Lilburn Boggs (D)

Overview

At a Glance

• Helped pass charter for the Bank of Missouri, providing the first sound, public banking facilities in the state (1837)
• Issued Executive Order 44 expelling the Mormons (1838)
• Successfully campaigned for construction of a new state capitol building (1838)
• Passed the Geyer Act establishing a public school system and creating the University of Missouri (1839)
• Investigated for improper raising and disbursement of funds for construction of new state capitol

Personal History

Lilburn W. Boggs was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1792. After serving in the War of 1812, he transitioned from being a bookkeeper in the Insurance Bank of Kentucky and moved to the Missouri Territory in 1816, where he opened a store in St. Louis and became the cashier of the newly established Bank of Missouri. His marriage to Julia Anne Bent, the daughter of influential Judge Silas Bent, further solidified his connections to the political elite, allowing him to navigate and assert himself within the upper echelons of state leadership.

A year after marrying, Boggs ventured west along the Missouri River to the thriving settlement of Franklin, where he established a general store. By 1820, his business flourished when the U.S. government appointed him as the assistant factor at Fort Osage, a role that involved supplying trade goods to local Native American tribes. However, health issues concerning his wife prompted him to return to St. Louis in the fall of 1820. She passed away shortly thereafter due to complications following the birth of their second son. Following this loss, Boggs went back to Fort Osage, where he continued to run his business until the government phased out the factory system related to Native American affairs in 1822.

In 1822, Boggs established a bustling shop in Sibley, situated near Fort Osage, where he initiated a lucrative business that often took him on journeys to neighboring communities with his goods. Through this extensive trade, he gained recognition as one of the most prominent figures in western Missouri. During this vibrant period of his life, Boggs encountered and married Panthea Boone in July 1823, who was a granddaughter of the legendary Daniel Boone. Three years later, he relocated his enterprise to Independence, the emerging Missouri boomtown that quickly eclipsed other hubs for outfitting traders heading westward.

At the conclusion of his gubernatorial term in 1840, Boggs returned to Independence and resumed his business endeavors. He remained out of the public eye until 1842, when he was shot and nearly killed by an unidentified assailant while reading in his home. The attack sparked suspicion towards the Mormons, leading to the arrest of one of Joseph Smith’s followers; however, no one was ultimately convicted for the crime.

In 1846, Boggs faced a significant setback when his business collapsed, leading to the loss of his home amid an economic downturn. On May 10, 1846, he embarked on a journey to California with his family, traveling by wagon in search of new opportunities. By November, they arrived at Sutter's Fort, California, where Boggs quickly gained recognition and was appointed alcalde, serving as the chief civil authority in the region north of Sacramento.

Seizing the opportunities presented by the Gold Rush, Boggs opened a general store that thrived by supplying miners with essential goods. In 1852, he purchased a farm in Napa Valley and retired from the business. There, he lived in relative seclusion until his passing, and was buried in Tulocay Cemetery in Napa Valley, California.

Political History

After relocating to Independence, Boggs secured a seat in the Missouri State Senate from the new Thirteenth District, facing no opposition. He successfully won re-election in 1828 and became a prominent figure among the Jacksonian Democrats, frequently aligning with the state Democratic leaders and U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton.

Boggs’s strong party loyalty and influence in western Missouri led the Democratic Party to select him as the running mate for gubernatorial candidate Daniel Dunklin in the 1832 election, where both secured victories with significant majorities. As lieutenant governor, he was required to be in Jefferson City only during legislative sessions, allowing him to dedicate much of his time to his business interests and local political matters in Independence.

In January 1835, Boggs’s political fortunes began to shift when he was nominated for governor by senior Democratic Party officials, running against prominent Whig candidate, William Henry Ashley. With strong backing from the Democratic machine, Boggs won the election, and after Dunklin’s resignation in the summer of 1836, he ascended to governorship.

Following his time in office, Boggs was elected back to the state senate in 1842, where he served for four years before retiring from public office.

Historical Significance

As governor, Boggs signed the Geyer Act, which established the first public university west of the Mississippi River. This significant development came about when the citizens of Columbia and Boone County pledged $117,921 in cash and land, surpassing competing bids from five other central Missouri counties. The chosen site, just south of modern-day downtown Columbia, was owned by James S. Rollins, affectionately referred to as the “Father of the University.” Influenced by Thomas Jefferson’s vision of public education, the University of Missouri has since produced over 357,000 alumni.

Boggs successfully passed a bank charter that sought to strike a balance between the Whig desire for a strong state-owned bank and the Democratic preference for private banks lacking currency issuance powers. His proposal involved a bank with limited capital, funded equally by the state and private stockholders, allowing it to issue high-denomination bills to support St. Louis businesses, while relying on specie for everyday transactions. By incorporating both public and private interests, Boggs aimed to stabilize Missouri’s economy, which was struggling amid the severe national economic downturn of 1837, the worst in the early 19th century.

Boggs faced significant challenges in his campaign to construct a new capitol building in Jefferson City, proposing the sale of state-owned lots and the issuance of state bonds to raise an estimated $75,000 for the project. While construction began in 1838, the building remained incomplete by 1840 when the legislature initiated an investigation into potential misconduct related to fundraising and expenditures. Although Boggs was not formally censured, the investigation tarnished his reputation and hindered his ability to pursue other initiatives. Ironically, the capitol he helped build was ultimately destroyed by a fire caused by lightning on February 5, 1911.

Following escalating tensions and skirmishes between the state militia and Mormons, Boggs issued Executive Order 44, famously known as the Mormon Extermination Order, declaring that Mormons “must be treated as enemies” and either exterminated or expelled from the state. This controversial order, alongside the capitol funding scandal, drew considerable public backlash against Boggs. In 1976, Governor Kit Bond officially rescinded the order, citing its violation of the U.S. Constitution.