Platte City Area

Platte City Area History

The Platte Purchase, which was comprised of six counties, was added to Missouri in 1837. One of the counties, Platte, was named after the Platte River.

Immediately following the acquisition settlers began arriving from Virginia and Kentucky. One of the original settlers, Zaddock Martin, along with his sons, operated the ferries across the Platte and Missouri rivers. When some of the squatters began selling liquor to the soldiers stationed at Fort Leavenworth, founded in 1827, the government drove most of them off this settlement, permitting only Zaddock Martin and his sons to remain. Zaddock eventually built his home on the East Side of the Platte River and the town of Martinsville, which was named in his honor, was begun. In 1838 Zaddock and his sons built a dam on the Platte River, at the Falls of the Platte, and a gristmill.

On November 16,1839 at a meeting at Martinsville, it was decided by a board of commissioners that the Falls of Platte (later Platte City) be the seat of justice in Platte County. The Platte County Court approved this site as the location of the County Seat on December 4, 1839, due to its central location and officially named the site Platte City. Thus, in the spring of 1840, the town of Martinsville moved over into what is now known as Platte City.

The first circuit court was held at the log cabin of M.D. Faylor in the Falls of Platte on March 25,1839. Construction on the first county courthouse was started in September 1840. It was completed and opened for use in December 1842. The original courthouse was located one block west of where the current courthouse resides. It stood about where Wellsbrook Antiques, the Landmark and Farley Law Office are located. It was a two-story building costing $15,000 to build. Church services of all denominations were held on the second floor. Chairs were by subscription and helped pay the cost of the building. The first church to erect it's own building was the Methodist in 1848, followed by the Baptist in 1850, the Christian, in 1855 and the Catholic, in 1870. The Presbyterian had organized in 1843 and shared the Methodist Church building for services.

Platte City was incorporated as a city in September 1843. A charter was obtained from the Legislature in 1845 for Platte City. At this time Main Street was graded and sidewalks laid.

Two colleges were founded in Platte City; The Male Academy in 1851 and Professor Todd's Academy for Girls in 1857. The Male Academy was burned by federal orders in 1864. The Academy for Girls had, during its regime been known also, in order, as the Platte City Female Academy, Daughters College and Gaylord Institute. It continued in operation until it closed in 1908.

During the Civil War raid of Colonel Morgan's men December 16,1861, the courthouse and several dwellings and churches were destroyed due to the strong southern sentiments in Platte City. Advance warning helped save all the valuable records out of the circuit courtrooms.

In September 1864 the court made the first appropriation of $40,000 to begin a new courthouse. They accepted the plans of Peter McDuff and awarded the building contract to JA McGonigle for $88,500. McDuff, born in 1813, emigrated from Scotland. He had designed courthouses for Clinton County in 1858 and Clay County in 1859. He identified himself as a carpenter in the 1850 census. For this new courthouse, the court bought the lot where the Platte County courthouse still stands.

Cornerstone ceremonies took place on June 20, 1866 and by May 1867 the two-story, soft red brick building was completed. It originally measured 80' x 100'.

The building faces south and features a triple-arched entry in the center pavilion. The north addition to the courthouse was completed in 1979. The Platte County Administration Building was opened in 1989. The most recent addition is the Tom Thomas Law Enforcement Center, which opened in 1998.

After many years of discussion concerning the fate of the courthouse, preservation of the building now seems assured. It is a fine and rare example of Missouri architecture from the 1860's and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

PLATTE CITY HISTORICAL EVENTS
1868	The first public school building was erected in Platte City
1870	The first daily mail service was established
1882	Platte City became a Fourth Class City and elected, as its first Mayor, John L. Carmack
1883	The first telephone was connected (a connection with Weston)
1909	The first electric lights installed
Early 1930s	Installed waterworks and sewage systems
July 1933	Bonnie & Clyde: The Bonnie and Clyde gang was discovered at the Red Crown Service Station, Café and Tourist Camp (I-29 & Cookingham Road). Clyde had hitched a ride to Platte City to purchase bandages and ointment for Bonnie who had suffered burns in a car accident. While in the store he overheard a conversation between a customer and the P.C. prosecutor, DR Clevenger indicating that the gang had been discovered in his absence. Noticing the police he hurried back in time to help the gang escape. They fled north through Smithville and on to Dexter, Iowa. When law enforcement officers found them there, they captured Buck Barrow, who later died from his wounds, and Blanche Burrows. Blanche was transferred back to Platte City, pleaded guilty and got 10 years for assault with intent to kill. She had never fired a shot and later was pardoned.