Osceola, Missouri – Surviving All Odds
Nestled in the southwestern reaches of Missouri, lies Osceola, a community that whispers tales of resilience and transformation. Today, this quaint town, with a population hovering around 900, presents a tranquil facade. However, its history reveals a vibrant past, one where Osceola aspired to become a bustling port city, a crucial hub on the Osage River.
Before the establishment of Osceola, the land along the Osage River served as a frequent gathering place for the Osage Nation. Their primary villages were situated just upstream, and the tribe, deeply connected to this land for centuries, utilized the area for various purposes.
The landscape of the region shifted dramatically following the Louisiana Purchase in 1804. This acquisition transferred control of the territory from French and Spanish hands to the burgeoning United States. Unlike the French, who prioritized trade and maintained a degree of harmony with the Osage, American settlers sought protection from the tribe, known for their equestrian skills and proficiency with firearms.
The Osage, through treaties signed in 1808 and 1825, relinquished vast stretches of land, encompassing present-day Missouri and portions of Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. By 1872, they traded their remaining Kansas holdings for their current reservation in Oklahoma, marking a significant displacement and a pivotal moment in the history of the Osage Nation.
As an increasing number of settlers migrated to the region, the foundation of what would become Osceola was laid in the mid-1830s. The winter of 1835-36 witnessed the construction of the first dwelling. Sanders Nance and his slave, Martin, felled the necessary logs and transported them to the chosen site atop a bluff. However, a dispute arose between Nance and Phillip Crow regarding land ownership. Nance conceded, and Crow proceeded to erect the house. Shortly thereafter, Richard P. Crutchfield joined Crow, and in the spring of 1836, the duo inaugurated the settlement’s first store, aptly named "Crossing of the Osage at Crow and Crutchfield’s."
The fledgling enterprise of Crow and Crutchfield soon attracted the attention of the Cox brothers – Pleasant, Joseph, and William – who established the settlement’s second store. As more people flocked to the area, James Gardner opened a log tavern, John W. Bridges launched a blacksmith shop, and Pleasant Cox initiated a sawmill, all in 1837. In 1838, Phillip Crow expanded his business endeavors by launching a ferry service across the Osage River. That same year, a post office was established, solidifying the settlement’s growing importance.
The influx of new settlers continued, drawn by the region’s potential for agriculture, timber harvesting, and livestock raising. In 1839, the town adopted the name of the renowned Seminole leader, Osceola, who had passed away in South Carolina two years prior. David Corbin and his son constructed the first frame building in town in 1839, which was quickly occupied by a tailor shop managed by a Frenchman named Ernest Lemming.
On January 29, 1841, St. Clair County was officially formed from Rives (later Henry) County and was named in honor of Arthur St. Clair, a prominent general from the Revolutionary War. After a period of intense debate and competition, Osceola was designated as the county seat in November 1841, a distinction it proudly retains to this day.
The nascent courts of St. Clair County initially convened in private residences until a proper courthouse could be constructed. The first courthouse, completed in 1842, was a two-story structure with a tin roof, a parapet gracing its roofline, and plank floors. It stood prominently on the town square, symbolizing the community’s commitment to law and order.
The early 1840s witnessed the arrival of small steamboats navigating the Osage River, transforming Osceola into a significant port. Its strategic location at the head of navigable waters made it a vital transfer point between steamboats and wagon trains. At times, as many as 100 wagons would queue up, waiting to procure supplies.
In 1848, Osceola welcomed its first newspaper, The Whig, founded by P.C. Davis. By 1850, the town had expanded sufficiently to warrant the construction of the Commercial Hotel, initially known as the Pollard House and the Union Inn.
By the mid-1850s, western Missouri was embroiled in the turmoil of the Kansas-Missouri Border War. Years before the formal outbreak of the Civil War, pro-slavery factions from Missouri clashed with "free-staters" in the newly formed Kansas Territory over whether the state would enter the Union as a free or slave state.
This conflict ignited warfare along the border counties of both states. These "unofficial soldiers," engaging in guerilla-style warfare, were known as Jayhawkers or Redlegs on the Kansas side and Missouri bushwhackers, ruffians, or raiders in Missouri.
When the Civil War officially erupted, Missouri aligned with the Union, but its population was deeply divided, with many residents sympathetic to the Confederate cause. A significant portion of those who had settled in Osceola hailed from Southern states. General James H. Lane, a controversial Union leader from Kansas, received intelligence suggesting that Confederate supplies and funds were being stored in the town.
The Sacking of Osceola
Following the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Missouri, on August 10, 1861, the Union army retreated, leaving the Kansas border exposed. General James H. Lane mobilized his men to address this vulnerability, leading them into action against Confederate General Sterling Price at the Battle of Dry Wood Creek on September 2, 1861. Despite his troops’ defeat in the battle, Lane continued his campaign, pillaging Paynesville, Butler, Harrisonville, and Clinton, Missouri, before arriving at Osceola on September 23, 1861. At that time, Osceola was a prosperous town with a population exceeding 2,000, although the majority of its able-bodied men were away fighting in the war.
After a brief exchange of gunfire with some Confederate soldiers on the town’s outskirts, Lane’s Brigade marched into the settlement, accompanied by two large artillery pieces. The brigade immediately began ransacking the town, starting with the bank. After forcing open the safe, they were disappointed to discover that it contained only documents, not money. It was rumored that the residents of Osceola, forewarned of the soldiers’ arrival, had hidden the money before their arrival. Sentries were stationed at the town’s entry points to prevent any aid from reaching the town, and anyone attempting to do so was immediately fired upon.
Infuriated by their lack of success in finding money, Lane ordered his men to pillage and set fire to the entire town. The courthouse was forcibly entered, county records were destroyed, stores and private residences were plundered and burned, and buildings were bombarded with cannonballs. Before long, the town was a smoldering ruin.
Adding to the brutality, twelve men were subjected to a sham trial and executed in the town square. These men, who had attempted to defend Osceola, were "convicted" of treason and sentenced to death by firing squad, in which Lane himself participated. Miraculously, three of the men survived, but Lane was unaware of this, or he likely would have returned to finish the job.
Finally, Lane’s men concluded their spree of pillaging and murder by celebrating and becoming intoxicated. According to reports, many of the men were too drunk to march when the time came to leave and had to be transported in wagons and carriages. They departed with their loot, including Lane’s share, which included a piano and several silk dresses. The troops then continued on to Kansas City, Missouri. The devastation inflicted on the settlement amounted to over $1,000,000 in damages, including losses suffered by pro-Union citizens.
The lingering resentment stemming from the Osceola Massacre fueled animosity among many Missouri residents. It became a contributing factor to William Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence, Kansas, two years later, on August 21, 1863.
Lane faced severe criticism for his actions in Osceola, most notably from General Henry Halleck, Commander of the Department of Missouri. Halleck believed that the attacks carried out by Lane and Colonel Charles Jennison aggravated anti-Union sentiments in Missouri and intensified resistance to federal authority in the state. He stated that "The course pursued by those under Lane and Jennison has turned against us many thousands who were formerly Union men. A few more such raids will make this State unanimous against us." As a result, Lane’s Brigade was disbanded.
Two years later, William Quantrill attacked Lawrence, Kansas, in what became known as the Lawrence Massacre. Confederate guerillas were heard shouting, "Remember Osceola!" Lane was residing in Lawrence at the time, but he escaped the attack by fleeing through a cornfield in his nightshirt.
Osceola Survives
By the end of the Civil War, Osceola, like many other Missouri towns, lay in ruins. Its buildings were destroyed, and its population had dwindled to approximately 200 people. Although some rebuilding took place, including the construction of a new courthouse and the Commercial Hotel in 1867, the town did not experience renewed prosperity until the Kansas City, Osceola, and Southern Railroad began its approach to the community.
In the interim, many veterans of the Civil War, embittered by their experiences, turned to a life of crime. Among them were the notorious Younger Brothers of Lees Summit, Missouri, and the James Brothers from Kearney, Missouri. The Osceola area served as a frequent hideout for these young men, who were known to frequent the Commercial Hotel.
In March 1874, Jim and John Younger were in the area, fleeing from Pinkerton agents who were hot on their trail. Two agents, Captain Louis J. Lull (aka: W.J. Allen) and John Boyle (aka James Wright), arrived in St. Clair County early in the second week of March, taking rooms at the Commercial Hotel. There, they met Osceola Constable Edwin Daniels, who agreed to guide the agents.
The three men soon set out in search of the outlaws. On March 16, they spent the night at the Roscoe House in Roscoe, approximately 10 miles southwest of Osceola. The following afternoon, they headed towards the farm of Theodrick Snuffer, a family friend of the Youngers, located just a few miles outside of town.
Disguised as cattlemen, they approached the Snuffer home, feigning to ask for directions. Unbeknownst to the lawmen, Jim and John Younger were hiding upstairs, observing their every move.
As the agents departed, the suspicious Younger brothers followed them. Jim and John confronted the three men on the road between Roscoe and Osceola, and John Boyle immediately fled. Jim fired a shot at him, but the bullet only managed to knock off the agent’s hat. The Youngers then disarmed Lull and Daniels, unaware that Lull had a small pistol concealed in his pocket. Lull drew the pistol and shot John Younger in the neck. Instinctively, John retaliated with a double-barrel shotgun, hitting Lull’s shoulder and arm with buckshot. Lull and Daniels fled, but Jim Younger shot and killed Daniel, while the wounded John pursued Lull and fired at him with his pistol. After Lull collapsed, severely wounded, John returned to his brother Jim, who had fallen from his horse and died. Agent Lull succumbed to his wounds three days later. Jim managed to escape, and John was buried at the Yeater Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
The town of Osceola finally experienced a resurgence of prosperity when the Kansas City, Osceola, and Southern Railroad extended its line to the community. The construction of the railroad provided employment opportunities for local residents, and when the line reached Osceola in 1885, the town flourished through agriculture, mining, and lumbering.
By the turn of the century, the town’s population had reached 1,200. It boasted several industrial enterprises, including a flour mill, a sawmill, a cheese factory, a fruit cannery, and large kilns producing high-quality lime, as well as numerous rock quarries.
Around the same time, concerns arose regarding the structural integrity of the town’s second courthouse. Despite these concerns, the building continued to be used for several years until it was finally vacated in 1908. Although attempts were made to raise tax revenue to construct a new courthouse, voters were reluctant to allocate funds for a new building. County officials were housed in various structures throughout the town. A new courthouse was partially completed in 1920, allowing employees to move in. It was fully completed in 1923 and remains standing today.
Today, Osceola continues to serve as the county seat of St. Clair County, with a population of just under 1,000 residents. This small town boasts a rich history, and many buildings surrounding the town square showcase late 19th-century architecture. Unfortunately, Osceola suffered another setback when a fire in the downtown square in January 2022 destroyed five buildings, including the town’s historic theatre.
The town cemetery features a monument dedicated to the men killed during the Sacking of Osceola. Nearby, numerous recreational activities can be found at Truman Lake. The town is also known for the Osceola Cheese Company, which offers a variety of locally produced cheeses, dressings, sauces, and preserves. Another point of interest is the old Commercial Hotel, rumored to be haunted.