Lillburn Williams Boggs

Background

Lillburn Boggs was born on December 14, 1792, in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, the eldest son of John M. and Martha (Oliver) Boggs.

Career

Boggs served as first cashier of the Bank of Missouri. Always drawn toward the frontier, after an unsuccessful venture at store-keeping at Old Franklin in 1818-1819, he spent several years as deputy factor and Indian trader under George C. Sibley at Fort Osage and New Harmony Mission, finally again opening a general store at the new town of Independence. His public life began with his election to the state Senate in 1826. He was reelected in 1830, elected lieutenant-governor in 1832, and governor in 1836, defeating the popular W. H. Ashley.

As governor Boggs showed independence verging on unconventionality in his appointments. His policy on two other problems aroused widespread opposition and criticism - the "Mormon War" and the construction of the new capitol. When the Mormons, after their expulsion from Jackson and Clay counties, refused to be bound by the attempt to segregate them in a county of their own, and the people of the adjacent counties appealed to the governor for aid, he called out a formidable force of militia and expelled the Mormons from the state. He was bitterly criticized for the expense of the expedition and for his famous order that the Mormons must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public good. As originally authorized the new capitol was to cost $75, 000; by 1840 $200, 000 had been spent and the building was still unfinished. Moreover the panic had made the sale of bonds impossible and the governor had secured the funds on short-term loans from the new state bank. Searching legislative investigation revealed no trace of fraud or mismanagement. The governor had simply decided on the type of building needed and had gone straight to his goal.

Shortly after his retirement as governor Boggs was the victim of a murderous assault universally believed to have been instigated by the Mormons. He served in the state Senate from 1842 to 1846, where he was one of the few Democrats who voted against Benton in 1844. This closed his political career in Missouri. Always attracted to the Far West, having once engaged in the Santa Fe trade, and now with two sons in the Rocky Mountain fur trade, in 1846 he moved with his family to Napa Valley, California. With the breakdown of the Mexican regime he was appointed at once by the American military authorities alcalde of all California north of the Sacramento and was the sole civil authority there until the inauguration of the state government. At Sonoma the ex-Governor engaged once more in trade, and for the first time successfully, being just in time to profit by the gold rush. After paying his numerous debts and acquiring a competency he retired to his farm in Napa Valley, where he died.

Achievements

• Lilburn Boggs achieved success serving as Governor of Missouri from 1832 to 1840. During his administration and on his urgent advice and support, the Bank of the State of Missouri was chartered, a conservative and highly successful state bank. Boggs was also largely instrumental in the establishment of the state university and the passage of the first public-school law.

Politics

Boggs was a member of the Democratic party. He was a member of the Missouri Senate from 1825 to 1832 and from 1842 to 1846.

Connections

Boggs was married to Julia, daughter of Judge Silas Bent. She died on September 21, 1820 in St Louis, Missouri. They had two children. He married as his second wife in 1823 Panthea Grant Boone, granddaughter of Daniel Boone.

Father:

John Boggs

Mother:

Martha (Oliver) Boggs

Spouse:

Panthea Grant (Boone) Boggs

Spouse:

Julia Ann (Bent) Boggs

Daughter:

Minerva Warner (Boggs) Hopkins

Daughter:

Sophie Barnes (Boggs) Palmer

Son:

Albert Gallatin Boggs

Son:

George Washington Boggs

Son:

William Montgomery Boggs

Son:

Thomas Oliver Boggs

Son:

John McKinley Boggs

Son:

Henry Carroll Boggs