Daughters of the American Revolution
Mary Sibley Chapter
Harrisonville, Missouri
Mary Sibley Chapter
Harrisonville, Missouri
Local History
Harrisonville
The City of Harrisonville was established in 1837, and was named in honor of Albert G. Harrison, one of the first two U.S. Congressional representatives elected from the State of Missouri. S.G. Allen was appointed the first mayor of Harrisonville in 1857, and Col. H.W. Younger, the father of the infamous Cole Younger, was elected mayor in 1859. The town's first newspaper was the Cass County Gazette, later renamed the Western Democrat in 1856. Throughout the 1850s the town grew substantially with new business, schools, and churches. By the start of the Civil War the population of Harrisonville was nearing 700.
The Civil War was especially devastating to towns along the border of Kansas, including Harrisonville. Border skirmishes along the Missouri and Kansas state line increased until a raid of Lawrence Kansas led to a crackdown by the U.S. Government in August of 1863. Order No.11 was then issued requiring everyone living in Cass County past a 1 mile radius of Harrisonville and Pleasant Hill, to abandon their properties within 15 days. Property from area farms were confiscated by Union troops and many buildings and homes were burned. Harrisonville became a Union strong hold and soldiers were stationed to enforce the evacuation order and protect loyal Union families. Today a Burnt District Monument stands in honor of those who struggled through Order No. 11. The monument can be viewed on the lawn at the Justice Center west of Harrisonville on 2 Highway.
The City of Harrisonville was established in 1837, and was named in honor of Albert G. Harrison, one of the first two U.S. Congressional representatives elected from the State of Missouri. S.G. Allen was appointed the first mayor of Harrisonville in 1857, and Col. H.W. Younger, the father of the infamous Cole Younger, was elected mayor in 1859. The town's first newspaper was the Cass County Gazette, later renamed the Western Democrat in 1856. Throughout the 1850s the town grew substantially with new business, schools, and churches. By the start of the Civil War the population of Harrisonville was nearing 700.
The Civil War was especially devastating to towns along the border of Kansas, including Harrisonville. Border skirmishes along the Missouri and Kansas state line increased until a raid of Lawrence Kansas led to a crackdown by the U.S. Government in August of 1863. Order No.11 was then issued requiring everyone living in Cass County past a 1 mile radius of Harrisonville and Pleasant Hill, to abandon their properties within 15 days. Property from area farms were confiscated by Union troops and many buildings and homes were burned. Harrisonville became a Union strong hold and soldiers were stationed to enforce the evacuation order and protect loyal Union families. Today a Burnt District Monument stands in honor of those who struggled through Order No. 11. The monument can be viewed on the lawn at the Justice Center west of Harrisonville on 2 Highway.
Cass County
Cass County was organized from Van Buren County in March of 1835 and is named after
Lewis Cass, a U.S. Senator. Harrisonville is the county seat of Cass County Missouri.
A noteworthy building is the Cass County Courthouse, a three story yellow brick
building, built in 1897 which sits in the center of The Square, which was designed
by the Kansas City architect W.C. Root. Many of the buildings on the Harrisonville
Square date back to this time period, as well as the brick streets. There are many
turn of the century homes in Harrisonville worth a Sunday drive for those who
enjoy historical architecture.
Famous Cass Countians; Col. Hiram Bledsoe, Carry Nation, Dale Carnegie, Brutus Hamilton, Patrick Henry Taylor, Glenn Wright and Cole Younger.
Famous Cass Countians; Col. Hiram Bledsoe, Carry Nation, Dale Carnegie, Brutus Hamilton, Patrick Henry Taylor, Glenn Wright and Cole Younger.