Westport High School - Herald Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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,!,,.--S, ,tm f 'TA' exu- ,,,.,..!---- -ffr-mcrrtt sift it 2 y 24 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. Soon after this, J. C. McCoy had his stock of goods brought ashore in the woods above Chouteau's warehouse. In 1832 a regular landing was established where Grand avenue now reaches the river. This was the beginning of Westport Landing, iwhich afterward developed into HThe Town of Kansas. It would be difficult to conceive a less inviting spot for the building of a town. But this angle in the Missouri River was the best natural road to the West and the South- west, and it was the highest point to which goods for the great Santa Fe and plains trade could be taken by boat without increasing the cost of land transportation and encountering worse roads. This Missouri River landing was part of a 256-acre tract owned by a Frenchman, Prud- homme. Several residents of Jackson County, who had observed the tendency of trade to center at the landing, conceived the plan of founding a town on the Prudhomme estate. VV hen the sale was held, the company bought the land for 34,220 This was the original site of Kansas City. I There were many different opinions about the prospects of the new town. Independence and Westport nicknamed it Westport Land- ing, and so it became generally kn-own. Sen- ator Benton remarked that it was destined to become the greatest commercial center west of St. Louis. The great portion of the early trade of the town was similar to that of all frontier towns, and was carried on chiefly with the Indians, the employees of the mountain traders, and the Mackinaw boatmen. As early as 1840, it was not uncommon on the arrival of Macki- naw boats to see as many as three or four hundred men on the levee, all buying more or less from the traders. The Indian trade con- tinued to flourish at VVestport Landing Cnarned The Town of Kansas in 18395, and at Independence, until 1843, at which time it was temporarily suppressed by order of Gen- eral Santa Anna. josEPH1NE HELLMAN, 'l5. SHAWNEE MISSION, KANSAS VVithin three and one-half miles southwest of NVestport High School there is one of the most historic spots of the Middle West. In 1839 Rev. Thomas johnson with his wife and family left his Ohio home to come to the Shawnee Indians as a missionary. I By l829 he had received appropriations from the Methodist church and a land grant of 2,24-O acres from the government, the total value -of both amounting to nearly f5lO0,000. with tho money he bout tt school, dormitory, chapel, dining room, class rooms, and manual training rooms, as well as a substantial home for himself. The best of material was brought fr-om St. Louis, and the buildings are in ex- cellent shape today. Settlers came here and established homes. The school and mission had nearly a hundred pupils. These Indian boys and girls, and even men and women, were taught to sew, spin, cook, and do carpenter work. They were also taught to love and revere God. The town, for such it was now, thriyed, and a store and a postoffice were established. For many years quiet and peace reigned. The children of the pale face and those of the red man went in and out as one family, all under the wise guidance of Rev. Johnson. A few years of this peaceful life and all was changed. Rev. ,Iohnson took a decided stand for slavery. The Mission became a meeting place for Southern sympathizers. It was only natural then that the territo-rial legislature decided to mo-ve its capital to the Mission. They occupied the building that served as dor- mitory. This building housed two governors. The grandfather of ex-Governor Hadley of Missouri taught here for some time. The legislature passed laws so stringent that they called forth a wave of indignation from the aboliti-onists. Spirit ran high, and in 1865 Rev. Johnson- was wantonly shot down in his doorway. He was buried in the little grave- yard that is situated in the southeast corner of the Mission grounds. NV of n peace depol move know Th Rev. Willi now rich

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a, however, no provis- nes, Arap- Catlng and ever out of chibited by soN, '15, if jackson itil 1840 it the West. avid Ward County to Jn County. sixty acres, inal report 7. George C. Owens, ngton, and ll the lots. , 1827, the 2 cash pay- le General 31, and fif- forty acres lse and jail possible. is and the 1. In 1831 Lnding was away. The the moun- rom Pitts- carried by re landed, long eight THE WESTPGRT HIGH SCHGGL HERALD. 23 hundred mile trip to Santa Fe. The trade prospered from the first, and a custom ho-use was erected. Several people engaged in the manufacture of wagons and harness. From 1831 to 1834 the Mormon troubles interfered with the prosperity of the town, but it was not long until the Baptists, Meth- odists, and Presbyterians organized churches. A number of lodges were organized in 1846. The business of Independence suffered a severe blow when the flood of 1844 washed away the landing at Wayne City. As late as 1850 mails were dispatched from Indepen- dence to Santa Fe and Salt Lake. Independence was the scene of several con- flicts during the Civil War. It was raided by the Union cavalry in 1861, and was occupied by Confederate troopers in 1862. In 1867 churches were rebuilt and schools reestablished. Soon after this some of the courts were removed to Kansas City, which materially checked the growth of the town. The town prospered even in spite of this, and to-day has a population of 13,000. CORA BENsoN, '15. Mi--.i,l..li WEST PORT The early settlers saw that the junction of the Kaw and Missouri rivers would make a fine place for a settlement. They knew from the natural advantages that it would be the gateway to the VVest. They did not stop ex- actly at the junction of the two rivers, how- ever, but went farther down and formed a settlement at Independence. In 1831 Rev. Isaac McC-oy took up a tract of government land four miles so-uth of In- dependence on the trail leading to Santa Fe. His son john built a store on his father's land the next year. The business prospered, and several others built stores. john McCoy then divided his tract of land into small farms and sold them. Westport was the result of this little settlement. It was built in 1833. Tradesmen on the trail saw an advantage in stopping here, as it was eighteen miles closer than the landing they had been in the habit of using. A Frenchman built a road from Westport to the river, and from then on Westport grew rapidly. Gutfitting stores, blacksmiths and wagon makers flocked to VVestport. Most of the business h-ouses were built along Mill creek, which ran through the center of the town. The first tavern was built by Mr. Yocum at Westport avenue and Mill street. Later Mr. McGee built a hotel at Westport and Penn, which he sold to jack,' Harris in 1847. This hotel, The Harris House, was' run by Har- ris until 1864. A tannery, a distillery, a corn mill, a sad- dlery, and a bakery, together with a postoffice and the outfitting stores, composed the greater part -of the town's business. Between 1855 and 1860 Wesport was at her height. More business was carried on at that time than at any time since. Thirteen stores were in operation. The first church was the Union Church, built where the VVestport Bank is now stand- ing. Four denominations, Methodists, Chris- tians, Baptists, and Presbyterians, raised eighteen hundred dollars by subscription for the erection of the church. The first school was built at Fortieth and Washington. The upper part was used for preachin'. This school was moved later to Biding and Boone. Mr. C. C. Huffaker was the first teacher. During the War business fell off and did not regain its footing until 1867. After 1867 Westport grew rapidly, and in 1899 became a part of Kansas City. W. ELL1soN LUTHER, '15. ,..L...i. ' WESTPORT LANDING When Westport was established, the prin- cipal steamboat landing in jackson County was at Blue Mills, six miles below Indepen- dence. The Westport merchants found this landing inconvenient, and so they had their freight brought ashore farther up the river.

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ANSAS es southwest s one of the XV est. .vith his wife come to the mpropriations a land grant ent, the total 'ly Sl00,000. l, dormitory, and manual tantial home was brought s are in ex- shed homes. y a hundred fls, and even J sew, spin, ey were also thriyed, and -lished. For lgned. The e of the red ly, all under in. : and all was ecided stand e a meeting It was only . legislature he Mission. rved as dor- J governors. Hadley of C. :ringent that nation from and in 1865 down in his little grave- least corner THE VVESTPQRT HIGH SCHCQL HERALD. 25 NVl1en the end came to this awful four years of mob rule, vandalism, and carnage, this peaceful and prosperous settlement was almost depopulated. The Shawnee Indians were moved to the West, and the home that had known them so long knew them no more. The property had passed into other hands. Rev. Johnson willed the property to his son, William Johnson, who is still living there. He now owns about two hundred acres of this rich land. There are three of the original buildings, now three-quarters of a century old. The one in which the legislature met is now the home of a dairyman and is in Hne repair. The one across the street on the southwest corner, where the Indians were taught to wor- ship, and where many a dusky bride has been led to the altar, is now a dance hall. William johnson, the son of the founder, remembers many a boyish prank that he and his Indian comrades played there. CHAS. K. SHoFs'rALL, '15, LAUREL, ROSE, AND CYPRESS From the Neo-hellenic of Alexandros S. Vyzanties Laurel : I ain the conflict-watching laurel, Sought in rivalry's friendly quarrel, Destroying crude distortion irninoral, Crown of the poet and the chief: I ani plac'd by the breath of glory On the brows of sage rnen and hoary,- S triver and wrestler fani'd in story Speak, do ye seek the laurel-leaf? Rose .' I arn the rose, the fair beyond reason, Flower of flowers in flowers' rarest season, Breath of Eros' beautiful treason, The einblcin of Love's blisses brief, Fortune's reward in this wo1'ld's Aidenn, I heal hearts heavily love-laden, Gayly the young rnan and the inaiden Gather the rose and know no grief. l Cypress .' Laurel and rose, inen's success, and nien's gladness, M en's love and 1nen s life must undergo sadness, Defeat's despondency, wounded hearts' madness Know at the goal of life a glad relief: Frorn life's enipty visions nian rnust awaken, I And see life of love and triuniphs forsaken, And the cypress insatiable unshaken Swallow the rose-blooin and the laurel-leaf. KEENE C. WALLIS, ,l5.