trade they naturally caused, added an additional element to the prosperity of Westport, and there began to be some outfitting done there, but in a smaller way than at Independence. Among the first to avail themselves of the advantages afforded by Westport were such of the old Indian traders as had become engaged in the Mexican trade. Understanding the river and the country, as well as the methods of conducting a frontier trade, better than others engaged in it, they were quick to perceive the advantages to this new trade of a landing nearer to their new headquarters than that at Blue Mills. Knowing the character of the landing at Chouteau's warehouse, and perceiving the advantage of the superior pasturage for their teams on the prairies, and the saving of the eighteen miles. haul over wooded roads, they began to land their goods at Chouteau's warehouse. As early as 1834, Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain landed a cargo of goods at this point for the Mexican trade, and for their Indian posts on the plains. Others followed their example, and then a tendency to make headquarters at Westport and use Chouteau's warehouse as a landing place arose and gradually increased, adding the Santa Fe business to that of the Indian and fur trade already done at this place and Westport. It was this tendency more than anything else that suggested the idea of a town where Kansas City now is, and led to the organization of a company for that purpose in 1838, at which time the trade had assumed very large proportions.

CHARACTER AND METHODS OF THE TRADE.

In the earlier years of this great trade, pack animals were largely used for conveyance. The first expeditions, prior to 1822, appear to have been conducted on foot with packs on the backs of the traders, after the fashion of a peddler. In 1822 and 1823, pack animals were mostly used, and in 1824 and 1825, the caravans were composed partly of pack animals and partly of wagons. From 1826 on, only wagons were used. For many years no party started from the border strong enough to feel it safe to attempt the passage alone, hence they adopted the custom of rendezvousing at Council Grove, in what is now the State of Kansas. Here they united in such numbers as to feel safe in attempting the passage, and organized, electing a captain and such minor officers as they deemed requisite.

The men engaged in the trade were of the most hardy and courageous class; and it was well, for their life on the plains was one of peculiar dangers and hardships. From Council Grove to within a few miles of Santa Fe, they were beset with hostile savages. The caravans marched four wagons abreast with guards all round, and were so corralled at night as to form a barricade, which was well guarded. Affrays with the Indians were of frequent occurrence, and many of the earlier parties lost some of their men, and some were nearly annihilated. Some were compelled to cache their goods, that is, bury them in the earth to keep them from falling into the hands of the Indians, and escaped themselves only with the utmost hardships and suffering, Others again were lost for days on the prairie, without water, and nearly famished. One instance is recorded by Dr. Gregg of a party that were saved only by finding a buffalo fresh from a stream to them undiscovered, with stomach full of water, which, after killing the animal, they eagerly drank, and esteemed it the most delicious draught they had ever tasted. Although opening and developing a trade of such vast importance to the United States, and although constantly beset with hostile savages, the government furnished but three military escorts, and these only so far as to the American line, then the Arkansas River. These escorts were in 1829, 1834 and 1843.

STATISTICS.

Dr. Gregg, in his "Commerce of the Prairies," gives the statistics of this trade from the beginning down to 1843, from which the following table is taken, to show its growth to the close of the year 1837 and its magnitude at that time:

Of the fur and Indians conducted from this center, no statistics were ever preserved; but at the close of 1837, when the Santa Fe trade had reached such proportions as are above given, these others were almost, if not quite, as promi

CHAPTER V.

THE FOUNDING OF KANSAS CITY.

The Situation in 1838-The First Ferry-The Santa Fe and Indian Trade Tend to Kansas City-Purchase of the Prudhomme Estate for a Town Site- The Survey and Sale of 1839Troubles of the Company Retard the Town-What Was Thought of It-Its Early TradeA Description of Early Kansas City-Efforts to Divert the Santa Fe Trade-Its Suppression in 1843-Statistics—Situation in 1843-The Great Flood of 1844-The Events of 1843 to 1846-The Mexican War.

Having now briefly sketched the history of the three principal elements that entered into the commercial foundation of Kansas City, it comes next in order to set down the circumstances under which the town originated, the manner in which it was founded, and the course of events entering into its development.

THE SITUATION IN 1838.

At the time to which each of the preceding chapters brought this record, to 1838, the entire country west of the Missouri River and the State line of Missouri and Arkansas was in the possession of the Indians. The tribes on these borders were all in receipt of large annuities from the Government which gave rise to a rich and profitable trade with them. There was in existence a trade of about equal volume between this western border and southern Mexico, crossing the intervening Indian country, and there was still in existence a large volume of the old French, Indian and Fur trade. These three elements of trade gathered at this angle of the river as at a focus, for the reason already stated, that this was the nearest point toward the scene of each of them that could be reached by water transportation. To stop lower down the river, or advance higher, were alike detrimental.

At that time Missouri was still quite a sparsely settled State. The western half of it had been settled in part for not exceeding twenty years, and the tide of immigration into it, though considered large in these times, was trifling when compared with the immense movements of population since witnessed into other States. What is called the "Platte Purchase," that is, the territory embraced in Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Nodaway and Atchison counties, had been added to the State in 1836, the State line prior to that time having run directly north from the mouth of the Kaw River. This country was not opened for settlement until 1837, and though its settlement was rapid for those days, it was still an unorganized country.

THE FIRST FERRY.

The settlement of this Platte purchase had an important effect upon the future city. Up to that time there had been no ferry across the river here, other than the canoes heretofore referred to, but with the opening of this new country there was a spasmodic movement into it from the south side of the river. To accommodate this movement Peter Roy, a son of Louis Roy, who settled at the foot of Grand avenue during 1826, established a flat-boat ferry, and in order to provide better access to it than the old road heretofore mentioned, he cut a new road through the woods from about where Walnut street crosses Fifteenth street down by the present junction of Main and Delaware streets, and thence down a deep ravine which followed down Delaware street to Sixth, thence across by the corner of Main and Fifth streets, diagonally across the Public Square and thence to the river a little east of the present line of Grand avenue from Third street

down. This road afterward became a factor in the concentration of the Indian and Santa Fe trade at this place. The ferry, thus established by Mr. Roy, was conducted by him but a short time when he sold it to James H. McGee, who then lived on a farm south of Sixteenth street. McGee sold the ferry in less than a year to Rev. Isaac McCoy, of whom mention has already been made, who conducted it until 1843, when he sold it to his son, John C. McCoy. Mr. McCoy subsequently sold a half interest in it to John Campbell, and in 1854 the other half to Messrs. Northrup and Chick.

THE SANTA FE AND INDIAN TRADES TEND TO KANSAS CITY.

At this time, 1837 and 1838, many of the Santa Fe traders had adopted the custom heretofore mentioned of stopping at Westport to await the arrival of their goods at Blue Mills. To them, and to the Indian traders at Westport, a new landing only four miles distant, at the French Settlement, offered great advantages over one eighteen miles distant, at Blue Mills. Hence, with the facilities afforded by the new road cut by Petite Roy, there arose a strong tendency to receive their goods at this point. It then became manifest that the best landing point was higher up than Chouteau's house, on the property belonging to the estate of Gabriel Prudhomme, who died about this time. This point was at the foot of Grand avenue, Walnut, Main, and Delaware streets, and the new road gave access to this new locality. Here there was a natural rock landing superior, by nature, to those of Blue Mills and Wayne City, notwithstanding all the improvements that had been made upon them. It was this fact that determined the site of Kansas City, by determining the exact spot of transfer between boats and wagons of these two great branches of trade.

PURCHASE OF THE PRUDHOMME ESTATE.

The Prudhomme estate, upon which existed this natural landing, is described as the south fractional half of section thirty, township fifty, and includes the land lying between Broadway and Troost avenue, from the river back to the township line, which runs along Independence avenue.

On the 30th of October, 1837, Prosper Mercier and wife, his wife being a daughter of Gabriel Prudhomme, and one of the heirs of the estate, petitioned the Circuit Court of Jackson county for an allotment of dower to Prudhomme's widow, and a division of the land among the heirs. On the 9th of December, the court made an order appointing Wm. M. Chick, Peter Booth and Samuel Johnson commissioners to make such allotment of dower and division of the land among the heirs. On the 3d of April, 1838, these commissioners reported to the court that after viewing the land they were satisfied that such allotment of dower and division of land could not be made without great injustice to the parties. On the next day, April 4th, the court made an order for the sale of the land, and releasing from the commission Messrs. Chick and Johnson at their request, appointed James P. Davenport and Elliott Johnson in their stead. These commissioners were instructed by the court to advertise the sale of the land for six weeks prior to day of sale by notice in a paper in Liberty, Clay county, and one in St. Louis, and by hand bills, and to make the sale on twelve months' credit. They made the sale July 7th, 1838, and reported it to the court on the 10th of August. At this sale James H. McGee, who, on the 21st of August, 1837, had been appointed guardian of the minor heirs, acted as crier. In fact, it appears that he had conducted the whole business, and that the advertising had been inadequately done. At the sale there were present only Mr. McGee, Abraham Fonda and a Mr. Clark, who came with him; and William Gillis and Michael Auther besides, perhaps, some few others who had dropped in merely as spectators. Fonda was bidding and offering such low prices that Gillis and Auther asked for time to consult, with a view to bidding. They retired for this purpose,