Jackson County Notables

Events, locations, and industries important
to Jackson County history.

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NOTES ON SLAVERY IN JACKSON COUNTY

As slaves increased in value and numbers it became the custom to hire them out by the year. The hirer was required to furnish the slave with medical attention, food, and the customery amount of clothing -- two pairs of trousers, 2 shirts, and a hat. The following probate court record shows the ratio of rented slave in comparison to real estate rental:

rent of real estate office (1839) for 1 year, $70.00
rent of house and lot in west part of town, $48.00
hire of Negro man for 1 year, $170.00
hire of Negro boy for 1 year, $100.00
hire of Negro woman for 1 year, $70.00

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Slaves were always in demand in Jackson county, especially along the Missouri River where hemp was grown, which required hard, menial labor. The "Occidental Messenger" of 1853 carried several advertisements for slaves, such as the following, "100 Negroes wanted. The subscriber will pay the highest price for young and likely Negroes. I will pay more than any other gentleman who have been here. I can be found at all times at the Noland House." Pendleton Talbott

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Since white servants were almost unknown, it was necessary either to hire from slave owners, or to buy one's own cook or coachman. A slave was not a uncommon gift to a young couple setting up housekeeping. JOHN WILSON of Independence made such a present to his daughter, and the contract read:
"In consideration of mutual love and affection for my daughter, MARGARET WILSON PENDLETON, and her husband, JOHN TINSLEY PENDLETON, I hereby give to them a certain Negro boy, Ben, of dark complexion and age about 14 years old. Given under my hand this 26th of December, 1859

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In the probate court records up to 1860 are recorded wills bequeathing slaves as pesonal property. The first will which refers to slaves is that of R. B. CHILES, dated December 6, 1835, 'To my 2 daughters, Eliza and Ann, he said in the fourth clause of this will, "I devise so much of my other property taking first the young slaves under the age of my black girl MARIAH." The will was to give the 2 daughters all the younger slaves that his wife could "spare with convenience to herself." ARTHUR STAYTON'S will of August 22, 1838, left to his wife, "a servant girl, CHARLOTTE, to be hers during her natural life and widowhood", at her death or second marriage, the said slaves was to go to his 2nd daughters, ELIZABETH & REBECCA, "with all her increases."

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ISAAC MCCOY, early missionary to the Indiana with residence at Westport, made an unusual will leaving his wife a female slave named CHINEY, whom he purchased on July 13, 1835 for $15.00. She had been sold by her late owenr and appeared to be destined to the New Orleans market. "She and her husband entreated me with many tears to redeem her and prevent her from being torn from her husband and many children. I bought her from motives of humanity, also as I believe to the gratification of my neighbors and of my missionary brethren."

The reverent McCoy had been averse to holding slaves and did not promise to do more than advance the money to prevent her from being sent South. He would provide her freedom when he had paid the $15.00, plus 6% interest. The will was made at Westport and attested by ROBERT SIMMERWELL and JOTHAM MEEKER.

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Slave Bill

These names were used in the Slave Bill - GORDON, IRWIN, PARKER, ZICK, PUGSLEY, TWYMAN, ROBERTS, MCDANIEL, RICE, BALLARD, THURSTON, JACKSON, FOWLER, MCCOY, LOWE, PITCHER, TREMONIT and slaves ENOCH AND AUNT SOPHIE

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E. C. GORDON, editor of the Independence Sentinel, found a slave bill on the street which read:

Independence, MO.
Know all men by these present that I, SALLY IRWIN, for and in consideration of the sum of $300, this day sold to SAMUEL M. PARKER, one Negro boy named ENOCH, of black color, about nine years old, which boy I warrant to be a slave for life and I further warrant the said boy against all claims of any person whatever. The said Samuel Parker has executed his note bearing even date herewith, for the above mentioned sum, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. Given under my hand and seal 

this the 14th day of May, 1859.

SALLY IRWIN

The central figure of this transaction still lived in Independence when this paper was found; he worked for BERNARD ZICK. After Mr. Zick read the account aloud from the newspaper, Enoch remarked: "I was that boy! I was that very boy!" Then he briefly told his story. Born on a farm three miles west of Independence, he lived on Lexington Road at the farm known as the PUGSLEY place. After his mother sold him to Mr. Parker, he remained with this family until the slaves were freed.

As a freed slave, he worked for DR. LEO TWYMAN at the Twyman Hotel on North Main Street. Then he worked for PRESTON ROBERTS, with whom he remained for the next 29 years. During this time he lived with his sister, MARY, in a small frame house near the corner of Lexington and River Boulevard (present Slover's Drive-In). This property (lots 24-26) was deeded to ELIZA IRWIN in 1878 by Preston Roberts. Before Eliza's death in 1894, she willed the property to Enoch, with the provision that his sister would have a life inheritance. Enoch deeded his interest to his sister in 1925, and in 1826 the Reorganized Latter Day Saints became possessors of the property.

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LARGE SHIPMENT OF SLAVES
There was an uneasiness among the slaveholders when it became apparent that Kansas would become a free state. There was now the easy escape of slaves across the line that made slave property insecure. 

From Jackson County the last large shipment of slaves was made in May of 1859. One hundred blacks, handcuffed and chained, were driven down Main Street in Kansas City to the Missouri River where they were shipped to the southern market.

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THOMPSON MCDANIEL had amassed a fortune speculating in Negroes. At this time he had purchased young Negroes, mostly males between 18 and 25, and had congregated them in front of the Union Hotel, which he had built in 1858 at Missouri Avenue and Main Street. Four or five men with long blacksnake whips and revolvers kept constant watch. The scene attracted not only those who had never witnessed such a revolting sight but also those who were hardened to the business.

Thompson McDaniel owned and laid out McDaniels addition in Kansas City, containing 40 acres cornered at Missouri Avenue and Main Street running south. In 1858 he erected the Union Hotel. It was operated by different owners until compelled to close by the Civil War. It was torn down in 1884 to make way for Nelson Block.

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SLAVE CABIN STILL STANDS

AUNT SOPHIE's cabin has weathered the span of years at the present location of 8801 East 66th Street. ARCHIBALD RICE, a cotton planter from North Carolina, began homesteading the land in 1821 along what is now Blue Ridge between 65th and Gregory Blvd. In 1844 he built a large home in a semicircle of slave cabins, one of which belonged to Aunt Sophie. Her cabin was the only one to remain after Blue Ridge Blvd., was built in 1914.

FRANK BALLARD, who came to Raytown in the 1880's lived on the same plantation and often visited Aunt Sophie. She spoke of the Santa Fe Trail which passed the Rice home and told stories of the pioneers who made up the sparse village of Raytown. "When Mr. Sam Rice left his home to go to California the Ballard family moved into the home. At that time the log house was 2 rooms below and 2 rooms above, and located about Gregory and 50 Highway. It burned in 1914, related Mr. Ballard to his daughter, ETHYLENE BALLARD THURSTON.

"Aunt Sophie was a personage in her own right," Mr. Ballard often said, "dignified, truthful, and industrious." To his question as to why she hadn't married she replied: "Why, Mr. Frank, I didn't have time. I was only 15 with MISS KITTY was born and I was her personal nurse from then on. When she married MR. COFFEE RICE when she was 15, I was one of her wedding presents. She needed me and needed me bad, to help with the hours, the cooking, and to care for her babies. Besides, we loved each other."

MRS. ANNIE LANE JACKSON, granddaughter of Coffee and Kitty Rice, who for many years lived at 300 North Pleasant, had many recollections of her grandmother and Aunt Sophie. The grandmother bought clay pipes four at a time from PEDDLER DAVE and saw no harm in all, in sharing the treat of smoking with six-year-old Annie. "Somehow my teacher in Independence heard about it," said Mrs. Jackson, "and made me promise never to smoke again. This promise was kept."

Her daughter, NATALIE, later MRS. C. A. FOWLER, a Red Cross director in Washington, liked to tell how "Mother quit smoking at the age of six." Mrs. Jackson also had two sons, LANE P. and JOHN D. JACKSON, who lived in St. Louis. The father was NATHANIEL D. JACKSON, grandnephew of CLAIRBORNE JACKSON, Missouri's Confederate Civil War Governor. Nathaniel (Nat) was a well-known businessman of Independence who aided in the reorganization of the Jackson County Historical Society in the late 1940's.

Aunt Sophie at regular intervals went to a "professional hairdresser to have her hair washed and braided - probably the first colored woman in Raytown to patronize a beauty shop," related Mrs. Jackson.

All the family meals were cooked by Aunt Sophie over her own fireplace and carried into the big house. On rainy days someone would hold an umbrella over her and her kettles. She scorned the modern cookstove in the large house.

For part pay Aunt Sophie was given young livestock which she tended and sold. She was allowed to peel, dry, and sell all the apples she wished from the large orchard. She had accumulated $750 at the time of her death. When she became infirm she decided to move into the big house to live. A large pantry in process of being built onto the house was fixed up comfortably for her, and a nurse was provided for her care. She died in 1896 at the age of 90 and was buried in the family gravesite in Woodlawn Cemetery.

SOPHIE'S CABIN
The Rice heirs sold the home and cabin in 1904 to CHARLES D. MCCOY. Later he sold it to JUDGE JOSEPH M. LOWE, who became organizer and president of the National Old Trails Association. He had served as circuit judge and district attorney in Platte County before coming to Kansas City. He did not live in the home but turned it over to his son, J. ROGER LOWE.

The Lowes sold the place to H. E. PITCHER in 1922, followed by three successive buyers, none of whom kept it long. In 1929, it was sold to DR. LOUIS TREMONTI and his new bride. the Tremontis began extensive restoration on the house and Aunt Sophie's cabin. A new roof and door were built. The fireplace chimney needed only minor repairs, but a large sum was spent restoring the big house to its former grandeur. The original stone fencing laid by slaves was restored, and the tall cypress trees in the front yard still provide a dense shade. Dr. Tremonti died in 1949 and his widow was still living here in 1967.