The Law in Jackson County

In 1823 a treaty eliminated all the land claims of the Osage in western Missouri and opened up the entire region to white settlement - and as you might have guessed, the Walkers moved their homestead 15 miles further west of the new town of Independence.

The Santa Fe Trail had improved the economy of Missouri, but the old capital of Franklin had suffered severe floods, so the center of commerce moved 100 miles closer to Santa Fe - to Independence, Missouri.

Three years later there were 500 people and Independence was well on its way to becoming the first true western town.  It became a major staging area for both the Santa Fe trail and the overland migration to Oregon and California.

Along with George Sibley, Lilburn Boggs (his right hand man at Fort Osage) led the state of Missouri for the next 20 years as the state treasurer and governor respectfully.

First on the agenda? How to get the new district separated from Lafayette County.