Long before the bustling metropolis of Kansas City took its modern form, a single visionary played an instrumental role in its very foundation and that of its vibrant precursor, Westport. John Calvin McCoy, often hailed as the “Father of Kansas City,” was a true frontier entrepreneur whose foresight and determination etched his name into the annals of Missouri history. His journey from a land surveyor to a pivotal city founder embodies the spirit of American expansion and ingenuity.
Early Life and the Birth of a Trading Hub
Born in Vincennes, Indiana, on September 28, 1811, John Calvin McCoy, Sr. was one of six children to Isaac and Christiana Polke McCoy. After completing his studies as a land surveyor at Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1827, McCoy moved with his parents to northwest Missouri in 1830, where they engaged in Baptist missionary work.
His entrepreneurial spirit quickly surfaced. In 1833, at just 22 years old, McCoy established a two-story cabin at Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue. This structure served as both his residence and a critical trading post for travelers embarking on the arduous Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. Initially, procuring supplies was a logistical challenge, requiring a lengthy three-day round-trip from Wayne City Landing near Independence, Missouri, where steamboats docked.
Establishing Westport and its Crucial Landing
Recognizing the inefficiency of the existing supply chain, McCoy envisioned a closer connection to the Missouri River. In the spring of 1834, he strategically established a new dock at a rocky point between what are now Delaware and Grand Streets. This location, which became known as Westport Landing, significantly shortened the journey for goods and settlers.
He then carved a primitive path from his trading post to this new landing and convinced the captain of the steamboat John Hancock to unload there. This innovation rapidly gained popularity, drawing more riverboats and cementing Westport Landing as a vital gateway to the western trails. The same year, McCoy acquired land from Dr. Johnston Lykins and meticulously laid out the streets for his new settlement. He named it Westport, a fitting moniker as it represented the last significant stop before pioneers ventured into the vast Kansas Territory. In May 1834, McCoy was appointed the first postmaster, and the town plat was officially filed in February 1835.
From Town of Kansas to Kansas City
In 1838, John McCoy married Virginia Christiana Chick, with whom he would eventually have nine children. His influence extended beyond Westport when, in November 1838, he participated in the auction of Gabriel Prudhomme’s 257-acre property near Westport Landing. Along with 13 other prominent men, including William M. Chick and mountain man William L. Sublette, McCoy purchased the parcel, forming the Town of Kansas Company. This company platted the site into 318 lots, laying the groundwork for what would become a major metropolitan center. In 1853, the state of Missouri officially chartered the Town of Kansas, which evolved into the present-day Kansas City.
Later Life and Enduring Legacy
McCoy’s life was not without challenges. During the Civil War, his Confederate sympathies led to his forced evacuation from Kansas City under General Order No. 11 of 1863. After the war, he continued his impactful work as a surveyor for the United States government, fixing boundary lines for Fort Leavenworth in Kansas and for the Cherokee and Creek lands in the Indian Territory.
He spent several years farming in Kansas before returning to his beloved Kansas City, where he retired at his home on Olive Street. John Calvin McCoy passed away on September 2, 1889, at the age of 77, and was laid to rest in Union Cemetery. His profound contributions are honored in Pioneer Park at Westport and Broadway, where a sculpture by Thomas L. Beard depicts him alongside Alexander Majors and Jim Bridger. Westport itself was eventually annexed by Kansas City in 1899, symbolizing the enduring connection between his two great achievements.
Conclusion
John Calvin McCoy was more than just a settler; he was a strategic thinker and an architect of civilization on the American frontier. His vision for Westport Landing revolutionized trade and travel, while his instrumental role in establishing the Town of Kansas laid the essential groundwork for what would become a bustling urban hub. McCoy’s legacy is etched into the very fabric of two significant Missouri cities, a testament to his pioneering spirit and unwavering dedication to progress.
