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Cole Camp, MissouriFestivals, Heritage and Fun
Cole Camp is an historic town located where the Ozarks meet the great prairies in Benton County, Missouri. It is dated from its first post office in 1839, and it was the site of one of the first land battles of the Civil War. The town boasts several buildings dating from pre-Civil War times and the downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. |
Brief Bio |
Cole Camp Main Street 1910 - Cole Camp Main Street Today
The town has a strong German heritage that is still evident in the many German festivals and heritage events, and in the large number of the area residents that still speak the Low German brought over by their ancestors. It is a town that prides itself on its neatness and well-kept homes as well as the orderly life of the community. With a population of around 1000, the town offers all the services and most of the necessary shopping facilities. A large number of civic organizations are active in programs to serve and enhance the city. Likewise it is a community of churches with most denominations represented. Cole Camp is locally known as the “Festival City” with many festivals and special events keeping the town a busy place. It's idealistic location with the rolling prairies to the north and the hills and streams to the south offer beauty and variety. Hunting and fishing are popular sports and game and fish are ample. Older homes and farmsteads dot the country side recalling years past. The rich soil of the prairie and creek bottoms provide for excellent farming with fields of tall corn, soy beans and wheat being common sights. The production of beef completes the agricultural picture of the area. It is a prosperous area for both farmers and businesses. Being somewhat off the beaten path, the town and surrounding area have changed little over the years leaving it with its historic character and charm. Crime is rare and modern day, urban problems few. The schools are excellent and a source of community pride, both for their academics and routinely successful athletic teams. |
Our History |
Cole Camp in History - The Early Settlement
Cole Camp is located along what was once known as The Military Road. Ezekiel Williams had surveyed a segment of this road to include the section that came through what was to become Benton County. Williams settled along what became Williams Creek about four miles west of the present town site in 1829 or 1830. There he opened a trading post and a way-station for travelers and stage coaches. He also opened a post office which he reportedly named after his home parish of Cole Camp in Kentucky. The town site of Cole Camp was first settled in the 1830's, and history records that the first claim to build a house there was Dr. Hosea Powers. |
Oldest known plat of Cole Camp - Located on the NE quarter of Section 35 Township 43 Range 21 in Benton County
The town was located at the junction of four main roads; the old Military Road which was to become the Butterfield Trail named after a stage line that operated along it from 1858-1861; the Duroc Road coming from the South and a crossing on the Osage River; the Jefferson City Road that led East to Jefferson City; and the Boonville Road, coming in from the north. This put the developing town in an advantageous position for growth, and hotels and businesses soon developed and thrived.
Then, in 1839, Williams decided to move to where the action was bringing his post office with him. Thus, the town was to become known as Cole Camp due to the post office name. From this event, Cole Camp dates its official existence.
After 1835, a wave of immigrants from northern Germany began to settle in to the farming areas northeast of town, bringing with them their Low German language, strong work ethic and Lutheran religion. These characteristics still tend to define the citizenry of the area.
The wave of immigrants became a deluge, and soon large numbers of Germans occupied most of the farmland north, south and east of town. They came in such large numbers and were such successful farmers that they were to become the predominant group in the area, giving the community the German character it retains to this day.
Cole Camp in the Civil War
Relations between the Anglo-American settlers and Germans had been good in spite of cultural differences. This was to change with the coming of the war when the community became bitterly divided.
The Germans hated slavery and were fervently loyal Unionists while many of the Anglo-Americans retained their sympathies for their Southern heritage. Cole Camp, being at the hub of four major roads at that time, was to become the scene of one of the first battles of the Civil War, June 19, 1861.
The community was to suffer terribly during the remaining four years of war with the terrorism of the bushwhackers and guerrillas, and the armies marching back and forth through the area. This created tensions and hatred that lasted many years after the war ended in what became a divided town and county.
Growth and the Boom Period
After the war, there was another wave of German immigrants who were joined by several families from Bohemia and Poland.
During this time, railroads came through the area and Cole Camp enjoyed a "boom period," with many new businesses opening and thriving. It was 1880 when the first train came to Cole Camp, a narrow-gauge line that ran from Sedalia to Warsaw, and back. In its hey-day, there were two trains a day.
A second rail line was constructed around the turn of the century but it passed north of town about one and a half miles and offered service between Kansas City and St. Louis.
The railroads also brought in an era of rowdyism reminiscent of the wild-west. Stories were told of people riding horses inside saloons. Shootings and fights were common occurrences. One street, where the saloons were located, is still referred to as "Battle Row" by some of the older residents.
The town survived these adolescent years and grew and prospered. By 1890 it boasted a population of 600.
Cole Camp was to move into the modern age with the first telephones installed in 1898. A city owned electrical system began providing electrical power around 1915, albeit only on an intermittent basis. 1893 the first bank was started and at one time the town boasted of having three banks. The Citizens-Farmers Bank, which is still very much in operation, was born out of a merger of two of these banks. The building which houses this bank was built in 1898. The first automobile was seen on the streets of Cole Camp in 1905.
Around 1900 the city fathers decided something had to be done about the lawlessness and rowdyism so took action to clean up the town. From here it was to become a clean, well maintained, law abiding and very conservative little community, a characteristic it has maintained until this day.
The World Wars and the Depression
The era of prosperity lasted to the Great Depression, interrupted only by World War I that saw many Cole Camp men enlisting or being drafted into service.
Cole Camp prides itself on its annual Fair and boasts it as being one of the biggest and longest lasting of any in mid-Missouri, dating the first Fair from 1916. It was interrupted for only a few years during the depression and World War II. The pride of the fair is the many beautiful floats created by local churches and organizations that are the highlight of the Fair parades.
Today Cole Camp has settled in and become a beautiful, historic city, proud of its heritage, history and reputation as a neat, clean town.
Then, in 1839, Williams decided to move to where the action was bringing his post office with him. Thus, the town was to become known as Cole Camp due to the post office name. From this event, Cole Camp dates its official existence.
After 1835, a wave of immigrants from northern Germany began to settle in to the farming areas northeast of town, bringing with them their Low German language, strong work ethic and Lutheran religion. These characteristics still tend to define the citizenry of the area.
The wave of immigrants became a deluge, and soon large numbers of Germans occupied most of the farmland north, south and east of town. They came in such large numbers and were such successful farmers that they were to become the predominant group in the area, giving the community the German character it retains to this day.
Cole Camp in the Civil War
Relations between the Anglo-American settlers and Germans had been good in spite of cultural differences. This was to change with the coming of the war when the community became bitterly divided.
The Germans hated slavery and were fervently loyal Unionists while many of the Anglo-Americans retained their sympathies for their Southern heritage. Cole Camp, being at the hub of four major roads at that time, was to become the scene of one of the first battles of the Civil War, June 19, 1861.
The community was to suffer terribly during the remaining four years of war with the terrorism of the bushwhackers and guerrillas, and the armies marching back and forth through the area. This created tensions and hatred that lasted many years after the war ended in what became a divided town and county.
Growth and the Boom Period
After the war, there was another wave of German immigrants who were joined by several families from Bohemia and Poland.
During this time, railroads came through the area and Cole Camp enjoyed a "boom period," with many new businesses opening and thriving. It was 1880 when the first train came to Cole Camp, a narrow-gauge line that ran from Sedalia to Warsaw, and back. In its hey-day, there were two trains a day.
A second rail line was constructed around the turn of the century but it passed north of town about one and a half miles and offered service between Kansas City and St. Louis.
The railroads also brought in an era of rowdyism reminiscent of the wild-west. Stories were told of people riding horses inside saloons. Shootings and fights were common occurrences. One street, where the saloons were located, is still referred to as "Battle Row" by some of the older residents.
The town survived these adolescent years and grew and prospered. By 1890 it boasted a population of 600.
Cole Camp was to move into the modern age with the first telephones installed in 1898. A city owned electrical system began providing electrical power around 1915, albeit only on an intermittent basis. 1893 the first bank was started and at one time the town boasted of having three banks. The Citizens-Farmers Bank, which is still very much in operation, was born out of a merger of two of these banks. The building which houses this bank was built in 1898. The first automobile was seen on the streets of Cole Camp in 1905.
Around 1900 the city fathers decided something had to be done about the lawlessness and rowdyism so took action to clean up the town. From here it was to become a clean, well maintained, law abiding and very conservative little community, a characteristic it has maintained until this day.
The World Wars and the Depression
The era of prosperity lasted to the Great Depression, interrupted only by World War I that saw many Cole Camp men enlisting or being drafted into service.
Cole Camp prides itself on its annual Fair and boasts it as being one of the biggest and longest lasting of any in mid-Missouri, dating the first Fair from 1916. It was interrupted for only a few years during the depression and World War II. The pride of the fair is the many beautiful floats created by local churches and organizations that are the highlight of the Fair parades.
Today Cole Camp has settled in and become a beautiful, historic city, proud of its heritage, history and reputation as a neat, clean town.