Bates County

Bates County was named in honor of Frederick Bates, the second governor of Missouri, who died in office August 14, 1825. Missionaries from New York settled the first community in Bates County, Harmony Mission, for the purpose of educating Indians. When Bates County organized and separated from Cass County in 1841, county commissioners selected Harmony Mission as the first county seat, presumably because of the established development and central location. After first meeting in a private home, subsequent courts met in the Mission House until 1847 when the county seat moved to Papinville, three miles southeast of Harmony Mission. In 1855, after an area separated to become Vernon County, Papinville was no longer near the geographic center of Bates County. The original plan for dividing Butler’s land into building lots, commonly called a plat, was filed and recorded in August 1853. Fifty-five acres donated to the county induced officials to move the county seat to Butler in 1856. The court ordered 50-by-50-foot brick courthouse at an estimated cost of $5,000. Fritzpatrick and Hurt again served as contractors. This building, too, burned in 1861. Because of the attack on Lawrence, Kansas by Missouri guerrillas, on August 25, 1863 the infamous Order 11 was issued by General Thomas Ewing click on these websites [Missouri and the Civil War and GENERAL ORDER for more details]. This order forced all residents of Bates and Cass Counties to vacate their homes within 15 days. Bates County was put to the torch as Missouri endured 1,100 of the 6,600 engagements and battles fought in the Civil War. During this time courts were held in locations other than the county seat. In May 1864 the court met at Johnstown. The legislature recognized Pleasant Gap as the official county seat in 1865, and the sheriff was ordered to prepare a clerk’s office and courtroom. After several attempts, plans for the 1869 courthouse crystallized. Plans of architect P. B. Leach and specifications submitted by Samuel Ward were adopted. In April 1869 the court awarded the building contract to J. B. Linkenpaughfor $23,000. Cornerstone ceremonies, held on July 15, 1869, were reported in the Bates County Record, then reprinted in the 1883 History. This 75-foot-square brick building, in the center of the 300-foot public square, had five rooms on the first floor, three on the second and two large rooms on the third floor, leased by local civic or fraternal organizations. In 1899, after being declared unsafe, the building was sold for $500 to the highest bidder, J. S. Francisco. The court moved into temporary quarters in January 1900. At the session of the general assembly in the winter of 1840-1841 “An Act was passed to organize counties therein named , and defined the boundaries thereof.” Under that act fourteen countries were organized, of which Bates County was one , and is comprised in sections 34-35 and 36, of the act above. “SECTION 34. All that portion of territory included within the following description limits, via: Beginning on the western boundary line of this state, at the southwest corner of Van Buren County; thence east to the southeast corner of said county; thence south on the range line and 34; thence west on said township line to the western line of the state; thence north on said line to the place of beginning, is hereby created a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the name of the county of Bates. Sec 35. Thomas b. Arnot, of the county of VanBuren; Robert M. White, of Johnson County, and Cornelius Davy, of Jackson County, are hereby appointed commissioners to select the permanent seat of justice for said county.” “Sec. 36. The circuit and county courts for said county shall be held at James Allen’s , at the old Harmony Mission, until the permanent seat of justice is established, or the county court shall otherwise direct. ” Sec. 2. All the justices of the peace and constables now acting in that part of Cass here added to Ba