Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Blue Springs: YMCA, receipt, customer)

[WCHS'59]

Anyone care to guess the name of this famous Independence man?

I learned about him while in college but I suspect most Independence residents have never heard of him.

Nevertheless, he is a famous "Man From Independence." Born in Kentucky, died in California.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Anyone care to guess the name of this famous Independence man?

I learned about him while in college but I suspect most Independence residents have never heard of him.

Nevertheless, he is a famous "Man From Independence." Born in Kentucky, died in California.

Ginger Caleb Pujols?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Ginger Caleb Pujols?

This painting hangs in the state capitol.

He has something in common with Gerald R. Ford and Harry S. Truman, however they fared much better than he.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

This painting hangs in the state capitol.

He has something in common with Gerald R. Ford and Harry S. Truman, however they fared much better than he.

Might that be David Rice Atchison?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Might that be David Rice Atchison?

David Rice Atchison was the fellow who was president of the United States for one day.

His statue stands in front of the Clinton County courthouse in Plattsburg, Missouri, commemorating that event.

His presidential library, the smallest in the country, is in Atchison, Kansas, the town named after him.

But no, the painting is not that of President Atchison.

Our man came to Missouri in 1823, three years before Jackson County was organized.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by wchs'59

david rice atchison was the fellow who was president of the united states for one day.

His statue stands in front of the clinton county courthouse in plattsburg, missouri, commemorating that event.

His presidential library, the smallest in the country, is in atchison, kansas, the town named after him.

But no, the painting is not that of president atchison.

our man came to missouri in 1823, three years before jackson county was organized.

lilburn w boggs

ding ding ding ding ding

[MRG Dallas]

"THE ASSASSINATION OF GOVERNOR BOGGS," by Rod Miller, Cedar Fort, $14.99, 210 pages (f)


Lilburn W. Boggs was quietly relaxing with his family in Independence, Mo., on May 6, 1842. The former Missouri governor had just eaten dinner and retired to his sitting room to read the local newspaper. Suddenly there was a horrendous blast and the window of the sitting room exploded inward. Seventeen lead balls flew into the room, narrowly missing Boggs' small daughter. Most of the balls imbedded themselves in the home's walls but four found their way into Boggs' head and body. By most accounts of the day, Boggs had been assasinated by an unknown assailant.

But someone forgot to tell Boggs that he was a dead man! In fact, he recovered and went on to lead a reasonably productive life as a settler/leader in the California gold rush region.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

"THE ASSASSINATION OF GOVERNOR BOGGS," by Rod Miller, Cedar Fort, $14.99, 210 pages (f)


Lilburn W. Boggs was quietly relaxing with his family in Independence, Mo., on May 6, 1842. The former Missouri governor had just eaten dinner and retired to his sitting room to read the local newspaper. Suddenly there was a horrendous blast and the window of the sitting room exploded inward. Seventeen lead balls flew into the room, narrowly missing Boggs' small daughter. Most of the balls imbedded themselves in the home's walls but four found their way into Boggs' head and body. By most accounts of the day, Boggs had been assasinated by an unknown assailant.

But someone forgot to tell Boggs that he was a dead man! In fact, he recovered and went on to lead a reasonably productive life as a settler/leader in the California gold rush region.

Lilburn W. Boggs,


Sixth governor of Missouri 1836-1841, his painting hangs in the state capitol.


State senator from 1825-1832

Lieutenant Governor, 1832-1836

State senator 1842-1846

In 1823 he came to Jackson County with his family. In what was to become Independence, he built on what would become the 400, or so, block of South Spring Street. His house was apparently closer to a future Pleasant Street but faced the future Spring Street.

In 1837, he was involved in placing the Missouri State Militia on the Missouri-Iowa border to face the Iowa Territorial Militia in what was called the Honey War. There was no fighting but the border between the state and the territory was in question. After Iowa became a state, the US Supreme Court ruled against Missouri, which lost territory.


In 1838, Boggs issued Missouri Executive Order Number 44, the “Extermination Order” that compelled the Missouri State Militia to expel Mormons from the state of Missouri. And they did with the Mormons fleeing to Illinois.
[Governor Kit Bond rescinded the order in 1976.]

In 1842 in an apparent response to the Extermination Order, an assassination attempt was made against him while he was reading in his study in Independence. An assassin fired through an open window wounding him four times. He was injured so badly that one newspaper reported him as dead. However, he survived and later moved to California. One man, a Mormon, was captured trying to get out of the state. That man, a body guard for Joseph Smith, was placed on trial but acquitted and later became a deputy US Marshal in Salt Lake City.

In 1846, Boggs was the head of a wagon train leaving Independence for California. From his wagon train along the way, the Donner Party separated and took their famous route that led to cannibalism.

Boggs was later elected as a California state representative.

[WCHS'59]

I believe this is the former Ketchum Oldsmoblile building in the 11000 block of east Truman. The area on the left was all glass for the showroom. The Oldsmobile business, perhaps under another name, was moved from around the square sometime in the fifties.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I believe this is the former Ketchum Oldsmoblile building in the 11000 block of east Truman. The area on the left was all glass for the showroom. The Oldsmobile business, perhaps under another name, was moved from around the square sometime in the fifties.

Ironically, there were both KetchAms and KetchUms

11323 TR was the Oldsmobile site

9701 TR was the home of Ketchum Marine & Bicycle Shop (Wm A Ketchum)