On Show Me Missourah this week, Scott made his way north to Schuyler County, a tight-knit community nestled along Missouri’s northern border with Iowa. He was joined by local guests in the county seat of Lancaster to talk about the people, history, and traditions that define this northern Missouri county.
A Little About Schuyler County
Formed on February 14, 1845, Schuyler County became Missouri’s 83rd county, covering 308 square miles of rolling prairie and farmland. It was named for General Philip Schuyler, a delegate to the Continental Congress and U.S. Senator from New York.
Long before white settlement, the area was home to the Iowa, Otoe, Missouri, and Osage tribes. The first known settler, Moses Stice, arrived around 1834 or 1835, followed soon by families like the Easons, Floyds, and Fulchers, who helped lay the foundation for early communities.
The county’s first seat was located at Tipecanoe, about three miles southeast of present-day Lancaster. In 1845, commissioners selected Lancaster as the permanent county seat and began work on a small two-story courthouse, built by Cahill Parks for just $200, funded through the sale of lots. Over the next century, Schuyler County built and rebuilt its courthouses, culminating in the current 1960 courthouse, which cost $254,391 and still serves the community today.
Lancaster wasn’t always guaranteed its role as county seat, Queen City once mounted a serious challenge, but local support and funding helped Lancaster prevail.
Schuyler County is also home to several notable figures, including William Preston Hall, a famed American showman whose home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Howard Hughes Sr., a successful businessman and inventor; Rupert Hughes, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter; and Farrell Dobbs, who ran for president as a socialist in the mid-20th century.
From early frontier settlements and courthouse rivalries to the stories of its famous natives, Schuyler County offers a fascinating glimpse into life along Missouri’s northern edge.
Listen to the full episode of the Show Me Missourah Podcast: Schuyler County
