The year 2020 is the Bicentennial of Cole County, the 200th anniversary of our county's creation. Cole County began in 1820 with a population of 1,028 people, and today, we are around 80,000. Considering Moniteau County was originally a part of Cole and the majority of our population resided in this area, it's even more remarkable Cole County is the size it is today.
After the Louisiana Purchase in 1804, the Missouri Territory was created with St. Louis and St. Louis County being the main body. Howard County was established as a county in 1816; Cooper from Howard in 1818; and Cole, Boone and Callaway in 1820.
On March 6, 1820, President Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise by which Missouri was to come into the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The first Missouri Constitution was written in a little over a month and Alexander McNair was elected governor, with 14 state senators and 43 representatives composing the first Missouri General Assembly. Thomas Hart Benton and David Barton were selected as the first United States senators from Missouri. Missouri's population in 1820 was 70,647 with 11,254 being slaves.
In September 1820, the General Assembly met in St. Louis, and on Nov. 16, Cole County was established. Cole County had no towns or communities at its creation, but the town of Marion had been platted on the banks of the Missouri River near Boonville and Franklin, the largest communities in Central Missouri.
John Vivion, James Stark and Jason Harrison were appointed the first Cole County judges (commissioners) and Paul Whitley was sheriff. Cole County was divided into two townships, Moreau and Moniteau, with our largest population in Moniteau. In May 1823, the first jail was completed at a cost of $690, and the courthouse was built at a total cost of $748.
Meanwhile, Jefferson City was founded in 1825, and officially became the capital of the State of Missouri on Oct. 1, 1826. Jefferson City consisted of 31 families, and it included a general store, tavern, distillery, a grist mill and the Rising Sun Hotel.
Cole County judges (commissioners) have always been cautious when it comes to spending taxpayer money, but on Jan. 21, 1829, the judges voted to move the county seat to Jefferson City. The first session of the Cole County Court in Jefferson City was March 30, 1829, in a log house near our present courthouse on Monroe Street. A new log jail was built on Monroe Street between today's Methodist Church and Commercial Way. In February 1836, a new two-story stone courthouse was built on the corner of High and Monroe streets, facing Monroe at a cost of $4,000.
According to the 1840 Census, Jefferson City had a population of 1,174, with 262 being slaves. Cole County had a population of 9,286, with 1,179 slaves.
The 1840s through the 1890s saw the influx of Germans coming to Missouri and Cole County. Seeking religious freedom, independence and fertile and inexpensive land, they came. In 1861, of the 160,000 foreign-born citizens of Missouri, almost 90,000 were German. Close-knit communities grew up in Cole County, all centered around their churches and later, the railroads. Schubert, Taos, St. Thomas, St. Martins, Wardsville, Lohman, Russellville, Osage Bend, Stringtown and Centertown all became a part of Cole County. Schubert's Lutheran church celebrated its 175th birthday, and St. Thomas its 150th last year.
This year is the bicentennial of Cole County, and we intend to celebrate with all our communities.
Our Cole County Bicentennial Committee is chaired by past Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger, whose father, John, was chairman of our 150th anniversary. The committee is composed of citizens from throughout Cole County as well.
Our celebration will kick off June 5 in Marion with a historic tour and a program by Bob Priddy. Since Marion was the original seat of Cole County government in 1820, it is fitting to begin our observance here.
Cole, Boone and Callaway counties are doing joint bicentennial events as well, and one of those is a contest we conducted among our fourth-grade classes using the theme, "Look Back, Looking Forward." Winners from each county will be special guests of honor April 16 at the Capitol and Governor's Mansion.
As part of our celebration, we will be visiting our Cole County communities during their parish picnics or at City Council meetings to present them a commemorative proclamation.
We will also be selling bicentennial coins and 200 chances to win the proof Cole County Bicentennial Henry Golden Boy rifle from Historical Armory. These beautiful rifles are made in the USA with Missouri walnut, and only 200 total rifles are being made. Our Bicentennial Committee is raffling off the first rifle of this series.
Our committee has also commissioned a special numbered small batch of "Cole County 200 Missouri Bourbon Whiskey" from Blacksmith Artisanal Spirits of Lohman. Prison Brew Microbrewery is also doing a special beer made with centennial hops to honor our bicentennial. A reception will be held sometime this spring to sample and purchase our Cole County elixirs.
St. Margaret's Parish in Osage Bend is quilting a special Cole County Bicentennial quilt that will be presented to the county and hung in the courthouse to remember this anniversary. The Cole County Historical Society's ornament is a bicentennial ornament of our beautiful courthouse and is dated 1820-2020. These can be purchased at the Cole County Historical Society, Samuel's Tuxedos or Carrie's Hallmark.
Cole, Callaway and Boone counties are also planning a special monument that will be placed at the trailhead of the Katy Trail and will be dedicated Nov. 16. Smaller bicentennial monuments will be in each county. We will then turn over the baton to Gov. Mike Parson to begin the State of Missouri's bicentennial in 2021.
Join us in celebrating Cole County's 200th birthday!
Sources: "History of Jefferson City," 1821-1938, by James E. Ford; "Explore Missouri's German Heritage," by W. Arthur Mehrhoff; "Across Our Wide Missouri: Volume 3," by Robert Priddy
Sam Bushman is the presiding commissioner on the Cole County Commission. He shares his perspective each month on county issues. He can be reached at [email protected].