Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-09-14
FROM BLUFFS TO CHICAGO.
"reminiscences Of Early Mormon Days
on The Missouri.
uIstarieai sLetches-Hnnsas city 20
ihe worlds Tair.-utab nays
Celebration.
csrtlgondmes Drsrnrr Nfws

oerrstpondenes DISCREET news
KANSAS CITY, jackson county, Mis-.
souri, Sept. 7, ls93.--A few days ngo,
while hunting up old settlers In Jack
son county, I visited the old town Of
Westport, situated about three miles
south Of the lower part Of kansas
City. while there Iniet three old men
(AmaEon Hayes, James Hunter and
John s. Harris who figured in Jaci.
son county In the thiriies, and remem.
bered a great many things connected
with the Mormon difficulties in 1888.
They told me all the particulars they
could remember vi the tkirmish which
took place between q company ofsainis
and a mob short distance east OF
Westpoft on ths an Of November,
1898, during which Andrew Barber,
one Of the Saints, was mortally wounded
and two Of the mob were killed. The
exact spot where that skirmish was
fought, as well Ne they could Tcmom' er,
IL the place where the present road
leading from westpoft 10 independence
crosses Springfield avenue, street
running through and south Of Kansas
City, on what WIS known for many
years as the Calvin Mccoy farm John
Calvin Mccoy. A large number Of
the Saints had settled In that district
Of country now lying east and south Of
Wcstport; others along tho Big Blue
and some In the Immediate vicinity Of
Independence. In answer TO my ques.
lions as 10 the cause OF the iioulties
between the Mormons ana the other
settlers OF jackson county, they were
all Of the opinion that there were
faults ON both sides, but that tbs main
controversy arose ON account OF tho
peculiar religion which the Mofmons
believed In. The old Missourians would
not"tAko stock" In modern revelations,
aud did not believe In angels visiting
the earth nor that miracles could be
performed In our day. And they would
not live together with ueighbOrs who
believed In such "alu1D M that.
Woetpori. which will still be remen.
bored by quite number Of Saints In
and following years, H. now a suburban
town TO Kansas City, lying immedi-
ately south Of that town. Many Of the
Saints who emigrated 10 Utah IN early
days came up the Mississippi aud
Missouri rivers As far ms Westport
Landing (ihe present Kansas Clty)
when they disembarked, aud thence
proceeded TO WestpOrt, where they
secured their outfits Tor crossing the
plAius. The old Mormon camping
ground southwest Of the town was
pointed cut TO me.
WestpOrt dntes back 10 1881. Some
tlme during that year land was taken
up In that locality by the Rev. lsaac
Mccoy, VINO subsequently, acted con.
spicuOusly W. m0bocrat, helping TO
urive tho Saints away from Jackson
county. In 1882 his son, John q. Nc.
Coy, who Afterwards figured prom
inently In the early history Of Kansas,
established a trading post at this pla
having the Indians to trade with VA
the one side and the new settlers OF
Missouri on tbs other. Tine first goods
tver landed where Kansas CITY now
stands, were goods shipped 10 Mr. Me.
Coy In 1882. In 1888 Mr.. McCoy's
Ideas OF his new trading post had be-
grounds adjacent to IL into town lots,
and called 1t Westport. The new town
thus founded grew rapidly, aud In
short time there were number OF
trading houses established, which
opened IN extensive trAue with the
neighborlng Indians. Later the so-
called Santa Fe trade, or rather an
extensive trade opened with northern
Mexico, made Weatport place Of i'm.
portance, and the goods shipped 70
Mexico and other points were mostly
landed nj the great bend OF the river,
then called Westport Landing, now
Kansas City.
Al the present time WeatpOIt proper
has about 1000 Inhabitants, but there
are perhaps 5000 people within it,
corporate limits. ARDREw JESsON.
KANSAS CRY, Jackson Co., Mis-.
sour, Sept. Z, lSD3,-Nearly every
county IN Missouri has put
liuhed, or caused to be- published, his.
tories OF their respective localities,
these are, ap n rule, not very accurate,
m to dates and circumstances, but
they are nevertheless the best author.
tiles on hand at the present time ON
many points OF historical interest.
From one Of these histories published
like most OF the others by the Missouri
Historical company on Jackson o0uu-
", l have culled n portion OF the fol.
lowing;
In honor OF Andrew Jackson the
seventh President ofthe United States,
jackson county, Missouri, received It's
name. There are ut least twenty
counties 10 the United States bearing
the same distinguished appellstiou.
jackson county, Missouri, was not
settled or organized at nH early date
nj some OF the adjoining counties. The