Osage and Sac Indians were the earliest settlers to this area and the first white settler in the area was probably Allen Petty. Goodspeed's History lists the following residents of Barton County who were here before the war:
|
John Apperson |
Morris Baker |
Doctor Blacker |
Felix Bonse |
Irwin Brown |
Joseph H. Brown |
|
A. Cochran |
J.A. Creamer |
Jesse Kelley |
Frank Lease |
Phillip Matthews |
Mr. Minor |
|
David Norris |
George Oldham |
J.C. Parry |
Elisha Peters |
"Al" Pinnock |
Thomas Seal |
|
James Smith |
Dr. L.M. Timmonds |
Dr. Charles Van Pelt |
George Ward and sons Ed & G. |
J.T. Ward |
J.H. Zevely |
Barton County was named after David Barton the first Missouri senator after statehood. Formed December 12, 1855 from Jasper County the county seat is Lamar, named by Mrs. George Ward in honor of the military president Mirabeau Lamar of the Republic of Texas. Barton County was ravaged by the Missouri-Kansas Border Wars in 1854-1859, by Quantrill and his raiders and the occupation of Lamar by Union troops in 1864. The town of Lamar originated in 1852 when George E. Ward built a saw mill and store where Lamar now stands. The town was built on land originally owned by Mr. Ward and his son-in-law Joseph Parry. The original townships were Newton, Union, Mineral, Nashville, Lamar, North Fork, and Golden Grove. The earliest post offices in the county were Lamar, Drywood or Baker's Green, and Coon Creek. As of the 2020 census, Lamar's population was 4,266 and is located about 120 miles south of Kansas City. It is known as the birthplace of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, home to the famous frontier lawman, Wyatt Earp, and 3 United States admirals. As of the 2020 census, the county boasted a population of 11,637 and is a leading grain producer in the state. Barton County towns include: Golden City, Iantha, Irwin, Kenoma, Lamar, Liberal, Milford, Mindenmines, Newport, Nashville, Oakton, Oskaloosa, Verdella, Boston and Burgess.