This series of caches was put out to celebrate our ten years of geocaching. We have spent many hours volunteering at the Atkins-Johnson Farm and also wanted to celebrate this historic area.
The Atkins-Johnson Farm has only been owned by 5 families since 1824 and was purchased by the City of Gladstone in 2005. The property was listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 2007. The City acquired the abandoned Big Shoal Cemetery in 2009. The City and the Friends of the Atkins-Johnson Farm have worked to restore the farmhouse and the cemetery. The house is available for free tours Wednesday through Saturday, April to early December, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The farmhouse is built around the original two story log cabin. The walking trail and cemetery are available year-round during daylight hours.
Spend some time enjoying the serenity of the farm. Keep your eyes open for the deer, turkeys, ground hogs, and other wildlife.
William Allen
Clay County was founded in 1822 and extended all of the way to the Iowa line. At that time, the population in Clay County was 1,200.
William Allen was issued the original land grant for where the Atkins-Johnson Farm now stands on June 1, 1824.
June 1, 1824 Land Patent
Whereas William Allen of Howard County, Missouri has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Franklin, Missouri whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said William Allen according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled, “An act making further provisions for the sale of the Public Lands,” for the east half of the southeast quarter of section nineteen in Township 51 of Range 32 in the now Western Land District of Missouri containing 80 acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General which said tract has been purchased by the said William Allen.
Now Know Ye, that the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have Given and Granted, and, by these presents do give and grant, unto the said William Allen and to his heirs the said tract above described: To Have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said William Allen. And his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I James Monroe, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of June in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and twenty four, and of the Independence of the United States the forty eighth.
By the President, James Monroe
&
Commissioner of the General Land Office
In 1829 William Allen received another land grant for land. It is assumed he lived on the land and farmed it with his wife Rachel. On August 9, 1831, William Allen sold 130 acres, which included the present Atkins-Johnson Farm, to John Hightower.