Absolutely! Here’s a rewritten version of the article in a more casual, engaging style, along with some added details and perspective.
William M. Chick: The Unsung Hero of Kansas City’s Foundation
Ever heard of William M. Chick? If you’re from Kansas City, you should have! This guy wasn’t just a resident; he was a founder, a pioneer who helped shape the city we know and love today. He was a merchant, a mover and shaker, and even the first postmaster of Kansas City. Let’s dive into the story of this fascinating figure.
From Virginia Tobacco Fields to the Missouri Frontier
Born in 1794 on a tobacco farm near Lynchburg, Virginia, William Miles Chick (yep, that was his full name) wasn’t exactly born with a silver spoon. He grew up working hard, helping out on the farm. As he got older, he ventured into the world of commerce, becoming a merchant in the Alexandria, Virginia area.
Here’s a cool fact: During the War of 1812, the Governor of Virginia commissioned him as a colonel! Can you imagine? He was tasked with raising a whole regiment of volunteers to fight the British. Talk about responsibility! However, as fate would have it, the war ended before Chick and his men saw any actual combat. Still, it’s a testament to his leadership potential.
In 1816, William married Ann Eliza Smith from Alexandria, and they built a family together, eventually having eight children. Can you imagine raising eight kids in those times? That’s pioneer-level parenting right there.
Westward Bound: A Journey to Missouri
In 1822, the Chick family decided to pack up their lives and head west to Missouri. Chick’s father-in-law had acquired some land there, and the opportunity was too good to pass up. This wasn’t a quick road trip, mind you. They traveled by wagon train all the way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with their household servants and, sadly, enslaved people.
Once in Pittsburgh, they loaded everything onto flatboats and floated down the Ohio River for nearly 600 miles to Shawneetown, Illinois. From there, it was back to the wagons for the final leg of the journey to St. Louis, Missouri. After restocking their supplies, they continued overland to Saline County, eventually settling in what would become Arrow Rock, Missouri.
Life on the frontier was tough. William, along with the enslaved people he brought with him, spent the winter clearing the land of dense cottonwood trees. They used the felled trees to build log cabins for shelter. Imagine the back-breaking work!
A Troubled Chapter: Slavery and the Frontier
It’s important to acknowledge a darker aspect of Chick’s story. Like many people of his time, he participated in the institution of slavery. Saline County was populated by people from slaveholding states, and there was a significant enslaved population in the area. In 1824, William Chick was appointed as one of the "patrollers" responsible for overseeing and controlling the enslaved people.
It’s a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions of the era. While Chick was undoubtedly a pioneer and a visionary, his involvement in slavery is a stain on his legacy that cannot be ignored.
From Floods to New Beginnings
In the summer of 1826, disaster struck. The Missouri River flooded, wiping away houses and crops, including the Chick cabins. Undeterred, William moved his family across the river to Howard County and started a new farm. This time, he focused on growing tobacco, and things went much better for the next decade.
But William Chick wasn’t one to stay put for long. In 1836, he moved his family westward again, this time to Westport, Missouri. He purchased a two-story log building from John Calvin McCoy, who had recently platted the new town. At the time, Westport was a small settlement with only about 50 families.
Chick turned the ground level of the building into a general store, and the family lived upstairs. He quickly established a thriving business, trading with Native Americans and travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. The increasing traffic along the westward trails inspired Chick to join McCoy and others in 1838 to form a group of investors to establish what they called the "Town of Kansas." And just like that, William Chick became one of the 14 founders of Kansas City!
Building Kansas City: Vision and Hard Work
The group bought land at auction from the estate of Gabriel Prudhomme, a French settler who had owned the riverfront area north of Westport. The site had a natural stone outcropping that the investors believed would make an excellent wharf for steamboats. This would allow them to unload people and supplies closer to Westport than the existing landing in Independence, Missouri.
Chick eventually closed his Westport store and became one of the first businessmen to operate on the Kansas City riverfront. In 1843, he built a warehouse there, where he stored furs awaiting shipment downriver to St. Louis for a commission.
He also started building a large residence on the nearby bluffs, then called Pearl Hill. The two-story double log frame house was painted white and featured oak floors, walnut stairways, and brick fireplaces. The upstairs hallway had a stunning view of the Missouri River, making it a landmark for river pilots navigating the river bend.
The Great Flood of 1844
In 1844, another devastating flood hit the area, destroying a farm that Chick had established in the West Bottoms. The family moved into the new house on Pearl Hill for good. The flood caused widespread damage in the Town of Kansas. The town company’s warehouse, along with several other warehouses and log dwellings, were washed away. William M. Chick’s warehouse, located on higher ground near the levee, was the only one that survived. He generously stored goods salvaged from the other warehouses in his building.
A Hub of Activity and Influence
Soon, Chick was running a ferry business across the Missouri River. His home became a gathering place for prominent figures of the time, including explorer John C. Fremont, Senator Thomas Hart Benton, and author Washington Irving. Can you imagine the conversations that took place in that house?
First Postmaster, Lasting Legacy
In 1845, the first United States post office in the Town of Kansas was established, and William M. Chick became the town’s first postmaster. He handled letters with the somewhat confusing postmark "Kansas, Missouri."
Sadly, Chick’s time as postmaster was short-lived. He died of pneumonia on April 7, 1847, at the age of 52. He was buried in Union Cemetery in Kansas City. His son, Washington Henry Chick, who also owned a house on the bluff, took over as the next postmaster.
After Chick’s death, his home passed through several owners. The last owner, Dr. J.T. Morris, lived in the house from 1868 to 1871. In 1879, Dr. Morris razed the house and used the timber to build a stable.
A Pioneer Remembered
While William M. Chick’s house may be gone, his contributions to Kansas City are undeniable. He was a pioneer, a businessman, and a community leader who helped lay the foundation for the city we know today. So, the next time you’re in Kansas City, take a moment to remember William M. Chick, one of the unsung heroes who helped make it all possible.
In Conclusion
William M. Chick’s story is a complex one, filled with both triumphs and troubling aspects. He was a man of his time, and his life reflects the challenges and contradictions of the era. By understanding his story, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the history of Kansas City and the individuals who shaped it.