Daviess County’s First Jail: The ‘Pit Jail

A sketch of the first county jail located in Gallatin

Sketch by David Stark (1993)

Frontier justice:

Daviess County's first jail was known as the "pit" jail. Little is known about this structure other than what is indicated by this sketch. In December, 1856, James McFarran was asked to plan a new stone jail to replace this wooden log structure erected over a holding “pit.”

Before the Squirrel Cage Jail was built...

Daviess County’s 2nd jail held Frank James

The county’s second jail (which preceded the squirrel cage jail), was planned in 1856 and completed for use on Nov. 15, 1858, at a cost of $3,300. The structure, known as the old stone jail, was located at the northwest corner of the public square in Gallatin. This was the jail in use during the trial of outlaw Frank James (although the famous outlaw was released on his own recognizance daily during the trial, free to roam throughout the town). No image of the second jail used by Daviess County is known to exist.

Research of courthouse records during south of center is not determined. James were believed to have done the work. This 1857-1860 reveals much about the construc- McFarran was asked to plan a new stone jail was completed by Dec. 19, 1859, and again tion of the county’s second jail as well as and estimate its cost in December, 1856. reported complete on May 9, 1860, with tin other Daviess County improvements. Plans were approved to be placed under used for the roof.

In addition to the courthouse (1842), contract the first Monday of May, 1857. In The court paid for a drawing of this public well (1842), and plank fence (1846), September A.C. Ball made drawings of the building in March, 1867, but nothing of this horse racks were put up by Frances N. new jail and McFarran was named Jail drawing remains. This jail was reported to Buckholts in 1857. The repair of the board Commissioner. Shea Griffin & Company got have been northwest of the courthouse. fences that enclosed the courthouse yard cost the contract and received

$129.37. A new clerk's office building had been payments in June and September, odiscussed since February, 1851. It was to be 1858. The new stone jail was n Nov. 17, 1867, the John Reno Gang fireproof, but not to exceed $700. John W. complete and ready for use in (five members) robbed the new clerk's office Sheets' plans for the new clerk's office were November, 1858. building, taking the county's treasury of approved in May, 1859, and contracted with By March, 1859, Sheriff $23,000. County Clerk Joseph H. McGee Joseph L. Nelson in June, 1859. The builder James J. Minor was using the jail and Sheriff John Ballenger sought legal relief was to be paid $1,500 plus $200 for the as a residence. Plans were made from lost funds caused by the robbers. The erection on the east side of the public square. in August, 1859, to add a kitchen county provided funds for 10 guards to keep The office was received by the county on and smokehouse to make a better the gang in jail (owing to its poor condition) Dec. 1, 1859. residence of the facility. This was and Dr. William Folmsbee was paid $35 for

Drawings of the building show it on the to cost $400, and $250 was added care of the prisoners. John Reno was taken east side of the courthouse, the distance for a privy. Owings and Osborn to the state penitentiary by Feb. 4, 1868 ...but that's another story.

Formation of Daviess County

At the formation of the State of Missouri, Daviess County was attached to St. Charles County, which included all of the territory lying north of the Missouri River and some territory south of the river. Howard County organized in 1816, and the present Daviess County was attached to this new county by territory legislators. Then in 1820 the first State Legislature organized Ray County to embrace all land north of the Missouri River and west of Grand River. Sixteen years later, Daviess became its own county by boundaries that remain in place today.

It is said that hunters and trappers visited this section of this country as early as 1826. Probably the first house in the county was built by John and Mayberry Splawn, who came here in January, 1830 (their cabin was erected near today’s Gallatin MFA Exchange). The Splawns soon removed east of Gallatin to what is still known as Splawn Ridge.

This territory had formerly been inhabited by tribes of Sacs, Foxes, Pottawatomies and Musquakies. Their last camp at Auberry Grove (north of today’s Jamesport) disappeared in 1834.

Chief Black Hawk of Illinois Black Hawk War

A Fort Built, But No Conflict in Daviess County, MO (1832) The strange-sounding names on highway signs are reminders of the American Indians who once called Missouri home. Few Indians are left in the state. The names and some villages that still can be toured are nearly all that remain of a rich heritage. The territory, basically north of Interstate 70 today, once was controlled by the Missouri Indians. Some records call them the Missourias; the first French explorers knew them as the Oumessourit. The Osage tribe ruled south of the interstate. The Sac, Fox and Pottawattamie which frequented Daviess County were peaceful and friendly.

This land survey made in 1823 is the oldest known to exist. Like township maps which

INDIAN TRAILS 1823 — Monroe Township, Daviess County, MO followed, such as those completed across the county in 1838, the Indian trails were

clearly marked (dotted lines added for display below). Indian trails often became roads used by pioneering settlers. The most important trail below became the main road from Richmond, MO, to an early pioneer settlement along the Grand River at Splawn Ridge (located east of Gallatin).

Monroe Township — One of the oldest settled portions of Daviess County, MO NOTE: Block areas designate open fields cultivated by Native Americans

“In the year 1832 occurred the Black Hawk War, having its chief field of operations in Illinois but extending its baleful influence through the entire northern part of our state. Black Hawk organized a strong band of Sacs, Fox, and Winnebagoes and asserted his determination to drive white settlers from the frontier.

"At first he was successful in battle, but at last was disastrously defeated and captured. Our county shared the general excitement. A blockhouse and palisade fort was built...”

Research by David Stark, presentation by Darryl Wilkinson.

The first permanent settlers in Daviess County came to stay around 1830. This followed the last important Indian battle in Northwest Missouri, which occurred in July, 1818, when six Osage Indians (without guns) were shot and killed near Orrick. History records no Indian difficulties in Daviess County, in contrast to the historically significant Indian conflict in Northwest Missouri: the Boone's Lick Country War of 1810.

Records reveal that the blockhouse and palisade fort (reported by Rep. Kost at left) had walls made of upright logs. It was built directly east of today’s Gallatin on high ground overlooking a bend in the Grand River. There is no mention that this fort was ever used. No one recalls seeing the fort nor uncovering any artifacts from these days when Daviess County was a bona fide frontier, with worries about Native Americans on the warpath.