1859 Jail Museum Arrest Ledgers Rediscovered
Three of the four arrest ledgers date back to 1881. The fourth is currently on display. Photo taken by Danielle Hall.
For roughly 164 years the 1859 Jail Museum has been an iconic landmark on Main Street on the Independence Square. Originally known as the Jackson County Jail, it was the third county jail constructed in Jackson County. Witness to the First and Second Battles of Independence, murder, numerous criminals, families raised, and rebirth during the Great Depression as a site for those seeking employment, to being an American Legion meeting place, and finally a museum owned and operated by the Jackson County Historical Society - the walls of the Jail and Home hold a story of our county’s history.
Recently our staff rediscovered four original arrest ledgers dating back to 1881. In this month’s E-Journal, published to observe Preservation Month, Danielle Hall, Archivist and Educational Director of the Jackson County Historical Society explains the historical importance of such a discovery and how it is helping expand the history of the 1859 Jail.
By Danielle Hall
1859 Jail History
The 1859 Jail, located at 217 N. Main St.
The 1859 Jail was the third Jackson County Jail built in Independence after the first jail (built in 1827 and located on the corner of what is now Truman Road and North Main Street) burned down. In 1841, Jackson County built a new brick jail for $2,600. However, that only lasted for a few years. Jackson County eventually purchased the land next to the 1841 Jail and began building the 1859 Jail, today located at 217 N. Main St.
The 1859 Jail is a unique structure because it was built as two separate buildings. The first portion of the building was the jail while the second portion of the building was built as the “Marshal’s home”, where the jailors and their families would take up residence.
The 1859 Jail operated as the County Jail from 1860 to 1933. The City of Independence also housed prisoners in this building, and eventually Jackson County billed the City for housing their prisoners. It even got to the point that Jackson County was billing the city for housing their prisoners. In 1907, there was an additional brick section added, which housed 28 new cells.
President Harry S. Truman knew the importance of the building. He made the first phone call to Joyce Hall, owner of Hallmark, to secure the first donation to Save the Jail in 1958.
After the jail closed in 1933, it was used as a programming space for Works Progress Administration programs and the Community Welfare League, which taught people how to write resumes or how to can food. From 1940 through 1950 the American Legion owned the building.
When rumors started to spread throughout Independence that the Legion was going to demolish the building, a group of citizens formed an organization, later known as “Historic Independence, Inc.”, to save the jail and protect its history.
However, when they could not secure the building, the Jackson County Historical Society, with the help of former president Harry Truman, stepped in and helped lead the fundraising to buy the building. In 1959, after some much-needed preservation work, the building officially became the 1859 Jail Museum and opened for the public to tour.
The First Two Arrest Ledgers
A Jackson County Marshal badge that was presented to Samuel Chiles on January 1, 1897. Samuel H. Chiles was marshal for two 2 year terms beginning in 1897.
In 1968, nearly 10 years after the opening of the 1859 Jail Museum, an arrest ledger used while the building was in use as a jail was returned. This 1895-1900 leather-bound ledger was donated by Robert C. Chiles - the grandson of Henry Clay (Bruz) Chiles, a former deputy at the jail. Chiles found the ledger in the attic of his aunt’s home in Independence.
In 1980, two years after the first ledger was donated, the historical society received another ledger from Independence resident Tom Chandler. This particular arrest ledger is perhaps the most historically valuable. It dates from January 1881 to January 1883 and lists charges made against prisoners who the State of Missouri boarded in the 1859 Jail.
The notes inscribed on the archival photo of Frank James indicate the photo was taken in 1866.
One of those prisoners includes Alexander Franklin “Frank" James. Frank James was the second half of the notorious James Brothers. Frank and his brother Jesse James were nationally known for robbing multiple banks and trains throughout the Midwest.
After pressure from Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden, Jesse James was killed in 1882, in St. Joseph, Missouri. After hearing about the death of his brother, Frank James sent a letter to Governor Crittenden to settle the terms of his surrender.
Frank James was sent to Jackson County and held in the County Jail for 112 days for the murder of Captain John Sheets; a murder committed at a robbery in Gallatin, Missouri.
Frank James was given special privileges while at the jail, due to his family having money. During his stay he received permission to roam the halls, enjoy a comfortably furnished cell and host poker nights there.
In 1882 Frank James was held at the 1859 Jail. For the first 87 days, his family had to pay 45 cents per day for him to be housed there. For the last 25 days, they only paid 35 cents per day. Photo taken by Danielle Hall.
Frank James was acquitted for every charge brought against him in multiple courts and was released in 1883.
In 1984 Mr. Chester Crenshaw donated the third arrest ledger. This arrest ledger documents the later years of the 1859 Jail; from 1928 to 1932. Only a year after the end of this ledger would the last prisoner leave the jail.
There is a fourth ledger but little is known about its history. This ledger was only recently discovered among the other three but has no information on when the Jackson County Historical Society came to possess it. The only known fact is that it covers the years 1927 to 1928.
The Future
Pictured is one of our archival volunteers, Chuck, transcribing a 1920s ledger and the ledger where Marshal Murphy recorded James' arrest.
In January of this year, after the rediscovery of the ledgers, historical society archival volunteers started the process of transcribing them. They are going line by line and creating spreadsheets on who the prisoners were, what crime they committed, who arrested them, and how long they were housed at the 1859 Jail.
To date, one ledger has successfully been transcribed with two more near completion. Once this process is complete, the ledgers will be properly preserved and the spreadsheets will be available to the public on our historical society website.
In the meantime, the 1932-1933 ledger is currently on display at the 1859 Jail Museum. To learn more about the 1859 Jail Museum, go to https://www.jchs.org/1859jailmuseum
Danielle Hall is the Archivist and Educational Director for the Jackson County Historical Society