As early as 1830, the area that would be Shawnee County was poised to become one of the initial counties to be incorporated into the new territory. Preceding this, a trading post was established by Frederick Choteau at the junction of Mission Creek and the Kansas River, located a few miles west of downtown Topeka. This strategic location served as a meeting point for the Oregon-California Trail and the Military Road. The site offered not only increased security from the military presence on the road but also facilitated heightened trade activity due to the influx of westward-bound emigrants.
The Pottawatomie Mission was constructed in 1849 and operated by Baptist missionaries, the mission was forced to cease its operations in 1861 with the onset of the American Civil War, due to its shortages of funds and staffing. This mission was built to train the vast number of Potawatomie tribe members who were moved from their ancestral homes by the Great Lakes. First to Platte County in Missouri in the mid 1830s then Council Bluff Iowa in the 1840s before finally settling in Kansas at Indianola. After the war the school tried to reopen but was unsuccessful and in 1873 the stone building was converted to a barn which was used by the family of Robert Ives Lee till 1925. Some years later in 1973 the Kansas Historical Society would buy the building and also 80 acres of land to create a museum, preserved buildings, and their headquarters.
The plaque, one of the metal versions installed in 2016, is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Rees family, Citizens Pottawatomie Nation, and the Don Combs Memorial.
In 1856, Topeka served as a key bastion for anti-slavery advocates, successfully repelling pro-slavery attacks until September of that year. Its strategic significance led to its establishment as the capital when the state joined the United States. Notably, Topeka was situated at a midpoint on the journey, offering more dependable routes, river crossings, and ferries, akin to the present-day Route 24. Among these ferries, one was in the present-day county of Jackson, known then as Calhoun, named after a pro-slavery senator from South Carolina John C. Calhoun.
The Military Road proceed southward, following the current path of Route 4 for eight miles until reaching the Kansas River. At this juncture, our 6th marker is prominently displayed at Rees Fruit Farm. Established in 1901, the fruit farm has been a cherished family enterprise and has uncovered artifacts from the military road during orchard tilling activities.
Travelers had the option to proceed along the route or detour into Topeka for provisions and supplies, particularly from fellow travelers navigating the Oregon Trail because the two roads intersected there. To access the city, they would need to cross the Kansas River, which was made possible by a ferry operated by Joseph Pappin, initially constructed in 1842. Pappin later erected a toll bridge over a tributary of the Kansas River known as Shunganunga Creek. Many emigrants and soldiers traversed this route, venturing westwards to intersect with the thoroughfare passing through Maclennan Park near the Governor's Mansion. Remnants of their passage can still be observed today.
Like the Rees Fruit Farm, this plaque was erected in 2016, with the support of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Don Combs Memorial, Dave L. Boxberger, and Bob Schwarz Financial.
At this point the Military Road divides into a Northern and Southern Route. The Southern Route traverses around the southern side of the Kansas River and lacks suitable terrain for transporting heavy cargo due to the inability of the ground to support their weight. Conversely, the Northern Route can accommodate these heavy loads so they would utilize the more stable land North of the river right but before it starts to get into the hills which is mirrored by current day Route 24. Both routes converge again in Silver Lake.
The next commemorative plaque is 9 miles west of Topeka in the small township of Silver Lake. The township was established in 1868 near a lake, from which it derives its name, on the town's west side. The plaque is positioned on Railroad Road, between two commercial buildings, which may pose a challenge in locating it.
Thank You to Bob Totten at Shawnee County Historical Society during the research process. To find out more about Shawnee County a link is below
To learn more about the Potawatomi Mission or the Kansas Historical Society headquarters and museums there a link below
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