Early history of the Chick family in Kansas City and Westport, starting with the 1826 flood and Indian trade, including involvement in the 1849 Gold Rush to California. Biographical descriptions also of William Miles Chick, or William Chick (1794-1847), father of the author, Washington Chick, and veteran of the War of 1812, also with information on the author's mother, Ann Eliza Smith Chick, or Ann Chick.
Virginia-born William Miles Chick came to Westport in 1836 from Alexandria, Virginia. He was 42 when he arrived here and opened a store with Westport founder John Calvin McCoy. Chick shortly helped form the Town Company of Kansas and became known as its "first citizen."
From the outset Chick was a VIP. He acted as one of the three commissioners charged with deciding the disposition of the late Gabriel Prudhomme's estate. That cleared the legal path for the establishment of today's Kansas City.
Between 1843 and 1844 Chick built a frontier mansion, perched atop a hill overlooking the river landing, at Walnut Street between 2nd and Pearl Streets.
He built one of the first businesses here too. A storage and commission house located on high ground near the levee at the southeast corner of Main Street. Another of Chick's waterfront ventures was a bustling ferry service. It operated between his place of business and the north bank of the Missouri.
In 1845 William Miles Chick was appointed first postmaster. And he is credited with persuading Bent and St. Vrain to operate their freighting business from the Town of Kansas in 1845.
Colonel Chick and his wife, Ann Eliza Smith Cook, produced five sons, all of whom were educated at the Shawnee Indian Mission. Their five daughters all married well--becoming brides of John Calvin McCoy, Nathan Scarritt, William Johnson, Thompson Peery and John W. Polk.
Chick died at age 53 on April 7, 1847. His was the second burial in the then new public Town Cemetery at 5th and Oak Streets. Now he lies in Union Cemetery.
Written by Wilda Sandy
Virginia-born William Miles Chick came to Westport in 1836 from Alexandria, Virginia. He was 42 when he arrived here and opened a store with Westport founder John Calvin McCoy. Chick shortly helped form the Town Company of Kansas and became known as its "first citizen."
From the outset Chick was a VIP. He acted as one of the three commissioners charged with deciding the disposition of the late Gabriel Prudhomme's estate. That cleared the legal path for the establishment of today's Kansas City.
Between 1843 and 1844 Chick built a frontier mansion, perched atop a hill overlooking the river landing, at Walnut Street between 2nd and Pearl Streets.
He built one of the first businesses here too. A storage and commission house located on high ground near the levee at the southeast corner of Main Street. Another of Chick's waterfront ventures was a bustling ferry service. It operated between his place of business and the north bank of the Missouri.
In 1845 William Miles Chick was appointed first postmaster. And he is credited with persuading Bent and St. Vrain to operate their freighting business from the Town of Kansas in 1845.
Colonel Chick and his wife, Ann Eliza Smith Cook, produced five sons, all of whom were educated at the Shawnee Indian Mission. Their five daughters all married well--becoming brides of John Calvin McCoy, Nathan Scarritt, William Johnson, Thompson Peery and John W. Polk.
Chick died at age 53 on April 7, 1847. His was the second burial in the then new public Town Cemetery at 5th and Oak Streets. Now he lies in Union Cemetery.
Written by Wilda Sandy
Early history of the Chick family in Kansas City and Westport, starting with the 1826 flood and Indian trade, including involvement in the 1849 Gold Rush to California. Biographical descriptions also of William Miles Chick, or William Chick (1794-1847), father of the author, Washington Chick, and veteran of the War of 1812, also with information on the author's mother, Ann Eliza Smith Chick, or Ann Chick.
Virginia-born William Miles Chick came to Westport in 1836 from Alexandria, Virginia. He was 42 when he arrived here and opened a store with Westport founder John Calvin McCoy. Chick shortly helped form the Town Company of Kansas and became known as its "first citizen."
From the outset Chick was a VIP. He acted as one of the three commissioners charged with deciding the disposition of the late Gabriel Prudhomme's estate. That cleared the legal path for the establishment of today's Kansas City.
Between 1843 and 1844 Chick built a frontier mansion, perched atop a hill overlooking the river landing, at Walnut Street between 2nd and Pearl Streets.
He built one of the first businesses here too. A storage and commission house located on high ground near the levee at the southeast corner of Main Street. Another of Chick's waterfront ventures was a bustling ferry service. It operated between his place of business and the north bank of the Missouri.
In 1845 William Miles Chick was appointed first postmaster. And he is credited with persuading Bent and St. Vrain to operate their freighting business from the Town of Kansas in 1845.
Colonel Chick and his wife, Ann Eliza Smith Cook, produced five sons, all of whom were educated at the Shawnee Indian Mission. Their five daughters all married well--becoming brides of John Calvin McCoy, Nathan Scarritt, William Johnson, Thompson Peery and John W. Polk.
Chick died at age 53 on April 7, 1847. His was the second burial in the then new public Town Cemetery at 5th and Oak Streets. Now he lies in Union Cemetery.
Written by Wilda Sandy
Virginia-born William Miles Chick came to Westport in 1836 from Alexandria, Virginia. He was 42 when he arrived here and opened a store with Westport founder John Calvin McCoy. Chick shortly helped form the Town Company of Kansas and became known as its "first citizen."
From the outset Chick was a VIP. He acted as one of the three commissioners charged with deciding the disposition of the late Gabriel Prudhomme's estate. That cleared the legal path for the establishment of today's Kansas City.
Between 1843 and 1844 Chick built a frontier mansion, perched atop a hill overlooking the river landing, at Walnut Street between 2nd and Pearl Streets.
He built one of the first businesses here too. A storage and commission house located on high ground near the levee at the southeast corner of Main Street. Another of Chick's waterfront ventures was a bustling ferry service. It operated between his place of business and the north bank of the Missouri.
In 1845 William Miles Chick was appointed first postmaster. And he is credited with persuading Bent and St. Vrain to operate their freighting business from the Town of Kansas in 1845.
Colonel Chick and his wife, Ann Eliza Smith Cook, produced five sons, all of whom were educated at the Shawnee Indian Mission. Their five daughters all married well--becoming brides of John Calvin McCoy, Nathan Scarritt, William Johnson, Thompson Peery and John W. Polk.
Chick died at age 53 on April 7, 1847. His was the second burial in the then new public Town Cemetery at 5th and Oak Streets. Now he lies in Union Cemetery.
Written by Wilda Sandy
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