This book seems at first glance to be purely a collection of biographical sketches (accompanied by photographs) of about two hundred citizens of this county, which lies on the west side of Missouri, about midway between the north and south ends of the state, containing Kansas City. On closer inspection, it becomes evident that in between the photographs and their captions (typically a full page for each) there runs a history composed of chapters with headings such as Settlement of Jackson County, Organization of Townships, Political Episodes, Jackson County during the Civil War, The Democrat Split in 1900, County Officials, Kansas City's Early Development, Kansas City Since 1875 and City Officials. The publishers' aim in presenting this book was "to give a general review of the political conditions of the county, together with a register of officials which ought to be interesting and valuable for reference." Readers will learn how the first white man was said to set foot in Jackson County in 1787, but the first settlement was not until decades later, at Fort Osage. The county was thrown open for general settlement by treaty with the government in 1825. There is a description of the "Mormon War" and the events leading up to it. Civil War battles were fought on almost "every square inch" of the county. Most of the book, however, concerns political subjects and will be of welcome to anyone with an interest in political history. An everyname index containing about 1,500 names has been added.
Marshall and Morrison
1902, (1997), 5½x8½, paper, index, 276 pp.
ISBN: 9780788407093
101-M0709
