THE O.E. ELLIS SOCIETY

OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

‘One-Eyed Ellis’ was an actual pioneer on the Missouri frontier. He was a colorful character, known for his joviality and his entrepreneurial skills as a fur-trader. He was a behind-the-scenes businessman, familiar to the 14 town-fathers who, in 1838, incorporated and founded the “Town of Kansas.” The Town of Kansas was founded on a natural rock ledge, prime for loading and unloading steamboats, on the south bank of the Missouri River. One-Eyed Ellis hosted the town founders in his log-cabin on the riverbank at the foot of Main Street when they met to choose a name and incorporate. Later, in 1880, “Town of Kansas” was changed to “Kansas City.”

Various names, for what is now Kansas City, were proposed at that meeting in One-Eyed Ellis’ log cabin, including: “Rabbitville,” “Possumtrot,” “Kawsmouth,” and “Port Fonda” (in honor of Abraham Fonda, then a prominent member of the committee). Finally "Town of Kansas" was agreed upon, because of the town’s proximity to the Kansas River, and the indigenous Kansas Indians. “Town of Kansas” was also the name under which the new town site was surveyed, and by which it was called until 1853. At that time it became known as the “City of Kansas,” until the name was finally changed to “Kansas City” in 1880.

Nearly fifty years earlier, on February 1, 1831, French-Canadian fur trader Gabriel Prudhomme had ‘patented’ 271 acres of land in Jackson County, Missouri for $340. The land, originally part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, was premium real estate because of “the levee” (the excellent steamboat landing site). After an altercation on the un-tamed frontier, later in 1831, Prudhomme died, leaving a complex legal battle among his heirs. The courts finally declared that the land should be auctioned-off and the proceeds equitably distributed among Prudhomme’s children.

On July 7, 1838, James H. McGee, as a guardian for the Prudhomme heirs, auctioned the land. He received $1,800 for the land from Abraham Fonda, but the courts ordered a new sale due to charges of a lack of adequate advertising and a suspicion of collusion between the two men. The land had begun to be used regularly by businesses as early as 1836. The second auction of the estate was advertised as far away as St. Louis and 'cried-off' on November 14, 1838. A group of men, led by William M. Sublett made a bid of $4,220 and successfully purchased the tract of land.

The group then formed a corporation with the intent of using the landing and its nearby surroundings as a business settlement, complete with warehouses. The corporation originally consisted of 14 members and, shortly after the sale, allowed an additional three members. Members included John C. McCoy (the city’s first surveyor), Fry P. McGee (the group’s first financial officer), and William M. Chick (Kansas City’s first Postmaster). Other members of the original group were: Oliver Caldwell, William Collins, Abraham Fonda, William Gillis, Russell Hicks, Samuel C. Owens, Jacob Ragan, James Smart, George W. Tate, and Moses G. Wilson. The additions were Robert Campbell, William B. Evans, and Henry Jobe.

Our Namesake: One-Eyed Ellis

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