Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Jackson: malls, warehouses, finance)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

http://law.wustl.edu/staff/taylor/manual/slavery.htm

Jackson County
County Slave Population: 1840 - 17.9%; 1850 - 21.2%; 1860 - 17.2%
Townships With the Largest Percentage of Slaves in 1860 (over 14%): Blue - 19.3%; Fort Osage (Sibley and Fort Osage) - 33.5%; Independence - 21.4; Sniabar - 18.2%


Missouri Digital Heritage: Education : Missouri's Early Slave Laws - A History in Documents


Slavery and the Making of America . The Slave Experience: Legal Rights & Gov't | PBS


Missouri "Slave Code" of 1804 made no distinction between slaves and other personal property.
Missouri law holding that slaves who lifted their hands against whites, except in self-defense, were to be punished according to the decision of the justice of the peace, with no more than 39 lashes.

Poor Celia.

There is a movie coming out next year titled Twelve Years a Slave about a free black man living in the north but drugged and shanghaied by slave traders who then shipped him to Louisiana, where he was sold and stayed for twelve years. He was actually able to secretly enlist legal help and was released through the legal system.

[WCHS'59]

"Jabez Smith, a Virginia slave trader who set up business near Independence, is on record as having transported more than two hundred slaves."

Truman, by David McCullough, p. 5, Simon and Shuster, 1992.

[WCHS'59]

Well, I think everyone is on record as saying that Jabez Smith of Independence had a lot of slaves, chuckle.

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by wchs'59

well, i think everyone is on record as saying that jabez smith of independence had a lot of slaves, chuckle.

yup!

[WCHS'59]

Jackson County was in the “Little Dixie” area of Missouri. Little Dixie generally consisted of all the counties on either side of the Missouri River extending from Kansas City to St. Louis. All most all of the slaves in Missouri were located in this area.

From previous readings, I am aware of a slave auction house being on Main Street across from the old Fire Station Number 1.

An antebellum plantation home built by Benjamin F. Thomson is on 40 Highway. I never even knew it existed when I was a youngster. Apparently built in 1855, it is still standing and was used as a restaurant for a number of years. I think someone might have previously posted the address on this thread.

The Thomson home is all brick. There were two two-story antebellum homes in Jackson County that I can remember. As I recall, either one could have substituted for Tara.

One was on Valley View Road, I think, perhaps just off Woods Chapel Road. I don’t remember the exact location but it was a really impressive place. I do not know what happened to it over the years.

Another was north of Buckner just before arriving at Sibley. Trees hid this home for years. One time when I drove by the trees had been taken out and the home could be fully seen. The next time I drove by, it was gone and there was a lot of heavy equipment still on the front yard area.


I don’t know about the Blevins Davis mansion on Lee’s Summit Road across from the Drumm Farm. I never heard any stories that connected it to slavery.

[WCHS'59]

I just noticed that Google Earth has updated their overhead images of Independence to September 2, 2012. The images show the rough cut for Little Blue Parkway clear to Highway 24.

The ground level images date from 2008, or sooner, through 2011. In some cases the ground level does not match to the aerial level.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I just noticed that Google Earth has updated their overhead images of Independence to September 2, 2012. The images show the rough cut for Little Blue Parkway clear to Highway 24.

The ground level images date from 2008, or sooner, through 2011. In some cases the ground level does not match to the aerial level.

An example. An aerial of the square shows this years Santa-Cali-Gon celebration (Sep 2, 2012 imagery date). Going down to street level shows just a bunch of parked cars in front of the courthouse (Aug 20, 2011 imagery date).

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

An antebellum plantation home built by Benjamin F. Thomson is on 40 Highway. I never even knew it existed when I was a youngster. Apparently built in 1855, it is still standing and was used as a restaurant for a number of years. I think someone might have previously posted the address on this thread.

The Thomson home is all brick. .

The Thomson house is on the northeast corner of 36th Street and 40 highway. One could never tell it was built in 1855. From the outside it appears to be in excellent shape.

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The Thomson house is on the northeast corner of 36th Street and 40 highway. One could never tell it was built in 1855. From the outside it appears to be in excellent shape.

Here's a shot off of Google Maps. I noticed what appears to be a historical marker in front, that I need at some point to take a photo of.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Here's a shot off of Google Maps. I noticed what appears to be a historical marker in front, that I need at some point to take a photo of.

I have just this morning spoke to someone who was taken to this place in the mid-fifties when it was called "The Old Plantation" restaurant.