Iowa, Sac & Fox Mission

The Iowa, Sac, and Fox Presbyterian Mission was located about two days travel from St. Joseph. Almost all diarists using the St. Joe Road mention the mission and the Great Nemaha Subagency which was located near the mission.

The mission and the agency were established in 1837 when the Indians were moved to this area of today's northeast Kansas from northwest Missouri as a result of the Platte Purchase Treaty. The Iowa, Sac, and Fox Indians were given the land in exchange for land that makes up the six counties of northwest Missouri including Buchanan County the site of St. Joseph.

The mission was established by the Reverend and Mrs. Samuel Irvin who were sent out by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. The building, which still stands today, was built in 1846 and served as a school for the Indians. By 1863 the Indians had been moved further north, and there was no longer a need to maintain the mission. Today, the mission building houses the Native American Heritage Museum operated by the Kansas Historical Society.

The mission was also the point where the roads from Fort Leavenworth and Iowa Point crossed the St. Joe Road. Emigrants who crossed the Missouri River at those points would then join the others on the St. Joe Road. A swale about 30 yards east of the mission building is a remnant of the road from Fort Leavenworth to Iowa Point.

John Minto, 1844

The missionary preached to those who would listen, and gave bibles to those who would take them; while at no great distance others were noisily racing horses with Indians of their sort.

Vincent Geiger, 1849

I learn from B.F. Washing, Esq., who visited the mission, that he witnessed an examination of a school of about 40 young Indians at the station. They sung many very pretty songs & gave indications of great advancement. . . Everything about the farm & house looked well.