2008 Events
Wyandotte County Historical Museum Tour, February 28, 2009
The Wyandotte County Historical Museum was toured the morning of one of the largest 2009 snows in the Kansas City area.The morning opened with a snow of three inches. Our visit to Bonner Springs, Kansas was reduced from about 43 people making reservations to 21 attending. 
Our tour leaders, Trish Schurkamp, Museum Director, and Loren Taylor, Wyandotte County Historian, led us through the exhibits of Wyandotte County and area history events. The group was undaunted in its expectation of learning about Wyandotte County and viewing the rich historical display of artifacts. There are several featured items within the Museum that are sufficient to attract the public for more than one visit. These include the Lithuanian bell in the lobby, a 300 year old walnut dugout canoe found near the mouth of the Kaw in the 1920’s, and a selection of pieces of “pre-contact” artifact of the Hopewell Indians that showcased that tribe who inhabited the Wyandotte and Leavenworth County territory. Pre-contact being the term preferred, as opposed to “pre-historic”, by descendant Indians now. Pictured below is Loren Taylor, discussing the emigrant tribes with the group.
The Wyandotte area was unlawful to cross in early territorial days as it belonged to those Indian inhabitants, as they had absolute legal jurisdiction over its visitors and occupants. In addition there was a copy of the Wyandotte County Constitution derived from laws and customs of the Delaware and Shawnee tribes migrating from Ohio, some of whom were “free-staters, others were pro-slavery proponents. This Constitution was used to eventually help form the Constitution of the State of Kansas.
Other showcased items included a 1903 horse-drawn fire-truck used in Kansas City, and period pieces of Victorian living. There was a portion of the museum describing the Quindaro neighborhood and a research library which were not visited today, leaving the overall desire for a return visit to this remarkable collection of historical information. Pictured below is Trish Schurkamp, Museum Director, describing horticultural practices used by early inhabitants of the area.
We completed the tour by visiting the nearby Longhorn Restaurant at the Kansas Speedway, where new friendships were made and generous conversation was shared.
Our thanks to Mary Lee Sturdevant, program director, for organizing the event, and to Loren Taylor, Trish Schurkamp and Ed Shutt.
—Lee Pickering and Dan Sturdevant
Meet and Greet at the Toy and Miniature Museum, October 29
From the left, Scott Vogel, Laura Taylor, and John Hess, Jr. About 20 people enjoyed the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, Missouri,
located at 52nd and Oak on October 29. Knowledgeable tour guides explained the fascinating exhibits. We learned that the most standard reduction is 1/12 real size. From the Russian Room to the doll collection to the house collection, we examined the beautiful and intricate items. Afterwards, we gathered at Pizza 51, at the corner of 51st and Oak. Several new member prospects were recruited. Thanks to John Hess, Jr., for organizing the event.
Native Sons and Daughters members and guests at Pizza 51 following Meet and Greet at the Toy and Miniature Museum, in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 29, 2008. From the left are Suzanne Willey; John Hess; Erma Hess; Michael Morgan; Carol Sims, John Hess, Jr.; Tom Sims, Jr.; Tom Sims; Beverly Sims; Jim Flanagan; and Scott VogelOutstanding Kansas Citian, 2008, awarded to Terry and Peggy Dunn
From the left, Native Sons and Daughters President Hon. Tom Sims, Terry Dunn, Peggy Dunn, Jean Dunn, William Dunn, and Gary Hicks, Chairman, Outstanding Kansas Citian
The Board of Directors for the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City is pleased to announce that Terry and Peggy Dunn have received its annual award as “Outstanding Kansas Citians” for 2008. A reception was held in their honor on Thursday evening, September 25, 2008, in the National WWI Museum at the Liberty Memorial, in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
The Dunns are highly visible leaders in the Greater Kansas City area, through their professional careers, their numerous civic involvements, and their generous philanthropic support providing for the well being of our community.
Read more. . .
Trails West Tour, October 11, 2008
By Dan Sturdevant
October 11, 2008 Trails West tour group Thirty two people joined Ross Marshall on the Trails West bus tour sponsored by the
Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City on Saturday, October 11, 2008. The all-day tour began at 8th and Jefferson, known as Lewis and Clark Point, in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Marshall led the group to the Town of Kansas site, the Alexander Majors house at 82nd Street and State Line Road for a tour of the house as well as a video about the freighting operation in the 1850s and 1860s.
Ross Marshall, leading the tour The tour proceeded to Lone Elm Park at 167th Street and Lone Elm Road and then to the Three Trails Junction west of Gardner Kansas. The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop in Olathe, Kansas, followed, with the next stop in Sapling Grove Park at 83rd Street and Grant. The final stop of the tour was Pioneer Park on 56 Highway in Shawnee, Kansas, before returning to Lewis and Clark Point at 5:00 p.m. The Kansas City area’s four National Historic Trails, Lewis and Clark, Oregon, California and Santa Fe came alive through Ross’s excellent story telling and through interpretive exhibits at the sites.
More knowledgeable about Independence and Westport as starting places for
the westward journey, the group went on with their lives that evening, perhaps inspired for a time by the echo of the actions of the people who lived in and came through our town many years ago.
Ross Marshall is a new director-elect of the Native Sons and Daughters. Mr. Marshall has a distinguished career as a businessman and a historian. Among his associations are the Oregon-California Trails Association, the Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, and the Lewis and Clark Missouri Kansas Riverbend Chapter. Ross is also the current President of the Partnership for National Trails System, a national organization funded by Congress.
Fort Osage Marker Dedication and Ft. Osage Rededication,
1808 — 2008, Saturday, September 6, 1:00 p.m.
From left, John Hess, Sr., Membership Chair; Tom Sims, President of the Native Sons and Daughters; Dan Sturdevant, 2009 President-elect; Gary Hicks, 1st Vice-President; and Lee Pickering, Communications Secretary
While the storm clouds threatened, the memorable ceremony proceeded. There were Indians
from Iowa and militia re-enactors, women dressed in period costume, trappers, and infantry. A number of other interests were present, including Mike Sanders, Jackson County Executive; the Corps of Engineers represented by Lt. Col. Michael Fitzgerald; the keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Scott Farquhar, United States Army, Ft. Leavenworth; and Native Sons President, Hon. Thomas Sims.
The keynote speaker suggested the pioneering spirit of the 1800’s in western Missouri had similarities and kinship to the conflict in Iraq and the challenging military efforts made by our country. The Colonel’s participation in the current war echoed a presence for him that occurred 200 years ago on this land’s bluff. He felt as if he had been here before without ever visiting this site.
A replica of the flag of the 1808 period was raised over the fort and a musket and cannon salute by Dave Bennett and the 1st United States Infantry Re-enactors followed. Dedication of the Native Sons and Daughters marker by President Sims commemorated the Fort, the struggle of the pioneers and the celebration of this anniversary. As the crowd dispersed, the rains fell and signaled a renewed commitment to value and protect this historic site and the meaning of its contribution to our nation. The crowd seemed pleased and satisfied as this singular event concluded.
Fort Osage Marker Dedication
Saturday, September 6, 2008, the dedication of a new marker for Fort Osage
will be held at the original site of the fort. The program begins at 1:00
p.m., with an introduction by Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders,
followed by keynote speaker Lt. Col. Scott Farguhar from the Command
College at Ft. Leavenworth. At 2:00 p.m., the Native Sons and Daughters
marker will be dedicated. Driving directions to Fort Osage are found at
the end of this message.
Dear Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City and Friends:
Please join us Saturday, September 6, 2008, at historic Fort Osage in
Sibley, Missouri. Fort Osage needs your support. This is the Bicentennial
Commemoration of the building of the Fort by Captain William Clark and his
group. Admission to the site is $2.00.
We will see the new “green” building housing the Fort Osage Education
Center, with upgrades since our last visit. Gordon Julich, Superintendent
of Historic Sites for Jackson County Parks & Recreation, along with other
interpreters, will be on hand, with Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders
presiding over the ceremony. In addition, Peyton (Bud) Clark, one of
William Clark's direct descendents, may be attending the event.
There are two buildings in this National Historic Landmark, the
reconstructed 1808 Fort, and the new Education Center. In addition, this is
a beautiful site, with the Missouri River on the north.
The Native Sons and Daughters played an instrumental part in the
reconstruction of the Fort in the 1940s, and one of our Community Service
Committees is designated the Fort Osage Committee. John Hess, Sr., serves
as chair of that committee. In 1952, the Native Sons received an award for their efforts in the restoration. A pdf(1.8MB) of the article appearing in the July 1953 issue of the Missouri Historical Review recounts the ceremony. In addition, James Anderson, the historian for the Native Sons from 1938 to 1966, was a major force behind the restoration, as noted in his obituary (pdf, 700k).
Please bring your children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends! They
will enjoy the exhibits in the education center and exploring the fort. The
gathering point is the 1:00 p.m. program area. Comfortable clothes and
shoes are suggested.
Reservations are not necessary.
Very truly yours,
Dan Sturdevant
Program Assistant
Web site relaunches
July 17, 2008, the Native Sons and Daughters web site relaunched. Shown below 
are the members of the Communications Committee during the presentation of the site. Left to right are Lee Pickering, Communications Secretary; Keith Krieger, web editor; Joe Vaughan, Communications Committee chair; and Gary Hicks, 2nd Vice President. Also attending were Susie Hughes, Executive Secretary and David Boutros, Western Missouri Manuscript Collection curator.
Weston Museum Map Viewing, June 8, 2008, 2:30 p.m.
On Sunday, June 8, about 40 Native Sons and Daughters, their spouses, and friends, gathered at the Weston Museum, in Weston, Missouri, to see the 1843 "Mitchell’s National Map of the American Republic or United States of North America" (Pictured above with Program Chair Mary Lee Sturdevant). The cost of restoring and framing this map, donated by Harold McAdow, a descendent of one of Platte County’s oldest pioneer families, was underwritten by the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City. 
Museum president Diza Eskridge and museum director Ann Saugstad expressed their deep appreciation to our organization. Ms. Saugstad told the group the map was about the color of a brown paper bag when it was received. There were many cracks in the map because it had been rolled up. The director said the map is now in “fabulous" condition and that it should be good for another 150 years! She reported that visitors to the museum sometimes pull up a chair to study the details of the map closely. This map lists the American Indian Territories and the locations of the tribal communities as well as cartographic information on the United States from the east coast to the Great Plains.
After visiting the museum, attendees were treated to a tour of three historic homes just around the corner from the museum. These included the Price-Loyles home, the Henson-Eskridge home, and the Old Methodist Parsonage-Hartley home. The Native Sons & Daughters wish to thank the Hartleys, the McKenzies, and Diza Eskridge for allowing us to see their historic homes. We also wish to thank the museum trustees and volunteers who made the afternoon possible for us. Many thanks to Diza for organizing this event. 
After enjoying scrumptious treats at Diza Eskridge’s home, thirty members met at Rancho Grande Cantina in Platte City to have dinner together. It was a grand afternoon!
The Kansas City Star also reviewed the event.
Mary Lee Sturdevant, Program Chair
(photos courtesy of Dan Sturdevant)
Alexander Doniphan bust unveiling, July 9
The Clay County Millenium Board performs the unveiling of the Alexander Doniphan bust on the occasion of Doniphan's 200th birthday. Doniphan will be inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, and will be held at 7:00 p.m., July 9, in Gano Chapel on William Jewell College campus, in Liberty, Missouri. The Hon. Thomas Sims, president of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas City, will perform the invocation.
Doniphan was a founder and trustee of William Jewell College in 1849 and served three terms representing Clay County in the Missouri legislature in 1836, 1840, and 1854.
In addition, the Alexander Doniphan Public Service Award will be presented to Ray Brock of Liberty, Missouri. Mr. Brock is an alumnus of William Jewell College. Ron Jetton, Speaker of the Missouri House, will speak at the unveiling.
Students of Alexander Doniphan Elementary School will lead the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the presentation, and will lead the guests in singing Happy Birthday. A public reception will follow the award ceremony.
2007 Events
November 11, Tour of World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
November 11 is a special day in history, but will also have special significance for the Native Sons & Daughters of Greater Kansas City. Not only was it the day in 1918 when World War I ended, but it will also be the day that the Native Sons & Daughters will tour Kansas City’s National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial.
As a bonus, a special tour will be given by Native Son and Museum booster, Carl DiCapo, with a special appearance by John Dillingham, past president of the Native Sons & Daughters and current president of the Liberty Memorial Association.
The Liberty Memorial houses the only federally recognized World War I museum and memorial in the country. On December 2, 2006, the National World War I Museum opened. Envisioned by the people of Kansas City, designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, and designated by Congress as the nation’s official WWI Museum, the new state of the art complex at Liberty Memorial uses interactive technology to bring history to life, and to foster timely discussions of ethics, values, decision making, and conflict resolution.
The site for the Liberty Memorial was dedicated on November 1, 1921, and opened three years later. The Native Sons & Daughters played a pivotal role in the campaign to renovate the memorial culminating in its rededication in 2002. The tour begins at 2:00 p.m. on November 11th, with an optional lunch at the Harvey House in Union Station starting at 12:15 p.m.
December 8, 2007, Annual Holiday Brunch
The Annual Brunch scheduled for December 8th will usher in the Native Sons & Daughters' 75th Anniversary. To get in the mood, the brunch will take us back 75 years to the Holiday Season of 1932. Guests will include Tom Pendergast and Harry Truman. Music from 1932 will be played courtesy of Dan Sturdevant. More information will be coming soon but plan now to be at Indian Hills Country Club on December 8th, 1932...we mean 2007...and be sure to celebrate the holidays with your fellow Native Sons & Daughters.