Discover the Untold Story
Explore the history of slavery at Multnomah Plantation in
Clay County Missouri
Discover the Untold Story
Explore the history of slavery at Multnomah Plantation in
Clay County Missouri
Multnomah Plantation
Established by Major John Dougherty
Multnomah Plantation was established in 1854 by John Dougherty
after retirement as an Indian Agent.
Named in honor of Multnomah Falls near Portland OR
"It was one of the largest plantations west of the Mississippi"
Multnomah Plantation spread over more than 5,500 acres.
The plantation passed out of family hands in 1881.
The plantation great house was destroyed by fire in 1963.
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A great deal has been written & published about the Dougherty family
but little is known of the people they enslaved
Slavery @ Multnomah
Dougherty family enslaved at least 72 people in 1860
Major John Dougherty (56)
Son John Kerr Dougherty (8)
Son Lewis Bissell Dougherty (5)
Daughter Ann Elizabeth Dougherty/Ruff (3)
Multnomah Geography
MULTNOMAH PLANTATION was located @ Gallatin Township near Liberty MO. The township is defunct.
MISSOURI was admitted to United States as a slave state in 1821 as part of the Missouri Compromise.
Began as French territory in late 1600s. Possession passed to Spain in 1770 after French & Indian War and lasted until 1803 Louisiana Purchase by U.S. government.
More than 1,000 Civil War battles took place in Missouri, making it the 3rd most fought-over state, after Virginia and Tennessee.
CLAY COUNTY - Incorporated 1822
Settled primarily by migrants from the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. They brought enslaved people with them. In 1860, enslaved people were 25% of the county's population. The area became known as "Little Dixie."
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - Incorporated 1829
Second oldest incorporated town west of the Mississippi River. White settlers began arriving in the Liberty area in the early 1800s. By 1822 the settlement had grown to become the County seat for Clay County.