Volumes have been written about the Civil War but little had been written about the important little town of Dayton Missouri, located in extreme Southern Cass County.  Dayton sits on the Cass/ Bates County line, bordered by the Grand River.  During the Civil War, the Dayton Crossing was one of the few places to cross the Grand River, and was the scene of many skirmishes. 

The town of Dayton began in 1857 and by 1860 there were 47 businesses, homes and buildings in the thriving little town.  It was a major North/South route for Confederates and Confederate recruiters as well as a major route for Jayhawkers & Union troops into Missouri.  The people of the Dayton area saw more than their share of indignities during this period of history, although until recently their story went untold.
 
The worst of these atrocities happened on January 1, 1862 while the Missouri State Guards were recruiting at the mercantile store in Dayton.   When word of the recruiting reached the Kansas leader Jennison, he immediately sent his Jayhawkers to check on the matter.   With Daniel Anthony in charge, they were to make an expedition from Morristown, Missouri (near present day Freeman, MO in Cass County) to Rose Hill in Johnson County, Missouri, by way of Dayton Crossing.  The Jayhawkers burned the town of Dayton and Columbus on their way to Rose Hill and then returned by way of Harrisonville.  Anthony, his two hundred men and a twelve-pound howitzer came into the town of Dayton and burned forty-six houses and buildings.  There was only one home left standing in the town, that home belonged to a Union man by the name of William Byler.  The home is still there!  

In December 2006, Cass County resident, Jackie Polsgrove-Roberts, published a book on the Burning of Dayton, Missouri.  This book includes the history leading up to the Civil War, skirmishes during the war in the area and many first hand accounts of the outrages on the people there.   For the first time in nearly 150 years, the reader becomes aware of the suffering of the people here, even before General Order Number 11 was issued !

     The book, The Burning of Dayton Missouri is available for purchase from Cass County Historical Society.

About the Author

Jackie Polsgrove-Roberts was born and raised in Buchanan County, Missouri. She and her husband Jay Roberts are a husband and wife research team.  They are experienced genealogical researchers with a combined total of over fifty years in the field. 

Jackie works full time as Genealogy Branch Supervisor for Cass County Public Library where she has been employed for twelve years.  One of her favorite job responsibilities is teaching monthly computer classes on genealogical research.

Jay specializes in Missouri Confederate Soldier genealogies.  Jackie’s specialty is in Missouri Border War and Civil War research as well as genealogical and historical research.

Over the past thirty years, Jackie has served on the board of several organizations.  Currently she is involved locally in Cass County Living History Festival as a Committee Chairperson, Cass County Civil War Roundtable, Cass County Genealogical Society, Cass County Historical Society, Cass County Re-enactors Guild, and The Quantrill Society. She is Vice President of the Missouri/Kansas Border War Network and is a member of Missouri Library Association.

In 2004, Jackie was recognized in the National Register’s Who’s Who In Executives and Professionals.