Shawnee in Johnson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Wagonmaster's House
Richard Williams
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 2, 2011
1. Wagonmaster's House Marker
Richard Williams was born in Tennessee in 1830, son of Judge Arthur Williams. As a young man, Richard came to Johnson County in the 1850s, employed as a surveyor by the U.S. government. During the 1850s and early 1860s, Dick Williams was a "wagonmaster", escorting wagon trains from Kansas City to Santa Fe and other western destinations.
Sometime in the 1850s, Richard Williams hired the Garrett brothers, stone masons, to build his two-story limestone house on a site allotted in 1857 to Shawnee Indian John Pumpkin. Williams' family tradition says the house was built in 1853, although most likely in 1857-1860. The house became known as the "Wagonmaster's House" on the southeast corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Nieman Road. The old house survived some 100 years until being dismantled in 1959, its limestone rocks removed to Shawnee Mission Park for possible future reconstruction in Old Shawnee Town.
Erected 2006 by City of Shawnee and State Historical Society of Missouri.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 39° 0.863′ N, 94° 42.41′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Development of the Kansas City area Frontier Trails Network (here, next to this marker); Gum Springs (here, next to this marker); Fort Leavenworth Military Road (here, next to this marker); Westport - Santa Fe Trail - Oregon / California Trail (a few steps from this marker); California Road (a few steps from this marker); Shawnee Friends Mission (approx. 0.4 miles away); Quantrill's Raid on Shawneetown (approx. ¾ mile away); Campbell Home (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shawnee.
Also see . . .
1. Santa Fe National Historic Trail. (Submitted on December 18, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Pioneer Crossing Park, Shawnee KS. (Submitted on December 18, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Additional commentary.
1. Dick Williams
Richard Williams is my great-great grandfather. I grew up in the Northeastern corner
Photographed By Unknown, undated
2. Photo of Dick Williams on Wagonmaster's House Marker
I may have info that would be valuable from a historical standpoint and am hoping to learn more from what exists in the Shawnee area.
Thanks:)
— Submitted January 8, 2014, by Lisa Reed Rome of Hugoton, Kansas.
Photographed By Unknown, undated
3. Wagonmaster's House Image on Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
4. Markers in Pioneer Crossing Park
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
5. Wagon Trail Sculpture in Pioneer Crossing Park
By Charles Goslin
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
6. Pioneer Crossing Park, Shawnee KS
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 2, 2011
7. Dick Williams, Wagonmaster, Sculpture
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,220 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 18, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 17, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 7. submitted on December 18, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
