Carthage Missouri - America's Maple Leaf City

MISSOURI LEGENDS

Carthage - America's Maple Leaf City

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Greetings From Carthage, Missouri

The territory that would one day become Jasper County, Missouri was purchased by the U.S. Government from the Osage Indians for $1,200 in cash and $1,500 in merchandise in 1808. The Native Americans were then moved to an area designated as the Osage Nation. Though a number of them tried to return to their native lands in 1837, they were soon driven back to their territory.

Jasper County was formed in 1841, with a 12’x16’ split log house on a bluff above Spring River, designated as the first county seat. The newly formed government required that each while male was help to build the public roads through the county at last two days per year or pay a 50 cent tax. A year later, the county adopted the site of Carthage as the permanent county seat and laid out the new town site surrounding a public square. On the north side of the square, a simple one room frame courthouse was built at a cost of $398.50, completed in June, 1842. Other frame buildings soon followed, housing Carthage’s first businesses. By 1851, the prospering little town had outgrown its small wooden courthouse and the building was replaced by a two-story brick structure.

Belle Starr was called the Bandit Queen.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

In 1856, John Shirley, the father of the notorious would-be outlaw "Bandit Queen," Belle Starr, moved his family from his nearby farm to Carthage, where they built an inn, a tavern, livery stable and blacksmith shop on the north side of Carthage’s court house square. Their businesses took up almost an entire city block and John Shirley became a respected member of the burgeoning county seat of Carthage. Though Belle was raised with the life of a spoiled, rich girl, that life would change when the Kansas-Missouri Border War broke out.

In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act opened up the new state of Kansas, allowing its residents to make up their own minds on the question of slavery.

Having strong southern sympathies, the state of Missouri quickly became embroiled in a bitter fight with the newly settled anti-slavery groups that populated the new state.

The border towns in both states quickly became the sites of fierce guerilla warfare in the Kansas-Missouri Border War that prefaced the Civil War by more than six years. Carthage was no exception in the bitter fighting between the two factions.

Jasper County watched both armies pass through time and again, forcing residents to take sides, and making neighbors into bitter enemies. Irregular bands of "Jayhawkers" and "Red Legs" laid waste to Missouri communities in support of the Union.

When Belle Starr’s brother, Bud joined Quantrill’s Raiders, John Shirley was a proud father. But in June 1864 Bud was killed in Sarcoxie, Missouri. The raids had taken their toll on Shirley’s businesses and after Bud’s death, the family gave up and moved to Texas. It was in Texas, that Belle would begin her notorious outlaw career.

The battles preceding the Civil War and the skirmishes that followed, destroyed the small settlement of Carthage. Though its courthouse continued to serve until 1863, it was destroyed by fire in the ravages of war. Soon, all of Carthage’s 500 residents had joined the war efforts or moved away from the war-torn town.

Civil War Painting

By 1868, Carthage had grown to a population 1,200 and boasted a school, four churches, three doctors, two hotels, five boarding houses, six dry good stories, five grocery stores, and scores of other businesses. Continuing to grow, Carthage was called home to some 6,000 people by 1873, adding several industries, including a woolen mill, two foundries, three wagon and carriage makers, a furniture factory, and a wealth of other businesses.

In the late 1880s Carthage discovered rich deposits of limestone, lead and zinc beneath the town and in the surrounding area. Through these gifts from the earth, Carthage soon became one of the most prosperous towns in the state and was called Queen City of the Southwest by the 1890s.

The corner stone of the present Court House was laid in August, 1894 and was completed in 1895, at a cost of $100,000.

After the Civil War, came the Wild West days and Carthage's new courthouse became the site of many public hangings. According to old-timers, these events were public spectacles where vendors set up booths, selling food and trinkets. The gallows, built right upon the grounds of courthouse, became the "stage" for many viewers who brought their lunches, enjoying a picnic during the show.

This magnificent structure remains in use today.

Continued Next Page

Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Missouri

Vintage Postcard.

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Also See:

Bleeding Kansas and the Missouri Border War

Belle Starr - The Bandit Queen

Missouri Route 66

William Quantrill - Renegade Leader of the Missouri Border War

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To Joplin

Return to Route 66

To Red Oak II

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Four 66 Tin Signs - Set of four Old Route 66 weathered style signs. Measuring 10"x16", made of heavy gauge metal, signs have rolled edges for safe handling. Includes: Main Street USA - Chicago to L.A., Eat here and get gas - Alice's Eatery & Service Station, America's Highway, and U.S. Route 66.