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african-american historic sites of independence african-american african-american Since the early nineteenth century, African Americans have played historic sites a vital role in the history and development of Jackson County of independence and Independence. On December 15, 1826, Jackson County was historic sites of organized and on July 2, 1827, the first county court was held in Independence. By 1830, Independence was poised to play an This brochure highlights the contributions of important role in the settlement of the west. The Santa Fe Trail trade was already established and by the 1840s and 1850s the city African Americans to the history of Independence. INDEPENDENCE served as a prominent place that outfitted settlers who prepared This tour begins at the former Jackson County to travel into the west over the Oregon and California trails. In the 1840s and 1850s the city’s population became increasingly Courthouse, at the center of the Independence diverse and attracted more and more people, including large Square. It leads you by sites that had ties to slaveholders, like Jabez Smith, and free blacks, including Emily the history of Independence’s African-American Fisher and Hiram Young. They all were drawn to Independence community and ends at the Harry S. Truman and participated in the provisioning and outfitting of those who Home National Historic Site. The suggested route traveled to and settled in the West. brings you past each site as they are numbered As the trails traffic of the early to mid-nineteenth century gave in this brochure, but does not necessary follow way to the rails traffic in the 1870s, African Americans remained chronological order. If you choose to visit the sites a visible and important part of Independence’s history and, in using a different route, please be aware of one way the post Civil War era, they established civic organizations, built streets and turning restrictions. several churches, and advocated for the establishment of public schools for African American students. Hiram Revels, who went Sites marked with a * are open to the public and on to become the first African American to serve in the US Senate can be toured, although some have a fee to do from Mississippi, spent some time in Independence organizing the so. If you wish to tour the Truman Home, you will African Methodist Episcopal church. Hiram Young donated money to construct a school for African American students. need to stop at the National Park Service Visitor’s Center, which is located at 223 North Main Street, Following the turn of the twentieth century, a vibrant African just north of Point of Interest #18 (The Marshal’s American community was active in the city. During this time, Home and Jail), to buy your tickets. Melvin Tolson, who went on to become a noted African American poet, called Independence home. It was also at this time that a politician, Harry Truman, began serving on the county court and a young African American woman, Vietta Garr, began working at the Wallace/Truman home. As the 1920s turned into the depression of the 1930s, many poor blacks and whites, who had already settled into an area of the city called the Neck, struggled to make it. The Neck was located just north of the Independence Square and south of U. S. 24 Highway. By the 1950s, community leaders became concerned about this area and believed that it needed to be redeveloped. The proposed redevelopment project recommended the total For additional information about historic sites clearance of all the homes in the area. During the 1960s, African and additional tourism information contact the American residents of the area voiced strong opposition to the Independence Tourism Department project, which brought the civil rights movement to Independence. 800-748-7323 • www.visitindependence.com Today, African American residents of Independence continue to contribute to their city’s history by remembering their past and honoring those who came before. Funeral of James Boldridge at St. Paul AME Church in 1918 1. Former Jackson County temporary log courthouse. They home. Today the National Frontier white high school students received was hiring out his slaves to work on the freedom of his wife, Matilda, Courthouse selected Sam Shepard, a slave Trails center is located where the old at William Chrisman High School. freighting expeditions that went into by saving up the money he made Independence Square owned by James Shepard who was mill once stood and the Trails Center As a result, African American high the west. selling ox yokes. He had purchased (intersection of Main Street exhibits a Hiram Young document school students from Independence her freedom first because, under known for his expert craftsmanship Smith’s first wife, Susan, died before and Maple Avenue) and one of Young’s ox yokes, which attended Lincoln High School the laws of the state of Missouri, the in cutting and shaping the logs, he came to Missouri; however, Although it has been renovated and was manufactured in his factory on in Kansas City. These students free or enslaved status of a baby was to construct the log courthouse. the couple’s sons, Henry C. Smith, expanded numerous times since North Liberty Street. continued to attend Lincoln High determined by the status of the child’s The original log courthouse was Thomas T. Smith, and John T. Smith its construction, this courthouse School until 1954, when the U.S. mother. If the mother was a slave the 1 erected at the intersection of Lynn made the journey with their father. building retains portions of the 4. Woodlawn Cemetery * Supreme Court declared separate child would be a slave as well, and and Lexington. It served as the Henry C. Smith died in 1849 in a third Jackson County Courthouse. 701 South Noland Road but equal (segregated schools) Young wanted to make sure that any courthouse for only four years, later cholera outbreak, which supposedly Following the completion of the Woodlawn Cemetery is the official unconstitutional in the Brown v. children born to the couple would becoming a private residence, and also claimed the lives of at least 100 original log courthouse, a permanent city cemetery of Independence Board of Education decision. In the not be enslaved. When Hiram Young was eventually moved to its present to 200 of the slaves that had come brick courthouse building was and is owned and maintained by fall of 1954, William Chrisman was gained his freedom, in 1847, he and location in 1916. Sam Shepard later with the Virginia entourage. Jabez finished in 1831, using the labor of the city. Land for the cemetery was integrated and the lower grades Matilda were living in Liberty and escaped to freedom in Kansas and Smith married Ann Eliza Kean on May slaves and slave-made bricks. purchased in 1837, with additional were integrated in the following three years later the couple moved to moved to Lawrence where he lived 25, 1851, and the couple had one In 1836, this building was replaced 4acreage added in 1845, creating years. Following desegregation, the Independence. to be over 100 years old. son, Jabez Smith, Jr. In 1852, Jabez, by another new brick courthouse, what was formerly known as City Young School building continued to Sr. constructed Ann a fifteen room When Hiram and Matilda Young which was again constructed with 3. Waggoner-Gates Mill/ Cemetery. Directly south of the be used by the Independence Board home, on the site of present day arrived in Independence in 1850, the help of slave labor. Despite National Frontier City Cemetery was the six-acre St. of Education for special education William Chrisman High School. Jabez the town was a bustling place and changes to the courthouse building, Trails Museum* Mary Catholic Cemetery. In 1922, classes, until the 1980s. Smith, Sr. died in 1855, leaving his it served as an important outfitting remnants of this 1836 structure are these cemeteries were combined 318 West Pacific Avenue estate to his wife and his remaining stop for settlers and government still incorporated into the current and renamed Woodlawn Cemetery; 6. Jabez Smith After the Civil War, William sons. At the time of his death he contractors who traveled into the courthouse. Until the Civil War, the additional land acquisitions have Home and Farm Waggoner opened the Waggoner owned 311 slaves. After the Civil west and for traders engaged in the courthouse was also significant as increased to property to 56 acres. Northeast corner of Milling operation, which became the War, many of Smith’s former slaves Mexican trade. Railroads had not the location for the sale of slaves, 3largest business in Independence Among the notable African- North Noland Road remained in the area, including been completed across the state so which took place on the steps of the Americans buried in Woodlawn and U.S. 24 Highway and it continued to operate into members of the Hartwell Tucker settlers had to travel over land. Also, building. the 1960s. Waggoner hired blacks Cemetery are James Boldridge, (Current site of William Chrisman family. the federal government created a to work in the mill, as part of an Emily Fisher, Vietta Garr, and Hiram High School.) Jabez Smith was born in Pittsylvania series of forts in the west to protect 2. Log Courthouse integrated workforce, which was Young, and their graves have been 6 County, Virginia, on March 2, 1787. 7. Hiram Young Home the expanding white settlement 107 West Kansas Avenue uncommon during the late 1800s. He marked with notable monuments. He operated a store in Virginia & Wagon and Ox Yoke and these forts needed supplies. When Jackson County was also built on to an existing nearby However, a large number of other and also became involved in land Factory Sites The Mexican trade and westward established in December of 1826, home in the 1890s and only hired African-Americans who played speculation prior to coming to Southeast corner of North Liberty expansion made the location of the court decided to build a black people to work in his large important roles in the early history of Independence are also buried here.

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