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July 17, 2025
July 1, 2025
1861 1864 Lady Bushwackers of Johnson County Missouri Eliza Gabbert Lady Bushwhacker
After the Federal invasion and takeover of Missouri during the Civil War, many of the women and girls in Johnson County worked with the Guerrillas. They provided clothing and supplies, gave information on troop movements, and fed and housed Bushwhackers. Some even rode with the Bushwhackers. Most of the women and/or their parents, were born in Kentucky, Tennessee or Virginia. Most of them were the wives, widows, sisters or daughters of Guerrillas or regular Confederate Soldiers. Some were as young as thirteen years old. Most of them lived in the Chilhowee, Post Oak and Kingsville areas, but they were scattered all over Johnson County. There were several groups of sisters, and several mother and daughters groups included.
Many acts of murder, robbery, rape, and pillaging were attributed to "Missouri Bushwhackers", while in fact, these atrocities were committed by Federal people of absolutely no loyalty, North or South.
An interesting "side note" is why Missouri is called the "Show Me" state.
When you encountered someone in the brush, you asked (or were asked) where your loyalty lay (North or South). And were asked to "Show Me" to prove your allegiance! As a result, many times a bloody fight ensued if you did not give the correct answer!
Anyway, the Bushwhackers only aim was to rape, pillage, plunder, rob, burn and destroy all they could here. They came to have fun and enrich themselves and their sinful lusts. And they did exponentially. The elderly, women, children and defenseless people were their favorite target.
And it did not make a difference if the family they preyed upon was neutral, North or South.
From the statements they made to authorities, their sole motives for "aiding the enemy" were Patriotism for, and Loyalty to, the South. In some cases, a mother was charged for feeding her son, who was a Guerrilla. The person making the charge was often the next door neighbor who had a grudge against the family. In other cases, a woman was openly feeding large groups of Guerrillas, including Quantrill's Band. One group of girls went to Sedalia and bought nine pairs of boots and seven hats and took them to Bushwhackers in Blackwater.
Eliza Gabbert, Lady Bushwhacker
Birth: Dec. 12, 1834 Washington County Indiana, USA
Death: Jun. 6, 1884 Montevallo Vernon County Missouri, USA
Many of the women and girls were arrested by Federal Authorities and sent to prison in Kansas City, Jefferson city, Springfield, St. Louis or in Alton, Illinois.
Fourteen year old Martha Longacre, and her mother Nancy, were sent to Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis. Also in that prison were Miss Elizabeth M. Dewitt (or Durwitt), Dorah L. Durwitt, Sarah J. Durwitt, Julia F. Martin, Jane Ward, Mrs. Eliza Spencer, Mary Spencer, Mrs. Harriet F. Spencer, Mrs. Wealthy Robinson, and Miss Fannie Little, Miss Sue Bryant, Miss Mary Call, and Mrs. Mary A. Harlow. Mollie and Mattie Anderson, sisters of Bill Anderson, were also in the prison.
These are some of the women who were reported and charged.
Bivens, Betty (and her 5 daughters)
Boswell, Jane
Burgess, Henrietta
Cavardin, Mrs. (and her 3 daughters)
Call, Mary
Cull, Emily
Cull, Mary
Cull, Missouri
Dalton, Fannie
Derritt, Dortha
Derritt, Sarah J.
DeWitt, Elizabeth M
Doak, Caroline
Dunham, Martha
Harlow, Mary Ann
Harris, Mrs. (widow of a Bushwhacker)
Little, Clara
Little, Fannie
Little, Martha
Longacre, Isabelle
Longacre, Martha
Longacre, Nancy
Martin, Julia
McMahan, Johanna
Oliphant, Margret
Robinson, Wealthy (wife of Guerrilla Gooly Robinson)
Spencer, Eliza
Spencer, Harriet (Hattie F.)
Spencer, Jennie
Spencer, Mary
Taylor, Harriet
Ward, Jane
MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES
Missouri's Union Provost Marshal Papers: 1861 - 1866
Records of the Provost Marshal
Spencer, Eliza Johnson Charges and Specifications against Spencer, accused of harboring and feeding bushwhackers. N. D. F1266
Spencer, Eliza Johnson Statement of Mrs. Spencer that she sympathizes with the South and would like it to gain its independence. Claims she gave some Confederate soldiers food, but only because they threatened to burn her home down.
09-02-1864
F1266
Spencer, Eliza Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Thomas W. Williams that he was with Captain Day when they came to Spencer's home. Mrs. Spencer had prepared dinner for bushwhackers who were at her home when Williams and Day arrived. The bushwhackers fled as they approached.
07-12-1864
F1266
Spencer, Eliza
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of William Day that he took 30 men to Mrs. Spencer's home. When they arrived they found 4 bushwhackers there who fled. Spencer had prepared food for them. Notes that Spencer's husband joined the Confederate Army in 1862.
07-12-1864
F1266
Spencer, Eliza Harlow, Mary Ann Spencer, Mary Spencer, Hattie Derritt, Sarah Derritt, Dortha Martin, Julia Call, Mary Ward, Jane DeWirt, Elizabeth M. St. Louis St. Louis Special Orders No. 200 by Major General Rosecrans; releasing women from prison and banishing them to any free state north and east of Springfield, Illinois; charged with violation of the rules of war by harboring bushwhackers 10-17-1864
F1625
Spencer, Harriet
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Barton Oliphant that Miss Spencer has been a violent rebel since the start of the war and a woman of ill fame. Oliphant heard Spencer twice state that she had fed bushwhackers.
08-13-1864
F1266
Spencer, Harriet
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Mrs. Margaret Burk that Spencer is a violent rebel who feeds, aids, and gives information to bushwhackers. States Spencer, Mary Spencer, Jane Spencer, Clara Little and Fannie Little bought boots and hats for bushwhackers on Blackwater Creek.
08-11-1864
F1266
Spencer, Harriet
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of W. E. Chesbee that he and 8 soldiers asked for food at Spencer's home. Spencer said she had fed the last Federals she intended to. She also said they were free people, not living under a monarchy, and could cook for whomever they wanted.
07-06-1864
F1266
Spencer, Hattie
Johnson
Charges and Specifications against Miss Spencer. Charged with violation of the laws of war and using disloyal language. Text of document difficult to decipher.
09-20-1863
F1266
Spencer, Hattie F.
Johnson
Statement of Miss Spencer that she purchased multiple hats and pairs of boots in Sedalia. The questioning of Spencer revolves around if she intentionally bought the items for bushwhackers and if she had ever cooked for bushwhackers.
09-05-1864
F1266
Spencer, Jane
Johnson
Warrensburg
Notice that Miss Spencer has been banished to Ohio for assisting and encouraging rebels and bushwhackers.
02-22-1865
F1266
Spencer, Jane
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Barton Oliphant that Miss Spencer has been a violent rebel since the start of the war. He heard Spencer state she has fed bushwhackers and would do so again. She told Federals she intended to raise bushwhackers to fight them.
08-13-1864
F1266
Spencer, Jane
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Mrs. Margaret Burk that Spencer has been a violent rebel since the start of the war. States Spencer and other women bought boots and hats which were taken to the bushwhackers on Blackwater Creek.
08-11-1864
F1266
Spencer, Mary
Johnson
Charges and Specifications against Spencer partially illegible. Accused of violation of the laws of war and disloyalty.
10-08-1864
F1266
Spencer, Mary
Johnson
Statement of Spencer, written on an envelope. Spencer states she made some shirts for her brother and some of Gen. Price's men. She claims this was the only assistance she gave. States she went to Sedalia with her sister and others and bought goods.
09-02-1864
F1266
Spencer, Mary
Johnson
Warrensburg
Affidavit of Barton Oliphant that Spencer has been a violent rebel since the start of the war. He heard Spencer say she had fed bushwhackers and would do it again. He considers Spencer a woman of ill fame.
08-13-1864
F1266
Spencer, Mary Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Margaret Burk illegible.
08-11-1864
F1266
Spencer, Mary Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Spencer that in 1861 she made shirts for her brother who was in the rebel army as well as others in Price's command. She said she'd consider it her duty to give the rebels information if she had any.
09-02-1864
F1266
Little, Clara; Little, Fannie
Note from Gustavus Cohrs(?) stating that there is no doubt in his mind that both Clara and Fannie Little are strong rebels.
N. D.
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Fannie Little, age 18. Little states she has heard that some of her neighbors belong to bushwhacking gangs. Little denies knowing which ladies purchased boots and hats which ended up in the hands of bushwhackers.
09-02-1864
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of James Todd that Clara Little has been a violent rebel since the start of the war. Todd saw Clara and Fannie Little in Warrensburg and asked Clara if there were bushwhackers in their part of the country. Clara told him to "come and see."
08-??-1864
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of James Todd that Fannie Little has been a violent rebel since the beginning of the rebellion. Todd claims that Little admitted to him that she fed bushwhackers.
08-12-1864
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Miss Clara Little, age 22, that she is a Southern sympathizer who has not taken the oath. Little claims in June 1864 she fed a group of men dressed as Federal soldiers who turned out to be Southern men from Texas.
09-02-1864
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Mrs. Margaret Burk that Clara Little has been feeding, aiding and giving information to bushwhackers. States the Little sisters, along with Mary, Jane and Harriet Spencer bought boots and hats in Sedalia for bushwhackers.
08-11-1864
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie; Spencer, Mary; Spencer, Jane
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Mrs. Margaret Burk that Fannie Little is a violent rebel who has been giving information to the bushwhackers. States the Littles, Mary Spencer and Jane Spencer bought 9 pairs of boots and seven hats and sent them to bushwhackers.
08-11-1864
F1622
Little, Clara;
Little, Fannie; Ward, Jane; Spencer, Eliza; Spencer, Mary; Spencer, Harriet; Spencer, Jennie; Robertson, Wealthy;
Taylor, Harriet; Burgess, Henrietta; Oluphant, Margret;
Little, Martha; Doak, Caroline; McMahan, Johanna;
Cull, Missouri et Johnson
Warrensburg
Letter from Capt. Joseph A. Peak stated there are 24 females living near Post Oak who are actively aiding bushwhackers. The women feed the rebels and give them information to evade the Federals. Peak claims 2/3 of the women are prostitutes.
06-17-1864
F1622
Maddox, George; Ellis, [unknown]; Boswell, Jane; Fulkerson, [unknown]; Robinson, [unknown] Cass Pleasant Hill
Letter reporting that the wife and mother-in-law of known a bushwhacker, and the wife of man in rebel army were all boarding at house north of Kingsville in Johnson County; another family in same vicinity noted as sympathizers
03-13-1865
F1364
Burgess, Mrs.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Evidence shows clearly the guilt of Mrs. Burgess in aiding and feeding Bushwhackers; Capt. Ferguson recommends she be sent out of district
08-20-1864
F1288
Cull, Mary
Johnson
Warrensburg
Charges and Specifications - Charged with aiding and encouraging outlaws and guerrillas. Largely illegible.
10-??-1864
F1246
Ferguson, R. L.; Dewitt, W. T.; Dewitt, Elizabeth
Johnson
Warrensburg
Recommendation by Provost Marshal Ferguson that the Dewitts be sent to St. Louis for investigation by Col. Sanderson; Dewitts are violent rebels who are friends to bushwhackers; Elizabeth has been arrested numerous times for aiding bushwhackers
09-??-1864
F1625
Ferguson, R. L.; Durrett, Dorthea; Durnett, Sarah J.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Recommendation by Provost Marshal Ferguson that the Durrett sisters be sent to St. Louis to answer charges of aiding bushwhackers
09-??-1864
F1625
Martin, Julia et al
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Martin, a prisoner, to be forwarded to St. Louis. Martin charged with aiding and encouraging bushwhackers. A letter from Martin to Sena Bell wrote of how she hoped the bushwhackers would kill all militiamen.
09-16-1864
F1621
Robertson, Wealthy
Johnson
Warrensburg
Charges and specifications against her, charged with aiding and encouraging outlaws and guerillas
?
F1392
Bivens, Betty; Harris, Mrs. Lafayette Waverly Letter from Capt. Charles C. Lovett regarding Mrs. Bivens and Mrs. Harris, refugees from Johnson County. Bivens and her five daughters are thought to be harboring bushwhackers. Harris is thought to be the widow of the bushwhacker Harris.
06-13-1865
F1639
Cull, Emily
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of Thomas W. Williams that he has heard Cull say she has fed bushwhackers and would do it again. Calls her a woman of ill fame and thinks she cohabits with bushwhackers.
07-12-1864
F1246
Cull, Emily
Johnson
Warrensburg
Statement of William Day that he has heard Cull say she has fed bushwhackers and would do it again. Calls her a woman of ill fame and thinks she cohabits with bushwhackers.
07-12-1864
F1246
Cull, Mary
Johnson
Warrensburg
Charges and Specifications - Charged with aiding and encouraging outlaws and guerrillas. Largely illegible.
10-??-1864
F1246
Bell, Warren
St. Louis
St. Louis
Solicitor, statement that no evidence has been gathered against Martha, the 14-year-old daughter of Nancy Longacre, charged with feeding bushwhackers, and advises she be released
09-29-1864
F1483
Eads, James D.
Lafayette
Report that Nancy Longacre and family have harbored bushwhackers, including Bill Anderson and Yeager, who frequently robbed the stage and railroad workers, and attacked Corp. Parmon's squad
07-23-1864
F1483
Eaton, Lucien
St. Louis
St. Louis
Letter containing the extract from the trial of Nancy Longacre, charged with harboring bushwhackers and giving them information, acquitted, ordered released upon taking the oath
11-05-1864
F1483
Longacre, Martha
St. Louis
St. Louis
Citizen of Kingsville, testimony that neither she nor her mother fed, harbored, or supported bushwhackers in any way, is willing to take the oath
08-29-1864
F1483
Longacre, Nancy
St. Louis
St. Louis
Charges and specifications: harboring, feeding and giving information to guerrillas and bushwhackers, illegible
10-24-1864
F1483
Longacre, Nancy
St. Louis
St. Louis
Citizen of Kingsville, testimony that neither she nor her daughter fed, harbored, or supported bushwhackers in any way, is willing to take the oath
08-29-1864
F1483
Lotspeich, Rezin
Johnson
Statement that Doritha and Sarah J. Derritt are active rebels and give aid to bushwhackers
09-01-1864
F1307
Martin, Julia; Durritt, Dorath L; Durritt, Sarah J.; Dewitt, Elisabeth
Johnson
Warrensburg
Letter from Capt. R. L. Ferguson that he is forwarding four female prisoners, Martin, D. Durritt, S. Durritt amd E. Dewitt.
09-15-1864
F1621
Stegn, J. H.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Order to arrest Nancy Longacre and family for assisting and informing bushwhackers, and in future cases of this type to arrest the offenders instead of ordering them to leave the country
07-28-1864
F1483
Longacre, Isabelle
Johnson
Statement that soldiers belonging to Capt. Williams of the 51st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry burst into her home and took personal property, including a horse and a man's suit
06-01-1865
F1483
Longacre, Martha
St. Louis
St. Louis
Citizen of Kingsville, testimony that neither she nor her mother fed, harbored, or supported bushwhackers in any way, is willing to take the oath
08-29-1864
F1483
Longacre, Nancy
St. Louis
St. Louis
Charges and specifications: harboring, feeding and giving information to guerrillas and bushwhackers, illegible
10-24-1864
F1483
Longacre, Nancy
St. Louis
St. Louis
Citizen of Kingsville, testimony that neither she nor her daughter fed, harbored, or supported bushwhackers in any way, is willing to take the oath
08-29-1864
F1483
Allen, R. C.
St. Louis
St. Louis
Sending under guard prisoner Mrs. Nancy Longacre to Judge Advocate Albert G. Clark
10-07-1864
F1483
Allen, R. C.
St. Louis
St. Louis
Statement that Mrs. Nancy Longacre, who was released from the Gratiot Street Female Prison, whishes to remain until tomorrow, and may she do so
11-01-1864
F1483
Bell, Warren
St. Louis
St. Louis
Solicitor, statement that no evidence has been gathered against Martha, the 14 year old daughter of Nancy Longacre, charged with feeding bushwhackers, and advises she be released
09-29-1864
F1483
Clarke, Albert
St. Louis
St. Louis
Order to the commanding officer at Gratiot Street Prison, that Mrs. Nancy Longacre is remanded to prison until further orders
10-05-1864
F1483
Darr, Joseph
St. Louis
St. Louis
Special Order 257 that Mrs. Nancy Longacre, prisoner at Gratiot Street Female Prison, will be subject to the General Court Martial and Military Commission
10-03-1864
F1483
Eads, James D.
Lafayette
Report that Nancy Longacre and family have harbored bushwhackers, including Bill Anderson and Yeager, who frequently robbed the stage and railroad workers, and attacked Corp. Parmon's squad
07-23-1864
F1483
Eaton, Lucien
St. Louis
St. Louis
Letter containing the extract from the trial of Nancy Longacre, charged with harboring bushwhackers and giving them information, acquitted, ordered released upon taking the oath
11-05-1864
F1483
Ferguson, R. L.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Report that he asked Capt. Foster at Holden to obtain evidence against Nancy Longacre and family, but has not yet received the evidence
08-18-1864
F1483
Miller, Albert W.
St. Louis
St. Louis
Contractor for the Pacific Railroad Company, statement that Nancy Longacre, of Johnson County, was robbed and provided clothing for soldiers who were also robbed, and she never fed bushwhackers
10-21-1864
F1483
Ferguson, R. L.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Special Orders No. 74 by Capt. Ferguson ordering Lieut. Gann of Lexington, to send female prisoner Mercy A. Harlow, to his office in Warrensburg; also orders the arrest of Sallie Wayman, of Lexington, and for her to be sent to his office at Warrensburg
08-12-1864
F1619
Stegn, J. H.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Order to arrest Nancy Longacre and family for assisting and informing bushwhackers, and in future cases of this type to arrest the offenders instead of ordering them to leave the country
07-28-1864
F1483
Bryant, William J. St. Louis St. Louis Charges and specifications of Doratha Durritt, citizen of Johnson County, of harboring, feeding and giving information to bushwhackers 10-10-1864
F1307
Longacre, Nancy
St. Louis
St. Louis
Charges and specifications: harboring, feeding, and giving information to guerrillas and bushwhackers, illegible
10-24-1864
F1483
Durritt, Doratha
Johnson
Deposition in her case of aiding bushwhackers
09-20-1864
F1307
Durritt, Doratha
Johnson
Letter to her father detailing several skirmishes between the Federal army and bushwhackers at their house
08-12-1864
F1307
Durritt, Doratha
Johnson
Statement that she is a true friend to the southern cause and feeds rebels and bushwhackers and refuses to take the Oath of Allegiance
09-12-1864
F1307
Durritt, Doratha
Johnson
Deposition in her case of aiding bushwhackers
09-20-1864
F1307
Durritt, Doratha
Johnson
Letter to her father detailing several skirmishes between the Federal army and bushwhackers at their house
08-12-1864
F1307
Durritt, Doratha
Johnson
Statement that she is a true friend to the southern cause and feeds rebels and bushwhackers and refuses to take the Oath of Allegiance
09-12-1864
F1307
Dalton, Fannie
Johnson
Parole for Dalton, 23; she is required to report every ten days. Witnesses: Samuel Fitch, Thomas Vandervort
03-28-1864
F1294
William
Johnson
Warrensburg
Capt., statement that, during a stakeout, he discovered Martha Dunham feeding bushwhackers
07-01-1864
F1188
Carmichael, Mrs.
Sterling, Mrs. H. A.
McGown, Mrs.
Murray, Mrs.
Mitchell, Mrs.
Davenport, Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. Paustaton, Mrs.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Notice that the Commanding General of the Department of the MO has granted permission for a group of women and their families to pass from Johnson Co, MO, to Texas. The women are to report in Fayetteville and Fort Smith and all other military posts.
10-04-1863
F1602
Cavardin, Mrs.
Johnson
Warrensburg
Letter from R. L. Fergusan that Cavardin and daughters were arrested for feeding and harboring bushwhackers. Cavardin's son is a bushwhacker and her home is noted as a place of rest for bushwhackers.
09-22-1864
F1140
IN Memory and Thanks to James R. Baker Jr. A Missouri Historian extraordinaire who passed in 2022.
1882 Recollection of Marching Through Warrensburg Looking for Major General Sterling"Old Pap" Price
January 04, 1882
PAP
PRICE. Warrensburg.
His letter to the Hawkeye
respecting the reminiscences called to mind by that visit, is full of interest.
Mr. Burdette thus writes. I was here many
years ago, "enduring the war." We marched through Warrensburg one
bright sunny day, but it didn't look like this. We were seeking for a man name
Price, and he and a retiring modest which is the birth right of noble men,
shrank from our gaze. An agile and tenderhearted old confed he was. Hard to
catch, when he wanted to get away, and always soldierly and gentle in his
treatment of prisoners that was one of the brightest traits in the character of (Major) Gen. Price, "Old Pap" Price," his own men and the Union troops alike were
fond of calling him.
Major General Sterling Price.
I remember in some of our dealings with him in this
Missouri campaign, in some of our interchanges of shells and courtesies, Gen.
Price became possessed of a number of Union prisoners. Being at that time busily
engaged in getting away, the old man did not care to be troubled with
prisoners, so he paroled the whole crowd.
But he knew that these unarmed men would,
in all probability, be murdered, and at any rate plundered and ill-treated by
the guerrillas and bushwhackers which swarmed all through these parts of
Missouri at that time; I tell you, brethren, there were some bad citizens in
Jackson County in those days, so Price sent a guard of cavalry with the paroled
men, with a flag of truce, and these regular Confederate troopers escorted
their prisoners to our lines, turned them over and got receipts in due form,
and then galloped away to rejoin their column and get ready to shoot at us, whose friends they
had guarded so carefully and characteristic of General Price.
I drove over to old Warrensburg with my friend, Mr. Cockrell, son of General Cockrell, Senator from Missouri. That is we went from Jackson, Mississippi, to Vicksburg together. Not quite together either for the General got there first, and it was more than a month before Grant and I, I mean me and Grant could get in. And then we had to climb over the fence and there wasn't a bone or a crust in the pantry. The General's son treated me better than his father, because of the first night I was in town, with characteristic southern hospitality, he threw wide open the doors of his home, a home made doubly charming and hospitable by the accomplished lady whose graces crown and adorn it and I was his welcome guest.
I drove over to old Warrensburg with my friend, Mr. Cockrell, son of General Cockrell, Senator from Missouri. That is we went from Jackson, Mississippi, to Vicksburg together. Not quite together either for the General got there first, and it was more than a month before Grant and I, I mean me and Grant could get in. And then we had to climb over the fence and there wasn't a bone or a crust in the pantry. The General's son treated me better than his father, because of the first night I was in town, with characteristic southern hospitality, he threw wide open the doors of his home, a home made doubly charming and hospitable by the accomplished lady whose graces crown and adorn it and I was his welcome guest.
June 23, 2025
1864 July 4th Pacific Railroad Reaches Warrensburg, Missouri
Original Train Depot Warrensburg, MO Built in 1864
Missouri Pacific Railroad (mopac.org) - The Pacific Rail Road was completed on July 4, 1864 to Warrensburg.
In the year 1864, the Pacific Railroad was completed to Warrensburg, and on the national birthday of the same year the stars and stripes floated over the newly completed depot, raised on high by the hand of George S. Grover, the first agent. The road had pushed on to Holden and Kingsville in 1865, but Warrensburg was the end of a division, and also the nominal terminus for a considerable time. This being the nearest railroad connection with the east, for a wide scope of country, immense quantities of freight were shipped to this point. Six or eight cars of merchandise per day was not considered above the average. Twenty or thirty freight teams at the same time were frequently seen crowding around the station to bear away lumber, farm utensils, provisions and all other kinds of merchandise needed in a new country, transporting it to Clinton, Butler, Harrisonville, Nevada, Ft. Scott, Montrose and other points south and west. A daily stage line for passengers and express connected with Lexington, Clinton and Kansas City. The station house was completed July 4, 1864, the main building being 125 feet long and 30 feet wide, with a platform about 300 feet in length. There are three apartments, the ladies sitting room, gentlemen's sitting room, baggage and freight room, besides the ticket and telegraph office. The track in front of the depot and for some distance east and west of the same, has a grade of 75 feet per mile, descending towards the west. The express business, from the completion of the road in 1864, till January 1, 1880, was managed by agents of the United States Express Company, now by wheat, 185 cars: stone, 766 cars. The average number of carloads of stone will annually reach 800, though sometimes far exceeding this estimate.
During the year 1873, over 1,400 cars of quarried stone were transported to St. Louis. To proceed with our estimate for 1881: Cattle, 100 cars; wool, 5 cars; sheep, 5 cars; scrap iron, 3 cars; logs, 6 cars; apples, 5 cars; corn, 43 cars; hogs, 155 cars. George S. Grover, who took charge of the railroad agency in July 1864, is the son of Col. B. W. Grover, who was the chief of that movement in 1852, which obtained for Johnson County the location of the Missouri Pacific R. R. through its fertile fields. In the fall of 1867, Mr. John Conroy became agent and held that position till June 24, 1872, when E. T. Pennington assumed the same duties. During the agency of Mr. Conroy, one Sunday evening in the fall of 1867, a daring robbery of the safe was perpetrated. The robbers presented a revolver, leveled at the head of the agent and demanded his keys to the safe, from which they took the sum of $800. Aside from the above, no robbing or pilfering about the depot has existed to any noticeable extent. The present employees are, E. T. Pennington, agent; V. B. Pinkston, clerk; James Lynch, baggage-master; J. I. Middleton, day operator; W. C. Morton, night operator.
In 1865
During the year 1873, over 1,400 cars of quarried stone were transported to St. Louis. To proceed with our estimate for 1881: Cattle, 100 cars; wool, 5 cars; sheep, 5 cars; scrap iron, 3 cars; logs, 6 cars; apples, 5 cars; corn, 43 cars; hogs, 155 cars. George S. Grover, who took charge of the railroad agency in July 1864, is the son of Col. B. W. Grover, who was the chief of that movement in 1852, which obtained for Johnson County the location of the Missouri Pacific R. R. through its fertile fields. In the fall of 1867, Mr. John Conroy became agent and held that position till June 24, 1872, when E. T. Pennington assumed the same duties. During the agency of Mr. Conroy, one Sunday evening in the fall of 1867, a daring robbery of the safe was perpetrated. The robbers presented a revolver, leveled at the head of the agent and demanded his keys to the safe, from which they took the sum of $800. Aside from the above, no robbing or pilfering about the depot has existed to any noticeable extent. The present employees are, E. T. Pennington, agent; V. B. Pinkston, clerk; James Lynch, baggage-master; J. I. Middleton, day operator; W. C. Morton, night operator.
In 1865
On July 4, 1851, at St. Louis, Missouri, groundbreaking for the Pacific Railroad Company marked the beginning of what would later be known as the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company (1849-1872), becoming the first railroad west of the Mississippi River. The first section of track completed in 1852. It was the first railroad to serve Kansas City, reached in 1865, after construction was interrupted by the American Civil War.
In 1866, there were four different trains going through Warrensburg. There was the Express Train, the Mail Train, the Thro' Freight and the Stock Train. The mail train left St. Louis in the morning with the morning newspapers and all westbound mail. It had the right of way over all other trains and eastbound trains had to see that the track was clear for the mail. The reverse was true for the freight trains they always had to yield.
In 1868, the railroad did a lot of shipping. One such product was of hemp grown by D. W. Marr. He shipped 7200# that he had raised on his 9 acres. Of course, another commodity was mules.
As soon as the depot went up the scramble was on to move closer to the anticipated railroad. The railroad expanded the population from about 900 in 1860 to 2945 in 1870.
By Overland Mail
ATLANTIC INTELLIGENCE
Dates from St. Louis to May 24th
And our citizens.
From the Kansas City Journal of May 19th (1864)
President Taylor, Vice President Garrison, and Engineer McKissock, of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, met the Council and a number of our citizens yesterday morning, in the Council room, to consult in regard to the interest of that road (railroad) as connected with our city. President Taylor made in an informal but very interesting address to the meeting. He alluded to his previous visit to the city, some years ago, and to the bright prospects of the road at that time to the season of depression which had followed, caused by the rebellion, and to the era of a renewed prosperity which was again dawning upon the road. He spoke in warm terms, acknowledging the valuable assistance which our members of the Legislature had rendered in securing the passage of the law which had enabled the company to go forward to the rapid completion of the road. He gave the meeting some interesting items of what the company had done since the passage of the bill. They had immediately procured the rails and had been exceedingly fortunate in doing so, for iron had not become impossible to get. They had also procured the chairs and spikes for the road. Foreseeing the necessity for a large addition to the rolling stock of the road, they had contracted for twenty first-class locomotives at a cost of $400,000, and also for 120 cars. They had put on a large force of workmen and had already completed the road to Knob Noster.
Typical Railroad Labor Force 1860-65 Matthew Brady Photo |
They had procured a large number of additional laborers from Canada, who were now arriving on the line of the road. He and the officers of the road who were with him had been authorized by the Board to come to this city and to complete arrangements for the location of the road through this city to the State line (Kansas), as to connect with the Union Pacific Railroad. Tyler, Garrison and McKissock have returned to this city, and we learn were successful in all their negotiations excepting the locating of the road along the levee in Kansas City; not deeming themselves authorized to accept or decline the proposition, submitted the same for the action of the Board of Directors. We learn that the Committee, after leaving Kansas City, visited the line of the road, and were highly pleased with the great progress shown along with the whole work. The parties interposing obstacles to the road's progress through their lands, near Independence, met the Committee and arranged to their mutual satisfaction all matters in dispute, so that there are only two or three cases involving the right of way unsettled, and these are where miners are interested, and proceedings under the law must be invoked. With Colonel Jacob Hall, whose farm is greatly damaged, the Committee found no difficulty in arranging, and indeed all the parties were exceedingly affable.
The road from Kansas City to Independence is nearly ready for the rail, and every effort will be made to open it to travel on the 4th of July (1864) at which time the eastern division of the Union Pacific Railroad, extending from Kansas City to Lawrence, would be celebrated.
Railroad construction workers, 1860's, Andre Russell |
We learn that the Committee visited the Union Pacific Railroad, and, as far they examined, report that its construction is of a substantial character. The bridge over the Kansas River is being rapidly constructed, the piles being in and part of its superstructure laid. All the heavy work in Jackson County, east of Independence, is being vigorously prosecuted, as well as the heavy work near Holden. The abutments over the Post Oak, west of and adjoining Warrensburg are nearly finished, and it's the Engineer and Directors substitute trestle work, which can be readily and safely done, the laying of the rail need not be delayed the whole distance of thirty miles to Pleasant Hill.
The iron is laid as far as Crawford's Fork of the Blackwater, west of Knob Noster, and the bridge already framed is on the ground and will be put up this week, when the laying of the rail will be resumed, and the road opened to Warrensburg by the 25th of the ensuing month. The whole line is alive with men, and the Committee, we learn, was entirely satisfied with the progress made. The construction of the whole road from Knob Noster, where the cars now run, is under the entire direction of Garrison, and unless something occurs interfering with the men now on and being daily added to the work, he expects to open up the road to Pleasant Hill by the 10th of September, and the whole road by the first of the ensuing year. The extension and completion of this great work is principally confided to Garrison, Taylor and McKissock, the Directors having provided for everything necessary to aid them in the work. With Garrison's known energy, Taylor's financial and executive ability, and McKissock's intelligent zeal, we hope to see this work consummated before the close of the year.
Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 28, 23 January 1865
Union Pacific Railroad Celebration.
The opening of the Union Pacific Railroad from Kansas City to Lawrence, Kansas, was celebrated on Monday, the 19th (1865), in a very agreeable way at Lawrence. There were present some two hundred people from Kansas City and Wyandotte, who met their neighbors of Lawrence and vicinity in one of the public halls of the last-named city. A meeting was organized with John Speer as Chairman, and a speech of welcome ill behalf of Lawrence was made to the guests from abroad by Sydney Clarke, member elect to Congress from Kansas. T. D. Thatcher, of Kansas City, then addressed the meeting, remarking, among other things, that the construction of the road to that point puts Lawrence practically in railroad communication with New York, for the completion of the last link of the Pacific road, between the towns of Warrensburg and Independence may now be assumed as the work of but a few months. You are aware that a continuous broad gauge railroad line now stretches from New York to St. Louis, so that the merchant can ship a carload of goods at New York, lock the door of the car and not have it opened again until it reaches the Mississippi river at St. Louis; and the passenger, when once fairly aboard at St. Louis, need not change cars until he reaches New York. The greatest drawbacks to pleasant traveling, and to the safe and rapid transit of goods by railroads, are thus done away between those two great centers, respectively, of Eastern and Western commerce. This road will soon put you in direct connection with St. Louis, and when once you can take the cars here for St. Louis direct over the Pacific road, the roundabout northern route, by way of Leavenworth and St. Joseph will be most effectually "played out." On the 21st the citizens of Lawrence visited Wyandot and were handsomely entertained. These demonstrations are interesting, for the evidence they give that the people of Kansas and Missouri are assuming toward each other those fraternal relations which should have existed from the beginning. St. Louis Republican, December 22. (1864)
New York Times
October 2, 1865
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.; First Train Through from St. Louis to Kansas City railroad Excursion Party.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Saturday, Sept 30. (1865)
The first through train from St. Louis over the Missouri Pacific Railroad, reached here this morning, bringing the following distinguished persons; D.H. Gomson, Vice-President; Thomas McKissock, Superintendent of the Pacific Road; Thomas A. Scott, Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Central; H.J. Jewett, President Ohio Central; John D. Perry, President Union Pacific; A. Green, New-York; J.M. Davidson, Saratoga; Jas. Fisher, M.O. Partridge and, Giles F. Filley, of St. Louis; J.P. Usher and lady, and Samuel Stinson and lady. This party will proceed on an excursion over the Union Pacific Railroad to Lawrence, Kansas, this afternoon, and return to-morrow. The Missouri Pacific Road is now in complete running order its entire length, and regular through train will commence moving on Monday next.
By July 1858 the Pacific Railroad was completed the 160 miles to Tipton, Mo., then the end of the line from St. Louis. Tipton was also the eastern terminus for a new overland mail service to San Francisco. This service, called "The Overland Mail', made its initial eastward stagecoach run from San Francisco on September 16, 1858, arriving at Tipton on October 10. At Tipton, the mail and passengers were transferred to a waiting Pacific Railroad special train for the run to St. Louis. The time from San Francisco to St. Louis was 24 days, 18 hours and 26 minutes, about 10 days faster than the old Isthmus of Panama route.
During the Civil War, raids were made against all of the Missouri railroads and great damage was done. The most serious one on the Pacific was that led by Sterling Price in the fall of 1864. Bridges, buildings, tracks and rolling stock were destroyed all the way from Franklin to Kansas City. Early in 1864, rails, locomotives and cars had been taken by Missouri River steamboats to Kansas City and construction eastward from that point started. The line from Kansas City to Independence (Kansas City's first railroad) had been opened to the public on August 1, 1864, but even this disconnected section did not escape Price's fury.
Repairs to the damaged property were ultimately completed and the railroad resumed construction. On September 19, 1865, the last spike was driven connecting the two parts of the railroad, and the next day a train was run through from Kansas City to St. Louis, leaving at 3:00 a.m. and arriving in St. Louis at 5:00 p.m.
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In 1852 Benjamin W. Grover, who was elected as state governor, introduced a bill to authorize the construction of a railroad. The bill was passed and in 1852 citizens started to work on the new railroad.
When people heard about our town being on the route, they started to come and settlers homesteaded every acre of land for miles around the county. Because the railroad caused so much growth, they had an election for a mayor. The election took place on the first Monday of April in 1856, and Dr. John Foushee won.
The railroad brought four large stores that sold groceries, dry goods, hardware, and merchandise. In 1864 Warrensburg also frequently hauled freights from the Warrensburg station to trading posts because we were the last connection to the railroad for many towns around. Six to eight cars of merchandise per day were received and twenty or more freight teams worked on hauling the merchandise farther west and south to the towns of Clinton, Butler, Harrisonville, Nevada, and Fort Scott.
On July 4, 1864 a flag waved over the Missouri Pacific Depot in St. Louis, because it had been connected to a town in the west; Warrensburg.
The railroad went through Sedalia in 1861 and stopped because of the Civil War. It came to Warrensburg in 1864 and went on to Kansas City in 1865. The first depot was made out of wood but burned down in 1889. The next one was built in 1890 out of sandstone in the architectural style known as Richardsonian Romanesque. This depot is present today but has been enlarged and remodeled. in 1984 the baggage section and the loading platform were added. Sometime after 1930, the large arch window on the east was changed to a doorway when water drainage problems came.
In the 1950s the new diesel engine came through and remodeling was done to prepare for it. In 1962 the freight office was enclosed in glass, the ceiling was replaced, new lights were put in, a new tile floor was put in, and the whole place was painted. However ten years later, in 1972, it was closed from public use.
The train changed Warrensburg in big ways. It increased the population and growth of the town and helped us travel and get supplies. The train has also made Warrensburg a little better known because it carried Harry S. Truman through Warrensburg, and it carried the world series through here in 1985 on its way to St. Louis.
May 10, 1869 The ceremony for the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869; completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. At center left, Samuel S. Montague, Central Pacific Railroad, shakes hands with Grenville M. Dodge, Union Pacific Railroad Missouri Railway Map 1888 |
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