MISSOURI — An Iowa lawmaker wants to extend the state’s borders into nine of Minnesota’s counties, reflecting a similar situation between Missouri and Iowa in the 1800s leading to the famous “Honey War.”
The new proposal from Republican Sen. Maike Bousselot of Ankeny, Iowa, wants the state to purchase nine of Minnesota’s southernmost counties. In 1839, Missouri had a similar, more aggressive pursuit when the governor sent a militia to ambush Iowa’s southeast counties.
The war ignited after a Missouri Sheriff, Uriah Gregory, entered one of the disputed counties to collect taxes but was forced to return to Missouri or Iowans threatened violence.
In retaliation, Missouri settlers cut down four trees housing honey bees as an act of violence, resulting in the name “Honey War.”
Sheriff Gregory entered the same county again afterward and was jailed in Iowa for taking control without permission. According to the National Park Service, a rumor spread that the sheriff was kidnapped by farmers in Iowa, and in response, Missouri called in the state militia, and between 600 and 2,500 state troops were mobilized.
Iowa responded by creating its first border militia using outdated weapons and swords left over from the War of 1812.
When the issue made it up to the Supreme Court, as a result, the Iowa and Missouri border known today was settled as the true state border.