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Southeast Missouri had a key role in the road to Missouri statehood in 1817-1821. The events leading to statehood, and some of the events, people, and lifeways in the area may be unfamiliar to many modern-day Missourians. Currently, Missouri is celebrating its Bicentennial, and this program aims to summarize the events leading to statehood, some of the factors affecting Missouri’s entry into the Union, and how people lived and worked during that time 200 years ago.Every Friday morning at 6:42 and 8:42 a.m. and Saturday morning at 8:18 a.m., Bill Eddleman highlights the people, places, ways of life, and local events in Southeast Missouri in 1821.The theme music for the show ("The Missouri Waltz") is provided by Old-Time Missouri Fiddler Charlie Walden, host of the podcast "Possum’s Big Fiddle Show."

Missouri Bicentennial Minutes: Taxation in Missouri at Statehood

Public domain drawing.
Missouri taxed cattle beginning in territorial times.

Missourians at the time of statehood were subject to both real and personal property taxes. The territorial legislature had established the basic system in 1814, and succeeding sessions modified it. State tax was assessed on land with complete or confirmed title; unconfirmed land; town lots, dwelling houses and other improvements, slaves over age 10, and carriages kept for pleasure.

The law also directed that the county Sheriff issue licenses for stores, and provided licensure for other types of businesses such as peddlers and ferries. The law authorized county taxes for horses, mares, mules, and asses above 3 years old; cattle above 3 years old; slaves aged 16 to 45; billiard tables; single man above age 21; water grist mills and sawmills; horse mills; tanyards; and distilleries.

The General Assembly added household furniture above overall value of $500 and watches, chains, and appendages to the personal property tax by 1821. Federal laws modified some portions of land taxation. Land sold by the U. S. after January 1, 1821 was exempt from tax for five years, and bounty lands awarded for military service and held by patentees or their heirs for three years. The intent of this law was to relieve land owners purchasing on credit. Because cash sales replaced credit sales in 1820, and the exemption remained until repealed in 1847, Missouri and other states suffered from decreased revenue during the early statehood period.

The penalty for failure to report property or to pay tax on time was double taxation. The Sheriff had authority to sell land to pay taxes, but the land was subject to redemption within a specified time.
 

Bill Eddleman was born in Cape Girardeau, and is an 8th-generation Cape Countian. His first Missouri ancestor came to the state in 1802. He attended SEMO for two years before transferring to the University of Missouri to study Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. He stayed at Mizzou to earn a master of science in Fisheries and Wildlife, and continued studies in Wildlife Ecology at Oklahoma State University.
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