Savannah in Andrew County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Andrew County

Photographed by Thomas Onions, December 4, 2010

1. Andrew County Marker

Side one of the Andrew County Marker.

Inscription.

Andrew County. . , Andrew County, organized 1841, is one of 6 counties in the Indian Platte Purchase Territory annexed to Missouri, 1837. Named for Andrew Jackson Davis, St. Louis editor, the county was first settled in the middle 1830’s. Pioneers were from Ohio, Ind., Tenn., Ky., Va., and other parts of Missouri., Savannah, the county seat, was laid out in 1841. First briefly called Union, it was renamed for Savannah, Ga., The Platte Co. R. R. (C. B. and Q.) reached therein 1860, and today’s Chicago, Great Western in late 1880’s. In the post Civil War years, the town grew as shipping point and trading center., A divided county during the Civil War, Andrew sent troops to both sides. In Aug., 1861, some 1500 from Andrew and other counties joined the pro-Southern Mo. State Guard at Camp Highly in eastern Andrew County while others joined a large Union camp in adjacent Gentry County. In 1861, Union troops seized “Northwest Democrat,” a pro-Southern newspaper, in Savannah and troops from Camp Highly seized the “Plain Dealer,” Union newspaper. Raiding guerrilla bands overran the county through 1863., (see other side), Andrew County’s glacial plains support fertile livestock, grain, and fruit farms. In the county are One Hundred and Two and Platte rivers and forming its west border are the Nodaway and Missouri. In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on an island at mouth of the Nodaway and members of fur trader Wilson P. Hunt’s 1811 Astorian expedition wintered near the river’s mouth., Among county towns are Amazonia, once on the Missouri River, now inland, laid out in 1857 near site of Nodaway City, early river port; Fillmore, 1845; Whitesville, 1848; Rochester, 1848; Bolckow, 1868; Rosendale, 1869; Rea, 1877; Helena, 1878; and Cosby, 1882., Andrew County is birthplace of Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first gov. of Wyo., 1925-1927, first Woman Dir. U.S. Mint; Joseph K. Toole (1851-1929) first Gov. of Mont.; W. Elmer Holt, Gov. Mont. 1935; Edwin W. Toole (1839 – 1905) noted Mont. Lawyer; Eugene W. Caldwell (1870 – 1918)noted roentgenologist. In Savannah lived John P. Altgeld, Gov. of Ill. 1893-97; Henry S. Kelly (1832 – 1911) legal textbook writer; James P. Somerville, one of founders of Sertoma Clubs International.

Andrew County, organized 1841, is one of 6 counties in the Indian Platte Purchase Territory annexed to Missouri, 1837. Named for Andrew Jackson Davis, St. Louis editor, the county was first settled in the middle 1830’s. Pioneers were from Ohio, Ind., Tenn., Ky., Va., and other parts of Missouri.

Savannah, the county seat, was laid out in 1841. First briefly called Union, it was renamed for Savannah, Ga., The Platte Co. R. R. (C. B. & Q.) reached therein 1860, and today’s Chicago, Great Western in late 1880’s. In the post Civil War years, the town grew as shipping point and trading center.

A divided county during the Civil War, Andrew sent troops to both sides. In Aug., 1861, some 1500 from Andrew and other counties joined the pro-Southern Mo. State Guard at Camp Highly in eastern Andrew County while others joined a large Union camp in adjacent Gentry County. In 1861, Union troops seized “Northwest Democrat,” a pro-Southern newspaper, in Savannah and troops from Camp Highly seized the “Plain Dealer,” Union newspaper. Raiding guerrilla bands overran the county through 1863.

(see other side)

Andrew County’s glacial plains support fertile livestock, grain, and fruit farms. In the county are One Hundred and Two and Platte rivers and forming its west border are the Nodaway and Missouri.

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In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on an island at mouth of the Nodaway and members of fur trader Wilson P. Hunt’s 1811 Astorian expedition wintered near the river’s mouth.

Among county towns are Amazonia, once on the Missouri River, now inland, laid out in 1857 near site of Nodaway City, early river port; Fillmore, 1845; Whitesville, 1848; Rochester, 1848; Bolckow, 1868; Rosendale, 1869; Rea, 1877; Helena, 1878; and Cosby, 1882.

Andrew County is birthplace of Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first gov. of Wyo., 1925-1927, first Woman Dir. U.S. Mint; Joseph K. Toole (1851-1929) first Gov. of Mont.; W. Elmer Holt, Gov. Mont. 1935; Edwin W. Toole (1839 – 1905) noted Mont. Lawyer; Eugene W. Caldwell (1870 – 1918)noted roentgenologist. In Savannah lived John P. Altgeld, Gov. of Ill. 1893-97; Henry S. Kelly (1832 – 1911) legal textbook writer; James P. Somerville, one of founders of Sertoma Clubs International.

Erected 1960 by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, The State Historical Society of series list. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1861.

Location. 39° 56.52′ N, 94° 49.802′

Photographed by Thomas Onions, December 4, 2010

2. Andrew County Marker

Side 2 of the Marker

W. Marker is in Savannah, Missouri, in Andrew County. It is on N 5th Street north of W Main Street. There is plenty of parking around the courthouse square. The marker is located on the north side of the Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 N 5th Street, Savannah MO 64485, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Missouri. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Conglomerate Rock (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Christian Church (about 500 feet away); Christian Church in Savannah, Missouri (about 600 feet away); Lovers Lane, Saint Jo (approx. 10.4 miles away); "Espyd. a wolf" (approx. 10.9 miles away in Kansas); The Lewis and Clark Expedition (approx. 11.4 miles away); William Mitchelhill (approx. 11½ miles away); David Johnson Heaton (approx. 11½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Photographed by Thomas Onions, December 4, 2010

3. Andrew County Marker

The marker is to the left of the double doors.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2011, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas. This page has been viewed 1,761 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 17, 2011, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas.