ST. CHARLES COUNTY HISTORY

By Dorris Keeven-Franke

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Award winning author, and International speaker. President of the Archer Alexander Memorial Foundation. Member of the Missouri Speakers Bureau and the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. President of the Boone’s Lick Road Association. Executive Director of the Missouri Germans Consortium. She has been writing for over 35 years and published several books on local history, German immigration, and other topics. Currently working on To Tell a True Story – Archer Alexander.
  • William Eckert

    William Eckert

    William Eckert was born the 13th of August 1797, in Virginia[i], spent some time in Ohio, before coming down to Jackson, Missouri[ii] where the young man opened his first Mercantile. He served in the War of 1812[iii] and then arrived in the young village of St. Charles, where he married Francina “Fannie” Smith in the old Borremeo Church [Saint Charles Borromeo Parish] on the 16th of April, 1818[iv].This enterprising young man opened a tavern calling it the Sign of the Buffalo (Bradden’s 1818 Bistrot Restaurant, 515 South Main Street) [v] that competed for being the location of the temporary State Capitol (Missouri’s First State Capitol is at 200 S. Main) with the Peck brothers, Charles and Ruloff, when it was established at St. Charles in 1821. Despite proving that he had a better location, Eckert would lose out, most probably ­due to the politics (the Peck Brothers uncle was a prominent St. Louis Judge) at the time. It is local legend that this would would be where William Becknell and George Sibley would map the route for the first excursion to Sante Fe at this inn. (Becknell is the founder of the Sante Fe Trail, which celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 2021.)

    This promising young businessman went on to become a trustee[vi], and the treasurer for the village of St. Charles[vii], and run the postal route between St. Charles and Bowling Green[viii]. He was also one of four owners in the Steam Ferry Boat Company that ran on the Missouri River with their boat the James Morrison.[ix] His partner Francis Yosti was a son-in-law of the James Morrison who lived down at the corner of Clay [today First Capitol] and Main (today’s Berthold Park). By 1840, he owned six enslaved people that perhaps made up two families: two males ages between the ages of 10-23, one female between the years of 36 to 54, two females between 10-23, and one female child under the age of 10. 

    Eckert’s son-in-law was another enterprising young man, 21 year-old Franklin Newbill who owned the woolen mill at the corner of Main and today’s Boone’s Lick Road (920 S. Main Street), and who had married Eckert’s 16 year-old daughter Marian “Polly” on the 3rd of December 1835[x]. They would later live in a two-story brick house on Main Street (Newbill-McElhiney house, 625 South Main) which was built on a lot Eckert had bought from John Yarnell on the 4th of February 1824.[xi]  (This was the original portion of the house, before the McElhiney family enlarged it to what it is today.) Eckert’s fifteen year old daughter Caroline married twenty-eight year old Owen Andrews from New York, on November 4, 1840. 

    Over the years, Eckert and Newbill were in business together, but by October of 1845, they had had a falling out and Newbill was totally out of the picture. William Eckert and his family were living at 625 South Main when Eckert died on April 2, 1846. When Eckert died, his widow Fannie ordered two caskets, one lined and one unlined from Stephen Werremeier a carpenter who was her next door neighbor, who charged her $18.00 that April 3rd. Eckert was then buried on the hillside graveyard known as the “city of the dead” overlooking the village he loved so much.

    In 1850, Owen Andrews owned 8 enslaved individuals and was the innkeeper; and Eckert’s widow Fannie was the owner of the Western House (1001 S. Main Street) and owned three enslaved individuals; a 26 year-old black female, a 14 year-old black male, and a little nine month old black girl. The Inn was located on the Boone’s Lick Road which ends in the town of Franklin (in Howard County) and the beginning of the Sante Fe Trail. 

    Many years later, the St. Charles Banner-News, on the 26th of August in 1909 carried the following article “Ancient History” written by its Editor:

    “The reminiscences and recollections of Mrs. Louisa Heye which are being printed in the Cosmos are full of interest, and for the most part fairly correct… If we are correctly informed the mortal remains of William Eckert sleep up on the “River Side” Cemetery, which the town of St. Charles purchased and used as a “city of the dead” many years ago, but now abandoned. If this information is correct, we could not have a more peaceful resting place. The ripple of the river sings constantly his requiem and around the forest trees the stillness of nature is broken only by the sighing winds and the songs of the bids. In his life he was alert, active, and full of energy, contributing to the growth and progress of the town his might and after life’s fitful fever he sleeps well.”[xii]

    Eckert’s probate, was administered by his close and best friend William G. Pettus, Missouri’s first Secretary of State, was known for crossing all of his Ts and dotting all his i. In that estate, we find Lot 3 of Block 1, which on August 28,1848, Pettus is selling some of Eckert’s numerous properties to settle the estate. The property description states “saving and excepting out of Lot. No. 3 in Block No. 1, one half acre of land laid off in a square form in such manner that the grave of said William Eckert shall lie in center of said one half acre….”[xiii] It would take over 10 years to completely settle Eckert’s estate, partly because of the difficulty Pettus had in locating Newbill, who owed money to the estate.

    Today, that small 147 foot by 147 foot half-acre plot lies somewhere along the hillside on the south end of St. Charles above the Ameristar Casino, near the Crestview Apartments and the old winery. It is hard to imagine a cemetery there today. Funny the things you find when you’re not looking for them.  When I found this mention of Eckert’s grave,  I was researching the Boone’s Lick Road yet the research would give me insights into so many other stories about St. Charles’ Historic Main Street. (See link for tour and map of all 150 stories!) 

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    Notes

    [i] Family papers

    [ii] Houck’s History

    [iii] Arkansas Land Warrant

    [iv] Borremeo Records

    [v] SCCHS, Eckert Family File

    [vi] City of St. Charles Minutes, Book A

    [vii] City of St. Charles Minutes, Book A

    [viii]Wm. Eckert Probate

    [ix] Wm. Eckert Probate

    [x] Borremeo Records

    [xi] Wm. Eckert Probate

    [xii] Supplied by Justin Watkins

    [xiii] Abstract for Block 1, also known as Hall’s Addition

    Eckert’s Tavern “Sign of the Buffalo” at 515 South Main Street (Today’s Braddens 1818 Bistro)
    The Western House at the corner of the Boone’s Lick Road and South Main Street in St. Charles, MO (1001 S. Main St.)
    Morrison's Mercantile
    Morrison’s Mercantile on South Main Street (Today’s Berthold Park) at the southwest intersection of Clay (today’s First Capitol) and South Main Street. Morrison owned the salt lick at the other end of the Boone’s Lick Road. From the John J. Buse Photo collection State Historical Society of Missouri.
    St. Charles Woolen Mill
    920 South Main was Franklin Newbill’s Woolen Mill that was used by Col. Arnold Krekel’s Union Troops during the Civil War. The troops would use it to guard the Missouri River traffic and the railroad.
    Newbill-McElhiney house
    625 South Main originally was a smaller two-story building that was later enlarged by the McElhiney family. The earliest portion, bottom left basement and first floor, had been built by William Eckert.
  • Cottleville Methodist Church

    Cottleville Methodist Church

    On Cottleville’s Chestnut Street sits a large two-and-one-half story frame building that once served its’ Methodist Episcopal South congregation. By 1811, John Pitman, a veteran of the Revolutionary War had come to Missouri from Kentucky, settling just to the south of the Cottle family. Portions of his huge estate would provide two additions to the town of Cottleville. John Pitman was owner of a large amount of enslaved property. He had been born in what was Bedford County Virginia in 1757. In 1776, Kentucky would become a County of Virginia, and eventually a state in 1792. By 1800, we find Pitman paying taxes on that property in Kentucky. However, many early Missouri settlers were like Pitman, and had received payment for their service in the Continental Congress in the form of a Land Warrant, in the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. In February of 1805, John married Magdelene Irvine, and their son David Kyle Pitman was born that December. The Methodist religion had come to Missouri with the preachings of John Clark in 1816. According to the Methodist Archives at Central Methodist University in Fayette “In 1844 when the Methodist Episcopal Church separated into the MEC and the MEC, South, Missouri officially went South. Both churches operated in Missouri, many times side-by-side in the same town“. By 1854, John Pitman’s son David, and his son Richard would join with others to build a frame church building at the cost of $1,600. Other founding members were William C. Ellis, S. R. Watts, and James T. Sanford.They would start out with 20 members. Their enslaved would sit in the gallery upstairs.

    The photograph below shows Cottleville’s Public School in the background. The Boone’s Lick Road passes through the town of Cottleville.

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition

    The Lewis and Clark Expedition

    Category: Event

    In 1804, America was excited to know what lay out there past the Mississippi in that new purchase called the Louisiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson would appoint his Secretary Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition with an assignment to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean, thinking the Missouri River would take them there. Lewis chose his friend William Clark to accompany him. Since the final word on the purchase had not reached the Spanish Commandant, the Corps of Discovery was not allowed passage across the Mississippi River, and would be forced to spend the winter of 1803-04 in preparations on the Illinois side of the river. Today Hartford, Illinois is the site of a fantastic museum that shares this story.

    Artwork of Artist Gary Lucy

    A fair morning, Set out at 5 oClock passed the Coal hill (Called that by the native Carbonear [Charbonnier]) this hill appears to Contain great quantytes [sic] of Coal, and also ore of a rich appearance haveing greatly the resemblance of Silver. Arrived Opposit St Charles at 12 oClock, this Village is at the foot of a Hill from which it takes its real name Peeteite Coete [Petite Côte] or the little hill, it contains about 100 indefferent houses, and abot 450 Inhabetents principally frinch, those people appear pore and extreemly kind, the Countrey around I am told is butifull. interspursed with Praries & timber alturnetly and has a number of American Settlers Took equal altituds with sextion M a [median altitude?] 68° 37′ 30″ Dined with the Comdr. & Mr. Ducetts [Duquette] family— May 15, 1804– William Clark

    Discovery Expedition of St. Charles reproduction featured in several documentaries.

    From the Journal of Joseph Whitehouse, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in May of 1804. Wednesday the 16th We set out this morning, having clear weather, and proceeded on very well, about 2oClock P. M we arrived at Saint Charles, where we passed the Evening with a great deal of satisfaction, and chearfulness, and all our men appeared to be in good spirits.

    We shall waite here for Captain Lewis, who is to meet us from Saint Louis. Saint Charles is a Village settled by French Inhabitants. It is a handsome situation, laying on the North side of the River contains about 80 Houses, built in the french fashion, and has a small Roman Catholic Chapel. its Inhabitants are chiefly canadian french; who are chiefly concerned & employed by others Trading with the Indians who reside on the River Mesouri, and other Rivers that empty into it. The land adjoining it appear to be hilly, but the soil is good and fitting for Agriculture.—Saint Charles lies in Latitude 38° 54′ 39 North & 19 Miles from the Mouth of the Mesouri River,

    Artist Gary Lucy portrayal of the Village of St. Charles

    St. Charles is the earliest white settlement west of the Mississippi and north of the Missouri. As Captain William Clark notes, the place was first called Les Petites Côtes (the Little Hills). In 1787, Auguste Chouteau surveyed the settlement, and soon after the district of St. Charles was established. The parish church, and hence the settlement, was named for St. Charles Borromeo. To the Spanish it was San Carlos del Misuri. By the time of the Louisiana Purchase, the French inhabitants of the town were surrounded by American settlers in the countryside, including Daniel Boone and his family who had settled in the area in the late 1790s. Missouri Guide, 260–64; Houck, 2:79–86; Osgood (FN), 41 n. 8.

    Because of discrepancies in the records and journals, especially concerning the French boatmen, it is difficult to determine exactly the number of men who left River Dubois with Clark. George Drouillard was absent on an errand and may not be the Frenchman singled out by Clark; possibly he was Baptiste Deschamps, the patroon (foreman) of the hired French boatmen, although later he seems to have been in charge of a pirogue..

    The exact number and names of the French boatmen remain unclear throughout (see Appendix A). Clark may not have counted York, an African American and his personal servant, in his total. Among those leaving Wood River, besides Clark and York, were twenty-five members of the permanent party, as then planned, who were to make the full trip to the Pacific: Sergeants Floyd, Ordway, and Pryor, and Privates Bratton, Collins, Colter, Reubin and Joseph Field, Gass, Gibson, Goodrich, Hall, Howard, McNeal, Newman, Potts, Reed, Shannon, Shields, Thompson, Werner, Whitehouse, Willard, Windsor, and Weiser. Corporal Richard Warfington’s detachment, who were to return from some point up the Missouri with dispatches, then included Privates Boley, Dame, Frazer, Tuttle, and White. Private John Robertson (Robinson) may also have been present at this time; perhaps he was one of the six soldiers in a pirogue—probably Warfington’s squad.

    St. Charles location on the map by James Mackay used for the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804

    The enlisted men’s journals all state that there were three sergeants and thirty-eight “working hands”; whether York (An African American enslaved person owned by William Clark) counted as a working hand is not clear. If one counts twenty-five in the permanent party and seven men in Warfington’s detachment, nine French boatmen are necessary for the three sergeants and thirty-eight hands. Adding York, one has forty-two men leaving River Dubois with Clark. Other Frenchmen may have been hired at St. Charles, notably Pierre Cruzatte and François Labiche, who became members of the permanent party. Appleman (LC), 367 n. 64. (back)

    Statue of William Clark, Meriwether Lewis and Seaman the dog that accompanied the Corps to the Pacific. Located in City of St. Charles Riverfront Park.

    The Corps would await Meriwether Lewis who was in St. Louis attending to some business. Everyone would enjoy themselves for one last time in the village, waiting for the expedition to begin.

    Visit the Lewis and Clark Boathouse and museum that shares the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and houses reproductions of the Keelboat and the white and red pirogues. For more information see https://www.lewisandclarkboathouse.org/