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Santa Fe -
Oregon - California Trails In 1909 the DAR conceived the idea of relocating and marking the route of the original Santa Fe trail from Franklin, in Howard County, through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico to Santa Fe. They appointed a committee to trace the exact route through Missouri. They contacted W. Z. Hickman, who was able to help them trace the route. The DAR then appeared before the city council of Independence and asked their assistance in working up sentiment in favor of the project. In order to do this, they decided to have a meeting of the old plainsmen to be held at the Independence fairgrounds on Friday, September 3, 1909. The fair board furnished a large tent and seats. At 10 a.m. the meeting was called to order by W. Z. Hickman. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to form an association of those who followed the "plains" prior to the last year of the Civil War. On a motion it was declared that all those who traveled over the plains, whether immigrants, |
travelers, traders, trappers, whether employed or employers,
and soldiers should be eligible. It was also declared that the sons or daughters of
pioneers of Missouri and Kansas should be eligible for membership. ….The stones (markers) in Jackson county are located at Levasy, Buckner, Six Mile Church, Salem Church, Court House Yard in Independence, Aunt Sophia's Kitchen Log Cabin on Blue Ridge, Cave Spring, 120th and State Line. One was also placed on top of the river bluff at the Fort Osage Cemetery. Certificates were issued to the members of the Old Plainsmen's Association on August 25, 1916. This certificate gives the member's name, date of birth, when they first crossed the "Great American Desert", and how many trips they made afterwards. ….W. Z. Hickman gave the following list of the men who joined him at the first meeting in 1909. They are listed by name, when crossed the plains, their age and post office address in the year 1909." |