Zebulon Montgomery Pike

Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1779-1813) = American Army Officer; Explorer. Best known for Pike's Peak Mountain which was named in his honor near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Zebulon was born in Lamberton, New Jersey, a descendant of the brave lady and pioneer, Penelope Stout, on January 5 to Isabella & Col. Zebulon Pike, the second of eight children. Zebulon began his military career at the age of fifteen.

Lieutenant Pike set out from St. Louis, Missouri almost three years after Lewis and Clark's 1803 expedition up the Missouri River.  He was to figure out the western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase the US government purchased from France to end Spain's claim on it. At one time, the western borders of Kansas reached all the way across present day eastern Colorado until 1861 when Congress created the Colorado Territory. Among the expedition members was George Shannon, a brother of Wilson Shannon, who later was  a Kansas Territorial governor. They traveled up the Missouri River, turned off onto the Osage River, and followed it to the Marais des Cygnes River which crosses into Kansas, past Missouri's state line.

Although the Spaniards tried to intercept his expedition, they were unsuccessful, however, along the way, they stopped in a little Indian village and left their flag flying above the village until Pike's troops finally reached it. The none-too-friendly Indians were hospitable though and the Indians were reminded that they could not serve two fathers. The Spanish flag was taken down and presented to Pike which he diplomatically returned to the chief after his men hoisted the United States flag to the top of the pole.

All in the same year, Pike was promoted to Brigadier general and was killed in the assault on York, present-day Toronto, Canada during the War of 1812.

More to Read:

1. The Story of Penelope Stout. Thomas Hale Streets, Alfred J. Ferris Press, Philadelphia, 1897 reprint.

2. Pike's Journal published in 1810.

3. History of Kansas. By Noble L. Prentis. E.P. Greer, Winfield, Kan., 1899.

4. Historic Kansas: A Centenary Sketchbook. By Margaret Whittemore. University of Kansas, Lawrence, 1954.

5. Webster's Biographical Dictionary. C. & C. Merriam Co, Springfield, MA, 1956.

6. The World Book Encyclopedia. Field Enterprises, Chicago, 1968.

7. The Ghost Towns of Central Missouri: Cole, Miller & Moniteau Counties. By Kelly Warman-Stallings. Ketch’s Printing, Jefferson City, MO; 1999. Vol. 1.
8. Some Zebulon Pike letters 

9. Kansapedia #17335
10. Wikipedia

11. Findagrave #815 (follow links back to Penelope Stout's memorial)

 Places to Visit in MO & KS.:

1. St. Louis, MO

2. Rivers = Missouri River, Osage River, & the Marais des Cygne River
3. “Pike's Parley with Osage Chief” Historical Mural (Walldog) by Dan Brewer, 2003, Dakota & Delaware St, Bates County, Butler, MO (use the search engine on this website for more Zebulon Pike affiliated markers)
4. Self-Guided  Auto Tour of the Santa Fe Trail's Wet Route (73 miles long with markers)
5. Zebulon Pike Plaza, US 56, Schnack-Lowrey Park, Larned, KS. 

6. Larned, Ks. (Mrs. Sarah Sturdevant, a great-grandniece of Pike's resided here and preserved some of Pike's papers)

7. Pike's Monument (1901), Republic County, KS.

8. Pike's Pawnee Village Park (11 acres), White Rock Twp, Sections 2 & 3, Republic County, KS.