On Show Me Missourah this week, Scott made his way to Bates County, more specifically, Butler, Missouri. He was joined by local historian LeRoy Cook, Bates County Farm Bureau member Kevin Fischer, Papinville Cemetery Association’s Phyllis Stewart, and Papinville Historical Society’s Beverly Sullens.
A Little about Bates County
Bates County, the 66th county formed in Missouri, spans 851 square miles of beautiful western Missouri. Created from Cass County and named after Missouri’s second governor, Frederick Bates, this region holds a fascinating place in our state’s history.
The first settlement in Bates County, Harmony Mission, was founded by missionaries from New York to educate the Osage Indians. Even the famous explorer Zebulon Pike passed through the area in 1806.
Over time, the county seat moved several times. It began at Harmony Mission in 1841, shifted to Papinville in 1847, and finally landed in Butler in 1856, named for General W.O. Butler. The courthouse story is one of perseverance: burned during the Civil War, rebuilt multiple times, and finally completed in 1902. That same courthouse still serves Bates County today.
The Civil War left an indelible mark on this area. Under General Order No. 11, much of Bates County was evacuated. It was also the site of The Battle of Island Mound in 1862, where the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry achieved a historic victory, the first African American troops to fight in the war. Another skirmish, the Affair at Hog Island, followed in 1863.
From its missionary beginnings to its Civil War resilience, Bates County’s story is one worth telling.
Want to dive deeper into this incredible history?
Listen to the full episode of the Show Me Missourah Podcast:
