Warsaw, Missouri – Rich History on the Osage River
Warsaw, Missouri, the county seat of Benton County, is a vibrant community nestled amidst the rolling hills and shimmering waters of central Missouri. This charming town, home to approximately 2,200 permanent residents, experiences a remarkable transformation during the lake season, when its population nearly doubles. Fishermen, campers, and water sports enthusiasts flock to Warsaw, Missouri, drawn by the recreational opportunities and the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape. Situated strategically between two of Missouri’s largest and most popular lakes – Truman Reservoir and the Lake of the Ozarks – Warsaw, Missouri is a haven for outdoor lovers.
Steeped in a rich tapestry of history, Warsaw, Missouri boasts a narrative that spans from the era of Native American settlements to the bustling steamboat era and the tumultuous times of Civil War skirmishes. Through the years, Warsaw has demonstrated remarkable resilience, evolving into a thriving community that seamlessly blends small-town charm with a forward-looking spirit. This captivating town offers an array of recreational activities for both locals and visitors, ensuring that there’s always something to explore and enjoy.
Before the arrival of white explorers in 1719, the region surrounding present-day Warsaw was inhabited by several Native American tribes. Among these were the Delaware, Shawnee, Kickapoo, and Sac and Fox. However, the dominant presence was undoubtedly that of the Osage Indians, whose name would eventually be adopted by the mighty river that meanders through the landscape. The abundance of rivers and springs created a haven for wildlife, transforming the area into a premier hunting ground for the Native American population. The bluffs and hills provided a readily available source of flint rock, essential for crafting arrows, knives, and other vital weapons.
The early 1800s witnessed a surge in activity along the Osage River as French hunters, trappers, and traders established trade relations with the Native American tribes. As word spread about the opportunities presented by the river, white settlers began to arrive, seeking to carve out their own lives in this promising territory.
The area that would eventually become the town of Warsaw first saw settlement around 1820. The first settlers were primarily farmers hailing from Kentucky and Tennessee, with roots tracing back to English, Irish, and German ancestry. From its humble beginnings, the settlement quickly emerged as a vital crossroads for travel and freight. In 1831, Lewis Bledsoe established the first ferry service on the Osage River, marking the location of today’s Bledsoe Ferry Park, conveniently situated near Truman Dam. Bledsoe’s Osage Ferry played a crucial role in facilitating transportation along the Boonville-Springfield Road, also known as the Old Military Road or Wire Road, which passed east of the town. Mark Fristoe later established another ferry to the west. This period marked the beginning of a significant increase in the number of freight wagons, stagecoaches, and wagon trains traversing the area.
Among the earliest residents of Benton County was Stephen A. Howser, who, along with his wife, Sarah (Sally) Wyatt Howser, settled in the area that would soon become Warsaw around 1831. Their contribution to the community was significant, as they later deeded a portion of their land on the Osage River for the establishment of the new township. However, their legacy is also intertwined with a darker chapter in Missouri’s history, as they were the parents of a son who would later gain notoriety as a murderer and a thief.
Benton County was officially established in January 1835, carved from parts of Pettis and Greene Counties. The county was named in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, a prominent United States Senator from Missouri.
In the early days, the county "offices" were initially located in a home near Bledsoe’s Ferry, which was thriving thanks to the increased traffic. In 1836, the Gazetteer of Missouri provided an optimistic description of the new "town," then referred to as "Osage" or "New Town," highlighting plans for a grand hotel, mills, warehouses, and merchant establishments, and predicting a population of several thousand within the next five years.
The first town lots for Warsaw were sold in February 1838, and the town gradually began to grow. The Benton County Court initially convened in various homes in the area until a permanent site was selected at the corner of Washington and Van Buren Streets (where the county jail now stands). Funds generated from lot sales were allocated for the construction of a "temporary" courthouse, resulting in a 20-foot by 30-foot log building. Two years later, construction commenced on a permanent two-story courthouse, costing $4,500. County officials began using the new building in 1842. The City of Warsaw was officially incorporated the following year.
Although "Osage" was widely expected to become Benton County’s new county seat, nearby Fristoe and other small trading centers challenged the designation, delaying the selection process for two years. Ultimately, Warsaw was officially declared the county seat in 1843. While the exact origins of the town’s name remain undocumented, it is believed to have been named after Poland’s capital city in honor of Polish General and Patriot Tadeusz Kosciusko. Adamson Cornwall held the distinction of being both the first merchant and postmaster.
The year 1843 also marked the arrival of the first steamboats on the Osage River, docking in Warsaw and transporting cargos of salt, iron, nails, and other essential supplies to the area. On their return voyages, the steamboats carried meat, furs, grain, eggs, and whiskey. Due to the presence of shoals and tight bends in the river, the steamboats that navigated the Osage were smaller and had shallower drafts compared to those operating on the Missouri River. Nevertheless, they played a vital role in facilitating trade, transporting goods to and from St. Louis.
The building that now houses Reser’s Funeral Home was once the site of the Nicholas Tavern, later known as the Farmers Hotel and Newman’s Hotel. The original structure, built in the 1840s, served as a daily mail and stage stop for the Butterfield Stage Line from 1858 to 1861. The current Reser’s building incorporates elements of that original structure, preserving a piece of Warsaw’s transportation history.
In 1840, a feud erupted in Benton and Polk Counties (an area that would later form Hickory County) reminiscent of the infamous Hatfield & McCoy rivalry. The conflict involved the Hiram Turk family, owners of a store and saloon south of Warsaw, and the Andy Jones Family, who resided along the Pomme de Terre River. The Jones family, known for their penchant for horse racing, gambling, and counterfeiting, were not well-regarded by the Turks, who, despite their education, were known to stand their ground in any confrontation.
The feud originated on Election Day in 1840, when Turk’s Store was designated as a local polling place. A dispute arose between Andy Jones and Jim, one of Hiram Turk’s sons, escalating into a brawl involving members of both families. As a result, the Turks were charged with assault and inciting a riot. Over the next several years, the feud intensified both inside and outside the courts, leading to multiple killings and earning the moniker "Slicker War."
In 1857, the Mechanics Bank of St. Louis established a branch at Washington and Van Buren Streets, boasting what was considered the most expensive bank building in western Missouri. However, the bank closed its doors just four years later when Warsaw was devastated by General Fremont’s troops in 1861. The building remained vacant until 1912, when the Benton County court acquired it and converted it into a jail, which remained in use until early 2021.
Riverboat traffic flourished throughout the 1850s, with as many as seven steamboats simultaneously docked at the Warsaw wharf. However, the outbreak of the Civil War brought an end to local trade due to guerrilla terrorism on the Osage River.
Around the time of the Civil War’s declaration in 1861, Benton County faced another pressing issue: the case of accused murderer Stephen Howser, son of early settlers Stephen A. and Sarah Howser. Stephen Howser, commonly known as Hough, was accused of killing a man named Halloway while en route to California, as well as a Gasconade County man named Farris in 1859. Despite being sentenced to prison by a St. Louis Court in 1859, Howser was pardoned in 1861 and began his return to Warsaw. Along the way, he was said to have killed a man in Baldwin, Missouri. Shortly after his return to Warsaw, he allegedly robbed and fatally shot a man named D.D. Jones. He fled the city but was pursued relentlessly by Benton County lawmen, eventually being overtaken and killed in Vernon County, Missouri.
The county continued to experience violence as Missouri became embroiled in the Civil War. Despite being a slave-holding state, Missouri chose not to secede from the Union, creating significant internal conflict. On April 23, 1861, a group of citizens raised a rebel flag on the east side of the courthouse lawn. However, two months later, the State of Missouri officially joined the conflict on the side of the Union.
In June 1861, a regiment of Union soldiers, known as the Benton County, Missouri Home Guards, was formed. Composed primarily of Missourians of German descent, they engaged in combat just six days later at the Battle of Cole Camp. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory, with approximately 34 Union soldiers killed, 60 wounded, and 25 taken prisoner. The Benton County Home Guards served for only 90 days, after which its members either returned home or joined other regiments.
The worst was yet to come for Warsaw. From October 17-21, 1861, Union General John C. Fremont’s troops, perceiving Warsaw as a "treasonous" city, thoroughly ravaged the town, seizing supplies and homes for their own use. The following month, on November 22, Union Army stragglers followed Fremont’s troops, burning much of what remained.
On February 13, 1862, Major Ed Price, son of Confederate General Sterling Price, was captured. Several nearby skirmishes occurred in April, followed by more fighting in Warsaw in October. Before the war’s end, the town would be burned again on November 7-9, 1863, by Confederate Colonel Shelby’s troops as they marched through the town en route to Cole Camp.
Despite the devastation of war, Warsaw’s residents persevered, rebuilding their community. Navigation and trade on the Osage River resumed, and merchants began to prosper once more.
By 1874, Warsaw boasted a population of approximately 500, along with two churches, a hotel, a school, a bank, 15 retail establishments, two newspapers, a flour mill, and a sawmill.
The arrival of the first train from Sedalia in November 1880 marked the end of riverboat traffic on the Osage River. The Homer C. Wright was the last steamer to operate on the Osage River. After its years of service, it eventually sank during a winter ice storm.
In 1881, the Benton County Courthouse was found to have severe foundation issues and was ordered condemned. Plans were made for a third and final courthouse, which was completed in 1886.
In 1897, a railroad disaster occurred on November 28 when a narrow-gauge train plunged off its trestle 2 ½ miles northeast of Warsaw, resulting in the death of engineer John Minnier.
As the turn of the century approached, automobiles gradually replaced horses and buggies, necessitating the construction of new bridges.
In 1895, the first suspension bridge in the Lake Area was built in Warsaw, conceived and financed by D.M. Eddy, a Warsaw physician with an interest in bridge design. A toll was charged to cross the bridge to recoup financing costs. Eddy’s construction foreman was Joe Dice, also a resident of Warsaw. Dice and another bridge contractor named Charles Bibb would build the majority of the Ozark River bridges in the early 1900s. Known as the Drake Bridge, and later referred to as the "Middle Bridge," the toll was lifted in 1904 when funds were raised to transfer ownership to the county.
Over the years, the bridge experienced several tragedies, including a collapse in March 1913 under the weight of a stampeding cattle herd. A replacement suspension bridge was built in 1927 but was condemned due to flooding in 1936. It was repaired and reopened in 1943, only to close again in 1955, also due to flooding. Condemned once more, the bridge remained silent until its demolition in 1975.
The Hackberry Bridge, or the Lower Bridge, another suspension bridge, was built in Warsaw just two years after the first one. It was destroyed by fire in 1926 and never rebuilt.
A third bridge was built in 1904 for $5,500. Upon its opening, it was also a toll bridge. However, it was destroyed by a tornado in June 1924. A replacement bridge was then built in 1927 by Joe Dice, the same foreman who had helped construct Warsaw’s first bridge. Known as the Upper Bridge, the 600-foot pathway across the river continued to serve automotive traffic until 1979, when it was closed to vehicles. Today, renamed "The Joe Dice Swinging Bridge," it is the last of 15 swinging bridges that once spanned the Osage River. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge now serves pedestrians.
In August 1929, construction began on the Lake of the Ozarks, impounding the Osage River and smaller tributaries, including the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek, and Gravois Creek. The Union Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri, constructed the 2,543-foot-long Bagnell Dam.
The dam was completed in April 1931. The lake that formed was initially referred to as Osage Reservoir or Lake Osage, but it became universally known as the Lake of the Ozarks. At the time of construction, it was one of the largest man-made lakes in the world and the largest in the United States. It rapidly became a major Missouri tourist destination. Today, it encompasses a surface area of approximately 55,000 acres, boasts over 1,150 miles of shoreline, and its main channel stretches 92 miles from end to end. Unlike flood-control lakes constructed by the Corps of Engineers, the majority of the shoreline is privately owned.
Situated at the headwaters of the Lake of the Ozarks, the Warsaw area began to develop resorts and businesses along the shoreline of the channel. Warsaw’s appeal as a resort destination grew further with the completion of the Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir in 1979. Developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake’s primary function is flood control, but it also serves for power generation, recreation, and wildlife management.
Today, cabins and homes dot the roads and lakeshores around Warsaw for miles, and visitors and locals alike enjoy being at the heart of two of Missouri’s largest lakes. Warsaw has evolved into a popular retirement community and tourist destination, attracting visitors who enjoy water sports, fishing, camping, and antique shopping in its charming downtown district.