Cahokia Heights in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Cahokia
Lewis & Clark Expedition
— 1803-1806 —
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019
1. Cahokia Marker
Erected 2003 by The Illinois Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1803.
Location. 38° 34.254′ N, 90° 11.332′ W. Marker is in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is on East 1st Street just west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at Cahokia Wedge (a grassy area), across from the Church of the Holy Family. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 Church Street, East Saint Louis IL 62206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lewis and Clark in Illinois (a few steps from this marker); Illinois in the American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Louis Downtown Airport (Parks Airport)
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. Amos Stoddard, First Civil Commandant of Upper Louisiana, Cantoned and Departed Here, March 9, 1803
On or about March 8, 1803, First Civil Commandant (and interim governor) of Upper Louisiana, Captain Amos Stoddard, with his company of artillerists, commanded by 1st Lieut. Stephen Worrall, rendezvoused with Capt. Meriwether Lewis at Cahokia. The next day, March 9th, they proceeded across the Mississippi River to St. Louis where they marched to Government House to conduct the transfer of the Upper Louisiana, first from Spain to France, and the next day, March 10th, from France to the
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2019
2. Cahokia Marker
It is located in front of a gazebo and a war memorial on the Cahokia Wedge.
Upon arriving at Government House in St. Louis, documents were signed, the Spanish flag was lowered and the French Flag raised, and the Upper Louisiana territory was transferred from Spain to France. In respect to the largely French population, the French flag remained flying for a 24 hour period. The next day, March 10, documents were signed, the French flag was lowered and the American flag raised, and the Upper Louisiana territory was transferred from France to the United States.
Upon his arrival at St. Louis, the Spanish governor sponsored a public dinner for the new governor, Amos Stoddard. The next day, after the completion of the transfer ceremony, the inhabitants of the town sponsored a public dinner and ball for the new federal government representative, Amos Stoddard. In such a situation, as Governor Stoddard shared in a letter to his mother, “these acts of civility I was obliged to return, and my station required it.” However, as a military officer on the frontier, Governor Stoddard had limited funds available to him to sponsor such an extravagant event. Therefore, he requested help from Capt. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Expecting that the governor would be reimbursed by the government (he was), they “loaned” Governor Stoddard $200 each. According to the letter to his mother from St. Louis in June 1804, the cost of the dinner and ball sponsored by Governor Stoddard was “622 dollars and 75 cents.” This was a considerable sum at that time.
The last letter ever written by Meriwether Lewis was to Major Amos Stoddard, dated September 22, 1809. He mentions the $200 Major Stoddard reported he was holding for him, writing, “...I hope you will therefore pardon me for asking you to remit as soon as is convenient the sum of $200 which you informed me you hold for me...” Meriwether Lewis then committed suicide on October 11, 1809. His financial situation at the time was certainly a contributing factor in his death.
After Major Stoddard’s death at Fort Meigs (Ohio) in May 1813, William Clark wrote to Lieut John O’Fallon, aide de camp to General Harrison, on June 18, 1813 regarding Amos Stoddard’s death. He wrote, “...Major Amos Stoddard I am informed is dead he owes me $200 cash which I lent him at St. Louis in the year 1804 for a public Dinner at that place, which given he was allowed for in his public accounts by the government...The Majr promised to pay as long he could raise funds, and as I was not in want of money when I saw him last at Pittsburgh, agreed that he should postpone payment until he should find it more convenient this spring.” He requested O’Fallon inquire with the executor of the estate for payment of the debt.
Apparently, transferring money to folks back in those days was far more difficult. In both accounts, Major Stoddard had informed these heroic men that he had not forgotten the debt and that he was holding the money for them. Unfortunately, he was not able to place the money into their hands. But it adds a previously unknown historical explanation to the reference of $200 in the famous Meriwether Lewis letter.
Source: “The Autobiography Manuscript of Major Amos Stoddard,” 2016
— Submitted March 19, 2021, by Robert Stoddard of Idyllwild, California.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
