Zumwalt's Fort

Yes, English tea sets have been found even at the most remote frontier settlements. Tea drinking was most important because of its social aspects. By having tea sets, frontier women could properly entertain guests, but the tea sets also brought a bit of comfort, familiarity, and “civilization” to these remote and frightening places.

No, they typically ate off the most recent table settings of cream-wares and pearl-wares. These pieces were often highly decorated. More surprisingly, the dinner sets came from England, which was at war with the U.S. for much of the late 1700s to the early 1800s. They had a very diverse diet, dominated by corn and hogs.

Yes, they lived there from 1817 to about 1884. The Healds operated a large and successful farm raising a diversity of crops –wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, clover, hay, honey, apples, and peaches. Livestock included horses, milk cows, beef cattle, oxen, and sheep. There was also a loom house where clothing was made for the family’s use and for local sale. Having moved from the South, the Healds operated the farm as a plantation, including the holding of many slaves.

In 1817, the Zumwalt’s sold the property to Nathan Heald. During the War of 1812, Nathan Heald served as the commander of Ft. Dearborn near Chicago. He was ordered to abandon the fort and during the move, allies of the British, the Pottawatomie, attacked his troops. Nathan Heald and his wife, Rebekah, were severely wounded and captured by the Pottawatomie. They were later released and, after healing from their wounds, moved to Missouri.

Zumwalt's Fort was a 1 ½-story log house. It consisted of two main rooms (pens) placed on either side of a central stone chimney in a style referred to as saddlebag. The original 1-story cabin on the east end was built first and housed the family until the main portion of the home could be built.

No, it was the home of the Zumwalt family. During the War of 1812, when threatened by attack, local families came to this house for mutual protection. Although used as a refuge several times, there is no evidence that it was ever attacked.

Zumwalt's Fort was constructed by the Jacob Zumwalt Family around 1798. They came to Missouri from Kentucky where they were neighbors of Daniel Boone. Jacob received a grant for approximately 380 acres from the Spanish government in 1799.