A Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets
Past and Present
of Jackson County, Missouri

Compiled by Arthur Paul Moser

Acme

Acme was on R. F. D. From Independence. The State of Missouri, in 1904, Walter Williams, p. 471.

This area is now in the Kansas City limits. (--General Highway Map of Jackson County, issued by the Missouri State Highway Dept., 11-1-66. Unless otherwise noted all map locations are from this map.) Atherton Atherton is five miles east of Courtney. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is situated at Section 34, Township 50 N, Range 31 W north from Blue Mills.

It is a Rural Branch of Independence post-office. (--Standard Reference Guide of Missouri, 1974, Rand, McNally & Co. ) Blue Mills Blue Mills was a post-office sixteen miles south, southwest from Independence. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, p. 268.)

It is situated at Section 14, 15, Township 50 N, Range 31 W, on an extension of Highway 7 north from 24.

Mail via Independence. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Blue Springs (Sni-a-bar Township) The town of Blue Springs is located on the southeast qr. of the northeast qr. of Section 36, Township 49 N, Range 31 W, and also fifteen acres of land off the south side of the northeast qr. of the northeast qr. of said Section 36, Township and range aforesaid...

Mr. S. K. Knox caused this town to be laid off, and it was recorded on the 12th day of September, 1878. C. W. Mock built the first business house in Blue Springs. This occurred in July, 1878. J. K. Parr was the first party to move his family to Blue Springs and claim the title of "the first settler," in the new town of Blue Springs...

The name Blue Springs was first given to a spring of water flowing from the side of a hill and falling into a tributary of Little Blue River. It was then given to the post-office, which was established in the year 1845, about three-fourths of a mile northwest of the spring of water. After the post-office was established there sprang up a little settlement, in which Esquire Franklin Smith kept a store; then Riley Slaughter commenced a mercantile business there. The little village of Blue Springs remained northwest of the site of Blue Springs till the year 1879 when it was removed to the railroad. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 318.)

Blue Springs is in the area bounded by Highways 7, I-70 and 470. [2]

Buckner (elevation 750 feet) This...town, named in honor of A. M. Buckner, who lived not far distant, is situated fifteen miles east of Independence, near the center of Fort Osage Township. It was laid out by Thomas Monroe, in the spring of 1875...The first house built on the present site of Buckner was by John T. Cobb, in which he kept a general country store. This was in the year 1871...

It is supposed, and there is most satisfactory evidence, that the Missouri River once ran through this valley, and pursued about the same course as is now pursued by Fire Prairie Creek...

In 1881, there were general stores operated by H. L. Hewitt, and Noah Vest; drug store by John J. Mann; post-office, E. R. Henderson, postmaster.... (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 311.)

It is situated at Section 14, 15, 23, and 24, Township 50 N, Range 30 W, at the junction of Highways BB & 24. Cobbler Cobbler is situated at Section 9, Township 50 N, Range 31 W, south of the Missouri River, southwest from Atherton. Cockrell Cockrell is on R. F. D. Southeast from Lee's Summit. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is situated at Section 16, Township 47 N, Range 30 W, on 50 east of 7.

Mail via Lee's Summit; no population shown. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Courtney Courtney is nine miles east of Kansas City. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is situated at Section 12, Township 50 N, Range 32 W, on Bypass 71 near the Missouri River.

Mail via Independence. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Dodson Dodson is two miles north of Holmes Park. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Drakemore Drakemore is north of Waldo. (--Williams, p. 411.)

This area is in the limits of Kansas City. (--General Highway Map of Jackson County.) [3]

Fire Prairie Fire Prairie was a post-office ten miles east of Independence. (--Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, Campbell, 1874, p. 268.)

It is a part of Independence. (--General Highway Map of Jackson County.) Fort Osage Fort Osage was in the northeast corner of the county, at Section 2, Township 50 N, Range 30 W.

It is no longer listed. Gilpintown See Wayne City. Grain Balley (elevation 790 feet, Sni-a-bar Township) The town was laid off by Joseph Peters, Sept. 5, 1878. It is located in the northwest qr. of the northeast qr. of Section 35, Township 49 N, Range 30 W...a total of four acres...

It is located at the junction of I-70 and BB, east of Blue Springs.

This little village is situated on the Chicago & Alton R. R. in the central southern portion of Sni-a-bar Township. It was laid out in the fall of 1878, by John Lucas, three-quarters of a mile from Sni-a-bar Creek, and five miles from Blue Springs...

In 1881, J. H. Cannon was postmaster; C. V.Kiefer, druggist; Frank Gregg, grocer...Shoe repair shop, Geo. Kreigel... (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 372.) Grandview (elevation 1080 feet) Grandview is two miles south of Hickman's Mills. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is situated at Township 47 N, Range 32, 32, on Highway 71 north of Cass County line. Greenwood The town of Greenwood is laid out in four sections: in Section 27, 28, 33 and 34, Township 47 N, Range 31 W. It is located very near the southern limits of Jackson County, on the main line of the Missouri Pacific R. R. Alfred Hanscom, C. W. Price, Frank Brooks, and Rev. S. G. Clark were among those who laid out the town of Greenwood. The first store was kept by a man named Wise, afterwards a resident of Holden, Missouri. Soon after R. W. Price put up a building for business and residence...The post-office was established in the year 1866 with R. W. Price, the first postmaster. (--History of Jackson County, pp. 348, 349.)

It is situated on Highway 150, east of Bypass 71. [4]

Hicks City Hicks City, near the southwest corner of the county, had a church, a public school, a few stores and about 100 inhabitants. (--Campbell, p. 268.)

This area is between Lone Jack and Sni Mills.

It is no longer listed. Hickman's Mills This was the most important village in Washington Township. It was a trading point for a large scope of the county. Hickman's Mills is sixteen miles from Independence, the same distance from Kansas City, and eight miles from Lee's Summit. In 1881, T. M. Simon was postmaster, John R. Moore and T. F. Simon had a general store. Isaac Bryant and Son had a blacksmith shop...Population about 50 inhabitants. (--History of Jackson County, p. 361.)

This area is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) High Blue The first post-office in Washington Township was at High Blue, southwest of Hickman's Mills and Isaac Blue was postmaster. This office was discontinued before the Civil War, and afterward, about the year 1867, the office was re-established with Marcellus Gilham as postmaster. (--History of Jackson County, p. 361.)

This area is in Kansas City, or a part thereof. (--General Highway Map of Jackson County.) Holmes Park Holmes Park is two miles north of Hickman's Mills. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Independence (elevation 1050 feet) Independence, the county seat, selected and laid out in 1827, lies three miles south of the Missouri River and nearly midway between the east and west lines of the county...

>From 1828 until about 1845, it was the mart and rendezvous of the overland merchants and traders to New Mexico and the western plains and mountains...It was the point of final outfit and departure of nearly all expeditions going toward the west at that time. After 1845 the overland westward trade was transferred to the new town of Kansas City... (--Campbell, p. 261.)

It is situated at Township 49, Range 32 & 33 W at the junction of 12, 435, south of 24. [5]

Kansas City In the early 1800's, there was a tendency to consolidate the fur and Indian trade into fewer hands...In 1813, the Missouri Fur Company was merged into the American...The Choteaus and others who had been connected with the old Missouri Company then became connected with it. Pierre Choteau, eldest son of Pierre Choteau, who came from France...and his brother Francois Choteau was also connected with it...After the absorption of the Missouri Company, the American Company began to great efforts to monopolize the trade by rooting Choteau was sent into the county to establish posts....

At what time he first entered upon this work is unknown...Among the posts thus established by him, was one on the Kaw River about twenty miles from its mouth, known as the "Fur Houses," from the fact that it consisted of log houses so arranged as to inclose a square court equal in size to the width of one of the houses...

In the spring of 1821 M. Choteau was sent back into this country to establish a general agency for the posts he had established or connected with the company...

The first white man other than these and the French traders to locate on ground now embraced within the corporate limits of Kansas City was James H. McGee, who settled here in 1828...

The first ferry across the Missouri River in the vicinity of Kansas City, was established at Randolph Bluffs (Clay County) by a Mr. Younger, grandfather of the "Younger boys" who in connection with the "James boys" have been so notorious in the West...At what time the ferry was established is not known, but it was in operation in 1828 ...

In 1828 a land office was opened at Franklin, (Howard County) and the lands in Jackson County were brought into the market... (--History of Jackson County, 1881, pp., 376, 377, 380.)

Kansas City now is in Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

(There are several histories of Kansas City available. If further information is desired, it is suggested that they be consulted.) Lake City This town was laid out in northeast qr. of Section ? of Township 50 N, Range 30 W, by Robert Hudspeth April 17, 1876...about eleven miles east of Independence...In 1881 S. T. Harris was postmaster; White & Van Cloud had a general store; S. T. Harris, drug store. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 312.)

It is east of Highway 7 and north of 78.

Mail via Buckner. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) [6]

Lake Tapawango It is northwest of Blue Springs, Township 49 N, Range 31 W, between I-70 and 40.

Mail via Blue Springs. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Leeds It is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Leeds Junction Leeds Junction is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Lee's Summit (elevation 1059 feet) Lee's Summit...derived its name from Dr. Lee, and from the fact of its location being the highest point between Kansas City and St. Louis on the Missouri Pacific R. R. Dr. Lee lived one mile north of the town. During the Civil War he was taken from his house by unidentified parties...and shot to death. No cause is assigned for the act as the doctor was highly respected by all. He was a non-combatant, taking no part in the war...

The town is fourteen miles south of Independence, and was laid out in October, 1865, by William B. Howard, Esq...

In 1881, it contained four church edifices, a large depot, two restaurants and four lawyers. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, pp. 342, 345.)

It is between Highways 50 and 71 Bypass. Levasy (elevation 710 feet) This little village is about a mile west of the Lafayette County line...George Ward built the first business house in the town and commenced merchandising in 1876. The next store was built by James Wasson, in 1877...

In 1881, there was a grocery store, by John Hightower; drug store by John Suddeth; post-office, J. G. Ward, who also had the general store. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 312.)

It is situated in Township 50 N, Range 29 W on Highway H south of 24. Little Blue Little Blue is on the Missouri Pacific R. R. It had one store, a school house; was a "station," had a telegraph office and several other houses. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 368.)

It is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) [7]

Livingston (Blue Township) The town of Livingston was laid off in Township 50, Range 31 W, by Henry Chiles, and recorded April 29, 1837. It was laid off on the south bank of the Missouri River, but no town was built there. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 302.)

There is a Livingston in Henry County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Lonejack (Lone Jack) The plat of the town of Lone Jack was made and the site was laid off at the request of William Easley, and it is situated in Van Buren Township, on the dividing line between ranges 19 and 20 in Township 47 N, being a part of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 19, containing twelve acres 74/1000, including three acres owned by James Finlay...It bears the signature of James Finley and William Easley, and dated April 8, 1841...

In the winter of 1836 a Mr. Beattie built a store-house, the first in the township. This house was built of logs...Reuben B. Fulkerson...was the first clerk or salesman...In 1844 Warsham Easley laid off the town of Lone Jack, by which name it had already been known for years. The post-office, established in 1838, bore the name Lone Jack. The store was called the Lone Jack store and the country round-about was called the Lone Jack neighborhood, and why? Simply on account of the solitary Lone Black Jack tree that stood on that elevated ridge dividing the water of the Missouri from those of the Osage. That tree could be seen for miles. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 331, 335.)

It is situated at the junction of Highways VV, 150 & 50. Martin City Martin City is seven miles south of Dodson. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Mount Washington Mount Washington is now of Independence. (--Williams, p. 411.)

The post-office was discontinued 1929-30; mail via Kansas City. (--Missouri Manual, p. 939.)

It is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) [8]

New Salem New Salem was situated at Section 21, Township 50 N, Range 31 W, on Highway 24 west of Ripley, (q.v.).

It is no longer listed. New Santa Fe This little post village is situated on the west line of Missouri, about midway in Washington Township. In 1851, it contained one store and post-office and a few dwelling houses...

The town was laid out October 5th, 1851, and described as follows: "Situated on the SW corner of Section 7, Township 47 N, Range 33 W..." (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 361.)

Mail via Grandview. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) New Independence (Blue Township) The town of New Independence on the south bank of the Missouri, about six miles from the county seat in Blue Township, was laid off by R. S. Mize, June 9, 1855. The town was never built. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 302.) Oak Grove (Sni-a-bar Township) The town of Oak Grove is situated on the southeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of Section 32, Township 49 N, Range 29 W ...It was laid off by William E. Frick, August 22, 1872. Oak Grove is one of the oldest post villages in the township. It is near the Lafayette County line. It had eleven stores and business houses, a school house, church, post-office, hotel, livery stable, and a mill building...

The first post-office in Sni-a-bar Township was Oak Grove. John McKinney was postmaster. The office changed hands several times, and moved each time it changed hands, until it finally got into the village of Oak Grove, about three years before the Civil War. The town of Oak Grove is situated on the Chicago & Alton R. R., and derived its name from the post-office. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 321, 323.)

It is situated at the junction of I-70 & F.

See also, Oak Grove in Madison County. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Pink Hill (Sni-a-bar Township) The little village of Pink Hill was situated in Sni-a-bar Township, on the line dividing Ranges 19 and 20, in Township 49 N. Its plat bore the date of November 5, 1854 and was signed by George W. Love and D. A. Neer. Some years ago (from 1881) there was a little post town called Stony Point, situated in the southern part of the township. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 323.)

It is no longer listed. [9]

Raytown Raytown occupies a central location in what is called the "Blue Prairie," --- being on the ridge between Big and Little Blue, eight miles from Independence and ten from Kansas City. It had a Masonic Hall, one meeting-house, one store and saddler's shop, one blacksmith shop and a doctor's office, also a post-office and a school house. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 308.)

It is bounded by Highways 40, 50 & 435.

It is a branch of the Kansas City P. O. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Ripley Ripley is situated at Section 22, Township 50 N, Range 31 W on Highway 24 west of 7.

It has no population. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Sibley The town of Sibley is situated near the southern limits of Township 51 N, Range 30 W, on the south bank of the Missouri River, Sections 34 & 35...The plat was acknowledge June 4, 1836...

Most of the town was burned by the Federal Soldiers during the Civil War. It was said that Federal boats passing on the river were fired upon by bush-whackers and others from this point, and the soldiers taking it for granted that this was the headquarters of rebels and enemies of the government, hence the destruction of the town. Only eighteen houses were spared, more than twice that number having been reduced to ashes. The town has never recovered from this...

This town is the oldest in Jackson County ... Sibley was at one time the only shipping point west of Lexington. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 309, 310.) Sni Mills Sni Mills is in the southeast corner of the county, north from Hick's City. Williams, p. 411.

It is situated at Section 28, 29, Township 48 N, Range 29 W at the junction of F & 7.

Mail via Oak Grove. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Stony Point (Sni-a-bar Township) Some years ago (from 1881) there was a little post town called Stony Point, situated in the southern part of the township. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 323.)

It is no longer listed. [10]

Tarnsey Tarnsey is in the southeast corner of the county south from Grain Valley. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is situated at Section 22, 23, & 26, Township 48 N, Range 30 W, at the junction of Highways 7 & BB.

Mail via Lee's Summitt and Oak Grove. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Tyman Twyman was south of Atherton. (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is no longer listed. Waldo Waldo is northwest of Dodson (q.v.). (--Williams, p. 411.)

It is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.) Wayne City (Blue Township) The following is the record in reference to the plat of Wayne City: "The above is a plat of a town called Wayne City, in the county of Jackson, State of Missouri, lying on the bank of the Missouri River, on a tract of land belonging to the heirs of William Avert, deceased, bounded as follows, to-wit:

"Beginning at a rock on the bank of the river and running down the river bank north 31 1/3 degrees, east 56 poles; then south 58 2/3 degrees, east 22 poles, thence south 31 2/3 degrees, west 56 poles; thence north 58 2/3 degrees, west 22 poles to the beginning, containing 7 10/100 acres. The bearings of the streets and alleys and lanes of the lots are parallel, or at right angles with the exterior lines. The lots are all the same 55 feet by 127 feet... (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 302.)

Wayne City, Missouri, was a major river landing for the commercial village of Independence, Missouri, beginning in the 1830's and lasting through the 1850's...Members of the Latter Day Saints Church used its ferry system to escape the wrath of belligerent factions in the area of Independence and Jackson County...

Wayne City was named for Lieutenant Wayne, the officer in charge of the troops sent by the Gov't to ward off the Kaw Indians on their land to the West...Other references, both public and private state that a riverboat by the name of Anthony Wayne had sunk just below the landing. No one knows which story is correct. An important subdivision called Gilpintown for the developer, William Gilpin who had visions of annexation from Independence, failed. [11] The railroad carried freight and passengers from the steamboat landing on the river to town. This landing was called "Potter's Landing." (--The Kansas City Genealogist, Vol. XX, Number 1, Summer, 1979, pp. 13 & 14.)

Wayne City is no longer listed. Westport Independence had for some ten or fifteen years been the center of the Mexican and Santa Fe trade, and had greatly prospered through the wealth thus brought to its door; but a point of outfit and pasturage for the teams of the traders was sought further west. The outfitting post was located twelve miles west of Independence, and named from its position with respect to Independence, "Westport"...

Extensive wagon manufactories were kept in full operation for many years, and saddle and harness manufactories employed many hands. Westport continued to flourish till "Westport Landing," now Kansas City, increased more rapidly, and soon outstripped its parent, drawing much of the business nearer the river. Westport today (1881) is a faded suburb of Kansas City...

In 1840 the Santa Fe trade commenced with great vigor. Those engaged in the trade at its inception were Boone & Bernard. This was the only firm engaged in the trade of that time. The first large stock of goods was consigned to them and loaded at Westport Landing, what is now (1881) the foot of Grand Avenue, Kansas City. (--History of Jackson County, 1881, p. 350, 351.)

Westport is a part of Kansas City. (--Rand, McNally, 1974.)

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