It was in 1817 that the area known as Marthasville went from being a small trading post to a village where the townspeople dreamed of living in a thriving little town. That was 200 years ago, and …
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Marthasville, my how you’ve aged well
Posted
It was in 1817 that the area known as Marthasville went from being a small trading post to a village where the townspeople dreamed of living in a thriving little town.That was 200 years ago, and history remembers.In 1799 Daniel Boone and his family settled close to present day Marthasville. The area then was Spanish owned except for the French trading village known as LaCharette, where Lewis and Clark visited May 25, 1804, and Sept. 20, 1806, when they started and ended their expedition across the west.Back then, it was the last civilized town to the west before entering unexplored territory.Despite the brushes with fame, it was Dr. John Young who established Marthasville as a town and gave it its name.In 1816, Young, dreaming of a new paradise, sold his medical practice and rope factory in Kentucky and moved his wife, children and slaves to a new plantation near the Missouri River. When they arrived, there were several houses already there and Col. Daniel Boone and his family lived a few miles north. Boone was in charge of a fortified cabin known as Callaway Post.The plat of Marthasville was surveyed for Young in June 1817. It was the first town settled in Warren County, and named in honor of Young’s wife Martha. The town was established on a hilltop on his plantation one mile north of the French settlement of La Charette. Which became a part of Marthasville and an American settlement.Young advertised the town and its founding in the Missouri Gazette of St. Louis June 21, 1817. He advertised that lots would be sold at public auction but few lots were sold. He built a tavern in town and he and Dr. John Jones, who was married to Daniel Boone’s granddaughter, set up a medical practice. Young also opened a general store and built water-powered mills on Tuque Creek.Young later sold three lots to Benjamin Sharp (the great, great, great, great grandfather of actor Bill Paxton, who recently passed away) “in consideration of one stud horse named Black Prince.”Eventually the area changed from a small fur trader’s outpost to a thriving town.At this time and for many years, the only road through the entire northeast region was the Booneslick Trail. It was less “road” and more pathway. Because of the ruggedness of the trails, Marthasville eventually became the principal river landing for the area that is now Warren County. Being a river town then was big business because it was the only way to receive goods and market farm products.Marthasville’s early settlers include a relative of Young, John B. Scott, who served as the first postmaster when the post office was first established in 1818. Another early settler, Flanders Callaway, Daniel Boone’s son-in-law, established a home near Marthasville. In the latter part of his life, Daniel Boone lived there with his daughter and son-in-law.Other early settlers were Henry Smith and James Bryan, who had come with the Boone family. As the town and territory prospered, Young was eventually appointed to Missouri’s first House of Representative in 1821. He was a popular choice for Jesse Boone’s successor from Montgomery County. Marthasville was a part of Montgomery County until Warren County was established in 1833.Young sold most of his Marthasville property to Harvey Griswold in 1826. By 1831 Griswold owned all of the lots in town except one, which belonged to Jones. Young had lost interest in Marthasville after losing a battle to designate Marthasville the county seat. The recession was another factor. He sold the plantation to buy land to move near St. Louis. The farm he purchased was next to Benjamin O’Fallon, the brother of John O’Fallon, the founder of O’Fallon, Mo.Marthasville was slow to grow. Gustav Koerner, during a tour along the lower Missouri River, came to Marthasville Oct. 13, 1833, and said it was a little town of a half-dozen in which lived some German farmers, the Rasmus brothers.Early businessmen included Ernst Grabbs, a merchant and postmaster and John Jones, a blacksmith. The town also had the distinction of having the first wagon factory in the county. Richard L. Fant made the first wagon there in 1837. German immigration to Marthasville took place in 1834. They brought with them an appreciation of the arts and social society. They created brass bands, formed singing groups, theatrical groups and shooting societies. The Germans enjoyed festive occasions, sometimes celebrating Independence Day for more than a day. Frederick Muench gave the main oration on the July 5, 1878, celebration.Sometimes a wedding celebration would last a day or more. It was reported one lasted all day and far into the night at Marthasville and 50 barrels of beer were provided.In the 1870s, Marthasville was a thriving community. H.J. Bierbaum from Prussia was judge of the county and H.A. Schoppenhorst was representative from Warren County to the Missouri House.The new downtown was laid out in 1892 when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad were built through the southern part of the county.In 2017, the town is celebrating its 200-year history. Its big, days-long celebration will be held in June.This story was provided for by the Warren County Historical Society, which is funded by donations and run by volunteers.The museum is located at 102 W. Walton in Warrenton, and is open from 10 to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.For more information, to attend an event or to make a donation call 636-456-3820 or email museum@warrencountymohistory.com.
Overlooking Marthasville in the late 1800s. Submitted photo.
