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Life was less sad in
1827 than it is now as we
enter upon the second
century of existence for the
City of Independence. Men
were free and unrestrained
in 1827 -- joyous and
fun-loving. Even the County
Court was regarded as
inconsequential by those not
concerned in its proceedings
and was sometimes treated
with levity, even derision.
One man, dauntless and
unafraid, came into the
presence of the newly
installed by humble County
Court and made sport of that
unimposing body. He was
promptly brought before the
bar of the court and he then
and there was
disillusioned. He
discovered that this
apparently unimposing County
Court was really very
imposing. It imposed a fine
on the offender, who then
and there paid over the
amount of the fine, $1.00,
and in addition apologized
for his rudeness. That fine
was the beginning of the
County Court dignity and
authority. This fine was
generally regarded as a very
severe punishment, for a
dollar was a large sum in
those days. But thereafter
the Court was accorded a
very high and wholesome
esteem.
During the first term the
new County Court laid off
the county into three
townships, Osage, Blue and
Kaw. The township line
between Osage and Blue began
at the Missouri River and
ran due south as to strike
the Little Blue Creek at
Fristoe's Fish trap. (The
specifications of Judge
Fristoe's fish trap have
been lost to posterity.)
The three townships extended
to the Southern limits of
the county, which seems to
have been the Osage River.
We still have Osage township
and Osage Street, memorials
of the original owners of
the land. The name Osage is
a corruption of the Indian
word Oua Chage, meaning
strong, in the aboriginal
tongue.
The new County Court
appointed justices of the
peace and constables for the
several townships and thus
the operation of law became
possible upon all men and
all property. Civilization
had planted its firm foot
upon the wilderness.
One of the earliest
transactions of the County
Court was the reception of a
petition signed by twelve
householders praying the
Court for a new road. The
court in response appointed
commissioners "to view and
map out a road from the
Public Square in the town of
Independence to intersect
the Missionary road on the
east side of Little Blue,
crossing Little Blue at
Fristoe's fish trap."
The first money available
for the payment of accounts
against the new county was
receipts form the sale of
lots in the town of
Independence. Among the
earlier accounts allowed by
the Court was presented by
the commissioner of the
county seat, Samuel Newton,
who presented an itemized
statement as here appended:
"To preparing mulberry
stakes............. $1.00
"James King 3 days packing
& driving
stakes............................
2.50
"John Dunston surveying the town of
Independence, 143 Lots @
.25....... 35.75
"Myself 5 days, laying off the Town,
@ 75 cts.......................................
3.75
"Writing and putting up advertisements.. 2.00
"4 quires writing paper.......................... 1.50
"2 sheets paste board............................ .25
"3 days crying sale at $2.00.................. 6.00
"Samuel C. Owens four days writing........ 4.00
"7 gallons whiskey, 50 cts...................... 3.50
"Boy watering.........................................
.25
"House rent 3 days................................ 3.00 |
