of crops.

This town, though the oldest in Jackson county, is at the present time one of the smallest, though its site is on a high and healthy bluff overlooking the Missouri River and surrounded by one of the richest agricultural districts in the county. Good farms are on both sides of the river, both in Jackson and Ray Qounties. Sibley was at one time the only shipping point west of Lexington. Sibley now contains a population of 120. The physician is James Gilbert; the attorney-at-law, S. S. Neely ; constable, John Thompson ; Justices of the Peace, William C. Harrelson and S. S. Neely.

This growing town, named in honor of Mr. Buckner, who lived on a hill not far distant, is situated fifteen miles east of Independence, near the center of Fort Osage township. It was laid out by Thomas Monroe, in the spring of 1875, on the Kansas City & Eastern Railroad. The present population is 80. The first house built on the present site of Buckner was by John T. Cobb, in which he kept a general country store. This was in the year 187 1. He continued in business here till 1877, and then removed to Independence, and soon after to Blue Springs, where he is engaged in merchandising. The next store in Buckner was built by R. Wallace & Co., in the spring of 1877. It was a brick house, in which they are still engaged in a general merchandising. The religious people are building a church for Union services, under the control of the Methodists. The church will cost $700.

It is supposed, and there is most satisfactory evidence, that the Missouri River once came through this valley, and pursued about the same course as is now pursued by Fire Prairie Creek. The bayou, or portion of the river which flowed here, came into the land at or near the mouth of Little Blue, and contmuing in a southerly direction, along the course of Little Blue, to near the southeast corner of Tp. 50, R. 31, thence east near the present site of Lake City, and thence following the course of Fire Prairie Creek, uniting again with the main current in Lafayette county. Large cottonwood trees have been found in the sand and earth twenty feet below the surface, about one-half mile northwest of Buckner station. When boring a well near the same place, cockle burs, in a good state of preservation, have been taken out eighteen or twenty feet below the surface ; also, butternut hulls were found at the same depth. Other wells dug in the ancient bed of the great river, show layers of river sand in the exact position left by the flowing current. All things show most conclusively that- nearly all of the Six Mile District was once an island in the Missouri River - the main branch on the north side, where it now flows past Sibley, and the south branch taking the course above mentioned.

Buckner is situated on a broad and level plain, averaging two miles wide north and south, and following the course of Fire Prairie Creek east and west. This valley is extremely fertile, and the alluvial deposit produces crops of corn, wheat, potatoes, and other products in great abundance. The Narrow Gauge Railroad, running from Lexington to Kansas City, was built through Fort Osage township in the fall of 1875, and finished in the spring of 1876. The road was first called the " Wyandotte, Kansas City & Northwestern," and in 1877 its name was changed to the " Kansas City & Eastern," and in 1880 the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company bought it, and now it is called the " Missouri Pacific, Kansas City & Eastern Division, Narrow Gauge Railroad."

This little village is about a mile west of the Lafayette county line, on the Narrow Gauge Railroad. George Ward built the first business house in the town, and commenced merchandising in 1876. The next store was built by James Wasson, in 1877. The third store about the year 1877.

Lake City

This town was laid out in the northeast quarter of Tp. 50, R. 30, by Robert Hudspeth, April 17, A. D. 1876, and located on the Kansas City & Eastern Railroad, about eleven miles east of Independence. The following persons are at present engaged in business here :