1859 Jail History Timeline
|
1827 |
Independence platted and lot number two set aside for the Jail: first sheriff was Joseph Walker, mountain man and explorer. |
|
1841 |
Second Jail built; Porter Rockwell held. |
|
1859 |
New Jail replaces second structure: Marshal's residence is attached to the new facility. |
|
1861 |
Civil War began; Jail used periodically by Union troops as headquarters during the war. |
|
1862 |
Jail under attack during the first Battle of Independence. |
|
1863 |
Order Number 11; Jail holds as many as 20 prisoners to a cell. |
|
1864 |
Price's Raid |
|
1866 |
Jailer shot. The Rev. A.H. Dean is jailed. George Caleb Bingham paints his portrait. |
|
1881 |
Bill Ryan—a James gang member—held at Jail for trial. |
|
1882 |
Frank James surrenders and is incarcerated at 1859 Jail. |
|
1880s |
Mother Mary Jerome Shubrick works at Jail and heralds prison reform in Missouri. |
|
1890 |
Chain gangs leaving Jail to work on county roads are a common sight. |
|
1901 |
Additional brick facility added to rear of Jail |
|
1920 |
Jail closed by Judge Latshaw for inadequate facilities. |
|
1921 |
Jail reopened on technicality. |
|
1933 |
Jail use terminated and building used for regional relief services (WPA—Works Progress Administration) during the Depression. |
|
1945 |
American legion proposes to take over building for headquarters. |
|
1959 |
Jackson County Historical Society acquires and begins to restore Jail. |