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A 


M.lZ 

Gc 

978.101 
Wilt 
1202880 


^SETVHALOGY    COLLBCTION 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


833  00828  6863 


V 


EARLY  HISTORY 


-OF- 


-WITH- 


STORIES  OF  PIONEER  DAYS 


-AND- 


GLIMPSES  OF  OUR  WESTERN  BORDER. 


I 


Containing  Portraits  and  Biographical  Sketches,  Historical  Reminiscences,  Views 

of  Towns,  Street  Scenes,  Public  Buildings  and  Private  Residences, 

Our  Churches  and  School  Houses,   Election  Returns 

and  Notes,  Newspaper  History,   G.  A. 

R.  Notes,  a  Short  Criminal 

Record,  &c. 


MATT   THOMSON. 


AXiMA.  KANSAS. 
1901. 


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A— Sod  tiousc  where  first  teacher  boarded— Wabaunsee. 

B— First  church— Wabaunsee. 

24— Last  log  school  house— replaced  by  stone  building  In  1884. 


Early  History  of  Wabaunsee  County, 
Copyrighted 


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BY 

Matt  Thomson 
All  rights  reserved. 


Preface. 

1202880 


In  an  extra  edition  of  the  Alma  Signal  in  1892  we  said:  "The  next 
enterprise  we  have  in  conteniplallon  is  an  Illustrated  History  of  Wa- 
baunsee County.  Many  of  the  actors  have  passed  from  the  scene,  but 
the  material  of  facts  that  they  left  behind  are  still  obtainable  and  if 
gathered  together  would  form  the  ground  work  of  many  interesting 
chapters  that  would  be  perused  with  pleasure  as  well  as  profit  by 
those  to  whom  many  of  these  facts  will  prove  a  revelation.  That  they 
should  be  preserved  while  there  is  yet  time,  but  one  opinion  prevails," 
Though  other  duties  claimed  our  attention,  we  have  never  yet  aban- 
doned the  idea  of  writing  the  history.  Though  somewhat  deferred, 
our  long  cherished  plans  have  assumed  tangible  form.  Possibly  some 
criticism  relative  to  the  subject  matter  or  the  manner  of  presentation 
will  be  indulged  in  by  those  prone  to  forget  the  precepts  of  the  golden 
rule.    Let  this  standard  be  applied  toour  work  and  we  will  be  content. 

We  have  endeavored  to  acquiant  the  people  of  today  witli  the 
happenings  of  yesterday;  of  the  events  that  transpired  before  the 
advent  of  railroads  and  the  era  of  school  houses,  together  with  the 
march  of  progress  that  has  caused  the  wilderness  to  blossom  as  the 
rose.  Our  mission  is  to  tell  of  the  time  when  there  was  much  con- 
cern for  the  necessaries  of  life,  but  little  care  or  thought  of  the 
luxuries  of  the  present.  We  have  tried  to  be  fair  and  just  to  all. 
It  has  been  our  endeavor  to  write  a  book  the  people  will  read.  We  can 
only  hope  that  our  effort  may  be  deemed  worthy  of  a  careful  perusal 
and  an  impartial  verdict.  This  assured,  we  shall  feel  that  our  labor 
has  not  been  in  vain. 

Alma,  Kansas,  June  14,  1902. 


EARLV  HISTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


mstorical. 


In  touching  upon  the  early  history  of  Wabaunsee  county,  we 
promise  nothing  startling.  We  do  not  propose  to  recount  the  exploits 
of  Coronado  and  claim  Wabaunsee  county  as  the  theatre  of  some  of  his 
mostdarlng  adventuresand  hair-breadth  escapeswhile  in  search  of  the 
famed  seven  cities  of  Cibola;  neither  are  we  so  chimerical  as  to  claim 
Buffalo  Mound  as  the  work  of  prehistoric  man,  nor  will  we  advance  the 
theory  that  the  original  Garden  of  Eden  was  located  in  the  Mill  creek 
valley.  However  willing  we  may  be  to  concede  that  were  beauty  of 
landscape  and  fertility  of  soil  matters  of  paramount  consideration  in 
the  choice  of  a  site  for  the  abode  of  our  first  parents,  there  might  be 
good  and  ample  reasons  why  no  adverse  criticism  should  be  placed  on 
the  Judgment  of  those  upon  whom  the  responsibility  might  rest  of 
making  a  choice  of  location.  Had  the  site  of  the  garden  been  defined 
by  metes  and  bounds,  including  In  theirlimits  that  small  partof  God's 
footstool  Wabaunsee  county  people  delight  in  calling  their  own,  we 
could  do  no  less  than  admire  their  judgment  and  applaud  their  act. 

When  as  a  matter  of  fact  geologists  claim  that  the  earth— of  which 
Wabaunsee  county  Is  a  part— has  been  in  existence  about  six  hundred 
millions  of  years.  It  would  be  an  Idle  waste  of  words  to  claim  for  Coro- 
nado, or  John  Smith,  or  Captain  Pike,  the  right  of  discovery.  Sufllce 
It  to  say  that  less  than  half  a  hundred  years  ago  all  this  western  coun- 
try, of  which  our  county  is  but  a  fractional  part,  was  known— on  the 
map— as  the  "Great  American  Desert."  It  is  well  that  we  say  "it  was 
known  on  the  map"— It  assuredly  was  not  known  elsewhere,  at  least 
by  civilized  man. 

Years  ago,  with  characteristic  generosity.  Uncle  Sam  had  set 
apart  for  the  Pottawatomie  and  Kaw  tribes  of  Indians  certain  tracts 
of  lands  known  as  Indian  Reservations,  hoping  that  the  noble  red  man 
would  prosper  and  grow  rich  In  a  country  thought  to  be  unfit  for  the 
abode  of  his  white  brother. 

Here  the  dusky  warrior  wooed  and  won  the  maiden  of  his  choice. 
Here  the  deer,  the  antelope,  and  the  buffalo  paid  tribute  to  the  Indian 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.  5 

huntsman's  arrow  and  these  valleys  and  slopes  and  woodlands  but  a 
few  years  a^'o  were  made  the  more  picturesque  by  the  herds  of  Indian 
ponies,  and  the  scores  of  Indian  villages,  where  the  prattle  of  the 
papoose,  the  ci  y  maiden's  song-,  and  tlie  sound  of  the  tom-tom,  gave 
evidence  of  aboriginal  life  and  iiappiness  and  contentment. 

But  the  day  dreams  were  but  of  short  duration  being  rudely 
disturbed  by  the  inroads  of  the  pioneer  who  had  discovered  the  fact 
that  the  (Jreat  American  Desert  had  an  existence  only  on   the  maps. 

But  the  re.servation  laws  must  be  respected.  The  Kaws  on  the 
south  and  the  Pottawatomie  tribe  in  the  North  part  of  the  county 
left  the  least  desirable  lands  open  for  settlement.  But  the  most 
valuable  of  these  lands  were  .soon  taken. 


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:MAP  of  KTCHARDSON  COtJNTY.  KAS.  (noav  ^VABAUNSEE) 
PUBLISHED  IN  1855,  BEFOKE  THE  SURVEY. 

A  cursfiry  examination  of  the  above  map  will  reveal  the  compara- 
tively small  amount  of  desirable  lands  situated  in  Richardson  (now 
Wabaunsee)  county  suitable  for  farming  purposes  in  1854.  In  1861  the 
Kaws  were  allotted  lands  on  the  diminished  reserve,  on  the  Neosho  and 
lower  Rock  creek,  but  not  until  1870  was  that  part  of  the  Pottawato- 
mie reservation  lying  in  Wabaunsee  county  thrown  open  to  settle- 
ment. The  opening  of  tliis  reserve  marked  a  new  era  in  the  history  of 
our  county,  tlie  settlement  of  wliich  had  been  retarded  by  reason  of 
the  best  lands  being  reserved  for  the  Indians. 


H  EA RLY  HISTORY  OI'^  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Items  from  the  County  FJecords. 


At  the  April  (18.'i9),  session  of  the  board  of  County  Commissioners, 
on  motion  of  (J.  Z\vanzit,''er  tlie  municipal  townships  were  declared  to 
include  territory  as  follows: 

AVabaunsee  townsliip  to  include  all  that  part  of  Town  10,  Ranpre  9, 
an(i  Town  10.  Range  10,  lying  Soutii  of  Kansas  river,  East  of  Town  11, 
Range  9  and  Town  11,  Range  10.  and  East  of  the  Davis  county  line. 

The  Ti)wnship  of  Alma  to  include  Town  12,  Range  9,  and  Town  12, 
Range  10,  Town  12,  Range  11,  Town  13,  Range  9,  Town  13,  Range  1(J, 
and  Town  13.  Range  11,  or  so  much  thereof  as  lies  South  of  the  Potta- 
watomie reservation  and  East  of  said  County  of  Davis. 

The  town  of  ]\Iission  creek  to  include  Town  13,  Range  12,  and  so 
much  of  Town  12,  Range  12.  Town  12,  Range  13  and  Town  13,  Range  13. 
as  lies  South  of  the  Pottawatomie  reservation,  and  Westof  the  County 
of  Shawnee.  Wilmington  township  to  include  Town  14  of  Ranges  9, 
10,  11,  12,  13,  and  Town  lo  of  Ranges  9,  10,  11,  12  and  13,  or  so  much 
thereof  as  lies  North  of  Breckenridge  county  West  of  Shawnee  and 
East  of  Davis.     Motion  carried. 

S.  F.  Ross  declining  to  serve  as  auditor  a  special  meeting  of  the 
county  board  was  called  for  May  10,  '59,  and  Dr.  S.  E.  Beach  appointed 
to  the  office.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  Ang.  lo.  At  this  meet- 
ing Wm.  Mitchell  was  appointed  Ciiaiiinan  of  the  board  but  he  being 
absent  E.  ii.  Ross  was  appointed  Chairman  pro  tem  and  .Jehu  Hodgson, 
appointed  clerk  pro  tem.  At  this  (August)  meeting  the  Deputy  County 
Clerk,  E.  C.  D.  Lines,  was  authorized  to  procure  a  suitable  room  and 
arrange  for  accomodations  for  the  first  .session  of  the  District  court  to 
be  held  at  Wabaunsee  on  the  Fourtii  Monday  of  September,  1859. 

At  this  meeting  the  first  bill  for  furniture  for  the  county  offlcers 
was  presented  and  paid  to  A.  C.  Cutler.     Amount,  $18.50. 

On  October  18,  1859,  a  ta.\  of  $9(55  was  levied  as  follows: 

Wabaun.see  township.  $;;51.,")3. 

Wilmington         '•  2(59. 'io. 

Mi.ssion  Creek     •'  ls8.(io. 

Altna  •'  15(5.12. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.  7 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  (commissioners)  on  the 
lOtii  day  of  Feb..  1860,  Petit  Jurors  were  drawn  from  the  following  list 
f>f  residents: 

*Henry  Smith,  Peter  Sharai,  John  Willig,  J.  M.  Blsbey,  Wm.  Ken- 
naman,  Thos.  D.  Rose,  I.  C.  Isbell,  C.  Noyes,  J.  E.  Piatt,  J.  F.  Willard, 
R.  W.  Griswold,  Enoch  Piatt,  A.  C.  Brown,  Robert  Hubbard.  Anton 
Schewe,  Joseph  Schutter,  Henry  Schmitz,  Chas.  Pafkowitz,  William 
Lange,  Jf)hn  Copp.  John  Hess,  Edmond  HotTman,  Charles  Hanson, 
William  Krieg.  John  Bour,  Joseph  Treu,  John  Schrouder,  Geo.  Rich, 
P'ranz  Schmidt.  Wm.  H.  Curtiss,  S.  J.  Spear,  John  Sailor,  Simon  Dow, 
John  W.  Ward.  James  E.  Johnson,  Samuel  B.  Harvey,  Allen  Hodgson, 
Geo.  M.  Harvey,  Perry  Lamphere,  Henry  Shepard,  Nathan  Hunt,  Wm. 
Hovenden,  N.  S.  Spear,  Daniel  Spear,  J.  Rich,  J.  W.  Mossman,  M. 
Woodford,  S.  P.  Wemple,  Wm.  H.  Hewins,  Wm.  Ewing,  W.  A.  Wing, 
G.  F.  Hartwell,  S.  Higbee. 

(irand  Jurors  were  drawn  from  the  following  list : 
Michael  Fix.  Herman  Dierker,  Andreas  Thowe,  Christian  Wertz- 
berger,  John  Mahan.  Gottlieb  Zwanziger,  Ernst  Hoheneck,  Frederick 
Paleiiske,  John  P.  Gleich,  Christian  Hankammer,  John  Spiecker, 
Peter  Thoes,  F.  H.  Hebrank,  Sebastian  Nehring,  Edward  Krapp, 
F.  Doty,  Geo.  G.  Johnson,  A.  Bliss,  Andrew  Walters,  H.  J.  Loomis, 
R.  P.  Miller,  E.  M.  Guile,  A.  A.  Shephard,  J.  Schaad,  Wm.  Curtiss, 
(r.  W.  Bonny,  James  McCoy,  J.  W.  Glea.sener,  E.  H.  Haskins,  T.saiah 
Flarris,  Samuel  Cripps,  O.  T.  Cook,  E.  B.  Murrell,  Jeptha  Beebe, 
Henry  Easter,  J.  B.  Ingersoll,  E.  P.  Ingersoll,  Joseph  Johnson,  E.  M. 
Jilli.son,  Chas.  A.  Hotchkiss,  H,  F.  Brown,  S.  R.  Whitaker,  S.  R. 
Weed,  B.  C.  Benedict,  L.  A.  Parker,  C.  Sawin,  J.  H.  Gould,  C.  J. 
Dutton,  J  J.  Walter,  Josiah  Gewn,  S.  M  Thomas,  Austin  Kelsey, 
Robert  Banks,  Smith  W.  Kelsey,  John  Smith. 

First  petition  for  "tavern  license"  presented  by  Perry  Lamphere 
at  the  February  meeting     Petition  rejected. 

April,  1860,  the  county  board  was  composed  as  follows: 
Wm.  Mitcliell,  Isaiah  Harri.s,  G.  Zwanziger  and  H.  J.  Loomis. 
First  petition  for  county  road  presented  by  E.  Hoheneck,  May  14, 
1860:  road  from  Wabaunsee  to  Wilmington.  I.  Harris,  J.  M.  Hubbard 
and  August  Brasche  appointed  viewers  to  locate  said  road.  This  road 
was  declared  illegally  laid  and  the  expenses  ordered  paid  by  the  county. 
At  this  session  John  Schwanke  presented  a  petition  for  a  road  in  Alma 

*The  above  lists  of  108  names  are  given  in  full  that  the  early 
settlers  mav  be  known  by  the  records.  As  but  14o  votes  were  cast  at 
an  election 'held  Dec.  6,  1859,  and  but  183  votes  cast  at  an  election  held 
March  6,  1860.  it  appears  that  about  three-lifths  of  the  actual  re.si- 
dent  voters  of  the  county  are  included  in  the  above  lists. 


S  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

township.      E.   Ilolieneck,    F.   Hebrank    and  Herman   Dierker  were 
appoiiitod  viewers. 

Ill  July,  18(50,  levies  (by  townships)  were  made  as  follows: 

Alma:  For  Townsiiip  expenses.  .$100.00 

For  schools 100.00 

Wilmin^fton:     For  Township  expenses. .   l^a.OO 

For  schools loo.OO 

Wabaunsee:      For  Township  expenses. .     75.00 

For  .schools  200.00 

For  bridge  (first) 30.00 

Mi.ssion  C'r.:       For  Townsiiip  expenses. .  100.00 

For  .schools 50.00 

Zeandale:  For  Township  expen.ses. .     74.00 

For  schools 100.00 

At  the  .Inly  session  S.  F.  Koss,  T.  D.  I\ose  and  .John  P.  (ileich  were 
-appointed  viewers  on  a  road  from  Wabaunsee  to  the  west  line  of  the 
county.    G.  Zwanziger,  surveyor. 

In  October,  18G0,  it  was  considered  inexpedient  to  allow  a  salary  to 
the  Probate  Judge,  but  at  the  January  session,  1861,  the  matter  was 
reconsidered  and  the  Probate  Judge's  .salary  fixed  at  $40  per  annum. 

JUROR  LISTS  FOR  1804  (APRIL). 

Grand  Jury  list: 

Abner  Allen,  T.  S.  St.  John,  E.  St  John,  O.  Meacham,  James  W. 
RIain,  T.  V.  Smith,  Enoch  Piatt,  John  Willig,  J.  M.  Bi.sbey,  Peter 
Sharai,  Joshua  Smith,  James  Enlow,  C.  Noyes,  C.  A.  Lapham,  E.  Kirk- 
man,  A.  L.  Norton,  August  Weber,  Herman  Meseke,  Rudolph  Arndt, 
Peter  Daum,  Frederick  Palenske,  Joseph  Schutter,  Herman  Miller, 
Wm.  Drebing,  John  Iless,  C.  Pafkowitz,  John  Copp,  Anton  Kraus,  J. 
L.Thomson,  Samuel  Woods,  Samuel  Cripps,  John  Garinger,  Peter  A. 
Green  and  J.  M.  (Jilless. 

Petit  Jury  list: 

C.  P.  McDonald,  Thomas  Keeiuin,  A.  J.  Vincent,  R.  Moses.  A.  J. 
JMnkertcm,  Robert  Earl,  Wm.  Marshall,  Harry  Marshall.  E.  R.  Mc- 
Curdy,  Charles  Taylor,  Sanuiel  Pratt,  C.Foster,  J.J.  Walter,  A.  C 
Tucker,  Henry  Smith,  J.  II.  Gould,  G.  S.  Beckwith,  Smith  W.  Kelsey. 
Adolph  Petting,  D.  Lughbilil,  Michael  Fix,  A.  Brasche,  H.  Dierker. 
J.  P.  (ileicli,  C.  Hankammer,  Anton  Schewe,  Peter  Tiioes,  F.  H.  He- 
brank, August  (Jerloch,  Henry  Schmitz,  Jo.seph  Treu,  Wm.  liorne. 
Christian  Kuenzli,  P.  F.  Johnson,  Isaiah  Harris,  Jehu  Hodgson,  G.  M. 
Harvey,  R.  ,7.  Marrs.  Joseph  .Johnston,  Morris  Walton,  E.  R.  Twitchell, 
C.  I).  Carpenter.  Alien  Hodgson,  D.  N.  .h)nes,  Uriah  Sanner,  Wm.  O. 
Ewing,  I).  M.  Johnston,  SVm.  H.  Hewing.s,  John  Eberly,  John  H.  Doty. 
Thomas  Tomson  and  I.  K.  Perry. 

In  tlie  al)ove  lists  are  Hfi  names.  Higliest  vote  cast  at  last  election 
for  ciiunly  nniciM-s     Nov..  "«:{     was  l.'{8. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1882. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.         9 

Commissioner  Districts  formed  July,  1860,  about  as  now  consti- 
tuted except  the  Pottawatomie  Reserve. 

At  the  January  session,  1861,  forty  dollars  was  appropriated  to 
procure  three  seals  for  the  county;  one  for  the  county  commissioners, 
one  for  the  probate  Judge  and  one  for  the  register  of  deeds.  J.  M. 
Hubbard  was  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  the  seals. 

Among  other  bills  ordered  paid  was  one  of  $3.00  to  A.  C.  Cutler  for 
a  book-case  for  the  county  treasurer. 

At  this  (January)  session  the  following  is  the  report  of  receipts 
and  expenditures  for  1860: 

Paid  County  Commissioners $130  25 

"         "       Clerk 36  00 

"    Dept.         "     92  20 

"    Sheriff 200  85 

"    County  Assessor  137  50 

"    Probate  Judge.. 40  00 

"    County  Attorney 36  00 

Treasurer 57  53 

"         "       Supt.  Schools 12  25 

"  Transcript  of  Record  from  Davis  Co. .  28  50 
"  Fees  in  Butman  case,  Justices  court,  101  95 
"  "  "  "     District       "      104  21 

^  "    Election  expenses  60  60 

W  "    Roads,  Hiram  Keyes 100  00 

"      Wm.  Wiley 75  00 

'         "      W.  McCormick 20  00 

'    Books,  stationery  and  stamps 26  00 

Township  Plats  for  Assessor 20  00 

I  "    Office  Rent 14  00 

"    Printing  63  15 

"    Furniture  and  Stove 10  00 

On  tax  list  of  Wabaunsee  Twp 50  29 

"  "    Mission  Cr.      "    213  08 

"  "    Wilmington    "    29  93 

Outstanding  orders 20  90 

Total  Liabilities,  Jan.  1,  '61,    $1875  20 

Total  Expenses  for  1860,  $1545  17 

Assets 

For  Tax  receipts,  $309  13 
Tax  levied 2311  99 

Total  assets,  $2621 12 
Liabilities,     $1875  20 

Bal.  on  hand,  $745  92 


(t 


10        EAULY  HISTORY  OF  WAIJAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Fch.  2><tli.  RmiuI  of  "Will.  F.  Cotton  and  C.  R.  Linos,  as  .Tusticos 
of  Ihf  Teaco  for  Waliaimsoo  townsliip  prisciiii'd  and  approved. 

E.  C.  I).  Lilies  was  allowed  f;{.(M>  for  cliairs  for  ofllce. 

The  foIiowiriK'  bonds  were  presented  for  approval,  April,  1861: 

Of  Trustees:  (J.  M.  Harvey.  Wilmin^Moii:  H.  .1.  Looniis,  Mission 
Creek:  John  Spiecker.  Alma:  (i.  (J    Hail.  Wabaunsee  townsliip. 

Of  Justices:  Allen  HodK'Son.  Wilniinirton:  FL  D.  Sliepard,  VVil- 
iiiin^'toii:  Win.  H.  Hewins.  Mi.ssion  Creek:  F   H.  Hebiank.  Alma. 

Constables:  Daniel  Spear  and  Richard  M  Kendall.  Wilmington: 
S.  W.  Hi>,M)ee  and  Kd.  M.  Hewins.  >nssion  Creek:  Edward  Krappand 
Hernard  Hansjacob.  Alma  township;  John  H.  Pinkerton.  Zeandale. 

At  the  April  se.ssion,  1862,  the  tax  of  l.s.")!»of  the  Wilmington  town 
company  was  abated  on  account  of  the  ille^rality   r»f  the  assessment. 

At  the  .luly  .se.ssi(tn.  1X62.  the  following  road  petitions  were  pre- 
sented: 

Hy  John  Spiecker,  for  road  from  termination  of  Wabaun.see 
road  to  Alma  and  thence  t(»  Wilmiiifjton.  \'iewers:  S.  F.  Ro.ss,  Anton 
Schewe  and  G.  (t.  Hall.    G.  Zwaiizi>;er,  surveyor. 

By  (i.  Zwanzi^er  for  road  from  Alma  Mills  to  Herman  Dierker's 
(C.  Wert/.bertrer's)  and  up  the  creek  to  Chas.  Lehmberg'.s.  Viewers: 
John  P.  Gleich,  Jo.seph  Thoes  and  John  Copp. 

By  Jo.seph  Thoes  for  a  road  from  Fred  Palenske's  to  Joseph  Thoes' 
and  Christoph  Schrouder's.  Viewers:  Michael  Fix,  August  Brasche 
and  Edward  Krapp. 

At  the  Octoher  session,  1862,  bill  of  Jehu  Hodgson,  sheiill,  in  case 
of  State  vs  Ballard,  of  $9.05  allowed  in  the  sum  of  $8,5.5— two  days 
horse  hire  (a  $1.()0  per  day  cut  to  75  cents  per  day. 

At  the  January  .session.  186.3,  H.  D.  Shepard  was  appointed  com- 
missioner in  place  of  .lames  B.  Iiigcr.soll,  resigned. 

In  March,  1863,  the  commi.ssioners  "voted  to  request  the  treasurer 
to  give  the  printing  of  the  delincjuent  tax  list  to  the  party  that  will 
give  the  most  incidental  printing  for  the  job." 

At  an  election  held  March  23,  1863,  township  officers  were  elected 
as  follows: 

Wabaunsee  township:  Trustee:  A.  C.  Cutler.  Justices:  Wm.  F. 
Cott<tn  and  A.  W.  (tregory.  Constables:  W.  S.  Griswold  and  Smith 
Kelsey.  Road  Overseers:  Charles  Taylor,  S.  A.  Baldwin  and  J.  M, 
Bi.sbey. 

In  Dist.  4,  A.  C  Tucker  and  Volney  Love  received  one  vote  each. 
The  board  selected  A.  C.  Tucker  by  lot. 

In  Zeandale  township,  Abner  Allen  wa.s  elected  trustee  and  Jo.seph 
Haines  and  A.  P.  St.  John,  justices.  T.  S.St.  John  and  Wm.  F.  Smith 
were  elected  constables. 

Alma  township:   August  Brasche  was  elected  trustee,  and  Edward 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        11 

Lower  and  Adolph  Flankiim'ner,  justices.  John  Schwanke  and  L. 
Muehlenbacher,  constables,  and  August  Gerloch  and  Michael  Fix,  road 
overseers. 

Mission  Creek:  H.  J.  Loomis.  trustee,  and  J.  W.  Mossman  and 
Silas  Brittain,  justices:  Thomas  Tomson  and  Geo.  W.  Dailey,  con- 
stables, and  J.  W.  Mossman  and  Thomas  Barker,  road  overseers. 
Orson  Frizzle  and  John  PL  Doty  received  5  votes  each.  The  board 
selected  Frizzle  by  lot. 

Wilmington  township:  George  M.  Harvey,  trustee,  and  H.  T). 
Shepard  and  Joseph  McCoy,  justices:  E.  H.  Haskins  and  Wni.  Eldred, 
constables,  and  Samuel  Cripps,  Samuel  Woods  and  D.  A.  Woodard, 
road  overseers. 

At  the  July  session,  1863,  A.  C.  Tucker  petitioned  for  a  road  from 
the  foot  of  Mount  Tabor  (now  Riley  Co.)  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
Tucker's  claim,  thence  to  intersect  the  Wabaunsee  and  Wilmington 
road  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Lewis  Gregory's  claim.  J.  M.  Bis- 
bey,  J.  E.  Piatt  and  Herman  Dierker  were  appointed  viewers.  G. 
Zwanziger  surveyed  the  road  August  3rd. 

At  this  session,  C.  Kuenzli  petitioned  for  a  road  from  Mission 
creek  to  the  west  line  of  the  county.  C.  Hankammer.  Silas  Brittain 
and  George  M.  Harvey,  with  G  Zwanziger,  laid  out  the  road  Aug.  10th. 

At  the  October  session  (1863).  A.  Pentield,  J.  A.  Hankammer  and 
S.  A.  Baldwin  were  appointed  viewers  on  a  road  beginning  at  a  point 
on  the  Wabaunsee  and  W^ilmington  road  between  the  farms  of  Ed. 
Krapp  and  John  Schrouder,  thence  south  to  school  house  No.  14 
(Halifax),  thence  to  Elm  creek  to  school  house  No.  13 (McCoy's).  John 
Hess  was  principal  petitioner. 

Another  road  ordered  laid  out  at  this  session  was  one  from  W.  K. 
Beach's  to  the  west  line  of  the  county.  Geo.  M.  Harvey.  Christian 
Hankammer  and  J.  T.  Genn  were  appointed  viewers  to  meet  October 
27,  1863. 

Maple  Hill  precinct  organized  April,  1864,  and  R.  H.  Waterman's 
designated  as  the  voting  place, 

On  October  3,  1865,  the  petition  of  H.  J  Loomis  and  nine  others 
to  vote  $100,000  to  aid  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  was  rejected.  Joseph 
Treu  voting  for  the  proposition  and  H.  D.  Shepard  and  E.  R.  McCurdy 
voting  against  it. 

At  the  January  session,  1866,  a  petition  signed  by  Rudolph  Arndt 
and  132  others  was  presented  praying  for  the  permanent  location  of 
the  county  seat.    Election  ordered  for  Feb.  20.    The  vote  stoud: 

For  Alma,  110;  Wabaunsee,  87;  Peter  Thoes'  place,  27;  Dragoon,  1: 
Wilmington,  i:  Zeandale,  1;  Maple  Hill,  1.  Total  vote,  222.  Necessary 
to  a  choice,  112.  No  place  receiving  a  majority  vote  another  election 
was  ordered  for  March  6th.    (See  page  74.) 


li:        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


At  tho  July  spsslnn,  1866,  on  petition  presented  by  J.  M,  Bisbey  all 
neat  oattlf  wert-  rt'imin'd  to  be  ('(irrallcd  at  niRht. 

April  4.  1870,  Wliniinjfton  township  was  divided  Into  three  voting    | 
precincts,  as  follows:     Dragoon,  Elm  creek  and  Kock  creek. 

Newbury  township  organized  ApriM2,  187U,  and  two  voting  pre- 
cincts established,  to  be  known  as  East  precinct  and  West  precinct: 
elections  to  be  held  at  Maple  Hill  and  Newbury. 

At  tlie  tirst  election  in  this  township  (Newbury),  held  May  3,  1870, 
eleven  votes  were  cast  in  the  ?]ast  precinct  (Maple  Hill)  and  twenty- 
three  In  West  precinct  (Newbury).  John  Winkler  was  elected  trustee: 
Allen  M.  I'hilllps.  treasurer:  J.  ii.  How,  clerk,  and  John  Mock,  ju.stice 
of  the  peace. 

In  the  list  of  taxpayers  for  the  year  1870  the  following  names 
appear: 

Quash  Qua:  Mara-anna-una-gah-Rose;  Much-quet:  Sa-sa-quo-quah; 
Wanip-te-go-ahe-(iua:  Sa-qua:  Pe-nosh;  Naw-go-shuh:  Osa-o-niuck; 
Aaligli-inick-Hdurassa;  Wali-wid-no-cjua;  Joseph  Smak-quish;  Sah-qua; 
Po-te-go-qua;  Pash-Kuni-go-qua,  and  about  twenty  other  names  of 
Pottawaloniie  Indians  who  have  since  disposed  of  their  real  estate 
and  removed  from  the  county. 

At  the  April  session,  1871,  George  C.  Corning  was  granted  permis- 
sion to  establish  a  ferry  across  Kaw  river  at  the  big  bend  above  the 
mouth  of  Mill  creek. 

At  an  election  held  Aug.  29,  1371,  to  vote  bonds  in  the  sum  of 
I1<M),0<X)  to  the  Lawrence,  Topeka  &  Solomon  City  Railroad  438  votes 
were  cast  for  the  bonds  and  374  votes  against. 

Wilmington  precinct  established  Oct.,  1871. 


rmsT  SCHOOL  housk  in  dist.  no.  14  (HALIFAX).    See  page  58. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        13 


Sorns  ^arly  Marriages. 


April  Ui,  1837,  John  P.  (Jleich  and  Mrs  Cath.irinp  Terrass. 

May  30,  1857,  E.  C.  I).  Lines  and  (irace  A.  Tiiouuis. 

Dec.  23,  1857,  Silas  M.  Thomas  and  Cornelia  Lines. 

May  16,  1858,  Hiram  Keyes  and  Lncinda  C.  [[ovey. 

July  15, 1859,  R.  fl.  Waterman  and  Isabella  liourassaf  Pottawatomie 
Reserve).    Rev.  Harvey  Jones  oHiciated  at  each  of  the  above  weddings. 

July  3,  1858,  J.  T.  Genn  and  Malinda  Cotton,  by  Rev.  Lewis  Bod- 
well  (at  Topeka). 

April  20,  1859,  Joseph  True  and  Catharine  Klein,  Ed  .vard  L.  Lower, 

otliciatinu;-. 

Jan  26,  1860,  Edward  B.  Murrell  and  Mary  Jane  IIarri.s,  Allen 
Hodj^son,  J.  P  —at  Jehu  I|j;)dgson's. 

April  7,  1860,  Daniel  Benson  and  Abigail  Hodgson,  A.  Hodgson,  J.  P. 

Feb.  25,  1860,  Thomas  N;  Hamilton  and  Zilphia  Dow,  by  Rev.  E.  P. 
Ingersoll 

May  5,  1860,  Chas.  W.  Peck,  of  Wabaunsee  and  Margaret  McKin- 
ney,  of  the  Pottawatomie  Nation,  by  C.  B  Lines,  J.  P. 

Sept  26,  1860,  Joseph  Schulter  and  Theresa  Metzger,  John  Schultz, 
Cath.  Priest,  officiating. 

Jan.  1,  1861,  H.  M.  Selden  and  Christina  Terrass,  Rev.  W.  A.  Mc- 
Collom  officiating. 

March  1,  1861,  Julius  F.  Willard  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Terrass^  by 
Rev.  W.  A.  McCollom. 

June  2,  1861,  Henry  F.  Drake  and  Ellen  Keose.'by  S.  F.  Ross,  J.  P. 

June  16,  1861,  Abraham  Collins  and  Francis  P.  Weld,  F.  II.  Ile- 
brank,  J.  P. 

May  1,  1861,  Adolph  Fettingand  Mrs.  Villa  MenaLehmberg,  E.  L. 
Lower,  J.  P.  officiating. 

]\Iay  5,  1861,  John  Henry  Hanson  Meseke  and  Mr.s.  Caroline  Wol- 
gast,  E.  L.  Lower,  J.  P. 

June  9,  1881,  Joseph  Thoes  and  Augusta  Dieball,  E.  L.  Lower,  J.  P. 

Feb  2,  1862,  John  Schwanke  and  Wilhelmina  Hanlcannner,  by 
Wm.  Lange,  Lutheran  pastor. 

Feb.  21,  1862,  John  Doty  and  Nancy  Miller.  Allen  Hodgson,  J.  P. 

January  19,  1862,  Peter  Thoes  and  Ernestine  Dieball,  F.  H.  He- 
bran  k,  J.  P. 


14        KA I5LY  II ISTURY  OF  WA HAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Mar.  7.  mvi  Gonreo  W.  Daily  niul  Eliza  Jane  Doty,  S.  F.  Ross,  J.P. 
Aprili  lMt»-j.  Clias.  E.  Hisbcy   and    Fanny    M.  Read,   Rev.  W.  A. 
Mc("<i|ltiin. 

Nov.  13,  18t)2.  Joslah  Richards  and  Rachel  Harriett  Dunmire,   11. 

I).  Shepard,  .1.  1'. 

Dec.  2.   lS(i2.   Henry   .Schnicder  and    Anna  Schwanke,    F.   11.   lle- 

hrank.  J.  V. 

April  26,  18««,  Wilhelm  Frederick  August  Weber  and  .lohanna 
Kaniline  Enielie  Leilnlber^r.  Wni.  Lanjje,  Pastor  Lutheran  church. 

May  31,  1SG;{,  Feter  Metzjfer  and  Louisa  Krieg,  by  L.  Dumerticc  (at 
St    Mary's). 

March  1(5,  1863,  Geo.  S.  Burt  and  Louisa  B.  Lines,  Rev.  Lewis  Bod- 
well  olTlciatioK'. 

April  2.  isi;4.  Wni.  Lesley  and  Mrs.  Catharine  Greemore,  Rev. 
Clia.s.  (Juild. 

Nov.  30,  1864,  Ilartwig  Ileidel  and  Mrs.  Apollonia  Wertzberger,  E. 
L.  Lower,  .1.  P. 

Jan.  19,  1865,  Capt.  James  Smith,  Tth  Reg.  Kans.  Vols  and  Hattie 
E.  Kelsey,  by  Rev.  Chas.  Guild. 

April  2,  18(a,  George  F.  Hartvvell  and.  Ester  Sharral,  Silas  Brit- 
tain,  J.  P. 

October  12,  186">.  John  Smith  and  Mary  A.  Dibble,  Rev.  Chas. 
Guild. 

Dec.  19.  18ti'),  Rev.  Chas.  L.  Berner  and  Mrs.  Christine  Selden,  M. 
Meyer,  Evanu'clical  Lutheran  minister,  oiticiating. 

Jan.  12,  1866,  Heinricli  Kraus  and  Emilie  Weber,  by  C.  Berner, 
Evan.  Luth.  minister. 

Jan.  7,  1866,  Daniel  Treu  and  Mrs.  Johanna  Lugibihl,  by  Rev.  C, 
Berner. 

April  11,  1866,  Lyherdes  Worcester  and  Jennette  A.  Rose,  by  Rev. 
Chas.  Guild. 

June  14.  1866,  Dr.  August  Brasche  and  Wilhelmine  Henrietta 
Anna  Schultz,  by  Ph.  F.  Johnson,  J.  P. 

.\pril  24,  1866,  John  Adolph  Hankammer  and  Mrs.  Margaretha 
Michel,  Rev.  C.  Berner,  offlciating. 

June  .3,  1866,  Adolph  Haiikammor  and  Wilhelmina  Schwanke,  by 
Rev.  C.  Berner. 

.May  20,  1866,  Edwin  M.  Ilewins  and  Julia  E.  Ross,  S.  F.  Ross,  J.  P. 

May  13,  1866,  Bernard  Schutter  and  Mary  Kraszons,  Phillips  Call- 
ton,  O.  S. 

Jan.  1,  1867,  Frederick  Schepp  and  Margaritha  Muehlenbacher, 
Ph.  F.  Johnson,  J.  V. 

April  8,  1867,  Henry  Loehrand  Elizabeth  Teford,  Joseph Thoe.s,  J.P. 
April  8,  1867,  Isaac  H.  Lsbell  and  Hattie  D.  Lines,   Rev.  Chas.  L. 

(rUlld. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        15 

May  30,  1867,  James  Goff  and  Mettie  V.  Russell,  Rev.  Chas.  L. 
Guild. 

Nov.  13,  1867,  J.  M,  Bisbey  and  Mary  E.  Earl,  Rev.  Chas.  L.  Guild. 

Nov.  19,  1867,  Louis  Liebrock  and  Christine  Hankaninier,  by  Ph. 
F.  Johnson,  J.  P. 

Dec.  31,  1868,  Jequam  Cahcoand  Wavveed  Moquah,  M.  Gaillard,  S  I. 

May  1.  1868,  John  B.  Cotton  and  Eunice  M.  Allen,  Rev.  C.  S.  Guild. 

May  1 1,  1868,  August  Gerloch  and  Catherine  Engelhardt,  G.  Zwan- 
ziger,  J.  P. 

Aug.  20,  1868,  Charles  Grunewald  and  Henrietta  Moege,  G.  Zwan- 
ziger,  J.  P. 

Dec  24,  1868,  Arthur  M.  Read  and  Anna  Isbell,  Rev.  R.  M.  Tun- 
nell  orticiating. 

Jan.  2,  1869,  Peter  Coktah  and  Coach  No  Quah,   Rev.  M.  Gaillard. 

Jan  29,  1869,  Wm.  Strasen  and  Emily  Kietzmann,  by  G.  Zwanzi- 
ger.  J.  P. 

April  8,  1869,  John  Boettcher  and  Sarah  Sharp,  P.  F.  Johnson,  J.P. 

April  18,  1869,  Adolph  Zeckser  and  Caroline  Leffler,  by  P.  F.  John- 
son, J.  P. 

June  37,  1869,  Moritz  Kraus  and  Wilhelmine  VVelk,  Carl  Lang,  J.P. 

Nov.  25,  1869,  Henry  Klein  and  Mary  Hensel,  Carl  Lang,  J.  P. 

Jan.  5,  1870,  B.  C.  Benedict  and  Sarah  Dunbar,  by  Rev.  James  G. 
Merrill. 

Feb.  3,  1870,  A.  C.  Cutler  and  Ellen  F.  Weaver,  Rev.  R  M.  Tunnell. 

March  3,  1870,  Wm  Carter  and  Margaret  A.  Shaw,  Rev.  Philetus 
Beverly. 

March  6,  1870  Lardner  J.  McCrumb  and  Jane  A.  Barker,  J.  W. 
Mossman,  J.  P. 

March  17,  1870,  David  F.  Carter  and  Margaret  A.  Harris,  by  Rev. 
Philetus  Beverly. 

April  14,  1870,  F.  M.  Meredith  and  S.  D.  Carter,  H.  M.  Reese,  J.  P. 

May  5,  1870,  Ludwig  Kaeckel  and  Henrietta  Meyer,  H.  M.  Reese, 
J.  P. 

May  15,  1870,  Apitec  Kijek  and  Teresa  Massowa,  by  A.  Sweere. 


FIRST  SCHOOL  HOUSE  IN  DIST.  NO.  10— TEMPLIN:  BUILT  IN  1865. 


IG        EARLY  II  ISTOllY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

The  Alma  Salt  Works— tliat  in  1S77  promised  muchanrl  resulted  in 
Hltle  V)  tlu'slunly  fanners  of  tlie  Mill  creek  valley  who  furnished  the 
means  to  put  the  scheme  on  its  feet— at  one  time  sent  to  market  from 
thirty  to  fifty  barrels  of  pure,  white  salt  every  day.  The  industry 
wasn't  all  a  myth  and  had  the  promoters  been  honest  in  their  efTorts 
our  county  mi^fht  today  be  proud  of  her  big  salt  plant.  But  ready 
easli  seemed  more  desired  than  salt  and  the  leading  farmers  in  llir 
vicinity  of  Alma  generously  donated  the  needful.  The  tall  brick 
cliinmey,  the  huge  iron  kettles  and  the  piles  of  cord-wood  gave  evi- 
dence of  energy  that  would  probaljly  have  been  well  expended  in  a 
g(Ktd  cause  but  for  the  tendency  to  divert  other  people's  money  out  ol 
legitimate  channels  and  into  the  pockets  of  the  manipulators.  It 
re(iuired  years  of  toil  U)  counteract  the  baleful  effects  entailed  on  the 
generous  farmers  who  were  victimized  by  those  in  whom  they  had 
reposed  their  confidence. 


Mr.  Hiram  Ward,  in  his  address  before  the  old  settlers'  meeting  al 
Ilarveyville,  Oct.  10,  1895,  said:  "On  my  arrival  in  Kansas  in  18<}2  I 
found  a  string  of  .settlers  along  the  streams  and  a  few  along  the  roads 
to  catch  the  traveler's  dimes  and  (luarters  VkU  no  orchard.s,  though  a 
few  sprouts  of  trees  were  .seen,  well  trimmed  by  cattle.  The  fruit  was 
tlie  wild  grape  and  crab  apple  We  were  told  that  we  were  out  on  the 
borders  of  the  Great  American  desert  and  could  not  rai.se  fruit  so 
far  west.  Perhaps  in  the  bottoms  as  far  west  as  Lawrence  .some  fruit 
might  grow  but  no  further.  But  Mr.  .1.  M.  Bisbey,  of  Tavilion  had 
planted  an  orchard  in  1855— seven  years  before— proving  by  actual  test 
that  Kan.sas  is  a  fruit  country." 


At  the  October  session  of  the  board  of  commissioners,  18;i6,  The 
Wabaunsee  J'erry  Company  was  granted  a  license  to  run  a  ferry  across 
Kansas  river  at  Wabaun.see,  the  following  to  be  rates  of  toll: 

50  cents  for  one  pair  of  horses  or  cattle  and  wagon. 

i")  cents  for  every  additional  pair  of  liorscs  op  cattle. 

25  cents  for  one  horse  and  buggy. 

20  cents  for  one  horse  and  man. 

10  cents  per  liead  for  cattle. 

5  cents  per  head  for  swine  and  sheep. 

At  the  .January  session,  187 1.  II.  .lames  was  granted  a  license  to 
niainfain  a  fi>rry  across  Kansas  river  with  rates  as  follows: 

For  four-horse  team  or  two  yoke  of  oxen.  75  cents. 

For  tw<i-hoi-s<'  team,  .50  cent.s. 

For  cme-horse  team,  2o  cent.s. 

Footman,  10  cents. 

LftOSC  stock.    ])(•]■  ll.'Mfl.    .",  rents. 


EA  RLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        17 


JOHN  THOMAS,    WITH  AN   ALIAS. 


One  dead  and  three  wounded— that  was  the  result  of  a  wholesale 
shooting  at  Maple  Hill  on  Wednesday  night,  May  4,  1898.  Until  a  few 
days  before  the  shooting  "Missouri  John"  had  been  employed  at  the 
Prowler  ranch.  John  was  best  man  in  the  affections  of  Nellie  Brand,  a 
pretty  Scotch  girl,  until  the  bookkeeper,  a  Swede,  crossed  his  path. 
Other  employes,  also  Swedes,  twitted  the  discharged  employe  about 
his  luck,  or  misfortune,  in  the  little  love  affair,  until,  in  a  rage,  he 
swore  he  would  kill  every  Swede  on  the  ranch. 

Wednesday  night,  May  4th,  Thomas  hired  a  horse  at  Romick's 
barn  and  went  to  the  West  ranch  to  see  Miss  Brand.  Edwin  Fransen 
and  others  advised  him  to  leave,  when  he  said:  "All  right,  I  will," 
and  began  shooting  at  everyone  in  sight — inflicting  a  mortal  wound  on 
Fransen  and  shooting  Carl  Kinstrom  through  the  wrist.  Another 
bullet  ploughed  through  Miss  Brand's  hair  but  three  or  four  shots  fired 
at  Smith,  the  bookkeeper  went  wild. 

Thomas  then  rode  five  miles  to  the  East  ranch  and  calling  Gus 
Carlson,  the  farm  foreman,  to  the  door,  said:  "Gus,  you  are  a  pretty 
good  fellow,  but  you  gave  me  away  in  this  thing,  now  take  that," 
accompanying  the  words  by  a  shot  from  his  revolver.  Carlson  closed 
the  door,  catching  Thomas' forearm,  holding  him  fast.  In  this  posi- 
tion Thomas  emptied  his  revolver  into  the  room — one  ball  cutting 
several  holes  in  the  covering  over  young  Anderson,  lying  in  bed. 

After  being  released  from  the  closed  door  Thomas  fired  several 
bullets  through  a  window  into  the  bed  where  Tom  Gristy  slept,  but 
Tom  had  just  returned  from  Kansas  City,  and  on  account  of  the  rain 
had  stopped  for  the  night  at  the  hotel  kept  by  Mrs.  Beaubien  at  Maple 
Hill.    Fransen  died  at  8  o'clock  Thursday  evening. 


IS        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Thomas  wont  westward,  turninjr  his  horse  loose  in  Nathan 
Mattlu'ws'  pasliirt'.  ami  sccietiiiK'  liis  saddle  in  a  clump  of  bushes, 
went  to  Halifax,  stayinK'ull  Highland  taking  breakfast  Friday  morn- 
ing with  Mr.  .1.  H.  Crumb.  (Toing  eastward  on  the  railroad  SheritT 
Treu  lost  track  of  the  fugitive  -he  ne.xt  appearing  at  Ernest  Wend- 
land's.  wheie  he  stayed  Sunday  night.  Thomas  slept  two  nights  at 
John  Olson's,  near  .\lta  Vista,  cutting  off  his  mustache  while  here. 
At  Olson's  he  slept  with  a  .son  of  H.  J.  .1.  Wege,  who  was  unaware  of 
the  if.')(Mi  reward  offered  for  Ids  bedfellow. 

May  Kith  Thomas  pas,sed  Volland,  Alta  Vista,  and  Dwight.  on 
f(»ot  arriving  at  White  City  in  the  afternoon.  Here  he  played  tramp, 
accepting  hand-outs  of  the  good  people  of  White  City.  Thomas  took 
the  blind  baggage  for  Herington  but  dropped  off  at  Latin)er,  walked 
to  Ilerinirton  and  returned  to  Templin  on  the  local  next  morning. 
When  last  .seen  was  at  Lumb's  place,  where  be  took  breakfast  Tuesday 
morning.  May  17th-  thirteen  days  after  the  shooting  at    Maple   Hill. 

.1.  .M.  Wilkerson,  ex-Cbief  of  Tolice  of  Topeka,  is  still  looking  for 
Thomas.  He  describes  him  as  5  ft.  10  in  high,  weight,  160,  .sandy  com- 
l)lexion,  very  freckled,  and  has  a  .scar  or  birthmark  the  size  of  half- 
d<illar  near  small  of  back.  .lohn  plays  old-fashif»ned  tunes  on  the  banjo 
and  is  pn»bahly  going  under  any  other  name  than  Thomas. 


The  Smallpox  in  1871. 


Mr.  Herman  Fink  had  come  over  from  (iermany  and  was  boarding 
with  Mr.  Carl  Falk.  of  Templin.  Smallpox  broke  out  on  the  ship  on 
which  Mr.  Fink  came  acro.ss  the  ocean  but  he  e.scaped  the  di.sea.se. 
But  the  germs  evidently  .secreted  themselves  in  his  clothes-chest,  for 
several  weeks  after  bis  arrival  he  gave  his  clothes  an  airing  and  then 
the  smallpox  germs  began  making  trouble.  Mr.  Falk's  family  was  the 
first  to  be  taken  down. 

Tl)e  disease  spread  until  nearly  every  family  in  the  Templin  set- 
tlement had  the  smallixix,  though  in  some  families  but  one  or  two 
were  taken  down  with  the  complaint,  the  others  miraculou.sly  escap- 
ing. Though  Mr.  Ferdinand  Zinimennan.  Mr.  Henry  (Jrimm  and 
others  were  in  daily  cr)ntact  with  the  sick,  administering  to  their 
wants  no  symptons  of  smallpox  appeared.  Several  deaths  occurred: 
the  marks  of  the  dread  disea.se  left  behind  indicate  that  the  malady 
was  of  a  malignant  type. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        19 

The  disease  spread  to  Alma  and  the  settlement  on  the  East  branch 
—Mr.  Edward  Krapp  having  the  malady  in  its  most  aggravated  form 
and  his  daughter.  Gertrude,  dying  of  the  same  ailment.  Mr.  N.  H. 
Whittemore,  the  county  attorney  died  at  Mr.  Adolph  Zeckser's,  in 
Alma,  where  he  was  boarding,  and,  in  all,  quite  a  number  of  deaths 
resulted  from  the  pestilential  malady. 


FJerTiai'Kable  and  E^GcentriG, 


I 


Two  more  fitting  adjectives  could  not  be  chosen  to  express  the 
characteristics  of  the  one  man,  who,  more  than  any  other,  delights  in 
regaling  his  Alma  auditors  with  the  varied  experiences  of  a  strenuous 
life. 

John  Allen— if  his  calendar  can  be  relied  on— has  seen  95  years  and 
he  is  as  hale  and  hearty  as  men  of  strong  physique  usually  are  at  60. 
But  the  would  be  skeptic  as  to  John's  age  is  no  longer  in  a  doubtful 
mood  when  his  repertoire  of  adventures  is  unfolded. 

It  wasn't  long  after  the  civil  war  that  John  pulled  into  Alma  with 
a  team  of  Kentucky  thoroughbreds  and  even  now  he  claims  the  owner- 
ship of  several  racers  of  his  own  raising  that  can  beat  a  2:20  clip  any 
day.  Having  rode  Lexington  in  some  of  his  greatest  races,  John  feels 
that  he  is  entitled  to  more  than  usual  credit  in  matters  pertaining  to 
the  race  course.  John  also  brought  with  him  a  water  Spaniel  that  he 
bought  in  Australia,  on  one  of  his  trips  around  the  world. 

When  John  came  to  Alma  he  was  suffering  from  an  open  wound 
that  he  said  was  inflicted  in  a  personal  encounter  with  Colonel  Dick 
Taylor.  The  blow  stunned  John,  and  that  accounts  for  his  being  the 
sole  survivor  of  the  Fort  Pillow  massacre.  Had  the  blow  fallen  with 
le.ss  force  it  is  probable  that  he  wouldn't  have  been  left  for  dead  and 
thereby  have  escaped  further  injury.  But  under  the  soothing  influ- 
ences of  our  salubrious  atmosphere  an  ugly  scar  was  soon  the  only 
reminder  of  one  of  the  terrible  scenes  enacted  during  the  war. 

In  John's  boyhood  days  he  was  the  guardian  and  protector  of  the 
boys  of  the  first  families  of  the  blue  grass  region.  He  tells  with 
delight  of  the  days  when  the  Clays  and  the  Breckenridges  sent  him 
in  charge  of  their  boys  to  school — boys  who  in  after  years  occupied 
prominent  places  in  our  country's  history.  He  refers  with  special 
pride  to  one  occasion,  when,  in  passing  through  a  dense  forest  on  the 
way  to  scliool  the  boys  were  attacked  by  panthers.    Jolin  gives  the 


2U        EAKLV  IIlSTOllY  OF  WAHAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


number  <»f  puntlnTs  killed  in  k'oink'  'i  n^i\e  as  19,  and  we  have  his  word 
for  it  that  nary  a  panllu-r  k<'1  away. 

Jnlui  say.s  he  r»Mnoniht'rsdisiini-tly  the  massacre  of  the  people  of 
Fort  I)earh(»rn,  on  the  present  site  of  Clilcano.  He  was  on  the  ground 
wlmn  Hlack  Hawk's  liouse  and  another  heloiiKiiiR  to  the  agent  of  the 
I'ult.uvaloniie  Indians  was  all  there  was  of  C'hieago.  Of  course  John 
availed  liirnself  of  t!ie  opportunity  to  get  in  on  the  ground  floor  and 
as  his  rents  come  in  from  the  l)lock  of  lots  he  had  the  foresight  to  take 
in  hf  realizes  that  it  is  hetter  t<»  he  horn  lucky  than  rich. 

We  have  it  direct  fmni  John  that  he  was  with  Frenxnit  in  1H49 
when  he  p}i8.sed  tlirough  this  county  (m  the  way  to  the  Pacific  coast. 
He  remembers  distinctly  the  ringing  speech  made  by  Henry  Clay  from 
the  crest  of  I^utTalo  mound  and  says  he  planted  a  tree  near  the  top  of 
the  mniMid  to  comuiemorate  the  occasion  and  that  while  Mr.  (Jecuge 
Clothier  was  county  superintendent  he  told  liim  the  tree  was  still  alive 
and  in  a  thriving  condition. 

.Idhn  claims  to  have  been  present  when  Henry  Clay  fought  a  duel 
with  Humpiirey  Marsliall  and  that  he  still  has  the  cane  given  him  by 
Mr.  Clay  for  holding  his  hat.  He  says  that  when  Chicago  and  St. 
Charles,  M<».  were  contest  ing  for  the  lK)nor  of  being  the  center  of  the 
wdrUI  St.  CharU's  would  liave  got  it  but  for  Henry  Clay,  who.  during  a 
recess <tf  the  Senate  bought  the  deciding  vote  that  made  Chicago  the 
winner. 

When  acting  in  the  role  of  Assistant  Veterinary  Surgeon  in  a  Gov- 
ernment Expedition  sent  out  to  the  Staked  Plains  an  epidemic  carried 
off  a  large  number  of  the  horses  used  by  the  cavalry,  but  John  came  to 
the  rescue.  He  used  heroic  measures  He  would  cut  open  the  horses 
and  remove  the  cau.se— a  large  worm,  four  or  five  inches  in  length  and 
larger  tlian  your  finger.  Then  he  would  sew  up  the  wound,  thus 
titling  the  horse  for  the  hard  service  exacted  of  him  on  this  perilous 
trip  in  the  wilds  of  Texas 

One  of  John's  most  higlily  prized  pictures  is  of  a  woman  detective, 
with  a  colored  t)oy  as  an  attendant  He  regrets  that  by  his  going 
under  an  assumed  name  he  has  been  deprived  of  a  niche  in  the  temple 
of  fame  won  wliile  on  detached  service,  as  a  detective  carrying  di.s- 
pitclies  bet  ween  Washington  and  Richmond. 

While  driving  from  Alma  to  his  farm,  three  mile-^  out,  John  says 
tliat  more  than  once  he  has  been  delayed  on  his  trip  by  a  big  snake 
that  he  alN'ges  reaclu'd  clear  across  the  road  and  for  several  feet  on 
either  side.  As  the  snake  seemed  about  two  feet  in  diameter  it  was  of 
course  nece.ssary  to  await  his  snake.ship's  pleasure  before  continuing 
his  journey  Jiome 

Hut  Julin's  wanderings  have  not  been  confined  to  the  land,  he  hav- 
ing pa.ssed  many  years  nf  bis  life  on  the  ocean.     Resides  being  in  Cuba 


EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  J.  P.  GLEICH  (dec'd), 
Farmer  Township. 


MRS.  J.  P.  GLEICH,  (dec'd), 
Fanner  Township. 


MR.  AUGUST  BRA8CHE  (dec'd),  M.  D. 
Former  Coroner,  West  Branch. 


MRS.  AUGUST  BRASCHE,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY.  KAN. 


s 

a' 

*»«*  4 

1 

1^^  i 

* 

t 

MR.  MICHAEL  FIX  (dec'd),  VoUand. 


MRS.  MICHAEL  FIX  (dec'd),  Volland. 


MR.  AUGUST  MEYER  (dec'd  j,  Alma. 
AJma's  First  Postmaster. 


MR.  LOREXZ  PAULY  (dec'd),  Alma. 
Former  Representative,  and  Commissioner. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  GEO.  W.  THOMPSON  (deed), 
Wabaunsee  Township. 


MR.  HARVEY   P.  THOMPSON, 
Wabaunsee  Town.ship. 


MR.  JOHN  COPP  (dec'd), 
Paxico. 


MR.  CHRISTIAN   KUENZLI  (dec'd), 
Kuenzli  Creek. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  ANDREW  BELL,  Kaw  Township. 
County  Commissioner. 


MR.  Wm.  PRINGLE,  Eskridge. 
County  Commissioner. 


>^|^! 


MB.  HENRY  SCHMITZ  (dec'd),  Alma. 
Former  County  Commissioner. 


MR.  JOSEPH  TREU  (deed),  Halifax. 

Former  Representative  and  County 
Commissioner. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MRS.  FRED.  PALENSKE, 
Alma. 


MRS.  L.  PALENSKE, 
Alma. 


MR.  FRANZ  SCHMIDT. 
Alma. 


MR.  G.  ZWANZIGER  (deceased), 
Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  FRANZ  MEIER, 
Halifax. 


ME.  JOHN  HESS,  (deceased) 
Halifax. 


REVEREND  SILBERMANN, 
Alma. 


REVEREND  ABELE, 
Wells  Creek. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


^KWs^V-^^WJ^VJ/TvJft  -Hf^-y^yv^^T  • 


r 


«?%. 


iL_:_. 


MR.  F.  L.  RAYMOND,  Vera. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  S.  A.  BALDWIN',  Wabaunsee. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  ALBERT  F.  THAYER,  Vera. 


MR.  M.  W.  JANES,  Willard. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JAMES  M.  JOHNSON,  HarveyviUe. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  W.  M.  RINEHART,  Eskridge. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  E.  H.  SANFORD  (Dec'd). 
Eskridge. 


MR.  N.  H.  WHITTEMORE, 
Former  County  Attorney. 


J 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  ALLEN   PHILLIPS  (dec'd),  Vera. 


MRS.  ALLEN  PHILLIPS  (dec'd)  Vera. 


MR.  F.  M.  JONES,  Willard. 


MR.  PATRICK  MAGUIRE  (dec'd). 
Maple  Hill. 


EARLY  HISTORV  OF  WABAUNSEE^COUNTV.IKAN. 


MR.  (jUS  DROEGE,  Farmer  Township. 


MR.  ANTON  SCHEWE,  Farmer  Township. 


MR.  PETER  THOE3  (dec'd),  Farmer  Township.  MR.  RUDOLPH  ARNDT,  Templin. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        21 

and  the  Philippines  long  before  the  Spanish  war  was  thought  of  he 
went,  in  an  early  clay  on  a  voyage  to  the  South  seas  in  search  of  the 
South  pole,  but  after  diligent  and  persevering  effort  he  concludes  the 
South  pole  is  a  mytli. 

In  fact  it  is  John's  firm  conviction  that  the  eartli  isn't  round,  but 
square— a  theory  he  urges  as  tenable  on  the  liypothesis  that  otherwise 
the  biblical  reference  to  the  four  corners  of  the  earth  would  be  mis- 
leading. We  may  as  well  state  here  that  John  has  been  induced  to 
keep  quiet  relative  to  tlie  shape  of  the  earth  in  consideration  of  that 
spirit  of  friendship  lie  feels  towards  Mr.  Palenske,  who  lias  on  sale 
several  globes  showing  the  earth  to  be  round.  But  it  cannot  be  ex- 
pected that  after  a  reasonable  length  of  time  has  elapsed— whetlier 
the  globes  are  disposed  of  or  not— John  will  longer  withhold  forcible 
expression  of  his  convictions  as  to  the  earth's  alleged  spherical  form. 

While  John  was  a  sailor  before  the  mast  he  was  often  detailed  to 
ake  soundings  and  to  tliose  long  used  to  the  familiar  calls  of  "Mark 
wain,"  "Quarter-less  twain"  "No  bottom"  the  responses  made  by 
John  sound  unique.  Sometimes  it  would  be  "Two  tliousand  feet" 
then  "five  thousand  feet,"  fifteen  thousand  feet,"  twenty-five  thous- 
and feet"— then  the  Captain  would  feel  safe  and  give  John  a  rest. 

Ships  with  masts  TOO  or  800  feet  high,  from  the  tops  of  which 
voices  of  sailors  ten  or  twelve  miles  away  can  be  heard;  Mermaids,  who 
carry  ship-wrecked  sailors  to  their  homes  and  treat  them  so  kindly 
that  the  Mermen  fly  off  the  handle  in  jealous  rage;  of  the  Island  of 
j\Iatanzas,  with  men  but  three  feet  higli  with  beards  reaching  to  their 
knees  and  of  John's  perilous  trip  around  the  Horn,  after  three  months 

I  buffeting  the  waves  in  the  vain  endeavor  to  accomplish  what  was 
more  than  easy  on  his  next  trip— when  the  sea-captains  had  dug  a 
eanal,  so  wide  you  couldn't  see  the  shore  on  either  side— tliese  are  a 
ifew  of  the  many  things  John  delights  to  tell  the  land-lubbers,  who 
leather  about  him  and  talk  to  him  about  such  nonsensical  things  as  a 
world  round  like  a  ball. 

Jf)hn  doesn't  speak  boastingly  of  his  book-learning  but  as  a  relator 
of  thrilling  adventures  by  land  and  sea  he  is  a  world  beater — well  de- 
serving the  name  of  Alma's  most  remarkable  and  eccentric  character. 


ex 

i. 

■|a 
^■t\ 


FIRST  SCHOOL  HOUSE  IN  DIST.   NO.   5— NEAR  DOVER. 


22        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Pem-Go-Wye  Repays  a  Kindness. 


Pom-Co- Wye  was  a  very  sick  Iiulian  aiKl  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred 
Palonske  called  at  his  wipwam  one  lioL  Sunday  in  August,  1864,  he  was 
glad  to  see  his  pale-faced  visitors. 

Peni-Co- Wye's  wigwam  was  located  on  Mill  creek  just  below  where 
Mr.  Moritz  TTund  now  lives.  All  the  other  Indians  had  gone  fishing, 
leaving  the  sick  Pottawatomie  to  keep  house. 

Tlie  Indian  had  many  times  eaten  a  hearty  meal  at  the  Palonske 
home  and  he  felt  that  the  time  had  come  to  repay  their  many  acts  of 
kindness.  The  absence  of  the  other  Indians  prompted  Pem-Co-Wye 
to  unburden  his  mind  of  a  weight  that  had  caused  the  good  Indian  to 
pass  many  sleepless  nights— that  his  people  thought  due  to  the  dread 
disease,  by  reason  of  which  his  once  robust  form  was  fast  being  reduced 
to  a  shadow. 

The  Pottawatomies  had  sent  out  many  war  parties  against  the 
Pawnees  but  the  young  warriors  of  the  tribe  reasoned  that  it  was  use- 
less to  go  so  far  from  home  for  ponies  when  their  white  neiglibors, 
thinly  settled  as  they  were,  on  the  several  branches  of  Mill  creek,  had 
plenty  of  good  horses  and  cattle  they  could  get  more  easily. 

The  young  warriors  had  heard  that  the  whites  were  fighting 
among  themselves  and  they  reasoned  that  now  was  their  golden  oppor- 
tunity to  wreak  terrible  revenge  on  their  pale-faced  brothers  who 
were  fast  encroaching  on  their  lands. 

The  good  Indian's  warning  set  Palonske  to  thinking  and  the  feel- 
ing of  uneasiness  rendered  the  homeward  journey  anything  but  pleas- 
ant. Rut  next  day  came  Pem-Shah,  another  frequent  Indian  visitor 
at  the  Palonske  home,  and  when  he  left  for  his  tepee  on  lower  Mill 
crock  there  was  a  wnsultation  that  ended  with  a  resolve  to  leave  the 
Mill  creek  settlement  till  the  storm  should  blow  over.  Pem-Shah's 
words  that  had  so  deeply  impressed  Mr.  Palonske  but  corroborated  the 
statement  made  by  Pom-Co- Wye  the  day  before.  He  had  said  but  a 
few  words  but  they  were  ominous  and  portended  coming  evil.  "Byrne- 
bye  full  moon  come.    Then  Indians  have  heap  cattle  and  horses." 

With  these  words  l\Mn-Shali  left.  His  pale-faced  brother  could 
unravel  any  seeming  mystery  his  words  might  imply. 

In  a  few  days  the  young  warriors  rode  by  in  their  war  paint  going 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        23 

South.  But  they  didn't  go  far.  Up  at  Henry  Schroeder's  they  pitched 
their  camp  and  the  nightly  din  of  the  tom-tom  aroused  the  few 
settlers  along  the  branches  of  Mill  creek  to  a  sense  of  danger.  Their 
nightly  war  dances  meant  something  more  than  a  raid  against  the 
Pawnees. 

Mr.  E.  G.  Ross,  their  agent,  was  appealed  to,-  and  he,  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Ed.  Krapp,  visited  their  camp  and  induced  their  war  chiefs  to 
return  to  the  reservation. 

Though  the  settlers  felt  relieved  many  of  them  slept  in  their  corn 
fields  for  several  weeks  and  Mr.  Palenske,  with  others  went  to  Topeka, 
where  they  remained  five  weeks.  The  young  warriors  threatened  ven- 
geance against  Pem-Co-Wye,  having  heard  that  he  had  given  them 
away.  But  before  the  frosts  came  the  spirit  of  the  good  Indian  had 
departed  for  the  other  shore.  Pem-Co-Wye  had  gone  to  the  Happy 
Hunting  Grounds. 


Me  Killee  PalensKe. 


One  day  in  August,  1863,  while  Mrs.  Palenske  was  alone  in  their 
little  log  cabin  home  on  the  banks  of  Mill  creek  a  drunken  Pottawat- 
)mie  Indian,  accompanied  by  his  squaw,  rode  up  to  the  house  and, 
waving  a  Colt's  navy  revolver  in  a  threatening  manner,  said:  "Me 
Killee  Palenske." 

And  the  Indian's  manner  indicated  that  he  meant  just  what  he 
said.  Though  frightened,  Mrs.  Palenske  was  assured  by  the  squaw 
that  she  needn't  be  afraid — that  she  would  see  that  her  spouse  didn't 
carry  out  his  threat.  She  would  prevent  his  getting  off  his  horse.  Of 
course  this  assurance  on  the  part  of  the  squaw  was  appreciated  but 
not  until  the  Indian  rode  away  did  the  feeling  of  fear  pass  off. 

But  the  Pottawatomie  was  on  murder  bent  and  down  below  the 
mouth  of  Hendricks  creek  the  Indian's  spree  culminated  in  a  brutal 
murder — he  wantonly  shooting  down  one  of  five  brothers  of  an  Indian 
family  living  in  a  wigwam  near  where  Mr.  Henry  Schmitz  afterwards 
built  his  residence. 

The  brothers  of  the  young  Indian  had  been  eye-witnesses  to  the 
terrible  tragedy,  and,  true  to  the  proverbial  attributes  of  their  race, 
wreaked  quick  retribution  on  the  murderer,  who,  without  the  least 
provocation  had  taken  the  life  of  an  unarmed  boy. 

The  drunken  Indian  who  would  "killee  Palenske"  was  a  quarrel- 


2-1        EAliLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


soincspccimeji  of  the  Lo  family  upon  wlutni  the  erlucational  advan- 
tajrosof  a  cnllc^ro  (laiiiiiif:  had  had  no  pfiroptible  inlhience  for  ^i<m(\. 
On  nnuniinu  to  his  people  he  had  discarded  the  ^iH'^^  of  civilization 
and  donned,  a^'ain.  (lie  blanket  of  liis  tribe.  He  liad  left  the  chris- 
tianizing'inlhieiu-es  of  his  siirroiindiii^'S  behind  liiiu  but  had  brout,Oit 
with  him  from  tl)e  Eastern  school  and  its  environs,  the  vices  that 
were  responsible  for  his  undoing. 

A  prollikMto  career  had  been  summarily  clo.sed  and  the  threat  to 
'killee  Palenske"  was  never  carried  out. 


Was  it  Murder? 


On  August  1.").  18G8,  Marshall  Ray,  Emery  Fowler,  J.  C.  Hill,  Isaac 
Dean,  E.  F.  Arthur  and  Henry  Deibert  drove  into  the  Dragoon  settle- 
ment looking  for  claims.  Night  overtaking  them  at  my  father's  farm 
they  re<piested  the  privilege  of  camping  near  the  house  and  the 
further  privilege  of  picketing  their  hoises  in  a  small  pasture  close  at 
hand. 

A  colored  man  named  George  Woods  lived  on  what  is  now  the  J. 
M.  Lee  place,  lending  part  of  the  plow  land  on  the  farm  that  summer. 
Rut  the  c<trn  had  been  laid  by  and  George  was  working  Vjy  the  day  for 
sncli  farmers  as  might  be  in  need  of  his  services,  going  to,  and  return- 
ing from,  his  work  on  horseljack. 

On  that  day  he  had  gone  to  Rurlingame  and  it  was  late  before  he 
reached  home.  Knowing  nothing  of  the  presence  of  campers  on  the 
place  he  had  let  down  the  bars  to  the  pasture  and  was  in  the  act  of 
turning  his  pony  into  the  lot  when  the  sharp  report  of  a  pistol  rang 
out— the  first  intimat  ion  to  George  of  the  presence  of  strangers  on  the 
premises. 

Cieorgedied  from  the  effects  of  the  wound  and  Ray  and  Fowler 
were  arrested.  The  other  men  were  detained  as  witnesses  and  all 
remanded  to  the  Riley  county  jail  after  a  preliminary  examination 
before  J.  M.  Johnson,  J.  P.,  Morris  Walton  being  the  prosecuting  wit- 
ness and  Sam  Easter,  constable. 

The  accused  were  released  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  and  a  second 
time  arrested,  but  for  lack  of  sulllcient  evidence  to  convict  were 
allowed  to  resume  their  search  for  a  home.  But  the  prejudice  that 
had  been  aroused  against  them  by  reason  of  what  seemed  a  wanton 
disregard  of  liuman  life  if  not  wilful  murder  convinced  the  homeseek- 
crs  that  Wabaunsee  county  was  a  good  place  to  stay  away  from. 

The  people  refu.sed  to  accept  the  plea  that  the  shooting  was  due  to 
the  impression  that  Woods  was  a  horse  thief. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        25 


"PC  Precious  Pair." 


From  the  Signal  of  Oct.  25,  1890:  Under  the  above  heading  the 
Kansas  City  Times  of  a  recent  date  contained  an  item  that  was  not 
devoid  of  interest  to  the  people  of  Alma  for  the  reason  that  the  parties 
referred  to  were  residents  here  for  several  months  and  both  were  well 
known  to  our  people. 

The  parties  referred  to  went  by  the  name  of  Ben  and  Arthur 
Claire.  On  being  arrested  on  suspicion  by  the  police,  they  claimed  to 
be  brothers,  but  when  the  younger  of  the  two  was  taken  before  the 
matron  in  charge  of  the  woman's  department  he  (or  she)  acknowledged 
that  the  clothes  were  worn  as  a  disguise— that  her  right  name  was 
Arthie  and  that  she  was  the  wife  of  Ben  Claire;  that  the  disguise  was 
assumed  that  she  might  be  better  enabled  to  travel  through  the 
country  and  the  more  readily  secure  work. 

Ben  and  Arthur  (or  Arthie)  came  to  Alma  sometime  in  May  last, 
claiming  to  be  brothers.  Ben  worked  in  Fox's  stone  quarry  and 
Arthur  was  porter  and  runner  at  the  Commercial  House. 

Arthur,  of  course,  stopped  at  the  Commercial,  while  Ben  boarded 
at  Spear's  restaurant— except,  occasionally,  when  he  would  get  a  little 
lonesome— then  he  would  go  down  and  talk  over  business  with  his 
young  brother. 

Arthur  was  a  good  looking  boy  and  some  of  Alma's  young  ladies 
thought  he  was  too  cute  for  anything.  But  somehow  the  young  man's 
popularity  wasn't  of  the  "lasty"  kind.  He  wasn't  lavish  with  his 
funds  in  the  way  of  patronizing  the  ice  cream  parlors.  He  seemed  to 
care  more  for  his  brother  Ben  than  he  did  for  the  girls.  And  yet, 
with  Ben  and  Arthur,  all  wasn't  sunshine  by  any  means.  One  day, 
Ben  got  outside  of  too  much  "original  package,"  and  the  way  his  little 
brother  went  for  Ben  was  a  caution. 

He  gave  Ben  a  regular  tongue-lashing.  Several  parties  took  in  the 
fun  and  the  wonder  is  that  they  didn't  suspect  the  boy  of  being  a 
woman  on  account  of  his  nimble  speech. 

Perhaps  they  would,  but  Arthur  had  a  way  of  throwing  people  off 
their  guard  that  was  effective.  He  carried  out  this  part  of  the  pro- 
gram by  using  tobacco— both  chewing  and  smoking. 

When  the  work  shut  down  at  the  quarry,   Ben  and  his  little 


20        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


brother  went  out  to  Herman  Mueller's  and  accepted  a  position  in  the 
curn-ciilfinir  business.  Of  course  they  slept  togetlier  as  brotliers 
sliould.  Hut  the  boys  noticed  that  tlie  brothers  didn't  get  along 
together  the  best  In  the  world.  While  in  the  field  there  was  a  con- 
st^int  war  of  words  and  somehow  the  little  fellow  (or  fellowess)  would 
always  manage  to  get  in  the  last  word— another  bit  of  evidence  that 
might  have  revealed  her  sex. 

When  the  handsome  boy  first  struck  Alma  some  of  the  gii'ls 
noticed  that  he  was  awful  shy.  Of  course  they  now  know  the  reason: 
All  girls  are  shy  and  awkward  the  first  time  they  don  their  brother's 
clothes— somehow  they  don't  seem  to  fit. 

Some  of  our  young  men  now  see  that  they  were  guilty  of  very 
ungallant  conduct.  While  acting  in  the  role  of  runner  at  the  hotel 
the  boy  slept  on  a  cot  in  the  otlice -being  awakened  by  an  alarm  clock 
in  time  to  make  the  trains 

One  night,  some  of  our  young  men  (we  promised  to  withhold  their 
names)  thinking  to  have  some  fun  at  the  boy's  expense,  tied  his  ankles 
together  while  he  was  asleep— for  the  fun  they  would  have  when  the 
alarm  clock  .should  "goofT."  Of  course  the  boys  had  their  fun,  but 
now  they  blush  away  back  behind  their  ears  when  they  are  twitted 
about  tying  a  wonrin's  ankles.  The  only  way  they  can  stop  the  racket 
is  to  set  up  the  peanuts. 

There  was  one  peculiarity  about  the  boy— he  couldn't  be  induced 
to  play  baseball— for  fear,  perhaps,  that  he  would  give  himself  away  in 
trying  to  catch  a  "fly."  Neither  could  he  be  induced  to  go  in  swim- 
ming, lie  said  he  couldn't  swim  and  besides  he  was  always  afraid  of 
the  water. 

Well,  some  of  our  young  men  have  learned  a  lesson.  Hereafter 
good-looking  boys  will  be  treated  to  ice  cream  in  summer  and  to 
oysters  when  the  dog-days  are  gone. 


Item  in  Signal,  Dec.  14,  1889:  Our  panther  has  been  heard  from 
again.  As  Johnnie  Keagy,  Fred  Ross  and  Roland  Medlicott  were  in 
the  timber  on  Hendricks  creek  on  Saturday  last  they  heard  the  pan- 
ther's shrill  cry.  The  cries  came  nearer  and  nearer  until  the  animal 
was  within  a  hundred  yards  of  where  the  boys  were.  As  the  sounds 
increased  in  volume  the  animal's  voice  became  less  musical  and  the 
boys  thereupon  concluded  they  had  no  further  business  in  that 
locality.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  boys  were  afraid  at  all,  but 
as  the  panther  had  never  harmed  them  in  the  least,  they  had  no 
ill  feeling  toward  the  brute  and  besides  they  were  not  looking  for  that 
kind  of  game. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        27 


Wealth  in  Cattle. 


From  Signal,  April  26,  1896:  Wabaunsee  county  has  been  called 
the  Switzerland  of  Kansas,  for  the  reason,  we  presume,  that  our  hills 
resemble  mountains— to  people  who  never  saw  a  mountain. 

But  besides  boasting  of  as  fertile  valleys  as  are  to  be  found  any- 
-where  it  is  true  that  many  thousands  of  cattle  roam  over  our  hills  and 
I  fatten  on  the  nutritious  grasses  thereon — requiring  little  or  no  atten- 
tion from  their  owners. 

These  conditions  have  long  been  recognized  by  large  cattle  dealers 
\n  Te.\as,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona,  and  many  rich,  golden  liarvests 
lave  been  gathered  in  by  these  wide-awake  dealers  in  succulent  beef- 
steak.   But  it  is  only  within  the  last  few  years  tliat  our  home  people 
lave  begun  to  realize  the  fact  that  tlie  treasures  carried  away  by 
'others  can  just  as  well  be  taken  care  of  by  residents  of  our  own  county. 
The  result  of  thiswise  conclusion  is  seen  in  tlie  number  of  our 
people  employed  in  tlie  cattle  business,  who,  a  few  years  ago,   had 
^  never  entertained  a  tliought  of  acquiring  a  fortune,  or  even  a  compe- 
tency, througli  the  medium  of  tlie  cattle  industry. 

We  give  a  partial  list  of  some  of  our  stock  men  residing  in  Alma 
^and  vicinity  wlio  liope  to  reap  some  of  the  benefits  from  our  rich, 
freen  pasture  lands. 

Stuewe  Bros 1800 

M.  Nicolson 1200 

E.  J.  Buckingham 800 

A.  S.  Allendorph 600 

Kinne  &  Lockhart 600 

Scott  Thompson 500 

Henderson  Bros 400 

Albert  Thoes 400 

Geo.  Casey 300 

Frank  Brothers 200 

Fred  Tliowe 200 

Fred  Crafts 130 

Davis  Bros 100 

These  figures  indicate  approximately  the  number  of  cattle  now  on 
land,  though  as  several  of  the  number  are  large  dealers  the  numbers 
luctuate. 

It  will  be  seen  that  nearly  7,000  head  of  cattle  are  owned  by  a 


2S        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


dozermr  more  of  our  people,  the  ^'rcater  number  of  whom  have  but 
recetilly  awakened  to  the  fact  that  the  profits  from  our  pasturage  may 
as  well  be  kept  where  they  rightly  belong— at  liome. 

In  addition  to  the  cattle  owned  by  residents,  nearly  20,000  head 
beU»n),'ing  to  outsiders  will  be  grazed  in  the  vicinity  of  Alma. 

Of  tills  number  Mr.  Buckingham  will  have  charge  of  6,000  head; 
Frank  Bros.,  Davis  Bros.,  and  Kinne  &  Lockhart  will  each  graze 
4,000  head— the  number  to  be  grazed  by  the  three  lirms  aggregating 
12,000  head,  exclusive  of  their  f>wn  cattle.  Mr.  Casey  will  graze  about 
500  head  in  addition  to  his  own  herd  of  300. 

In  other  parts  of  the  county  large  herds  are  owned  by  men  who 
have  made  fortunes  in  cattle  and  who  are  today  none  the  less  enthusi- 
astic than  heretofore  in  the  belief  that  there  is  big  money  in  the 
cittle  business.  Of  this  number,  Mr.  Frank  Rickershauser  of  Paxico, 
lias  a  large  herd,  as  have,  also,  Waugh  &  Peter.s,  John  Rehrig  and 
Tom  Rush,  of  Eskridge,  Fowlers,  of  Maple  Hill,  and  Mr.  C.  Langvardt 
and  Mr.  .1.  W.  Naylor,  of  Alta  Vista,  John  Clark,  of  Dover,  Fred 
Miller,  of  Kaw  township  and  .scores  of  others  who  years  ago  recognized 
the  value  of  our  Kansas  gra.sses. 

This  is  a  good  showing  and  yet  the  cattle  industry  in  Wabaunsee 
county  is  but  in  its  infancy.  That  there  is  wealth  in  cattle  has  just 
begun  to  dawn  on  many,  who,  heretofore,  have  seemed  oblivious  of  a 
fact  that  should  have  been  recognized  long  ago. 


Since  the  above  was  written— six  years— there  have  been  several 
changes  !n  the  personnel  of  those  actively  engaged  in  the  stock  busi- 
ne.ss.  While  a  few  have  sought  wealth  in  other  avocations  nearly  all 
are  exerting  renewed  efforts  in  a  calling  that  brings  sure  returns  to 
all.  But  in  addition  to  those  already  named  we  give  a  partial  list  of 
others  who  are  fast  coming  to  the  front  either  as  dealers,  or  raisers  of 
fine  cattle  and  hogs,  as  follows: 

Frank  Schmidt,  Wm.  Maas  &  Sons,  August  and  Chas.  Zeckser, 
Schniilz  Bros.,  A.  M.  Jordan,  and  C.  B.  Fields,  of  Alma;  Tom  Wilson, 
Ed.  Shumate  &  Soni5,  of  Eskridge;  Sebastian  Wertzberger,  H.  W. 
Steinmeyer,  Robert  Fix,  Henry  Grimm  and  Wm.  Home,  of  Yolland: 
Otto  and  Henry  Hess,  Henry  Loehr,  and  Finney  Bros.,  of  Halifax: 
C.  S.  Kelley  and  the  Muckenthalers,  of  Paxico;  Henry  Fauerbach, 
Frank  and  Horace  Adams,  and  W.  J.  Tod,  of  Maple  Hill;  Tom  Maney, 
Frank  Ronneau  and  John  Maguire,  of  Kaw  township  (St.  Marys);  Geo. 
S.  Burt  and  John  O'Malley,  of  Wabaunsee;  S.  G.  Cantrill,  of  Harvey- 
ville:  Herman  Arndt  of  Templin  and  James  Cessnun  of  Chalk,  and 
scores  of  our  farmers  who  prove  by  their  works  their  faith  in  Wabaun- 
see county  as  among  the  best  stock  raising  centres  of  the  world. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        29 


f\  Free  Ride  in  a  Cattle  Gar. 


Item  in  Signal,  June  21,  1893:  A  tramp  giving  his  name  as  John 
Fair  appeared  at  the  Atchison  (Kan.)  police  station  one  night,  recent- 
ly, bruised  from  head  to  foot,  and  asked  permission  to  sleep  at  the 
station  till  morning.  Fair  said  he  had  come  to  Atchison  from  Omaha 
in  a  through  stock  train  and  that  he  had  the  most  terrible  experience 
of  his  life.  Shortly  before  the  train  pulled  out  of  Omaha  the  tramp 
said  he  crawled  into  a  car  loaded  with  steers.  The  steers  soon  began 
to  step  on  him  and  seeing  that  would  never  do  the  tramp  climbed  on 
the  back  of  one  of  the  steers.  This  enraged  the  animal  and  it  lunged 
forward,  exciting  the  other  steers  and  there  was  a  panic.  The  mad- 
dened steers  dashed  about,  hooking  the  tramp  on  all  sides.  He  put 
his  arms  about  the  neck  of  the  steer  that  he  was  riding  and  held  his 
grip  until  the  train  stopped  at  Atchison.  The  tramp's  head  had 
struck  the  top  of  the  car  a  number  of  times  and  was  badly  bruised. 

When  Hartman  BoUier  who,  a  few  years  later,  was  deputy  supreme 
organizer  of  the  Maccabees,  read  the  above  item  in  the  Signal  he 
called  at  the  office  and  said:  "That  was  rather  a  tough  experience 
that  tramp  had  in  the  cattle  car  wasn't  it?"  "Well,  I  got  in  just 
such  a  fix  last  summer  down  in  Texas.  I  was  dead  broke  and  wanted 
to  get  back  home  but  for  the  life  of  me  I  couldn't  get  employment  of 
any  kind.  But  roasting  ears  were  cheap  and  car  fare  away  down — 
provided  the  brakeman  didn't  watch  too  close.  But  there  was  the 
trouble.  After  being  put  off  about  a  dozen  times  I  looked  up  a  cattle 
car  and  crawled  in.  The  outlook  wasn't  very  inviting  but  I  mounted 
on  the  back  of  the  biggest  steer  in  the  car  and  waited  for  develop- 
ments. They  came  soon  enough  and  I  got  some  hard  knocks  from  the 
long-horns.  When  the  horns  would  get  too  uncomfortably  close  I 
would  crawl  onto  another  steer— some  would  kick  like  blazes  and 
others  would  tremble  through  fear.  W^hen  a  steer  would  get  down  I 
would  lay  close  to  his  back  to  keep  out  of  sight  of  the  cow  punchers 
until  the  train  started  again.  This  went  on  all  right  till  I  got  to  a 
little  station  down  in  the  Indian  Territory.  Then  one  of  the  cow 
punchers  spied  me  out.  "What  in  the  name  of  the  great  horn  spoon 
are  you  doing  in  there,"  said  the  cowboy.  "Oh,  just  taking  a  ride." 
"Come  out  of  that  or  them Texas  steers  will  kill  you."    "Me  and 


;iO        EARLY  HISTORY  OB^  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


thpstoorsfor  that,"  I  aiiRvvcrtHl.  for  ton<,Mi  as  ridinp:  in  a  cattle  car 
was  it  beat  walking' all  to  smash.  Ihit  on  being  told  I  could  ride  in 
thecalxioso  1  bid  tlie  steers  good-bye  and  thanked  the  good  Lord  at 
the  prospector  getting  back  to  Kansas.  "Hut  I  wouldn't  take  that 
ride  again  for  a  million  dollars."  And  TIartman  meant  every  word 
he  said. 


Our  Genius  in  Umbo. 


From  Signal,  .Jan.  U.  ISsi.'J:  While  in  prison.  John  Runyan  wrote 
Pilgrim'.s  Progress,  and  Daniel  De  Foe  gave  to  the  world  his  Robinson 
Cru.soe.  Now  Harry  Faults  may  not  have  heard  of  either  of  his  pre- 
decessors but  he  is,  nevertheless,  furnishing  additional  evidence  that 
imprisonment  may  at  times  prove  a  blessing  in  disguise. 

Since  Harry  got  into  that  little  trouble  by  taking  hold  of  a  rope 
with  a  horse  attached  to  the  other  end  of  it  he  hasn't  employed  his 
time  making  wooden  keys  to  get  out  and  prospect  around  for  more  of 
the  .same  kind  of  ropes,  but  he  has  philosophically  accepted  the 
.situation  and  occupies  his  time  in  constructing  such  things  as  mouse 
cages,  toy  furniture,  ships,  etc.,  indubitable  evidence  that  Harry  is  a 
genuine  mechanic.  He  has  constructed  three  mouse  cages,  each 
succeeding  attempt  being  an  improvement  on  the  one  preceding. 

Confined  in  the  cage  last  made  are  two  mice,  one  a  little  fellow 
that  delights  to  turn  the  wheel  and  the  other  a  staid  old  mouse  who.se 
appearance  indicates  the  eaily  necessity  of  a  further  enlargement  of 
the  diminutive  prison.  It  is  amusing  to  watch  either  of  the  mice  as 
they  climb  the  sides  of  the  rapidly  turning  wheel,  or  as  they  make  an 
agile  spring  for  the  small  circular  opening  in  the  upper  chamber  that 
completely  hides  the  prisoners  from  view. 

Then,  there  is  a  dresser,  or  bureau,  surmounted  by  a  gla.ss  frame 
and  with  three  glass  drawers  below.  A  neatly  made  chair  and  center 
table  complete  the  set. 

Rut  a  year  of  Harry's  life  was  passed  on  the  ocean.  At  one  time 
for  more  than  fifty  days  he  did  not  put  his  foot  on  the  land— on  a 
voyage  from  (Jalvesfon,  Texas,  to  Amsterdam.  Harry  hasn't  forgotten 
how  ships  that  sail  the  bright  seas  over  are  built,  and  among  other 
things  lie  lias  constructed  three  models  of  vessels.  The  last  one  made 
Is,  of  course,  the  best,  and  is  a  thing  of  beauty. 

Each  mast  has  its  shrouds— or  rope  ladders,  as  a  landsman  or  an 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        31 

editor  would  call  them— made  uf  thread.  There  are  the  hatchways, 
and  the  galley,  or  cook  house,  and,  a  genuine  wheel  with  cogs  to  turn 
it.  Our  reporter  never  saw  a  real  ship  but  he  has  seen  lots  of  models 
and  pictures  of  them  and  this  looks  just  like  them— it  is  as  pretty  as  a 
picture.  But  Harry  calls  this  a  brigantine,  which  goes  to  show  that 
our  reporter  don't  know  a  ship  when  he  sees  one. 

Harry  being  in  jail,  you  may  wonder,  maybe,  where  he  got  his 
tools.  You  will  think,  probably,  that  he  has  a  full  kit.  "VYell,  he  has, 
but  the  kit  is  a  mighty  small  one— only  a  saw,  a  small  nail,  and  a  piece 
of  glass — nothing  more,  and  what  a  saw.  It  is  about  four  or  five 
inches  long  and  nearly  a  half  inch  wide,  the  teeth  being  mere  notches 
in  the  tin.  But  with  these  makeshifts  of  tools  Harry  does  neat  work, 
sawing  out  thin  slabs  from  old  cigar  boxes — of  which  material  the 
greater  part  of  the  various  pieces  of  handiwork  are  constructed. 

Harry  has  gone  wrong  and  his  mistake  should  be  a  warning  to  the 
hundreds  of  young  men  growing  up  to  man's  estate  who  are  leaving 
their  manhood  in  the  lurch.  But  Harry  may  have  a  better  future 
before  him.  For  awhile  he  may  be  compelled  to  sit  on  the  stool  of 
repentance— then,  we  hope  a  brighter  future  will  welcome  him  to  a 
field  of  usefulness  in  the  industrial  world  beyond  the  portals  of  the 
Alma  jail. 


/Vttending  Court  in  the  Sixties. 


From  Signal  of  Feb.  11,  1893:  Mr.  L.  J.  McCrnmb  was  in  attend- 
ance at  court  doing  jury  service  this  week  and  was,  as  usual,  full  of 
reminiscences  of  Auld  Lang  Syne.  It  is  nearly  25  years  since  his  first 
experience  as  a  juryman  in  Wabaunsee  county. 

Court  was  held  in  the  Kaufman  building  (our  first  court  house), 
Judge  Morton  presided,  and  John  Winkler  kept  the  only  hotel  in  town, 
but  Uncle  Henry  Schmitz  supplied  the  hungry  with  crackers  and 
cheese,  and  as  many  of  those  in  attendance  at  court  brought  along 
their  provisions  in  baskets  and  slept  in  the  hay-mow  in  Schmitz  & 
Meyer's  barn — to  curtail  expenses— such  little  inconveniences  as  a 
lack  of  accommodations  were  unworthy  of  mention.  There  were  but 
three  or  four  houses  in  Alma  then  and  most  of  the  jurors  picketed 
their  horses  on  the  prairie  within  fifty  yards  of  the  court  room. 

A  court  incident  of  the  term  is  worthy  of  mention  here.  Robert 
Marrs,  of  Dragoon  creek,  one  of  the  jurors,  had  picketed  his  horse  near 


32        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


wlieie  Falk's  marble  works  are  now  located.  A  case  was  on  trial  and 
Mr.  Marrs  was  on  tlu^  jury.  Looking;  out  of  the  window  he  saw  a 
passing,'  colporttMir  i)ick  up  liis  bridle  and  drive  off  witli  it. 

Bob  couldn't  stand  that,  and,  rising?  from  his  seat,  he  said, 
excitedly:  ".hid^e  will  you  excu.se  me  a  minute?  A  man  out  yonder 
isstealinjr  my  bridle."  Of  course  Judpe  Morton  stopped  pruceedings 
and  Mr.  .Marrs  lost  no  time  in  .securing'  pos.se.ssion  of  his  bridle,  at  the 
same  time  Riving  the  thief  a  piece  of  his  mind.  Mr.  McCrumb  rode  to 
court  on  the  back  of  an  Indian  pony  of  the  Pottawatomie  breed  and 
during  his  week's  stay  turned  his  pony  into  Schmitz  &  Meyer's  hay 
lot  on  the  Mueller  corner. 

The  bill  for  the  week's  feed  for  the  pony  was  twenty-five  cents. 
Mr.  MeC'ruiub  will  retain  many  pleasant  memories  of  the  early  days 
but  not  the  least  among  them  will  be  the  recollection  of  his  first  jury 
service  in  the  courts  of  Wabaunsee  county. 


f\  RemlniSGeriGe. 


Thirty-one  years  ago  was  the  time  and  tlie  little  frame  school 
house  in  Alma— just  south  of  the  court  house— was  the  place— where 
Wl'  attended  our  lirst  examination  for  a  teacher's  certificate. 

Mr.  William  F.  Cotton  was  county  superintendent,  and  Mr.  John 
T.  Keagy,  a  young  attorney  just  out  from  Penn.sylvania,  was  the  only 
associate  examiner. 

Am(»ng  the  other  applicants  for  a  certificate  was  Mr.  M.  K.  Andei- 
son,  of  Rock  creek,  who,  even  then  wasn't  a  young  man.  Mr.  W.  A. 
Doolittle,  afterwards  county  attorney,  was  another  applicant.  His 
whiskers  just  as  long  as  when  we  last  saw  him  and  the  hair  on  his 
head  souie  longer.  Mr,  l*ercival  Hawes,  the  Alta  Vista  postmaster, 
was  there,  also,  and  he,  too,  had  a  flowing  beard.  Mr.  Hawes,  a  few 
years  later  was  elected  clerk  of  the  district  court. 

We  believe  there  was  but  one  lady  applicant,  Miss  Sallie  Pratt, 
now  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  Sudweeks,  ex-representative,   of  Eskridge. 

There  were  other  applicants  but  their  names  we  can't  recall. 
Amoncr  the  visiting  teachers  was  Mr.  J.  M.  Lingfcltor,  afterwards 
superintendent,  then  a  teacher  and  resident  of  Wabamisee. 

The  examination  was  oral  and  all  received  certificates.  It  was  our 
first  examination  and  our  first  experience  in  the  school  room  was  in 
District  27— the  (Irst  term  in  the.  then,  new  school  house. 


f 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        33 

In  those  days  tlie  institute  was  unknown.  But  later  on  it  came 
and  witli  it,  many  new  conditions  tliat  are  commendable.  Then,  the 
teacliers  were  to  one  another  unknown,  They  are  better  acquainted 
now. 

Besides  being  beneficial  from  an  educational  standpoint  the  insti- 
tutes are  profitable  in  other  ways.  The  associations  of  a  month  are 
sometimes  very  pleasant,  but,  occasionally,  they  deprive  our  education- 
al system  of  a  teacher. 

We  know  quite  a  number  who  have  quit  the  business — conditions 
due  mainly  to  the  institute.  But  if  they  are  happier  as  housekeepers 
than  as  teachers  who  can  say  them  nay. 

At  the  first  annual  institute  the  teachers  boarded  more  in  clubs 
than  now.  There  were  even  then  houses  to  rent.  One — not  a  very 
large  one  however — was  located  on  the  lot  belonging  to  Mrs.  J.  R.  Fix, 
of  Volland— on  which  the  Henry  Pauly  house  was  moved. 

By  reason  of  its  color  the  house  was  called  the  "Little  Brown  Jug." 
It  was  afterwards  moved  to  the  corner  of  Main  and  Missouri  streets, 
and,  later,  farther  north — adjoining  the  Pries  store — the  front  being 
pulled  out  to  save  that,  and  the  adjoining  buildings,  from  burning. 

Among  the  occupants  of  the  "Little  Brown  Jug"  at  that  first 
institute  was  a  prominent  young  lady  from  Wabaunsee,  who,  several 
years  after  attended  as  a  delegate  to  a  temperance  convention — 
further  proof  that  there's  nothing  in  a  name. 

But  it  is  said  that  three  years  is  the  life  of  a  teacher— in  the 
school-room.  That  was  ten  times  three  years  ago  and  a  full  grown 
young  gentleman  of  Maple  Hill  now  addresses  that  teacher  of  but 
yesterday  as  "Mama." 

But,  none  the  less,  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne  are  recalled. 


/Vn  Innocent  /vbroad. 


He  was  not  one  of  Mark  Twain's  creations— but  a  genuine  speci- 
men of  the  genus  homo  from  the  rural  districts  of  Wabaunsee  county. 

We  could  tell  his  name,  but  for  obvious  reasons  we  will  call  him 
Smith— John  Smith  will  do. 

Well,  in  the  month  of  January,  1892,  John  went  down  to  Kansas 
City  (that  wicked  town  down  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kaw)  on  business, 
of  course. 


\ 


34        EMILY  MlSTOllYOF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


When  .Inhrr.s  l)uslnoss  was  transacted  he  hied  liiniself  to  the 
Union  dt'ix't.  to  tako  tli(>  train  for  lioni*.'. 

.loini's  only  fonipaiiion  was  a  blade  carpet  sack,  containing  a  well- 
\v(»rn  suit  of  clollies,  a  pair  of  overshoes  and  a  last  year's  almanac— 
not  a  very  vahiibie  collection— and  for  this  reason,  perhaps,  John 
th(»iii,'ht  it  uinit'cossary  to  pay  ten  cents  at  the  check  stand  to  insure 
the  safety  (»f  the  aforesaid  carpet  sack  until  the  departure  of  his  train. 

John  liad  but  a  few  minutes  to  wait,  but  in  that  few  minutes  a 
stran^fcr  came  in  with  an  unsteady  jrait  and  a  black  carpet  sack— tlie 
latter  a  perfect  match  to  that  containing  John's  ancient  wardrobe. 

The  stranger  sat  down  in  the  .seat  ne.\t  to  John  and  put  his  carpet 
sack  alongside  of  the  one  John  was  patiently  guarding 

John  noticed  the  similarity  of  the  two  carpet  sacks  but  he  failed 
to  notice  the  stranger's  disappearance,  and  with  him  the  black  carpet 
sack  that  contained  Jcthn's  second  best  suit  of  clothes  and  the  last 
year's  almanac. 

But  l)efore  long  John's  train  was  called  and  not  until  then  was  he 
aware  that  the  carpet  sack  he  picked  up  was  not  his  property. 

His  suit  of  clothes  didn't  weigh  much  and  the  last  year's  almanac 
wouldn't  make  the  old  carpet  sack  pull  down  like— 

"Brickbats!" 

Yes.  John  had  been  l)uncoed. 

That  innocent,  swaggering  stranger  wasn't  as  drunk  as  he  woidd 
have  folks  believe. 

J(flin  had  read  all  al)out  just  such  tricks  being  played  on  country 
Jakes,  and  with  all  hiscuteness  he  had  been  buncoed  out  of  a  suit  of 
clothes— not  a  very  valuable  suit,  but  they  were  worth  more  than  all  1| 
the  brickbats  you  could  stufl  in  a  dozen  black  carpet  sacks. 

But  John  had  no  idea  of  leaving  the  supposed  brickbats  without 
first  having  made  a  personal  inspection  of  the  inside  of  that  carpet 
sack. 

No  .sooner  was  the  train  under  way  than  John  was  peering  into 
that  load  of  brickbats. 

But  the  first  thing  his  eyes  rested  on  wasn't  a  brickbat— that  is, 
it  didn't  look  like  one— on  the  outside.  It  seemed  too  long  and  it  was 
round  instead  of  square. 

John  unwctund  the  paper  wrapper — or  rather  the  three  or  four 
paper  wrappers,  and  on  the  inside  was  a  bottle  of  John  Spangler's 
grippe  antidote. 

Underneath  this  was  another  package  just  like  the  first,  and  a 
little  farther  down  were  two  fiat  bottles,  each  labeled  "Old  Rye 
Whiskey,  18G5." 

On  the  other  side  there  was  a  variation  in  the  program. 

In  the  first  bundle  ooened  was  a  full  suit  of  silk  underwear  and 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY",  KAN.        35 

besides  a  pair  of  kid  gloves,  two  pairs  of  embroidered  slippers,  and — 
two  half-gallon  jugs— one  of  Jamaica  rum  and  the  other  of  Old  Scotch 
whiskey." 

Were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  John  is  a  staunch  prohibitionist  we 
would  be  tempted  to  pronounce  his  story  a  little  bit  fishy,  but  we 
guess  it  is  straight  goods,  for  John  wears  his  good  clothes  every  day 
in  the  week  now,  and  every  time  we  see  him  he  gets  up  close— so  we 
can  smell  his  breath— and  it's  all  O.  K.  There's  no  scent  of  coffee, 
cloves,  or  tangle-foot  about  it. 

Jt)hn  says  he's  going  to  Kansas  City  again  before  long  and  they 
can  bunco  him  again  if  they  want  to.  ^le's  strictly  temperate,  but  he 
has  a  mortal  fear  of  the  grippe,  and  when  so  n^any  folks  are  down 
with  the  blasted  complaint  it  is  mighty  handy  to  have  lots  of  prevent- 
ive in  the  house — especially  in  a  prohibition  state,  where,  in  case  of 
sickness,  such  sovereign  remedies  can't  be  had  for  love  nor  money. 

If  you  want  corroborative  proof  of  the  above  write  to  George 
P^'oster.  The  last  we  heard  of  him  his  post  ottice  address  was  Kansas 
City,  Kansas.  He  was  practicing  law  down  there — but  it  seems  to  us 
he  was  taking  desperate  chances— of  being  buncoed  some  more. 


1202880 
Sonie  Jail  Deliveries. 


"Boys  we  are  going  out  of  here  tonight."    These  were  the  words 
sed  by  Thomas  Babcock  in  the  Alma  jail  on  the  night  of  June  3,  1890 
The  boys  referred  to  were  Ed.  Gordon  and  Scott  Holt,   his  two  com- 
anions. 

Babcock  was  a  waiter  on  a  Rock  Island  dining  car  before  his  arrest 

for  stealing  diamonds  and  jewelry  to  the  amount  of  $400  from  Mrs.  W. 

S.  Johnson,  a  lady  passenger  on  the  west-bound  train  at  McFarland. 

Holt  was  charged  as  an  accomplice,  and  Ed.   Gordon  was  in  jail  for 

hiring  a  team  at  Romlck's  barn,  at  Maple  Hill,   and  driving  in  the 

wrong  direction.    His  alleged  destination  was  Ad.   Thompson's,   on 

Mission  creek,  but  when  next  heard  from  he  was  In  Carroll  county, 

H  Arkansas,  taking  his  best  girl  riding  in  Romick's  buggy. 

^L       Sheriff  Hull  went  to  Arkansas  and  on  March  23rd  placed  Gordon 

^■behind  the  bars  in  the  Alma  jail. 

^B       The  "boys"  thought  Babcock  was  joking  but  when  he  Inverted 
^rthe  jail  lock— with  a  big  key-hole  in  the  lower  end— and  began  pouring 

[ 


3(5        EAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


in  a  chaiyo  of  p()\v(l«M-  ihoy  concluclcfl  to  repair  to  the  rear  cell  for  fear 
of  accidents.  After  iiisertintr  a  fuse  and  driving  in  a  pine  plug, 
Biibcock  wrapped  a  blanket  about  the  lock  to  deaden  the  sound  and— 
well,  although  Gordon  had  covered  his  head  with  the  blankets,  he 
said  the  explosion  sounded  like  a  cannon. 

Habcock  had  verified  his  statement.  The  boys  walked  out  and  the 
jail  was  empty.  But  time  hung  heavily  on  their  hands  and  they  went 
fishing— at  any  rate  the  first  report  from  the  fugitives  came  from 
Nehring  branch,  up  which  stream  they  were  leisurely  sauntering  with 
fisii  poles  over  tlieir  siuKilders  and  one  of  them  carrying  a  bait  can- 
filled  with  the  remains  of  their  last  supper— in  the  Alma  jail. 

Tiie  trio  stayed  at  Jacob  Schreiber's  that  night  and  the  next 
niorning  hired  Millard  HIankenship  to  drive  them  to  Carbondale,  but 
Millard,  at  their  request,  set  the  three  men  out  on  the  prairie  two 
miles  southwest  of  Auburn. 

ShorifT  Hull  was  in  Eskridge  but  he  immediately  offered  a  reward 
of  fifty  dollars  each  for  the  arrest  of  the  escaped  prisoners,  and  with 
half  a  dozen  assistants  was  .soon  hot  on  the  trail.  All  stations  between 
Burlingame  and  Topeka  were  watched  and  nothing  being  seen  of  the 
fugitives  the  country  east  of  Carbondale  was  scoured.  News  that  the 
fugitives  were  seen  traveling  east  was  learned  at  the  first  hou.se, 
prompting  a  clo.se  watch  of  the  Mi.ssouri  Pacific  and  Carbondale  roads. 
Nothing  resulting  it  was  at  once  concluded  that  the  blind  man — 
Gordon— was  piloting  the  diamond  merchants— Babcock  and  Holt- 
overland  to  Lawrence. 

At  Lincoln— a  small  post  ofiHce,  ten  miles  east  of  Carbondale,  it 
was  learned  that  a  man  wearing  goggles  was  taking  a  rest  at  a  house 
thirty  feet  from  the  roadside.  A  few  minutes  later  Gordon  was 
comfortably  seated  in  the  buggy  between  Sheriff  Hull  and  the  writer. 

Then  it  was  a  red-hot  race  for  Lawrence— it  now  being  evident 
that  point  was  the  goal  Holt  and  Babcock  hoped  to  reach.  The  race 
was  a  hot  one  in  a  double  sense.  The  sweat  dripped  from  the  horses' 
sides  as  they  sped  on  their  way.  But  soon  it  was  learned  that  a  man 
driving  a  .sewing  machine  wagon  was  inquiring  for  the  same  parties 
and  was  nf)t  far  behind  the  prisoners. 

Sheriff  Hull,  feeling  that  the  capture  of  the  jail  birds  was  assured, 
gave  the  team  a  much  needed  rest  and  a  light  feed  of  grain— after 
which  the  race  was  resumed.  Lawrence  was  soon  reached  and  when 
Sheriff  Hull  drove  up  to  the  jail,  a  familiar  rig  was  hitched  to  a  post. 
On  the  tail-board  of  the  machine  wagon  was  the  name:  "Will  Pippert, 
Alma,  Kansas." 

Will  had  overtaken  the  prisoners  riding  on  a  load  of  wood.  As  his 
team  was  nearly  run  down  he  drove  leisurely  behind  the  wood  wagon 
for  two  miles  and  then  startled  Holt  and  Babcock  by  saying:     "Boys, 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY^  KAN.        37 

you  had  better  ride  with  me  awhile,"  emphasizing  his  request  by 
pointing  a  sliotgun  in  the  direction  of  tlie  wood  wagon.  They  had  no 
other  thought  than  that  Will  was  returning  from  a  trip  in  the 
country  after  delivering  a  sewing  machine.  Had  they  got  sight  of 
that  sign  on  the  rear  end  of  his  spring  wagon  things  might  have 
been  different. 

Just  three  and  a  half  days  after  the  explosion  in  the  Alma  jail 
Sheriff  Hull  again  turned  the  key  on  the  three  jail  birds,  but  he  was 
out  just  one  hundred  dollars  reward  money. 

But  Gordon's  thoughts  were  with  the  girl  he  left  behind  him— 
after  that  buggy  ride  down  in  Arkansas.  He  longed  for  the  invigor- 
ating atmosphere  of  the  (Jzarks.  Sheriff  Hull  thought  the  trip  would 
be  bad  for  Gordon's  eyes  but  one  Sunday  (Aug.  18th)  he  would  let  him 
and  Babcock  exercise  in  the  hallway  of  the  court  house  while  he  and 
Scott  Holt — who  was  about  sick  with  malaria — would  enjoy  the  cool 
breeze  on  the  front  door  steps. 

Noting  the  absence  of  Gordon  the  sheriff  was  informed  by  Babcock 
that  he  had  stepped  out  of  the  back  door.  Hustling  the  two  prisoners 
into  the  jail  as  quickly  as  possible  Sheriff  Hull  made  strict  but  unavail- 
ing search  for  the  runaway. 

Cards  were  sent  out  but  not  until  Wednesday  was  the  first  clue 
obtained.  Frank  Blanc  brought  word  that  Gordon  had  stopped  Tues- 
day night  at  Philip  Bach's,  leaving  at  4  o'clock  Wednesday  evening. 
The  reward  of  $100  offered  by  Sheriff  Hull  induced  a  half  dozen  parties 
to  join  in  the  pursuit,  but,  Gordon,  by  his  zigzag  course  and  playing  the 
farmer  racket — building  fence,  etc.— gave  the  boys  a  merry  chase  till 
Thursday  night,  when  he  was  captured  at  Council  Grove.  Friday 
afternoon  Sheriff  Hull  again  turned  the  key  on  the  slickest  prisoner 
ever  landed  in  the  Alma  jail. 

The  latter  statement  could  be  corroborated  by  two  well-known 
citizens  of  Alma,  who  had  joined  in  the  search.  Seeing  a  man  walk- 
ing along  the  road  they  concluded  that  hundred  dollars  was  as  good  as 
theirs,  but  when  he  passed  under  the  wire  fence  and  began  building 
fence  they  concluded  he  was  a  genuine  granger  and  owner  of  the  farm. 
Asking  him  the  way  to  Council  Grove,  his  ready  answer  seemed  proof 
positive  that  he  wasn't  the  man  they  were  looking  for. 

On  making  inquiry  at  the  next  house  for  Gordon  they  were  asked 
if  they  hadn't  seen  him  a  short  distance  down  the  road.  On  driving 
back  the  bird  had  flown — but  not  far  away— Gordon  was  lying  in  a 
washout  just  across  the  road — waiting  for  his  pursuers  to  tie  their 
team  and  continue  their  search  afoot.  If  Gordon  couldn't  take  his 
best  girl  buggy  riding  he  would  take  an  airing  on  his  own  account. 
He  was  tired  of  walking. 

At  the  close  of  the  October  term  of  court  Gordon  took  a  ride— to 
Lansing. 


38        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Bitten  by  a  Tarantula. 


Ill  iho  fall  of  1S91.  sdinc  Mnia  l)oys\vont  down  intoOklalioma,  and 
on  their  irliirn  had  a  ^n)od  deal  to  say  about  the  tine  climate,  the  ricli 
soil,  and  the  flocks  of  wild  turkeys  in  that  country,  but  one  of  their 
number  was  iDuiu  about  his  narrow  escape  from  the  bite  of  a  taran- 
tula. The  boys  had  lain  awake  until  a  late  hour  rofTaliiifj  our  tender- 
foot with  stories  of  hu^e  rattlers,  centipedes  and  tarantulas,  and 
when  the  occupants  of  the  tent  were  aroused  a  few  hours  later  by  a 
series  of  blood  curdling  yells,  they  were  prepared  for  the  worst.  Ten- 
derfoot had  been  bitten  by  a  sure-enough  tarantula.  A  light  was 
struck  and  there  were  two  plainly  visible  marks  on  the  calf  of  the  leg, 
where  the  monster  spider  had  inserted  his  fangs.  The  remedies  at 
liand  were  few,  but  the  boys  did  their  best  to  save  the  life  of  their 
comrade.  They  bound  salt  on  the  wound  and  poured  about  a  pint  (all 
they  had)  of  axle  grease  down  the  throat  of  the  suffering  victim. 
Then  tlie  patient  was  dosed  with  wahoo  bark,  the  bitterest  decoction 
a  man  ever  swallowed,  but  the  boys  had  a  desperate  case  on  their 
hands  and  a  successful  termination  could  be  hoped  for  only  by  resort- 
ing to  henjic  measures. 

The  patient  was  awful  sick— from  the  effects  of  the  axle  grease 
and  the  wahoo  l)ut  lie  got  over  it  and  on  his  return— with  his  com- 
rades—to Alma  there  were  no  visible  evidences  of  the  terrible  ordeal 
through  which  he  had  passed  while  down  in  Oklahoma.  But  no 
sooner  had  he  arrived  in  Alma  than  he  availed  himself  of  the  oppor- 
t  unity  to  interview  one  of  our  attorneys— to  see  if  he  couldn't  make  a 
state  case  against  the  boys  for  the  trick  they  had  played  upon  him. 
The  boys  had  stuck  a  couple  of  pins  an  inch  or  so  into  his  leg,  and  the 
joke  bfing  too  good  to  keep,  they  had  given  the  whole  thing  away. 
When  (icorgo  Tenderfoot  came  to  town  he  invariably  brouglit  his 
shotgiMi  along,  giving  it  out  that  he  was  hunting  prairie  chicUens,  but 
the  Oklahoma  crowd  had  important  business  elsewhere  until  the 
victim  of  their  joke  got  out  of  town. 

Doctor  Syntax  is  a  permanent  resident  of  Oklahoma  now — in  fact 
has  lived  there  several  years,  but  he  has  never  yet  been  called  on  to 
administer  another  dose  of  axle  grease  to  save  a  patient  from  death 
from  the  bite  of  a  tarantula. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        39 


The  Lesson  of  Sarn. 


Sam  wasn't  what  some  people  deem  fit  to  call  a  "calamity  howler" 
but  one  of  the  boys  who  had  heard  every  day  of  the  prosperous 
condition  of  our  people. 

But  somehow  Sam  didn't  share  in  that  condition  of  prosperity  to 
any  great  extent.  So  it  was  quite  natural  that  he  should  swipe  some 
of  the  good  things  around  him. 

For  instance,  one  of  his  neighbors  possessed  a  turkey  that  was  fair 
to  look  upon.  This  particular  turkey  was  of  the  feminine  gender,  and 
she  looked  forward  to  the  time  when  the  eggs  on  which  she  was  setting 
should  be  transformed  into  a  brood  of  rambling  turkeys. 

But  Sam  had  an  eye  on  the  eggs,  and  their  peculiar  speckled 
appearance  created  a  desire  within  his  breast  to  own  the  whole  bakery. 
In  this  case  the  thought  was  father  to  the  wish  and  Sam  lost  no  time 
in  carrying  out  that  wish— and  the  eggs  went  along  for  company. 

But  the  eggs  looked  lonesome.  Sam  had  heard  the  song — "What 
is  home  without  a  mother?"  and  he  thought  of  the  motherless  turkeys 
that  he  would  have  on  his  hands  in  case  the  eggs  should  hatch  without 
the  assistance  of  Mrs.  Turkey. 

Now,  Sam  is  of  a  sympathetic  turn  and  the  thoughts  of  the  trials 
and  hardships  of  a  dozen  orphan  turkeys  prompted  him  to  look  out  for 
a  mother  to  the  prospective  waifs. 

It  struck  him  that  his  taking  the  eggs  had  thrown  the  old  turkey 
out  of  a  job,  and,  probably,  this  prompted  him  to  give  the  turkey  that 
laid  the  eggs  the  preference  in  letting  the  job  out. 

At  any  rate  the  turkey  went  the  same  route  taken  by  the  eggs, 
and  that  is  what  got  Sam  into  trouble. 

So  Sam  was  allowed  to  rest  in  the  Alma  jail  to  ponder  over  the 
penalties  attendant  upon  ways  that  are  dark  and  tricks  that  are  vain, 
wondering  whether  the  reform  movement  had  anything  in  store  for 
him,  or  mayhap,  he  was  thinking  of  the  effect  the  McKinley  bill 
would  have  on  unhatched  turkey  eggs. 


40        f:ARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Item  In  Si^mal,  April  20,  1890:  One  (i:iy  last  week,  as  a  man  on  a 
tricycle,  accompanied  by  a  jiiR  of  snake  bite  antidote  was  going 
towards  Manhattan  he  met  a  freight  train  going  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion at  the  rate  of  35  miles  an  hour.  As  there  was  not  room  on  the 
track  for  both— the  train  and  the  tricycle— there  was  a  collision. 
When  the  lone  passenger  .saw  that  something  must  happen  he  grasped 
the  treasure  most  dear  to  his  heart— the  jug,  and,  shutting  his  eyes, 
was  just  preparing  for  a  jump,  when  the  locomotive  struck  the  bow  of 
liis  craft.  Instead  of  landing  on  terra  firma,  as  he  intended,  he  found 
him.self  .sprawling  on  the  cow-catcher,  with  his  head  jammed  against 
the  boiler— but  the  jug  was  all  right.  The  tricycle  was  thrown  on  top 
of  the  bank.  When  the  train  men  went  forward  to  pick  up  the  piece.s, 
they  found  the  jug's  contents  in  good  condition,  and  the  man,  save  a 
few  contusions  on  the  head,  able  to  take  a  rational  view  of  the  situa- 
tion. After  a  mournful  glance  over  the  remains  of  his  tricycle,  he 
said:    "Boy.s,  that  was  a  narrow  escape,  let's  take  a  drink." 


Years  ago  Wabaun.see  county  had  an  oil  excitement.  The  party 
responsible  for  it  had  a  few  weeks  before  unearthed  a  bonanza  in  the 
way  of  an  ochre  bed  that  had  failed  to  meet  the  expectations  of  the 
finder.  Rut  the  prospect  for  oil  was  more  flattering.  In  this  case  the 
oil  was  to  be  seen  floating  on  the  surface  of  a  spring  from  which  the 
water  supply  for  the  family  was  wont  to  be  taken.  But  the  oil  float- 
ing on  the  surface  imparted  such  a  disagreeable  flavor  to  the  water 
that  it  was  no  longer  tit  for  drinking  purposes.  An  old  oil  expert  was 
called  in  and  when  he  stated  that  the  offensive  odor  was  a  peculiar 
property  of  coal  oil  in  its  crude  state  the  property  owner  was  more 
than  ever  convinced  that  he  had  a  bonanza  on  his  premises.  But 
further  investigation  by  the  expert  disclosed  the  source  of  the  offen- 
sive oil.  It  came  from  a  point  not  far  above  the  spring,  where  lay  the 
decaying  carcass  of  a  skunk.  And  thus  was  blighted  the  fond  hopes  of 
one  who  proved  to  be  the  innocent  victim  of  Wabaunsee  county's  first 
oil  excitement. 

But  another  oil  excitement  brought  better  results.  It  came  to 
the  people  of  Alma— in  a  well,  this  time.  The  water  tasted  so  strong 
of  coal  oil  that  nobody  could  drink  it.  The  suggestion  that  .some  joker 
had  poured  oil  into  the  newly  dug  well  was  unheeded.  One  wiseacre 
said  there  was  more  oil  in  that  well  than  in  all  the  houses  and  stores 
in  town.  The  news  spread  far  and  wide.  A  company  was  formed  and 
a  hole  was  bored  (iOO  feet  deep.  But  instead  of  coal  oil,  salt  was  found. 
Then  came  the  Alma  .salt  works  with  an  output  of  thirty  barrels  of 
prime  salt  a  day— an  industry  that  might  have  proven  a  very  large 
infant  and  it  all  grew  out  of  that  pint  of  coal  oil,  that,  in  a  joke,  Mr. 
Fred  Link  poured  into  the  well  he  was  digging  for  Mr.  John  Winkler. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


DR.  M.  F.  TRIVETT, 
Eskridge. 


JUDGE  THEODORE  S.  SPIELMAN, 
Alma. 


MR.  P.  L.  WOODY, 
Snokomo, 


MRS.  P.  L.  WOODY,  (deceased), 
Snokomo. 


J 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  S.  H.  FAIRFIELD,  Alma. 
Former  Register  of  Deeds,  and  County  Treas. 


MR.  C.  O.  KINNE,  P.  M.,  Alma. 
Former  County  Clerk. 


MR.  ROBERT  STROWIG,  Paxico. 
Former  County  Commissioner. 


MR.  DOW  BUSENBARK,  Editor  Eskridge  Stor. 
Former  County  Superintendent. 


EARLY  HISTOEY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  CHAS.  B.  HENDERSON,  Alma. 


MR.  ARTHUR  8.  ALLENDORPH,  Alma. 


MR.  J.  H.  JONES,  Pavilion. 
Former  County  Attorney,  and  Surveyor. 


MR.  B.  BUCHLI  (dec'd),  Alma. 
Former  County  Surveyor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  WYATT  ROUSH.  Alma. 
Clerk  District  Conrt. 


MR.  T.  J.  PERRY,  Alma. 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools. 


MR.  B.  BUCHLI,  Alma. 
County  Clerk. 


MR.  JOS.  LA  FONTAINE,  Alma. 
County  Treasurer. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Mr.  Feed  Frey    Sheriff,  Alma. 


Me.  Feank  Schmidt,  Under  Sheriff,  Alma. 


1 

p 

ii- 

^                ^^^^"^HI 

1 

ji^J 

Me.  Frank  Wiedemann,  Deputy  Sheriff,  Alma.        Me.  Feank  Clayton,  Deputy  Sheriff,  Alma. 

FRED  AND  THE  THREE  FRANKS. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JAMES  CARROLL, 
Alma. 


MB.  FRED.  A.  SEAMAN. 
County  Attorney,  Alma. 


MR.'.WILLIAM  DREBING  (deceased), 
Halifax. 


MR.  MICHAEL  HUND  (deceased), 
Newbury. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  J.  B.  FIELDS,  Alma. 


MR.  OSCAR  SCHMITZ,  Alma. 


MR.  P.  P.  SIMMONS,  Eskridge. 


MR.  H.  B.  CHANNEL,  Chalk. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  J.  W.  ROBERTSON,  Eskridge. 


MR.  MARK  PALMER,  Eskridge. 


MR.  WM.  T.  ECKLE3.  Eskridge. 


MR.  ROSS  Mccormick,  Aima. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN, 


^^v^|_^ 

a* 

MR.  ED.  CAMPBELL.  Eskridge. 


MR.  A.  T.  TAYLOR,  Eskridge. 


MR.  C.  C.  GARDINER,  Bradford. 


MR.  J.  J.  MITCHELL,  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  GEO.  S.  CONNELL, 
Paxico. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  CHAS.  BURGETT, 
Eskridge. 


MR.  JOHN  A.  HANKAMMER  (dec'd), 
Farmer  Township. 


MR.  ADAM  KRATZER  (dec'd). 
Hendricks  Creek. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        41 


[\  Just  Tribute  to  the  Gerrnans. 


Signal,  Jan.  2,  1892:  Our  German  residents,  who  are  engaged  in 
the  business  of  farming,  are  proverbially  thrifty  and  successful.  We 
were  led  to  reflect  upon  the  reason  for  this  recently  when  going 
through  a  comparatively  new  region  that  had  been  lately  settled  by 
them.  The  fields,  to  be  sure,  were  clean  and  well  cultivated,  but  not 
so  strikingly  different  from  others  in  this  respect  as  to  care  for  special 
comment;  but  every  farm  possessed  a  good  barn.  The  houses  were 
small,  and  cheap,  as  a  rule,  and  no  more  money  had  been  expended  on 
them  than  was  required  to  make  them  serve  the  stern  necessities  of 
life,  but  the  barns  were  large  and  substantial,  and,  what  is  more,  they 
were  utilized.  The  crops  were  housed  in  them,  and  not  left  exposed 
in  the  fields.  There  was  room  for  all  the  stock,  so  that  it  could  be 
kept  clean  and  comfortable.  We  presume  these  barns  had  been  built 
only  by  the  most  stringent  self-denial.  Perhaps  money  had  been  bor- 
rowed and  the  farm  mortgaged  to  do  it.  If  so,  it  was  the  part  of 
wisdom  for  it  is  just  as  true  that  a  good  barn  will  earn  double  the 
interest  on  the  cost  each  year  as  it  is  true  that  a  poor  farm  will  make 
a  poor  farmer. — Extract  from  an  Exchange. 

The  above  will  apply  to  the  situation  in  Wabaunsee  county  as  well 
as  anywhere.  The  foundation  for  the  thrift  that  is  characteristic  of 
our  German  residents  lies  in  the  fact  that  their  live  stock— the  great- 
est source  of  income  are  well  cared  for  and  comfortably  housed.  They 
are  not  f)f  that  class  of  farmers  who  sell  off  their  corn  in  the  fall  and 
the  hides  of  their  cattle  in  the  spring.  Though  the  above  was  writ- 
tea  years  ago  no  m)re  fitting  tribute  could  today  be  paid  our  thrifty 
-German  farmers,  who  have  done  more  than  their  .share  to  transform 
bleak  prairies  into  comfortable  homes  no  longer  typified  by  the  squalid 
structure  of  pioneer  days.  Thrift,  born  of  frugality,  is  evidenced  in 
the  substantial  stone  residence  or  frame  mansion,  that  compared  with 
the  former  liomes  of  our  people,  are  palatial  in  a[)poaraiice,  to  say 
nothing  of  their  comfortable  surroundings. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Ivansas  City  Star,  published  in  the 
Signal  a  few  weeks  subsequent  to  the  above  is  a  deserved  tribute  to 
our  German  fellow  citizens  that  we  feel  constrained  to  in.sert  here.  "In 
a  hasty  estimate  of  the  Germa!i  ciiaracter  as  developed  in  this  country 


42        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


It  may  bo  said  that  its  Icadiiifr  traits  are  honesty,  truthfulness,  thrift 
and  devulioii  to  home  and  fauiily.  Tlie  (icrman,  whether  as  an  em- 
ploye, in  business  for  himself,  or  in  tlie  pursuit  of  a  profession  or 
science,  is  a  steadfast  worker.  He  aims  always  at  a  competence,  but 
he  never  seeks  it  throuKli  devious  methods.  He  saves  his  money,  but 
he  does  not  cheat  himsolf  (»r  his  family  to  do  so.  His  home  is  always 
as  good  a  one  as  his  means  alford  without  extravagance.  His  family  is 
contented  and  happy  because  he  shares  with  his  wife  and  children  the 
fruits  of  his  labor.  He  has  a  high  idea  of  principle  and  is  earnest  and 
enthusiastic  in  his  advocacy  of  what  he  believes  to  be  right.  He  is  a 
good  citizen,  is  deferential  to  the  law,  tenacious  of  his  own  rights,  but 
tolerant  of  the  rights  of  others,  and  seeks  all  the  honest  comforts 
which  are  to  be  found  in  life  for  liimself,  his  family,  and  his  friends. 


rtow  the  Old  Pioneer  UVed. 


Prompted  either  by  verdancy,  or  a  proneness  to  ask  questions, 
inquiries  are  often  made  as  to  the  numerous  expedients  resorted  to  by 
the  old  pioneers  that  the  wolf,  hunger,  might  be  kept  at  bay. 

The  people  living  today  in  Wabaunsee  county  capable  of  giving  to 
the  questions  asked  answers  based  on  personal  observation  and  experi- 
ence are  few  in  number,  and  these  are  fast  passing  away. 

If  we  would  inform  ourselves  from  first  hands  the  time  is  oppor- 
tune and  the  occasion  pressing. 

Though  reluctant  to  review  the  hardships  of  the  early  days  there 
are  those  among  us  who  could  relate  incidents  that  would  impart  a 
Munchausen  flavor  to  the  recital  and  yet  be  as  worthy  of  credence  as 
gospel  truths. 

And  yet  these  seeming  hardships  were  not  without  their  compen- 
sations. But  a  little  reflection  suggests  the  doubt  as  to  the  existence 
of  any  greater  hardships  in  the  experience  of  the  old  pioneers  than 
have  characterized  the  lives  of  those  who  may  look  upon  their  own 
period  of  existence  as  golden  in  comparison.  If  the  viands  were  few 
the  appetite  was  good  and  digestion  was  never  impaired  by  partaking 
of  a  multiplicity  of  dishes,  some  of  the  ingredients  of  which  wouldn't 
pass  muster  before  a  board  delegated  to  examine  into  their  hygienic 
value. 

Modern  methods  and  scientific  research  have  but  evolved  such 
breakfast  delicacies  as  toasted   wheat   flake  from    that    which    the 


EARLY  HISTOkY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        43 

pioneer  housewife  still  regards  as  far  superior  — musli  and  milk— often 
with  the  milk  wanting.  The  modern  epicure  is  over  ready  to  extol 
the  merits  of  the  Mexican  tortilla  but  is  oblivious  to  tho  toothsome- 
ness  of  a  dish  of  parched  corn — and  yet  it  is  simply  a  case  of  "before" 
and  "after"  taking.  One  is  rendered  edible  before  grinding,  and  the 
other,  after  being  ground  in  a  Mexican  hand  mill.  But  our  fore- 
mothers  used  a  coffee  grinder  and  never  dreamed  that  the  product 
wasn't  palatable  and  wholesome  till  their  grandchildren  began  to 
enumerate  the  hardships  endured  by  the  old  settlers. 

These  same  granddames  never  dreamed  that  it  was  a  liardship  to 
wear  old  clothes,  when— there  were  no  callers,  or,  if  so,  all  met  on  a 
common  level— the  one  being  no  better  apparelled  than  the  other. 
But  those  who  would  withhold  their  approval  of  the  early-day  diet 
of  pumpkins  and  bread  might  well  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  some- 
times there  was  a  variation  in  the  bill  of  fare — often  the  bread  was 
lacking.  If  there  was  a  dearth  of  cream  to  render  the  dish  of  pump- 
kin more  palatable  there  was  no  gormandizing,  and,  perforce,  no 
dyspeptics — hence  no  doctors  needed,  and  the  services  of  no  under- 
taker in  demand. 

While  enumerating  the  hardships  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  old 
pioneers  don't  forget  the  absence  of  purse  proud  capitalists  with 
mortgages  to  foreclose,  hence  from  the  sheriff  or  constable  there  were 
no  unwelcome  calls,  or,  in  fact,  calls  from  officials— would  be— or  other- 
wise—except those  of  biennial  recurrence  characterized  by  a  periodical 
and  newly  excited  interest  in  the  health  of  the  youngest  baby,  or  the 
outlook  for  crops,  and — votes— and  the  latter,  merely  incidental. 

The  old  pioneer  will  tell  you  truly  that  there  were  no  hardships  in 
the  early  days  that  would  embitter  the  cup  of  happiness  as  do  the 
trials  of  today.  If  there  was  isolation,  there  was,  also,  contentment. 
If  of  luxuries  there  was  a  dearth,  no  canker  of  debt-worm  followed  in 
the  wake  of  the  few  that  were  the  more  heartily  enjoyed  by  reason  of 
that  scarcity. 

The  pioneer's  strong  arm  and  earnest  endeavor  laid  the  foundation 
upon  which  was  builded  the  happy  home— where,  in  later  years,  sur- 
rounded by  those  held  above  all  things  else  most  dear,  he  laid  himself 
down  to  rest.  When  the  last  of  his  kind  shall  have  been  gathered  to 
his  fathers  may  the  living  be  ever  mindful  that  he  left  no  legacy  that 
he  would  not  have  them  enjoy  to  the  full.  In  their  behalf  he  labored. 
For  them  he  passed  through  the  many  trying  ordeals  that  lay  in  his 
pathway. 

That  our  own  journey  through  life  might  be  all  the  more  enjoyable 
the  old  pioneer  endured  every  hardship  without  a  murmur.  He 
obeyed  uncomplainingly  the  Biblical  injunction  to  earn  his  daily  bread 


44        EA  RLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAHNOKE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


by  the  sweat  of  his  brow  a »iil  found  enjoyment  therein.  Let  us  emu- 
hito  liis  exaniplo;  ao  homajje  to  his  memory,  and  endeavor  to  enjoy 
with  him  his  reward  in  tliat  home  beyond  the  Grave. 


Our  Ftesources  and  Prospects. 


Of  resources  weliave: 

810  .square  miles  of  territory. 

A  desirable  climate  and  a  soil  of  unsurpas.sed  fertility. 

Well  tilled  farmsand  an  industrious,  energetic  people. 

A  plentiful  supply  of  good  water,  excellent  natural  roads  and  un- 
limited facilities  in  the  line  of  building  material. 

Good  health  for  all  and  ample  wealth  as  a  certain  reward  for  the 
frugal  and  progressive  people  of  every  class  who  choose  to  cast  their 
lot  with  us. 

As  to  our  prospects: 

Po.s.sessing  many  natural  advantages  and  having  but  few  draw- 
backs Wabaunsee  county  stands  second  to  none  as  a  desirable  location 
for  the  homeseeker.  Wiiile  fortunes  are  not  made  in  a  day  with  us 
there  is  in  store  for  the  honest,  industrious  and  deserving  a  life  of 
happiness,  contentment  and  prosperity. 

We  enter  here  no  appeal  for  an  influx  of  population.  We  speak  in 
the  interest  of  no  land  agent  or  syndicate.  Our  duty  is  simply  that  of 
a  recorder  of  facts  relating  to  the  past  and  the  present.  We  are  will- 
ing that  the  future  shall  take  care  of  itself,  believing  as  we  do  that  we 
have  a  future  and  such  a  one  as  can  but  be  based  on  a  solid  foundation. 

The  foundation  is  already  laid.  The  brawn  and  muscle  of  pioneers 
of  35  and  40  years  ago  begun  the  work  tluit  has  been  so  creditably 
carried  forward  by  their  successors.  There  is  no  lack  of  material  for 
the  completion  of  the  structure  and  we  have  no  fear  as  to  the  handi- 
work of  the  builders  of  the  future. 

Our  natural  resources  are  unsurpassed,  and  our  acquired  facilities 
are  unexcelled.    We  need  but  to  continue  what  has  already  begun. 

Right  here  we  are  reminded  of  a  remark  handed  down  by  one  of 
our  best  informed  (ierman  citizens  of  years  ago.  Tie  went  down  at 
Platte  Bridge  but  his  words  still  live. 

In  his  broken  English  the  Sebastian  Nehring  of  years  ago  said: 
"This  is  a  good  country— much  better  in  many  respects  than  the 
Fatherland.    Tlio  vino-clad  hills  of  the  old  country  are  not  so  rich  as 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        45 

the  rocky  hills  of  Wabaunsee  county.  Children  now  living  will  one  day 
see  these  hills  covered  with  the  vine  and  great  clusters  of  the  grape 
will  hang  pendant  on  the  hills  that  are  now  bare." 

And  Sebastian  Nehring  believed  in  that  which  will  ere  long  come 
true.  The  development  of  our  resources  may  be  less  nipid  than  he 
thought  but  it  will  come.  Look  back  ten  years  and  see  how  marked 
the  change.  Another  decade  farther  back  and  yet  more  marked  may 
be  seen  the  changes  time  has  wrought.  Ten  years  again  and  we  are 
lost.  No  school  houses,  and  churches,  none.  The  deer  and  the  ante- 
lope are  seen  on  our  hills  and  the  buffalo  is  not  far  away.  And  the 
Indian,  though  not  hostile,  his  presence  is  a  suggestion  of  danger  that 
is  not  all  a  myth. 

Forty  years  ago  the  log  cabin  was  the  rule  and  teams  of  oxen 
furnished  the  only  means  of  travel  and  freight  transportation. 

From  necessity  the  ways  of  the  people  were  primitive;  from  neces- 
sity they  were  compelled  to  resort  to  expedients  that  were  not  any  the 
more  agreeable  for  the  reason  that  their  adoption  was  not  a  matter  of 
choice. 

But  that  adversity  that  inarked  the  beginning  has  served  to  render 
the  homes  of  our  people  doubly  dear  to  tho.se  with  whose  lives  that 
adversity  is  entwined. 

The  dark  hours  of  the  past  are  illumined  by  the  brightness  of 
future  promise.  Now  and  then  there  may  be  a  halt.  Short  crops  may 
in  the  future  as  in  the  past  cause  anxious  borebodings,  but  the  dark 
clouds  will  disappear  and  the  failing  heart  will  be  imbued  with  new 
life  by  the  silver  lining  that  lay  hidden  beyond. 

With  the  past  we  have  successfully  battled.  That  a  bright  future 
is  in  store  for  us  we  mav  rest  assured. 


Janurary  4th  being  Saturday,  Mr.  Oliver  Smith,  teaching  in  the 
Thoes  district  concluded  to  go  to  Alma  and  as  it  was  very  cold  he 
thought  it  ivould  be  a  good  time  to  break  in  his  new  skates.  Being 
asked  as  to  the  thickness  of  the  ice,  he  said  he  found  one  place  where 
it  was  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  but  from  the  temperature  of 
the  water  below  the  prospect  for  four  foot  ice  was  good.  As  he  didn't 
break  through  any  place  where  the  ice  was  thick  he  could  give  no 
information  that  would  be  of  value  to  a  man  going  into  the  ice  busi- 
ness. The  point  where  he  broke  through  was  two  miles  from  town 
and  the  weather  being  of  the  zero  variety,  his  clothes  were  imme- 
diately frozen  stiff,  but  he  said  he  wasn't  a  bit  cold  till  he  got  to  the 
tire  and  the  water  began  dripping  from  his  wearing  apparel. 


40        EARLY  HISTORY  OK  W A  BAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


f\  Cheyenne  Raid. 


*.hme.{.  IStiS.  400 C'lieyennes  with  llieir  war  paint  on  came  swooping 
down  oil  Council  (Jrove.  There  was  a  big  scare  but  tlie  Cheyennes 
were  after  the  Kaws  instead  of  the  whites.  A  short  time  before  a 
Kaw  Indian  was  herding  the  ponies  belonging  to  the  tribe  when  8 
Clieyennes  put  in  their  appearance  and  after  killinti  the  lone  Indian 
drove  oti  tlie  ponies  he  was  lierciinj;. 

The  Clieyennes  then  attempted  to  drive  the  ponies  by  a  circuitous 
route  into  their  camp,  but  the  Kaws  had  witnessed  the  killing  from 
t!ie  top  of  a  hill  and  collecting  a  number  of  their  warriors  they  KMlled 
7  of  the  S  Clieyennes  and  captured  40  ponies  besides  retaking  their 
own  herd. 

The  Cheyennes  wanted  7  Kaw  scalps  and  40  ponies  but  after  skir- 
mishing awhile  among  the  hills  about  the  Grove  they  left  postponing 
the  settlement  of  the  scalp  account  to  some  future  time. 

The  same  year  the  Cheyennes  raided  the  farms  in  Marion  county, 
driving  otf  .some  stock  but  killing  none  of  the  settlers.  But  by  reason 
of  their  presence  many  families  slept  for  weeks  in  the  corn  fields, 
fearing  that  during  the  night  their  houses  would  be  burned  to  the 
ground. 


Signal,  March  19,  1892:  A  few  years  ago  a  bright  young  fellow  was 
working  as  a  farm  liand  for  Uncle  Henry  Schmitz.  But  his  aspirations 
were  in  another  direction.  He  attended  the  Agricultural  college  at 
Manhattan  and  afterwards  entered  the  ministry.  Among  the  appoint- 
ments made  at  the  M.  E.  Conference  we  notice  that  of  Rev.  Dan. 
Brummitt,  Maple  Hill.  liev.  Brummitt  and  tlie  young  farm  hand  are 
one  and  the  same,  and  our  knowledge  of  the  young  fellow  induces  the 
belief  on  our  part  that  the  people  of  Maple  Hill  will  have  no  cause  to 
regret  his  coming  among  them  by  reason  of  his  having  followed   the 

*One  of  our  youngest  county  otlicers,  Mr.  D.  U.  Millison,  distinctly 
reineml)ers  tliis  raid.  His  parents  resided  in  Council  Grove  at  the 
time,  and  though  but  a  boy  of  six  years  he  remembers  being  crowded 
into  a  place  of  safety  with  tlie  other  children  and  their  mothers  till 
the  scare  was  over. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        47 

plow.  Roger  Sherman  was  a  cobbler  and  yet  a  few  years  later  he  was 
an  honored  representative  of  the  people  at  the  National  capital;  the 
poet,  Whlttier,  was  a  farmer's  boy,  and  nothing  grieved  him  so  much 
on  leaving  the  old  homestead  as  the  parting  from  a  pair  of  favorite 
oxen  of  his  own  raising;  Henry  Clay  was  a  farmer's  boy  and  with  his 
rope  bridle  and  sack  of  corn  was  known  as  the  "Mill  boy  of  the 
Slashes;"  Daniel  Webster  was  another  farmer's  boy,  who  received  liis 
education  from  the  proceeds  of  a  mortgage  on  the  home  that  sheltered 
his  aged  parents,  but  in  after  years  when  he  electrified  the  nation 
with  his  eloquence,  no  one  honored  him  the  less  by  reason  of  his  former 
humble  avocation. 


"Wooh!" 


It  was  a  terrible  night  in  the  winter  of  '61.  The  winds  howled 
without  and  the  fine  particles  of  snow  sifted  through  the  clap-board 
roof  of  the  Michael  Fix  home  on  West  branch.  The  war  was  going  on 
and  Robert  was  away  in  the  army — having  enlisted  in  an  Indiana 
regiment,  while  one  of  the  brothers  was  with  Kit  Carson,  in  New 
Mexico. 

In  the  Fix  home  there  was  but  one  room  below  and  a  half  story 
above,  but  the  one  room  was  14x22— a  big  house  in  those  days.  There 
was  a  stove  at  one  end  and  a  huge  fireplace  at  the  other.  In  cold 
weather  it  was  the  custom  to  replenish  the  fiire  one  or  more  times 
during  the  night  and  when  Mother  Fix  awoke  the  smoldering  embers 
and  the  chilly  atmosphere  suggested  to  her  that  the  duty  of  rebuild- 
ing tlie  fire  had  been  too  long  delayed. 

There  was  a  pile  of  wood  in  the  corner  neaYby  and  she  would  get 
up  and  throw  on  a  few  sticks.  Michael  was  sound  asleep  and  it  would 
be  cruel  to  wake  him.  But  when  that  piercing  "Wooh!"  broke  the 
stillness  of  the  night  Michael's  snoring  ceased  and  he  sat  bolt  upright 
in  bed,  asking  in  a  tone  of  anxiety:    "What's  the  matter?" 

But  the  faint,  flickering  light  from  the  burning  embers  told  the 
story.  Prone  on  the  floor  lay  a  score  of  Indians— of  all  ages  and  both 
sexes.  On  one  of  these  the  feet  of  Mrs.  Fix  had  rested  in  getting  up 
to  rebuild  the  fire.  But  a  familiar  voice  answered  Mr.  Fix's  question. 
"No  hurtee.    Indians  cold.    Heap  storm  outside." 

A  band  of  twenty  Pottawatomies  had  been  camped  down  by  the 
creek  (where  the  mill  was  built  in  1872)  and  the  storm  of  wind  and 


43        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


snow  had  driven  them  (ni(  of  tlicir  hastily  constructed  wijjwains. 
Many  cold  nijfhts  before  they  liad  enjoyed  a  good  nap,  wrapped  in 
their  l)lankct.s  before  lliehujic  lireplaee  in  the  Fix  cabin  and  wlien  llie 
storm  burst  upon  them  they  didn't  wait  for  an  invitation  locall  a^ain 
—even  at  an  unseemly  hour.  There  was  no  lock  on  the  door  and  the 
hitch-string  was  out— why  awaken  their  pale-face  friends  from  tlieir 
slumber? 

Thus  the  Indians  had  reasoned.  Tlicy  had  fur  years  looked  upon 
the  old  mill-site  almost  as  their  own.  With  each  returning  winter 
came  the  same  band  of  Indians,  always  camping  near  the  spot  where 
t  he  mil!  stood  later  on. 

Tile  Indians  had  many  1  inies  eaten  a  hearty  meal  in  the  Fi.v  home. 
but  they  were  not  beggars,  l)y  any  nie;ins.  Many  a  saddle  of  vcnisnn 
had  been  brought  to  the  Fix  cabin  to  partly  compensate  theii'  friends 
for  the  many  kindnesses  shown. 

In  the  hills  on  West  branch  there  were  many  deer  in  those  days 
and  Mr.  I'ix  was  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  ritles  in  the  country— 
that  the  visiting  Indians  never  failed  to  borrow  on  their  annual 
return  to  their  favorite  liunting  grounds.  In  the  breech  of  the  rifle 
was  a  compass— that  greatly  enhanced  its  value  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Indian  hunters  and  sometimes  when  tlie  Pottawatomies  would  go  on  a 
raid  in  the  Pawnee  country  for  ponies,  or  on  a  butTalo  hunt,  the  gun- 
hooks  in  the  Fix  home  would  be  unused  for  months  in  succession. 
But  the  gun  was  always  returned- -and  with  it  a  goodly  supply  of 
buffalo  meat  for  the  owner. 

That  I)and  of  Pottawatomies  long  ago  encamped  for  the  last  time 
on  the  old  mill-site  but  the  incident  of  that  stormy  night  in  the 
winter  of  l<S(jl  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  Fix  family— the  time 
when  (rrosmutter  said— "Woohl"' 


No  history  of  Wabaun.see  county  written  and  published  at  this 
time  would  be  complete  without  mention  of  the  fact  that  the 
researches  and  explorations  of  the  eminent  explorer  and  archaeologist. 
.r,  V.  Brower,  now  definitely  locates  the  province  of  Quivira.  which 
Coronado  with  his  thirty  horsemen  explored  in  1541  between  Walnut 
creek  village  site  in  Barton  county  and  the  village  sites  on  Deep 
creek  and  at  the  heads  of  the  West  branch  of  Mill  creek  in  Riley  and 
Waljaunsce  counties.  Mr.  Brower  has  published  two  works,  "Quivira" 
and  "Ilarahey"  in  which  the  earliest  history  jof  part  of  Wabaun.see 
county  has  been  written,  and  has  placed  in  the  Minnesota  Historical 
Society  Museum  such  conclusive  evidence  from  an  archaeologic  and 
historical  view  that  bis  conclusions  are  likely  to  be  accepted  by  the 
Scientific  World. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        49 


No  Iron  Hrorse,  Then. 


But  there  were  meals  at  all  hours,  nevertheless.  At  least,  so  it 
seemed,  to  Mr.  S.  H.  Fairfield  in  1860— the  first  night  he  ever  slept  on 
the  present  site  of  McFarland.  He  was  the  guest  of  Old  She-Kah-Za, 
a  big  chief  of  the  Pottawatomies. 

The  old  chief  made  him  a  comfortable  bed  of  mats  and  soft-tanned 
buflfalo  robes  served  as  covering.  But  Mr.  Fairfield's  sleep  wasn't  as 
sound  as  it  miglit  have  been.  Plumed  warriors  in  their  war  paint  and 
feathers  were  passing  all  night  and  She-Kah-Za,  being  one  of  the  head 
councilmen  of  the  Pottawatomies,  had  a  right  to  know  the  outcome 
of  their  raid  against  their  old-time  enemies — the  Pawnees— from 
which  the  war  parties  were  just  returning. 

If  the  number  of  extra  ponies  they  had  brought  back  and  the  gen- 
eral good  feeling  tliat  prevailed  were  indications  of  that  success 
attendant  on  the  expedition  then  no  further  evidence  was  wanting. 
The  old  chief  would  get  up  and  smoke  with  every  party  that  called 
and  in  every  case,  refreshments,  consisting  of  jerked  buffalo  meat, 
dried  venison  and  boiled  pumpkin  were  set  before  the  nocturnal 
visitors. 

With  much  gesticulation  the  warriors  would  relate  the  stirring 
events  that  transpired  while  raiding  the  Pawnee  villages,  and  the 
newly  kindled  fire  in  tlie  old  chief's  eyes  plainly  indicated  that  old- 
time  reminiscences  were  recalled  and  that,  in  spirit  at  least,  he  was 
fighting  over  again  the  battles  wherein  tlie  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife  played  a  prominent  part. 

Althougli  Old  She-Kah-Za  lived  in  a  bark  wigwam  he  was  well 
fixed  and  one  of  the  most  influential  members  of  the  Pottawatomie 
nation.  But  tlie  old  warrior  was  long  ago  laid  to  rest,  and  though 
miraculous  were  the  many  changes  time  had  wrought  in  his  eventful 
career  he  never  dreamed  that  in  less  than  half  a  century  the  shrill 
neigh  of  the  iron  horse  would  be  heard  where  the  tom-tom  had  so 
often  called  together  the  warriors  of  his  tribe. 

The  thousands  of  travelers  who  daily  pass  through  on  the  Rock 
Island  could  hardly  be  convinced  that  less  than  half  a  century  ago  the 
bark  wigwam  of  an  Indian  chief  was  the  most  conspicuous  object,  and 
the  most  frequented  resort,  of  all  the  country  around  about  the  pres- 
ent city  of  McFarland. 


50        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Odds  and  E.nds. 


T)r.  E.  B.  Allen,  wlio  was  :ifl('r\v;iids  secretary  of  state  once  lived 
at  Wabaunsee.  He  bou^^ht  school  land  at  $3.00  an  acre  on  lont?  time, 
and  planted  the  grove  on  the  Jos.  LaFontaine  place.  Like  his 
neighbors  he  was  poor  in  everything  but  hope  and  future  prospects. 
He  used  a  box  for  a  table,  tin  plates  for  dishes,  and  three  legged  stools 
served  the  purpose  of  chairs.  But  Mi.ss  Mary  Garrison,  who  taught 
the  first  term  of  school  in  Dist.  No.  5,  in  1860,  took  pity  on  his  lonely 
condition  and  shared  with  liim  his  log  cabin  home'  at  Wabaunsee. 
They  afterwards  nK)ved  to  Wichita,  where  fortune  and  otticial  lionors 
smiled  on  one  of  our  old  citizens  of  pioneer  days. 


Old  residents  of  Wabaunsee  township  have  a  vivid  recollection  of 
one  of  tlieir  number,  who,  in  1859,  took  all  his  belongings  and  with  his 
estimable  wife,  journeyed  to  Pike's  Peak  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  oxen. 
But  the  wagon  was  a  neighbor's,  who  went  with  him  to  share  his 
fortunes  in  the  placer  diggings  of  California  Gulch.  A  fork  of  a  tree 
with  standards  titted  into  two-inch  augur  holes  answered  the  purpose 
of  a  wagon.  This  would  glide  over  the  prairie  gra.ss  as  smoothly  as  a 
sled  over  the  snow— a  fact  that  could  be  attested  to  by  many  of  the  old 
settlers,  no  better  Hxed,  tinancially,  than  the  man  wlio  afterwards 
went  to  the  U.  S.  Senate  from  Colorado.  Mount  Tabor  was  named  for 
the  man  who  selected  his  claim  near  the  ba.se  of  that  old  land  mark. 
His  old  time  friends  regret  their  former  neighbor's  actif»n  in  casting 
aside  the  wife  of  former  years— whose  bounty  his  straightened  cir- 
cumstances compelled  him  to  accept  later  on,  but  the  incident  is 
valuable  to  those  who  miglit  otherwise  envy  the  lot  of  one  to  whom 
fickle  fortune  proved  a  delusion  and  a  snare.  The  les.son  of  the  old 
pioneer's  life  serves  a  good  purpose— teaching  those  who  may  be 
envious  of  others  holding  otticial  place,  or,  seemingly  more  fortunate 
financially,  that  a  senatorial  toga  or  the  possession  of  riches,  isn't  an 
essential  element  in  insuring  one  of  the  most  desirable  of  earthly  con- 
ditions—that of  unalloyed  happiness.    Though  that  grub-stake  may 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        51 

have  brought  millions  to  the  owner  of  that  little  store  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Colorado  the  poor  miner  left  with  but  a  pittance  to  send  home 
to  wife  and  family  saw  more  of  true  happiness  in  a  day  than  was 
enjoyed  by  Senator  Tabor  in  a  life  time— an  excellent  argument  to 
induce  the  wayward  boys  to  "stick  to  the  farm." 


In  1858,  Mr.  Robert  Fix  followed  the  example  of  many  of  his 
neighbors  by  going  on  a  buffalo  hunt.  He  found  plenty  of  buffalo  on 
the  Smoky  Hill,  twenty  miles  west  of  Salina.  The  pioneers  may  have 
seen  hard  times  but  there  are  scores  of  boys  living  in  Wabaunsee 
county  today  who  would  risk  being  scalped  by  the  Indians  for  the 
privilege  of  going  on  a  buffalo  hunt.  But  in  those  days  there  were 
some  drawbacks  for  those  who  were  absent  for  several  weeks  that  the 
larder  might  be  replenished.  The  married  man  of  the  hunting  party 
couldn't  call  up  the  young  wife  by  telephone  and  ask:  "How  is  the 
baby."  And  the  young  men  of  today  with  the  bare  suspicion  of  a 
mustache  shading  the  upper  lip  might  have  enjoyed  the  trip,  but  to  be 
completely  cut  off  from  all  communication  with  the  girl  he  left  behind 
him  might  have  altered  the  case.  Then,  there  was  the  danger  of  his 
esteemed  rival's  taking  advantage  of  the  situation  during  his  three 
weeks  absence.  These  are  the  fellows,  who,  today,  more  than  others 
realize  the  fact  that  the  hard  times  said  to  have  been  experienced  by 
the  old  settlers  were  not  all  a  myth. 


The  value  of  the  work  of  our  local  pliotographers  as  an  auxiliary 
factor  in  presenting  our  readers  and  those  who  will  come  after  us  with 
true  and  life  like  representations  of  scenes  and  faces  cannot  be  over- 
estimated. But  the  photographer  of  the  present  can  well  afford  to 
divide  the  honors  with  the  traveling  artist  of  the  past.  With  un- 
bounded delight  do  we  scan  the  lineaments  of  those  most  dear  to  us — 
made  possible  by  the  old  time  photographers  advent  among  us  even  in 
advance  of  other  civilizing  influences.  While  crossing  the  plains  in 
1862  we  distinctly  remember  that  at  the  crossing  of  the  Little  Arkan- 
sas, on  the  Old  Santa  Fe  Trail,  one  of  these  traveling  artists  was 
encamped— going  where,  it  is  hard  to  tell,  but  maybe  he  knew.  Be- 
sides being  of  an  adventurous  spirit  he  was  accomodating  as  well. 
With  what  patience  did  lie  upset  the  contents  of  box  after  box  in  his 
search  for— well,  it  doesn't  matter.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  when  -we 
returned  to  our  camp  we  were  well  satisfied  with  our  trip.  That  was 
forty  years  ago  next  July  and  we  have  often  wondered  where  on  earth 
that  clever  old  man  was  going  with  his  tripod  and  camera,  and  what 


52        EARLY  HISTORY  OB^  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


he  was  doiiijf  away  out  there  on  the  Little  Arkansas.  But  it  doesn't 
seem  so  far  away  now.  Maybe  lie  was  taking  sketches  of  the  immense 
herds  of  buffalo  tliat  were  never  out  of  sifjht  in  the  sixties,  or  of  the 
bands  of  Indians,  whose  presence  wasn't  always  agreeable  to  the  men 
and  l)(>ys  who  always  enjoyed  life  on  the  plains  better  when  the  red- 
skins were  out  of  sight.  It  was  a  case  wherein  distance  lent  enchant- 
ment to  the  view. 


Coronado's  C;,xpedition. 


Although  Wabaunsee  county  doesn't  claim  the  honor  of  being 
directly  on  the  line  of  march  taken  by  the  adventurous  Spaniard,  but, 
undoubtedly,  hunting  parties  belonging  to  the  expedition  in  search  of 
game  traversed  the  fertile  valleys  of  Mill  Creek. 

The  route  of  the  expedition  lay  through  the  counties  of  Barber, 
Kingman,  Reno,  Harvey,  McPhei-son,  Marion,  Dickin.son,  Davi.s, 
Riley.  Pottawatomie,  Nemaha,  and  Atchison,  to  the  Missouri  river, 
thence  down  the  Mis.souri  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kaw,  thence  westerly 
on  the  northern  bank  to  the  North  fork  of  the  Smoky  Hill,  up  the 
Smoky  Hill  to  Big  Creek,  and  thence  South  to  the  Arkansas. 

•  It  is  just  362  years  since  Coronado  with  300  Spaniards  and  800 
natives  started  from  a  point  in  the  Northern  part  of  Mexico  to  find 
the  famed  seven  cities  of  Cibola. 

After  traveling  700  miles  in  a  north-east  direction  from  the  Rio 
Grande  they  arrived  at  the  Arkansas.  Their  supply  of  provisions 
running  short,  the  main  army,  commanded  by  a  subordinate  officer  re- 
turned to  the  Rio  Grande,  while  Coronado  with  30  horsemen  and  6  foot- 
soldiers  marched  further  on. 

When  a  half  million  dollars  had  been  expended  the  Indian  guide 
confessed,  at  the  cost  of  his  life,  that  the  fabulous  stories  told  of  the 
wealth  of  the  great  country  of  Quivira  were  conceived  in  order  to 
lure  the  Spaniards  to  destruction,  that  their  people  might  live  in  the 
enjoyment  of  life  and  happiness  in  their  homes  in  the  Land  of  the 
Aztec. 


¥ 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


OUR  COUNTY  AND  SCHOOLS,  18S6. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  CODNTY,  KAN.        63 


Our  Schools. 


DISTRICT  ORGANIZATION. 

District  1  was  formed  October  4,  1859;  comprised  the  whole  of 
Wabaunsee  township.  First  board  of  directors;  Joshua  Snlith,  Geo. 
A.  Dibble  and  Enoch  Piatt  Formed  by  .I.E.  Piatt,  county  superin- 
tendent. 

District  2  was  formed  October  15,  1859,  with  the  following  board 
of  directors:  S.  A.  Baldwin,  W.  F.  Cotton  and  Joshua  Smith— the 
latter  resigning  in  district  1  on  account,  of  change  of  boundaries.  L.  A. 
Parker  was  appointed  to  till  the  vacancy  in  district,  1.  J'ormed  by  J. 
E.  Piatt,  county  superintendent. 

District  3  was  formed  February  17,  1862,  with  A.  C.  Tucker,  A.  W. 
Gregory  and  T  D.  Rose,  directors.  J.  H.  Gould,  county  superinten- 
dent.   First  meeting  March  4  at  Volney  Love's. 

Note.  Prior  to  August  19,  1862,  school  districts  were  numbered 
by  townships.  On  that  date  the  districts  were  renumbered  as  follows: 
District  1  was  district  I,  Wabaunsee  township:  district  2  v\as  district 
2,  Wabaunsee  townsliip,  district  3  was  district 3,  Wabaunsee  township: 
district  4  was  district  I,  Mission  Creek  township:  district  5  was  district 
2,  Mission  Creek  township;  district  6  was  district  1,  Zeandale  township; 
district  7  was  district  2,  Zeandale  townsliip:  district  8  was  districts  1 
and  2,  Alma  township;  district  9  was  district  3,  Alma  township:  dis- 
trict 10  was  in  Alma  township:  district  11  was  distiict  1.  Wilming- 
ton township:  district  12  was  district  2,  AVilmington  township:  district 
13  was  district  1,  Elm  Creek;  district  14was  in  Alma  township:  district 
15  was  in  Mission  Creek  (Dover)  township. 

District  4  was  organized  by  J.  E.  Piatt,  county  superintendent. 
S.  E.  Beach  was  elected  clerk  and  D.  M.  Johnston  treasurer.  (No 
director  named  in  record.) 

District  5,  organized  March,  1860,  with  S.  E.  Beach,  W.  K.  Beach 
and  H.  .1.  Loomis,  as  directors;  J.  H.  Gould,  county  superintendent. 

District  6  was  district  15  (the  original  No.  6  being  in  Zeandale 
toivnsliip).     The  number  was  changed  to  6  in  1^71.  S.  F    Ross,  Anson 


:V»        EAKLV  II ISTOKY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Ed(iy  and  Orson  Frizzle  first  district  board.    J.  H.  Gould   was  coiiniy 
suptTinli'iidiMil. 

I>isl  rict  7  was  or^^ani/cd  Marcli  7.  1874.  (The  original  No.  7  wa.s 
dciac-Iu'd  wit!)  Zraiidalo  township.)  ']"lic  lirst  meeting  was  held  at  the 
ludise  of  .John  Shaw.  March  2().  W.  S  McC'orniick  was  county  super- 
intendent. 

District  8  was  formed  by  uniting  Nos.  1  and  2.  Alma  township. 
Number  changed  August  11>,  lS(i2.  No.  1  was  formed  November  9, 
l.s(JO:  C  Zwanziger.  clerk,  and  Franz  Schmidt,  treasurer:  J.  fl  Gould, 
county  superintendent. 

Uistrict  2  was  formed  November  14.  1860,  with  John  Spieker, 
director,  Anton  Schewe,  clerk,  and  Wm  Drebing,  treasurer;  J .  IT 
Gould,  county  superintendent. 

District  9  (No.  3,  Alma  township)  was  formed  April  23,  1862,  J.  II. 
Gould,  county  superintendent.  Edward  Hoffman  was  director,  ITeniy 
Volland,  treasurer,  and  E.  L.  Lewis,  clerk. 

District  10  was  formed  in  1862  by  J.  H.  Gould,  county  superinten- 
dent. First  otlicers:  Rudolph  Arndt,  director,  Chas.  Lehmberg, 
clerk:  Karl  Kopke,  treasurer. 

District  II  was  formed  June  11,  1861.  (This  was  district  1,  of 
Wilmington  township.)  H.  S.  Faunce,  director,  H.  D.  Shepard,  clerk, 
and  Samuel  Cripps,  treasurer;  J.  H.  Gould,  county  superintendent. 

District  12  was  formed  by  J.  H.  Gould,  county  superintendent, 
September  4,  1861.  John  Garringer  was  director,  Isaiah  Harris,  clerk 
and  James  E.  Johnson,  treasurer. 

District  13  (No.  1,  Elm  Creek),  organized  by  J.  II.  Gould,  county 
superintendent,  February  3,  1862;  Wm.  Eldred,  director,  P.  A.  Green, 
clerk,  and  Uriah  Sanner,  treasurer. 

District  14,  organized  November  8,  1862,  by  J.  II.  Gould,  county 
superintendent;  Joseph  True,  director,  John  Hess,  treasurer,  and 
John  Copp,  clerk;  first  meeting  November  8,  1862. 

District  15— March  10,  1872;  AV.  F.  Cotton,  county  superintendent: 
first  meeting  March  28. 

District  15  (joint),  organized  by  J.  H.  Gould,  county  superinten- 
dent, April  23,  1863;  John  Sage,  director,  Henry  Read,  treasurer,  and 
Jacob  Haskell,  clerk. 

District  16,  formed  January  19,  1865,  of  parts  of  districts  3,  8,  9,  by 
Isaiah  Harris,  county  superintendent;  John  Mahan,  director,  Franz 
Schmidt,  treasurer,  G,  Zwanziger,  clerk.  The  children  of  school  age 
numbered  14,  as  follows:  G.  Zwanziger,  3,  John  Mahan,  2,  Franz 
Schmidt,  1,  Phillip  Litz,  4,  Fred  Palenske,  4.  In  the  distribution  of 
school  property  the  new  districts  were  assessed  in  amounts  as  follows: 
From  district  9,  $I.12i:  from  district  3,  $5.80;  from  district  8,  $70.87. 

District  17,  formed  March  30,  1874.  "  First  meeting  was  held  at  the 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUKSEE  COUNTY,  KAJS.        55 

home  of  Francis  Meier,  April  11:  W.  S.  McCormick,  county  superin- 
tendent. 

XoTE.  A  district  numbered  17  was  formed  by  Isaiah  Harris, 
county  superintendent,  August  23, 1836,  of  territory  in  the  northern 
part  of  Mission  Creek  township  (now  Maple  Hill).  P'irst  directors  were 
Reuben  Haas,  James  L.  "Wightman  and  R.  H.  Waterman. 

District  18,  formed  in  1867  by  Isaiah  Harris,  county  superinten- 
dent:  Geo.  Schade,  Wm.  Home  and  Samuel  Thackery,  first  board  of 
directors. 

District  19,  formed  April  16,  1874:  first  meeting  at  house  of  J.  L. 
Muehlenbacher,  May  7:  W.  S.  McCormick,  county  superintendent. 

District  20:  date  of  petition  December  23,  1867:  first  officers,  Wm. 
.M,cCormick,  C.  I).  Carpenter  and  W.  H.  Earle:  Isaiah  Harris,  county 
superintendent;  first  meeting  March  31,  1863. 

District  21,  date  of  petition,  December  27,  1867:  first  officers,  Thos. 
Barker,  John  Nevins,  E.  K.  Drake;  Isaiah  Harris,  county  superinten- 
dent. 

District  22,  formed  January,  1868,  by  Isaiah  Harris,  county  super- 
intendent; first  officers,  J.  M.  Bisbey,  H.  A.  Stiles,  L.  C.  Keyes. 

District  23,  formed  May  3,  1867;  first  officers,  J.  C.  Goldsberry,  Wm. 
Exori  and  Geo.  Yannatta;  Isaiah  Harris,  county  superintendent. 

(District  24  in  Zeandale  township,  by  Isaiah  Harris,  county  super- 
intendent.) 

District  24,  organized  in  1869;  Isaiah  Harris,  county  superinten- 
dent. 

District  25  was  formed  April  18,  1874;  first  meeting  held  at  house 
of  .VI.  K.  Anderson:  W.  S.  McCormick,  county  superintendent. 

District  27,  organized  February  17,  1860;  W.  D.  Ely.  Joseph  Hughes 
and  Enoch  Colton,  first  officers:  T.  VI.  Allen,   county  superintendent. 

District  28.  formed  in  1870:  Robert  McMaster,  ('has  Owen  and 
John  Barnell,  first  officers;  T.  M.  Allen,  county  superintendent. 

District  29,  organized  1870  by  T.  M.  Allen,  county  superintendent; 
first  officers,  Wm.  Ely,  C.  D.  Carpenter  and  Samuel  Gunsalus. 

District  30.  organized  1870:  T.  M.  Allen,  county  superintendent;  J. 
H.  Stubbs,  Elizabeth  Stubbs  and  Ephraim  Elliott,  Hrst  board. 

District  31,  formed  .June  20,  1870;  first  meeting  at  C.  C.  Stalker's, 
July  7,  1870:  T.  M.  Allen,  county  superintendent. 

District  32,  1870,  T.  M.  Allen,  county  superintendent;  James Bur- 
goyne,  Sam  Sutton  and  Thos.  C.  Finney  first  district  board 

District  33,  organized  January  27,  1871.  by  R.  M.  Tunnell,  county 
superintendent;  M.  McVVilliams,  J.  R.  Gross  and  Geo.  F  Duroy,  first 
district  board. 

District  34,  organized  March  7,  1m71,  by  R  M.  Tunnell,  county 
superintendent;  first  board,  J.  C  P.  Malone,  Thrss.  Paxton  and  Geo. 

/ 


nU       EAKLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RaiiH'. 

District  35,  or^'anized  April  7.  1871:  first  meeting  April  22;  by  R. 
M. 'ruiiiicll,  county  superintendent:  C.  S.  Nicely,  O.  Keunzli  and  H. 
llanstm.  tirst  board. 

District  ;JG.  ort,^anized  April  7,  1:571:  tirst  meeting  April  22;  Eli 
Samson,  C.  M.  Trueblood  and  Eli  Trueblood,  first  board:  R.  M.  Tun- 
nel], county  superintendent. 

District  37,  or^Mnizcd  lR7i:  K.  M.  Tuiinell.  county  superintendent. 

District  38,  organized  July  10,  1871;  first  meeting  July  28;  R.  M. 
Tunnell  county  superintendent. 

District  39,  established  January  1,  1872:  W.  F.  Cotton,  county 
superintendent:  first  meeting  January  16. 

District 40,  organized  April  23,  1872;  W.  F.  Cotton,  county  superin- 
tendent. 

District  41,  June,  1872;  W.  F.  Cotton,  county  superintendent;  first 
meeting  July  8. 

District  42,  July  27,  1872;  W.  F.  Cotton,  county  superintendent. 

District  30,  1872;  W.  F.  Cotton,  county  superintendent. 

District  43,  organized  March  13,  1873;  tirst  meeting  at  house  of  S. 
S.  Walkley:  W.  S.  McCormick,  county  superintendent. 

District  44,  formed  March  18,  1873,  by  W.  S.  McCormick.  county 
superintendent;  first  meeting  at  Chas.  North's,  April  19. 

District  45,  formed  March  17,  1873,  by  W.  S.  McCormick,  county 
superintendent;  first  meeting  at  Herman  Mueller's,  April  19. 

District  36,  formed  March  31,  1873,  by  W.  S.  McCormick,  county 
superintendent;  first  meeting  at  J.  H.  Durham's  April  30. 

District  47,  formed  by  W.  S.  McCormick,  county  superintendent, 
Jnne23,  1873;  first  meeting  at  J.  M.  Brown's  July,  1873. 

Districts  48,  49,  50,  formed  June  23,  1874;  officers  of  48,  P.  Reding, 
A.  J.  Van  Syckle  and  Henry  Ronneau;  first  meeting  held  August  13; 
W.  S.  McCormick,  county  superintendent. 

District  51  was  formed  in  1874  by  W.  S.  McCormick,  county  super- 
intendent; first  officers,  J.  D.  Tabor,  J.  P.  Gleich  and  A.  Thowe,  sr. 

District  52  was  formed  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  voters  on 
July  15.  1876,  by  the  election  of  T.  Ronsse,  director,  T.  D.  Allison, 
clerk,  and  Michael  Sweeney,  treasurer;  "W.  E.  Richey,  county  super- 
intendent. 

District  53  was  formed  February  19,  1878,  by  W.  E.  Richey,  county 
superintendent. 

District  54  was  formed  July  13,  1878,  by  W.  E.  Richey,  county 
superintendent;  first  meeting  at  house  of  C.  J.  Malone  August  8. 

District  55,  first  meeting  July  13,  1878,  by  W.  E.  Richey,  county 
superintendent. 

District  56  was  formed  in  1878  by  W.   E.   Richey,  county  superin- 


EARLY  TIISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAK.        57 

tendent 

Districts  57  to  82,  inclusive,  and  joint  district  85  were  formed  by 
Matt  Thomson,  county  superintendent,  as  follows:  57,  first  meeting 
held  April  22,  1879:  58,  first  meeting  held  July  19,  1879;  59,  first  meeting 
held  September  6,  1876:60,  first  meeting  held  April  2,  1881;  61,  first 
meeting  held  April  16,  1881:62,  first  meeting  held  June  10,  1881;  63, 
first  meeting,  August  11,  1881;  64,  first  meeting,  October  18,  1882;  65, 
first  meeting,  March  10,  1883;  66,  first  meeting,  June  16,  1883;  67,  first 
meeting.  July  26,  1884:  68,  first  meeting,  September  29,  1884;  69,  first 
meeting.  September  29,  1834;  70,  first  meeting,  September  10,  1884;  71, 
first  meeting,  July  6,  1885:  72,  first  meeting,  July  13,  1885;  73,  first  meet- 
ing July  18,  1885;  74,  first  meeting,  July  18,  1885;  75,  first  meeting,  July 
18,  1885:76,  first  meeting,  August  18,  1885:77,  July  10,  1886;  78,  first 
meeting,  July  17,  18'<6;  79,  first  meeting,  August  12,  1886;  80,  first  meet- 
ing, August  12,  1886:81,  formed  September  10,  1887;  82,  first  meeting, 
April  7,  1888;  joint  85,  first  meeting,  June  12,  188S:  joint  100,  first  meet- 
ing, August  24,  1889,  W  W.  Ramey,  county  superintendent:  83,  first 
meeting,  July  26,  1890,  W.  W.  Ramey,  county  superintendent;  84,  first 
meeting,  July  24,  1890,  W.  W.  Ramey,  county  superintendent:  85,  first 
meeting,  July  18,  1893,  G.  L.  Clothier,  county  superintendent:  86.  first 
meeting,  July  27,  1893,  G.  L.  Clothier,  county  superintendent;  87,  first 
meeting,  October  5,  1893,  G.  L.  Clothier,  county  superintendent;  88,  first 
meeting,  September  12,  1895,  C.  C.  Carter,  county  superintendent. 

SCHOOL   NOTES. 

The  first  school  in  Wabaunsee  county  was  taught  by  Miss  M.  H. 
Cotton  (  VI rs.  J.  T.  Genn)  in  the  town  of  Wabaunsee  in  the  house  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  A.  J.  Bownam  as  a  residence.  The  house  was  built  for  a 
church.  The  size  of  the  original  structure  was  14x20.  Miss  Cotton 
boarded  with  a  family  living  in  a  sod  house  with  a  canvass  roof.  The 
size  of  this  house  was  12x14. 

The  first  school  house  in  district  3  was  of  logs  and  was  built  in 
1862,  size  of  building  12x16.  It  was  located  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
northwest  of  Mr.  C.  D.  Beans  residence.  This  was  replaced  by  the 
stone  building  (afterwards  abandoned  on  account  of  the  cracked  walls) 
in  1875.  Miss  Milda  Gillespie  taught  the  first  school  in  the  district. 
Miss  Jennette  Rose  taught  in  1863  for  $8  per  month,  A.  W.  Gregory, 
district  clerk. 

The  first  school  in  district  4  was  taught  in  1860  by  Miss  Anna 
Keyes;  wages  $4  50  per  week.  The  building  was  14x18  feet  and  after- 
wards moved  to  the  farm  of  Mr.  A.  F.  Wade  and  used  as  a  corn  crib. 

The  first  school  in  district  5  was  taught  in  I860  by  Miss  Mary  Gar- 


58        EAliLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSKE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

'—    "   -  ■  ■"         ■  —  .-■■-  ■-      I     ■  ■  ''  ~ 

rison  in  a  lonhoiise  14xlf),  located  on  tlic  farm  since  owned  by  Mr. 
(Jeor^'c  liarnes.  Four  dollars  a  week  was  the  wages  paid.  Miss  (Jarri- 
sou  was  afterwards  married  to  Dr.  Allen,  secretary  of  state. 

The  first  school  in  district  6  was  taught  by  S.  II,  Wellingham  in 
18S7,  in  a  log  house  12x14,  located  just  across  the  road  from  the  stone 
building  since  used  for  school  purposes;  wages  $20  per  month. 

The  tlrst  school  in  district  8  was  taught  by  G.  B.  Woostrow,  w^ho 
received  for  his  services  $15  per  month.  The  school  house  was  of  logs 
and  for  the  time,  one  of  the  best  .school  houses  in  the  county.  The 
building  was  valued  at  $200  and  was  located  about  200  yards  southwest 
of  the  present  site,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Peter  Thoes. 

The  first  school  house  in  district  9  was  built  of  shakes  or  clap- 
boards and  located  on  the  farm  of  William  Kreig,  now  owned  by 
Henry  lleuter.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  1862  by  Miss  Emma 
Bisbey:  wages  $8  per  month;  .size  of  building  14x16 

Mr.  Carl  Berner  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in  district  10  (Tem- 
pling in  1865,  receiving  $15  per  month.  The  house  was  of  logs  and 
although  the  district  was  formed  in  1864,  the  school  house  was  not 
built  till  the  year  following,  for  the  reason  assigned  by  the  clerk  in 
his  report  to  the  county  superintendent:  "Owing  to  the  Indian  ex- 
citement" The  Kaw  reservation  was  but  a  few  miles  away,  and  so 
apprehensive  were  the  settlers  of  a  threatened  uprising  that  a  stone 
fort  was  built  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  present  site  of  the 
school  house  in  anticipation  of  a  raid  from  the  Kaws 

The  first  school  in  district  11  ("Wilmington)  was  taught  by  Mi.ss 
Mary  Ilcrron  in  1860;  wages  $8  per  month.  School  was  held  in  a  con- 
crete stone  building  of  one  room  10x14  erected  by  Mr.  Spear  for  a  shoe 
shop. 

Miss  Anna  Harvey  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in  district  13  in 
I860,  in  a  log  house  14x18;  wages  $6  per  month.  Miss  Harvey  boarded 
around.  The  .school  house  was  located  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  George 
Sanner,  who  occupied  the  building  as  a  residence  after  the  completion 
of  the  stone  building  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Joseph  McCoy.  Mr. 
W.  A.  Doolittle  taught  several  terms  in  the  old  log  school  house. 

Mr.  G.  B.  Woostrow  taught  the  first  school  in  district  14  (Halifax) 
in  1863:  wages  $20  per  month.  The  house  was  built  of  logs  and  after- 
wards weather-boarded;  size  of  building  16x18.  The  house  was  located 
j U.St  north  of  J.  B  Crumb's  home,  but  was  moved  one  hundred  yards 
west  and  used  as  a  residence.  The  writer  taught  a  six  months  term 
of  .school  in  this  building  in  the  winter  of  1877-78. 

The  first  school  in  district  19  was  taught  in   Mr.   John   Frank's 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        59 

house  in  1876  by  Miss  Eola  Warner.  The  building  was  of  logs  and  the 
size  of  building  12x14.  There  were  but  two  pupils,  Ulysses  and 
Gabriel  Frank. 

Miss  Arvilla  Keyes  taught  the  first  school  in  district  21,  in  1868,  in 
a  log  school  house  12x16:  wages  $20  per  month. 

The  first  term  of  school  in  district  22  was  taught  by  Miss  Ella  A. 
Dibble,  in  1868.  The  school  house  was  of  logs  and  located  on  the  farm 
of  Mr.  S.  C.  Gladden.    Size  of  building,  10x12. 

Mi.ss  Ermina  Halderman,  in  1868,  taught  the  first  term  of  school 
In  district  23— in  a  double  log  house  on  the  farm  of  Horace  Paul. 
School  was  taught  in  the  west  room,  the  east  room  being  occupied  t)y 
the  family  of  Mr.  George  Vannatta.  After  the  west  half  was  torn 
away  the  east  room  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Walker,  an  old  bachelor. 

The  last  log  school  house  was  built  in  district  24  in  1869,  of  logs 
hauled  from  the  PoLtawatomie  reserve,  after  being  cut  by  a  squatter 
for  his  own  use.  The  building  was  18  feet  square  and  used  for  school 
purposes  until  replaced  by  a  stone  building  in  1884,  after  which  the 
log  house  was  used  as  a  crib.  The  building  stood  on  the  hill  one  half 
mile  south  of  the  present  site  and  for  a  number  of  years  church  services 
were  held  in  the  old  log  school  house. 

Marion  Meredith  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in  district  27,  in 
the  10x14  log  cabin  belonging  to  an  old  bachelor  named  Enoch  Colton. 
Mr.  S.  G.  Cantrill  afterwards  bought  the  log  cabin,  moved  it  onto  his 
farm  and  used  it  as  a  corn  crib. 

In  a  small  house  sided  with  flooring.  Miss  Elmah  Montgomery 
taught  the  first  school  in  district  29,  in  1870.  The  house  was  used  by 
Robert  Haslett  and  John  Sudweeks  when  both  were  bachelors.  Miss 
Montgomery  is  now  Mrs.  Micajah  Hamilton. 

In  district  40,  Mr.  Micajah  Hamilton  taught  the  first  term  of 
school  in  1872,  in  the  shed  room  of  the  house  occupied  by  Marion 
Reynolds.  Mr.  Andrew  Mairs  bought  the  property  and  for  many  years 
resided  there. 

The  first  school  house  in  district  41  was  built  of  logs,  on  the  farm 
of  John  McCrumb,  who  after  making  some  alterations,  used  it  as  a 
residence.  The  stone  house  was  then  built  but  later  sold  and  the 
frame  building  now  in  use  at  McFarland  erected. 

Miss  Eva  Ames  taught  the  first  school  in  district  48,  in  1875,  in  a 
frame  house  on  the  farm  of  M  r.  Henry  Ronneau. 

The  first  school  in  district  49  was  taught  in  the  stone  house  that 
afterwards  served  Mr.  Peter  Taylor  as  a  residence. 


GO 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Ry  consiiltinK'  the  records  further  relative  to  the  question  of  wages 
we  lliui  that  the  amounts  paid,  thoujjh  small,  was  perhaps  due  more  to 
a  scarcity  of  funds  ilian  liom  a  stint^inosson  thepartof  district  boards. 
In  IS()0  the  clerk  of  district  13  in  his  annual  report  says:  "At  our  an- 
nual meet  inj:  last  year  we  voted  .all  the  tax  the  law  would  allow 
AN  hen  all  is  collected  it  will  amount  to  about  $33."  In  that  year  the 
district  paid  their  teacher,  Miss  Harvey,  $(>  per  month  for  a  three 
months  term  find  two  years  later  employed  Miss  Rachel  Dunmire— 
now  Mrs.  Joseph  Richards,  of  Burlingame,  the  same  wages  as  were 
paid  Mi.ss  Harvey. 

In  18G1  Miss  Louisa  Todd  received  $8  per  month  in  district  11.  In 
1864  Mrs.  Harriet  E.  Woods  received  but  $2  per  week  for  a  five  months 
term  in  di.strict  13.  In  1862  Miss  Susan  Andres— Mrs  T.  O.  Hill- 
taught  a  term  of  school  in  district  12  for  $10  per  month. 

It  is  fair  to  presume  that  in  cases  where  low  wages  were  received 
the  teacher  boarded  around.  But  the  custom  was  not  universal.  In 
1861  Mr.  W.  F.  Cotton  received  the  comparatively  high  rate  of  $20  per 
month  as  teacher  in  district 2.  In  1864  Mr.  George  Daily  received  $22 
per  month  in  district  5.  Mr.  Daily  would  doubtless  look  upon  the 
amount  paid  as  hardly  adequate  to  support  his  family,  to  say  nothing 
of  laying  a.side  a  nest  egg  for  a  rainy  day.  In  1864  Mr.  J.  H.  Gould  re- 
ceived $20  per  month  in  district  1  and  two  years  later  Mr.  J.  E.  Piatt 
received  $25  per  month  in  the  same  district. 

The  school  houses  at  an  early  period  of  our  county's  history  put 
forth  no  claims  to  architectural  beauty  without  nor  was  there  any  at- 
tempt at  inordinate  di.-splay  within.  The  rude  bench  or  table  besides 
serving  the  purpojie  of  the  more  luxurious  appendages  of  today  had 
this  to  commend  them— they  were  the  best  the  people  in  their 
straightened  circumstances  could  afford.  A  people  to  whom  poverty 
was  no  stranger  were  concerned  about  what  could  be  obtained  rather 
than  what  they  might  desire. 

In  the  old  log  school  house  of  the  past,  pupils  with  intellects  as 
bright,  from  homes  just  as  hospitable,  eagerly  listened  to  the  instruc- 
tion imparted  by  teachers  who  labored  as  hard  as  any  to  be  found  in 
the  educational  field  today. 

The  auxiliaries  that  tended  to  advance  the  cause  of  education  in 
the  past  were  just  as  helpful  as  are  their  prototypes  today.  The 
spelling  school  was  equally  beneficial  (and  more  frequently  called  to- 
gether) the  singing  just  as  pleasant  and  the  Sunday  meeting  none  the  less 
edifying  than  are  similar  gatherings  of  the  present— at  least  for  those 
who  might  be  tempted  to  smile  at  the  picture  .suggested  by  the  log 
school  house  of  the  past,  for  'twas  but  yesterday  that  we— our 
brothers,  our  sisters  and  ourselves— sat  on  the  rude  benches  and 
listened  to  the  voice  of  .song  from  men  and  women  just  as  prayerful 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MRS.  DAISY   THOMSON    PALEXSKE, 
Alma. 


MISS  AMANDA  FIX.  Yampa,  Colo. 


MR.  JAMES  L.  THOMSON  (dec'd). 
Plumb  Township. 


MR.  EMERSON  SHOECRAFT,  Eskridge. 


EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JOHN  WINKLER,  McFarland. 


MR.  JOHN  WINKLER,  McFarland, 
as  an  officer  in  the  Prussian  army. 


MR.  WM.  HORNE,  Sr.,  Spring  Creek. 


MR.  JACOB  HORNE,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  ED.:WOR3LEY,TMaple  HUl. 
Former  County  Commissioner. 


MR.  D.  U.  MILLISON  (Register  of  Deeds), 
and  family.  Alma. 


PROF.  C.  M.  LOWRY, 
Principal  of  the  Eskridge  Schools. 


MR.  W.  C.  COOK, 
Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  AUGUST  HANSON,  McFarland. 


MR.  G.  H.  MEIER,  Alma. 


I 


MR.  WM.  TREU  (Dec'd), 
Former  Sheriff. 


MR.  W.  D.  DEANS  (Dec'd) 
Former  Countj'  Surveyor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY.KAN. 


MR.  J.  M.  HUBBARD.  Wabaunsee. 
Lieut.,  11th  Kansas  Volunteers. 


MR.  A.  A.  COTTRELL,  Wabaunsee. 


MR.  L.  RICHARDS,  Rock  Creek. 
Former  Probate  Judge. 


MR.  J.  W.  MOBSMAN  (dec'd), 
Mission  Creek. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


I 


DR.  W.  H.  H.  SMITH,  Alma. 


DR.  C.  E.  SMITH,  Alma. 


MR.  L.  PALENSKE,  Alma. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  J.  M.  ECK  (dec'd),  Alma. 
Former  County  Commissioner. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  C.  B.  LINES  (dec'd),  Wabaunsee. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  G.  G.  HALL  (dec'd).  Wabaunsee. 
Former  Probate  Judge. 


MR.  W.  S.  WILLIAMS  (dec'd), 
Wabaunsee. 


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MR.  E.  J.  LINES  (dec'd).  Wabaunsee, 
Former  County  Attorney. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WAI5AUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MU.  PRIEIt  IflVNAltDCDfC'd), 

F.•lc^i(itf(^ 


MR.  SAMUEL  WOODS  (Dec'd). 
Il.krvejvllle. 


DRUMM  BROS.,  Eskridge. 


MU.  THOS.  OLIVKU,  Maple  Hill. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MRS.  MARY  LOUISA  KLOCKMAN,  Alma.  MRS.  ANNA  ANDERSON  (dec'd), AltaVista. 


MR.  HERMAN  ARNDT,  Templin. 


MR.  AUGUST  WOLGAST,  Templin. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  CHAS.  X.  EARL  (dec'd),  Eskridge. 
Former  County  Commissioner. 


MR.  ANDREW  BELL,  Kaw  Township.  ] 
County  Commissioner. 


MR.  FRANK  RICKERSHAUSER, 
near  Pazico. 


MR.  JOSEPH  SCHDTTER, 
Farmer  Township. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        61 

just  as  earnest,  just  as  devout,  as  is  the  devotee  of  to-day. 
In  the  early  days  pupils  received  instruction  from  teachers  deserv- 
ing of  equal  praise  to  that  accorded  the  occupant  of  the  highest  chair 
in  our  State  University.  They  were  the  pioneers  of  education — 
engaged  in  the  work  of  spanning  the  gulf  that  separated  barbarism 
from  civilization. 


Interested  in  the  New  education. 


In  the  early  days  interest  in  school  work  was  not  lacking;  teachers 
of  experience  were,  in  all  cases,  given  the  preference.  The  teacher, 
though  a  stranuer,  was  received  with  that  spirit  of  welcome  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  people.  A  case  in  point  was  that  of  a.  teacher  from  an 
eastern  state.  His  recommendations  secured  him  a  hearty  welcome  in 
a  district,  the  people  of  which,  were  anxious  to  enjoy  the  advantages 
of  which  his  coming  gave  promise.  Arrangements  being  made  that 
were  mutually  satisfactory  our  new  teacher  entered  upon  his  duties. 
After  a  time  a  member  of  the  board  who  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
cause  of  education,  concluded  to  visit  the  school— on  a  rainy  day,  when 
his  services  on  the  farm  were  not  particularly  needed.  Having 
heard  much  of  the  progress  in  matters  pertaining  to  education, 
and  being  desirous  of  knowing  something  more  of  a  system  of  teaching 
far  beyond  that  within  the  range  of  his  own  experience  he  was  doubly 
anxious  to  see  for  himself  the  wonders  of  the  new  education.  On 
■opening  the  door  what  does  he  see?  There  is  but  one  pupil  present 
(by  reason  of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather)  but  he  is  making  good  his 
claim  to  apt  scholarship,  for  the  teacher,  stretched  at  full  length  on 
one  of  the  rude  benches  is  fast  asleep,  and  his  pupil,  beneath  the 
bench,  equally  oblivious  of  surrounding  objects,  is  trying  to  rival  his 
teacher  in  his  endeavors  to  raise  the  roof— by  his  snoring.  This  true 
story  is  of  no  particular  value  in  the  line  of  corroborative  testimony 
relative  to  the  correct  estimate  to  be  placed  upon  the  average  teacher's 
recommendations. 


i' 


K\  KLV  msTOKY  OF  WaBAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Wrote  /+is  Sentiments. 


The  leacht-r  was  liandMiiiif  and  li.-i  visiiur  had  been  honored  by 
the  voters  of  the  county  and  he  was  d(»ing  the  people  good  service  as 
their  county  attorney.  But  realizinjf  the  truti)  (»f  the  old  adage  that 
all  work  and  no  play  tends  to  make  of  Jack  a  dull  boy,  our  county 
ofTlcial  with  the  flowing  beard  concluded  to  go  on  a  vacation. 

To  go  to  the  mountains  of  Colorado  was  out  of  the  question  for  it 
was  at  a  time  when  competitive  rates  were  \inknown  for  the  very 
good  reason  that,  the  large  majority  of  the  railroad  lines  had  an 
existenc^e  only  on  the  maps. 

But  among  the   pretty  school   maams  ar    the  examination   was 

Mi.ss-- .  from  Iowa,  his  own  r.ative  state.    She  was  teaching  near 

Dover  arui  he  would  go  down  and  incidentally  assist  in  disposing  of  a 
few^  of  Mrs  Loomis's  pies. 

Being  a  .s(;ho()l  teacher  by  profession  it  was  but  natural  that  he 
should  visit  the  school,  and  as  such  visitor  he  was  expected  to  write 
his  name  in  the  teacher's  register— in  that  part  of  the  book  every 
teacher  can  refer  to  with  pride— for  as  a  rule  in  the  column  of  "Re- 
marks" nothing  but  flattering  testimonials  ever  finds  a  place. 

Looking  over  the  visitor's  register  our  ex-pedagogue  learns  that 
Mary  Jones  has  left  in  the  record:  "Good  school:  good  teacher."  John 
Smith  has  supplemented  the  statement  with  "Good  teacher:  excellent 
order."  When  the  county  superintendent  called— a  few  days  before 
the  election,  he  expres.sed  his  admiration  of  the  teacher's  work  by: 
"An  earnest  and  etficient  teacher  and  an  interesting  and  progressive 
school."  Having  no  blotter  at  hand  it  is  possible  that  our  visiting 
superintendent  returned  the  book  to  the  teacher  unclosed— for 
fear  of  blotting  the  page,  of  course.  More  than  likely  he  expected  an 
invitation  home  t<i  supper  and  there  is  a  bare  possibility  that  he  wasn't 
disappointed. 

But  this  matter  cuts  no  figure  with  our  ex-pedagogue  out  for 
recreation.  He  finds  that  Mrs.  Williams  had  indicated  her  approval 
of  the  teacher's  methods  by:  "Am  well  pleased  with  the  school." 
Peter  Wll.son.  a  farmer's  boy  bluntly  says:  "Teacher  all  right:  school, 
ditto."  When  the  director  called  he  left  in  bold  characters:  "Disci- 
pline perfect,  am  glad  to  see  the  pupils  interested  in  the  great  cause  of 


EA  RLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        63 


education;  in  future  years  they  will  realize  that  knowledge  is  the 
power  that  moves  the  world." 

But  our  visitor  who  was  elected  by  the  suffrages  of  the  people  to 
an  important  office  is  no  copyist.  He  looks  about  him  and  views  with 
complacency  the  evidences  of  good  government  and  excellent  intellec- 
tual  development.  The  prompt  answers  elicit  his  unqualified  approval 
and  warmest  approbation.  But  he  sees  more  than  all  this.  He  ob- 
serves the  sparkling  eye  that  is  responsible  for  any  talismanic  effects 
that  may  be  indicated  by  the  prompt  responses  to  the  questions 
propounded  by  the  teacher.  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  state 
that  our  visitor  was  the  owner  in  fee  simple  of  an  Iowa  farm,  and  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  embodying  (to  his  mind)  all  the  phases  of  an 
ideal  existence  all  that  was  needed  to  render  his  future  a  life  of 
unalloyed  happiness  was  a  home  on  the  farm  and  a  handsome  ex-school- 
marm  to  preside  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  table.  With  this  explana- 
tion these  written  words  in  the  register  need  no  further  interpreta- 
tion:   "I  like  the  teacher  verv  much." 


Among  the  old  letters  on  file  in  the  County  Superintendent's  office 
is  one  indicating  the  difference  in  the  methods  of  examining  teachers 
then  and  now.  The  letter  is  from  a  patron  of  a  country  district 
inquiring  as  to  the  date  of  the  superintendent's  contemplated  visit, 

accompanied  by  this  statement:     "Miss is  teaching  our  school 

and  wants  to  be  examined  for  a  certiticate  when  you  come  into  our 
neighborhood."  The  method  has  this  to  recommend  it— it  is  more 
convenient  to  the  teacher  and  the  expense  of  an  examiningr  board  is 
dispen.sed  with. 


Tlie  teacher's  work  in  the  school  room  should  tend  to  the  forma- 
tion and  development  of  correct  habits— the  foundation  of  a  good 
character.  The  work  of  each  day  of  a  pupil's  school  life  sh(»uld  add  to 
his  ability  to  fight  the  battle  of  life  successfully:  should  tend  to 
make  of  each  and  every  pupil  a  useful  member  of  society. 

The  teacher  who  neglects  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity 
afforded  on  the  last  day  of  school  lo  create  a  lasting-  impres.sion  on  his 
pupils  throws  away  one  of  the  best  of  his  opporttinities.  Though  an 
air  of  solemnity  pervade  the  exercises  no  fears  need  be  entertained  as 
to  their  harmful  effects.  However  painful  the  parting  words,  it  will 
hold,  none  the  less,  a  valued  place  in  memory's  storehouse.  It  will  the 
better  serve  as  a  medium  to  impress  illegibly  upon  plastic  minds  such 
lessons  as  only  on  such  occasions  as  this  may  be  readily  inculcated. 
No  pupil,  however  listless  during  the  long  weeks  of  the  term  about  to 


r,4        KAI{LY  mSTOUY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


close,  but  feels  the  linpressiveness  of  the  occasion.  However  regard- 
less of  the  teacher's  timely  admonitions  he  may  have  been,  he  more 
than  ever  before  realizes  the  value  of  time  lost;  more  than  ever  is 
enabled  to  place  a  proper  »!stiinatp  on  advice  unheeded— on  opportuni- 
ties that  may  never  ayain  be  presented.  As  the  last  whispers  of  a  dear 
departing  friend  are  inelTacibly  engraved  on  memory's  tablet,  so  may 
tlie  teacher's  parting  words  to  his  pupils  on  the  last  day  of  school  serve 
as  a  l)eac(tn  to  many  a  darkened  pat  h way —exert  a  potent  inlluence  in 
sliaping  llie  course  of  a  liilherto  aimless  life.  Re  careful  lest  the 
opportunity  be  thrown  away:  take  heed  lest  a  blighted  existence  be 
laid  at  your  feet. 

.\t  the  close  of  the  State  Teachers"  Association,  held  during  the 
past  winter,  the  President,  while  addressing  the  teachers,  bluntly 
asked  the  question,  "What  is  all  this  about?"  "What  are  we  here 
for?"  We  might  well  make  a  personal  application  of  the  answer 
suggested.  Unless  we  shall  g<»  fori h  from  our  labors  here  the  better 
prepared  to  assist  the  pupils  of  i  he  schools  in  the  work  of  preparatioji 
for  future  usefulues.s,  then  our  coming  together  as  teachers  has  been 
in  vain.  We  feel  assured  that  each  and  every  teacher  will  go  hence 
capable  of  doing  bei  lei- work:  that  they  will  be  prompted  by  nobler 
impulses  We  feel  uai  lanted  in  the  statement  that  your  aims  will  be 
higher,  and  that  greater  results  will  be  acconiplislied.  We  trust  that 
your  lalx)rs  here  and  in  the  .scIkioI  room  will  be  appreciated  in  a  man- 
ner commensurate  with  your  most  extravagant  anticipations.  May 
your  labors  be  lightened  by  that  liearty  spirit  of  co-operation  .so  nec>  s- 
sary  as  an  auxiliary  in  bringing  about  a  correct  solution  of  the  educa- 
tional problem.  We  trust  that  you  will  bring  to  your  assistance  every 
possii)le  aid.  The  essential  elements  of  success  are  embodied  in  a 
tliorougli  knowledge  of  your  surroundings,  a  conscientious  regard  for 
the  welfare  f)f  your  pupils,  and  a  strict  application  to  duty. 

Let  some  potent  inlluence  enable  us  to  realize  the  magnitude  of 
our  undertaking— thai  the  footsteps  of  the  little  ones  placed  in  our 
keeping  may  be  guided  aright.  To  them  tlie  future  is  a  dark  unfath- 
omable mystery.  The  great  world  beyond  the  portals  of  the  school- 
room is  a  labyrinth  of  niystetious  windings  which  will  lead  to  success 
or  failure.  We  cati  provide  the  chart  leading  to  the  one,  or  we  can,  by 
our  care('>sness.  permit  the  placing  of  such  ol)siacles  in  the  way  as 
will  insure  the  destruction  of  all  their  hopes.  The  chart  once  supplied 
let  its  markings  be  clear  and  iiiitnistakable.  Here,  in  a  cool,  shady 
nook.  Idleness  is  ever  Iminging.  at  (1  at  this  point  we  will  place  our  first 
danger  signal,  .lust  i)eyond.  Pleasure,  awaits  the  coming  of  the 
youthful  ti-avelers.  We  will  detail,  as  a  guard,  our  faithful  auxiliary, 
iMily.  lest  Pleasure  tire  ■  f  her  wards  and  give  them  in  charge  of  her 
twin  sister.  Vice.  With  Industry  as  a  constant  companion,  and 
lIoiKU-.  as  a  guide,  where  dangers  threaten,  we  need  have  no  fears  but 
that  our  charges  will  reach  the  haven  of  their  hopes,  and  we  receive 
niir  reward  in  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  our  patrons,  the  lasting  grati- 
tude of  our  pupils,  and  the  consciousness  within  ourselves  of  having 
performed  our  duty.  -From  Matt.  Thomson's  address  at  do.se  of  Insti- 
tittr  of  fP«T. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


65 


rt-n  EjclUcatlonal  ^hibit. 


No  better  evidence  of  the  interest  taken  by  our  people  in  the 
cause  of  education  could  be  presented  than  is  here  shown  by  the  bonds 
issued  by  the  several  school  districts  for  building  purposes. 

These  contributions  have  been  voluntarily  assumed  that  our 
children  may  enjoy  every  possible  benefit  to  be  derived  from  an  educa- 
tional system  unsurpassed  anywhere.  The  comparatively  small  amount 
of  bonded  indebtedness  remaining  unpaid  is  a  feature  that  commends 
itself  to  those  seeking  a  home  among  our  people. 

WHEN  ISSUED. 


Di3r. 
1. 


AMT. 


2. 
3. 


4. 

5. 
6. 


8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 


U. 
14. 
15. 

16. 


May  31,  '79 $1,000 

May  2,  '87 1,000 

Oct.  11,  '78 

July  5,  '72 


500 

760 

1,200 


Aug.  16, '93 

$400  due  1-1,  1902 
No  bonds  issued. 

Jan.  25,  '82 1,200 

March  20,  '71 1,350 

Sept.  26,  '84 600 

Dec.  5,  '92  200 

No  bonds  issued. 

June  14, '75 300 

No  bonds  issued. 

July  1,  '70 900 

Oct.  24,  '77 700 

Nov.  16,  1901 2,000 

$2,000  due. 

Sept.  23,  '73  1,400 

May  27,  '81 1,500 

Oct.  1,  '74 600 

April  1,  '69  1,000 

June  1,  '74 5,000 

Feb.  22,  '75 1,000 

August  26,  '74 500 

May  3,  '92     500 


DIST.        WHEN  ISSUED. 

Jan.  5,  '97 

46.  June  2,  '73  

47.  August  15,  '73 

April  16,  '87 

Oct.  26,  '96.... $300 

Nov.  14,  '82 

July  30,  '84 


48. 
49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 


53. 

54. 
55. 

56. 


57. 

58. 
59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 


AMT. 
....$  450 
. ...  1,100 
. ...  1,200 
. ...  1,200 
due  900 
. . . .  530 
. . . .      800 


Sept.  26,  '74 1,000 

Oct.  21,  '76 1,000 


'86., 
'85. 


May  21,  '81 
June  1,  '78. 
Oct.  5, 
Sept.  3, 
Sept.  1,  '78.. 
May  13,  '90 
Oct.  19,  '78.. 
Nov.  11,  '89. 
Dec.  28,  '94. 
Dec.  15,  '79. 
Aug.  19,  '82. 
Nov.  15,  '79. 
Oct.  1, '81... 
Aug.  20,  '81. 
Sept.  19,  '81 
Sept.  19,  '81. 
Sept.  24,  '84. 


1,000 
500 
700 
500 
600 
65(» 
500 

2,000 
400 
60« 
600 
500 
800 
350 
300 

1,000 

2.500 


(iG 


EAllLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


18. 

20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 

2'j. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
.32. 


.33. 
34. 
35. 

31). 

37. 

38. 
.3!). 

40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 

44. 

4'). 


Au},'iist  2(i,  '78 500 

.luiie  1.3.  '!»2  800 

No  boiid.s  issued. 

Sept.  18,  '74> 900 

Sept.  18,  '83 800 

March  10,  '83 1,100 

August  1,  '70 900 

April  1,  '71 300 

.lune  9,  '83 800 

AuK'ust  11,  '87 700 

No  bonds  i.ssued. 

May  31,  '71 paid  1,200 

July  1,  '70 600 

March  1,  '72 1,100 

November,  '70 1,600 

No  bonds  issued. 

August  7,  '71 400 

.hily  9,  '90 900 

300  due  1-1-1902 
No  bonds  issued. 

May  3,  "73    600 

Feb.  5,  '92 800 

$200  due  1-1-1902 

July  22.  '71 400 

Dec.  I,  '93 $.350  due  800 

Feb.  10,  '72 1,200 

Oct.  25,  '71 750 

June  1,  '72 1,500 

July  24,  '90 2,500 

June  2,  '73 I.OOO 

Nov.  l(t,  "91 3^000 

June  2,  '73 i.2oO 

June  1,  '73  I.OOO 

Sept.  24,  '98 1.200 

Feb.  11,  '74 1,000 

Sept.  21,  "95 900 

Sept.  20, '73 500 


Dec.  1,   '85 1,890 

64.  April  28,  '83 1,000 

65.  July  24,  '83 600 

66.  Sept.  1,  '83    600 

Nov.  11,  1901,  $1200  due  1,200 

67.  Nov.  15,  '84 400 

68.  Feb.  6,  '85 900 

69.  Oct.  17,  '84 600 

70.  Nov.  22,  '84 600 

71.  Oct.  2,  '85 1,000 

72.  Sept.  12, '85 650 

73.  Aug.  22,  '85  600 

74.  Aug.  15,  '85 1,000 

75.  Sept.  5,  '85 600 

76.  Aug.  29, '85 8u0 

77.  Sept.  2,  '86 500 

78.  Oct.  16,  '86 700 

79.  Oct.  9,  '86 600 

80.  Sept.  16, '86 400 

Due  Jan.  1,  1902,  $100.. 

81.  Jan.  5,  '89 2,400 

Due  Jan.  1,  1902,  $900.. 

82.  July  14,  '88 1,500 

83.  Oct.  I,  '90 500 

84.  Aug.  19,  '91) 800 

85.  Sept.  5,  '93 700 

$500  due  1-1-1902 

86.  Sept.  15,  '93 .350 

87.  Nov   14,  '93 500 

88.  Oct.  2, '95 800 

$500  due  1-1-1902 

89.  Oct.  21,  1901... $500  due  500 

Jt.  15.     Oct.  4,  '69 900 

Jt.  15.     Oct.  12,  '7": 450 

Jt   100.    July  2,  '91 800 

$4110  due  1-1-1902... 

Jt.  85.     No  date 1,900 

Jt.  30.     June  10,  '95 900 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  (X)UNTY,  KAN.        67 


The  McMahan  Telephone  exchange. 


When  on  June  25,  1898,  Mr.  McMahan  secured  from  the  City  of 
Alma  a  telephone  franchi.se  for  twenty-five  years,  but  few  persons 
realized  the  magnitude  the  undertaking  would  assume  in  so  short 
a  period  of  time.  At  first  the  growth  of  the  venture  was  compara- 
tively slow  but  ere  long  the  convenience  connected  with  the  new 
order  of  things  became  apparent  to  the  people  and  the  daily  increas- 
ing patronage  encouraged  Mr.  McMahan  in  extending  his  lines,  at 
first,  to  all  points  in  Wabaunsee  county,  and,  later,  to  Topeka  and 
other  outside  points,  until  direct  telephone  communication  is  not 
confined  to  the  limits  of  this  and  adjoining  counties,  nor  even  of  the 
State. 

A  few  data  as  to  the  growth  of  the  McMahan  telephone  system: 
Telephone  franchise  granted,  June  21,  1898.  On  August  27,  fol- 
lowing there  were  12  phones  in  Alma  and  12  more  ordered.  On 
November  12,  there  were  36  phones.  Completed  to  Maniiattan  Decem- 
ber 1,  1898— the  M.  A.  &  B.  telegraph  line  being  secured  for  the 
service.  April  28,  1899,  telephone  completed  to  McFarland.  On  May 
1,  to  Eskridge,  and  on  September  16,  to  Maple  Hill.  January  27,  1900, 
Alta  Vista  was  reached,  and  on  June  16,  1900,  there  was  telephone 
connection  between  Alma  and  Wamego.  Topeka  was  reached  Decem- 
ber 15,  1900 — since  which  time  the  growth  of  the  McMahan  telephone 
system  has  been  phenomenally  surprising  to  all.  and  extremely  flatter- 
ing to  the  business  sagacity  of  the  founder  of  the  system.  In  the 
illustration,  seated  in  the  front  row,  is  Mr.  J.  H.  McMahan,  projector 
of  the  enterprise  and  proprietor  of  the  system.  On  the  left  is  Mr. 
William  Noller,  bookkeeper,  and  on  the  right  is  Mr.  Julius  Frey,  who 
may  be  found  almost  constantly  in  attendance  at  the  keyboard.  At 
the  extreme  ends  of  the  employes  standing  are  Masters  Roy  and 
Arthur  McMahan,  who,  though  young  in  years  are  capable  of  filling 
the  place  of  substitute  at  the  board.  Then  in  succession  are  Mr. 
Albert  Copp,  Mr.  George  Sweitzer,  Mr.  Wm.  Hershey,  and  Mr.  Louis 
Sweitzer,  the  latter  now  in  charge  at  Eskridge.  By  reason  of  a 
misunderstanding  as  to  the  time  of  sitting  for  the  group  picture,  the 
portraits  of  Messrs.  Louis  and  Gus  Schroeder,  two  of  the  oldest 
employes  of  the  telephone  exchange,  appear  elsewhere.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  the  local  managers  not  already  mentioned: 
McFarland,  Mr.  Arthur  Winkler:  Paxico,   Dr.  O.  E.  Webb  (who  is, 


68        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


also,  the  owner  of  an  independent  line);  Maple  Hill,  J.  N.  Dolley; 
Rossvlllc,  G.  P.  Tierce;  St.  Mary's,  Miss  Annie  Damaris;  Willard,  Mr. 
R.  N.  Blackburn;  Valencia,  Mr.  Ed.  Mitchell:  Wanamaker,  Mr. 
Straub;  Dwijjht,  Mr.  11.  Olson;  Alta  Vista,  Mr.  Union  Thomas;  Vol- 
land;  Mr.  J.  \V.  Kratzer:  Harveyville,  Mr.  R.  D.  Lewis;  Eskridge,  Mrs. 
Louis  Sweitzer,  assistant;  IIalifa.x,  Mr.  Longabaugh;  Templin,  Mr. 
(fustav  Zimmermann— the  services  of  thirty  men  being  required. 
In  Wabaunsee  county  there  are  over  200  miles  of  wire  and  225  phones 
in  use.  Of  this  number,  110  are  in  Alma,  70  in  Eskridge,  and  41  in  the 
tlic  rural  districts.  The  number  of  phones  is  constantly  increasing 
and  the  etllciency  of  the  system  is  perfect. 


ethnologic  Wstory. 


WabaMn.soc  County  has  an  ancient  history  of  surpassing  interest, 
partly  printed  in  the  old  Spanish  chronicles  and  partly  determined  by 
urclui'ological  science— the  two  combined  making  a  record  recently 
completed  which  covers  a  period  of  500  years.  In  1897,  Mr. 
J.  V.  Brower  discovered  near  Alma,  in  Mill  creek  valley,  an  ancient 
village  site  from  which  he  gathered  chert  spearheads,  arrow  points, 
knives,  scrapers  and  pieces  of  clay  pots.  Judge  J.  T.  Keagy,  and 
others,  associated  with  Mr,  Brower  in  the  work,  have  continued  eX" 
plorations  and  investigations  until  the  identity  of  the  people  who  in- 
liabite.d  this  county  during  a  pre-Columbian  age  has  been  ascertained 
as  the  same  people  who  were  discovered  by  Coronado  in  1541,  at  two 
provinces  called  Quivira  and  Harahey,  part  of  which  was  constituted 
by  the  prairies  and  valleys  of  Wabaunsee  county,  the  dividing  line 
crossing  Deep  creek  and  Mill  creek  near  Volland.  Two  volumes  have 
been  issued  and  published  concerning  the  work,  entitled  respectively, 
Quivira,  1898,  and  Ilaraliey,  1899.  These  two  books  describe  in 
particular  all  of  the  discoveries  and  many  historic  and  prehistoric 
facts.  In  1901,  the  Quivira  Historical  Society  was  organized  at  Alma 
for  the  purpose  of  continuing  the  work,  and  another  volume  is  to  be 
issued  after  a  monument  is  erected  for  the  purpose  of  commemorat- 
ing the  discovery  and  rediscovery  of  Quivira  and  Harahey,  by  Coronado 
in  1541,  and  Brower  in  1896-7-8.  Like  many  other  similar  explora- 
tions, an  attempt  has  been  made  to  divert  the  actual  rediscovery, 
made  in  1896,  to  the  credit  of  a  plagiarist  several  years  later.  But 
tliis  will  not  be  successful  as  the  Quivira  Historical  Society  has  been 
organized  to  not  only  preserve  all  records,  but  to  prevent  literary 
piracy. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  GUS  SCHROEDER,  Alma. 


MR.  LOUIS  SCHROEDER,  Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  LOUIS  SHROEDER,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        69 


The  First  White  Shirt. 


Readers  of  historical  incidents,  as  a  rule,  delight  in  reminiscences 
entitled  to  first  place  in  any  particular  line.  They  would  know  the 
first  settler  in  this  or  that  locality;  the  name  of  the  first  woman  who 
cooked  the  first  meal  in  the  "Hard  Scrabble"  settlement,  and  so  on  to 
the  end  of  the  chapter. 

In  view  of  these  facts  wherein  is  the  harm  of  a  true  story  involving 
tlie  right  of  the  first  white  shirt  to  a  place  at  the  head  of  the  column? 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Kansas  hundreds  of  families  looked 
upon  milk  and  butter  as  luxuries  beyond  their  reach.  Many  families 
were  not  sutticiently  well-to-do  as  to  own  a  cow.  Of  course  there  were 
exceptions,  and,  as  time  advanced,  other  evidences  of  civilization 
began  to  appear.  Perhaps  a  little  incident  might  better  illustrate  our 
meaning.  Over  in  Wabaunsee  a  genial  old  gentleman  had  just  arrived 
from  Connecticut.  His  neighbors  were  somewhat  inclined  to  look 
upon  him  with  envious  eyes  from  the  fact  that  he  was  the  possessor  of 
a  cow.  This  particular  cow  was  the  mother  of  a  white  calf,  and,  be- 
sides, she  possessed  qualities  that  rendered  her  valuable  to  an  extra- 
ordinary degree.  Besides  furnishing  a  daily  supply  of  the  lacteal  fluid 
her  disposition  enabled  her  owner  to  utilize  her  as  a  beast  of  burden. 
The  ease  with  which  our  friend  was  enabled  to  transfer  the  products 
of  the  farm  from  the  field  to  winter  quarters  might  well  excite  the 
envy  of  his  less  fortunate  neighbors.  But  all  did  not  go  "merry  as  a 
marriage  bell."  One  night  a  storm  came  on  and  misfortune  visited 
that  little  household.  When  morning  dawned  it  was  found  that  the 
white  calf  was  missing. 

Diligent  search  and  anxious  inquiry  failed  to  reward  the  discon- 
solate owner  with  the  sight  of  the  lost  calf.  But  there  came  a 
■moment  when  joy  beamed  forth  from  the  countenances  of  the  owners 
of  the  white  calf.  A  white  object  was  seen  some  distance  away  on 
the  banks  of  the  creek,  which  the  good  wife  recognized  at  once  as 
"our  calf."  She  "would  know  that  calf  anywhere,"  and  as  it  was  the 
only  white  object  known  in  all  the  county  at  the  time  she  was  excus- 
able in  entertaining  the  idea  that  the  lost  had  been  found.  Procur- 
ing a  rope  our  overjoyed  owner  preceded  at  once  to  capture  the  truant 
calf,  but  one  can  hardly  imagine  his  discomfiture  when  about  to  secure 


:o        KARLY  history  of  WABAUNSEE  county,  KAN. 


his  prize  he  discovered  that  the  white  object  was  not  the  lost  calf,  but 
a  man  wlio  had  just  come  into  the  country  wearin^r  «'i  white  shirt— the 
lirst  ^jarment  of  that  description  that  had  found  its  way  into  Wabaun- 
see county. 


The  First  Wagon  Shop. 


When  Mr.  Wm.  Home  came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  1859,  he  had 
two  wagons  with  skeins— the  only  two  of  the  kind  in  the  Spring 
creek  settlement.  But  Henry  Palenske  was  a  wagonmaker  and  before 
long  he  was  supplying  the  demand  for  wagons. 

It  didn't  take  long  to  make  one,  either.  With  a  cross-cut  saw,  a 
.sycamore  log  about  20  or  24  inches  in  diameter  would  soon  be  trans- 
formed- into  wheels— about  every  six  inches,  running  measure,  was 
enough  for  one  wheel,  two  feet  being  all  that  was  required  for  a 
wagon. 

To  make  tlie  running  gear  was  ea.sy.  Two  big  hewed  slabs  for 
axles,  in  which  two-inch  augur  holes  were  bored  for  standards,  a 
coupling  pole  and  tongue,  and  that  wagon  was  ready  for  the  owner — 
who  in  all  cases,  was  patiently  waiting  for  the  first  wagon  he  ever 
owned— of  that  particular  pattern. 

Grease  being  a  commodity  that  hadn't  found  Its  way  into  the 
country,  there  was  music  in  the  air  whenever  a  wagon  happened  to  be 
on  the  road— and  music  too,  of  the  semi-calliope  variety— that  could 
be  heard  two  miles  or  more — when  the  wind  happened  to  be  right, 
more.  Those  wagons  would  last  for  two  or  three  years,  but  the  supply 
wasn't  equal  to  the  demand,  and  Mr.  Home  never  lacked  for  oppor- 
tunities to  loan  one  or  both  of  his  wagons  to  his  neighbors— and  every 
settler  in  the  country  at  that  time  considered  himself  a  near  enough 
neighbor  to  borrow  a  wagon  with  spokes  in  the  wheels  to  make  a 
hundred- mile  trip  for  a  sack  of  corn  meal  or  a  side  of  bacon. 

There  was  a  kind  of  caste  among  the  people  in  those  days,  indi- 
cated by  the  make  of  wagon  used  on  the  claim.  In  Indian  nomen- 
clature, William  Home  would  merit  the  title  of  High-muck-a-muck, 
or  the-man-with-the-sure-enough- wagon. 

Wagons  of  the  Palenske  pattern  would  indicate  that  the  owners 
were  in  moderate  circumstances,  unless  they  owned  a  cow.  Still 
lower  in  the  line  of  eligibility  to  a  place  on  the  front  seats  with  the 
aristocracy  of  the  frontier  .settlements  was  the  man  compelled  to 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        71 

steer  a  stone-boat  (made  of  the  fork  of  a  tree)  over  the  prairies  with  a 
pair  of  oxen  for  a  motor. 

Then,  in  order,  came  a  fellow  with  a  blind  horse  or  the  family  cow 
for  a  beast  of  burden,  followed  by  the  man  with  all  his  earthly  be- 
longings tied  in  a  handkerchief,  on  the  end  of  a  stick,  looking  for  a 
claim.  He  was  bringing  up  the  tail  end  of  the  procession  then,  but  as 
he  sits  cozily  by  the  grate  in  the  big  stone  house,  you  might  fail  to 
recognize  our  old  pioneer  friend  with  the  stick  and  handkerchief. 
But  he  is  one  and  the  same,  nevertheless,  and  not  a  whit  better  or 
worse,  by  reason  of  his  circumstances. 

Sometimes  these  old  pioneers  are  just  as  kind  hearted  and  Chris- 
tian like  as  in  their  days  of  adversity— when  they  were  swelled  up 
with  pride  over  the  ownership  of  one  of  Henry  Palenske's  wagons,  but 
not  always.  Somehow  the  canker-worm  of  prosperty  has  gnawed  a 
hole  in  their  hearts  and  blinded  their  eyes  to  all  the  good  in  the  world 
e.\cept  that  measured  by  the  almighty  dollar. 


/+e  Gathered  Thern  In. 


In  1880,  when  the  M.  A.  &  B.  track  was  laid  to  Eskridge  there 
were  several  young  men  in  the  south  part  of  Wabaunsee  county  and 
near  the  north  end  of  Lyon  who  were  inclined  to  be  sporty.  They 
were  of  that  type  of  young  men  who  start  out  in  life  imbued  with  the 
idea  that  the  world  owes  them  a  living  and  it  required  several  hard 
knocks  to  drive  the  notion  out  of  their  heads.  These  boys  had  seen 
something  of  the  world— just  enough,  in  fact,  to  create  the  desire  for 
further  experience  in  the  same  direction. 

They  had  traveled  west  as  far  as  the  Panhandle  country  and  had 
made  several  trips  to  the  Kansas  City  stock  yards,  and  had  even 
ventured  as  far  as  Chicago  on  a  cattle  train.    Besides  the  customary 
pass  the  boys  on  these  occasions  carried  with  them,  as  part  of  their 
t    equipment,  a  large  stick  with  a  sharp  nail  in  the  end — to  give  the 
I'   cattle  a  punch  when  they  would  persist  in  lying  down  in  the  car.    For 
this  reason,  probably,  the  boys  considered  themselves  entitled  to  the 
honorof  being  called  "cow-punchers"  or  as  they  preferred,  "cowboys." 
About  the  time  referred  to  another  young  man  put  in  his  appear- 
ance at  Eskridge.    Having  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the 
[.    shadow  of  the  Cumberland  mountains  the  boys  of  sporty  tendencies 
dubbed  him  a  tenderfoot  and  at  first  were  inclined  to  guy  the  new- 


4  w 


2        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


comer.  Rut  later  on  they  began  to  treat  him  with  respect  and  on 
furtiier  acciuaintance  to  even  admire  the  man  they  had  prematurely 
dubbed  "tenderfoot." 

Somewhere  and  somehow  the  younp  man  had  acquired  proficiency 
in  the  use  of  tlie  gloves  and  after  he  had  several  times  in  quick  succes- 
sion sent  tiie  bully  of  the  crowd  sprawling  into  the  corner  he  was 
voted  a  tip-top  fellow.  He  also  carried  a  handsome  revolver  of  the 
navy  pattern  and  when  he  proved  himself  an  expert  in  its  use  it  was 
the  unanimous  verdict  that  a  false  estimate  had  been  placed  on  his 
value  as  a  friend.  When  they  had  about  concluded  to  adopt  the  young 
tenderfoot  he  suddenly  left  the  country. 

But  the  boys  heard  from  him  again.  It  wasn't  long  before  they 
received  letters  postmarked  Cincinnati.  Then  in  quick  succession 
others  came  from  Chicago,  New  York,  Baltimore,  and  other  large 
cities— in  each  case  on  the  letterheads  of  a  different  firm.  Later  on, 
another  letter  came.  This  time  he  wanted  to  meet  the  boys  and  if 
they  would  go  to  Burlinganie  on  a  certain  date  he  would  be  there. 

The  boys  went  down  and  if  the  walls  of  a  little  two  roomed  saloon 
in  the  town  could  be  induced  to  impart  the  secrets  divulged  at  that 
meeting  an  interesting  story  would  be  unfolded.  While  on  his  rambles 
in  the  East  he  had  .struck  a  sure  thing  and  his  old  time  friendship  for 
the  boys  prompted  him  to  .seek  them  out  and  .share  with  them  his 
good  fortune.    Like  Barkis,  they  were  "willin." 

Then  he  produced  .some  crisp  five  dollar  bills,  just  from  the  press. 
Not  the  best  samples,  he  said,  but  he  had  better  "stuff"  at  head- 
quarters in  Chicago.  It  was  a  ticklish  business  and  he  couldn't  trust 
the  mails.  The  detectives  were  always  on  his  track.  He  sold  them 
five  cri.sp  new  five  dollar  bills  for  one  dollar  each.  After  swearing  each 
one  to  secrecy  he  told  the  boys  to  try  their  luck  with  the  bills  and 
report.  He  would  remain  in  concealment  and  under  no  circumstances 
must  his  presence  in  the  town  be  revealed. 

In  a  short  time  the  boys  returned  clamoring  for  more  of  the 
"queer.".  It  was  "hot  stuff,"  "i«  was  good  at  th&.bank."  That  set- 
tled it  with  the  boys.  But  he  wouldn't  trust  them.  They  must 
select  one  of  their  number  to  meet  him  in  Chicago.  It  was  so 
arranged. 

So  the  boys  went  home.  Only  a  few  confidential  friends  were  let 
into  the  .secret— friends  they  wanted  to  share  with  them  their  good 
fortune.  Never  did  these  young  fellows  work  so  hard  to  raise  funds 
for  investment  in  a  "sure  thing."  One  sold  a  team,  another  his  saddle 
horse  and  a  third  his  tine  Mexican  saddle  and  a  pair  of  Navajo 
blankets— and  all,  away  down.  After  a  few  days  of  strenuous  effort 
and  much  sacrifice  the  sum  of  $1,400  was  raised. 

But  tliat  would  bring  them  $7,000.    Then  they  could  again  buy 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      72a 


their  outfit  and  take  their  long  anticipated  trip  to  Texas,  where  they 
would  launch  out  in  the  cattle  business. 

In  due  time  the  committee  of  one  went  to  Chicago,  meeting,  as 
per  agreement,  tlieir  former  acquaintance  at  the  depot.  But  not 
until  a  friendly  tap  on  the  shoulder  turned  his  attention  that  way 
was  his  presence  suspected.  He  was  in  disguise.  He  said  that  was 
the  only  way  to  throw  the  government  detectives  off  his  track. 

He  was  taken  in  a  roundabout  way  to  his  room.  Up  five  flights  of 
rickety  stairs,  and  through  dark,  winding  passages  they  went.  Two 
well  dressed  men  with  revolvers  lying  on  the  table  in  front  of  them 
were  there.  They  counted  out  $7,000  in  crisp,  new  bills— just  like 
those  at  Burlingame.  He  saw  the  money  safely  packed  in  his  sachel 
and  departed.  But  his  old  acquaintance  would  see  him  off.  He  was 
going  down  the  road  anyway. 

When  the  committee  of  one  arrived  at  Eskridge  he  was  met  at 
the  train  by  the  boys.  All  were  there.  They  had  parted  with  their 
last  dollar  and  it  had  been  nearly  a  week  of  long  and  weary  waiting. 

They  repaired  to  a  room  at  the hotel  to  make  a  division  of  the 

funds. 

The  carpet-sack  was  opened  and  inside  were  seven  neatly  tied 
packages— just  as  they  had  been  packed  in  Chicago— but  in  another 
carpet-sack.  His  friend  had  made  the  exchange  at  the  depot.  The 
boy  had  bought  seven  packages  of  sawdust  at  $1,400  a  pound. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  that  trip  to  Texas  was  indefinitely  post- 
poned. The  boys  took  their  summer  vacation  in  the  corn  field  —walking 
behind  a  two-horse  cultivator — longing  for  a  shot  at  that  tenderfoot, 
who  had  been  raised  in  the  shadow  of  the  Cumberland  mountains. 


Were  Their  Fears  Groundless? 


The  stranger  to  pioneer  conditions  finds  it  difficult  to  realize  that 
within  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant,  to  say  nothing  of  others 
not  so  far  advanced  in  years,  there  was  ever  any  real  danger  to  the 
early  settlers  of  Wabaunsee  county  from  Indian  raids.    Perhaps  not. 

But  before  rendering  our  verdict  let  us  ask  the  sturdy  German 
farmers  of  Templin,  who  put  forth  all  their  efforts  in  building  the  old 
stone  fort  in  1864,  if  there  was  cause  for  fear.  Ask  the  Swedish  set- 
tlers of  Marion  county  who,  four  years  later,  slept  for  weeks  in  their 
corn  fields.    Ask  them  if  their  fears  were  groundless  and  the  antici- 


•12b      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

pated  Indian  raid  but  a  chimerical  conception  of  a  disordered  brain. 

While  their  bones  lie  mouldering  under  the  sod  we  will  not  taunt 
them  with  cowardice,  nor  desecrate  their  memories  by  the  accusation 
that  they  were  other  than  they  seemed— pioneers  in  the  truest  sense 
of  the  term. 

Let  us  give  them  proper  credit.  If  ever  there  was  an  inkling  of 
fear  indicated,  it  was  due  to  the  love  a  parent  bears  to  liis  child.  It 
was  from  tlie  fear  of  compulsory  separation— either  by  death  at  the 
hands  of  the  merciless  foe,  or  capture,  followed  by  death,  torture,  or 
worse.  Ask  not  the  meaning  of  this— lest  you  betray  your  ignorance 
of  a  captive's  fate. 

There  were  those  who  laughed  at  the  fears  of  the  settlers  in  the 
vicinity  of  Spirit  Lake,  Iowa,  and  at  New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  in  1862— 
eight  years  later  than  the  first  settlers  came  to  Kansas— but  it  re- 
quired several  regiments  of  cavalry  and  years  of  campaigning  to  render 
the  pioneer  homes  of  Iowa  and  Minnesota  secure  from  the  raids  of 
wandering  Indians. 

In  1868,  fourteen  years  after  the  first  settlers  came  to  Wabaunsee 
county  the  old  pioneers  of  Council  Grove— men  who  never  knew  the 
meaning  of  the  word  "fear"  hurried  their  wives  and  children  to  a 
haven  of  safety.  Was  their  act  an  exhibition  of  cowardice?  Were 
their  fears  groundless? 

The  dead  Kaw  brave  and  the  seven  Cheyenne  warriors  who  lay 
dead  on  the  hill  almost  in  sight  of  the  town  say  "No!"  The  presence 
of  the  raiding  Indians  in  plain  view  of  the  people  is  equivalent  to  a 
most  emphatic  denial  of  the  baseless  charge  of  cowardice. 

Because  Price  Perrill,  the  lone  surveyor,  hadn't  enough  of  the 
coward  in  his  makeup,  his  bones  lay  bleaching  in  the  sun  for  weeks  on 
the  plains  of  McPherson  county.  The  Kaw  Indian  charged  with  his 
killing,  gloated  over,  rather  than  denied,  the  accusation,  and  yet  there 
are  those  who  would  say  the  fears  of  the  hardy  pioneers  were  ground- 
less. It  is  our  duty  to  tell  the  story,  and  the  reader's  privilege,  to 
refuse  to  be  convinced. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        73 


Our  Stone  Fences. 


In  traveling  over  Wabaunsee  county  the  miles  of  stone  fences, 
especially  in  the  Mill  Creek  Valley,  impress  everyone  favorably,  and 
reminds  the  old  settler  of  that  period  in  our  county's  history  when 
the  easy  and  rapid  method  of  enclosing  a  farm  by  a  wire  fence  was 
unlcnown. 

To  encourage  the  building  of  stone  fences  and  the  growing  of 
hedges  the  legislature  of  1867  passed  a  law  giving  a  bounty  of  five 
cents  per  rod  for  stone  or  hedge  fences,  the  bounty  to  continue  for 
eight  years.  As  the  bounty  would  amount  to  forty  cents  per  rod  many 
of  our  farmers  availed  themselves  of  the  benefit  of  the  law. 

As  early  as  1869  thousands  of  rods  of  stone  fence  had  been  built, 
the  tax  roll  for  that  year  making  the  following  exhibit: 

Mr.  Herman  Meseke  had  built  350  rods  of  stone  fence  and  Mr.  I.  L. 
French,  300  rods.  Mr.  Joseph  Thoes  came  next  with  230  rods,  followed 
by  Mr.  Ed.  Krapp  with  210  rods. 

Others  had  built  stone  fence  as  follows: 

Eli  and  Carey  Walton,  180  rods;  M.  Walton,  160  rods;  John 
Schrouder  and  John  Schwanke  each  120  rods;  R.  J.  Marrs,  110  rods;  A. 
Fetting,  106  rods;  Joseph  Treu,  100  rods;  Aug.  Weber,  Aug.  Wolgast, 
Rudolph  Arndt,  John  Copp,  Aug.  Gerloch,  L.  Grunewald,  F.  Ricker- 
shauser  and  H.  Schultheis,  each  reporting  between  50  and  100  rods,  in 
nearly  every  case,  increasing  their  fence  bounty  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  statute. 

The  fact  that  in  nearly  every  instance  the  fences  are  as  substantial 
today  as  when  first  built  speaks  volumes  of  the  value  for  building 
purposes  of  Wabaunsee  county  stone— everywhere  abundant,  and  yet 
not  presenting  any  serious  obstacles  to  the  farmer  in  the  use  of  his 
land  for  agricultural  purposes. 


THE  LAST  LOG  SCHOOL  HOUSE.    DI8T.  NO.  24— "j  AKETOWN. ' 
BUILT  IN  1869:  REPLACED  BY  STONE  BUILDING  IN  1884. 


EARLY  IIISTOUYOF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


The  GoUnty  Seat  Question. 


Our  Stato  iiKii  Id  w  itl)  l)iit  a  slight  variation  mifjlil  well  apply  to 
Alma  in  llie  ellurl  to  .secure  and  hold  the  county  seat. 

When  the  county  was  organized  Wabaunsee  was  designated  as  the 
county  seat,  and  being  the  centre  of  a  large  settlement  the  people 
acquiesced  in  the  location.  At  that  time  Alma  had  no  place  on  the 
map.  l)ut  later  on  the  settlers  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  county 
raised  objections  to  the  inconvenience  arising  from  the  distance  and 
expressed  tiiemselves  desirous  of  a  change. 

That  tile  will  of  the  people  might  be  expressed   at  the  polls  an 

election  was  called  for  March  (i,  18K(i.     At  this  election  the  vote  stood: 

For  Alma 137 

For  Wabaunsee U2 

Total  vote.  249 

Necessary  to  a  choice,  125 

The  law,  at  that  time,  required  the  officers  to  move  to  the  place 
having  received  the  highest  number  of  votes  within  twenty  days  but  a 
session  of  the  district  court  having  been  called  for  April  9th,  a  resolu- 
tion was  passed  by  the  board  of  commissioners  postponing  the  date  of 
removal  to  May  1,  18fi6. 

But  the  legality  of  the  vote  being  questioned  and  no  steps  being 
taken  to  move  the  records  to  Alma  a  petition  was  presented  to  the 
board  Oct.  6,  requesting  that  a  new  election  be  called.  The  prayer  of 
the  petitioners  was  granted  and  the  date  of  the  election  set  for 
Nov.  22,  1806. 

The  vote  stood: 

For  Alma 142 

For  W^abaunsee 114 

Thoes'  i'lace 1 

Wilmington 1 

Alma  was  again  declared  the  county  seat  and  the  records  moved 
over  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  the  board  at  the  January  session,  1867. 
The  records  were  hauled  over  in  two  wagons  and  deposited  in  the  new 
court  house— the  frame  house  known  as  the  Kaufman  building,  one 
blo{;k  east  of  the  present  site  of  the  court  house. 

Hut  other  aspirants  for  the  county  .seat  sprung  up.  The  Pottawa- 
tomie reserve  had  been  opened  for  settlement  (March,  ]869).and  .settlers 
had  taken  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  secure  the  rich  lands  and 
c'imfortable  homes  for  a  nominal  sum.    A  town  had  been  laid  out  at 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        75 


Newbury,  the  whole  of  Section  22,  Township  11,  Range  11  had  been 
platted,  with  a  square,  containing  8  acres,  in  the  center.  The  town 
company  ofifered  to  erect  a  building  and  donate  the  use  of  the  same  for 
county  purposes  for  five  years  and  to  deed  the  court  house  square  to 
the  county  in  case  the  county  seat  should  be  moved  to  Newbury. 

Eskridge,  with  its  one  house  was  also  an  aspirant  and  offered  simi- 
lar inducements,  and  the  citizens  of  Alma  met  the  situation  by  the 
offer  of  a  stone  court  house,  the  title  to  which  should  vest  in  the 
county  after  twenty  years'  occupation. 

At  the  January  session,  1871,  a  petition  to  re-locate  the  county 
seat  was  granted  and  another  election  called  for  Feb.  7,  1871. 

The  vote  at  this  election  stood  as  follows: 


Alma, 

Eskridge, 

Newbury, 

Wabaunsee, 

Alma,  City, 

103 

,  , 

5 

Alma,  East  Pre., 

49 

15 

7 

Alma,  West  Pre., 

61 

,  , 

. . . 

Wabaunsee, 

88 

4 

9 

2 

Rock  Creek, 

20 

10 

•  .  . 

Elm  Creek, 

6 

51 

■   >  • 

Dragoon. 

2 

88 

2 

Mission  Creek, 

i 

75 

29 

Zeandale, 

40 

13 

5 

Newbury,  East, 

. , 

43 

Newbury,  West, 

3 

111 

In  the  recapitulation  of  the  vote  the  following  figures  appear  in 

^the  records: 

Alma,  369;  Eskridge,  256;  Newbury,  217;  Wabaunsee,  2. 

No  place  having  received  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  another 

election  was  called  for  Feb.  21,  1871. 


The  vote  stood: 

For  Alma. 

For  Eskridge 

Alma  Pre., 

127 

3 

Alma.  East  Pre., 

55 

23 

Alma,  West  Pre., 

59 

.   .   • 

Wabaunsee, 

133 

2 

Rock  Creek. 

13 

19 

Elm  Creek, 

48 

Dragoon, 

3 

106 

Mission  Creek, 

•23 

26 

Zeandale, 

37 

20 

Newbury,  East, 

.   .   . 

34 

Newbury,  West, 

12 

85 

Alma,  465  Eskridge,  429 
Alma  having  received  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  was,  for  the 
third  time,  declared  the  county  seat.  Since  the  law  requires  a  three- 
fifths  vote  to  bring  about  a  change,  and  a  petition  signed  by  two-thirds 
of  the  voters  being  necessary  to  call  an  election  for  the  re-location  of  a 
county  seat  the  question  of  a  change  is  not  likely  to  come  before  the 
people  for  years  to  come.      - 


76        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Item  in  Signal  February  20,  1899:  It  is  stated  on  good  authority 
that  a  family  living  on  the  Snokomo  being  somewhat  annoyed  by  the 
presence  of  a  frog  in  the  cellar  were  surprised  one  morning  to  find  the 
butter  already  churned  and  ready  for  market.  Investigation  disclosed 
the  fact  that  the  churning  had  been  done  by  the  frog— in  his  efforts  to 
get  out  of  the  churn.  The  agitation  of  the  cream  had  churned  the 
butter  into  an  island  on  which  the  frog  was  calmly  waiting  for  some- 
thing to  turn  up— monarch  of  all  he  surveyed— which  in  this  case  was 
a  small  fringe  of  buttermilk  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  island,  and  the 
walls  of  the  churn  that  held  his  frogship  a  prisoner.  It  is  said  that 
fabulous  offers  for  the  frog  have  been  refused  and  that  it  will  be 
trained  to  salt  and  print  the  product  of  the  nocturnal  churnings. 


During  the  drouth  of  1894,  the  people  of  Kansas,  among  other 
afflictions,  were  imposed  upon  by  a  lot  of  fakirs  styling  themselves 
rainmakers.  Alma,  not  to  be  behind  the  times  put  forward  the  claims 
of  Dr.  Syntax.  Of  course  the  Doctor  could  furnish  the  usual  testi- 
monials as  to  ability,  experience,  level-headedness  and  fair  dealing. 
Failure  to  produce  rain  would  cost  nothing  more  than  the  net  outlay 
for  the  chemicals  used  and  the  pittance  of  ten  dollars  a  day  extra  for 
time  engaged  and  insurance— on  account  of  the  imminent  and  con- 
stant danger  of  being  blown  up  by  the  least  oversight  in  mixing  the 
chemicals  used.  But  soon  the  windows  of  Heaven  were  opened,  the 
floods  came  and  the  Doctor,  with  the  rest,  found  himself  out  of  a  job. 
But  the  Doctor,  being  a  man  of  expedients,  moved  to  Oklahoma  and 
married  a  widow — and  never  since  has  had  cause  to  complain  of  a  lack 
of  useful  and  pleasant  employment. 


A  book  published  in  1854,  describing  the  trip  through  Kansas  of 
two  agents  of  the  Kansas  League  of  Cincinnati  contained  this  pen 
picture  of  Leavenworth:  "A  squatter  city  has  little  resemblance  to 
any  other  city;  it  belongs  to  a  distinct  genus  of  cities.  This  is  a  large 
and  important  one,  as  many  hope,  of  Kansas,  and,  therefore,  worthy 
of  description.  There  was  one  steam  engine;  naked  as  when  it  was 
born;  but  at  work  sawing  out  its  clothes.  There  were  four  tents,  all 
on  one  street,  a  barrel  of  water  (or  whiskey)  under  a  tree,  and  a  pot  on 
a  pole,  over  a  fire.  Under  a  tree  a  tpye  sticker  had  his  case  before 
him  and  was  at  work  on  the  first  number  of  the  new  paper;  and  within 
a  frame  without  a  board  on  side  or  roof  was  the  editor's  desk,  and  the 
"Notice"  stating  that  the  editor  had  removed  his  office  from  under 
the  elm  tree  to  the  corner  of  "Broadway  and  Levee."  This  Broadway 
was,  at  that  time,  much  broader  than  the  streets  of  Old  Babylon;  for, 
with  the  exemption  of  the  fort,  there  was  probably  not  a  house  on 
either  side  for  thirty  miles." 


EARLY  FCISTORY  OF  WABA0NSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        77 


ft-  ftUnter's  Faradjse. 


It  is  difficult  for  the  average  citizen  of  Wabaunsee  county  of 
to-day  to  imagine  a  condition  of  things  relative  to  game  production, 
but  a  few  short  years  ago  as  compared  with  the  present  surroundings. 

In  1818  Captain  Martin  with  three  companies  of  United  States 
riflemen  encamped  for  the  winter  on  Cow  Island,  a  few  miles  above  the 
present  site  of  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  during  that  winter  the  com- 
mand killed  nearly  three  thousand  deer,  besides  great  numbers  of 
bears,  turkeys  and  other  game. 

In  the  fall  of  1830  while  McCoy's  surveying  party  was  camped  on 
Stranger  creek,  but  a  few  miles  out  of  Fort  Leavenworth,  a  herd  of  elk, 
estimated  to  number  two  or  three  hundred,  was  encountered  and 
several  killed. 

Colonel  Gilpin,  speaking  of '-the  Great  Plains,"  of  which  he  con- 
sidered Kansas  as  the  major  part,  described  the  country  as  the  home 
of  infinite  herds  of  aboriginal  cattle  peculiar  to  North  America— buf- 
falo, wild  horses,  elk,  antelope,  white  and  black  tailed  deer,  wolves, 
the  hare,  badger  and  smaller  animals  innumerable.  He  also  described 
the  Great  Plains  as  swarming  with  poultry— the  turkey,  prairie  chicken 
the  sandhill  crane  and  curlew;  water  fowl  of  every  variety,  the  swan, 
goose,  brant  and  ducks;  birds  of  prey— eagles  and  vultures;  small  birds 
of  game  and  song:  wolves,  panthers  and  wild  cats. 

On  these  the  nomadic  tribes  of  Indians  subsisted  from  time  im- 
memorial. From  these  he  drew  his  supplies— his  food,  his  lodge,  fuel, 
harness,  clothing  and  bed;  his  armaments,  weapons  and  utensils. 
These  were  his  sole  dependence  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his 
existence.  The  innumerable  carniverous  animals  also  subsisted  upon 
them. 

During  the  Mexican  war  when  Doniphan's  anc  Kearney's  expedi- 
tions passed  through  Wabaunsee  county— on  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail — 
they  encountered  numerous  herds  of  buffalo  right  in  our  own  country 
and  elk,  deer  and  antelope  were  killed  by  the  hunters  every  day. 

Bon.  P.  G.  Lowe  in  his  address  before  the  Kansas  Historical 
Society,  January  14,  1890,  speaking  of  conditions  as  to  game  in  1853 


78       EARLY  HISTORY  OP^  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


says:  "The  buffalo  range  was  a  little  west  of  aline  drawn  north  and 
south  throuK'h  Fort  Riley  (established  in  1853).  East  of  that  line  were 
plenty  of  turkey,  deer  and  other  small  game."  Spealcing  of  the  plains 
he  said  tliat  by  reason  of  the  perennial  pastures  the  whole  face  of  the 
country  was  a  continuous  parlv,  where  ranged  the  noble  buffalo,  the 
antlered  elk,,  deer  in  the  vallies,  antelope  on  a  thousand  hills  and 
smaller  game  everywhere. 

The  turkey  roosts  ui^on  all  the  timbered  creeks  would  astonish  the 
best  farmer's  wife  in  America. 

In  18r)3  Major  Chilton's  command  found  travel  blocked  with 
buffalo  the  whole  distaiwe  from  Cow  ereek  to  Fort  Atkinson  (six  miles 
west  of  Dodge  City).  Standing  on  any  high  point,  as  for  as  the  eye 
could  reach  a  vast  moving  mass  could  be  seen,  making  the  earth  trem- 
ble with  their  tramping  and  bellowing.  It  was  afterwards  learned 
that  the  Kiowas  and  Comanches  had  actually  tried  to  drive  the  buf- 
falo from  the  Smoky  Ilill  south  of  the  Arkansas— in  which  they  were 
partially  successful.  The  line  of  drive  extended  two  hundred  miles 
from  east  to  west  and  they  hunted  and  worked  away  on  the  north  side 
of  the  herds  until  the  great  bulk  of  them  drifted  to,  and  across  the 
river. 

Colonel  W  A.  Phillips,  president  of  the  Kansas  Historical  Society, 
said  in  1890,  in  his  address,  that  in  1866  he  had  seen  several  thousand 
elk  in  a  single  herd,  and  that  he  had  seen  immense  herds  of  buffalo 
cover  the  landscape,  and  made  it  as  black  as  ink,  in  the  early  summer 
time,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 

While  the  Kansas  Pacific  railroad  was  being  built  hundreds  of 
hunters  were  engaged  in  killing  butfalos,  a  few  being  employed  by  the 
grading  gangs  to  supply  meat  for  the  contractors,  but  a  greater  num- 
ber killed  the  animals  for  their  hides,  leaving  their  carcasses  to  rot  on 
the  prairies.  I  have  seen  the  ground  so  thickly  strewn  with  the  bones 
of  dead  animals  that  you  could  walk  for  hundreds  of  yards  over  the 
prairie  and  never  touch  foot  to  the  ground. 

These  hunters  received  the  small  pittance  of  one  dollar  per  head 
and  many  of  these  men  would  kill  more  than  a  thousand  each  during 
the  season. 

So  outrageous  was  this  wholesale  slaughter  that  General  Hazen  in 
1872  appealed  to  the  government  for  authority  to  curtail  the  nefarious 
work  but  his  appeals  were  in  vain.  The  Indians  were  throwing  every 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  building  and  operating  the  railroad  and  the 
argument  was  used  that  the  killing  of  the  buffalos  was  necessary  to  de- 
prive the  Indians  of  their  .source  of  supplies,  but  the  department  failed 
to  llnd'in  General  Hazen  an  advocate  of  any  such  methods. 

In  January,  1872,  while  a  train  of  cars  on  the  Kansas  Pacific  was 
imbedded  in  a  snow  drift,  a  herd  of  buffalos  gathered  on  the  lee  side  of 


EARLY  TflSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        79 

the  train  for  shelter  from  the  storm.  It  was  impossible  to  drive  the 
stupefied  animals  away  by  shoutingand  the  locomotive  whistle  was  no 
moie  effective.  The  animals  huddled  close  together  with  bowed 
heads  and  their  sides  close  to  the  cars  waiting  for  the  storm  to  pass 
over.  Had  the  passengers  been  so  disposed  they  could  have  killed  the 
whole  hai'd  from  the  car  windows.  Many  were  frozen  to  death  in  their 
tracks  near  the  train. 

The  illustration  (Buffalo  in  the  Sixties)  hardly  does  justice  to 
actual  conditions  as  they  existed  in  the  sixties  at  points  on  the  Santa 
Fe  trail  between  the  Cottonwood  and  Cimarron  crossings  of  the  Arkan- 
sas. Soon  after  the  iron  horse  had  penetrated  the  "Great  American 
Desert"  trains  were  compelled  to  stop  that  the  immense  herds  of 
buffalo  might  pass. 

In  1857  James  L.  and  Haynie  Thomson,  father  and  brother  of  the 
author  of  this  book,  found  plenty  of  buffalo  near  the  Cottonwood  cross- 
ing of  the  Santa  Fe  trail.  The  next  year,  Mr.  Samuel  Cripps,  and 
brother  Haynie,  got  all  the  buffalo  meat  wanted  on  Running  Turkey 
creek.  Here  we  found  them  two  years  later,  although  on  account  of 
the  westward  and  soi:thern  movement  of  the  herds  we  were  compelled 
to  go  as  far  west  as  Cow  creek  before  securing  a  load  of  desirable 
meat.  We  saw  many  small  herds  in  McPherson  county  and  my 
brother,  Davis,  killed  a  buffalo  near  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Mc- 
Pherson On  Turkey  creek  hundreds  of  antelope  scampered  over  the 
prairie,  but  little  beyond  the  range  of  our  rifles.  The  graceful  ani- 
mals were  filled  with  curiosity,  showing  but  little  signs  of  fear  at  our 
approach. 

As  to  smaller  game,  chickens,  turkeys  and  rabbits  were  plentiful 
here  in  '57  and  for  years  afterwards.  In  1859,  ray  father  killed  three 
turkeys  with  a  rifle,  all  at  one  shot. 

In  the  winter  of  1868  as  many  as  twenty  deer  were  seen  on  the 
Dragoon  in  one  herd.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Squire  Cantrill  saw  ten 
deer  in  one  bunch  on  the  prairie  about  a  mile  north  of  his  present  resi- 
dence in  Plumb  township. 

Mr.  Sebastian  Wertzberger  was  the  champion  deer  hunter  of  the 
Mill  creek  valley,  killing  from  five  to  twelve  each  year  until  the  aggre- 
gate reached  beyond  the  hundred  mark.  1873  was  the  banner  year, 
Sebastian  killing  twelve  that  season,  besides  wounding  three  he 
never  got.  Mr.  Wertzberger  shot  his  last  deer  in  1880.  He  has  several 
pairs  of  fine  bu  ck  horns  as  a  proof  of  his  prowess  as  a  deer  hunter. 

Mr.  Jo.  Luty,  who  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Herman  Treu 
on  the  East  branch,  was  fond  of  hunting  but  killed  but  few  deer.  On 
account  of  his  love  for  the  chase  he  sold  his  farm  on  Mill  creek  and 
moved  to  Montana. 

In  1SS5  probably  the  last  deer  on  West  Branch  was  killed  by  the 


80       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

section  men  at  Yolland.  In  the  spring  of  '93  Mr.  James  Ketterniann 
killed  two  deer  on  the  Spieker  place  and  three  weeks  later  Mr.  Louis 
Drebing  killed  another  on  the  home  place  near  Halifax,  probably  the 
last  deer  killed  in  Wabaunsee  county. 

As  to  small  game,  such  as  prairie  chickens  and  rabbits,  they  were 
so  plentiful  in  the  early  days  that  their  presence  in  many  cases  was 
detrimental  to  the  farmers'  interests,  although  not  a  few  were  enabled 
to  replenish  their  scant  larders  by  conditions  they  saw  no  reason  to 
deprecate. 

While,  at  this  period  in  our  county's  history,  our  people  are  not 
boasting  of  their  game  supply,  jack  rabbits  are  abuddant  and  the  com- 
mon rabbit  and  quails  are  plentiful;  a  few  flocks  of  chickens  remain, 
and  ducks  at  certain  seasons,  provide  our  amateur  hunters  with  the 
means  of  diversion;  although  the  country  isn't  the  ideal  hunting 
ground  it  was  in  years  agone  our  nimrods  haven't  yet  adopted  the 
standard  of  their  eastern  prototypes  and  found  sport  in  the  slaughter 
of  doves,  meadow  larks  and  pigeons— these  are  left  to  the  care  of  beys 
who  find  in  the  plentiful  supply  an  ample  field  for  practice.   ' 

But,  if  not  now,  Wabaunsee  county  in  the  past,  as  part  of  the 
Great  American  Desert,  has  been  in  truth,  a  Hunter's  Paradise. 


Mr.  J.  J.  Mitchell,  a  member  of  the  Eskridge  bar,  though  emi- 
nently successful,  his  path  was  not  always  strewn  with  roses.  Cn 
first  entering  upon  his  checkered  career  he  had  an  office  and  in  the 
course  of  time  a  client,  but  his  library  was  built  on  the  limited  plan— 
limitei  in  h:s  case  to  the  massive  and  well  worn  lids  of  the  first  edition 
of  Webster's  Unabridged  Dictionary,  and  a  volume  of  the  1868  statutes, 
minus  the  binding,  the  Index  and  a  few  other  appurtenances  there- 
unto fcelcnging.  Mr.  Mitchell  surmounted  all  difficulties  and  tis 
success  is  of  a  kind  that  other  rising  young  attorneys  might  well  con- 
sider worthy  of  emulation. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  GE03GE  SUTHERLAND,  Alma.  MR."  JOHN  C.  HENDERSON,  Alma. 


MR.  A.  M.  JORDAN,  Kuenzli  Creek. 


MR.  AUGUST  UTERMANN,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JOHN  Y.  WAUGH,  Eskridge. 


MR.  WILLIAM  TRUSLER,  Eskridge. 


MR.  LYNN  M.  CHRISTY,  Eskridge. 


MR.  IRA  L.  MORRIS,  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  ALDEN  E.  TRUE,  Vera. 
Former  State  Senator. 


MR.  A.  F.  WADE,  Keene. 

Former  Representative. 


MR.  W.  G.  WEAVER,  Alma. 
Former  Clerk  District  Court. 


MR.  GEORGE  L.  CLOTHIER,  Vera. 
Former  County  Superintendent. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JOHN   T.  KEAGY,  Alma. 
Former  County  Attorney,  and  Probate  Judge. 


DR.  G.  C.  REALS,  Alma. 
County  Health  Officer. 


MR.  SAMUEL  R.  WEED,  Wabaunsee. 
Former  Representative. 


MR.  J.  F.  WILLARD,  Wabaunsee. 


EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  .J.  R.  HENDERSON,  Alma. 
Former  County  Clerk. 


MR.  H.  J.  PALENSKE,  Alma. 
Former  SheriflF. 


MRS.  J.  M.  JOHNSON,  Harveyville. 


MR.  JAMES  E.  JOHNSON  (deed),  AND 
WIFE,  Harvej  villa. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  MARION   MEREDITH,  Eskridge.  MRS.  MARION   MEREDITH,  Eskridge. 


r 


MR.  J.  H.  LAWLOR,  Eskridge. 


MRS.  .J.  H.  LAWLOR,  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


.iyo 


MR.  HERBERT  C.  SHAW,  Bradford. 


MR.  A.  A.  JONES,  Bradford, 


MR.  E.  STURDY,  Bradford. 
Manager  Freeman  Ranch, 


MR.  W.  J.  HINSHAW,  Harveyville, 


EARLY  HISTORV  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  J.  B.  BARNES,  Alma. 
Former  County  Attorney. 


MR.  GEO.  G.  CORNELL, 
Former  Representative,  and  County  Attorney, 


M.  W.  CHILLSON,  Alma. 


MR.  S.  E.  HULL,  Alma. 
Former  Sheriff. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  LOUIS  HORNE  (dec'd),  Alma. 


MRS.  THERESA  HORNE,  Alma. 


MR.  FRANK  OEHMANN,  Alma.  MR.  HENRY  GRAVES  (deed),  McFarland. 


EARLY  HISTORV  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTV,  KAN. 


MR.  MARK  SAGE,  MissioQ  Creek. 


MR.  HENRY  ROXNAU  (Dec'd). 
Kaw  Township. 


MR.  P.  E.  LEONARD,  Alma, 
Superintendent  County  Farm. 


MR.  GEORGE  FECHTER,  Alma. 


EARLY  TflSTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        81 


Pierre,  the  Capital ! 


That  is  what  the  dispatches  said.  To  the  average  reader  this  item 
is  of  but  little  interest,  but  to  the  writer  this  opened  up  a  revelation 
akin  to  that  bewilderment  that  startled  Rip  Van  Winkle  on  waking 
from  his  twenty  years  slumber. 

In  1862  the  country  was  shocked  by  one  of  the  most  atrocious  In- 
dian massacres  tliat  it  was  possible  for  devils  in  human  form  to  con- 
ceive. There  was  a  general  uprising  of  the  confederated  Sioux  tribes, 
and  known  as  the  Minnesota  massacre.  But  a  large  part  of  tlie  settled 
portion  of  Dakota,  Nebraska  and  parts  of  Iowa  were  visited  by  tlie 
scourge  of  devastation  at  the  hands  of  these  human  fiends  who,  in 
warfare,  show  no  mercy,  and  have  no  respect  forage,  sex,  or  condition. 
At  Spirit  Lake,  in  nortnern  Iowa,  women  and  children  were  impaled 
on  sharpened  poles  and  subjected  to  every  indignity  possible  for  human 
fiends  to  perpetrate,  until  death  came  to  tlie  relief  of  those  who  had 
suffered  tortures  equivalent  to  a  thousand  deaths. 

Though  the  powers  of  the  government  were  strained  to  their 
utmost,  yet  the  appeals  of  the  distressed  pioneer  were  not  made  in 
vain.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  General  Sully,  with  two  regiments  of 
cavalry,  and  a  park  of  mountain  liowitzers,  set  out  on  an  expedition 
against  the  hostile  tribes. 

k  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  was  the  outfitting  point.  Sioux  City  at  that 
ime  was  about  as  large  as  Alma.  It  was  a  dull  and  sleepy  town,  but 
uwo  regiments  of  volunteers  and  several  hundred  quartermaster  em- 
ployes put  new  life  into  the  dull  village.  But  in  a  short  time  the 
little  army  moved  on  up  the  river  past  Fort  Randall,  on  beyond  the 
Crow  Creek  agency,  and  then  to  a  point  opposite  old  Fort  Pierre.  The 
river  was  low  and  the  little  stern  wheel  steamers  made  slow  work  of 
transporting  supplies  to  the  camp  opposite  Fort  Pierre.  So  for  nearly 
two  months  the  present  site  of  the  newly  chosen  capital  of  Dakota 
was  utilized  as  a  camping  ground  for  Sully's  command.  A  mile  below 
hundreds  of  Sioux  Indians  were  encamped,  and  with  them  were  several 
squaw  men.  Of  these  squaw  men,  several  were  chosen  as  guides  to 
lead  the  command  to  the  camp  of  their  hostile  brothers  on  the  plains 
farther  north.  Among  the  guides  was  one  that  has  since  become 
famous  as  "Belden,  tlie  White  Chief." 


82       EARLY  II ISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

That  was  a  desolate  country  then.  Not  a  dozen  ranches  were  in 
existence  aV)ove  Fort  Randall.  Fort  Pierre,  opposite  the  camp  was  not 
a  government  fort  but  merely  a  French  trading  post  established  by  a 
Fronchman,  no  less  wild  than  the  Indians,  for  the  purpose  of  trading 
with  the  Sioux.  To  "stand  in"  with  the  Indians  was  a  matter  of 
necessity,  and  the  soldiers  would  as  soon  trust  an  Indian  as  these  "Par- 
levoos."  But  there  were  no  other  guides  and  it  was  these  squaw  men 
or  notliing,  and  to  this  day  the  members  of  the  6th  Iowa  and  2nd 
Nebraska  cavalry  will  insist  that  the  ill  success  of  tlie  expedition  was 
due  to  tlie  treacherous  guides. 

Pierre,  the  Capital !  And  only  twenty  six  years  ago  the  monot- 
onous noise  of  a  military  camp  was  only  broken  by  the  braying  of  hungry 
mules  or  the  sound  of  the  tom-tom  wafted  across  the  river  from  the 
Indian  camps  around  the  fort. 

Pierre,  the  capital !  Pierre  with  its  railroad  facilities,  and  electric 
lights.,  and  handsome  school-buildings,  and  town  lots  selling  at  a 
thousand  dollars  per  foot.     What  a  change. 

Where  is  Rip  Van  Winkle?    Give  him  another  shake. 
"A  mass  of  seething  humanity." 

"People  driving  in  buggies  over  the  hills  north  of  town  to  look  at 
property." 

That  is  the  way  the  dispatches  read.  It  is  well  to  give  Rip 
Van  Winkle  another  shake.  The  wonders  that  would  be  unfolded 
might  well  cause  the  old  fellow  to  turn  in  his  grave. 

Buggies  in  Dakota  in  1863  would  have  been  as  much  out  of  place 
as  a  bovine  in  a  china  shop. 

The  only  property  in  that  country  in  those  days  worth  looking  after 
was  a  man's  scalp,  and  each  one  endeavored  to  take  care  of  his  own. 
But  driving  or  riding  over  the  hills  to  the  north  in  those  days  would 
have  been  a  risky  venture. 

In  August,  1863,  Sully's  command  formed  a  line  of  march  of  five 
columns  and  moved  forward  toward  the  supposed  location  of  the  vil- 
lages of  the  hostile  Sioux. 

General  Sully,  stall  and  body  guard,  followed  by  the  mountain 
howitzers,  formed  the  central  column.  On  either  side  was  a  long  line 
of  wagons  an  d  and  ambulances,  and  on  the  outside  of  these  was  a  regi- 
ment of  cavalry— the  6th  Iowa  on  the  right  and  the  2nd  Nebraska  on 
the  left.  A  herd  of  beef  cattle,  guarded  by  a  company  of  cavalry, 
brought  up  the  rear. 

In  this  manner  for  a  distance  of  600  miles,  the  command  marched 
through  a  hostile  country  in  which  the  house  of  a  white  man  had 
never  been  seen. 

Deer  and  antelope  were  frequently  seen,  and  there  were  buft'alo  in 
plenty— and  that  it  will  be  remembered  was  east  of  the  Missouri  river. 


EARLY  TflSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        83 

At  that  time,  where  buffalo  were  found,  Indians  were  not  far 
away.  The  carcasses  of  buffalo,  recently  killed,  was  evidence  that  the 
Indian  villages  were  near  and  that  they  were  engaged  in  providing 
themselves  with  meat  for  winter  use. 

On  September  3,  1863,  the  command,   with  the  exception  of  a  bat- 
talion of  cavalry,  had  gone  into  camp  after  a  hard   day's  march.    This 
batalion  of  cavalry  was  scouting  in  front  and  had  come  upon  a  village 
of  600  lodges  of  the  hostile  Sioux. 

The  chief  scout,  La  Frombois,  had  returned  to  camp,  and  reporting 
the  near  proximity  of  the  Indians,  the  two  regiments  were  immedi- 
ately put  under  marching  orders. 

Never  was  the  bugle  call  of  "Boots  and  Saddles"  obeyed  with 
greater  alacrity  The  two  regiments  of  cavalry  had  been  recruited 
from  among  the  pioneers  of  Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Minnesota,  and  many 
of  the  soldiers  had  lost  friends  or  relatives  in  the  terrible  massacre  of 
the  year  before. 

It  was  but  a  few  short  moments  from  the  time  the  call  was 
sounded  until  2000  cavalry  and  a  battery  of  mountain  howitzeis  were 
hidden  in  a  cloud  of  dust  raised  in  the  direction  of  the  hostile  camp 
ten  miles  away. 

The  battalion  of  cavalry  scouting  for  Indians  in  front  of  Sully's 
command  was  composed  of  several  companies  of  the  6th  Iowa.  In  that 
regiment  was  a  company  of  gray  horses,  another  one  of  black  horses, 
etc.    The  black  horse  company  was  a  part  of  the  scouting  battalion. 

The  Indians,  who,  by  the  way,  had  seen  the  advancing  troops  long 
before  their  village  was  discovered,  had  met  the  advancing  column 
some  distance  from  the  village,  and  were  quick  to  notice  the  absence 
of  the  white  horses.  This  was  evidence  to  them  that  only  a  part  of 
the  troops  were  in  their  immediate  front.  There  being  about  four 
thousand. warriors  in  the  village  the  younger  warriors  of  the  tribe 
were  in  favor  of  annihilating  the  band  before  the  reinforcements 
arrived,  while  the  older  members,  men  with  families  in  the  camp, 
were  opposed  to  doing  anything  that  would  jeopardize  the  loss  of  their 
property,  or  that  would  endanger  the  lives  of  their  wives  and  children. 

The  Indians  were  not  asleep.  They  had  seen  the  scout,  La 
Frambois,  leave  the  command,  and  suspected  that  he  had  returned 
for  the  main  body  of  the  troops.  As  soon  as  this  became  known,  run- 
ners were  sent  to  the  Indian  village  with  orders  to  move  camp  with- 
out delay.  In  carrying  out  these  orders  no  time  was  lost,  and  when 
General  Sully,  with  two  regiments  of  cavalry  came  up,  there  was  but 
one  tepee  standing  in  the  village.  The  others,  with  papooses,  puppies 
and  other  household  belongings,  were  strapped  on  the  backs  of  the 
little  army  of  Indian  ponies  ad  were  scattered  for  miles  and  making 
good  time  in  the  direction  of  a  more  healthful  climate. 


84       EARLY  niSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

General  Sully  followed  the  Indians  and  overtook  the  main  body  in 
a  ravine  about  a  mile  from  the  deserted  village,  and  had  he  permitted 
the  mountain  howitzers  to  entilade  the  ravine,  as  some  of  his  sub- 
ordinates desired,  but  few  Indians  would  have  been  left  alive  to  ren- 
der a  second  expedition  necessary.  But  being  more  merciful  than  the 
Indians  had  shown  themselves,  he  refused  to  allow  the  cannon  to  be 
used  on  account  of  the  slaughter  of  the  women  and  children  who  were 
scrambling  along  in  a  confused  mass  of  ponies,  warriors,  squaws, 
children  and  dt)gs. 

Every  possible  endeavor  was  made  to  induce  the  Indians  to  sur- 
render. About  three  hundred  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  pre- 
sented to  save  their  property  and  families  from  possible  destruction, 
but  the  majority  kept  up  their  hurried  flight.  This  condition  of 
things  could  not  last.  A  large  number  of  the  soldiers  had  lost  friends 
or  relatives  by  Indian  barbarities,  and  had  enlisted  that  they  miglil 
inflict  on  the  Indians  that  punishment  they  deserved.  With  or  with- 
out orders  firing  began,  and  the  heaps  of  dead  ponies  told  of  the  terri- 
ble execution  of  the  volleys  of  minnie  balls  poured  into  the  retreating 
mass.  Evidence  of  the  panic  that  ensued  was  shown  in  the  piles  of 
tepees  and  camp  equipage  of  every  description  scattered  for  miles 
over  the  prairie,  plainly  marking  the  course  of  the  stampede.  It  was 
a  flight  for  life,  but  the  warriors  stood  their  ground,  and  it  being  late 
in  the  afternoon,  they  held  possession  of  the  field  all  night,  carrying 
off  their  dead,  and,  with  but  few  exceptions,  their  wounded. 

The  soldiers  lost  twenty-two  killed  and  thirty  eight  wounded. 
Among  the  latter  was  the  adjutant  of  the  6th  Iowa,  who  being 
wounded  in  the  hips,  was  compelled  to  lie  on  the  field  all  night.  Be- 
ing cold  he  had  pulled  over  him  a  bulTalo  robe  lying  near. 

The  Indians,  in  looking  for  their  own  dead  and  wounded,  came 
across  the  adjutant,  and,  finding  him  alive,  thrust  a  spear  twice 
through  his  body,  cutoff  his  ears  and  scalped  him.* 

Notwithstanding  all  this  he  lived  until  the  next  afternoon,  being 
able  to  relate  to  his  sorrowing  brother  otticers  the  terrible  scenes  en- 
acted around  him  as  he  lay  helpless  on  the  ground  the  night  before. 

At  nightfall  the  command  withdrew  to  a  hill  overlooking  the  site 
of  the  deserted  village  where  they  bivouaced  without  fire  or  blankets 
until  the  arrival  of  the  wagon  train,  which  was  about  sunrise  next 
morning. 

On  the  15th  of  September,   1863,   a  Sioux  Indian  village  of  600 

*  In  "Belden,  the  White  Chief,"  Is  an  Illustration  in  which  the  adjutant  is  por- 
trayed as  fighting  with  his  sword,  the  squaws,  who,  it  is  related,  inflicted  upon  the 
adjutant  tVie  injuries  that  caused  his  death.  Willi  Die  e.xception  of  the  prisoneis 
and  a  few  of  the  wounded,  the  squaws  were  miles  away,  looking  after  their  papooses 
and  taking  care  of  their  own  scalps. 


EARLY  TdSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        85 

lodges  was  located  on  every  side  of  a  small  but  beautiful  lake  situated 
near  the  dividing  line  between  North  and  South  Dakota. 

The  lodges  were  of  tanned  buffalo  skins,  supported  by  a  frame 
work  of  slender  spruce  poles,  brought  from  the  Black  Hills.  Each 
lodge  afforded  shelter  for  about  ten  persons. 

The  country  around  furnished  excellent  pasturage  for  the  hun- 
dreds of  ponies  that  constituted  the  principal  wealth  of  the  nomadic 
bands  gathered  together  for  protection  from  the  soldiers  sent  to  avenge 
the  wrongs  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  savages  the  year  before. 
Every  movement  of  the  command  had  been  watched  for  days,  and,  but 
for  the  tell-tale  carcasses  of  the  buffalo  scattered  for  miles  over  the 
prairies,  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  village  would  have  been  found,  on 
account  of  its  secluded  site — the  hills  on  every  side  rendering  it  visible 
but  a  short  distance  from  any  direction. 

But  the  commotion  in  camp  showed  too  plainly  of  blasted  hopes. 
The  camp  had  been  discovered,  and  the  only  remaining  hope  was  in 
flight  before  the  arrival  of  the  main  body  of  troops.  There  was  a 
hurried  gathering  in  of  the  ponies,  and  there  was  such  a  confused 
hustling  of  household  belongings,  as  they  were  being  packed  on  the 
backs  of  ponies,  as  was  seldom  seen  in  an  Indian  village. 

With  the  long  tepee  poles  strapped  to  the  sides  of  the  ponies,  and 
the  huge  wickerwork  travois  strapped  to  the  poles  behind  the  animals, 
and  a  load  on  the  pony's  back  he  was  ready  to  take  his  place  in  the  line 
of  march. 

With  hundreds  of  hands  at  work,  it  was  not  long  before  the  bust- 
ling village  was  a  thing  of  the  past.  This  was  an  extraordinary  occa- 
sion, and  it  was  devil  take  the  hindmost.  So,  long  before  the  arrival 
of  Sully  and  his  command,  the  least  encumbered  of  the  Indians  were 
streaming  over  the  hills  toward  some  quiet  nook  where  the  blue  coats 
would  not  care  to  follow.  But  the  troops  were  upon  them  before  the 
main  body  of  the  Indians  had  reached  a  point  a  mile  beyond  the 
village.  We  have  told  of  the  fight  and  withdrawal  of  the  troops  to  the 
hill  near  the  site  of  the  deserted  village. 

It  was  long  and  weary  waiting  in  the  cold  and  darkness,  but  with 
the  dawn  of  day  the  soldiers  were  gladdened  by  the  sight  of  the  ad- 
vancing train.  Ere  long  the  camp  fires  were  lighted  and  but  for  the 
gloom  that  overspread  the  camp,  by  reason  of  missing  comrades,  the 
usual  good  cheer  would  soon  have  prevailed.  The  last  sad  rites  of 
burying  the  dead  being  performed,  and  the  wounded  having  been 
made  as  comfortable  as  posssble  under  the  circumstances,  other  duties 
must  be  performed.  The  Indians  were  hovering  around  the  camp 
ready  to  cut  off  any  stragglers  that  might  venture  outside  the  lines. 
Scouting  parties  were  .sent  out  in  search  of  the  Indians,  and  some  of 
them  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  them.    One  company,  save  one   man, 


86       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

left  their  pruns  behind  them  in  their  hurry  to  reach  camp  ahead  of  the 
Indians. 

Marking  the  line  of  retreat,  and  within  a  mile  of  camp,  the  site  of 
the  deserted  village,  were  hundreds  of  abandoned  tepees,  buffalo  robes, 
camp  e(iuipage,  and  in  fact  everything  to  be  found  in  an  Indian  camp. 
Hundreds  of  arrows,  bows  already  strung,  tomahawlts,  pipes,  scalps  of 
women  and  children  killed  in  the  massacre  a  year  before,  doubtless 
preserved  as  mementoes  of  .some  brave,  who  on  this  occasion  concluded 
that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor. 

It  was  now  the  .soldiers'  turn  at  gathering  souvenirs,  and  many  a 
home  in  Iowa  and  Nebra.ska  of  today  may  boast  of  some  Indian  relic 
.saved  from  the  torch  that  was  soon  applied  to  the  heaps  of  traps 
gathered  together  by  the  soldiers  detailed  for  the  work. 

But  all  were  not  souvenirs,  that  are  today  valued,  though  they 
may  be  of  assistance  in  drawing  a  pension.  Some  wounded  Indians 
had  been  missed  in  the  search  of  their  comrades.  One  of  these  sent 
an  arrow  through  the  arm  of  a  soldier  looking  for  curios,  and  another 
had  a  steel  arrow  head  driven  into  his  skull  with  such  force  as  to  re- 
quire the  united  strength  of  one  of  the  surgeons  and  two  assistants  to 
withdraw  the  ugly  missile.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  these  members 
of  the  Lo  family  were,  without  ceremony,  sent  on  their  journey  to  the 
"happy  hunting  grounds." 

Around  the  camp  were  hundreds  of  dogs  that  had  lost  their  reckon- 
ing during  the  panic  and  hovered  around  the  deserted  village,  that 
was  now  in  the  hands  of  a  strange  people  whom  the  dogs  deemed 
worthy  of  a  nightly  serenade  of  the  most  dismal  howling. 

It  was  the  custom  among  the  Indians  to  provide  the  dogs  with 
small  tepee  kennels  for  shelter.  When  on  the  march  the  small  tepee 
poles  were  strapped  to  the  dogs  and  a  bundle  strapped  behind.  Some- 
times this  was  the  dog  tepee,  and  again  a  buffalo  robe  or  some  article 
of  wearing  apparel,  and  occasionally  the  load  would  be  a  more  precious 
burden,  the  idol  of  the  Indian  household,  the  youngest  papoose. 

Among  the  bewildered  dogs,  dozens  of  them  were  aimlessly  wan- 
dering about  with  their  packs  still  strapped  to  them  and  these  were 
shot  down  that  their  valuable  loads  might  be  secured. 

As  one  of  the  details  of  soldiers  was  gathering  in  heaps  the  In- 
dian trappings  that  the  torch  might  be  applied,  he  saw  an  object 
among  the  weeds  growing  in  the  bed  of  a  dry  lake  which  he  supposed 
was  a  dog  with  a  pack.  Thinking  to  kill  the  dog  that  his  pack  might 
be  secured,  he  proceeded  to  the  spot  and  after  peering  cautiously 
around  he  got  sight  of  the  object  that  had  attracted  his  attention,  but 
it  proved  to  be  a  different  animal  from  that  which  he  expected  to  find. 
It  was  a  long  object  covered  by  a  buffalo  robe.  From  under  one  end  a 
beaded  moccasin  protruded  and  at  the  other  end  the  rounded  form 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        87 

suggested  that  underneath  that  part  of  the  covering  lay  an  Indian's 
head. 

There  was  the  click  of  the  hammer,  and  a  sharp  report  and  another 
member  of  the  Sioux  tribe  had  gone  to  loin  Hiawatha.  It  was  not  a 
soldierly  act,  but  the  mutilated  bodies  of  their  dead  comrades  found 
on  the  field  and  the  horrible  scenes  enacted  at  Spirit  Lake,  were  too 
fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  Second  Nebraska  to  foster  feelings  akin  to 
sentiment  in  the  matter  of  dealing  with  an  Indian. 

A  new  difficulty  now  presented  itself.  Fort  Pierre  was  the  base  of 
supplies,  and  that  was  300  miles  away.  The  supply  of  rations  was  run- 
ning short  and  there  were  300  Indian  prisoners  to  feed.  The  only 
alternative  was  to  draw  from  the  Indians'  supply  of  commissary  stores. 
These  consisted  of  jerked  (dried)  buffalo  meat,  and  were  scattered  over 
the  prairie  along  the  line  of  the  stampede.  Hundreds  of  packages  of 
about  fifty  pounds  each  were  encased  in  buffalo  hides.  Ten  six-mule 
teams  were  sent  out  and  were  quickly  loaded  with  these  supplies,  and 
it  may  be  said  that  they  were  too  much  relished  by  the  soldiers  to  ad- 
mit of  the  Indian  prisoners  monopolizing  this  branch  of  the  commis- 
sary department. 

The  work  of  gathering  these  supplies  furnished  an  opportunity  to 
those  engaged  in  the  work  of  saving  from  the  torch  an  Indian  relic  that 
might  be  considered  worth  the  transportation  back  to  a  civilized 
country.  And  there  is  doubtless  in  many  a  home  in  Iowa  and  Ne- 
braska today  relics  of  the  Sully  expedition  against  the  Sioux  Indians 
in  1863.  The  writer  has  in  his  possession  a  wooden  bowl  of  Sioux  man- 
ufacture that  he  picked  up  on  the  line  of  the  stampede. 

In  passing  over  the  ground,  one  of  the  detail,  observing  a  beauti- 
fully painted  robe,  raised  it  up  with  the  intention  of  appropriating  it 
to  his  own  private  nse.  As  he  lifted  it  a  faint  cry  came  from  beneath 
it— a  cry  that  startled  all  within  the  short  distance  it  could  be  heard. 
It  was  the  cry  of  a  newly  born  papoose,  that  had  been  ushered  into  the 
world  amid  such  scenes  of  tumult  and  carnage  as  are  seldom  seen. 
Nothing  short  of  a  reign  of  pandemonium  could  have  caused  that 
mother,  though  an  Indian,  to  leave  her  babe  on  the  cold  ground,  with 
but  a  robe  for  protection  from  the  chilly  air  of  northern  Dakota. 

The  robe  was  replaced  with  the  intention  of  having  the  papoose 
placed  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  squaws  among  the  prisoners,  but  the 
same  ruthless  hands  of  those,  none  the  less  savage  in  their  instincts 
than  the  merciless  Indians,  rendered  impossible  such  an  act  of  human- 
ity. 

The  little  one  was  deserving  of  a  better  fate,  and  had  a  mother's 
care  been  delegated  to  a  foster  parent,  future  years  may  have  developed 
the  foundling  into  a  useful  member  of  that  great  family  of  brother- 
hood, that  can  look,   with  no  other  feeling  than  one  of  abhorrence 


88       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WARAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

on  scenes  that  tend  to  rob  our  natures  of  all  that  is  good,  and  pure 
and  ennobling,  that  are  essential  to  tit  us  for  that  better  life  beyond 
the  grave. 


Charge  of  the  /V\Ule  Brigade. 


When  the  Santa  Fe  brakeman  called  out  the  station  at  Iron 
Springs  the  writer's  thoughts  were  occupied  by  other  things  than  the 
sage  brush  skirting  the  road-bed  through  the  most  desolate  section  of 
Southern  Colorado.  He  was  thinking  less  of  the  rocky  basin  marking 
the  holes  of  brackish  water  with  which  the  weary  traveler  was,  in 
times  past,  glad  to  quench  his  thirst,  than  of  Pat  McCloskey's  narrow 
escape  from  the  "Texicans." 

In  the  Spring  of  1864  our  lot  was  cast  with  twenty  other  govern- 
ment employes  returning  from  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico,  to  the 
"States."  Pat  McCloskey,  one  of  our  party,  was  constantly  regaling 
the  boys  with  his  thrilling  adventures,  narrow  escapes  from  the  In- 
dians, &c.  Pat,  in  his  own  estimation,  was  quite  a  hero,  but  somehow 
his  companions  failed  to  place  so  high  an  estimate  on  his  bravery  as  he 
himself  seemed  to  entertain. 

While  at  Fort  Union  some  of  the  garrison  manifested  a  little  un- 
easiness lest  the  Texans  should  treat  them  to  a  repetition  of  the  Val- 
verde  raid.  At  the  Fort  preparations  had  been  made  to  give  the 
Texans  a  warm  reception  and  the  batteries  of  light  artillery  and  field 
guns  about  the  post  presented  a  forbidding  as  well  as  military  appear- 
ance and  the  boys  accused  McCloskey  of  being  somewhat  cowed  by  the 
warlike  indications.  However,  in  proportion  as  the  distance  from  the 
scene  of  the  probable  invasion  increased  the  spirits  of  our  boasting 
comrade  seemed  to  revive  and  when  we  went  into  camp  at  Iron  Springs 
the  horrid  "Texicans"  had  been  forgotten. 

But  along  in  the  afternoon  at  a  time  when  the  camp  had  settled 
down  for  a  quiet  rest  after  the  fatigues  of  the  day's  march  the  still- 
ness was  broken  by  frantic  yells  from  the  direction  of  Fort  Union. 
"The  Texicans  are  coming !  The  Texicans  are  coming!"  The  camp 
was  immediately  aroused,  and  looking  down  the  road  whom  should  we 
see  but  McCloskey,  hat  in  hand,   running  for  dear  life  toward  camp. 

With  pallid  face  and  his  long  hair  streaming  in  the  wind  McCloskey 
hardly  dared  cast  behind  him  a   glance  to  assure    him.self  of  the 


EARLY  TriSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY^  KAN.        89 

character  of  his  pursuers — who  proved  to  be  a  half  dozen  men  with  a 
score  of  pack  mules  on  their  way  to  Fort  Lyon,  on  the  Arkansas. 
The  mules  were  on  a  brisk  run  and  being  encumbered  by  such  camp 
equipments  as  frying  pans,  sheet  iron  camp  kettles,  etc.,  made  quite  a 
din  and  created  in  the  mind  of  McCloskey  the  the  impression  that  two 
or  three  regiments  of  Texans  were  making  a  charge  on  his  rear. 

Not  until  McCloskey  had  arrived  sufficiently  near  camp  to  enable 
him  to  discover  the  merriment  his  appearance  was  exciting,  did  he 
realize  that  he  was  making  a  spectacle  of  himself. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  trip  all  that  was  necessary  to  put  a 
quietus  on  McCloskey's  yarn-spinning  was  to  ask  him  to  tell  about 
"The  Charge  of  the  Mule  Brigade  at  the  Iron  Springs." 


Sonie  Farrriing  Operiences. 


Five  Alma  boys  can  tell  all  about  it.    They  had  experience  of  a 

practical  kind.    It  was  somewhat  limited— short  and — well,   not  very 

sweet. 

A  farmer  living  five  miles  south  of  Alma,   seeing  that  the  weeds 

were  making  inroads  into  his  corn  crop,  gave  it  out  that  a  few  boys 

could  get  steady  employment  in  the  business  of  hoeing  corn. 

No  advertising  was  done  for  the  very  good  reason  that  it  wasn't 
necessary.  One  boy  had  heard  of  the  soft  snap  and  he  lost  no  time  in 
communicating  the  good  tidings  to  his  chums.  The  idea  of  getting  a 
whole  twenty-five-cent  piece  for  such  a  little  thing  as  a  day's  work 
seemed  too  good  to  be  true,  but  the  boys — five  of  them — concluded  to 
go  out  and  investigate. 

Vivid  pictures  of  big  piles  of  corn  flitted  before  the  honest  farm- 
er's eyes  as  the  boys  lined  up  for  inspection  before  him. 

Yes,  they  all  wanted  work.  Each  of  the  boys  had  a  good  home  in 
Alma,  but  in  the  city  no  means  is  provided  by  which  boys  can  properly 
exercise  their  muscle.  In  town  is  a  poor  place  for  a  boy  to  work  off 
his  surplus  energy,  and  the  boys  had  come  to  the  country  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  in  saving  the  crops  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of 
twenty-five  cents  a  day,  per  capita. 

There  were  five  boys  but  not  enough  hoes  to  go  around.  But  so 
small  a  matter  could  be  easily  remedied.  A  boy  could  ride  to  town 
and  get  a  hoe.    That  was  the  easiest  job  he  ever  had.    But  using  the 


90       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


hoe  was  different.  An  hour  and  a  half  cutting  weeds  with  that  hoe 
convinced  that  party  that  the  whole  farminj?  business  was  a  grinding 
monopoly,  and  pitching  the  hoe  into  a  clump  of  weeds  our  would-be 
farmer  made  a  break  for  Alma,  where  the  city  hires  a  man  for  the 
special  purpose  of  attending  to  the  weed  cutting  business. 

Boy  No.  2  worked  a  full  half  hour  and  then  gave  up— not  the  ghost, 
but  his  job,  for  the  better  one  he  left  at  home. 

Boy  No.  3  after  working  fifteen  minutes  broke  his  hoe-handle. 
The  farmer  put  in  another,  but  when  he  looked  for  that  boy  there  was 
a  big  vacant  spot  that  a  few  minutes  before  had  been  occupied  by  a  65- 
pound  would-be  farmer. 

Boy  No.  4  only  came  to  look  on  to  see  how  he  would  like  it.  He 
liked  it.  Work  was  a  good  thing,  but  he  was  generous  to  a  fault,  so  he 
left  the  whole  job  to  be  divided  among  the  other  boys— just  as  they 
saw  fit. 

But  boy  No.  5  beat  the  record.  He  stayed  five  whole  days.  He 
had  just  as  hard  a  job  at  home  and  there  wasn't  any  twenty-five  cents 
a  day  in  it  either,  and  that  is  why  he  stuck  to  it  so  long. 

When  the  boy  who  had  worked  an  hour  and  a  half  returned  home 
he  had  a  dismal  story  to  tell  of  the  farmer's  hard  lot— and  it  wasn't  in 
the  cow-lot,  either— where  he  said  a  part  of  his  duty  was  to  milk  three 
cows— two  more  than  at  home. 

It  was  to  his  mother  he  went  with  his  grievance— of  how  the  boys 
had  to  work  in  the  hot  sun— of  how  they  sweat  and  got,  oh,  so  dirty  ! 
And  the  man  said  they  would  have  to  sleep  in  the  barn  and  worst  of 
all,  they  must  work  there  three  or  four  days  before  he  could  determine 
whether  or  not  their  work  was  worth  twenty-five  cents  a  day. 

In  those  few  long  days— or  hours— those  boys  learned  more  about 
farming  than  Horace  Greely  knew  when  he  wrote  his  book.  Their 
knowledge  was  of  the  practical  kind,  while  that  possessed  by  the  re- 
nowned Horace  was  only  theoretical. 

But  the  lesson  learned  on  the  farm  will  not  be  lost.  Not  one  of 
those  boys  but  returned  home  better  contented  with  his  lot.  Each 
had  seen  a  good  deal  of  the  world  from  a  boy's  standpoint.  He  had 
tasted  the  bitterness  of  life's  realities  and  the  impression  left  was  any- 
thing but  pleasant— yet  just  such  experiences  are  necessary  to  enable 
the  average  boy  to  better  fight  the  great  battle  of  life  after  he  has 
once  crossed  the  real  threshold. 


EAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUKSEE  CODNTY,  KAN.       91 


/V  Rabbit  Farm. 


Fake  stories  of  skunk  farms,  rattle  snake  farms,  frog  farms,  etc., 
tend  to  satisfy  the  curious,  but  they  usually  lack  the  element  of  truth. 
But  one  doesn't  have  to  drawn  on  his  imagination  to  tell  of  Alma's 
first  rabbit  farm— or  rather  a  little  farm  on  which  the  chief  Industry 
was  the  raising  of  the  genuine  Belgian  hare. 

To  Mr.  Fred  Meyer  is  the  credit  due  for  this  infant  industry  that 
antedated  by  several  years  the  fad  of  raising  Belgian  hares  that  has 
since  spread  to  every  state  in  the  Union. 

Beginning  in  1895,  Mr.  Meyer  raised  on  his  five  acre  tract  in  the 
north  east  part  of  town  Belgian  hares  by  the  hundreds.  Although  but 
little  outlay  was  made  for  advertising,  a  large  number  of  shipments 
were  made  to  parties  residing  a  thousand  miles  or  more  from  the  little 
farm  where  the  hares  first  saw  the  light. 

In  addition  to  the  number  sold  for  breeding  purposes,  Mr.  Meyer's 
table  was  bountifully  supplied  with  dressed  Belgian  hare,  a  dish  that 
compares  favorably  with  the  dantiest  the  market  can  provide. 

In  1898  the  hares  had  increased  in  numbers  until  about  300  were 
awaiting  orders  for  shipment  or  were  ready  to  supply  the  tables  of 
those  desirous  of  indulging  in  a  luscious  dish  of  Belgian  hare. 

These  hares  were  about  the  size  of  our  common  jack  rabbits,  a 
little  darker  in  color  and  as  tame  and  playful  as  kittens.  The  industry 
requiring  more  time  and  attention  than  the  proprietor  felt  that  he 
could  give  to  it,  the  business  was  closed  out— just  as  the  fad  was  being 
taken  up  and  the  raising  of  hares  had  become  a  source  of  income  to 
thousands  of  people  unaware  of  the  fact  that  the  initial  starting  point 
was  at  the  little  town  of  Alma. 

Referring  to  this  farm  the  Arkansas  City  Dispatch  said  in  April, 
1897:    "This  is  probably  the  only  farm  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 


Item  in  Signal,  May  15,  1897;  We  leam  that  A.  A.  Jones  has  had 
an  experience  with  a  Texas  steer  that  will  last  a  life  time— Alf 's  life- 
time, we  mean  The  steer's  life  is  gone— he  died  of  over  production— 
of  acquaintanceship  with  Alf— and  his  son,  Ditto.  Ditto  is  the  other 
name  for  Sheldon.  Alf  was  in  sore  straits— as  it  looked  to  a  man  up  a 
tree — that  was  Sheldon.    He  had  gone  to  help  Alf  and  concluded  he 


92       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

could  do  him  as  much  good  up  a  tree  as  on  the  ground.  The  precedent 
before  him  was  sutlk-ieiit  proof  of  tlie  correctness  of  his  position— tlie 
precedent  was  separated  from  Sheldon  by  a  gooseberry  patch— and  the 
steer  wasn't  far  away— they  never  are  w  hen  they  are  mad— at  least  tlioy 
don't  stay  faraway  very  long  at  a  time— and  that  was  what  was  the 
matter  with  Alf.  The  steer  was  so  close  he  bruised  Alf's  ribs,  skinned 
his  face,  and  poked  his  horns  through  his  pants,  worked  out  his  pocket 
book  and  scattered  tlie  contents  over  something  more  than  an  acre  of 
ground.  That's  what  the  Star  says,  and  the  Star's  reputation  for 
truth  and  veracity  isn't  to  be  doubted,  unless  one  wants  to  get  into  a 
scrap,  and  we  don't. 


As  time  advances  the  advantages  presented  by  Wabaunsee  county 
as  a  grazing  county  become  more  and  more  apparent.  With  her 
thousands  of  acres  of  grazing  lands,  with  her  wooded  streams  of  pure 
and  sparkling  waters  and  our  proximity  to  market  our  facilities  are 
unexceled  anywhere,  and  wide-awake  stockmen  show  excellent  judg- 
ment in  selecting  Alma,  the  center  of  our  large  grazing  district,  as 
their  headquarters  from  which  to  direct  their  operations.  But  our 
farmers  and  merchants  share  a  large  percentage  of  the  benefits  de- 
rived. Their  share  of  the  profits  from  the  sale  of  their  surplus  grain, 
supplies  and  extra  pasturage  net  them  substantial  returns.  Our 
county  has  been  well  named  '-The  Switzerland  of  Kansas."  While 
the  appellation  is  not  inappropriate,  the  fact  remains  that  few  local- 
ities anywhere  possess  greater  advantages  to  men  engaged  in  the 
cattle  industry. 


Item  in  the  Signal,  July  10.  1897:  If  you  don't  believe  it  rained  on 
Saturday  night  last  ask  that  McFarland  young  man  how  it  looked  to  a 
man  up  a  tree.  The  good  people  down  at  the  McCrumb  crossing  hear- 
ing the  roaring  waters  went  down  to  the  crossing  where  they  espied  a 
strange  pony  with  a  saddle  on,  almost  convincing  them  that  some  be- 
lated traveler  had  gone  down  in  the  turbulent  waters  of  Mill  creek. 
But  a  voice  from  the  tree  tops  announced  that  the  owner  of  the  voice 
wasn't  drowned  but  a  little  bit  damp  and  somewhat  chilled  from 
the  effects  of  an  involuntary  bath.  The  young  gentleman  had  been 
making  a  call  that  had  been  somewhat  prolonged  by  the  refusal  on  the 
part  of  the  rain  to  stop.  In  attempting  to  cross  the  northern  ap- 
proach to  the  McCrumb  bridge  the  pony  was  washed  down  the  stream 
and  the  rider  saved'f^om  drowning  by  an  overhanging  limb— enabling 
the  weary  survivor  of  the  Hood  to  resume  his  place  as  manager  of  the 
Rock  Island  eating  house  at  McFarland. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.         93 


One  of  (Jncle  Sam's  Kids. 


As  Ira  Hodgson's  experience  is  but  that  of  a  score  of  Wabaunsee 
county  boys  who  suffered  the  pangs  of  disappointment  by  reason  of 
being  unable  to  fill  the  requirements  necessary  to  pass  the  mustering 
officer,  we  tell  his  story  in  his  own  words: 

"June  1st,  1861,  found  me  15  years  and  4  months  old,  and  the 
North  and  South  in  a  death  grapple  for  supremacy.  What  was  fret- 
ting me  was  that  the  scrimmage  would  be  settled  before  I  was  big 
enough  to  join  in  the  scrap.    But  I  wasn't  troubled  that  way  long. 

My  parents'  folks— the  Morgans  and  Crittendons— were  fighters 
from  away  back,  and  I  considered  myself  one  of  the  speckled  hen's 
chickens,  and  I  wanted  to  fight  too.  You  don't  have  to  scratch  more 
than  through  the  skin  to  find  the  barbarian  in  the  best  of  humanity, 
and  I  was  no  exception  to  the  rule. 

There  were  about  1100  of  the  Hodgson  family  but  they  were 
Quakers  and  didn't  believe  much  in  war.  But  they  were  abolitionists 
and  would  run  underground  railroads— with  colored  men  as  passengers, 
as  a  matter  of  course. 

When  the  war  broke  out  about  half  of  the  Hodgson  family  lived 
North  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  and  the  other  half,  South.  In  the 
South,  every  one  that  was  old  enough,  was  in  the  Confederate  army, 
and  they  were  hard  old  fighters  too. 

In  the  North,  although  not  so  many  went  into  the  army,  still  there 
are  scores  of  Hodgsons  that  wore  the  blue  that  fill  unmarked  graves  in 
the  sunny  South. 

In  1861 1  was  presumptious  enough  to  imagine  I  was  as  large  as  I 
felt.  I  thought  myself  a  match  for  any  foe  if  I  just  had  a  gun,  so  I 
enlisted. 

But  when  the  mustering-in  officer  came  around  he  told  me  to  step 
out  and  go  home  and  stay  with  my  mother  awhile  before  I  was  big 
enough  to  be  a  soldier.    He  said  they  might  need  me  later  on. 

I  never  felt  so  small  in  my  life.  It  seemed  to  me  as  though  I 
settled  right  down  into  my  boots  and  could  just  see  over  the  tops  of 


94        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUKSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

thciii.  1  racked  right  out  for  home.  I  couldn't  stand  the  rest  of  them 
joshing  me  about  being  so  small. 

But  if  I  couldn't  do  ono  thing  I  would  try  another.  So  I  hired  to 
a  wagon-master  of  a  freight  train  and  made  a  trip  to  New  Mexico  and 
back.  Freigining  in  that  day  and  age  was  a  hard  racket  for  a  kid  and 
I  didn't  grow  much  on  the  trip.  I  measured  myself  but  didn't  come 
up  to  tlie standard  of  a  soldier.  , 

In  the  spring  of  '02  I  was  still  below  the  standard,  and  I  took  an- 
other trip  freighting  to  Santa  Fe.  I  got  back  Augut  21,  '62,  and  found 
the  fighting  still  going  on  in  dead  earnest.  Each  side  had  found  they 
had  a  big  job  on  hand,     (ireek  had  met  Greek, 

The  soldiers  of  the  hardest  fighting  nation  in  the  world  had  met 

on  several  bloody  fields  and  had  demonstrated  that  one  side  had  no 

advantage  of  the  other  as  far  as  fighting  qualities  were  concerned. 

'The  American  is  a  foe  worthy  of  any  man's  steel — let  him  be  Russian, 

Prussian,  Briton  or  Turk. 

The  country  was  needing  soldiers  and  now  was  my  chance.  I 
hadn't  got  big  enough  yet  to  till  the  standard,  but  necessity  sometimes 
compels  the  government  to  vary  a  little  in  regard  to  height  and 
weight. 

They  were  recruiting  now  for  the  11th  Kansas  Infantry,  so  I  just 
footed  it  to  Fort  Leavenworth  and  enlisted  in  Co.  E.  The  mustering- 
In  officer  scrutinized  me  pretty  close.  He  said  I  was  pretty  small  but 
as  I  had  footed  it  one  hundred  miles  to  enlist  he  thought  I  had  pluck 
enough  for  a  soldier  if  I  didn't  have  the  size.  So  he  said  he  guessed 
he  would  have  to  take  me  in. 

I  felt  awful  proud  of  being  a  Kansas  soldier  then  and  I  can  say  I 
have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  it  yet.  The  Kansas  soldier  is  one  of 
the  best  that  tramps  the  earth.  He  has  few  equals  and  no  superior. 
He  has  been  tried  on  over  one  hundred  hard  fought  battle-fields  and 
has  never  been  found  wanting. 

When  the  war  commenced  the  Kansas  soldier  had  his  record  to 
make  and  he  was  subjected  to  a  good  deal  of  ridicule  and  derision  from 
regiments  from  older  states  that  had  former  records  as  soldiers. 

But  when  the  war  was  over  the  Kansas  soldier's  fighting  qualities 
were  not  questioned  by  either  friend  or  foe. 

Well,  the  regiment  was  drilled  about  four  weeks  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth and  then  we  were  sent  to  the  front  on  a  forced  march — on  a 
four  hundred  mile  trip. 

The  large  boys  and  men  had  a  good  deal  of  fun  at  my  expense  bo- 
cause  I  was  small.  They  said  I  couldn't  carry  a  gun,  and  forty  rounds 
of  amunition,  and  my  blanket  and  knapsack  and  keep  up  on  the  march. 
They  said  I  would  have  to  be  hauled  in  one  of  the  wagons  or  an  ambu- 
lance. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.         95 

I  had  nothing  to  say  but  I  did  a  whole  lot  of  thinking.  I  thought 
I  knew  who  would  have  to  crawl  into  a  wagon.  That  spring  and  sum- 
mer I  had  footed  it  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  Santa  Fe  and  back, 
and  from  Leavenworth  home,  and  from  home  to  Leavenworth  to  en- 
list, and  I  thought  I  knew  what  walking  meant. 

The  first  day  out  the  command  made  about  forty-five  miles  and  the 
next  day  about  twenty  miles.  The  second  day  when  we  got  into  camp 
the  iDig  boys  and  men  were  strung  out  for  about  five  miles,  limping 
along  with  sore  feet  or  stealing  a  ride  in  the  wagons  when  they  could 
get  in. 

The  next  day  it  was  the  same,  only  worse.  Then  I  had  the  laugh 
on  them.  I  asked  them  who  had  to  be  hauled  in  the  wagon?  I  was 
used  to  walking  and  could  run  the  best  of  them  down.  But  they  got 
all  right  after  they  got  used  to  walking. 

When  we  got  down  into  Arkansas  we  camped  close  to  a  rebel 
woman's  house  and  near  our  regiment  three  soldiers  belonging  to  the 
6th  Kansas— dispatch  bearers— were  encamped.  The  sergeant  of  the 
squad  was  a  large,  coarse  looking  old  man.  He  went  to  the  house  and 
asked  the  woman  for  a  skillet  to  fry  his  meat  in.  I  was  drawing  a 
bucket  of  water  at  the  well  near  the  door  and  heard  the  conversation. 

She  told  the  sergeant  that  she  wouldn't  lend  him  anything— that 
soldiers  would  lie  and  steal  everything  they  could  lay  their  hands  on. 
The  old  sergeant  said:  "Madam,  I  am  as  honest  as  I  am  ugly;  I  will 
bringyour  skillet  back!"  She  looked  him  all  over  and  then  handed 
him  the  skillet  without  saying  another  word. 

Thinks  I,  old  man,  if  you  are  as  honest  as  you  are  ugly,  your  word 
ought  to  be  as  good  as  your  bond.  He  took  the  woman's  skillet  back 
as  soon  as  he  got  his  meat  fried  and  borrowed  it  again  next  morning, 
again  taking  it  back. 

Soon  after  that  my  father  (Allen  Hodgson)  wrote  me  that  he  had 
a  cousin  in  the  6th  Kansas  Cavalry  by  the  name  of  Jonathan  Hodg- 
son and  if  I  ever  got  a  chance  I  had  better  go  and  see  him.  The  first 
time  I  ran  across  the  6th  Kansas  I  inquired  for  him  and  when  I  found 
him  who  should  it  be  but  the  old  sergeant  that  borrowed  the  skillet. 
We  had  a  good  laugh  over  the  first  time  we  met  in  Arkansas. 

At  Pea  Ridge  we  met  General  Scofield's  command  going  North, 
but  we  pushed  on  and  joined  General  Blunt  in  North  Western  Arkan- 
sas. In  a  few  days  we  marched  to  Fort  Wagner  in  the  Cherokee 
Nation.  Here  were  about  7000  rebels  and  Indians.  General  Blunt 
pitched  into  them  with  the  2nd  and  the  11th  Kansas  and  Rabb's  bat- 
tery. The  2nd  Kansas  charged  their  battery  and  captured  it  before 
the  balance  of  our  command  got  up. 

When  we  got  there  on  the  run  the  Indian  regiment  followed  them 
up  and  killed  and  scalped  a  good  many  of  them.    Our  next  shindy  was 


*-, 


90         EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

at  Cane  Hill.  Arkansas.  The  rebels  were  ready  for  us  and  had  every- 
thing' fixed.  They  had  a  six  fjnn  ])attery  in  position.  The  2nd  Kan- 
sas, with  Ilabb's  battery  and  the  11th  Kansas  were  in  the  advance. 
Rabb's  battery  charged  up  within  400  yards  of  the  rebel  battery.  The 
rebel  battery  was  already  in  position  and  Rabb's  battery  liad  to  go 
into  position  under  fire,  and  before  it  could  get  ready  for  action  it  was 
pretty  badly  used  up.  Tlic  first  shot  from  Rabb's  battery  knocked  one 
gun  off  of  the  wheels.  They  done  them  up  in  short  order  when  they 
got  at  it. 

The  first  man  T  saw  when  we  came  up  was  one  of  the  battery 
boys  leaning  up  against  a  tree  with  his  under  jaw  shot  clean  off.  We 
had  a  running  fight  through  the  mountains  for  about  11  miles.  Night 
came  on  and  that  stopped  the  fight  for  that  day. 

We  stayed  at  Cane  Hill  till  the  7th  day  of  December,  '62  The 
5th  day  of  December,  (jeneral  Hindman  made  a  feint  on  Cane  Hill. 
On  the  6th  he  renewed  the  attack.  IHs  idea  was  to  fight  us  there 
with  part  of  his  army  and  move  the  main  part  around  on  the  wire 
road   to  Rhea's  mills  where  our  supply  train  was. 

Blunt  had  a  scout  on  that  road  but  neglected  his  business  and  let 
Hindman  go  around  the  night  of  the  6th.  We  were  fighting  on  picket 
line  all  night  and  looking  for  a  hard  battle  the  next  day,  but  a  little 
after  sunrise  we  heard  a  heavy  artillery  fire  to  the  north  west. 

We  knew  then  what  was  up — Hindman  was  after  our  supply  train. 
As  luck  would  have  It,  General  Herron  was  on  his  way  to  reinforce 
Blunt  and  met  Hindman  at  Prairie  Grove  and  then  the  fight  com- 
menced. 

Herron  had  four  regiments  of  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry,  which 
with  Blunt's  command  made  about  8000  men.  When  we  heard  the 
cannon  at  Prairie  Grove  we  started  on  the  double  quick  and  got  there 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  They  had  Herron's  men  pretty  badly 
done  up.  Plindman  had  about  5000  reinforcements  come  onto  the 
field  the  same  time  we  got  in.  We  could  hear  Herron's  men  cheering. 
When  tliey  heard  us  open  on  tlie  left  they  went  in  again  in  dead 
earnest. 

It  was  a  pitched  battle  from  then  till  after  dark.  Finally  both 
sides  fell  back.  We  knew  we  were  badly  used  up  but  expected  to  try 
it  again  the  next  day.  We  stayed  in  line  of  battle  all  night  but  we 
found  the  next  morning  the  rebels  had  retreated.  • 

As  near  as  I  can  recollect  we  lost  about  2000  men,  killed  and 
wounded. 

The  next  day  we  buried  the  dead  and  moved  the  wounded  to 
Fayetteville.  The  9th  of  December  we  started  back  to  Cane  Hill. 
The  rebels  had  moved  their  wounded  to  that  place  and  they  we  in  our 
lines. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        97 

The  government  furnished  them  rations  as  long  as  we  stayed 
there. 

The  last  of  January  we  started  for  Van  Buren  and  Fort  Smith. 
From  the  bluflf  above  Van  Buren  we  could  see  the  streets  filled  with 
soldiers.  A  charge  by  the  2nd  Kansas  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
about  300  confederates  and  the  town. 

Next  we  took  Fort  Smith,  capturing  three  steamboats  loaded  with 
supplies.  We  then  returned  to  Huntsville  and  thence  to  Vernon 
county,  Mo. 

Another  short  trip  South  was  followed  by  a  furlough — Justin  time 
to  join  U.  S.  Marshal  McDowell's  posse  in  pursuit  of  Bill  Anderson  on 
liis  raid  through  his  old  stamping  ground.  Bill  got  within  speaking 
distance  of  our  sentries  near  the  Cottonwoyd  crossing  of  the  Santa  Fe 
Trail,  but  lie  wheeled  about  and  in  a  few  days  was  back  in  old  Missouri 
without  losing  a  man. 


Was  It  a  IWistaKe? 


On  Oct.  :i,  18G5,  a  petition  signed  by  II.  J.  Loomis  and  nine  others 
was  presented  to  the  board  of  county  ccuiimissioners,  praying  for  the 
voting  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $100,000,  to  aid  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
it  Santa  Fe  Railroad. 

The  petition  was  rejected,  but  a  few  months  later  the  sum  of 
$r)0.000  was  asked  for  and  an  election  ordered— to  be  held  Feb.  24,  1866. 
But  again  the  proposition  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  127  to  49. 

The  Santa  Fe  was  then  in  its  swaddling  clothes  and  in  view  of  the 
gigantic  undertaking  it  was  but  natural  tnat  the  company  should  seek 
assistiince  to  enable  it  to  accomplish  what  then  seemed  a  problem 
impossible  of  solution. 

Whether  or  not  the  residents  of  Osage  and  Lyon  counties  were 
more  far-seeing  than  ourselves  is  an  undetermined  question  but  at  any 
rate  they  voted  the  bonds  asked  for  and  secured  for  themselves  ad  van- 
tages in  the  way  of  railroad  facilities  that  we  might  have  had 
for  the  asking. 

Considering  the  fact  that  after  long  and  weary  waiting  we  voted 
nearly  three  times  the  amount  that  had  been  asked  for,  in  bonds,  for  a 
feeder  to  what  has  proven  to  be  a  great  National  highway  the  question 


9S        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WA.BAUNSER  COUNTY,  KAN. 


as  to  the  mistake  nvide  could  be  correctly  answered  only  by  a  reply  in 
the  most  emphatic  alHrmative. 

Our  enthusiasm  in  the  matter  of  railroads  was  aroused  at  an  hour 
detrimental  tn  our  material  interests,  but  it  came,  nevertheless. 


Not  at  l+ome. 


Our  short  story  refers  to*  an  occasion  when  absence  from  hf>me 
possibly  .saved  the  life  of  the  early  settler,  who,  fortunately,  was  not  at 
home  when  the  stranger  called  to  pay,  what  the  circumstances  seemed 
to  indicate,  an  unfriendly  visit. 

In  the  early  days  of  1857  the  elder  Mr.  Crafts  was  keeping  batch  in 
the  (filbert  house  (our  first  home)  on  Dragoon  creek.  He  had  shoul- 
dered his  rifle  and  at  the  time  referred  to  was  sitting  on  the  ridge 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  house  hoping  to  get  a  stray  shot 
at  a  deer  that  frequented  the  patch  of  timber  near  the  old  "mill  pond." 

While  watching  for  deer  Mr.  Crafts  kept  his  weather  eye  on  the 
house  and  to  his  surprise  saw  an  Indian,  with  rifle  in  hand,  creeping 
— in  a  crouched  position  — towards  the  old  house— expecting,  probably, 
to  find  the  old  gentleman  at  home. 

Cautiously  and  stealthily  the  Indian  crept  toward  the  cabin. 
Arriving  near  the  house  he  appeared  to  be  listening  for  some  sound 
from  within  that  might  indicate  the  presence  of  the  one  whom  he  was 
evidently  seeking  for  no  good  purpose 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  elder  Crafts  was  a  close  observer  as  to 
the  Indian's  movements  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  in  this 
instance  the  old  pioneer  derived  considerable  satisfaction  from  the 
fact  that  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  space  intervened  between 
his  own  person  and  that  of  the  wily  Mr.  Lo. 

Mr.  Crafts  often  congratulated  himself  that  for  once  in  his  life- 
time he  was  fortunate  in  being  "Not  at  home." 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.        99 


On  the  Ground  Floor. 


All  are  familiar  with  the  story  of  the  agent,  who,  having  sunk  a 
fortune  in  speculating  with  his  employer's  capital  held  out  promising 
inducements  in  a  "'sure  thing"  by  assuring  his  supposed  easy  victim 
that  he  would  be  let  in  "on  the  ground  floor."  That  is  al!  right,  said 
Mr.  Go-easy,  but  my  experience  has  been  of  a  kind  to  induce  the  belief 
that  the  ground  floor  would  be  a  mighty  good  place  but  for  the 
that  I  have  invariably  found  ahead  of  me  in  the  cellar. 

But  there  is  no  cellar  in  the  comparison  involving  the  reputation 
of  Charley  and  Chris  Rath  for  getting  in  on  the  ground  floor.  These 
two  enterprising  German  boys  came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  the  fifties 
and  at  once  proceeded  to  make  things  come  their  way.  With  com- 
mendable foresight  the  boys  set  about  preparing  for  the  influx  of  that 
immigration  they  felt  assured  would  seek  out  the  good  farming  lands 
in  the  Mill  creek  valley. 

With  prophetic  vision  they  beheld  the  conditions  that  should  con- 
trol in  the  years  to  come.  It  was  clear  to  them  that  with  the  advent 
of  prosperity  the  customs  of  the  people  would  undergo  a  change. 
While  in  those  days  a  diet  of  pumpkins  was  more  than  acceptable 
waving  wheat  fields  and  cribs  brimming  full  of  corn  would  induce 
aiistocratic  tendencies  and  create  a  demand  for  the  wherewith  to 
manufacture  brown  bread  and  biscuits  galore. 

The  boys  would  anticipate  the  advent  of  the  Utopian  era  by  erect- 
ing a  mill.  Before  bidding  adieu  to  the  Fatherland  they  had  seen  the 
overshot  mills  of  the  Upper  Khine  and  had  copied  in  miniature  with  a 
jack-knife  wh.at  they  now  propo.sed  to  put  to  a  practical  test  in  the 
waters  of  Mill  creek. 

Stone  was  quarried  and  hauled  to  a  point  on  the  Droege  farm, 
one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Alma.  The  wheel  was  put  in  place  and 
the  day  dreams  of  the  sturdy  boys  were  all  but  realized  when  the  big 
flood  of  .June.  1858,  blasted  their  hopes  of  making  a  fortune  in  the  mill- 
ing busine.ss,  forever. 

But  the  young  men  were  not  altogether  discouraged.  They  drifted 
west  and  with  Grifenstein  made  a  good  living  poisoning  wolves  on  the 
Walnut— and  here  is  where  the  boys  proved  good  their  proverbial 
aptness  for  getting  in  on  the  ground  floor. 


lO;)      EARLY  inSTOIlYOF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Poiicock,  Willi  Allison,  had  made  a  biff  fortune  trading  with  the 
Indians,  t  rai)i)eis,  and  overland  froiuhters.  at  their  tradintf  post  at  the 
mouth  of  tiie  Walnut.  They  had  no  l)anks  in  wliich  to  deposit  their 
hordes  of  {fold  (Jther  than  the  sandy  banks  of  Walnut  creek  and  the 
Arkansas  river.  Holes  were  dug  within  the  stockade  and  here  was 
buried  their  treasure,  taken  in  exchange  for  such  barter  as  was  accept- 
able to  their  plainsmen  customers. 

But  with  all  Peacock's  shrewdness  he  was  indiscreet  enough  to 
warn  tho.se  crossing  the  plains.against  the  treachery  and  double  deal- 
ing of  Satank.  the  terror  of  the  plains  in  the  sixties.  Taking  offense 
at  the  contents  of  a  begging  paper  given  him  by  Peacock,  Satank  went 
with  a  band  of  his  followers  to  the  ranch  and  expressed  to  Peacock  the 
fear  that  soldiers  were  coming.  Peacock's  assurance  to  the  contrary 
was  in  vain.  Peacock  must  see.  At  Satank's  urgent  request  the 
ranchman  mounted  the  stockade  and  scatmed  the  horizon  with  his 
long  spyglass.  Whil.e  looking  for  the  soldiers— with  one  eyeclosed— 
an  arrow  from  Satank's  strong  bow  sank  deep  in  the  socket  of  the 
other  eye — and  the  life  of  one  of  the  most  daring  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
plains  went  out  forever. 

Then  followed  a  horrible  and  indiscriminate  slaughter— only  one 
life  was  spared.  A  man  with  the  smallpox  was  not  disturbed.  Not 
mercy,  but  fear  of  the  dreaded  scourge,  was  responsible  for  the  seem- 
ing act  of  lenience  on  the  part  of  Satank  and  his  minions  that  day. 

In  vain  the  Indians  sought  the  hiding  places  of  the  treasure  they 
hoped  to  lind.  They  prodded  the  ground  but  digging  holes  was  tdo 
much  like  work. 

Not  so  with  Charley  and  Chris  Rath.  True  to  their  punctual 
methods  they  were  on  hand  in  time  and  a  little  digging  in  the  soft 
sand  was  easy  as  compared  with  digging  the  mill  race  while  residents 
of  Wabaunsee  county. 

During  the  war  Charley  Rath  was  a  freitrhter  and  hay  contractor 
at  Fort  Dodge  and  if  Rumor  is  to  be  credited  his  good  luck  dated  from 
his  digging  holes  in  the  sand  on  the  banks  of  the  Walnut. 

The  boys  liad  got  in  on  the  groun  1  floor. 


In  the  early  history  of  Kansas  people  adapt (>d  them.selves  to  sur- 
rounding circumstances.  The  story  goes  that  three  families  lived 
together  in  a  house  ten  feet  square,  notwithstanding  the  generally 
accepted  statement  that  no  house  is  big  enougli  to  hold  two  women 
one  and  the  same  time.  And  it  is  alleged  that  in  this  instance  that 
harmony  prevailed  until  one  of  the  families  concluded  to  take  in 
boarders.    Then  there  was  music  in  the  air 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  GEO.  L.  HORTON,  Harveyville. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  M.  P.  EARLY,  HarveyviUe. 


MR.  M.  JESTER,  Eskridge. 


MR.  JOHN  N.  BARLOW,  Harveyville. 


^ 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  E.  N.  MANN,  Alma. 


MR.  HARRY  NEWMAN,  Alma. 


MR.  AUGUST  IBEDTEL.'Alma. 


MR.  C.  M.  ROSE,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


-#■■    1^' 


CAPT.  E.  C.  D.  LINES  (dec'd),  Wabaunsee. 


MR.  G.  S.  BURT,  Wabaunsee. 


MR.  LOUIS  UNDORF,  Alma. 


MR.  W.  S.  WHITLOCK,  Kavv  Township; 
County  Surveyor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  L.  J.  WOODARD  (former  Probate 
Judge)  and  Wife,  Alta  Vista. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM  DIEBALL, 
West  Brancli. 


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MR.  GEORGE  BERROTH  (dec'd)  and 
Wife,  Wabaunsee  Township. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  KETTERMANN, 
Near  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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MR.  ABE  VVELFELT,  Tecumseh,  I.  T. 


MR.  CHET  DAVIS,  Alma. 


MR.  S.  G.  CANTRILL,  HarveyviUe. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  ISAIAH  HARRIS  (dec'd), 
Harveyville. 


MRS.  ISAIAH  HARRIS. 
Harveyville. 


I    I    II 


M.  E.  CHURCH, 
Harveyville. 


CHRISTIAN  CHURCH, 

Harveyville. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


REV.  D.  B.  SCOTT. 


DR.  ED.  F.  MOORE,  Eskridge. 


ORCHARD  ON   THE  FREEMAN   FARM,  near  Bradford. 
E.  Sturdy,  Manager. 


L 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1 

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™«-jt*Lt           fl^H^Vn 

MR.  HERMAN  ME3EKE  (deceased), 
Templin. 


MR.  H,  G.  LIGHT,  Topeka. 
Former  county  clerk. 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  J.  MITCHELL,  E3KRIDGE. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  MARTIN  MUCKENTHALER, 
Newbury. 


MR.  CHAS.  MUCKENTHALER.: 
Paxico. 


HOTEL  PAXICO. 


EARLY  llISrOUYOF  \VA  HAUN8EE  COUNTY,  KAN, 


0 


^1^ 


\ 


MK.    WM.  PliOTHKOW, 
WILMINGTON. 


MR.  FRANK   HODGSON, 
IIARVEYVILLK. 


MRS.    E.    MEYER  S   STORE,    ALMA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.      101 


/Y  Pawnee  Raid. 


In  the  Sprin;?  of  1859  the  Dragoon  Creek  settlement  was  considera- 
bl}'  alarmed  on  account  of  a  raid  from  a  band  of  seven  Pawnee  Indians. 
The  Indians  were  not  lookin":  for  scalps  particularly,  thouufh  had  the 
opportunity  presented  the  probability  is  it  would  by  no  means  have 
been  netjlected. 

The  Pawnees  were  deadly  enemies  of  the  Pottawatomies  and  had 
come  into  the  country  to  steal  some  of  their  ponies.  The  Indians 
were  af(K)t,  ])utas  they  cameby  Sam  Devaney'sone  morninsj:  before  day- 
light they  couldn't  resist  the  temptation  to  take  his  old  blind  horse 
picketed  near  his  log  cabin  on  the  slope  just  east  of  where  Mr.  Eli 
Walton  now  lives.  There  was  also  a  two-year-old  colt  that  tlie  Indians 
couldn't  catcli,  but  the  colt  would  follow,  thus  depriving  Saui  of  his 
last  honse. 

A  man  named  McCray  lived  on  the  Henry  Easter  place  then  and 
that  night  his  wife  was  sick.  To  this  fact  was  due  the  timely  discov- 
ery of  the  raiding  Indians.  While  on  his  way  to  Sam  Devaney 's  for  medi- 
cine he  heard  the  Indians  coming.  Hiding  till  the  Pawnees  passed, 
McCray,  recoguizing  the  horses  hurried  to  Devaney's  and  gave  the 
alarm. 

The  sun  was  hardly  up  before  Devaney  h  id  got  together  three  of 
his  neighbors,  Sam  Harvey,  Ir.i  Hodgson  and  William  Bcebe.  who  with 
himself  were  soon  hot  on  the  trail.  Devaney's  party  were  well 
mounted— on  four  of  the  five  only  remaining  horses  in  the  neighbor- 
hood— there  being  but  seven  horses,  all  told,  in  the  settlement. 

The  ground  being  soft  from  recent  rains  the  pursuing  party  liad 
no  difficulty  in  keeping  track  of  the  thieving  Pawnees.  The  trail  was 
followed  up  the  creek  and  over  the  ridge  to  the  John  Copp  place— now 
the  Allendorph  ranch. 

From  a  clump  of  bushes  near  the  head  of  a  steep,  stony,  ravine,  a 
tiny  column  of  smoke  ascended.  Feeling  assured  that  a  scrap  was  com- 
ing the  pursuing  party  made  a  hasty  examination  of  their  arms— and 
such  arms— for  three  men  and  a  boy  to  give  battle  to  seven   Indian 


1U2     EAilLV  lliSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


warriors.  There  were  just  two  guns  and  three  single-barreled  pistols- 
Hut  there  was  no  backing  out.  The  boys  were  after  Devaney's 
stolen  hor.ses  and  didn't  propose  to  return  without  them.  Malting  f(jr 
the  mouth  of  the  ravine  the  pursuing  party  were  confronted  by  tht- 
Indians,  who  had  evidently  been  on  the  lookout  for  just  such  a  contin- 
gency. 

As  the  Indians  emerged  from  the  ravine  they  began  shooting, 
their  tirst  shot  being  aim-nl  at  Ira  Ilodg.son.  the  boy  of  the  party,  ira 
being  a  lad  of  but  13  years  of  age.  Ira  returned  the  Indian's  tire  and 
his  .shot  probably  saved  Devaney's  life,  as  the  Indian  dodged  as  he 
tired.  Though  but  thirty  yards  distant  every  shot  tired  by  the  Indians 
went  wild.  But  the  Indians  were  not  so  fortunate.  As  they  ran.  Sam 
Devaney  shot  one  big  Indian  through  the  lungs  and  he  fell  to  the 
ground  with  a  thud.  The  boys  .said  when  the  ball  struck  the  Indian's 
butl'alo  robe  it  sounded  like  a  drum. 

Supposing  the  Indian  who  fell  had  been  killed,  the  boys  gave  the 
other  Pawnees  a  hot  chase  for  three  miles,  shooting  whenever  the 
opportunity  offered,  but  owing  to  rough  ground  and  brush  six  of  the 
Indians  got  away. 

Returning  to  the  Indians'  camp  Devaney  and  his  party  found  the 
blind  hor.se  picketed  out  in  a  near-by  ravine  and  the  colt  close  at  hand. 
They  then  examined  the  Indian  and  though  th'3  ball  had  passed  entire- 
ly through  his  breast  there  was  a  possibility  that  with  good  care  he 
might  live.  Arrangements  were  made  with  John  Copp  to  haul  the  In- 
dian down  to  his  place  and  take  care  of  him  till  he  could  send  word  to 
the  Kaws,  it  never  for  a  moment  being  suspected  that  the  woundod 
Indian  was  a  Pawnee. 

John  Copp  made  the  Indian  a  comfortable  bed  down  by  the  hay 
stacks  and  sent  word  to  the  Kaws  to  come  and  take  charge  of  the 
wounded  Indian. 

In  a  few  days  the  Kaws  came  over — about  thirty  of  them,  but  John 
was  away.  Then  for  the  tirst  time  it  was  learned  that  the  wounded 
Indian  was  a  Pawnee.  The  way  the  Indians  took  care  of  him  left  no 
doubt  on  that  point --they  .scalped  him  alive  and  left  him  in  his  bod  by 
the  haystacks. 

But  .John  wouldn't  have  it  that  way.  He  followed  the  Kaws  and 
told  them  they  must  return  and  kill  the  Indian  they  had  .scalped  and 
purposely  left  to  die  a  lingering  death. 

But  the  Kaws  were  in  an  accommodating  mood  and  they  not  i»nly 
killed  the  Indian  but  proceeded  to  perform  the  last  sad  rites  after 
their  own  peculiar  fashion  in  the  case  of  a  dead  Pawnee— knowing  full 
well  a  band  of  Pawnees  would  gladly  return  the  compliment  should 
one  of  their  number  fall  into  tlieir  hands  under  similar  circumstances. 

After  cutting  the  Pawnee's  throat  the  Kaws  tied  one  end  of  a  lar- 
iat about  his  neck  and  the  other  to  the  t;iil  f>f  the  wildest  pony  in  the 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.      103 

herd.  Then  the  work  of  preparing  the  body  for  burial  commonced. 
With  Spear  points  and  sharp  sticks  thrust  into  his  flanks  and  roar  that 
pony  was  soon  made  to  know  the  part  ho  was  expected  to  play  in  the 
program  and  the  demoniac  yolls  from  thirty  Indian  throats  caused  the 
pony  to  put  such  energy  into  his  movements  that  when  that  part  of 
the  ceremony  was  over  there  wjre  pieces  of  Pawnee  scattered  all  about 
the  stony  hills  of  Mill  Creek,  but  mighty  little  ilesh  left  on  the  bones 
for  the  coyotes. 

The  Indians  then  cut  off  the  head  of  the  dead  Pawnee  and  used  it 

for  a  foot-ball,  after  which  they  dumi)td  the  now  denuded  skeleton 

into  a  ravine  and  covering  it  over  with  stones  the  Kaws  with  grunts 

of  satisfaction  declared  the  funeral  ceremonies  ended  and  at  once  took 

up  their  march  for  their  reservation. 

The  six  remaining  Pawnees  had  no  idea  of  returning  to  their  vil- 
higes  without  a  dozen  or  more  ponies  belonging  to  tlieir  more  affluent 
neighbors,  the  Pottawatomies.  There  was  a  big  village  down  on  the 
east  side  of  Kuenzli  Creek,  on  what  is  now  the  Frank  Rickershauser 
farm,  and  the  hills  and  ravines  were  dotted  with  ponies.  The  Paw- 
nees succeeded  in  cutting  out  a  few  fine  ones,  but  the  Pottawatomies 
were  on  the  alert  and  after  a  running  tight  of  ten  miles  or  more  six 
Pawnee  scalps  furnished  the  best  proof  that  the  Pottawatomies  were 
amply  able  to  look  after  their  herds. 

But  there  was  mourning  in  the  Pawnee  villages  lor  the  seven 
braves  who  never  returned. 

NoTK.~Mr.  John  Copp,  near  whose  place  the  above  tragic  scene 
was  enacted,  was  an  eye  witnes  to  the  cruel  manner  in  whicli  the 
Kaws  disposed  of  their  Pawnee  victim.  What  had  been  intended  as  an 
act  of  kindness  on  his  part  prf>ved  a  sad  disappointment  to  himself  and  a 
terrible  closing  act  in  the  life  of  the  raiding  Pawnee.  After  the  open- 
ing of  the  Pottawatomie  lands  to  settlement  Mr.  Copp  located  just 
north  of  the  Paxico  mill.  He  served  several  terms  as  C'ounty  Commis- 
sioner. Mr.  Samuel  Harvey  moved  to  Colorado  in  187(j,  where  he  was 
elected  County  Clerk  of  Gunnison  County.  Mr.  Ira  Hodgson,  the  boy 
of  the  pursuing  party,  now  lives  at  Frisco,  Ok.  Devaney  returned  to 
Missouri  and  Beebe's  whereabouts  are  unknown. 


104     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Bill  Cole's  Uast  Drive. 


"Larned"'  to  the  old  settler  and  plainnman  is  a  place  of  historic  in- 
terest. Of  the  many  thrilling  scenes  enacted  in  the  vicinity  of  what 
was  for  years  the  last  outpost  on  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail,  none  was  more 
horrifying  than  Bill  Cole's  last  drive  with  the  Smith  boys. 

They  were  carrying  the  overland  mail  from  Independence,  Mo.,  to 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  making  the  trip  of  740  miles  one  way  every  fif- 
teen days.  Three  men,  seven  mules  and  a  Concord  coach  or  mail 
wagon,  completed  the  outfit.  There  were  six  mules  in  harness  and  one 
for  the  outrider. 

The  captain  in  command  at  Fort  Larned  wanted  Smith  (the  con- 
ductor) to  take  an  escort,  but  having  made  many  trips  witliout  one  and 
knt)wing  that  not  so  good  time  could  be  made  with  an  escort.  Smith 
said  he  thought  there  was  no  danger  and  started  on  the  long,  lonesome 
drive  toward  Santa  Fe. 

But  tlve  miles  west  of  the  post  Conductor  Smith  had  reason  to 
come  to  a  different  conclusion  if  not  to  regret  his  refusal  of  an  escort. 
When  least  thinking  of  danger  the  mail  wagon  was  overtaken  by  ten 
or  twelve  Kiowas  in  war  paint  whose  actions  told  too  plainly  their 
blood-thirsty  intentions.  Mike  Smith  was  the  outrider  and  his 
brotlier  was  holding  the  lines.  Bill  Cole  was  taking  a  nap  inside  on 
the  corn  sacks  when  he  was  aroused  by  the  shot  that  killed  young 
Smith,  who  fell  forward  on  the  foot-board. 

An  agonizing  cry  from  Mike  caused  Bill  Cole  to  turn  his  liead  tliat 
way  when  a  horrible  sight  met  his  gaze — the  Indians  were  filling  the 
conductor's  body  with  arrows.  Mike  with  one  hand  was  holding  in 
check  his  frightened  mule  and  with  the  other  (m  the  sliaft  of  an  ar- 
row driven  into  his  body,  exclaimed:  "Oh,  GodI  Isn't  tliis  a  hard 
way  to  dieV  Reeling  in  his  saddle,  Mike  fell  to  the  ground,  wounded 
to  the  death  and  in  terrible  agony. 

Bill  Cole,  after  raising  young  Smith's  body  into  the  mail  wagon, 
grabbed  a  giui  and  shot  an  Indian  who  was  trying  to  stop  the  team  by 
grasping  the  leader  by  the  bridle-bits.  The  Indian  fell  from  his  pony 
and  during  the  pow-«vow  that  was  held  over  his  body  Cole  jumped  from 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       105 

the  wagon  and  hid  in  the  grass. 

The  team,  by  this  time,  had  become  thoroughly  frightened  and 
was  running  at  full  speed  across  the  trackless  plain.  Their  pow-wow 
at  an  end  the  Indians  followed  expecting  to  find  Cole  and  in  him  an 
easy  victim.  But  Cole  was  half  a  mile  away  and  it  being  about  dusk 
he  crawled  through  the  tall  grass  to  Coon  Creek  and  worked  his  way 
back  to  Lamed,  where  he  related  his  adventures. 

A  detail  of  soldiers  was  sent  out,  the  mail  secured  and  the  bodies 
of  the  Smith  brothers  brought  in  for  burial.  At  Larned  the  boys  had 
thoughtlessly  covered  their  pistols  with  the  sacks  of  corn,  thus  placing 
themselves  at  the  mercy  of  the  Indians. 

A  school  house  nearly  midway  between  Larned  and  Garfield  stands 
near  the  spot  where  the  Smith  brothers  met  their  death.  The  cliil- 
dren  whose  little  legs  dangle  from  the  patent  seats  can  hardly  realize 
that  within  a  stone's  throw  of  their  play-ground,  so  thrilling  a  tragedy 
was  enacted  but  little  more  than  a  score  of  years  ago. 

That  was  Bill  Cole's  last  drive  with  the  overland  mail.  Twenty 
years  afierward  he  made  another  trip  to  Santa  Fe,  but  this  time  in  a 
Pullman  car  and  without  fear  of  losing  his  scalp  on  the  way. 

Note.— The  Smith  boys  were  killed  in  the  Fall  of  1859.  While 
part  of  the  family  were  running  the  farm  on  the  Dragoon  my  father 
had  charge  of  the  mail  station  at  the  crossing  of  Elm  Creek  on  the 
Santa  Fe  trail.  The  Smith  boys  and  Bill  Cole  were  old  employes  of  the 
Overliind  Mail  company  and  were  favorites  with  all.  Their  lives  were 
one  continued  series  of  adventures  and  hair-breadth  escapes.  Al- 
though their  vocation  was  dangerous  in  the  extreme,  the  pay  was  good, 
and  hundreds  of  young  plainsmen  were  more  than  anxious  to  take  their 
places  as  employes  of  the  mail  company. 


106 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


/Vv/enged. 


On  the  morning  of  June  2d,  1859,  an  Indian  bedecked  in  paint  and 
feathers  and  mounted  on  a  fiery  steed  rode  down  the  main  street  of 
Council  Grove.  About  the  Indian's  shoulders  was  a  scarlet  red  blanket 
and  on  it  was  the  imprint  of  a  human  hand  white  as  the  driven  snow. 

Something  about  the  appearance  of  the  Indian  told  the  settlers  of 
impending  danger.  They  wondered,  but  they  had  not  long  to  wait. 
In  less  than  a  half  hour's  time  a  hundred  warriors  galloped  into  town 
and  halted  in  front  of  Hays'  store. 

Hays  was  the  leading  merchant  and  the  oldest  resident,  having  lo- 
cated at  Council  Grove  in  1847.  The  Indians  looked  upon  Seth  Hays 
as  a  chief  among  the  whites  and  to  him  they  soon  disclosed  the  cause 
of  their  strange  actions. 

A  short  time  before  two  young  men  of  the  Kaw  tribe  had  stolen 
two  horses  from  a  Mexican  train  passing  through  on  the  Santa  Fe  trail. 
The  Mexicans  soon  located  their  stolen  property  and  communicating 
this  knowledge  to  Hays  they  left  the  matter  in  his  hands. 

Hays  had  a  big  trade  with  the  Indians  but  more  profitable  custom- 
ers in  the  Mexican  freighters  and  in  adjusting  the  difficulty  with  the 
Indians  it  is  probable  that  he  was  influenced  by  his  trade  relations 
.  with  the  freighters  fully  as  much  as  by  a  desire  to  do  the  Indians 
justice. 

At  any  rate  he  demanded  that  the  Indians  should  not  only  return 
the  stolen  horses  but  that  the  Kaws  should  give  up  for  punishment 
the  young  men  who  had  taken  the  horses. 

To  this  the  Indians  objected.  They  w^ere  willing  to  return  the 
horses,  but  they  thought  that  Hays  was  taking  an  undue  interest  in 
behalf  of  the  Mexicans  in  insisting  that  the  young  men  be  given  up, 
and  the  chief  was  in  no  wise  backward  in  giving  Hays  the  benefit  of 
his  opinion. 

The  Indian  spokesman  becoming  somewhat  personal  in  his  re- 
marks' Hays  called  for  his  pistols  and,  with  the  idea  of  bluffing  the 
Indians,  fired  a  few  shot's— into  the  air. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       107 

Whatever  his  intentions  or  ideas  as  to  the  effect  of  the  shooting, 
it  had  a  startling  sequel.  The  Indians  galloped  down  the  street  firing 
at  everything  in  sight.  The  result  was  the  shooting  of  two  men — 
Charley  Gilicey,  proprietor  of  the  Gilkey  House,  and  a  young  man  by 
the  name  of  Parks.  The  wounds  were  not  fatal  in  either  case,  but  the 
affair  immediately  assumed  a  different  phase. 

The  Indian  camp  soon  disappeared  from  the  neighboring  hill,  and 
the  whole  Kaw  tribe,  consisting  of  400  warrioi-s,  prepared  for  fight. 
The  whites  immediately  raised  40  men  and  sent  runners  in  all  direc- 
tions to  apprise  the  settlers  of  their  danger. 

The  settlers  responded  to  the  call  and  soon  the  old  Mission  build- 
ing was  filled  with  the  women  and  children  of  the  surrounding 
country,  and  the  men  marched,  150  strong,  to  reinforce  the  company 
already  organized. 

Xow  it  was  the  young  men  who  did  the  shooting  who  were  de- 
manded for  punishment.  One  of  these  was  the  son  of  Fool  Chief,  one 
of  the  most  influential  men  of  the  Kaw  tribe,  and  nothing  but  threat- 
ened annihilation  would  induce  the  Indians  to  give  him  up. 

But  T.  S.  Huffaker,  the  interpreter,  and  for  years  a  teacher  in  the 
Mission  school,  told  them  the  inevitable  result  of  their  refusal  to  ac- 
cede to  the  demands  of  the  whites.  Ten  thousand  dollars  and  forty 
ponies  were  offered  by  the  Indians  to  appease  the  whites  and  refused. 
Huffaker  told  the  Indians  that  already  troops  from  Fort  Riley  were 
on  the  way  and  it  would  be  useless  for  the  Indians  to  hold  out  against 
them.  The  Indians,  seeing  the  ranks  of  the  whites  being  continually 
increased  by  new  arrivals,  and  knowing  that  the  soldiers  would  soon 
put  in  an  appearance,  reluctantly  yielded  to  the  demands  to  surrender 
the  young  men  who  shot  Gilkey  and  Parks. 

Soon  after  being  surrendered  the  young  men  were  hung — without 
judge  or  jury — on  the  north  side  of  Main  Street,  between  the  Neosho 
Eiver  and  the  present  site  of  the  court  house. 

But  there  is  a  sequel  to  this  story.  Indian  justice  demands  an  eye 
for  an  eye  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  The  spark  of  life  liad  gone  out  of 
two  Kaw  braves,  and  the  lives  of  two  white  men  must  pay  the 
penalty. 

The  following  Summer,  Price  Perrill,  a  surveyor  living  near  Bur- 
lingame,  was  surveying  lands  on  Running  Turkey  Creek,  in  what  is 
now  McPherson  County.  His  dead  body  was  found  one  day,  and  the 
old  settlers  would  oftenfpoint  out  Bill  Johnson,  a  pock-marked  Kaw 
Indian,  as  the  slayer  of  the  young  surveyor. 

Who  the  other  victim  was  is  not  even  a  matter  of  conjecture,  but 
according  to  the  Indian's  idea  of  justice,  when  the  life  of  Price  Per- 
rill went  out  the  death  of  Fool  Chief's  son  was  avenged. 


108     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


I\  Uttle  (Jnpleasantness. 


"Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before." 

The  coming  event  in  tliis  case  was  an  old-time  spelling  school,  and 
the  shadows — well,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  substance  in  tlie  shadows 
of  the  scores  of  boys  who  had  gathered  at  the  old  school  house  in  Dis- 
trict 28  one  Saturday  evening  about  17  years  ago. 

Wallace  Allen  was  teaching  the  school,  and,  though  his  pants  were 
habitually  stuffed  in  his  boot-legs,  no  teacher  had  won  the  respect  of 
patrons  and  pupils  in  a  greater  degree  than  had  Wallace. 

Tlie  house  was  crowded,  and  yet  there  was  a  crowd  on  the  outside 
that  remained  there  either  from  inclination  or  necessity— perhaps  on 
account  of  the  lack  of  room  on  tlie  inside  of  tlie  little  frame  scliool 
house  under  the  hill. 

The  exercises  had  hardly  begun— on  the  inside,  when  exercises  of 
quite  a  different  nature  appeared— to  those  within — to  be  transpiring 
on  the  outside. 

There  was  loud  talking  at  first,  and  then  hard  blows  foHowed. 
There  was  no  announcement  of  dismissal  by  the  teacher,  but  the  short 
order  in  which  the  house  was  vacated  would  have  warranted  such  a 
supposition. 

That  something  unusual  was  going  on  was  apparent  to  the  writer 
and,  as  we  afterwards  learned,  not  altogether  unlooked  for  by  the 
patrons  of  the  district. 

But  all  surmises  were  soon  set  at  rest  by  the  appearance,  at  the 
door,  of  the  bleeding  form  of  a  man  borne  between  two  of  his 
neighbors. 

Water  was  called  for  and  offered  but  the  drooping  head  showed 
that  the  loss  of  blood  had  been  greater  than  nature  could  withstand. 

The  limp  form  was  lifted  inside  and  search  was  made  for  the 
wounds  from  which  the  blood  was  flowing  profusely. 

A  small  knife-hole  was  found  in  the  neck  just  behind  the  jaw,  but 
from  tliis  the  blood  had  ceased  to  flow.  But  a  crimson  stream  running 
from  the  left  sleeve  of  the  man's  blouse  told  of  a  more  dangerous 
wound  that  was  soon  found. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       109 

It  was  a  horrid,  gaping  wound.  The  great  muscle  of  the  forearm 
—the  biceps  brachialis— had  been  cut  square  across  and  completely 
severed  in  twain.  On  the  floor  was  a  pool  of  blood  that  was  being 
constantly  augmented  by  the  crimson  streams  flowing  from  the 
wound. 

The  surroundings  looked  more  like  a  slaughter-house  than  a  school- 
room. The  wife  of  the  unfortunate  man,  in  her  white  dress  all  be- 
spattered with  blood,  presented  a  distressing  sight. 

But  where  is  that  crowd  that  rushed  out  of  the  school  house?  In 
two  minutes  the  place  was  almost  deserted.  Save  the  almost  hysteri- 
cal wailings  of  the  grief-stricken  wife  all  was  silent,  as  the  few  who  re- 
mained bent  over  the  prostrate  form  endeavoring  to  stay  the  life 
blood  that  was  fast  ebbing  away. 

The  teacher  remained  at  his  post.  Old  Mr.  Blankenship,  too,  had 
no  thought  of  deserting  his  fellow  man  in  the  time  of  dire  need.  Then 
there  was  "Doc"  Johnson  and  Owens.  These,  with  the  writer,  were 
all  that  were  left  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  the  sufferer.  With  a 
.  silken  thread  and  a  harness  needle  the  writer  of  these  lines  took  nine 
stitches  in  the  wounded  man's  arm.  By  this  means  the  flow  of  blood 
was  stayed,  and  then  for  a  doctor.  At  Dover  was  the  nearest,  and  to 
Dover  we  volunteered  to  go.  We  had  heard  of  Dover  but  had  never 
l)een  there.  It  was  down  Mission  Creek,  14  miles  away  in  a  northeast 
,.  direction,  and  that  was  all  we  knew  about  it. 

P  The  night  was  dark  and  it  was  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  before  we 
found  the  doctor.  He  couldn't  go  till  morning,  he  said,  but  with 
morning  Owens  came,  fearing  we  had  missed  the  way. 

After  weeks  of  care  the  patient  recovered— all  but  the  wounded 
arm,  and  if  you  ask  Bob  McMasters  the  cause  of  his  misfortune  he  will 
refer  back  to  that  little  unpleasantness  at  the  little  frame  school 
house  iu  District  28,  twenty-five  years  ago. 

Frey  was  convicted  of  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  but  before  sen- 
tence was  pronounced  he  took  French  leave  of  the  sheriff.  His  wife 
soon  followed  and  a  few  years  ago  he  was  in  Southern  Kansas — one  of 
tliat  class  of  patriots  who  leave  their  country  for  their  country's  good. 


no     EARLY  HiSTOllY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Our  First  Hrome  in  Kansas. 


'^■XOti'^' 


The  above  cut  is  a  fair  representation— drawn  from  memory— of 
our  first  home  in  Kansas — the  log  house  built  by  a  Mr.  Gilbert,  of 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  24,  township  14, 
range  12,  in  the  Summer  of  1855— forty-five  years  ago. 

In  1856  Mr.  M.  C.  Wysong,  Mr.  Eobidoau  and  my  father,  Mr. 
James  L.  Thomson,  made  their  home  here  while  improving  their 
claims,  the  one  taken  by  my  fathar  adjoining  the  Gilbert  claim  on  the 
south— the  land  now  owned  by  Mr.  Shaw,  the  Gilbert  claim  now 
known  as  the  J.  M.  Lee  farm. 

On  our  arrival  on  the  Dragoon  in  March,  1857,  we  found  a  Mr. 
Craft,  of  Ohio,  in  possession  of  the  Shaw  claim  and  his  son  with  his 
family  living  in  the  Gilbert  cabin. 

On  the  payment  of  fifty  dollars— for  their  furniture- Mr.  Craft 
released  all  claim  to  the  two  quarter  sections  and  moved  away. 

The  log  cabin  was  afterwards  sold  to  Mr.  John  Cousins  and  moved 
to  his  claim  near  Eskridge.  Being  raised  a  few  logs  higher  it  was  used 
by  his  family  as  a  residence  until  tlio  stone  house  in  which  ho  now 
lives  was  built. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       HI 


Infant  Industries. 


On  the  side  of  the  old  log  house  are  to  be  seen  two  wolf  skins- 
stretched  out  on  the  side  of  the  house  to  dry. 

Thoy  were  not  put  there  to  fill  out  the  picture,  but  because  a  pic- 
ture of  the  old  house  would  be  incomplete  v.itliout  them. 

In  1857  Tip  died.  Tip  was  an  ox,  and  with  his  flesh  we  replenished 
the  family  larder.  In  what  was  left  of  the  carcass  homeopathic  doses 
of  strychnine  were  deposited,  and  when  the  wolves  had  partaken  of 
liaich  they  would  ^ive  up  their  ghosts,  and  their  hides  would  be  taken 
as  a  slight  remuneration  for  the  hideous  concerts  they  would  give  un- 
bidden to  ungrateful  auditors. 

Each  morning,  for  a  week  or  more,  we  boys  would  go  out  and  pros- 
pect for  dead  wolves.  One  morning  we— Henry  and  I— found  a  wolf 
that  wasn't  as  dead  as  he  might  be.  He  could  wabble  along  but 
his  gait  was  rather  unsteady— about  like  that  of  a  man  three  sheets 
in  the  wind— one  who  had  indulged  in  too  much  tanglefoot. 

The  wolf's  feet  seemed  tangled  a  good  deal.  He  had  had  a  heavy 
dose  of  strychnine  but  was  probably  recovering  from  the  effects  of  the 
poison. 

Woif  hides  were  worth  something  those  days,  and  we  were  more 
afraid  of  the  wolf  getting  away  with  his  hide  than  we  were  of  his 
wolf  ship. 

But  the  wolf  was  getting  desperate  and  he  was  making  strenuous 
elTorts  to  get  out  of  our  presence.  He  would  run  a  while  and  then 
take  an  involuntary  rest — when  the  spasms  would  come  on.  But  the 
spasms  were  becoming  shorter  and  less  frequent  and  the  wolf  was  get- 
ting farther  away  from  his  late  banqueting  place. 

As  the  prospects  of  the  wolfs  final  escape  increased,  visions  of 
prospective  gain  from  the  sale  of  his  hide  diminished  in  a  correspond- 
ing ratio.  Just  then  a  bright  idea  seized  my  brother  and  at  the  same 
time  he  seized  the  wolf  by  the  tail. 

Then,  if  ever,  was  a  time  for  action.  He  attempted  to  resent  the 
insult  offered  in  the  attack  on  his  rear,  but  on  account  of  the  overdose 


r 


112     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

of  strychnine  his  wolfship  hadn't  full  control  of  his  body,  and  we  were 
not  an  idle  spectator  to  the  scene  being  enacted  out  on  the  prairie. 
We  were  armed  with  a  stick  as  much  as  a  half  inch  in  diameter  at  the 
larger  end.  It  wasn't  a  very  big  club,  but  large  enough  to  stun  the 
wolf,  and  an  hour  later  his  hide  was  tacked  to  the  outside  wall  as  you 
see  it. 

Wolf  hunting  for  their  hides  was  one  of  the  infant  industries  of 
the  early  days.  Dollars  were  scarce  and  a  few  wolf  hides  brought  that 
which  was  so  difficult  to  obtain. 

The  poisoning  of  wolves  for  their  hides  was  not  an  "industry"  con- 
fined exclusively  to  the  buffalo  country.  Mr.  Samuel  Cripps,  living  on 
Soldier  Creek,  killed  each  year  from  60  to  75  wolves  for  several  years, 
and  among  these  were  several  large  specimens  of  the  gray  wolf  of  the 
plains. 

Many  others  were  engaged  in  the  business  on  a  smaller  scale,  not 
because  they  had  a  liking  for  the  calling  but  for  the  better  reason  that 
from  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  the  pelts  they  were  enabled  to  keep 
the  more  ravenous  wolf— hunger — from  the  door. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      113 


The  Old  Stone  Fort 


Shown  in  the  picture  was  built  on  the  farm  of  August  Wolgast  in  1864, 
in  anticipation  of  a  raid  from  the  Kaw  Reservation.  The  school 
district  clerk  in  his  report  to  the  county  superintendent  that  year 
said:  "Owing  to  the  Indian  excitement  we  did  not  build  our  school 
house  this  year." 

Just  think  of  it!  Thirty-seven  years  ago  the  people  were  prevented 
from  carrying  out  their  intention  of  building  a  school  house  by  the 
probability  of  an  Indian  raid. 


If!P.  ? 


The  Kaw  Reservation  was  but  a  few  miles  distant  and  while  they 
did  not  go  on  the  warpath  their  restlessness  was  the  cause  of  much 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  whites. 

Words  of  warning  had  been  sent  out  from  the  Grove  and  the  com- 
mandant at  Fort  Riley  had  been  called  on  for  troops.  One  day  a 
company  of  cavalry  on  their  way  to  Council  Grove  galloped  by  Templin 
at  breakneck  speied  on  the  way  to  the  prospective  scene  of  Indian 
hostilities. 

Those  who  have  had  any  experience  in  Indian  warfare  need  not 
be  told  of  the  excitement  such  rumors  and  Incidents  are  calculated  to 
produce. 

1864  was  a  hard  year  on  the  border.    The  Kiowas  and  Cheyennes 


114      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

were  on  the  warpath  and  the  tribes  located  on  what  was  the  border  at 
that  lime  were  chating  under  what  they  considered  wrongs  suffered  at 
the  hands  of  the  whites. 

The  settlers  around  Templin  niigh't  well  be  alarmed.  But  they 
would  prepare  for  emergencies  and  lience  the  building  of  the  stone  fort 
shown  in  the  illustration. 

The  site  for  the  fort  was  a  good  one.  It  was  about  equal  distances 
from  the  homes  of  Wolgast,  Arndt  and  Lehmberg  and  Fetting's  was 
not  far  away.  Here  the  families  slept  at  night  and  to  this  stone  fort 
they  would  rally  in  case  of  an  attaci<  from  the  Indians. 

Rut  the  Indians  were  too  discreet  to  make  an  attack.  Turbulent 
spirits  like  Bill  Johnson  were  anxious  to  involve  the  tribe  in  a  war 
with  the  whites  but  the  peace  sentiment  prevailed  and  the  walls  of 
the  stone  fort  never  felt  the  force  of  Indian  bullets.  But  many  a  day 
after  the  excitement  had  passed  away,  the  children  about  Templin 
would  gather  together  and  have  a  good  time  with  their  dolls  and  other 
playthings  keeping  house  in  the  old  stone  fort. 


Kindness  Rernembered. 


If  our  readers  will  take  a  look  at  the  log  liouse  they  will  not  be 
rewarded  by  the  sight  of  two  Indians — an  old  man  and  his  young  squaw 
wife.  The  Indians  are  not  in  the  picture  but  had  you  been  in  the 
neighborhood  in  April,  1857,  you  might  have  seen  what  caused  the 
goose  flesh  to  raise  up  and  little  chills  to  chase  up  and  down  our  spinal 
column. 

Father,  having  left  us  four  boys  to  look  after  the  claim,  had 
returned  to  Independence  for  mother.  On  that  day  my  brothers,  hav- 
ing installed  the  writer  as  cook,  were  grubbing  a  piece  of  land  two 
hundred  yards  east  of  Herb  Shaw's  present  residence  in  Plumb  town- 
ship. 

The  log  house  was  located  about  two  hundred  yards  east  of  and  a 
little  north  of  the  house  on  the  J.  M.  Lee  farm. 

Hearing  a  noise  outside,  we  looked  out  and  beheld  the  old  Indian 
and  his  sfiuaw  hobbling  their  ponies,  preparing  to  make  a  somewhat 
extended  visit. 

We  would  have  felt  better,  perhaps,  had  our  brothers  been  within 
call,  but  as  it  was  we  had  nothing  to  do  but  make  the  best  of  the  sit- 
uation.    We  had  .seen  14  birthdays  and  during  that  time  had   read  a 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      115 

good  deal  about  the  Indians,  and  among  other  things  we  had  read  that 
tliey,  like  other  human  beings,  could  appreciate  a  kind  act. 

Then  it  occurred  to  us  that  the  proper  thing  to  do  would  be  to  set 
before  our  visitors  something  to  eat.  This  we  did,  and  we  were  not 
long  in  seeing  that  our  hospitable  reception  had  struck  the  right 
chord,  and  if  grunts  of  satisfaction  from  the  old  man  and  smiles  of 
appreciation  from  his  young  squaw  were  indications  that  our  visitors 
were  well  pleased  with  their  reception  then  further  evidences  were 
unnecessary. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  pleasant  manner  in  which  our  kind- 
ness was  received  had  the  effect  of  doing  away  with  any  fear  we  might 
have  felt  on  first  being  aware  of  the  presence  of  our  Indian   visitors. 

But  they  soon  departed— over  the  prairies  in  a  northeast  direction 
—as  we  afterwards  learned  on  a  visit  to  the  reservation  of  the  half- 
breed  Kaws  near  Topeka. 

One  evening  a  few  weeks  afterwards  on  returning  from  the  field, 
where  we  had  been  planting  sod  corn — with  an  axe — we  were  surprised 
to  find  awaiting  us  our  first  dish  of  fried  venison. 

Our  Indian  visitors  had  returned  and  with  them  a  boy  who  could 
speak  English  fluently.  They  had  inquired  after  their  former  host 
and  had  left  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of  our  kindness  a  quarter 
of  venison  they  had  killed  on  their  way  from  Topeka. 


I 


Queen 


Was  nothing  but  a  dog,  and  our  readers  may  wonder  what  a  dog  has 
to  do  with  the  history  of  Kansas  or  of  Wabaunsee  county.  Of  these 
we  might  ask  what  a  flock  of  cackling  geese  had  to  do  with  the  history 
of  the  old  Roman  Empire. 

Yes,  Queen  was  a  dog — a  Mexican  dog.  But  she  hated  the  sight  of 
a  Mexican  and  there  was  but  one  thing  she  hated  worse,  and  that  was 
an  Indian. 

It  was  in  1859.  We  were  hoeing  corn  in  the  field  one  day,  when, 
looking  toward  the  house  we  were  surprised  to  see  eight  or  ten  Kaw 
Indians  with  bows  strung  and  arrows  in  place  marching  abreast 
through  the  yard.    They  were  looking  for  Queen. 

But  Queen  was  lying  in  an  old  corn  crib — with  her  back  broken — 
the  result  of  an  arrow  wound  several  weeks  before. 


IK)      EARLY  H  ISTORY  OK  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

One  Sunday  a  Kaw  Indian  and  his  squaw  were  encamped  a  few 
rods  from  the  house.  Following  the  usual  custom  of  his  tribe  tlie 
Indian  came  to  the  house  with  the  purpose  of  l)e<fging  something  to 
eat.  By  moans  of  tlio  gesticulations  usually  onipldyod  tlie  Kaw  souglit 
to  make  known  his  errand  and  in  order  to  assist  the  wiiter  in  correctly 
interpreting  his  unintelligible  language  the  Indian  took  hold  of  the 
latch  of  the  closed  kitchen  door. 

The  Indian  had  evidently  failed  to  notice  the  presence  of  Queen 
but  the  dog  wasn't  far  away. 

At  any  rate,  no  sooner  li^d  the  Indian's  hand  been  laid  on  the  door 

latch  than  Queen's  sharp  teeth  were  inserted  in  the  Indian's  bare 

ankle.s,  and  when  the  dog  relaxed  her  hold  an   ugly   wound   was  laid 
open. 

We  applied  a  handful  of  sugar  and  tied  up  the  wound  and  ex- 
pressed our  regret,  in  language  that,  probably,  was  not  understood  by 
the  Kaw. 

The  Indian  addressed  a  few  words  to  his  squaw  and  in  a  short 
time  her  presence  with  a  bow  and  arrow  revealed  the  nature  of  his 
request.     He  was  intending  to  settle  accounts  with  Queen. 

But  the  squaw  had  brought  a  blunt  arrow  which  seemed  to  meet 
his  disapproval  as  he  picked  it  up  and  limped  away  towards  camp. 
But  in  a  short  time  he  returned— on  horseback,  and  with  a  steel 
pointed  arrow.  Kiding  between  the  house  and  log  kitchen— about  four 
feet  apart— he  reached  the  kennel,  where  in  a  crouched  position  lay 
the  form  of  Queen,  and  before  she  realized  the  Indian's  intention,  the 
pointed  shaft  was  buried  in  her  spine. 

There  were  but  two  boys  of  us  at  home  and  but  one  gun  in  the 
house  and  that  unloaded.  There  were  some  powder  and  a  few  pewter 
bullets.  My  brother  being  maddened  at  Queen's  pitiable  condition 
rammed  home  one  of  the  pewter  bullets  and  as  the  Indian  and  his 
squaw,  mounted  on  the  one  pony,  rounded  the  bend  of  the  creek  he 
gave  them  a  parting  salute— that  did  no  harm,  fortunately  for  us,  per- 
haps, as  it  was  but  a  few  weeks  after  that  Gilkey  and  Parks  were  shot 
at  the  Grove  for  a  less  provocation. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       117 


Marion's  First  School 


The  early  settlers  believed  in  education  and  though  they  had  no 
school  houses  at  first  they  would  manage  in  some  way  to  provide  for 
emergencies. 

Down  in  District  27  there  was  no  lack  of  children  and  Marion  con- 
sented to  teach  the  school  provided  a  suitable  house  could  be  secured. 

An  old  bachelor  named  Enoch  Colton  lived  in  a  log  house  on  sec- 
tion 2G  and  as  he  was  away  most  of  the  time  it  was  thought  that  the 
use  of  his  house  might  be  secured  until  the  proposed  stone  house  could 
be  built. 

As  the  rent  would  help  pay  the  living  expenses  Enoch  readily  con- 
sented to  the  arrangement. 

Besides  the  regular  exercises  the  children  were  each  day — at  noon- 
time—presented with  an  object  lesson  in  domestic  economy— fur- 
nished gratis  by  Enoch  while  preparing  the  daily  mid-day  meal. 

Building  a  fire  at  noon  added  to  the  summer's  heat  made  it  rather 
uncomfortable  for  the  children  but  soon  another  cause  rendered  teach- 
ing school  in  the  old  bachelor's  hall  anything  but  desirable. 

Marion  and  the  children  detected  a  peculiar  and  not  very  agree- 
able odor  about  the  old  log  shanty.  In  a  few  days  the  peculiar  smell 
was  not  only  disagreeable  but  actually  unbearable  and  at  last  the  con- 
dition of  things  rendered  an  investigation  absolutely  necessary. 

The  cause  of  the  trouble  was  found  and  with  the  discovery  came 
the  general  desire  to  exchange  the  bachelor's  shanty  for  more  agree- 
able quarters— so  the  teacher  and  pupils  adjourned  to  a  more  salu- 
brious place. 

But  we  neglected  to  tell  you  the  cause  that  necessitated  the  vaca- 
tion of  the  bachelor's  quarters.  His  only  calf  had  departed  this  life  a 
few  days  before  and  the  hide  that  had  been  stowed  away  in  the  loft 
had  arrived  at  the  last  stage  of  decomposition — it  was  a  moving  sight 
hence  the  moving  of  the  children's  quarters. 

For  further  particulars  call  at  the  Eskridge  Hotel  and  ask  Marion 
about  his  first  school  in  District  27.  . 


118     EAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUSSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


flr  Bit  of  Frontier  Hristory 


In  which  quite  u  iniinlxjr  of  Wabaunsee  County  boys  toolv  part  is 
found  in  the  history  of  the  Eleventh  Kansas,  In  February,  1865,  Col. 
Modiili^hl  wasassi}>-necl  to  tlie  command  of  tlie  District  of  Colorado. 
During  Hie  season  <.)f  storm  and  sleet  the  rcjjfiment  marched  from  J-'ort 
Riley  to  Platte  Bridge,  130  miles  beyond  Fort  Laramie,  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  Sioux  country. 

Tiie  Indians  were  on  the  warpath  and  in  order  to  keep  open  tele- 
graphic communication  and  to  insure  the  transmis.sion  of  Ihe  mails 
the  presence  of  a  military  force  was  necessary. 

Headquarters  were  established  at  Platte  Bridge  and  this  point 
was  made  the  base  of  operations.  Here  Major  Anderson  was  stationed 
wi til  a  garrison  of  ab(.)ut  110  men,  non-commissioned  otticers  and  the 
regimental  band  included. 

About  eighty  of  this  number  had  carbines,  but  with  barely  twenty 
rounds  of  ammunition  to  the  man.  .  Half  of  the  remaining  thirty  had 
revolvers  while  the  others  were  without  any  arms  whatever. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July  the  Indians  were  more  than  usually  de- 
monstrative and  among  other  depredations  had  cut  the  telegraph 
wires  on  botli  sides  of  the  station. 

Captain  Greer  and  Lieutenant  Walker  were  sent  out  with  parties 
in  ditferent  directions  to  chastise  the  Indians  and  repair  the  lines. 
Capt.  Greer's  squad  gave  the  Indians  a  sound  drubbing  but  the  party 
under  Lieut.  Walker  was  not  so  fortunate.  Finding  the  Indians  con- 
fronting him  in  overwhelming  num'oers  he  fell  back  to  the  station 
with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and  several  wounded. 

On  July  22nd,  the  fort  was  practically  invested  by  the  hostile 
Sioux  who  seemed  determined  to  burn  the  station.  To  render  the  sit- 
uation more  critical  Sergeant  Custard,  of  Co.  H,  witli  twenty-lour 
men  detailed  to  guard  a  supply  train  appeared  in  sight  about  six  miles 
from  the  Bridge  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  the  hostile  Sioux. 

The  howitzer  was  fired  to  warn  the  approaching  troops  of  their 
danger  and  in  hopes  of  saving  the  handful  of  men  from  annihilation  at 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       119 

!ie  hands  of  the  hostiles,  Lieut.  Collins  with  twenty-tive  picked  men 
f  the  garrison  was  sent  to  their  assistance. 

Hardly  had  Lieut.  Collins'  party  reached  the  first  range  of  hills 
iialf  a  mile  distant  from  the  post  when  2,000 hideously  painted  warriors 
prang  from  their  hidings  places  and  charged  down  on  the  little  band 
(if  blue-coats.  The  soldiers  found  it  impossible  to  advance.  To  re- 
treat was  the  only  alternative.  After  emptying  their  carbines  the 
little  band  f(*ught  their  way  back  to  the  bridge  as  best  they  could. 
Every  available  man  was  sent  to  the  relief  of  the  hard  pressed  soldiers, 
and  with  the  loss  of  sixteen  killed  and  wounded  the  remainder  suc- 
ceeded, as  by  a  miracle,  in  reaching  the  post  in  safety.  Among  the 
live  killed  was  Lieut.  Collins,  whose  horse,  becoming  crazed  by  the 
demoniac  yells  and  horrid  appearance  of  the  hostile  Sioux  became  un- 
manageable and  carried  his  unwilling  rider  into  the  jaws  of  death. 
^^'hen  found  his  body  was  literally  hacked  and  shot  to  pieces  and  so 
mutilated  as  to  l)e  hardly  recognized  l)y  liis  most  intimate  surviving 
imrades. 

Another  of  the  killed  was  Sebastian  Nehring.  Misunderstanding 
an  order  Sebastian  had  got  separated  from  his  comrades  and  was  cap- 
tured unharmed  and  when  found  his  body  showed  every  indication 
of  his  having  been  reserved  for  torture  at  the  hands  of  his  barbarous 
c;iptors.  In  his  body  were  seventy-six  arrows  and  his  arms  and  legs 
dismembered,  his  heart  cut  out,  scalped,  his  nose  and  ears  cut  off  and 
otherwise  horribly  mutilated. 

Among  the  wounded  was  Henry  Grimm,  who  was  shot  through 
the  leg  with  an  arro.v  and  in  his  spine  a  barbed  arrow  was  deeply 
buried.  The  surgeon  considering  the  wounded  soldier  beyond  all  hope 
of  recovery  by  reason  of  his  wounds  and  the  loss  of  blood,  refused  to 
remove  the  steel  barb  that  still  protruded  from  the  wound  in  the 
spine.  But  Mr.  Grimm  pleaded  earnestly  to  have  the  barb  removed 
;ind  Lieut.  Hubbard  ordered  that  the  soldier's  request  be  complied 
v.iih.  To  the  surprise  of  all  Mr.  Grimm  recovered  and  though  still 
feeling  the  elTect  of  old  wounds  one  would  never  suspect  that  Henry 
(^rimm.  of  VoUand,  one  of  our  wealthiest  German  farmers  and  the  one 
who  lay  wounded  nigh  unto  death  at  Platte  Bridge  35  years  ago  are 
one  and  the  same.  0 

Among  those  who  narrowly  escaped  death  at  Platte  Bridge  was 
Sergeant  Adolph  Haukammer,  of  Alma.  Adolph  was  wounded  by  a 
spear  thrust  in  the  back  and  another  spear  cut  in  the  leg  and  had  his 
horse  shot  just  as  the  hotly  pressed  soldiers  reached  the  bridge.  Then 
the  horse  fell,  pinning  Adolph  to  the  bridge.  But  the  soldiers  had 
sallied  out  from  the  fort  and  driving  the  Indians  back  Adolph's  life 
was  saved. 

Ilenrv  Thomson,  member  of  Co.  I.  and  a  brother  of  the  v.riter  was 


/ 


120     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

one  of  the  detail  sent  out  under  Lieut.  Collins.  In  speaking  of  the 
li^'lit  he  said  the  .soldiers  were  in  a  tight  place— the  Indians  and  troops 
wore  a  confused  mass  of  struggling  humanity.  The  hor-sesof  the  cav- 
alry were  frenzied  with  excitement  and  the  demoniac  yells  of  the  red- 
slcins  and  their  superiority  in  point  of  numbers,  made  the  delivery 
from  the  jaws  of  death  seem  a  miracle. 

During  the  hottest  of  the  tight  the  soldiers  noticed  that  all  at 
once  the  Indians  ceased  tiring.  It  was  afterwards  learned  that  the 
order  was  given  by  the  head  chiefs  of  the  war  party.  The  order  was 
lieard  by  some  friendly  Snake  Indians  who  were  encamped  just  outside 
of  the  stockade.  They  thoroughly  understood  the  Sioux  language  and 
heard  the  stentorian  voice  of  the  Indian  chiefs  as  they  ordered  the 
warriors  to  cease  tiring,  as  they  were  killing  more  of  their  own  men 
than  of  the  whites. 

Mr.  S.  II.  Fairfield  was  one  of  the  party  sent  out  to  bury  the  dead 
and  from  his  description  of  the  mutilated  bodies  left  on  the  field, 
fighting  Indians  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  desirable  occupation. 

The  party  of  twenty-four  men  Lieut.  Collins  was  sent  out  to  re- 
lieve were  all  massacred  except  three  who  swam  the  river  and  found 
safety  in  the  stockade.  Of  the  twenty-four  soldiers,  seventeen  were 
found  in  a  row,  pinned  to  the  ground.  The  others  were  tied  to  the 
wheels  of  the  wagon  where  they  were  burned.  Allwere  scalped  and 
otherwise  mutilated. 

And  this  was  the  kind  of  service  seen  by  the  .soldiers  enlisted  from 
Wabaunsee  County.  Long  will  they  rememb?r  the  fight  at  Platte 
Bridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EAST  SIDE  MAIN  (MISSOURI)  STREET,  Alma. 


MR.  SAM   HARRIS  AND  FAMILY,   HarveyviUe. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1^- 


BUFFALO  IN  THE  '60s. 


MR.  WALDO  G.  BURROUGHS  AND  FAMILY,  Bradford. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       121 


)V\/VTT  TH'OIVISON'S/VDDRE.SS 


Delivered    at  the  Old  Settlers'   Meeting  at    Harveyvllle, 
October  10,  1895— Old  Recollections.  Etc. 


Ladies  and  Gextlemen:— In  early  days  when  good  old  Mother 
Dow,  who  lived  over  at  Wilmington,  had  revolved  in  her  mind  various 
expedients  by  which  the  wolf  was  to  be  kept  from  the  door,  she  put 
out  a  sign  on  which  was  painted:  ''Pies,  cakes,  bread,  etc." 

The  sign  served  its  purpose  and  many  a  weary  plainsman  went 
from  her  door  happy  in  the  possession  of  the  toothsome  morsels  pur- 
chased from  the  owner  of  the  little  sign-board  by  the  wayside. 

But  the  supply  was  not  always  up  to  the  demand.  The  discrep- 
ancy between  the  hungry  followers  of  the  numerous  caravans  that 
passed  over  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail  and  the  little  bake  oven  made  to.  do 
service  in  the  unexpected  emergency  was  too  great. 

As  a  result  many  were  turned  away  disappointed.  One  day  a 
teamster  called  at  the  beck  of  the  sign  and  asked  for  a  pie.  But  the 
last  pie  had  been  sold  a  few  minutes  before.  Then  he  would  take  a 
cake  for  a  change.  But  the  supply  of  cakes,  too,  had  been  overdrawn. 
A  loaf  of  bread  would  answer,  but  the  bread,  too,  was  gone.  "Then," 
said  the  hungry  plainsman,  "I  guess  I'll  take  a  little  so-forth." 

But  Mother  Dow  was  equal  to  the  emergency — she  brought  to  the 
door  a  huge  chunk  of  cornbread. 

A  man  crossing  the. plains  can't  be  insulted  by  an  offer  of  corn- 
bread  and  the  teamster  gladly  paid  a  silver  quarter  for  what  he  would 
probably  have  called  for  in  the  first  place  had  he  thought  for  a 
moment  it  could  have  been  obtained. 

While  this  paper  has  for  its  head  "Early  Recollections,  Etc.,"  it 
may  as  well  be  understood  that  should  I  run  out  of  my  small  stock  of 
recollections  I  will  be  compelled  to  fill  in  by  giving  you  the  benefit  of 
a  little  "so-forth." 

I  can  only  hope  that  it  will  prove  as  satisfactory  t-o  you  as  did  that 


122     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAB. 


loaf  of  cornbread  to  the  hungry  teamster  making  a  long  drive  before 
breakfast. 

Long  liofore  Kansas  had  aivjuired  the  name  of  the  Cyclone  State 
our  home  in  Tennessee  was  laid  low  by  one  of  the  most  devastating 
tornadoes  that  ever  visited  any  country.  The  town  of  Fayetteville 
was  almost  wiped  out  of  exist  "nee.  and  among  the  casualties  were  live 
people  killed  an^  more  than  lifty  wounded,  among  the  latter  two  of 
our  own  family.  ' 

The  tornado  b3gau  the  work  that  brought  financial  disaster,  and 
like  thousands  of  others  we  looked  towards  Kansas  for  a  new  home. 
Next  Spring  will  be  just  forty  years  since  my  father  claimed  as  a  pre- 
emption right  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  25,  township  14.  range 
12— the  land  now  owned  by  Mr.  Herb  Shaw. 

During  that  Summer— 185(5— Mr.  Robideaux,  Mr.  Wysong  and  my 
fatlier  kept  bachelor's  hall  in  a  house  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 24,  built  by  a  Mr.  Gilbert,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1855. 

My  father's  family  followed  in  the  Spring  of  1857,  finding  his 
claim  jumped  by  a  Mr.  Craft,  his  son  having  comfortably  located  with 
his  family  on  the  Gilbert  claim. 

Mr.  Craft  and  his  father  were  carpenters  and  seeing  but  little 
prospect  of  employment  at  their  trade,  were,  by  the  payment  of  a 
small  sum,  irtduced  to  release  their  right  to  the  two  quarter  sections. 

Neighbors  were  few  and  the  settlements  for  years  were  confined 
almost  exclusively  to  timber  claims  and  the  bottom  lands.  All  were 
absorbed  in  the  duties  of  home  making.  Lands  were  broken,  fences 
built  and  crops  planted. 

The  season  was  propitious  and  all  went  well  till  the  influence  of 
the  malarious  climate  laid  a  heavy  hand  on  all.  Not  a  home  was 
spared.  In  many  instances  whole  families  were  stricken  down— all  at 
one  and  the  same  time  with  the  ague— not  one  being  well  enough  to 
get  for  another  a  drink  of  water. 

Deprived  of  medical  attendance— no  physician  being  near— and 
possibly  lacking  proper  care,  it  isn't  a  matter  of  surprise  that  that 
grim  monster.  Death,  entered  the  portals  of  the  pioneer  home  and 
took  therefrom  the  mother,  whose  fondest  hope  was  to  see  her  child- 
ren located  mid  pleasant  surroundings,  or  the  sister  just  budding  into 
womanhood,  or  the  young  man  on  whom  an  aged  father  or  mother 
was  dependent. 

A  mother  in  Western  Kansas  being  asked  why  she  chose  to  re- 
main in  a  country  that  seemed  so  uninviting,  replied:  "Stranger,  do 
you  see  that  little  mound  yonder?  That  is  the  dearest  spot  on  earth 
to  me."  Beneath  that  bit  of  clay,  in  Death's  cold  embrace,  lay  the 
little  one  the  mother  would  have  given  her  own  life  to  save.  The 
spirit  had   flown,  but   nature  had  implanted   within  that  mother's 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       123 

breast  a  longing  to  be  near  the  spot.  The  place  is  hallowed  and  no 
other  place  on  earth  could  that  grief-stricken  mother  regard  as  her 
home. 

As  through  trouble  Kansas  found  her  place  among  the  Stars,  so 
through  tribulation  the  Kansas  pioneer  founded  a  home.  Of  necessi- 
ties he  had  but  few  and  of  luxuries  none.  But  with  years  of  expe- 
rience there  came  about  a  change.  Toil  brought  contentment,  and 
talcing  a  philosophical  view  of  the  situation  he  no  longer  sighed  for 
the  fleshpots  of  the  land  of  his  fathers. 

Like  Cortez,  he  burned  his  ships  behind  him.  His  thoughts  of  the 
old  homestead  were  silenced  and  he  took  good  care  of  the  present  that 
the  future  might  bring  enjoyment  and  independence,  and  his  children 
to-day  are  enjoying  the  fruits  of  liis  self-denial. 

But  you  want  to  know  something  of  the  early  recollections  of  one 
who  knew  Kansas  in  the  swaddling  clothes  of  infancy.  Among  these 
recollections  not  the  least  is  the  fact  that  Kansas  as  a  place  to  wear 
out  one's  old  clothes  had  no  superior  on  earth.  In  the  early  days 
squirrel-skin  caps  were  fashionable  and  millinery  bills  never  disturbed 
either  the  dreams  or  the  waking  hours  of  the  head  of  the  family.  No 
branch  of  aristocracy— not  even  of  the  cod-fish  variety— ever  found  its 
way  into  the  pioneer  settlements  scattered  along  the  banks  of  the 
Dragoon. 

The  motive  power  with  the  early  settlers  was  a  yoke  of  oxen  or  a 
team  of  liorses,  the  latter  a  rarity  seldom  met  with.  Mr.  Jehu  Hodg- 
son was  the  first  owner  of  a  team  that  required  a  set  of  harness  to 
hitch  them  up,  and  because  of  his  being  the  better  equipped  for  catch- 
ing a  thief  was  selected  sheriff  of  Richardson  County. 

We  have  a  distinct  recollection  that  bee-gum  hats  were  seldom  tol- 
erated and  only  then  upon  positive  proof  that  tlie  owner  had  no  other 
— its  battered  appearance  usually  indicated  that  the  wardrobe  was 
getting  low.  Dr.  Cawkins  wore  one  as  a  badge  of  his  profession.  Our 
opinion  is  that  an  attempt  to  drive  through  the  country  in  a  top- 
buggy  would  have  subjected  the  driver  to  mob  violence,  but  we  never 
knew  anybody  so  foolhardy  as  to  try  the  experiment,  and  we  feel 
assured  that  a  dude  on  a  bicycle  would  have  been  killed  on  the  spot. 

Among  other  recollections  of  pioneer  days  is  the  fact  that  in  the 
years  1857-58,  the  pumpkin  crop  was  good  and  I  might  say  in  addition 
that  had  stewed  pumpkin  been  eliminated  from  the  bill  of  fare  the 
staff  of  life  would  have  been  lonesome  indeed.  Squashes  were  also 
much  in  demand  and  the  statement  that  they  were  highly  appreciated 
would  be  superfluous. 

Fortunately  for  the  early  settlers  ^he  conditions  were  favorable 
for  rabbits  and  prairie  chickens— that  filled  the  place  on  the  bill  of 
fare  set  apart  for  luxuries. 


124     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


In  those  days  the  good  housewives  along  the  Dragoon  were  not 
worrying  about  the  lack  of  sugar  to  prevent  the  big  crops  of  peaches 
from  going  to  waste,  but  not  a  few  looked  forward  with  pleasure  to 
the  good  time  coming  when  wild  onions  would  be  ripe  and  prairie  peas 
would  be  big  enough  for  stewing  purposes. 

The  story  goes  that  a  man  was  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  a  fifteen  hundred  acre  farm  that  was  offered  for  a 
pair  of  boots.  But  he  was  compelled  to  decline  the  offer  of  a  lifetime, 
because— he  didn't  have  the  boots.  For  a  like  reason  thousands  of 
dollars  were  lost  by  the  early  settlers  of  Kansas— because  they  didn't 
have  the  cattle  to  eat  the  rich  grasses  that  every  year  went  to  waste. 

The  inclination  of  some  people  to  make  deprecatory  remarks  should 
the  old  reliable  M.,  A.  &  B.  slip  a  cog  by  reason  of  a  washout  might  be 
checked  by  the  information  that  old  settlers  grumbled  less  who  de- 
pended on  chance  to  get  their  mail  from  Burlingame  semi-occasionally 
or  oftener,  as  the  case  might  be. 

Country  stores  were  few  and  patronized  but  little— they  did  a  cash 
business,  and  of  all  the  commodities  in  the  country  cash  was  the 
hardest  to  get  hold  of.  But  in  wolf  hides  was  found  an  equivalent 
and  wolf  hunting  for  their  pelts  was  one  of  the  infant  industries  of 
the  early  days. 

The  poisoning  of  wolves  for  their  hides  was  not  an  industry  con- 
fined exclusively  to  the  buffalo  country.  Mr.  Samuel  Cripps,  who  lived 
on  Soldier  Creek  killed  each  year  for  several  years,  from  sixty  to 
seventj'-five  wolves,  and  among  these  were  several  large  specimens  of 
the  gray  wolf  of  the  plains. 

Many  others  were  engaged  in  the  business  on  a  smaller  scale — not 
because  they  had  a  liking  for  the  calling,  but  for  the  better  reason 
that  from  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  the  pelts  they  were  enabled  to 
keep  the  more  ravenous  wolf —hunger — from  tlie  door. 

About  thirty-seven  years  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present 
at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  directois  or  the  mayor  and  city  council 
and  possibly  some  of  the  hejniest  stockholders  of  the  City  of  Wilming- 
ton. The  prospects  of  the  town  were  set  forth  in  glowing  terms  and  a 
grand  future  predicted.  The  location  of  tlie  city  at  the  junction  of 
the  two  greatest  highways  on  the  Ameiican  continent  was  considered 
in  itself  sufficient  to  insure  the  building  at  an  early  day  of  long  rows 
of  business  blocks,  capital  for  investment  would  flow  in  like  water 
through  a  mill-race,  the  then  financiers  would  swim  in  luxury,  live  in 
splendor  and  the  conditions  furnish  to  the  v.-orld  another  proof  that 
it  is  better  to  l^e  born  lucky  than  ricli. 

But  if  the  founders  of  .-.iWilmington  suffered  disappointment,  or 
were  the  victims  of  circumstances,  other  town  builders  have  been 
equally  unfortunate.      Indianola.   on  the  military   road  north  of  To- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       125 

peka,  that  once  aspired  to  be  the  Capital  of  Kansas,  was  moved  bodily 
on  wheels  and  to-day  the  owner  of  corner  lots  and  the  was-to-be  Capi- 
tol square  is  doing  some  tall  bragging  about  his  hund red-bushels- to- 
the-acre  corn  crop. 

But  AVilmington  possessed  advantages  that  Indianola  never  had— 
the  houses  being  built  of  stone  were  not  so  easily  hauled  away,  and  to 
this  circumstance  we  are  indebted  for  a  permanent  landmark  that 
will  indicate  to  those  that  come  after  us  a  point  of  historical  interest 
—that  one  day  was  the  business  center  of  Wabaunsee  County. 

To  the  railroad  is  due  the  elimination  of  Indianola,  and  scores  of 
other  towns  from  the  map  of  the  state.  The  Santa  Fe  road  blotted 
out  of  existence  the  old  trail  as  electricity  and  the  bicycle  have  struck 
heavy  blows  at  the  horse  market. 

In  1857  my  father  paid  to  Mr.  James  McCoy  $90  for  a  blind  mare 
and  the  bargain  was  considered  a  good  one.  Horses  are  cheaper  now, 
Our  Jimmie  came  to  me  one  day  last  winter  and  said  he  could  buy  a 
horse  for  six  dollars.  A  few  days  before  Santa  Claus  had  brought  him 
a  tiddle  and  I  suggested  that  he  strike  up  a  trade.  He  went  out  with 
that  fiddle  under  his  arm  and  in  five  minutes  that  horse  was  running 
up  a  feed  bill  and  he  has  been  at  it  ever  since. 

We  have  tried  to  lose  that  horse,  but  it  takes  two  to  make  a  bar- 
gain. He  knows  too  well  the  location  of  the  feed  lot.  The  Bible  tells 
us  that  the  ox  knoweth  his  master's  crib.  A  few  days  ago  we  had  the 
good  fortune  to  take  in  a  few  bushels  of  corn  on  subscription,  and  cir- 
cumstances would  indicate  that  the  old  horse  is  keeping  tab  on  our 
subscription  list.  Though  he  roams  at  will  nobody  will  take  him  up, 
and  a  standing  offer  of  immunity  from  punishment  has  proven  no  in- 
ducement to  anyone  to  steal  him. 

One  day  a  man  from  Western  Kansas  made  us  an  excellent  offer 
that  we  refused.  He  would  give  us  a  watch  for  the  horse.  The  watch 
had  been  nickel  plated,  but  the  plating  was  gone.  One  or  two  of  the 
hands  and  the  crystal  were  lacking  and  the  mainspring  was  out  of 
kilter,  but  in  other  respects  it  was  a  good  watch.  The  offer  was  a 
tempting  one  but  when  we  looked  at  some  other  specimens  of  horse 
flesh  that  he  had  brought  from  the  drouth-stricken  district  we  con- 
cluded that  Dobbin  was  deserving  of  better  treatment  than  their  con- 
dition indicated.  The  Chinaman's  belief  in  the  transmigration  of 
souls  may  be  a  myth,  but  the  bare  possibility  should  insure  kind  treat- 
ment to  the  best  servant  man  ever  had — the  horse. 

But  this  statement  is  no  reflection  on  the  ox— that  brought  more 
pioneers  to  Kansas,  ten  times  over,  than  the  horse.  To  the  early  set- 
tler the  ox  was  the  more  valuable.  He  was  too  slow  of  foot  to  be 
stolen,  was  mere  hardy,  required  less  feed,  and  when  he  had  outgrown 
his  usefulness  as  a  draft  animal  his  owner  could  eat  him. 


12(3     EARLY  lUSTOKY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

But  to  the  early  settler  the  ox  was  too  valuable  to  eat.  Herds  f)f 
bufTa]  >  were  not  far  away.  Tu  18")"  iny  father  and  brother  took  their 
lirst  buiralo  hiMit.  securin^^  a  full  load  of  choice  meal  on  the  Cotton- 
wood, in  Marion  County.  The  followin<4-  year  another  hunt  was  taken 
by  my  brother  and  Mr.  Samuel  Cripps. 

But  perhaps  a  short  description  of  one  of  these  hunts  would  not 
be  uninterestinpr  now.  I  parlicipaled  in  my  first  buffalo  hunt  in  18(50, 
thoujT-h  my  father  and  myself  had  been  turned  back  from  the  Cotton- 
wood by  high  water  and  an  attack  of  the  ague  in  1858. 

There  were  five  wagons  and  twelve  mens  and  boys  in  the  company. 
In  the  party  were  Mr.  Uriah  Sanner  and  liis  son,  (Jeorge,  old  Mr.  Odell 
and  his  son,  Stephen,  William  Yvite,  Gideon  Baughman,  CJeorge  Bar- 
wick,  Abe  Manning,  Mr.  Bakhvin,  two  older  brothers  and  my.self— I  j 
being  the  youngest  member  of  the  hunting  party. 

Having  ox  teams  the  progress  was  slow,  only  about  twenty  miles  a  ^ 
day  being  made.  But  even  at  this  rate  it  wasn't  many  days  before 
the  buffalo  were  sighted.  The  old  Santa  Fe  trail  was  followed  till 
Running  Turkey  Creek  was  reached.  After  crossing  this  stream  the-] 
wagons  turned  north,  and  after  a  few  miles'  travel  the  amateur 
hunters  were  gladdened  by  the  sight  of  their  first  buffalo— a  few  miles 
south  of  where  the  city  of  McPherson  now  stands. 

Abe  ^Manning,  armed  with  a  Sharpe's  rifle,  was  the  most  sueces  - 
ful  hunter,  and  to  him  all  looked  for  a  supply  of  meat  ftir  the  return 
trip. 

Abe,  though  a  young  man,  was  a  Hercules  in  strength  and  lii> 
power  of  endurance  was  wonderful,  but  for  some  reascm  he  failed  !•) 
meet  with  that  degree  of  success  expected  of  him.  He  killed  a  few 
calves  and  brought  down  without  trouble  the  old  bulls  that  were  found 
on  the  outskirts  of  the  main  herds.  But  the  meat  of  the  old  male 
buffalo  was  tough  and  undesirable,  so  we  pushed  farther  westward  in 
the  hope  of  securing  better  meat.  But  the  buffalo  were  traveling 
westward  at  the  rate  of  about  ten  miles  per  day  and  we  gained  l)ut  lit- 
tle on  the  herds. 

Passing  the  Little  Arkansas  we  pushed  ■on  to  the  head  of  Cow 
Creek.  Here  we  seemed  surrounded  by  the  herds  of  buffaht,  but  w(> 
found  it  no  easy  matter  for  amateur  hunters  to  kill  such  animals  as 
would  make  desirable  meat. 

But  the  weatlier  was  getting  cold  and  rainy  with  an  occasional 
snow  storm,  and  as  it  became  more  inclement  the  desire  to  return 
home  increased.  As  yet  but  little  meat  had  been  secured,  though 
great  herds  of  butt'alo  were  constantly  in  sight.  But  relief  came  when 
least  expected.  Encamped  on  the  banks  of  Cov/  C-reek  was  a  party  of 
hunters  who  would  for  50  cents  per  head  furnish  all  the  meat  desired. 

My  brothers  contracted   lor  five  head  and   in  an  hour's  time  the; 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       127 

number  contracted  for  were  lying  on  the  banks  of  Cow  Creek  ready  to 
be  skinned  The  hunter,  a  young  man  of  22  years,  had  shot  them 
down  without  moving  from  his  place  of  concealment  under  the  bank 
of  the  creek. 

The  afternoon  and  night  and  the  next  morning  my  brothers  and 
myself  were  busily  engaged  in  skinning  and  stripping  the  carcasses  of 
their  flesh,  leaving  the  bones  to  be  picked  by  the  wolves  and  skunks, 
that  infested  the  country  by  hundreds. 

The  following  night  we  camped  at  Jarvis"  Creek  on  our  way  home 
But  during  this  time  the  wagons  had  become  separated,  each  of  the 
original  party  looking  out  for  himself.  But  all  arrived  safely  at  home 
after  an  ab.sence  of  three  weeks  without  an  accident  to  mar  the  ro- 
mance of  the  trip. 

But  there  were  incidents  not  without  interest  and  though  not  al- 
together pleasant  there  was  but  little  disposition  to  complain. 

On  the  plain  north  of  the  crossing  of  Running  Turkey  Creek  there 
were  droves  of  antelope,  but  our  hunters  found  the  game  still  more 
dirticult  to  kill  than  v»ere  the  buffalo. 

While  encamped  on  Cow  Creek  a  band  of  Kaw  Indians  broke  the 
monotony  of  camp  life  by  their  frequent  visits.  Their  presence  was 
welcome  for  the  reason  that  the  Kiowas  and  Cheyennes  were  at  war 
with  the  whites  and  they  being  deadly  enemies  of  the  Kaws  the  pres- 
ence of  the  latter  tribe  on  Cow  Creek  indicated  to  us  that  there  was 
little  danger  from  the  hostile  Kiowas  and  Cheyennes. 

Eight  years  later— in  1868— these  same  Cheyennes  swooped  down 
on  the  Kaws  at  Council  Grove,  killing  one  Kaw  and  leaving  eight  of 
their  own  number  dead  on  the  field. 

That  we  saw  none  of  the  hostiles  on  the  trip  was  probably  due  to 
the  inclement  weather — the  Indian  realizing  as  does  his  white  brother 
that  in  cold,  stormy  weather  there  is  no  place  like  home— let  that 
home  be  a  wigwam  on  the  Smoky  Hill  or  a  log  cabin  in  pioneer  days  on 
the  banks  of  the  Dragoon. 

It  is  just  35  years  since  that  buffalo  hunt.  George  Sanner,  of  Hal- 
ifax, and  myself  are  the  only  members  of  the  party  now  living  in  AVa- 
jbaunsee  County.  Mr.  William  Wife,  I  believe,  still  lives  just  over  the 
line  in  Lyon  County— on  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail.  Baughman  moved  to 
Southern  Kansas  and  Baldwin  to  Douglas  County.  Mr.  George  Bar- 
wick  is  proprietor  of  a  livery  stable  in  Emporia. 

The  hunt  was  entered  upon  more  from  necessity  than  for  the 
sport  that  might  be  enjoyed. 

Old  settlers  will  remember  that  crops  were  a  little  short  in  1860. 
We  realized  tl>e  fact  and  each  member  of  that  hunting  party  sought 
to  replenish  t'.io  family  larder.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  none  were 
disappointed. 


12«     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  C30UNTY,  KAS. 

It  is.not  so  easy  now  to  remedy  a  shortage  in  tlie  meat  supply,  and 
yet  not  so  very  long  ago  the  buffalo  roamed  over  Western  Kansas.  In 
187(;,  nineteen  years  ago,  I  killed  my  last  buffalo— near  (Jrinnell 
station  on  the  Union  l*acitic  railroad,  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
track.  Among  those  wlio  dined  on  the  meat  were  Mr.  Sam  Harvey, 
his  daughter  and  son-in-law,  Mr.  Ilinton.  Sam,  with  his  brother, 
(leorge.  and  their  father,  Mr.  Henry  Harvey,  were  the  first  settlers  on 
the  Dragoon,  Mr.  Sam  Harvey  owning  the  land  on  which  we  now 
stand.  Sam  was  then  on  his  way  to  Colorado,  where,  after  a  short 
residence  in  his  new  home,  he  was  elected  register  of  deeds. 

It  might  be  well  to  remind  those  present  that  this  admixture  of 
facts  bearing  no  relation  one  to  another  is  the  "soforth"  referred  to. 

This  address  was  prepared  under  difficulties.  When  a  person  at- 
tempts to  condense  the  events  of  forty  years  ago  into  forty  minutes  of 
time,  it  shouldn't  be  a  matter  of  surprise  should  he  leave  out  many 
items  of  interest  to  both  the  old  and  the  new  settlers  in  Kansas. 

In  speaking  of  our  buffalo  hunt  in  18G0  reference  was  made  to  the 
fact  that  crops  were  short  that  year.  But  we  raised  two  acres  of 
Hungarian  grass,  and  we  saved  the  greater  part  of  it.  That  those  who 
think  tit  may  profit  by  our  experience  I  will  state  that  the  entire  crop 
was  pulled  up  by  hand  by  the  roots  and  stacked— and  it  wasn't  a  very 
big  stack  either. 

From  75  acres  planted  to  corn  not  a  bushel  was  gathered,  but 
every  stalk  was  cut,  tied  in  bundles  and  ricked.  Hay  was  liauled 
from  the  Sac  and  Fox  Reservation,  the  grass  being  undisturbed  by 
stock  was  from  six  to  twelve  inches  in  height  on  the  bottom  lands. 
The  walnut  crop  was  good  and  the  harvesting  of  the  crop  was  not  neg- 
lected—but there  were  more  walnuts  to  the  bushel  than  were  ever 
seen  before  or  since. 

Following  the  drouth  of  'CO  came  the  war  of  '(51.  The  drouth  had 
taxed  our  resources  to  the  utmost,  but  the  war  took  from  the  homes 
of  Kansas  the  brawn  and  sinew  of  the  country. 

The  great  wave  of  patriotism  that  swept  over  the  land  carried 
with  it  the  flower  of  Kansas  manhood.  From  almost  every  family 
along  the  Dragoon  and  neighboring  settlements  one  or  more  of  the 
sturdy  sons  marched  forth  to  battle  for  the  Union  and  it  appals  one  to 
think  that  almost  without  exception,  those  who  went  from  home  so 
buoyant  and  hopeful  never  returned. 

That  was  a  beautiful  monument  dedicated  at  Chickamauga  the 
other  day  to  the  heroes  of  the  Eighth  Kansas,  but  it  is  a  mere  bauble 
compared  to  that  of  which  they  are  deserving— and  it  holds  but  a 
trifling  place  in  the  memory  of  the  father  and  brothers  who  for  years 
have  borne  in  silence  tliat  grief  tliat  cannot  be  assuaged. 

Brothers  and  sons  shouldered  their  nniskets  and  marched  forth  to 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       129 

the  music  of  fife  and  drum— but  it  would  not  be  for  long— so  everyone 
said — a  few  short  months  and  the  white  wings  of  peace  would  be 
spread  over  a  united  people.  But  the  days  grew  into  weeks  and  the 
weeks  into  months  and  still  the  carnage  went  on.  The  news  would 
come  of  a  terrible  battle  and  our  neighbor's  boy  is  among  the  killed, 
another  is  wounded  unto  death,  and  a  third  is  reported  missing. 

The  survivors  go  marching  on,  but  disease  thins  their  ranks  and 
yet  other  names  are  added  to  the  list  of  those  who  will  never  return. 

Though  a  few  short  lines  will  not  serve  to  relate  the  events  or 
portray  the  horrors  incident  to  war  times,  they  tell  all  that  one  needs 
to  know  of  a  period  that  had  as  well  be  forgotten.  Meriiories  of  the 
dead  heroes  are  sacred— these  we  will  never  forget. 

After  long  and  weary  waiting  the  war  clouds  were  dispersed,  and 
as  we  gather  here  to-day  we  would  prove  recreant  to  duty  were  we 
loth  to  accord  that  credit  that  is  due  for  services  rendere(J  our  country 
in  time  of  need.  And  again  would  we  be  derelict  in  the  performance 
of  a  duty  should  we  withhold  from  the  early  pioneers  of  Kansas  that 
praise  that  is  their  due  for  transforming  the  bleak  plains  into  a  land 
teeming  with  plenty. 

It  is  only  by  traveling  from  home — through  the  states  farther 
east  that  one  is  enabled  to  realize  the  true  value  of  a  home  in  Kansas 

With  a  soil  unsurpassed  anywhere  and  a  climate  that  will  com- 
pare favorably  with  that  of  any  country  under  the  sun  the  people  of 
Kansas  are  indeed  fortunate. 

An  eastern  man  will  remind  you  of  that  terrible  cyclone — two 
killed  and  a  half  dozen  wounded— but  should  you  inquire  as  to  the 
particulars  of  that  terrible  mine  disaster— in  which  a  hundred  or  more 
lives  went  out  in  darkne-ss — he  will  suddenly  remember  that  he  has 
business  elsewhere. 

Ten  thousand  people- nearly  as  many  as  to-day  live  in  "Wabaunsee 
Count}' — perished  in  the  seething  waters  of  the  Johnstown  flood. 
•Just  think  of  a  Pennsylvanian  asking  a  Kansas  man  if  he  isn't  afraid 
he  will  be  carried  away  in  a  cyclonel  Our  cousins  in  the  east  with  all 
their  opportunities  have  yet  to  learn  that  Kansas  as  a  place  of  residence 
has  a  thousand  advantages  over  Indiana,  New  York  or  Pennsylvania. 

During  the  National  Educational  Association  at  Topeka  in  1886, 
the  work  of  some  of  our  county  schools  elicited  favorable  comment 
from  leading  educators  from  the  eastern  states,  but  a  doubting 
Thomas  expressed  his  belief  that  the  children  whose  work  was  pre- 
sented had  received  their  education  elsewhere.  Even  when  told  they 
had  resided  in  Kansas  all  their  lives  the  doubter  seemed  skeptical. 

This  is  their  idea  of  Kansas.  Our  people  are  indebted  to  the  East 
for  all  she  possesses  and  for  all  our  people  know.  But  the  fact  is,  the 
Kansas  man  is  self  made.    From  a  condition  of  poverty  he  has  ad- 


130     EAIILY  lUSTOllY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

vaiicerl  hy  his  own  cIToits  to  one  of  independence.  As  compared  willi 
iiis  fatiier  who  brought  to  this  country  all  liis  possessions  in  a  covered 
wayon  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen,  he  is  a  rich  man— so  far  as  this 
world's  goods  are  concerned,  and  yet  he  is  poor  in  comparison  when 
vit'win^'^  the  matter  from  anotlier  standpoint.  Then  there  was  but 
little  strife  and  contention  and  fewer  jealousies  than  now.  The 
people  lived  on  a  common  level.  Nobody  was  afraid  of  g(»ing  over  the 
hill  to  the  poor  house.  The  reminiscences  connected  wiiii  the  old  log 
cabin  are  gold(>n  treasures- -not  stowed  away  in  the  garret  af  memory's 
storeliouse— tliey  occupy  tlie  place  of  honor  in  the  parlor— a  v,'ord  un- 
known to  the  old-timer  who  sat  on  the  bed  while  warming"  his  toes  in 
the  oven. 

When  the  school  boy  couldn't  tell  for  his  life  what  g-!-a-s-s  spelled 
he  was  asked  what  it  was  they  put  in  the  window  to  keep  out  the 
cold.  "Oh,  yes,  1  know— dad's  old  britches  and  Bill's  old  hal."  Some- 
linies  the  old  settler's  cabin  had  a  window  with  real  glass  in  it  aiul 
sometimes  not— but  in  the  former  case  a  glass  would  occasionally  get 
broken— that  is  where  Johnnie  got  his  definition. 

As  the  old  colored  man  said,  "If  you  go  by  de  boss  railroad  you'll 
get  dar  to-morrow  mawnin,  and  if  yer  takes  de  steam  kyars  you'll  be 
dar  mighty  quick,  but  if  you  takes  the  telegraph  you  is  dar  now." 

Thirty  or  forty  years  ago  ten  days  was  quick  time  for  a  round  trip 
to  the  Missouri  River.,  Should  1  reach  home  on  schedule  time  to- 
night—12:19 — I  will  have  traveled  144  miles  and  be  away  from  home 
less  than  twenty  hours— nearly  half  of  which  time  will  have  been 
pleasantly  spent  at  Harveyville.  The  railroads  arc  often  referred  to  as 
soulless  corporations,  but  by  contrasting  our  present  methods  of  travel 
with  the  old  time  whoa-haw  conveyance  one  is  enabled  to  appreciate 
the  change. 

In  this  (connection  lam  i-eminded  of  two  dreary,  lonesome  nights 
passed  in  a  covered  wagon  8  miles  beyond  110  Creek.  Returning  from 
Kansas  City  one  of  our  oxen  gave  out  and  my  brother  leaving  me  alone 
to  take  care  of  our  load  of  winter's  supplies  came  to  Mr.  McCoy's  for 
help.  Mr.  McCoy  was  at  that  time  the  nabob  of  the  Dragoon  valley. 
He  had  sold  his  claim  in  Nebraska,  near  Omaha,  and  had  more  ready 
cash  perhaps  than  all  his  neighbors  combined.  He  built  what  was 
then  the  finest  house  in  the  country.  It  now  stands  where  it  was 
built,  on  tlie  hill  about  200  yards  west  of  the  school  house.  It  may  be 
a  little  out  of  repair  just  now,  and  some  of  the  paint  may  be  gone,  and 
possibly  it  would  not  strike  the  casual  observer  as  being  ahead  of  the 
times,  but  that  was  the  impression  in  1857— the  year  it  was  built— a 
time  when  a  house  with  more  than  one  room  was  the  exception  and 
the  single  log  cabin  the  rule. 

Nothing  was  more  desired  by  the  early  settler  than  neighbors. 


EARLY  HLSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       131 

The  good  claims  would  be  pointed  and  every  courtesy  extended  to  the 
man  hunting  for  a  home.  But  in  too  many  instances  the  old  settler 
was  the  A'ictim  of  misplaced  confidence. 

One  day  a  gentlemanly  appearing  man  —a  minister,  I  believe— 
came  along  and  was  favorably  impressed  with  the  S.  W.  i  of  Sec.  19, 
T.  14,  R.  13.  His  family  would  be  out  soon  but  for  the  time  he  would 
build  merely  for  pre-emption  purposes. 

My  father  contracted  to  build  the  house,  on  the  condition  that  he 
was  to  retain  the  ow^nership  with  the  privilege  of  moving  the  house- 
when  the  time  came.  The  size  of  the  house  was  5x10  feet,  with  a  door 
and  window  and  a  clapboard  roof.  The  contract  price  was  $10  in  cur- 
'  rent  funds. 

A  young  man  slept  one  night  on  the  claim,  went  next  morning 
to  the  land  office  and  pre-empted  the  quarter  section.  The  house  was 
moved  away  and  held  all  the  corn  we  rai.sed  that  year,  and  room  to 
spare,  but  the  new  neighbors  never  came. 

It  is  presumed  that  incidents  of  the  early  days  are  expected.  A 
record  of  the  incidents  as  they  happened  for  the  first  two  years  of  our 
residence  would  be  as  monotonous  as  Mark  Twain's  first  diary.  He 
thought  he  would  keep  one.  The  first  day's  entry  was:  "Got  up, 
washed  and  went  to  bed."  The  second  day  he  could  think  of  nothing 
but  "got  up,  washed  and  went  to  bed,"  and  so  on  for  a  week,  when  he 
wisely  concluded  to  postpone  the  diary  business  till  some  future  time 

For  seven  years  our  home  was  the  western  boundary  of  the  Dragoon 
settlement.  In  on r  isolated  situation  but  little  was  seen  of  the  out- 
side world.  In  our  lonesome  condition  the  presence  of  a  tramp  would 
have  been  welcome  and  when  a  bund  of  Indians  broke  in  on  the  mo- 
notony of  the  situation  there  were  no  regrets. 

One  day  a  band  of  twenty  Raws  stopped  for  their  mid-day  meal  on 
their  way  from  Council  Grove  to  Topcka.  They  were  afoot  and  had 
ab.solutely  nothing  to  eat  and  we  but  little  to  give.  But  they  were 
easily  satisfied,  and  while  with  us  taught  us  a  lesson  in  economy— that 
we  never  copied.  Stowed  away  in  a  box  an  old  Indian  found  a  couple 
of  gallons  of  shelled  corn  from  which  the  heart  of  the  kernels  had  been 
eaten  by  the  mice — but  the  solid  part  of  the  grain  was  left,  and  after 
being  washed  and  boiled  an  hour  or  so  formed  the  basis  of  a  hearty 
meal  for  the  whole  company. 

On  another  occasion  a  band  of  fifteen  took  peaceable  possession  of 
the  old  log  house,  my  brother  and  I — batching  at  the  time— prefering, 
on  account  of  the  mosquitoes — to  sleep  outside  in  the  covered  wagon. 
There  was  a  sound  of  revelry  by  night^ — the  Indians  doing  the  revelry 
business.  Their  proverbial  stoicism  had  departed  and  they  were  like  a 
lot  of  school  boys  out  for  a  good  time.  This  band  also  belonged  to  the 
Kaw  tribe,  but  they  were  well  mounted  and  had  plenty  of  provisions. 


i:{2     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

We  treated  them  well  and  and  when  we  afterwards  met  some  of  the 
same  Indians  encamped  at  Cow  Creek  while  on  our  bulTalo  hunt  they 
exhibited  unmistakable  signs  that  our  former  meeting  was  remem- 
bered and  our  kind  reception  while  batching  in  the  old  log  cabin  on 
the  farm  was  appreciated. 

But  the  Kaw  Indians  wore  not  at  all  times  paragons  of  perfection- 
In  1800  some  Indians  stole  two  horses  from  a  Mexican  train  and  as  a 
result  of  this  two  Indians  were  hung.  With  the  Indians  it  is  an  eye 
for  an  eye  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  Two  white  men  must  be  killed  and 
when  Price  Perrill  met  pock-marked  Bill  Johnson  out  on  the  Running 
Turkey  the  wily  Indian  settled  half  the  score  by  taking  the  scalp  of 
the  lone  surveyor. 

As  I  understand  that  some  of  the  old  time  tools  and  farming  im- 
plements will  receive  consideration  at  the  hands  of  others,  I  will  re- 
frain from  touching  on  that  subject  and  pass  on  to  a  brief  consideration 
of  what  we  may  expect. 

It  would  be  unreasonable  to  suppose  otherwise  than  that  the  elec- 
tric age  is  but  dawning,  and,  however  wonderful  the  inventions  put 
forward  within  a  few  years  past  may  be,  more  startling  developments 
are  yet  in  store  for  us. 

The  question  is:  to  what  degree  will  the  inventions  be  practical? 
Is  it  not  among  the  probabilities  that  before  the  present  generation 
shall  have  passed  away  their  present  ideas  and  attainments  will  be 
looked  upon  as  crude  and  they  be  regarded  as  old  fogies? 

Among  the  many  applications  of  electricity  is  one  that  enables  the 
proprietor  to  feed  his  horse  by  pressing  a  button  connected  by  wires 
leading  to  his  barn.  Pressing  another  he  is  enabled  to  water  his  stock 
— all  this  without  leaving  his  comfortable  bed. 

Pressing  another  button  he  lights  the  fire  in  the  kitchen.  Other 
inventions  are  expected  to  follow,  and  in  a  few  years  one  need  not  be 
surprised  that  some  inventive  genius  will  patent  a  contrivance  to  land 
in  the  middle  of  the  floor  the  cook— should  he  or  she.  as  the  case  may 
be.  neglect  to  get  out  of  bed  at  the  ringing  of  the  alarm  clock. 

F"'ollowing  the  demands  of  the  times  Sarah's  young  man  will  find 
himself  thrown  out  of  the  front  window  when  he  attempts  to  turn 
down  the  light.  He  touches  the  guage  wheel  and  the  electric  current 
will  do  the  rest. 

Then  some  such  electrical  appliance  might  be  used  with  good  ef- 
fect at  old  settlers'  meetings  and  when  the  audience  had  been  surti- 
ciently  bored  by  some  long-winded  speaker  he  could  be  shut  oflf  by 
simply  pressing  the  button — that  would  send  the  electric  current  to 
the  roots  of  his  tongue  and  enable  him  to  take  a  hint. 

Ladies  and  (Jentlkmen:  While  I  am  glad  to  meet  with  you 
here,  I  regret  that  what  I  have  to  offer  falls  below  the  standard  of  ex- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       133 


cellence  guaged  by  my  own  ideas  as  to  what  ought  to  be  presented  and 
by  what  was  doubtless  expected  of  me  on  this  occasion.  I  trust  that 
the  lack  of  time  essential  to  the  preparation  of  such  matter  as  would 
be  appropriate  will  be  accepted' as  my  excuse  for  any  shortcomings 
that  may  be  apparent.  However,  should  I  have  added  in  the  least 
degree  to  the  enjoyment  of  this  happy  occasion,  I  shall  feel  myself 
amply  compensated  for  my  coming.  I  close  by  thanking  you  one  and 
all  for  your  kind  attention. 


/Vt  a  MexiGan  Fandango. 


Baih  Este  ^Vw7ie  (Dance  To-Night.)  This  is  the  legend— seen  in 
the  transparency — that  catches  the  eye  of  the  miner,  cowboy,  or 
tourist  seeking  recreation  in  any  one  of  the  many  New  Mexican  towns 
dotting  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  between  Albuquerque  and  El 
Paso. 

But  it  must  not  be  taken  for  granted  that  only  the  above  men- 
tioned classes  are  patrons  of  the  fandango.  Army  officers  of  high  and 
low  degree,  civilians  of  nati(mal  renown,  and  others,  more  or  less  dis- 
tinguished have,  time  and  again,  from  motives  widely  divergent,  per- 
haps, whiled  away  many  a  tedious  hour  in  these  much  frequented 
resorts  peculiar  to  our  south-western  border. 

Should  you  find  yourself  among  those  drawn  together  at  one  of 
these  motley  gatherings  and  you  are  a  tenderfoot  do  not  deceive  your- 
self by  the  thought  that  the  secret  is  your  own.  Possibly  you 
expressed  surprise  at  such  minor  incidents  as  the  clanking  of  spurs  on 
the  heels  of  a  vaquero,  or  that  a  cow-boy  failed  to  discard  his  broad- 
brimmed  sombrero  during  the  progress  of  the  dance.  Perhaps  you 
observed  a  disregard  of  the  conventionalities  in  the  scores  of  pairs  of 
pants  stuffed  into  divers  pairs  of  boots,  or  in  the  carrying  of  a  dozen 
or  more  braces  of  army  revolvers  in  as  many  belts  worn  by  participants 
in  the  evening's  recreation. 


i;J4     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

Stranper.  or  otherwise,  unless  your  eyes  are  closed  to  the  surround- 
iiij,'s.  the  (Mitraiice  duriiijr  the  eveniiifH',  of  certain  dark-visaK'cd. 
sera  pa-en  folded  habitues  of  the  fandaiiijo  will  not  escape  your  atten- 
tion. They  are  there  at  the  inviUil^ion,  or  urgent  request  of  the 
proprietor  -in  case  of  emeroeicies— that  often  come— simultaneously 
with  shoot  ill','' out  th-  lights -a  pastim.'  freciuently  indul^^'d  in  by  the 
festive  cowboy  looking  for  trouble.  Bat  unmistakable  indications  in- 
variably being  sure  forerunners  of  such  trouble,  there  need  be  no 
ditticulty  in  avoiding  th?  sequel  by  n(»ting  ths  surroundings. 

Strains  of  music,  by  no  m 'ans  faultless,  entice  the  stranger  who 
might  otlierwise  resist  the  temptation  to  enter.  Besides  the  much 
.sought  for  diversion  the  prodigal  son  here  finds  the  opportunity  to 
dispose  of  his  substance  preparatory  to  entering  upon  the  vocation  of 
herding  swine  for  more  probably  goats)  in  that  far  off  country  where 
the  echo  of  a  father's  coiniStM  is  unh'ard.  and  a  mother's  parting  tears 
are  but  a  dim  memory. 

If  the  music  is  entrancing,  the  fact  is  possibly  due  to  contrast — 
with  the  discor.lant  but  too  familiar  voice  of  the  ever-present  burro 
(donkey)  or  the  lowing  of  kine,  or  th,>  bleating  of  thousands  of  sheep 
on  the  range— a  burning  desire  to  escape  from  which  might  well  form 
the  basis  for  an  excuse  for  accepting  any  change  that  offers  a  diversion 
from  the  monotonous  humdrum  of  life  on  the  range. 

If  the  music  is  attractive  to  tiie  wayward  and  absent  son  in  quest 
of  adventure  the  presence  of  a  score  or  more  of  the  comely  senoritas— 
fair  of  form  and  feature— otfers  a  temptation  lis  seldom  permits  him- 
self to  resist.  The  dance  hall  once  entered  the  inclination  to  indulge 
in  the  waltz  or  S'^hottische  as  naturally  follows  as  night  succeeds  day. 

The  inclination  on  the  part  of  the  prodigal  to  indulge  his  heels  in 
their  propensity  to  cut  pig(on-\\i  i.us  may  in  a  measure  be  due  to  that 
condition  affecting  the  head  brought  about  by  a  too  free  indulgence  in 
vino,  cerbesa.  or  aguardiente  (wine,  beer  or.  whiskey*.  As  the  inth:- 
ence  due  to  an  over-indulgence  in  the  beverage  that  cheers  and 
inebriates  increases  in  potency  his  feet  get  clumsy  and  refuse  to  keep 
time.  He  quarrels  with  the  musicians  and  orders  the  proprietor  to  do 
his  bidding:  makes  indiscreet  remarks  to  his  partner  in  the  dance  and 
re(iuests  the  floor  manager  to  "talk  United  States"  (English)  and 
tiiially  expresses  a  determinaticn  to  run  the  whole  business  himself. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings  discretion  would  suggest  that  t  h:- 
boisterous  "CJringo"  be  taken  care  of  by  his  friends.  His  presenci-  at 
future  fandangos,  or  at  the  close  of  this  one,  depends  on  just  such  a 
cimtingency.  If  no  friends  are  present  his  case  may  be  disposed  of  in 
a  way  that  may  serve  as  a  warning  to  others,  though  not  in  a  manner 
to  be  desired  by  the  interests  of  the  principal  actor  in  this  p.articular 
life  di'ama.    If  you  would  inform  youi-s(>lf  furtlier  rflativf  to  the  point 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       i:^o 

in  question  consult  the  local  items  in  the  "Weekly  Gazette.'"  The 
wordintj-  doesn't  in  the  least  surprise  you — it  is  just  what  you  had 
reason  to  expect.     Here  it  is: 

•'At  an  early  hour  yesterday  morning  as  Don  Vicente  Romero  was 
going  to  his  place  of  business  on  the  Plaza  he  discovered  the  body  of 
an  American,  apparently  about  twenty-five  years  of  age.  just  beyond 
the  Azequia  (Jrande  with  his  throat  cut  from  ear  to  ear  and  a  bullet 
hole  in  his  temple.  The  outer  clothing  had  been  stripped  from  the 
l)ody  and  the  crime  had  evidently  been  committed  for  the  purpo.se  of 
robbery.  Nothing  was  found  on  the  body  that  would  serve  as  a  means 
of  identification  but  it  is  supposed  to  be  that  of  a  miner  down  from 
Silverton  for  a  little  recreation.  The  man  was  seen  at  the  dance-hall 
of  Ramon  Chavez  Wednesday  nigiit  and  left  at  a  late  liour  alone  and 
in  a  dazed  condition.  .Some  of  the  cut-throats  who  hang  out  less  than 
a  stone's  throw  of  the  Plaza  could  give  us  all  the  information  needed 
to  solve  the  mystery.  When  they  conclude  to  do  .so  we  will  gladly  en- 
lighten our  readers  as  to  the  facts  in  the  fourth  of  a  series  of  murders 
that  liave  di.sgraced  our  city  within  the  past  thirty  days." 

But  the  cut-throats  don't  do  business  that  way,  and  not  until  the 
sea  gives  up  its  dead  will  some  broken-hearted  mother  know  that  her 
wayward  .son's  death  was  the  sad  .sequel  to  a  night's  carou.sal  at  a 
Mexican  fandango. 

But  who  can  say  that  his  sad  end  was  in  vainV  As  he  lay  there  in 
grim  Death's  embrace  who  can  deny  that  more  than  one  repentant 
prodigal  resolved  before  high  Heaven  to  retrace  his  steps  on  the  down- 
ward road?  Young  men  who  left  the  parental  home  with  no  more 
definite  object  in  view  than  that  prompted  by  an  aimless  de.sire  to  see 
the  world  are  susceptible  to  such  influences  as  bring  them  face  to  face 
with  the  King  of  Terrors.  [Tis  on  such  occasions  as  these  that  their 
fioughts  are  prone  to  revert  to  the  past:  when  tlie  family  circle  was 
complete;  when  there  was  in  the  household  a  joy  that  since  leaving 
the  home  of  their  youth  they  have  never  felt.  Such  scenes  as  the.se 
beget  a  longing  to  return  to  the  father's  roof:  t(»  the  mother's  love:  to 
joys  which  only  the  companionship  of  loving  brothers  and  sisters  can 
bring. 


136     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


f\  Timely  Warning. 


'•Say  i)()thin)<.  But  break  camp  and  don't  stop  Tliis  side  of  tlic 
Smoky  Hill.    The  Indians  are  going  on  the  war  path." 

The  warning  was  given  in  an  undertone  lest  either  of  the  two  big 
Cheyenne  women  should  hear  what  was  said  and  block  the  game.  We 
said  Cheyenne  "women"  rather  tiian  "squaws"  for  the  reason  that 
the  Indian  wife  of  William  GrritTenstein  (Dutch  Bill)  and  her  sister 
were  not  ordinary  squaws  in  that  they  were  more  than  usually  intelli- 
gent, and  their  dress  and  refined  air  lifted  them  so  far  above  the 
average  squaw  that  they  deserved  a  better  name. 

The  writer  was  one  of  a  party  of  twenty  government  employes  re- 
turning from  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico,  in  the  spring  of  18()4.  The 
outfit  consisted  of  two  wagons,  each  drawn  by  six  mules. 

We  had  made  the  outgoing  trip  in  the  winter  by  way  of  the 
Platte  and  Denver,  thence  south  througii  Pueblo  and  Trinidad  and 
were  returning  by  the  Arkansas  route,  and  when  the  warning  referred 
to  was  given  we  were  in  camp  at  the  the  upper  crossing  of  the  Walnut 
at  which  point  Dutch  Bill  had  located  a  small  trading  p(»st. 

Among  the  Cheyennes  Bill  was  a  king  as  far  as  his  inliuence  with 
the  Indians  went.  They  had  implicit  confidence  in  (Jritfenstein.  and 
whether  well  grounded  or  not  there  was  a  suspicion  tliat  this  confi- 
dence wasn't  acquired  by  giving  away  the  Indians"  .secrets. 

Not  one  of  our  party  knew  anything  about  Bill  but  his  reputation 
and  that  was  better  among  the  Indians  than  with  the  whites. 

But  about  a  year  before  another  member  had  been  attached  to 
Bill's  household  in  the  person  of  one  Phillip  Bloch,  a  young  Jew,  who 
was  looked  upon  by  his  family— the  Blochs,  merchants  of  St.  Joseph. 
Mo.— as  the  black  sheep  of  the  family.  Philip  was  bound  to  see  the 
world  from  an  Indian's  standpoint,  and  at  that  time  was  a  full- 
fledged  brother-in-law  of  Dutch  Bill,  one  of  the  tall  sisters  being  his 
wife  and  the  other  the  spouse  of  (Iritfenstein. 

Two  years  before  Block  had  made  a  winter  trip  to  Fort  Lyon,  on 
the  upper  Arkansas,  as  a  pilot  of  one  of  those  ships  of  the  plains 
drawn  by  six  yoke  of  oxen.     But  he  longed  for  a  change,  and  at  tbe 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       137 

old  stage  station  at  the  crossing  of  Elm  Creek,  in  Lyon  County,  he 
found  it— not  a  very  lucrative  position,  but  times  were  hard  and 
rather  than  run  the  risk  of  being  drafted  into  the  army  or  shot  he 
concluded  to  put  in  the  balance  of  the  winter  by  working  for  his 
board. 

Phillip  wasn't  partial  to  work,  but  the  neighborhood  socials  and 
spelling  schools  provided  the  kind  of  diversion  that  rendered  the  situ- 
ation bearable  until  the  resumption  of  overland  traffic  supplied  Bloch 
with  the  means  of  changing  his  base  of  operations  from  the  dull 
routine  of  farm  work  to  the  more  congenial  occupation  of  driving  dull 
care  away  in  tlie  Cheyenne  camp  on  the  banks  of  the  Walnut. 

It  had  been  our  intention  to  rest  at  Dutch  Bill's  till  morning,  a 
fact  the  Indians  seemed  pleased  to  learn.  Bflt  their  hostile  demon- 
strations were  anything  but  pleasing,  and  this,  in  conjunction  with 
the  knowledge  obtained  that  the  squaws  and  papooses  were  being 
(juietly  moved  to  some  remote  fastness  of  the  Smoky,  had  abont  con- 
vinced us  that  an  Indian  war  was  about  to  be  inaugurated.  The  indi- 
cations pointed  to  this  as  a  certainty,  and  discretion  suggested  the 
heeding  of  Philip  Bloch's  warning  to  get  out  of  the  Indian  country 
without  unnecessary  delay. 

The  Indians  seemed  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  our  stay  over  night 
on  the  Walnut,  but  the  conditions  were  reversed  when  unmistakable 
preparations  for  our  departure  were  made  manifest.  Where  quiet  was 
the  rule  commotion  now  reigned  and  when  the  two  teams  ascended 
the  steep  banks  of  the  Walnut,  our  party  was  confronted  by  a  band 
of  thirty  Dog  soldiers,  mounted  on  their  war  ponies  and  armed  to  the 
teeth— as  villainous  a  gang  of  cut-tliroats  as  ever  went  unhung. 

But  an  Indian  reckons  the  cost  before  making  an  attack  and  no 
life  is  so  valuable  to  him  as  his  own.  Prospective  scalps  and  plunder 
on  one  side  and  possible  casualties  on  the  other  are  carefully  noted, 
and  his  day  dreams  of  existence  in  tlie  happy  hunting  grounds  are 
never  so  blissful  as  to  warrant  on  his  part  any  needless  risks  that  may 
be  mysteriously  shrouded  in  the  sequel. 

Hate  tlashed  from  thirty  pairs  of  Indian  eyes,  but  there  were  none 
of  the  blood-curdling  yells  that  twenty-four  hours  later  were  charac- 
teristic of  the  thrilling  scenes  along  the  Arkansas.  Before  nightfall 
tlie  Cheyenne  bottoms  had  been  crossed  and  a  hasty  supper  disposed 
of  at  the  crossing  of  Cow  Creek.  Then  a  night  drive  and  a  camp  in 
the  hills  beyond  Plum  Creek.  But  before  sunrise  we  were  preparing 
breakfast  on  the  north  banks  of  tlie  Smoky — where  Fort  Harker  was 
afterwards  established. 

Hardly  was  our  camp  on  the  Smoky  Hill  brolcen  before  we  were 
joined  by  the  stock  tender  at  the  stage  station  at  Dutch  Bill's.  From 
liim  was  learned  the  first  details  of  the  desolation  and  havoc  left  in 


138     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

the  wake  of  the  deatli-dealinpr  Kiovvas,  Arapahoes  and  Cheyennes. 
He.  too,  had  a  tip  from  Philip. 

But  the  score  or  more  of  freigliters,  who  in  parties  of  two  and 
three  met  their  death  at  tlie  liands  of  the  Indians  tliat  day  were  not 
so  fortunate.  Tiiey  had  pas.sed  over  the  road  scores  of  times  before 
and  had  never  yet  been  molested,  and  why  not  agJiinV  But  tlief;:rass 
was  g'ood  and  the  tomahawlc  had  been  raised  to  avenge  the  killing  of 
two  Indians  at  Fort  McThorson  (tn  the  Platte  two  niontlisbefore. 

For  four  long  years  war  was  waged  and  all  this  time  Dutch  Bill 
and  Phillip  Blocli  wore  trusted  friends  if  not  allies  of  tlie  bloodthinsty 
redskins.  (JritTenstein  aftervvards  settled  on  tlie  present  site  of 
Wichita  and  acquired  a  handsome  fortune,  the  greater  part  of  which 
disappeared  when  the  boom  collapsed.  Phillip  was  adopted  into  the 
Cheyenne  tribe,  mastered  their  language  and  has  for  years  been  em- 
ployed as  government  interpreter  at  Fort  Sill.  His  wife  is  a  woman 
of  acknowledged  talent  and  unboiuided  inlluenco  among  tlie  tribes  of 
the  Southwest.  With  all  Iiis  faults  Phillip  was  not  all  bad.  Like 
many  otlier  young  men  during  tlie  troublous  times  that  marked  the  Civil 
War.  liis  duty  to  himself  and  others  was  not  quite  clear.  About  the 
tented  field  there  was  a  false  glamour  that  tended  to  obscure  the  patli 
of  rectitude  and  right.  Around  the  camp-tire  of  the  plainsman  there 
was  a  fascinating  glow  that  hid  from  view  the  better  things  that  lay 
beyond— in  the  quiet  of  the  home.  Phillip  bargained  his  manliood  for 
these.  The  best  years  of  his  life  were  devoted  to  the  rcccomplishment 
of  a  purpose  that  could  bring  naught  but  disappointment  in  the  end — 
a  realization  that  too  often  comes  when  the  opportune  moment  is  be- 
yond recall. 

Phillip's  greatest  enemy  was  his  own  perverted  will— thiit 
smothered  the  promptings  of  his  better  nature.  But  with  all  this  he 
did  the  members  of  our  party  a  good  service  by  that  timely  warning  at 
I  he  crossing  of  the  Walnut  in  the  Spring  of  '(54. 


NOTK.-Griffenstein  died  at  fehawnee,  I.  T.,  September  :.'6,  189!).  He  was  a  politi- 
cal exile.  Iiaving  been  compelled  to  leave  Germany  lor  his  participation  in  tlic  re- 
bellion of  1848.  For  a  time  he  made  his  home  with  Mr.  G.  Zwanzlger  and  witii  the 
family  of  Mr.  L.  Pauly,  whom  he  several  times  visited  while  mayoi-  of  Wiohiia. 
His  first  experience  as  an  Indian  trader  was  amouir  the  Pottawatomies.  Later  lie 
established  the  post  at  Walnut  creelt,  and  while  tlie  Indian  war  of  1804  was  ratfing 
ho  made  an  extended  visit  witli  his  old  friends  on  Mill  creeU.  brInginK  witii  liini  his 
Cheyenne  wife.  He  pitched  his  lodge  or  tepee  near  where  Mr.  Aderhold  after- 
wards built  ills  residence,  camping  tliere  for  several  months  during  tiie  summer  of 
1864.  He  then  located  farthei-  down  the  Arkansas,  on  the  site  dT  the  present  .Mty  of 
Wichita.  The  palatial  r»"sidence,  perhaps  the  flnes\  in  the  city,  attracts  many  vis- 
itors, especiaUy  those  who  l<new  liim  us  '•Dutch  Kill"  at  his  trading  postton  the 
Walnut. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       139 


/V  Raid  by  Bill  flrnderson. 


"1  know  it  was  Bill  Anderson,  for  tlie  moon  shone  as  bright  as 
day  and  1  recotrnizod  him  under  liis  broad-brimmed  liat  " 

Tliat  was  part  of  the  information  imparted  to  U.  S.  Marshal 
McDowell  at  Topeka  in  May,  1863,  by  a  farmer  living  on  Elm  Creek. 
Mr.  Giles,  a  bachelor  farmer,  had  died  and  at  the  request  of  his 
brother,  a  Topeka  banker,  the  body  was  hauled  in  a  two-horse  wagon, 
that  the  remains  might  be  laid  away  in  the  Topeka  cemetery. 

The  weather  was  warm  and  for  that  reason  the  long  drive  was 
made  in  the  night.  At  short  intervals  along  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail  the 
lone  driver  met  parties  of  horsemen  in  pairs  and  trios,  and  though 
clad  in  the  garb  of  plainsmen  certain  furtive  glances  that  seemed  a 
universal  characteristic  convinced  the  conveyer  of  the  gruesome 
burden  that  all  was  not  right. 

If  there  had  been  any  doubt  on  this  point  the  matter  was  set  at 
rest  when  the  familiar  face  of  Bill  Anderson  was  recognized  among 
the  little  bands  of  horsemen  wending  their  way  westward  on  the  old 
trail  between  Chicken  Creek  and  Wilmington. 

Since  boyhood  Bill  had  lived  with  his  father  at  the  crossing  of 
Bluff  Creek.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  Bill,  with  his  brother 
Jim,  Lee  Griffin  and  the  Rice  boys  were  not  backward  in  making  it 
known  that  their  sympathies  were  with  the  South.  Frequent  trips 
had  been  made  to  and  from  their  old  Missouri  home,  and  after  their  de- 
parture on  one  of  these  trips  suspicion  pointed  to  the  boys  as  being 
mixed  up  in  a  horse  deal. 

Lee  Griflin  was  arrested  and  being  brought  before  A.  I.  Baker,  a 
justice  of  the  peace  at  Agnes  City,  a  paper  town  at  the  crossing  of 
Rock  Creek,  was  bound  over  to  answer  the  charge  of  horse  stealing. 

Old  man  Anderson,  Bill's  father,  resented  this  and  with  his  double 
l)arrelled  shot-gun  proceeded  to  Baker's  house  to  wreak  revenge  for 
the  fancied  insult  to  the  companion  of  his  favorite  son.  But 
Baker  shot  first  and  old  man  Anderson's  life  went  out  at  the  foot  of 
iJaker's  stairwav— in  the  month  of  June.  1862. 


140     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

On  the  night  of  July  3d,  Bill  and  a  small  company  of  his  Missouri 
friends  appeared  on  the  scene  and  Baker  refusing  to  come  out,  his 
house  was  set  on  fire  and  Baker  was  sliot  as  he  attempted  to  escape 
through  a  cellar  window  from  the  burning  building. 

On  his  way  to  Missouri  Bill  called  on  his  old  friend,  Henry  Jacobi, 
at  the  mail  station  at  the  crossing  of  Elm  Creek,  but  Henry  had  no 
account  against  Bill  and  refused  to  open  the  door.  The  curiously  in- 
clined may,  today,  see  the  thirty  bullet  holes  made  in  the  door  by  Bill 
Anderson  and  his  gang  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July,  1862. 
Down  at  Reading  there  lives  an  old  gray-haired  man  of  70  years,  and 
if  you  ask  him  why  lie  joined  the  army  he  will  tell  you  it  was  because 
he  thought  his  chances  for  life  better  in  the  army  than  to  be  a  target 
for  Bill  Anderson  and  his  gang  of  outlaws. 

Bill  joined  Quantrill  and  was  one  of  his  trusted  lieutenants.  Ten 
months  had  elapsed  since  the  killing  of  Baker,  and  lest  his  old  Kan- 
sas friends  might  forget  him.  Bill  concluded  to  make  his  old  stamping 
ground  another  visit.  The  Elm  Creek  farmer  hauling  Giles'  body  to 
Topeka  met  Anderson  as  stated,  and  his  timely  recognition  resulted  in 
the  formation  of  a  posse  by  Marshal  McDowell  to  look  after  Bill  and 
make  inquiries  as  to  his  business. 

Marshal  McDowell,  with  100  men,  stopped  at  Wilmington,  and 
among  others  requested  to  go  along  for  company  were  Kobt.  Marrs, 
Sam  Hutchinson,  Otho  Weaver,  Pat  Cannon,  Mate  and  AVill  Hutchin- 
son, Charley  Dodds  and  the  writer  of  these  lines,  who,  in  September, 
1900,  so  far  as  we  know,  penned  the  first  chronicle  of  the  trip. 

That  night  brought  Marshal  McDowell  and  his  posse  to  Council 
Grove.  There  we  learned  that  Bill  had  begun  his  trail  of  blood  by 
shooting  a  woman.  At  the  posse's  next  camp  at  Mud  Creek,  five  miles 
east  of  the  Cottonwood,  the  outlaws  interviewed  Charley  Dodds,  one 
of  McDowell's  pickets,  and,  after  getting  all  the  information  wanted, 
wheeled  about  for  Quantrill's  headquarters  in  Missouri. 

Anderson's  men  paralleled  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail,  keeping  a  few 
miles  to  the  north,  until  Black  Jack  was  reached,  where  the  mail  was 
robbed  and  an  army  officer  barely  escaped  with  his  life  by  concealing 
his  identity.  On  the  way  back  tlireeof  Anderson's  men  had  stopped 
at  Charley  Withington's  on  142  Creek,  laying  in  a  supply  of  crackers 
and  canned  goods,  that,  it  is  presumed,  a'  half-hour  later,  formed  the 
basis  of  a  lunch  for  thirty  of  the  men  who,  three  months  later,  were 
with  Quantrill  at  the  sacking  of  Lawrence. 

Marshal  McDowell  is  now  a  resident  of  Manhattan.  ;iii(l  though 
past  three  score  and  ten  is  sill!  hale  and  hearty,  and  not  withstaiuling 
his  gray  hairs  is  still  depended  on  in  cases  where  violators  of  the  Fed- 
eral statutes  need  looking  after  by  a  tried  and  true  otticer  of  the  law. 

Bill  Anderson  was  shot  on  one  of  his  raids  in  Missouri,  leaving  be- 
hind him  one  of  the  bloodiest  records  of  the  war.  while  his  brother 
.lim.  v.illi  an  e(iually  blood-stained  career,  survived  the  horrors  of  the 
St  rife  and  a  few  years  ago  was  living  in  Te.^as. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RANCH   HOME  OF  MR.  SAMUEL  FIX,  Yampa,  Colo. 


MR.  D.  M.  GARDNER  AND  FAMILY,  Alma. 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FRED  STEINMEYER, 
Farmer  Township. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  H.  W.  STEINMEYER, 
Illinois  Creek. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  ANDREW  MAIRS, 
Eskridge. 


MR.  AND  MR3.  JOHN  PETERSON  (dec'd), 
Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


FIVE  GENERATIONS. 

An  evidence  of  longevity ;  also,  of  a  healthful  climate. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  C.  C.  GARDINER,  near  Bradford. 


FOUR  GENEARTIONS,  Eskridge.    Mr.  A.  G.  BURGETT,  Great-graodfatlier. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABA  UNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


NKr.LIE  nOUUASSA,  Maple  Hill. 


IS.ABBLLA  MAPLE  HILL  OLIVER, 

Maple  Hill. 


WEST  SIDE  MAIN  STI4RET,  Eskrldge. 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  W.  H.  EARL  (Dec'd), 
Eskridge. 


MR.  LOUIS  SCHEPP,  Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  THOS.  MANEY,  Kaw  Township. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Cai.t.  Wm.  Mitchell.  S.  R.  Weed. 

Matt  McKelvey. 

OLD  PIONEERS. 


Mr.  S.  T.  Perry. 


MR.  BEAUBIEN'S  HOTEL,  Maple  Hill. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JOSEPH  FIELDS. 
Former  County  Treasurer. 


MR.  MORRIS  WALTON  (dec'd), 
Harveyville. 


SCHOOL  IN  DISTRICT  No.  12. 
Mrs.  Mary  Hodgson  (nee  Woods),  teacher. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  W.  A.  McCOY,  Alta  Vista. 


MR.  GOTTLIEB   NOLLER,  McFarland. 


MR.  FRANK   KRIENITZ, 
Paiater,  Paper-hanger,  and  Glazier,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  VVABAaNSEE  COUJiTY,  KAS.       141 


TH-^  FIRST   LOG   HrOUSt. 


On    the  Site    of  Which,    Near   Harveyvllie,  575,000    in 

Spanish  Gold  was  Found  by  a  Preacher,  Who  Had 

Watched  as  Well  as  Prayed. 


A  robbers'  roost  is  responsible  for  tlie  first  log  house  built  by  white 
men  in  Wabaunsee  county— erected  in  1842  in  the  timber  ont  he  banks 
of  Dragoon  Creek,  near  the  mouth  of  Bachelor's  branch.  Here  were 
the  headquarters  and  rendezvous  of  as  hardened  a  gang  of  cut-throats 
as  ever  went  unhung— organized  for  the  purpose  of  robbery,  army  pay- 
masters and  treasure  wagons  of  Mexican  caravans  forming  the  tempt- 
ing inducements  that  drew  together  this  motley  gang  of  outlaws. 

The  crest  of  the  big  mound  on  the  claim  pre-empted  by  Allen 
Hodgson  in  1857,  in  plain  site  of  the  old  cabin,  as  a  point  of  observa- 
tion couldn't  be  excelled.  From  this  high  elevation  every  train  pass- 
ing over  either  the  Santa  Fe  trail  proper,  or  the  military  road  from 
Fort  Leavenworth,  could  be  distinctly  seen,  the  number  of  wagons  de- 
termined, and  the  probable  value  of  the  treasure  to  be  secured  ap- 
proximately estimated. 

As  early  as  1770  the  Spaniards  from  Santa  Fe  and  Chihuahua  bought 
merchandise  in  St.  Louis,  but  in  those  days  pack  animals  were  used, 
freighting  with  wagons  not  being  in  vogue  until  Lexington,  Mo.,  had 
been  fixed  upon  as  the  outfitting  point  by  those  pioneer  traffickers, 
those  advance  agents  of  civilization,  to  whom  the  '"Great  American 
Desert"  presented  no  obstacle  they  for  a  moment  hesitated  to  sur- 
mount. 

Starting  from  Chihuahua  or  Santa  Fe  in  the  early  spring,  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  train  of  from  twenty-five  to  forty  wagons  would  consider 
himself  fortunate  should  he  succeed  in  reaching  his  eastern  destina- 
tion, by  the  latter  part  of  May  or  the  middle  of  June.  As  each  wagon 
was  drawn  by  ten  or  twelve  mules  or  oxen,  there  would  be  from  300  to 


142     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUJSSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

."jOO  mules  or  oxen  and  from  thirty  to  fifty  men  with  every  train.  In 
all  (Mses  the  men  were  armed  in  anticipation  of  possible  attacks  from 
Indians  or  the  more  dangerous  and  desperate  gangs  of  outlaws  as  those 
who  in  the  early  days  made  their  headquarters  on  the  Dragoon. 

Specie— gold  or  silver— being  the  medium  of  exchange,  it  was  nec- 
essary that  the  money  representing  the  purchase  price  of  the  gof>ds  to 
be  bought  should  be  hauled  in  one  of  the  wagons.  This  fact,  known 
to  the  gangs  of  robbers  rendered  caution  on  the  part  of  the  owners 
essential  and  the  guarding  against  surprises  necessary 

As  it  required  from  $r>0,000  to  $100,(X)0  to  load  a  train  of  thirty  or 
forty  wagons  with  the  class  of  goods  usually  purchased  for  the  Santa 
Fe  trade,  and  as  every  train  was  known  to  carry  a  large  amount  of 
specie  for  the  purpose  stated,  it  can  be  readily  surmised  that  to  des- 
perate and  unscrupulous  men  any  east-bound  caravan  on  the  old  Santa 
Fe  trail  offered  a  temptation  extremely  inviting,  especially  when  the 
probability  of  punishment  for  such  wrong-doing  seemed,  at  the  best, 
remote,  with  the  chances  of  immunity  from  pnnishment  in  favor  of 
the  robbers. 

A  few  years  prior  to,  and  during  the  progress  of  the  Mexican  war, 
the  train  robbers  were  unusually  bold  and  aggressive,  and  as  a  majority 
of  the  robberies  were  perpetrated  between  110  creek  and  Big  John,  it 
is  more  than  probable  that  the  gang  having  their  headquarters  on  the 
Dragoon  was  responsible  for  the  unlawful  depredations. 

Several  expeditions  were  sent  out  from  Fort  Leavenworth  during 
the  years  1842  and  1843,  with  the  object  in  view  of  meting  out  deserved 
punishment  to  the  daring  outlaws,  but  these  efforts  by  the  military 
were  barren  of  results.  By  the  time  a  runner  could  make  the  trip  to 
Fort  Leavenworth  and  return  with  a  troop  of  cavalry,  the  robbers 
would  be  scattered  to  the  winds,  and  not  until  another  raid  had  been 
planned  and  executed  would  their  whereabouts  be  known  or  suspected. 

In  the  spring  of  1844  a  mule  train  of  forty-three  wagons,  owned  by 
an  American,  but  manned  by  Mexican  drivers,  while  encamped  200 
yards  west  of  Log  Chain  Creek,  near  the  Wabaunsee  county  line,  was 
surprised  at  night,  and  of  the  forty-six  men,  twenty-seven  were  killed, 
and  the  mules,  500  in  number,  run  off  by  the  outlaws,  undoubtedly  the 
gang  having  their  headquarters  within  one  mile  of  the  present  site  of 
Harveyville. 

In  one  of  the  wagons  was  an  iron  box  18x12x8  inches  containing 
$75,000  in  gold.  This  treasure  box  was  taken  and  with  the  500  mules 
represented  a  fortune— a  lost  fortune  to  the  owner  of  the  train,  who 
succeeded  in  getting  safely  away. 

Within  forty-eight  hours  he  had  ridden  to  Leavenworth  and  with 
a  company  of  cavalry  was  on  the  way  to  the  scene  of  the  terrible  mas- 
sacre.     But  the  wagons  and  harness  were  all  that  was  left  of  the 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       143 

splendid  ontflt.  After  burying  the  dead  Mexican  trainmen  the  troops 
attempted  to  follow  the  trail  of  the  robbers  with  the  hope  of  returning 
to  the  owner  th3  treasure  box  and  the  mules  that  he  might  continue 
his  journey  to  the  States.  But  the  herd  had  been  divided  and  driven 
in  different  directions  and  after  unavailing  effort  to  locate  the  robbers 
the  Captain  with  his  little  band  struck  westward. 

At  the  Little  Arkansas  an  old  trapper  and  plainsman  by  the  name 
of  H.  B.  Hobbs  offering  the  most  reasonable  solution  of  the  problem 
that  perplexed  the  Captain  his  services  were  secured  to  trail  the 
robbers. 

Hobbs  reasoned  that  the  outlaws  would  not  dare  to  take  the  mules 
either  to  the  States  or  to  Mexico  but  to  the  only  place  they  could  tind 
a  safe  market-that,  in  his  opinion,  was  Oregon.  Taking  a  north-east 
direction  the  trail  of  the  robbers  with  the  mules  was  struck  on  the 
Smoky  Hill.  Following  this  until  nearly  the  head  of  the  stream  was 
reached  the  troops  encountered  nineteen  of  the  men  in  charge  of  the 
herd  of  mules. 

In  the  hard  fight  that  followed  fourteen  of  the  nineteen  robbers 
were  killed.  The  other  live  were  taken  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  tried, 
and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  at  Alton,  Hi.,  for  life.  The  mules 
were  turned  over  to  the  owner  but  the  treasure  box  was  missing.  As 
two  of  the  twenty-one  outlaws  comprising  the  gang  were  unaccounted 
for  it  was  supposed  that  to  them  had  been  entrusted  tlie  keeping  of 
the  golden  treasure.  Diligent  search  was  made  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
robbery  for  the  iron  box  but  the  result  was  a  grievous  disappointment 
both  to  the  officer  in  command  of  the  troops  and  the  unfortunate  pro- 
prietor of  the  train. 

In  1857,  just  thirteen  years  after  the  train  robbery  referred  to,  Mr. 
Allen  Hodgson  settled  on  the  claim  on  which  is  located  the  mound 
used  by  the  train  robbers  as  their  point  of  observation.  At  that  time 
there  were  still  evidences  of  white  men  having  lived  north  of  tlie  Dra- 
goon and  east  of  Bachelor's  Branch.  The  ashes  of  a  log  house  14x16 
were  plainly  visible  and  for  years  the  outlines  of  the  building  were 
plainly  marked.  There  was  an  old  wagon  road  that  crossed  the  creek 
north  of  the  graveyard,  extending  down  the  creek  on  the  south  side. 

This  was  an  old  road  when  the  first  settlers  came  into  the  neigh- 
borhood. Neither  Henry,  George  or  Sam  Harvey  could  give  any 
further  information  as  to  the  old  road  than  that  it  was  there  before 
them.  They  said  that  white  men  had  lived  there  12  or  15  years  before 
but  who  they  were  they  didn't  know.  That  they  were  white  men  there 
was  no  question.  Twenty-five  or  30  big  oak  trees  had  been  cut  down 
for  honey— the  beeswax  still  adhering  to  the  trees  wlien  the  Harveys 
came.  In  felling  a  tree  a  white  man  cuts  on  both  sides,  an  Indian  but 
one.     In  everv  case  the  trees  had  been  cut  on  both  sides. 


144     EAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUJ4SEE  CXJUISTY,  KAS. 

In  a  tree  cut  for  a  house  log  by  Mr.  Allen  Hodgson  in  1857  a  half- 
inch  chisel  was  foutid  driven  through  the  center  of  the  tree.  The 
number  of  circles  of  growth  outside  of  the  chisel  indicated  that  fully 
13  years  had  elapsed  since  the  chisel  had  been  driven  into  the  tree. 

We  are  informed  by  Mr.  Ira  Hodgson  (to  whom  we  are  indebted  for 
this  interesting  information)  that  while  crossing  the  plains  in  1861  he 
became  acquainted  with  an  old  plainsman  by  the  name  of  Tom  Fulton 
who  had  crossed  the  "'(Jreat  American  Desert"  every  year  for  twenty 
years  or  more.  When  Ira  spoke  of  the  old  landmarks,  Fulton  said  that 
was  where  the  train  robbers  had  their  headquarters— on  the  Hragoon. 
above  the  Leavenworth  and  Santa  Fe  roads.  Fulton  said  that  point 
was  chosen  because  of  the  pro.ximity  to  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
thoroughfares  for  one  thing  and  that  for  several  other  good  reasons  it 
was  the  best  place  for  their  business— it  was  too  far  west  for  white 
men  to  molest  them  and  not  far  enough  west  for  the  Indians  to  inter- 
fere with  their  nefarious  work. 

Fulton  told  how  the  robbers  laid  their  plans— by  sending  (uil 
scouts  who  pretended  to  be  looking  for  mules  or  oxen  strayed  or 
stampeded  from  their  train.  Then  they  would  ask  permission  to 
travel  with  the  train  till  their  own  camp  was  reached,  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  opportunity  to  inform  themselves  as  to  the  number  of  men, 
their  arms,  the  location  and  probable  amount  of  treasure,  &c.  Of 
course  on  the  information  obtained  depended  the  fate  of  the  train  as 
far  as  the  work  of  the  train  robbers  was  concerned. 

In  1859  to  1861  there,  was  much  talk  among  the  employes  of  the 
Overland  Mail  Company  about  buried  treasure— somewhere  between 
110  ^\(i  Big  John -enough,  the  boys  said  to  make  them  all  rich.  They 
looked  for  it  some  but  found  nothing. 

In  1867  a  man  came  out  from  Alton,  Ills.,  and  spent  the  whole 
summer  looking  for  this  same  iron  box  tilled  with  gold.  ]?ut  in  search- 
ing for  the  box  he  went  farther  west  than  the  I>ragoon,  his  efforts 
l)eing  confined  to  digging  along  the  banks  of  Big  John.  Rock,  BlutT 
and  142  Creeks. 

A('cording  to  his  description  the  money  was  buried  on  a  creek 
crossed  by  the  Santa  Fe  road.  On  the  south  side  of  the  creek  there 
was  a  big  blulY.  and  a  creek  coming  into  the  main  creek  from  the  north 
side.  The  box  was  buried  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek  coming  from 
the  north.  On  the  bluff  south  of  the  creek  there  was  a  lot  of  big  Hat 
rock  and  on  one  of  these  rock  was  cut  the  figure  of  a  compass  pointing 
to  the  place  where  the  box  was  buried  and  the  number  of  rods  to  the 
box  was  marked  on  the  rock. 

In  the  Summer  of  1895.  just  six  years  ago,  an  old  Englishman 
came  into  the  Ilarveyvilie  neighborhood.  He  had  but  little  to  .say  to 
any  one.  thougli  he  preached  some  and  fished  a  great  deal.     He  fished 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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OUR  FIRST  HOME  IN   KANSAS  -  built  in  1865. 


sw.f  »•.  St,c  i-i-rf'^-B/Ji;  "'~i 


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N,W«,f  St.--    33  T/^-R  'J, 


l^.B^.  S«>.  33 -T I V- -W /3, 


WHERE  THE  FIRST  LOG  HOUSE  WAS  BUILT,  IN  1844. 

On  the  site  of  which,  near  Harveyville,  $75,000  in  Spanish  gold  was  found,  in  1891, 

by  a  preacher  who  had  watched  as  well  as  prayed. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        145 

and  preached  for  two  or  three  months.  His  favorite  place  for  fishing 
was  near  the  mouth  of  Bachelor's  branch,  the  poorest  place  to  fish  in 
the  whole  countr3\  He  fished  and  preached  until  some  time  in  Sep- 
tember, when  without  bidding  any  of  his  newly  made  friends  good  bye, 
he  disappeared 

In  a  few  days  it  was  noised  about  that  some  one  had  dug  up  a  box 
over  north  of  the  Harveyville  cemetery.  Right  where  stood  the  old 
log  house  the  robbers  had  built  fifty  years  before  was  a  hole  about  four 
feet  deep  and  on  the  sides  was  the  imprint  of  an  iron  box  18x12x8— un- 
doubtedly the  same  box  stolen  by  the  train  robbers  on  Log  Chain 
creek  in  1844.  The  iron  rust  was  there,  but  the  $75,000  in  Spanish 
gold  had  disappeared— with  the  old  preacher.  He  had  watched  as  well 
as  prayed.  He  had  been  fishing  for  gold— and  had  found  what  he  long 
bad  sought. 


Our  First  Vigilance  Committee. 

That  Was  Compelled  to  Suspend  Business  for  Lack  of 

Other  Material. 

In  1850,  notwithstanding  the  scarcity  of  horses,  the  business  of 
horse  stealing  was  by  no  means  neglected.  As  a  matter  of  protection 
a  vigilance  committee  was  organized  in  the  south-east  part  of  the 
county  for  the  purpose  of  dealing  out  justice  in  chunks  according  to 
the  standard  laid  down  by  Judge  Lynch,  to  such  persons  as  found  it 
difficult  to  keep  their  hands  from  stealing  other  people's  horses. 

This  committee  of  eight  waited  a  long  time  before  being  permitted 
to  put  to  the  test  the  value  of  the  organization  as  a  promoter  of  civiliz- 
ing influences.  But  few  people  living  in  Wabaunsee  County  to-day 
ever  knew  that  such  an  organization  existed  at  any  time  in  our  history 
and  it  may  be  as  well  to  state  that  they  are  but  little  less  ignorant 
relative  to  the  matter  in  question  than  were  a  majority  of  those  who 
at  the  time  lived  in  the  country. 

Among  those  who  knew  nothing  of  such  an  organization  was  an 
old  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Brain,  who  lived  on  the  quarter  ad- 
joining Joe  Johnson's  place  on  the  east.  Brain's  worldly  goods  con- 
sisted of  a  one-horse  wagon,  one  horse,  one  woman,  one  small  kid.  a 
one-room  house  and  about  as  much  household  goods  as  could  be  put  in 
the  one-horse  wagon  without  crowding  the  rest  of  the  family. 

Brain's  horse  was  the  most  valuable  piece  of  property  on  the 
claim,  being  worth  at  that  time  about  $100.  One  morning,  about  the 
middle  of  July,  the  horse  was  missing.  Some  miscreant  had  cut  the 
lariat,  taking  the  end  to  which  the  horse  was  tied,  leaving  the  other 
end  of  the  rope  to  remind  Brain  of  his  irreparable  loss. 


146       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

Failing  to  get  any  clue  of  the  lost  horse,  Brain  sent  a  description 
of  the  lost  animal  to  the  sheriffs  of  adjoining  counties  and  in  about 
three  months  word  came  that  the  horse  and  thief  were  at  Lawrence. 

Borrowing  a  neighbor's  horse,  Brain  hitched  to  his  little  wagon 
and  taking  a  trace  chain,  padlock  and  double  barrelled  shot-gun,  went 
to  Lawrence  after  his  horse  and  thief.  The  sheriff  kindly  turned  both 
over  to  Brain. 

Locking  the  trace  chain  around  the  thief's  ankle  and  the  other 
end  being  made  fast  to  the  wagon  Brain  returned  to  his  home  on  the 
Dragoon.  For  four  or  five  days  he  kept  his  prisoner  chained  to  one  of 
the  sills  of  his  house. 

No  one  seemed  to  interpose  any  objection  until  one  night  eight 
masked  men  put  in  an  appearance  and  demanded  that  Brain  turn  the 
thief  over  to  them.  Brain  refusing  to  comply  with  their  request  the 
masked  men  removed  the  chain  from  the  horse-thief's  ankle  and  at- 
tached it  to  that  of  Brain.  Taking  a  rope  they  tied  the  hands  of 
Brain's  wife  securely  behind  her  so  she  could  not  assist  her  husband  in 
getting  loose,  the  masked  men  drove  away  with  their  prisoner. 

When  morning  came  Brain's  wife  went  up  to  Joe  John.son's,  and 
getting  Joe  to  cut  the  ropes  that  bound  her  hands,  got  him  to  return 
with  her  and  release  her  husband.  Supposing  the  masked  men  had 
hung  the  thief  to  some  neighboring  tree  search  was  made  for  the  body, 
but  it  could  nowhere  be  found.  Then  there  was  a  suspicion  that  the 
masked  men  were  friends  of  the  horse-thief  who  took  that  method  of 
releasing  him. 

For  twenty  years  the  matter  remained  a  mystery.  It  was  left  for 
John  Ward  to  unravel  the  skein.  John  used  to  live  on  the  Milt  Rig- 
gin  place,  but  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Missouri  in  1860.  In  1878  he 
came  out  for  a  visit  with  old  friends  and  then  the  story  was  told  for 
the  tirst  time. 

John  was  a  member  of  the  committee  and  he  said  that  it  was  a 
good  deal  of  trouble  for  Brain  to  take  care  of  that  horse-thief  all  by 
himself,  and  they  concluded  they  would  lend  a  hand.  They  decided 
they  had  better  hang  him  or  he'might  get  away. 

Driving  to  Brain's  in  a  two-horse  wagon  the  thief  was  released,  as 
we  have  stated.  The  vigilance  committee  concluded  they  would  take 
him  over  to  the  crossing  of  Onion  creek  on  the  Emporia  road  and  hang 
him  to  a  tree  by  the  side  of  the  road  as  a  warning  to  other  men  follow- 
ing his  line  of  business 

At  that  time  there  was  a  great  deal  of  travel  on  the  Emporia  road, 
and  when  they  got  near  the  designated  place  the  committee  found 
three  or  four  wagons  encamped  at  the  crossing.  Getting  back  out  of 
sight  the  lynchers  waited  until  the  campers  should  get  their  break- 
fast and  break  camp.     By  that  time  the  sun  was  an  hour  high  and  as 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        147 

hot  as  a  July  sun  ever  gets  in  Kansas. 

Driving  down  near  the  crossing  a  convenient  limb  was  found,  the 
thief  commanded  to  stand  up,  and  after  his  hands  were  securely  tied 
behind  him,  a  rope  was  put  about  his  neck  and  the  other  end  tied  to 
the  overhanging  limb.  It  was  the  intention  to  drive  the  wagon  out 
from  under  the  horse-thief  and  let  him  hang  until  life  was  extinct, 
but  when  the  captain  of  the  vigilance  committee  ordered  the  owner 
of  the  team  to  drive  away,  he  refused,  emphasizing  his  refusal  by  an 
oath,  indicating  that  he  meant  just  what  he  said.  It  was  too  much 
like  murder,  he  said,  and  every  effort  to  induce  the  owner  of  the  team 
to  drive  out  was  unavailing. 

While  the  members  of  the  committee  were  arguing  the  all  im- 
portant question— to  the  thief— as  to  who  should  do  the  driving,  the 
most  interested  man  in  the  company  was  shaking  like  a  man  with  the 
ague,  the  sweat  running  in  a  stream  down  his  face.  To  make  matters 
worse  for  the  lone  occupant  of  the  wagon  the  flies  were  biting  the 
horses  like  mad.  At  such  times  the  horses  would  start  up  and  move, 
and  once  the  prospects  were  good  for  the  flies  settling  the  question  so 
hard  for  the  committee  to  agree  upon. 

But  the  thief  was  doing  some  good  talking  on  his  own  account. 
He  would  yell:  "Whoa,  there  !"  when  their  movements  would  bring 
him  painfully  near  the  hind  part  of  the  wagon,  and  he  would  start 
them  up  a  little  when  their  backing  threatened  to  leave  his  body 
dangling  from  the  tree  in  front.  While  the  committee  were  parleying 
the  thief  had  nothing  on  which  to  rely  but  his  feet  and  his  tongue  to 
save  him  from  swinging  into  eternity,  and  it  is  unnecessary  to  state 
that  he  made  good  use  of  his  understanding  and  powers  of  persuasion 
as  he  never  did  before. 

As  a  last  resort,  the  committee  drew  cuts  to  see  on  whom  would 
fall  the  responsibility  of  driving  the  team  out  from  under  the  tree, 
but  the  man  making  the  unlucky  draw  refused  point  blank  to  act  his 
part. 

Just  then  a  covered  wagon  was  descried  coming  down  the  road. 
This  hastened  the  verdict.  Two  hours  and  a  half  had  been  frittered 
away  in  argument  and  child's  play— to  all  but  the  man  in  the  wagon. 
The  flies  were  keeping  him  busy.  He  had  passed  the  dreary  hours  in 
the  effort  of  his  life.  He  was  keeping  his  feet  and  tongue  busy  to  save 
his  neck. 

With  one  accord  the  committee  approached  the  man  in  the  wagon 
and  informed  him  that  if  he  would  promise  to  leave  the  country  and 
never  return  he  would  be  released.  Of  coure  he  promised.  It  was 
easier  than  to  dangle  from  the  limb  of  a  tree  without  any  support  for 
his  feet.  Would  he  go?  He  "reckoned"  he  would.  He  didn't  think 
this  was  a  very  healthy  country,  anyhow — for  him. 


148        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

The  conimiltee  told  him  if  he  was  ever  caught  in  the  country 
again  they  would  shoM  him  on  the  spot.  He  replied  that  they  would 
be  perfectly  welcome  to  shoot  him  if  they  ever  caught  him  in  the 
country  at  any  time  in  the  future.    He  kept  his  word. 

That  was  the  first— as  well  as  the  last— work  ever  done  by  a  vig- 
ilance commitee  in  Wabaunsee  county. 


Bossy  Solved  the  Problern. 


Not  the  least  among  the  many  vexatious  problems  that  presented 
themselves  to  the  early  settlers  for  solution  was  the  all  important  one 
of  transportation.  While  teams  of  oxen  were  the  rule  and  horses  the 
exception  not  all  were  so  fortunate  as  to  possess  either.  Among  those 
so  unfortunately  situated  was  Hon.  G.  G.  Hall,  who  for  so  many  years 
filled  so  creditably  the  office  of  probate  judge.  The  .Judge's  memory 
was  a  store-house  of  early  reminiscences  and  no  one  delighted  more  in 
recounting  the  trials  and  the  tribulations  of  the  pioneers  than  the 
Judge. 

Having  raised  quite  a  crop  of  potatoes  and  considerable  corn  he 
was  puzzled  to  determine  how  to  move  his  produce  from  the  field  to 
the  house— some  distance  away.  Among  his  worldly  possessions  was 
neither  a  team  nor  a  wagon,  but  he  was  the  fortunate  owner  of  a  cow. 
Seeing  no  better  way  out  of  the  difficulty  he  resolved  to  utilize  Bossy 
as  a  beast  of  burden.  And  right  well  did  she  serve  the  purpose.  With 
a  sack  on  either  side— pack-horse  fashion— the  Judge  soon  had  his  corn 
and  potatoes  stored  away  for  the  winter. 


-^"^■1^4 


BOSSY. 
ALSO   A  SAMPLE  OF  A   PIONEER   FENCE. 


EARLY  T[ISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      149 


flrn  Unma»1ted  Grave, 


It  was  in  October,  1864.  Price  was  threatening  to  invade  Kansas, 
the  militia  had  been  called  oat  and  only  a  few  besides  the  old  men 
and  boys  were  left  to  guard  the  women  and  children  left  behind. 

There  were  but  few  settlers  on  the  Copp  branch  of  Mill  creek. 
The  bottoms  were  narrow  and  the  hills  rocky.  But  there  was  a  good 
range  for  cattle  and  the  beauty  of  the  landscape  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  Mr.  John  Copp,  who  saw  in  the  claim  selected  the  spot  for  an 
ideal  home. 

His  nearest  neighbor  was  Charlie  Pafkowich,  in  plain  sight,  but 
more  than  a  mile  away.  Charlie  was  among  those  who  had  gone  to 
the  front,  leaving  his  young  wife  to  look  after  the  farm. 

Those  were  lonely  days— when  Indians  were  oftener  seen  than 
white  men.  They  were  getting  restive,  too.  They  knew  the  war  was 
going  on  and  rumors  of  an  uprising  had  reached  the  ears  of  the  anxious 
settlers.  It  was  but  a  few  miles  to  the  Pottawatomie  reserve  on  the 
on  the  north  and  the  Kaws  were  uncomfortably  close  on  the  other  side. 

Only  a  few  short  years  before,  the  Kaws  had  come  over  from  their 
reservation  and  within  sight  of  the  Copp  home  had  wreaked  a  terrible 
revenge  on  one  of  their  old  time  enemies— a  Pawnee,  that  the  lonely 
squatter  had  given  a  comfortable  bed  in  the  hay  stack,  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  one-room  log  cabin. 

Mrs.  Copp  was  at  home  on  the  day  of  which  I  write,  but  not  alone. 

Four  darling  children  had  blessed  and  made  happy  the  occupants  of 

the  little  log  cabin.    So  fond  a  mother  could  never  be  lonesome  with 

the  innocent  prattle  of  those  she  prized  above  all  things  else  around 

her. 

It  was  chilly  that  day  and  a  warm  fire  had  been  kindled  in  the  old 

chimney.    The  wind'was  blowing,  too,  and  when  a  crackling  noise  was 

heard  the  fond  mother  was  amazed  to  find  that  the  house  had  caught 

fire  from  the  chimney.    Hurriedly  water  was  brought  from  the  creek 

near  at  hand.    But  the  bank  was  steep  and  the  work  tiresome. 

When  the  fire   seemed    almost    quenched  it  would  again  blaze 

up.    Help  must  be  had  or  the  house  and  all  would  be  gone.    Tired 

in  the  extreme  with  fruitless  exertion,  and  driven  almost  to  the  verge 

of  distraction,  the  half   crazed    mother   locked  the  door  with  the 


150     EMILY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

children  inside,  and  made  haste  for  help— the  nearest  at  hand— at  the 
Paflcowich   home,  more  than  a  mile  away,  down  the  valley. 

Between  hysterical  sobs  she  told  her  story.  But  a  glance  at  the 
Copp  home  was  all  that  was  needed  to  convince  Mrs.  Pafivowlch  of  the 
terrible  truth— the  little  log  cabin  was  all  ablaze  and  the  four  children 
were  wrapped  in  a  shroud  of  flames. 

A  charred  heap  near  the  door  told  the  saddest  story  in  our 
county's  history — their  doom  had  been  sealed  by  the  turning  of  the 
key  in  the  lock. 

Under  a  spreading  oak  within  thirty  yards  of  the  tenant  house  on 
the  Allendorph  ranch  near  Halifax  station  (now  the  property  of  Mr. 
Finney),  the  remains  lie  burled. 

No  mound  was  raised  to  mark  the  place.  It  would  but  recall  that 
heart-rending  scene  on  that  terrible  day  in  the  fall  of  '04.  Lest  the 
mother's  reason  be  dethroned  every  effort  must  be  made  to  efface  from 
memory's  tablet  the  horrid  spectacle. 

To  the  memory  of  Mary,  Robert,  Ida  and  Hedwigno  inscription  on 
slab  of  marble  is  needed.  Poignant  grief,  deep-seated  sorrow,  weighed 
down  the  years  of  a  life  time.  That  the  load  of  anguish  might  be 
lightened,  that  the  burden  might  be  bearable — these  tell  the  sad 
story  of  the  unmarked  grave  by  the  road-side. 


John  Verity,  who  for  a  number  of  years  kept  a  store  at  Maple  Hill, 
and  Vera  was  a  genuine  cowboy,  having  worked  at  the  trade  for  some 
years  prior  to  going  into  the  mercantile  business.  After  leav- 
ing Wabaunsee  county  John  accepted  a  position  with  the  Swofford 
Dry  Goods  Co,,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  While  in  the  employ  of  this 
company  Mr.  Verity  assumed  the  management  of  several  branch  stores 
in  the  Indian  territory,  residing  with  his  family  in  the  Nation  for 
several  years.  On  John's  first  appearance  in  the  territory  he  was 
dubbed  a  "tenderfoot."  but  when  the  Indians  and  squaw  men 
gathered  in  front  of  the  company's  store  to  greet  his  initial  perform- 
ance with  the  usual  applause  given  a  new  arrival's  first  attempt  at  riding 
a  bucking  broncho  there  was  disappointment  on  every  countenance. 
When  the  broncho  felt  his  ribs  crack  from  the  raps  from  that  wagon 
spoke  he  forgot  to  buck  and  struck  out  on  his  fifteen  mile  run  with  a 
determination  to  get  there  Eli  before  his  ribs  were  all  stove  in.  When 
the  Territory  toughs,  Indians,  and  squaw  men  brought  in  their  verdict 
it  was:  "Tenderfoot  ride  like  h— 1 !."  John  had  been  there  before  and 
his  experience  as  a  cow-boy  stood  him  in  good  stead  while  roughing  it 
in  the  Nation.  His  standing  with  the  rough  element  had  been  estab- 
lished on  a  firm  foundation. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


CALVIN  BURGER. 


HARRY  TANDY. 


JAMES  RENDER, 
alias  "  Denver  Kid." 


DICK  WILLIAM3, 
alias  "Trilby"  ;  alias  "ScowbaU." 


THE  McFARLAND  MURDERERS  AND  THEIR  VICTIMS. 


EARLY  HISTORY  Or  WABADNSEE  COONTY,  KAS.       151 


Double  Murder  at  IVlGFarland. 


The  most  revolting  crime  ever  committed  in  Wabaunsee  county 
was  the  murder  of  Harry  Tandy  and  Calvin  Burger,  at  McFarland,  on 
the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  June  28,  1899. 

On  the  following  morning,  about  9  o'clock,  Henry  Weaver's  at- 
tention was  attracted  by  the  gesticulations  and  incoherent  mutterings 
of  a  man  at  the  foot  of  a  high  bank  of  Mill  Creek,  about  sixty  yards 
southwest  of  the  ice-house  at  McFarland.  The  man's  lower  limbs 
were  submerged  in  the  water  drowning  being  prevented  by  projecting 
roots  but  for  which  the  murderers  may  have  escaped  conviction  and 
punishment. 

It  was  found  that  the  young  man's  skull  had  been  crushed  by  a 
blow  back  of  the  ear,  rendering  the  victim  of  murderous  assault  un- 
conscious, in  which  condition  the  unfortunate  young  man  remained 
till  the  time  of  his  death,  at  10  o'clock  Thursday  night. 

The  young  man  was  recognized  as  one,  who,  the  day  before,  had 
been  seated  with  a  companion  on  the  platform  in  front  of  Winkler 
Bros.'  store  at  McFarland.  It  was  recalled  that  the  young  men  had 
made  inquiries  relative  to  the  country,  the  prospect  of  getting  work, 
&c.  At  noon  the  young  men  bought  some  crackers  and  cheese  for 
lunch. 
K  Although  both  wore  overalls,  there  was  something  about  the 
young  men  that  attracted  more  than  ordinary  attention.  It  was 
noticed  that  each  wore  a  good  suit  of  clothes  under  his  overalls,  and 
that  one  of  the  young  men  carried  a  gold  watch— and  that  his  hands 
were  as  soft  as  a  woman's. 

By  letters  on  the  body  of  the  young  man  found  in  the  creek,  the 
body  was  identified  as  that  of  Harry  Tandy,  a  druggist  of  Creighton, 
Mo."  . 

Dr.  O.  S.  Chester  was  called  by  telephone  to  McFarland,  and  im- 
mediately a  message  was  sent  to  the  young  man's  father.  Starting 
immediately  the  grief-stricken  parent  reached  the  bedside  of  his  dying 
son,  but  only  to  return  on  the  saddest  mission  of  his  life— the  boy's 
spirit  had  been  wafted  horrio. 


I 


152     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

So  certain  were  the  people  that  young  Tandy's  companion  had 
also  l)e«'n  fctiilly  murdered  that  the  ereek  was  drajjged  for  the  missing 
lK)dy,  but  not  until  Saturday  evening,  July  8,  was  the  second  victim 
found— in  the  orchard  on  the  Tom  Locke  farm,  nearly  a  mile  west  of 
McFarland— on  information  secured  from  one  of  the  men  charged  with 
tiu'  murder— he  having  furnished  Sheriff  Cook,  of  Shawnee  County, 
witli  a  diagram  that  enabled  the  ollicers  to  go  directly  to  the  place 
where  the  body  lay,  in  a  badly  decomposed  condition. 

After  the  finding  of  young  Tandy's  body,  several  parties  recognized 
him  as  one  of  the  two  joung  men  who  had  been  seen  playing  cards 
witla  two  young  colored  men  on  the  east  side  of  the  ice-house  the 
evening  before  the  finding  of  young  Tandy's  body. 

A  young  colored  man,  named  AVllliams,  had  called  at  Mr.  Don- 
nelley's.  at  McFarland.  for  lunch  for  himself  and  a  partner,  and  before 
leaving  had  borrowed  two  fishing  poles,  leaving  the  satchel  with  the 
Misses  Donnelley  until  his  return. 

Later  in  the  day  Williams  returned  the  fishing  poles  and  called 
for  his  satchel,  his  excited  manner  attracting  attention  to  such  a  de- 
gree as  to  make  a  lasting  impression.  On  leaving  the  Donnelley  home 
he  went  the  back  way,  going  north  of  the  store  on  his  way  to  the 
stock-yards,  near  which  place  he  met  Render,  the  other  colored  man, 
who  had  called  at  the  store  to  buy  something  for  lunch.  The  two 
colored  men  left  McFarland  on  a  freight  train  for  Topeka.  going  to 
Crook  Wright's,  where  Tandy's  gold  watch  was  pawned.  This  was  the 
first  clue  that  led  to  the  arrest  of  Williams  and  Render, 

At  a  barber  shop,  opposite  the  Rock  Island  depot.  Render  had 
changed  his  bloody  shirt,  and  at  Kansas  City,  Williams  had  left  his 
blood  stained  pants.  Both  showed  considerable  money  at  Crook 
Wright's. 

At  the  trial  Williams  acknowledged  to  being  present  when  both 
young  men  were  murdered  but  said  Bill  Collins  had  killed  Harry 
Tandy  and  "Souse"  Hawkins  had  killed  Calvin  Burger— Williams 
stating  that  he  had  been  compelled  at  the  point  of  a  revolver  to  assist 
in  the  double  murder.  Williams  told  how  Burger  had  been  decoyed 
to  the  orchard  to  get  chickens  for  supper  and  how  Tandy  was  disposed 
of  on  his  return— how,  on  bended  knees,  he  had  plead  for  his  life— 
otiering  to  give  up  his  watch  and  money— everything,  if  only  his  life 
was  spared. 

As  neither  ''Souse"  nor  Collins  had  been  seen  at  McFarland,  and 
it  being  proven  that  they  were  in  Topeka  at  the  time  the  murders 
were  committed.  Williams'  story  was  devoid  of  effect.  It  was  re- 
garded as  a  l)ungling  effort  at  fixing  a  most  horrible  crime  on  innocent 
parties— innocent,  at  least,  of  the  double  murder  at  McFarland. 

The  recital  of  the  l)rutal  murder  of  Harrv  Tandv  created  a  heart 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       153 

rending  scene  in  the  court-room.  Scalding  tears  coursed  down  the 
cheeks  of  the  grief  stricken  mother  and  the  excited  condition  apparent 
in  the  equally  aggrieved  father  created  the  impression  that  the  as- 
sembled spectators  might  be  unwilling  witnesses  of  a  second  tragedy 
as  a  sequel  to  the  first. 

The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty  at  noon,  and  at  1:4-)  p.  m. 
Williams  and  Render  were  on  their  way  to  the  penitentiary — having 
been  convicted  of  murder  in  the  first  degree. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tandy  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burger,  parents  of  the  mur- 
dered boys,  were  in  attendance  at  the  trial,  leaving  on  their  sad  home- 
ward journey  on  the  same  train  that  carried  Williams  and  Render  to 
prison  for  life.  Mr.  Tandy  is  a  leading  physician  and  druggist  at 
Creighton.  Mo.,  and  Mr.  Burger  is  in  the  restaurant  business  in 
Kansas  City,  but  until  a  short  time  before  the  murder  had  been  a 
guard  at  the  Kansas  State  penitentiary  at  Lansing.  Two  excellent 
families  had  been  drawn  together  by  sad  circumstances  that  deprived 
each  of  two  homes  of  a  promising  son. 

Good  detective  work  was  done  in  bringing  the  criminals  to  justice. 
Messers.  Barnes  and  Carroll  received  deserved  commendation  for  their 
efficient  work  as  prosecutors.  Mr.  Keagy  exerted  his  best  efforts  to 
bring  about  the  acquittal  of  the  defendants  and  with  nothing  to  base 
a  hope  on,  he  made  the  best  possible  argument  in  behalf  of  the 
prisoners — who  could  have  no  cause  to  complain  that  their  conviction 
was  due  to  a  lack  of  legal  talent  in  their  defense. 

There  were  no  shoes  on  young  Burger's  feet  when  the  body  was 
found,  though  an  old  pair  was  found  near  by.  When  Mrs.  Burger 
came  to  Alma  she  identified  the  shoes  Williams  was  wearing  as  having 
been  worn  by  her  son,  Calvin,  when  he  left  home  for  a  visit  with  his 
brother  in  Oklahoma. 

Though  robbery  was  the  motive  for  the  crime  a  five  dollar  bill  was 
found  in  the  lining  of  young  Burger's  hat.  It  was  wrapped  in  a  piece 
of  a  newspaper  published  at  Minneapolis,  Kas..  where  the  family  for- 
merly resided. 

The  identification  of  Calvin  Burger's  body —decomposed  beyond 
recognition— was  established  by  the  score  book  first  and  later  by  the 
pants  that  he  wore  at  the  time  of  the  murder.  Allowing  that  "T"  in 
the  score  book  stood  for  Tandy.  "D"  for  Dick  Williams  and  "R''  for 
Render,  the  other  initial,  "B"'  represented  the  young  man  whose 
identity  was  in  question.  In  their  effort  to  fix  the  responsibility  for 
the  crime  on  "Souse"  and  Collins  the  prisoners  had  stated  that  the 
young  man  whose  body  was  found  in  the  orchard  had  been  working 
with  the  asphalt  gang  in  Kansas  City.  Attorney  Carroll  went  to 
Kansas  City  and  established  the  fact  that  Calvin  Burger  was  young 
Tandy's  companion  at  McFarland.    The  bit  of  cloth  used  in  patching 


I 


154     EARLY  HISIXDRY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

the  pants  worn  by  the  murdered  boy  made  the  identification  complete. 
When  on  Saturday.  July  8,  the  second  body  was  found  and  the 
facts  developed  that  the  victim  had  been  foully  murdeied  in  the  same 
identical  manner  as  was  the  young  druggist  the  excitement  was  in- 
tense and  the  conditions  ripe  for  the  infliction  of  summary  punish- 
ment on  any  one  whom  the  evidence  might  incrhninate.  On  Sunday 
when  the  train  bearing  Dick  Williams,  one  of  the  accused,  reached 
Alma  the  excitement  which  had  not  yet  abated  was  heightened  in  the 
extreme  and  hardly  had  the  outer  door  of  the  jail  closed  on  the 
prisoner  than  the  sheriff  and  his  deputies  were  overpowered,  the  door 
broken  down  and  in  a  trice  the  body  of  Dick  Williams  was  being 
dragged  through  the  street  to  the  Mahan  corner— a  block  east  of  the 
court  house— and  in  another  moment  what  was  supposed  to  be  a  life- 
less body  was  dangling  limp  and  motionless  from  a  telephone  pole  ten 
feet  from  the  ground.  Six  minutes  later  City  Marshal  Pippert 
lowered  the  body.  Williams  breathed  but  until  midnight  his  life 
hung  as  by  a  thread.  Twenty-four  hours  later,  with  the  exception  of 
an  abrasion  of  the  scalp,  there  were  no  indications  that  Williams  had 
passed  through  the  terrible  ordeal  that  came  near  depriving  him  of 
the  right  of  trial  by  jury  for  a  crime  without  a  parallel  in  the  history 
of  Wabaunsee  County. 


EAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       IM 


The  FratiK  Mitchell  Murder. 


When  on  Mondny  mornintf.  M.urh  ^K  1*<V»(>,  Mr.  James  Clare,  of  Alta 
Vista,  went  to  tlie  farm  of  his  brother-in-law.  Mr.  Frank  Mitchell,  to 
return  a  borroweri  waeron  and  failed  to  find  Frank  at  home  his  sn.spic- 
ions  were  at  once  aroused,  and  he  felt  assured  that  somethinir  had  gone 
wronjr.  His  suspicions  were  more  than  confirmed  when  lie  noticed 
that  all  the  stock  on  the  place  appeared  in  a  >?iunted  and  half-starved 
condition,  the  water-tank  dry  and  everythinur  uroinj;  to  show  that  the 
owner  had  not  been  on  the  place  for  several  days  at  least. 

From  inquiries  it  was  learned  that  not  since  the  Thursday  before 
(March  o I  had  Frank  l>een  seen  by  anyone.  On  that  day  a  neighbor 
had  called  on  Frank." leaving  there  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
AVhile  at  the  Mitchell  farm  P'rank  had  .said  that  John  Hoopner  had 
one  of  his  hogs  and  that  he  w;is  gf»iug  over  to  see  about  it.  From  the 
fact  that  Hoepner  had  once  before  refused  to  deliver  to  Frank  a  hog  of 
his  that  he  had  taken  up  until  he  had  paid  him  two  dollars,  it  was  at 
J  once  suspected  that  Frank  had  got  into  trouble  with  Hoepner  and  had 
been  foully  dealt  with  at  the  hands  of  his  quarrelsome  neighbor. 

A  searching  party  of  about  thirty  of  Frank's  neighbors  and  friends 
was  at  once  organized,  and  there  being  such  a  unanimity  of  sentiment 
respecting  Hoepner's  guilt  a  warrant  was  sworn  out  before  M.  H. 
(V)oper.  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  Constable 
.lohn  Kistler.  to  be  served  in  case  circumstances  should  warrant  hi.S 
iM'rest. 

.Mthough  Hoepner  denied  having  seen  Mitchell  for  several  months, 
and  his  statement  was  corroborated  by  his  wife,  not  one  of  the  search- 
ing party  believed  the  story  of  the  one  or  the  other.  But  persisting  in 
their  determinatifm  to  find  the  body,  iiuccess  finally  rewarded  the  ef- 
forts of  the  diligent  searchers.  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of 
Hoepner's  barn  poor  Frank  Mitchell  lay  prone  upon  his  back,  his  blood- 
stained lips  apart,  his  eyes  glazed  and  turned  heavenward  as  if  mutely 
appealing  to  a  just  God  who  has  .said.  "'Vengeance  is  mine.  I  will  re- 
pay."" 


i:)ti     EAKLY  lllSTOKY  OF  WABAUJSSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 

For  four  days  and  niphts  the  body  had  lain  where  John  Hoepner 
liad  dumped  the  limp  and  lifeless  form  from  his  wa^on-  like  a  dojf. 

Telegrams  were  at  once  sent  to  Coroner  Reals,  County  Attorney 
Barnes,  and  Sheriff  Treu.  Messrs.  Otto  Meyer,  Gilbert  Anderson,  Geo. 
W.  Gantz,  David  Weidner,  and  Drs.  Eldridge  and  Goodsell  were  sworn 
in  as  jurors,  and  after  hearing  the  evidence  brought  in  a  verdict  to  the 
effect  that  Frank  Mitchell  came  to  his  death  from  a  gunshot  wound, 
and  that  the  said  shot  was  fired  by  John  Hoepner  with  felonious  in- 
tent. Hoepner  was  held  for  murder  in  the  first  degree  and  only  by 
strategy  was  lynching  prevented. 

After  being  lodged  in  the  Alma  jail  Hoepner  confessed  to  the  mur- 
der, he  claiming  that  Frank  had  refused  to  pay  the  five  dollars  damage 
he  had  asked  before  he  would  allow  him  to  take  his  hog;  that  Frank 
had  taken  the  hog  from  the  pen  and  was  driving  it  home  when  he 
overtook  and  shot  him.  The  shooting  was  done  southeast  of  Hoep- 
ner's  and  in  the  direction  of  Frank's  home.  When  found  the  body 
was  nearly  half  a  mile  from  the  spot  where  the  killing  was  done.  Two 
slugs  had  broken  the  arm  Ijone  just  below  the  shoulder,  entering  the 
lung  cavity,  and  must  have  caused  immediate  death. 

Several  days  after  the  murder  Sheriff  Treu  discovered  that  the 
front  and  arms  of  Hoepner's  shirt— that  he  wore  at  the  time  of  the 
murder— was  a  matted  mass  of  blood,  showing  conclusively  that  Hoep- 
ner had  grasped  the  body  tightly  in  his  arms  in  lifting  it  into  the 
wagon. 

Hoepner  had  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  lived  at  the  time  of  the 
murder  about  ten  years  before.  He  was  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition, 
and  his  life  hi  the  neighborhood  had  been  marked  by  an  uninterrupted 
series  of  brawls,  quarrels,  fights,  threats  to  shoot,  &c.,  with  game  and 
wild  fruit  hunters,  and  with  neighbors  about  stray  stock,  land  lines 
and  other  matters  that  usually  are  lightly  considered  but  more  often 
unnoticed.  In  strange  contrast  was  the  character  of  Frank  Mitchell, 
who,  by  his  upright  conduct  and  manly  bearing,  had  won  for  himself 
an  enviable  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  people.  Of  him  it  could  be 
truthfully  said: 

"None  knew  him  but  to  love  him. 
Nor  named  him  but  to  praise." 

The  remains  were  buried  at  the  White  school  house,  the  funeral 
services  being  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Newcomb,  of  Beman. 

The  case  was  tried  at  the  May  term  of  court  and  the  murderer 
sentenced  to  a  t«rm  of  twenty  years  in  the  penitentiary. 


EARLY  HJSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       157 


The  IVliiehlenbaGher  Murder. 


On  Saturday  night,  March  17,  1894,  at  tlie  Muehlenliacher  home, 
seven  miles  southeast  of  Alma  on  Illinois  Creek,  was  perpetrated  one 
of  the  most  atrocious  and  brutal  murders  ever  committed  in  Wa- 
iKiunseo  county. 

Many  years  before  Louis,  Fred 
and  Peter  Muehlenbacher,  three 
bachelor  brothers,  had  located 
on  the  creek.  There  was  a  sis- 
ter who  had  married  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Schepp,  but  there 
had  been  a  separation,  Margar- 
itha,  with  her  son,  Louis,  having 
for  years  made  their  home  with 
the  brothers.  the  muehlenbachku  home. 

Several  years  prior  to  the  murder  Fred  was  found  dead  in  the  tim- 
ber, and  a  little  more  than  a  year  before  the  tragedy  on  Illinois  Creek 
Louis  was  killed  by  a  flying  limb  while  felling  a  tree  in  the  woods, 
leaving  Peter.  Margaritha.  the  sister,  and  her  .son.  Louis,  to  look  after 
the  work  of  the  farm. 

The  brothers  had  accumulated  quite  a  large  amount  of  property, 
consisting  of  lands,  horses  and  cattle,  money  invested  in  mortgages. 
&:c.  Of  lands  they  owned  something  over  two  thousand  acres  and  the 
home  farm,  extending  for  several  miles  on  either  side  of  Illinois  Creek, 
included  some  of  the  richest  land  and  most  valuable  timber  in  Wa- 
baunsee county.  Owning  as  they  did  nearly  all  of  the  best  lands  on 
the  stream  it  was  as  often  referred  to  as  the  Muehlenbacher  branch 
us  Illinois  Creek. 

Hard  work  and  rigid  economy  was  the  rule  at  the  Muehlenbacher 
farm.  Three  large  stone  houses  had  been  built  on  the  farm,  but  the 
attractions  of  the  old  home  place  were  many,  and  here  the  family  had 
remained  until  the  terrible  tragedy  of  March  17,  1894. 

On  the  evening  of  that  day  as  Peter,  Louis  Schepp,  and  Frank 
Walker  were  seated  at  the  supper  table  fnear  the  south  window,  shown 


lo8      EAULV    mSTUKY  OF  WABA  L'iNSEE  COUNTY,   KAS. 


t^S^H^aS^^K; 


in  cut*,  a  pislol  shot  was  tired  on  the  rmtside  near  tho  fnint  door  (shown 
in  cut  of  lo^'  building)  A  moment  later  a  masked  man  stepped  into 
the  open  door  and  tired  a  shot  at  Peter,  who  had  sot  up  from  the  table 
as  the  man  entered  the  ro(»m.  The  shot  had  struck  I'eter  in  the  side, 
intlictintr  a  mortal  wound,  causint:  him  to  fall  towards  his  murderer, 
whom  he  fjrasped  by  the  leg^  as  he  fell. 

The  masked  man  then  tired  a 
shot  at  Mar^aritha.  missing  his 
aim.  but  another  shot  struck 
Louis  as  he  entered  the  door 
leading  to  the  north  room— the 
ball  entering  hi.s  side,  inflictlnfj 
a  painful  and  dangerous  wound. 
Peter,  still  liolding'the  murder- 
er's leg's  in  a  death  grip,  was 
dragged    outside    the    building.  makgakitha's  housk. 

where  another  and  la.st  shot  was  fired,  striking  the  prostrate  man  in 
the  back  of  the  head  and  caiising  immediate  death. 

There  was  but  little  liglit  in  the  room  and  the  smoke  from  the 
shooting  was  so  den.se  that  nothing  could  be  seen.  But  Lfuiis  and  his 
mother  had  pas.sed  into  the  north  room  and  Louis  looking  out  of  the 
window,  raised  about  ten  inches,  .saw  the  murderer,  wlio.  Louis  thought 
was  reloading  his  pistol,  tie  was  standing  nearly  in  front  of  tlie  still 
open  door  and  about  twenty  feet  from  the  liouse.  Thougli  weak  and 
nervous  from  excitement  and  loss  of  blood.  Louis  got  down  his  double- 
barreled  shotgun  and  loading  it  with  a  single  ball  that  just  fitted  the 
bore,  fired  under  the  raised  sash  at  the  murderer  of  his  uncle.  At  the 
crack  of  the  gun  the  man  fell,  but  rising  immediately  to  his  feet  dis- 
appeared in  the  darkne.ss. 

As  soon  as  the  excitement  had  partially  subsided  Frank  Walker 
went  t:o  George  Casey's  for  help,  and  Charlie  Wenzel  came  to  Alma  and 
informed  Sheriff  Palenske,  who  immediately  organized  a  posse  to  go  to 
the  scene  of  the  murder  and  if  possible  to  get  .some  clue  as  to  the  per- 
petrators of  the  atrocious  crime. 

THK    FIRST   CLUE. 

It  was  7:30  o'clock  when  Frank  Walker  left  the  Muehlenbacher 
home  on  the  night  of  the  murder.  About  9  o'clock  the  posse  started 
to  the  scene  of  the  murder.  When  the  posse  started  Jerry  and  James 
Fields  went  to  the  Rock  Island  depot  to  watch  all  passing  trains  and 
to  get  any  clue  as  to  the  perpetrators  of  the  murder.  A  half  hour  later 
Jerry  Fields  had  settled  in  his  own  mind  the  identity  of  at  least  two 
of  the  msn  guilty  of  the  murder  of  Peter  Muehlenbacher.  and  later 
developm'^nts  proved  that  his  suspicions  were  woll-founded. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


/;% 


SCHOOL-HOUSE  AT   McFARLAND. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  AT  WABAUNSEE. 


EAltLV  IIISTOUV  OK  \VA  I'.A  TXSKE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


First  ScliDol  ill  Disl.  2:5,  llock  Creek. 


M.    E.    CnUKCH.   ALMA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


CATHOLIC  CHURCH  AND  ALTAR,  Newbury. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  Kaw  Township. 


LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  Kaw  Township. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  Paxico. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  Wabaunsee. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ALTAR  IN  CHURCH  BURNED. 


CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 
Burned  February  6,  1899. 


ALTAR  IN  THE  NEW  CATHOLIC  CHURCH,  ALMA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Mr.  Franz  Schmidt's  Residence.  Parsonage. 

The  Parsonage.  Rev.  Father  Hohe. 


Catholic  Church,  Alma. 
The  Old  Church. 


Rev.  Father  Kamp. 


Rev.  Father  Hundhausen. 
Rev.  Father  Cihal. 


Rev.  Father  Bollwig. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


■;-■■•.;;? 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,  ESKRIDGE.  M.E.CHURCH  and  PARSONAGE.ESKRIDGE. 


CATHOLIC  PARSONAGE.  NEWBURY. 


^ 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  McFarland. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  Maple  Hill. 


DINING-ROOM,  ROCK  ISLAND  EATING  HOUSE,  McFarland. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


HAYING  AT  MR.  CHRIS.  LANGVARDT'S,  NEAR  ALTA  VISTA. 


GERMAN  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  ALTA  VISTA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


SCHOOL  HOUSE  AT  ESKKIDGE. 


M.  E.  CHURCH.  ALT  A  VISTA. 


ROCK  ISLAND  EATING  HOUSE.  McFARLAND. 


I 


«:• 


EAKLY  iriSTOEY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUTsTY,  KAN.      J59 

At  the  depot  were  Frank  Simon,  Jr.,  and  Julius  Benke;  the  latter 
for  some  time  slept  on  a  cot  in  the  depot.  Jerry  Fields  inquired  of  the 
boys  if  they  had  seen  anyone  going  up  the  railroad  track  the  evening 
before.  Both  the  boys  had  seen  Chris  Carpenter  going  west  on  the 
Rock  Island  track  late  in  the  afternoon,  carrying  a  bundle.  This  ex- 
cited Mr.  Fields'  suspicions,  and  going  to  the  small  frame  building 
just  north  of  the  Commercial  house,  where  Chris  usually  stopped,  he 
found  that  he  had  gone— no  one  knew  where. 

Having  seen  .Jerry  Carpenter  in  Alma  the  evening  before,  Mr. 
Fields  at  once  telegraphed  to  McFarland  (where  Jerry  Carpenter  had 
been  at  work  at  the  coal  chute  for  the  Rock  Island  company),  asking 
if  Jerry  was  there  and  if  not,  where  he  was.  In  response  Mr.  Field 
received  a  dispatch  stating  that  Jerry  had  gone  away  the  evening  be- 
fore with  the  expressed  intention  of  going  to  Kansas  City  but  that  he 
had  not  gone  on  any  east  bound  train. 

This  settled  in  the  mind  of  Jerry  Fields  the  identity  of  at  least 
two  of  the  murderers  of  Peter  Muehlenbacher.  From  that  time  every 
word  said  and  every  move  made  by  either  Jerry  or  Chris  Carpenter  but 
added  to  the  proofs  that  they  v/ere  two  of  the  parties  engaged  in  the 
murder  and  attempted  robbery  of  Peter  Muehlenbacher  on  Illinois 
Creek.  So  confident  was  Jerry  Fields  of  this  fact  that  he  insisted  on 
foing  out  to  John  Allen's  (the  brother-in-law  of  the  Carpenters)  that 
light  and  arresting  them  as  participants  in  the  crime.  But  other 
.counsel  prevailed  and  the  arrest  was  postponed,  but  in  the  meantime 
close  watch  was  kept  on  the  suspected  parties,  every  act  of  whom  but 
drew  closer  the  web  that  was  closing  about  them. 

On  Sunday  Jerry  Carpenter  was  at  McFarland  a  very  sick  man. 
He  hired  a  substitute  at  the  coal  chute— stating  that  he  was  sick — to 
one  party  that  he  had  the  sore  eyes  and  to  another  that  he  had  the 
dysentery.  On  Monday  he  again  appeared  in  Alma.  That  night 
Jerry  and  Chris  were  seen  through  a  slit  in  the  window  curtain — 
dressing  the  gunshot  wound  received  out  at  Muehlcnbacher's.  One 
J.  was  heard  to  say  to  the  other:  "We  are  all  right  if  Tom  McClain 
don't  give  us  away"  Jerry  went  to  McFarland  on  the  mornins  train 
but  it  was  seen  that  he  didn't  go  any  farther.  Before  night  Jerry  and 
Chris  Carpenter  and  Tom  McClain  were  lodged  in  the  Alma  jail. 

TOM   3I'CLAIN'S   STATE3IENT. 

Solitary  confinement  worked  on  Tom's  nerves  and  he  sought 
spiritual  consolation.  Sending  for  Rev.  J.  F.  Dennis  he  unbur- 
'dened  his  mind.  He  told  Rev.  Dennis  that  on  Saturday — the  day 
of  the  murder— that  Chris  had  said  to  him  that  there  was  lots  of 
money  to  be  had  out  at  Muehlenbacher's  and  that  he  and  Jerry 
were  going  to  have  it  and  that  Chris  invited  Tom  to  go  along 
but  he    stated    that    he    wouldn't    go.      Tom    further    said    that 


ItJO     KAKLY  HISTOKY  OF  WABAUJSfciKE  CUUISTY,  KAS. 


oti  Sunday  innrninp  Chris  came  by  his  place  and  said  that  he  (Chris) 
iuul  Jeir.v  wtMt'  out,  at.  Muehlenbacher's  the  night  before  and  that  they 
liad  a  h— 1  of  a  time,  that  they  had  killed  Pete,  and  Jerry  had  a  hole  | 
put  throuK'h  him.  But  Tom  insisted  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  with 
it.  Tom  sought  consolation  by  singing  a  few  good  old  Methodist 
songs  witli  Hov.  Dennis. 

jerky's  conkkssion. 

Jerry  Carpenter  was  in  the  room  just  across  the  hall-way  and  when 
told  that  Tom  was  giving  him  away  Jerry  became  excited  and  said 
lie  would  have  something  to  say  about  it— that  when  the  time  came 
he  would  get  up  in  the  court  room  and  tell  the  whole  story.  Then  he 
told  how  that  he  and  Chris  and  Tom  had  gone  out  to  Muehlenbacher's 
-  that  he  did  the  shooting  but  Tom  and  Chris  were  both  in  the  "* 
room.* 

Jerry  said  he  fell  just,.as  Louis  had  said  and  that  he  got  up  and 
walked  unaided  to  the  fence  when  Chris  and  Tom  helped  him  away. 
Jerry  said  he  never  thought  of  there  being  a  gun  in  the  house  and  he 
supposed  Louis  was  past  shooting.  Jerry  was  doubtless  re-loading  his 
pistol  but  on  this  point  he  refused  to  say  anything. 

THE  MYSTERIOUS   BUNDLE. 

When  Julius  Benke  and  Frank  Simon  saw  Chris  Carpenter  he  was 
going  west  on  the  Rock  Island  track  with  a  bundle.  One  of  the  three  . 
men  who  passed  Albert  Dieball's  and  John  Diehl's  had  with  him  the 
mysterious  bundle.  Before  leaving  McFarland  Jerry  had  the  sjime 
bundle  claiming  it  to  be  a  pair  of  pants  he  wanted  altered.  It  is  sus- 
pected that  this  bundle  contained  the  masks,  pistols,  &e..  used  at 
M  uehlenbacher's. 

When  Jerry  Carpenter  left  McFarland  he  had  on  a  dark  suit  of 
clothes  but  a  light  suit  when  he  returned.    In  Chris'  trunk  was  found 
a  pair  of  pants,  wet  and  soggy— made  so  perhaps  in  washing  out  blood    > 
stains. 

One  of  the  masks  was  found  a  mile  north  of  Muehlenbacher's  on 
Sunday  morning  by  Herman  Schroeder.  A  few  days  after  a  coat  was 
found  near  the  same  place.  Tom  McClain  had  lost  a  coat  about  which 
he  seemed  uneasy  but  he  denied  the  ownership  of  the  coat,  though  h^- 
said  the  coat  found  was  something  like  the  one  he  had  lost. 

The  reward  of  $500  offered  by  the  sister,  Margaritha,  was  paid  to 
Messrs  J.  H.  McMahan,  J.  B.  Fields  and  D.  M.  Gardner,  each  of  whom 
did  excellent  work  in  securing  the  early  arrest  of  the  guilty  parties 
connected  with  the  murder.  j 


*NoTB.— The  room  was  so  filled  with  smoke  from  the  revolver  in 
the  hands  of  Jerry  that  nothing  could  be  seen. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       Itjl 

OLl>  OFFENDERS. 

Jerry  and  Chris  Carpenter  served  two  years  in  the  Kansas  peni- 
tentiary, having  been  sent  up  from  Marion  county  for  grand  larceny. 

Over  a  thousand  dollars  worth  of  goods,  burglarized  from  a  store 
in  Marion,  were  found  in  the  shanty  occupied  by  Chris.  But  Jerry 
had  skipped  out  and  after  a  long  chase  was  captured  at  Hot  Springs 
in  Arkansas 

After  the  Muehlenbacher  murder  a  large  number  of  keys,  saws, 
files,  coldchisels,  glass  cutters  and  fuse  were  found  in  Chris'  valise,  and 
at  the  barn  where  he  kept  his  horses  several  lap  robes  and  other  prop- 
erty, identified  as  long  missing  articles  belonging  to  citizens  of  Alma. 

County  Attorney  Jones  was  ably  assisted  in  the  prosecution  by 
Messrs  Barnes,  Cornell  and  McClure.  Messrs  Case  &  Nicolson  de- 
fended. Chris  and  Jerry  were  given  life  sentences,  while  McClain  was 
acquitted.  Finding  public  sentiment  strong  against  him  he  went  to 
Oklahoma.  Chris  died  at  Lansing  after  serving  the  state  five  years  in 
the  coal  mines.  I 


102     EAELY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COIINTT,  KAN. 


The  FooKs-ZVliller  FeUd. 


On  the  morning  of  Octobers,  1881,  the  quiet  law-abiding?  citizens 
of  Wasliington  township  were  startled  by  the  news  of  a  tragedy,  the 
like  of  which  was  never  known  before  among  a  people  whose  inclina- 
tions have  ever  been  foreign  to  the  fostering  of  quarrels  and  bickerings 
— to  say  nothing  of  ditlicultics  in  the  settlement  of  which,  human  life 
would  be  placed  in  jeopardy. 

On  thenorthhalf  of  section  IS,  township  12,  range  9,  lived  two  neigh- 
bors, George  Miller  and  Matt  Fooks— the  former  a  quiet,  stolid  Ger- 
man, and  the  latter  an  Englishman,  who,  during  his  residence  in  the 
neighborhood,  had  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  pugilistic,  and,  as 
some  asserted,  quarrelsome. 

At  any  rate,  there  was  friction  between  the  heads  of  the  two 
families.  Their  farms  were  adjoining  and  there  was  trouble  about 
Fooks'  cattle  breaking  into  Miller's  enclosure.  On  the  morning 
referred  to  the  cattle  had  made  another  raid  and  Miller  was  driving 
them  out.  What  occurred  in  the  timber  near  the  line  fence  was  but 
little  more  than  conjecture. 

About  9  o'clock  Fooks  rode  by  the  Moege  farm,  where  Mr.  Moege,  sr., 
and  sons  were  butchering  a  hog.  Fooks  was  much  excited  and  telling 
Mr.  Moege  he  had  killed  Miller  rode  off  towards  Alma.  It  was  nearly 
noon  when  he  rode  into  town  and  surrendered  himself  to  Sheriff 
Gardner,  stating  that  he  had  a  difficulty  with  George  Miller  about  his 
(Fooks)  cattle  that  had  broken  into  Miller's  enclosure,  and  that  in  the 
dispute  that  followed.  Miller  struck  him  with  a  club,  and  that  he 
drew  his  revolver  and  fired  several  shots  at  Miller,  two  of  which  he 
thought  had  taken  effect  in  Miller's,  body. 

In  a  short  time  several  of  Fooks'  neighbors  arrived  in  Alma  and 
claimed  that  a  cold-blooded  murder  had  been  perpetrated,  and  that 
the  killing  was  premeditated  and  without  just  provocation. 

Drs.  Green  and  Buehner  went  out  and  made  a  post-mortum  exam- 
ination, finding  that  one  bullet  had  passed  through  the  lungs  and 
heart,  lodging  in  the  back,  and  that  another  had  entered  the  side, 
fracturing  the  spinal  column.  Either  shot  would  have  been  fatal. 
The  inquest  was  held  by  Squire  Flnck.  The  body  was  found  fifty 
yards  over  the  line  in  Miller's  timber,  and  rendered  a  plea  of  self-de- 
fense untenable.  Fooks  was  convicted  of  manslaughter  in  the  first 
degree  and  sentenced  to  six  years  imprisonment.  He  was  taken  to 
Lansing  September  24,  1882,  but  secured  a  pardon  after  serving  about 
half  bis  time. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      163 


/V  W\&  Flood. 


I 


The  night  of  June  28,  1858,  will  lonf?  be  remembered  by  the  old 
settlers  of  VVabaunsec  county.  The  tlood-gatcs  of  heaven  were  opened 
and  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents.  As  a"  rule  the  people  had  built 
their  houses  on  low  ground;  generally  near  some  good  spiing  of  clear, 
sparkling  water,  little  thingking  of  the  danger  from  turbulent  floods 
that  came  so  soon. 

Some  of  the  pioneers  had  retired  for  the  night,  while  others  had 
not  yet  gone  to  rest.  Klockman's,  Thowe's  and  Schwanke's  houses 
went  down  with  the  Hood  and  the  occupants  were  compelled  to  wade 
in  water  up  to  the  armpits  or  swim  for  their  lives.  Mr.  Klockman  was 
away  and  Mrs.  Klockman  found  herself  struggling  for  her  life  in 
twenty  feet  of  water.  Floating  down  the  stream  she  caught  the  limbs 
of  a  tree  that  had  lodged  against  another  tree,  that  still  resisted  the 
torrent  of  water.  Here  she  remai.ied  till  the  waters  subsided,  more 
dead  than  alive  from  the  long  exposure  from  the  watery  element. 

Mr.  Fred  Steinmeyer  heard  the  roaring  waters  and  opening  the 
door — the  bottom  of  which  was  two  feet  from  the  ground— the  waters 
rushed  in  with  such  force  it  would  be  madness  to  attempt  to  get  out 
that  way.  Pushing  the  clapboards  aside,  thus  making  a  hole  in  the 
roof,  he  climbed  on  top  of  the  house,  where  with  his  wife  he  remained 
till  all  danger  was  past. 

Mr.  Moettcher,  a  near  neighbor,  seeing  them  on  the  roof,  and  be- 
ing determined  to  rescue  them  from  their  perilous  position,  mounted 
his  pony  and  dashed  into  the  seething,  roaring  waters.  Mr.  Stein- 
meyer shouted  for  him  to  stay  back,  that  the  water  was  going  down, 
but  his  voice  was  unheard.  The  water  was  nearly  a  half  mile  in  width 
and  the  roaring  noise  was  terrible.  It  was  ten  feet  deep  in  places  and 
six  feet  deep  in  the  house.  Regardless  of  danger  Moettcher  urged  his 
pony  into  the  boiling  current.  But  the  noble  little  animal  wasn't 
equal  to  the  occasion.  The  waves  tossed  pony  and  rider  about  as  bub- 
bles on  the  crest.  The  rider  went  down  to  rise  no  more  but  the  pony 
and  two  faithful  dogs  sncceeded  in  making  a  landing  forty  rods  below. 

Three  days  after  the  flood  Mr.  Moettcher's  body  was  found  in  a 
drift  nearly  a  half  mile  below.  Near  the  place  under  a  cedar  tree  the 
body  was  buried. 


1()4     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Some  hogs  belonging  to  Mr.  Jos.  Schutter  had  been  washed  four 
miles  by  the  swift  current.  Mr.  Antcme  Schewe  was  on  hand  ready  to 
render  any  needed  assistance.  He  was  so  excited  by  the  terrible  scenes 
tliat  he  had  failed  to  notice  the  fact  that  he  had  but  one  boot  on— 
the  other  he  was  carrying  in  his  hand. 

Mr.  Fred  Palenske's  corn  crib,  stable  and  chicken  house  were 
washed  away  and  only  by  wading  in  the  deep  water  was  the  family 
saved  from  drowning,  taking  refuge  on  the  high  ground  in  what  was 
later  used  by  Mr.  Pauly  as  a  feed  lot— entirely  surrounded  by  the 
seething  waters. 

Mr.  Palenske  had  five  hogs  weighing  150  or  200  pounds.  Seeing 
nothing  of  them  he  supposed  they  had  been  swept  down  stream,  as  he 
said,  "to  New  Orleans."  But  Mr.  Zwanziger  called  and  asked  if  they 
had  looked  for  tracks  in  the  timber.  They  hadn't  looked,  but  they 
would.  No  tracks  were  found  but  some  familiar  grunts  were  heard— 
coming  from  where?  The  tree-tops!  This  may  be  a  Munchausen 
story,  but  it  is  true,  nevertheless.  The  five  hogs  had  been  lodged  in  a 
big  drift,  where  they  had  remained  for  two  days,  38  feet  from  the 
ground.  Corn  was  brought  and  the  hogs  came  down— with  a  thud, 
and  all  in  a  heap.  But  no  bones  were  broken  and  though  stunned, 
after  a  few  moments  rest  the  five  hogs  ate  their  corn  with  a  relish  born 
of  a  two  days  fast  in  the  tree-tops! 

The  few  settlers  on  Illinois  creek  and  West  Branch  were  also 
driven  out  by  the  flood— some  of  them  escaping  from  their  houses  and 
reaching  a  place  of  safety  just  in  time  to  see  the  lights  go  out— extin- 
guished by  the  rising  waters.  Much  of  their  stock  and  fencing  were 
gone  but  no  lives  were  lost — for  which  all  were  thankful. 

The  waters  of  the  Dragoon  and  Mission  creek  were  the  highest 
ever  known,  but,  while,  in  some  cases,  the  houses  were  surrounded  by 
water,  none  were  washed  away  and  comparatively  little  damage  was 
done.  Some  fields  of  corn  in  the  low  bottoms  were  partly  washed  out 
but  after  the  flood  much  of  the  corn  straightened  up  and  good  crops 
were  raised. 

But  for  years  after  the  old  settlers  referred  to  the  high  waters  of 
'58  as  "The  Big  Flood." 


AN  OLD-TIME  FENCE, 
MORE  FREQUENTLY   SEEN  THAN  ANY  OTHER,  IN  THE  EARLY   SIXTIES 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        165 


E;,leGtioii  Returns. 


YOTE  OF  MARCH  28,  1859. 

The  first  general  election  in  Wabaunsee  county,  Kansas  Territory, 
was  held  March  28,  1859,  with  the  following  result: 

J.  M.  Hubbard  for  Probate  Judge  111;  G.  M.  Harvey,  Clerk  of 
County  Court  and  Board  of  Supervisors,  111;  Jehu  Hodgson,  Sheriff 
109;  Moses  C.  Welch,  Register  of  Deeds,  111;  Robert  G.  Terry,  County 
Attorney,  111;  August  Brasche,  Coroner,  111;  Henry  Harvey,  County 
Treasurer.  Ill;  G.  Zwanziger,  County  Surveyor,  111;  J.  E.  Piatt, 
County  Superintendent,  110;  S.  F.  Ross,  Auditor,  111. 

Henry  Harvey,  J.  M.  Hubbard  and  G.  Zwanziger  canvassed  the 
vote.  W.  S.  Griswold,  clerk.  C.  B.  Lines  was  appointed  messenger  to 
convey  the  returns  to  the  Governor. 

VOTE  OF  NOVEMBER  8,  1859. 

At  an  election  held  November  8,  1859,  the  following  vote  was  cast: 
Delegate  to  Congress:    Marcus  J.  Parrott,  121;  Sanders  W.  Johnson, 8. 
For  Councilman  (Senator):    J.  B.  Woodward,  121;  H.   N.  Williams,  8. 
For  Representative:    Amasa  Bartlett,  129. 
For  Probate  Judge:    J.  W.  Hubbard,  101. 
For  County  Clerk:    S.  E.  Beach,  119. 
For  Sheriff:    John  Hodgson,  122. 
For  Register:    E.  C.  D.  Lines,  125. 
For  Connty  Treasurer:    H.  W.  Selden,  121. 
For  County  Attorney:    Woodridge  Odlin,*  122. 
For  County  Surveyor:    G.  Zwanziger,  124. 
For  County  Superintendent:    J.  H.  Gould,  122. 
For  Coroner:    A.  Brasche,  125. 

VOTE  OF  DECEMBER  6,  1859. 

At  an  election  held  December  6,  1859,  under  the  Wyandotte  Con- 
stitution for  the  election  of  state,  district,    county    and  township 
officers,  the  following  vote  was  cast: 
For  Congress:    Martin  F.  Conway,  121;    John    A.    Halderman,    26; 

Marcus  J.  Parrott,  5. 
For  Governor:    Chailes  Robinson,  128;  Samuel  Medary,  17. 
For  Senator:    J.  M.  Hubbard,  109;  Robert  Reynolds,  17;  Wm.  Hoven- 

den,  11; 

*  Resigned,  April,  1861. 


1G6        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


For  Representatives:  Ernest  Ilohencck,*  121;  Abner  Allen.  101: 
Cieurge  W.  Churchill,  77:  I).  M.  Adams,  24:  Churchill  Morris,  24: 
E.  J.  Lines,  25;  W.  H.  McKinley,  16;  Herman  Dierker.  16. 

For  Probate  Juclye:  J.  M.  Hubbard, 1 109:  EcUvfircl  Lower,  10:  Wood- 
bridfi^e  Odlin,  6;  Vim.  Ilovenden,  8:  Simon  Dow,  4. 

For  Clerk  of  the  Court:  Edward  C.  D.  Lines,  103;  Chas.  F.  Hotchkiss, 
14;  S.  E.  Beach,  8. 

For  County  Superintendent:    J.  H.  Gould,  121:  Geo.  Rulison,  19. 

For  District  Judge:  Jacob  Safford,  93;  J.  11.  McClure,  16;  R.  A.  Wil- 
son, 14. 

The  following  Justices  of  the  Peace  were  elected:    C.  B.  Lines  and 
W.  F.   Cotton  for  Wabaunsee  townsliip:  Ernest  Hoheneok  and  , 
Edward  Lower,  Alma:  Allen  Hodgson  and  Simon  Dow,   Wilming- 
ton; J.  W.  Mossman  and  S.  F,  Ross,  Mission  Creek. 

Vote  canvassed  by  Wm.  Mitchell,  G.  Zwanziger  and  Isaiah  Harris. 

VOTE  OF  MARCH  6,  1860. 

At  an  election  held  March  6,  1860,  the  following  was  the  vote: 
For  Commissioner:    James  W.  Blain,  183;  James  B.  Ingersoll,   111;  G. 

Zwanziger,  108;  D.  M.  Johnston,  75;  F.  Hebrank,  79. 
For  County  Assessor:    H.  M.  Selden,  175;  Isaiah  Harris,  7. 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER  6,  1860. 

For  Territorial  Superintendent:    John  C.  Douglas,   88;  J.  S.  Magill,  3. 

For  County  Superintendent:    J.  H.  Gould,  81. 

For  Assessor:    H.  J.  Loom  is,  89. 

Wm.   Mitchell,    Frank    Hebrank  .and  J.   B.    Ingersoll  were  elected 

County  Commissioners. 
For  Territorial  Representative,  C.  B.  Lines  76  votes. 

ELECTION  NOVEMBER  5,  1861. 

For  Governor,  Geo.  A.  Crawford,  93;  for  Sheriff,   Jehu  Hodgson,   150; 

for  Register,  S.  R.  Weed,  153;  for  Treasurer,  S.  E.  Beach,  151. 
For  Clerk  of  Court,   J.  V.  B.  Thompson,  113:  Jesse  B.  Allen,  44. 
For  County  Clerk,  H.  M.  Selden,  78;  G.  G.  Hall,  73. 
For  County  Surveyor,  G.  Zwanziger,  163;  for  Coroner,  A.  Brasche,  163. 
For  Assessor,  D.  L.  Bates,!  114;  H.  J.  Loomis,  45. 
For  District  Attorney:    A.  II.  Case,  113;  L.  DcArthur,  34. 
For  Commissioner:    Wm.  Mitchell,   115;  F.   X.   Hebrank,   133;  J.   B. 

Ingersoll,  §  134. 

*  Mr.  Hoheneck  romoving  from  the  district,  W.  M,  Snow  was  elected  to  fill 
vacancy.  Election  held  April  0,  1861.  Tlie  following  are  reported  In  the  statutes 
of  '61  lis  representatives:    E.  Hoheneck,  Abner  Allen  and  E.  J.  Lines. 

+  Resigned,  October  6, 1862.    O.  G.  Hall  appointed. 

*  Bates  dying,  J.  H.  Akin  was  anpolnted  April  6,  1863. 

8  Resigned,  and  H.  D.  Siiepard  appointed  January  6, 1863. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        167 

For  Representatives:  J.  B.  Ingersoll,  105;  A.  C.  Pierce,  125;  T.  F. 
Ilerzog,  146;  E.  G.  Robinson,  60;  Tlios.  Pierce,  20;  Geo.  W.  Freeman, 
20;  Geo.  Montague,  20. 

For  State  Capital:  Topelca,  155;  Lawrence,  4;  Wabaunsee,  3;  Manhat- 
tan, 1;  Ilendrick's  Creek,  1. 

ELECTION  NOVEMBER  4,  1862. 

For  Governor:    Thomas  Carney,  156;  W.  R.  Wagstaff,  16. 

For  Congress:    A.  C.  Wilder,  154;  M.  J.  Parrott,  16. 

For  Senator:    S.  M.  Strickler,  158;  L.  B.  Perry,  12. 

For  Representative:    J.  B.  Ingersoll,  77;  D.  M.  Johnston  93. 

For  Probate  Judge:    G.  G.  Hall,  167. 

For  Clerk  of  Court:    S.  R.  Weed,  109;  J.  W.  Blain,  60, 

For  County  Superintendent:    J.  H.  Gould,  162. 

ELECTION  NOVEMBER  3,  1863. 

For  Chief  Justice:    Robert  Crozier,  136. 

For  District  Attorney:    A.  H.  Case,  85;  C.  H.  Gilchrist,  51. 

For  Representative:  D.  M.  Johnston,  109;  Frank  Meier,  24. 

For  Treasurer:  S.  R.  Weed,  138;  for  County  Clerk,  H.  M.  Selden,*  131; 
for  Sheriff,  Samuel  B.  Harvey,  138;  for  Register,  S.  A.  Bald- 
win, 138;  for  Coroner,  August  Brasche,  137;  for  Surveyor,  Jesse 
Evans,  137;  for  Assessor,  Wm  Krieg,  132. 

For  Commissioner:  E.  R.  McCurdy,  135;  Joseph  Treu,  136;  IT.  D. 
Shepard,  134. 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER  8,  1864. 
Lincoln    Electors,    163:     McClellan  Electors:    Thos.     Moonlight,   50; 

others  7  each. 
For  Governor:    S.  J.  Crawford,  116;  S.  O.  Thatcher,  63. 
For  Congress:    Sidney  Clark,  102;  Albert  L.  Lee,  77. 
For  District  Judge:    David  Brockway,  87;  John  P.   Greer,   43;  C.   R. 

Gilchrist,  25;  John  G.Otis,  20. 
For  Senator:   William  K.  Bartlett,  110;  Robt.  S.  Miller,  67. 
For  Representative:     H.  D.  Shepard,  108;  G.  Zwanziger,  65. 
For  Probate  Judge,  G.G.Hall,   173;  for  Clerk  District  Court,   S.  11. 

Weed,  133;  for  Sheriff,  Geo.  W.  Daily,  90;  for  County  Attorney,  T. 

N.  Hamilton, t  43;  E.  J.  Lines,J  41. 
For  County  Superintendent:    E.  R.  Twitchell,§   117;Chas.   Guild,   36; 

G.  R.  Guild,  13. 


*  Died,  and  S.  A.  Baldwin  apointed  July  3, 1865. 
+  Election  contested  and  Hamilton  loses  by  default. 

*  Petition  by  E.  Plait  and  22  others  to  oust  county  attorney  for  drunkenness 
I  filed  October  2, 1866. 

§  Isaiah  Harris  appoiutcd  April  3,  1865  on  account  of  death  of  E.   R.   Twitcbell. 


108        EAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUKSEE  COUKTY,  KAS. 


Canvass  of  vote  deferred  to  December  19,   to  hear  from  soldier  vote, 

but  none  received. 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER  7,  1865. 
For  Representative,  H.  I).  Shcpard.  77:  for  Treasurer,  S.  R.  Weed,  81; 

for  County  Clerlt,  S.  11.  Fairfield,  81:  for  Register,  S.   A.   Baldwin, 

80;  for  Sheriff,  J.  H.  Pinkerton,  79:  for  assessor,  G.  M.  Harvey,*  79; 

for  County  Superintendent,   Isaiah  Harris,t  78;  for  Coroner,   A. 

Brasche,  76;  for  Surveyor,   G.  Zwanziger;  for  Commissioners,  \Vm. 

Mitchell,  77,  Henry  Schmitz,  80.  Wm.  D.  Evving-,  77. 
ELECTION,  NOVEMBER  6,  1866. 
For  Governor:    S.  J.  Crawford,  245;  J.  L.  McDowell,  12. 
For  Congress:    Sidney  Clark,  259;  Chas.  Blain  12. 
For  Representative:    H.  J.  Loomis,  168.  D   M.  Adams,  94. 
For  Senator:    Luke  P\  Parsons,   134;  Wm.  F.   Blakely,   124;   W.  M.  S. 

Blakely,  5;  Abram  Barry,  4.  . 

For  Probate  Judge,  G.  G.  Hall,  268:  for  Clerk  of  District  Court,  S.  R. 

Weed,  268;  for  County  Superintendent,   Isaiah  Harris,   264;  for 

County  Attorney,  N.  H.  W^hittemore,  262. 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER  5,  1867. 

For  Representative,  Wm.  Mitchell,  257;  for  Sheriff,  John  H.  Pinker- 
ton,  263;  for  Treasurer,S.  H.  Fairfield, J  232;  G.  Zwanziger,  47;  for 
County  Clerk,  S.  R.  Weed,  279:  for  Register,  S.  R.  Weed,  278;  for 
Surveyor,  S  R  Weed,  279;  for  Coroner,  A.  Brasche,  278:  for  Assessor, 
John  Harriott,^  279;  for  Commissioners,  Henry  Schmitz,  170;  John 
Copp,  88;  H.  M.  Sanford,  277;  Morris  Walton,  278. 
ELECTION,   NOVEMBER  6,  1868. 

For  President :    Grant  Electors,  333;  Democratic,  41. 

For  Congress:    Sidney  Clark,  340;  Chas.  W.  Blain,  42. 

For  Governor:    James  M.  Harvey:  341;  Geo.  "W.  Glick,  43. 

For  Senator:    J.  H.  Prescott,  369;  R.  E.  Lawrenson,  19. 

For  Representative:    Samuel  R.  Weed,  262;  Wm.  Mitchell,  123. 

For  Probate  Judge,  G.  G.  Hall,  385;  for  Clerk  District  Court,  S.  R. 
Weed,  342;  for  County  Attorney,  N.  H.  Whittimore,  303;  E.  H. 
Sanford,  68. 

For  County  Superintendent:  Martin  V  Allen,  1|  252;  T.  M.  Allen,  87: 
S.  L.  Russell,  33;  W.  F.  Cotton.  12. 

For  Assessor:  Ed.  Herrick,  144;  S.  B.  Easter,  35;  E.  Herriott,  35;  Allen 
Hodgson,  25. 

For  a  Jail,  171;  against  a  Jail,  209. 

*  Resigned,  April  2, 1867.    Allen  Hodson  appoiuted. 

t  To  fill  vacancy  caused  by  death  of  E.  R.  Twitchell. 

*  Appointed  to  fill  vacancy,  January  8, 1868. 

8  April  27, 1808,  Ed.  Herrick  appointed,  Harriott  not  qualifying. 

n  Martin  V.  Allen  beinsr  declared  a  non-resident,  T.  M .  Allen  was  appointed. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      169 

r        Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1869. 


Candidates. 


0) 

0) 

O 

0 

r 

O 

> 
B 

B 
o 

Alma 

g 

-1 

P 

en 

/I 

EL 

a 

o 

0 
0 

P 

01 

•-I 

01 

ft 

»i 

►i 

— 

ft 

O 

f 

rt 

r»- 

• 

J.  H.  Pinkerton 

Ed  Herrlck 

S.  H.  Fairfield. 
J.  M.  Matheny 


Representative. 

Sliei-'iff.' 

Treasurer. 

County  Clerk. 

Register  of  Deeds. 


S.  H.  Fairfield. 

County  Superintendent. 

T.  M.  Allen 

Surveyor. 

J.  M.  Matheny 

Coroner. 

A.  Brasche 

Commissioner. 

Joseph  Thoes  

E.  Piatt  

J.  Copp 

A.  Hodgson J 

Wm.  Mitchell 


20 

39 

21 

39 

7 

47 

17 

15 

29 

19 

38 

20 

39 

48 

20 

15 

48 

21 

39 

22 

39 

49 

20 

15 

52 

21 

39 

22 

39 

48 

29 

15 

51 

21 

39 

22 

39 

49 

29 

15 

52 

21 

39 

22 

38 

49 

20 

15 

42 

21 

39 

22 

39 

49 

20 

15 

51 

21 

39 

20 

39 

49 

20 

15 

49 

1 

29 

1 

26 

22 

9 

10 

20 

11 

21 

13 

10 

27 

11 

15 

49 

20 

10 

22 

12 

9 

28 

11 

15 

36 

21 

39 

19 

36 

10 

45 

20 

15 

51 

1 

28 

1 

25 

1 

22 

6 

10 

234 

258 

268 

266 

268 

257 

267 

263 

99 
173 
163 
256 

94 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention,   Alma,   Saturday,   October  9.      William 
Mitchell,  Wabaunsee,  chairman;  J.  H.  Stubbs,  Harveyville,  secretary. 


DELEGATES. 

Alma:  Ed  Krapp,  John  Copp,  G.  W.  Watson,  Rudolph  Arndt,  N.  H. 
Whittemore,  Louis  Muehlenbacher,  F.  Rickershauser. 

Wabaunsee:  Enoch  Piatt,  S.  A.  Baldwin,  Wm.  Mitchell,  Milo  Wright. 

Mission  Creek:  J.  W   Mossman,  James  Herriott,  J.  W.  Boyer,  T.  K. 
Tom  son. 

Zeandale:  Thos.  Keenan,  J.  M.  Allen,  Oscar  Mecham. 

Wilming-ton:  Jos.  Fields,  J.  H.  Stubbs,  Allen  Hodgson,  J.  M.  Johnson. 

Central,  Committee:  G.  W.  Watson;  William  Mitchell,  J.  W. 
Mossman,  Thos.  Keenan,  Joseph  Fields. 


170      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1870. 


Candidatks. 


'-'►1 


►1 


Alma 


Oct 

1  2 


n  o 
n  a 


o 


Congressman. 

D.  P.  Low 

K.  C.  Foster  

Governor. 

J.  M.  Harvey 

Isaac  Sharp 

Representative. 

J.  H.  Pinkerton 

Probate  Judge. 

G.  G.  Hall 

Superintendent. 

R.  M.  Tunnell  * 

County  Attorney. 

N.  H.  Whittemore  

J.  T.  Keagv 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

R.  G.  Mossman 

Senator. 
J.  H  Prescott 


37 
25 

25 

62 
2 

42 
12 

89 

105 

47 

30 

20 
5 

15 
10 

37 
25 

24 
3 

63 
2 

42 
12 

89 

96 

47 

29 

20 
5 

14 
10 

61 

29 

64 

41 

67 

106 

48 

30 

20 

17 

61 

29 

64 

51 

91 

107 

48 

29 

20 

23 

58 

20 

64 

50 

92 

76 

13 

11 

20 

23 

56 
5 

30 

60 
2 

30 
24 

26 
66 

33 

74 

34 
13 

15 
15 

6 
19 

16 

7 

61 

27 

64 

50 

92 

m 

44 

29 

20 

24 

50 

27 

61 

41 

89 

106 

47 

30 

20 

15 

472 
54 

461 
57 

483 

523 

42* 

306 
225 

515 

486 


♦Resigned  October  3.  1871,  to  take  effect  November  1 . 

NOTES. 

Republican    convention,    Alma,   September   5.      G.  W.  Watson, 
chairman;  S.  A,  Baldwin,  secretary. 

DELEGATES. 

Alma:  E.  Krapp,  A.  Sellers,  Jos.  Treu,  H.  Grimm,  A.  Dieball,  Wm. 
Home,  G.  W.  Watson,  John  Hess,  J.  P.  Gleich. 

Newbury:  John  Winkler,  J.  H.  Durham,  R.  H.  Moser,  C.  C.  Stalker, 
J.  E.  Horn. 

Wabaunsee:  S.  A.  Baldwin,  G.  S.  Burt,  B.  C.  Benedict,  Wm.  Mitchell, 

E.  Piatt,  G.  G.  Hall. 
Mission  Creek:   Ed  Morehouse,    E.   M.  Hewins,   S.   Sower,   C.   Little, 

Thos.  Barker. 

Wilmington:   M.  Walton,  P.  A.  Green;  H.  C.  McKee,  H.  C.  Tapscott, 
John  Fields,  John  Barlow,  Wm.  Prothrow. 

Zeandale:  W.  Stewart,  J.  M.  Allen,  T.  Keenan,  J.  H.  Williams. 


No  other  convention  held. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      171 

Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1871. 


Candidates. 


h3 
O 


Representative. 

J.  M.  Johnson 

C.  C.  Little 

Treasurer. 

Chas.  Ross 

H.  C.  McKee 

County  Clerk. 

G.  W.  Watson 

J.  M.  Matheny 

Sheriff. 

Ed  Herrick 

John  Herriott 

County  Superintendent. 

W.  F.  Cotton 

S.  L.  Russell 

Coroner. 

C.  S.  Montgomery 

John  Zenner 

Register  Deeds. 

S.  H.  Fairfield 

R.  6.  Mossman 

Surveyor. 
G.  Zwanziger 

D.  R.  Alden 

R.  R.  Assessor. 

Samuel  R.  Weed 

S.S.Cooper 

Commissioner  1st  District. 

Jos.  Thoes 

F.  Rickershauser 


397 
365 

410 
395 

411 
354 

400 
369 

408 
362 

406 
368 

399 
373 

405 
366 

215 
126 

145 
101 


NOTES. 


Republican  convention,  Alma,  Tuesday,  October  10. 

The  following  candidates  v?ere  nominated:  representative,  C.  C. 
Little;  treasurer,  H.  C.  McKee;  clerk,  J.  M.  Matheny;  sheriff,  John 
Herriott;  county  superintendent,  S.  L.  Russell;  coroner,  John  Zenner; 
register  deeds,  R.  G.  Mossman;  surveyor,  D.  R.  Alden;  R.  R.  assessor, 
S.  S.  Cooper. 

On  October  17,  the  following  "People's  Ticket"  was  nominated: 
representative,  J.  M.  Johnson;  treasurer,  Chas.  Ross;  clerk,  G.  W. 
Watson;  register  deeds,  S.  H.  Fairfield;  surveyor,  G.  Zwanziger; 
coroner,  C.  S.  Montgomery:  county  superintendent,  W.  F.  Cotton. 

No  tabulated  statement  of  votes  for  this  year  was  kept  by  the 
county  clerk.  Neither  does  such  a  statement  appear  in  the  only 
newspaper  published. 


172      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1872. 


> 

2 

^ 

1 

^ 

X 

m 

p 

§ 

O 
1 

^ 

D 
"I 

W 

o 

§ 

p 

Candidates. 

o 

n 

't 

■-t 

p 
P 
a 

D 

•I 
o 
1^ 

Si 

a- 
c 
<i 

■d 

O 
P 

o 

p 

a 

1 
a 

p 
om 
o 
o 

B 

o 

n 

o 
pr 

o 

fO 

P 

o 

PT 

a 

O 

■ 
; 

O 

1 

n 

o 

K 

t^ 

CO 

President. 

Grant  Electors 

69 

41 

8 

17 
4 

19 

7 

80 
15 

30 

8 

73 
19 

25 
16 

40 

n 

79 
3 

25 
9 

57 

S 

54 
1? 

23 
11 

632 

188 

444 

Greelev  Electors 

Governor. 

T.  A.  Osborn 

64 
60 

42 
10 

17 
4 

20 

7 

79 
14 

30 

8 

74 
22 

25 
16 

17 
32 

77 
5 

23 
10 

55 

8 

54 
11 

23 
11 

600 
218 

SW> 

T.  H.  Walker 

Senator. 

C.S.Martin 

53 
71 

8 
46 

15 
3 

16 
11 

39 
56 

28 
10 

39 
57 

24 
16 

19 
30 

79 
3 

15 
19 

42 

22 

30 
36 

13 
21 

420 
401 

19 

H.  D,  Shepard 

Representative. 

A.  Sellers 

118 

43 

19 

20 

66 

33 

77 

19 

21 

26 

r; 

36 

19 

8 

522 

391 

J.  M.  Bisbey 

2 

1 

6 

22 

4 

3 

3 

20 

8 

12 

5 

10 

24 

125 

E.  H.  Sanford 

4 

1 

13 

18 

8 

48 

11 

3 

35 

131 

Probate  Judge. 

G.G.Hall 

125 

51 

21 

27 

95 

38 

94 

40 

40 

81 

33 

59 

67 

34 

814 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

R.  G.  MossHsan 

64 
61 

51 

2 
19 

20 
7 

29 
67 

22 
16 

89 
7 

25 
15 

38 
11 

83 

26 

7 

57 
5 

48 
18 

25 
9 

579 
242 

ITT 

A.  W.  Gregor}' 

County  Superintendent. 

W.  S.  McCormick         

115 

8 

48 
2 

19 
2 

19 

8 

84 
7 

32 
6 

89 
3 

2o 
15 

37 
11 

78 
3 

26 

6 

42 
11 

37 
27 

22 
12 

6r3 
121 

5(S'> 

I.  Harris 

County  Attorney. 

J.  T.  Keagy 

105 

30 

20 

12 

24 

23 

45 

28 

10 

7 

16 

19 

7 

30 

376 

94 

VV.  A.  Doolittle 

15 

17 

1 

14 

3 

8 

46 

1 

21 

60 

12 

36 

46 

2 

282 

E.  H.  Sanford 

1 

4 

10 

4 

15 

1 

8 

1 

44 

S.  R.  Weed 

4 

1 

67 

4 

3 

3 

2 

3 

1 

88 

NOTES. 


There  being"  but  one  newspaper  published  in  the  county  in  1872, 
and  there  being  no  copies  of  the  one  paper  on  file  in  the  State 
Historical  Society  cov^ering  the  campaign  period  of  that  year,  notes 
relative  to  the  convention  held  are  not  obtainable. 


EARLY  niSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      173 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1873. 


Candidates. 


W 


t_i. 
o 
1-1 


Representative. 
A.  Sellers 

A.  M.  Reed 

Treasurer. 

Chas.  Ross 

Sheriff. 

B.  Hoskinson    

J.  Fields 

County  Clerk. 

G.  W.  Watson 

Register  of  Deeds. 

S.  H.  Fairfield 

N.  W.  Dressie 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

W.  A.  Doolittle 

Surve3'or. 

G.  Zwanziger 

Coroner. 

H.  Schmitz 

Commissioner. 

Jos.  Thoes  

Robt.  Fix 

J.  W.  Crandall 

A.  E.  True 

A.  Phillips 


121 
2 

123 

HO 
13 

121 

105 
17 

115 

119 

115 

99 
23 


37     4 
2    21 

39 


30 


19  21 

20  9 

39    30 


9    26 
16    13 


60 
36 

103 

59 
41 

102 

65 
37 

102 

103 

90 


21 


27 


44 


26 


28 


47 


486 
328 

752 

479 
267 

745 

433 
304 

730 

745 

439 

192 

77 

172 

184 

99 


258 

752 
203 

745 
129 

730 
745 
439 
115 

172 

85 


I 


NOTES. 


People's  Mass  convention  held  in  Alma,  October  2,  1873.  P.  A. 
Green,  chairman;  C.  S.  Montgomery,  secretary. 

The  following  ticket  was  nominated:  representative,  A.  M.  Reed; 
treasurer,  Chas.  Ross;  clerk,  G.  W.  Watson;  sheriff,  Joseph  Fields; 
register,  N,  W.  Dressie;  surveyor,  G  Zwanziger;  clerk  court,  W.  A. 
Doolittle;  coroner,  Henry  Schmitz;  commissioners,  J.  R.  Fix,  A.  E. 
True  and  J.  W.  Crandall. 


At  the  republican  convention  the  same  ticket  was  nominated 
except:  A.  Sellers  for  representative;  S.  H.  Fairfield  for  register  of 
deeds  and  B.  Hoskinson  for  sheriff. 


174      EA  IILV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1874. 


CANDIDATK8. 


w 


s 

g 

o 

p 

'r. 

►1 

a 

t 

O 

r* 

ta 

S 

n 
n 

9f 

g 


Governor. 

T.  A.  Osborn ' 

J.  C.  Cusey 

Congressman, 

W.  K.  UroNvn 

J.  K.  Iluilsou 

Senator. 

C.  S.  Martin 

T.  K.  Tomson 

Kepresenlative. 

S.  A.  Baldwin 

Win.  Mitclu'U 

Probate  Judge. 

G.G.Hall 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

Percival  Ha\ses 

W.  W.  Cone 

County  Superintendent 

W.  S,  McCorraick 

F.  W.  Kroenke 

County  Attorney 

J.  T.  Kcagy 

C  A.  Stringham 


122 
23 

4» 
S4 

37 
42 

14 
13 

2:i 

13 

24 
13 

30 
37 

30 
3 

25 
14 

21 
13 

18 
5 

39 
1 

22 
10 

22 

23 

7 

506 
242 

21 

67 
49 

45 
37 

11 
16 

23 
13 

23 
14 

29 

38 

27 
7 

24 
14 

17 
17 

18 
6 

15 

25 

22 
13 

21 

1 

23 
1 

8 

498 
272 

109 
34 

()7 
42 

21 
62 

11 

16 

11 
21 

16 
18 

24 
43 

18 
16 

22 

17 

15 
I'J 

3 
21 

12 

28 

19 

16 

23 

23 

1 

8 

402 
354 

82 
(5.5 

68 
46 

41 
42 

13 
14 

19 
17 

22 
15 

27 

40 

31 

4 

29 
10 

18 
16 

16 
8 

19 
21 

14 
22 

10 
13 

23 

1 

7 

1 

439 
335 

1-15 

113 

78 

26 

35 

37 

67 

34 

39 

34 

24 

39 

34 

23 

24 

8 

760 

126 
20 

70 
40 

32 

48 

12 

1.1 

13 
22 

14 

28 
38 

13 

18 

29 
9 

17 
16 

13 
7 

18 
22 

20 
15 

22 

24 

8 

359 

292 

29 
116 

72 
39 

36 
47 

13 
13 

22 
13 

22 
14 

35 

27 

32 

1 

32 

6 

27 
i 

14 
6 

10 
30 

32 

7 
16 

7 
17 

7 
1 

367 
385 

145 
3 

71 
37 

22 
61 

16 
11 

15 
20 

16 
20 

9 
55 

21 
9 

16 
22 

18 
15 

3 
21 

35 
4 

34 

23 

23 
1 

8 

475 
279 

,264 

226 

48      N 

104 

760 
67 

18 
196 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention,  Alma,  October  8.  Mr.  E.  N.  Morehouse, 
chairman;  J.  P.  Evans,  secretary. 

Nominations:  S.  A.  Baldwin,  representative;  G.  G.  Hall,  probate 
jud.jjfe;  Percival  Hawes,  clerk  district  court;  W.  S.  McCormick, 
county  superintendent;  J.  T.  Keag"y,  county  attorney. 


Reform  convention,  Alma,  Friday,  October  9.     H.  A.  Stiles,  chair- 
man; L.  A.  Knapp,  secretary. 


Nominations:   Wm.  Mitchell,  representati 
judg"e;    W.  W.  Cone,  clerk   district  court 
superintendent;  C.  A.  Stringham,  county  attorney. 


sentative:  G.  G.  Hall,  probate     J 
urt;    F.  W.   Kroenke,   county     I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      175 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1875. 


Candidatbs. 


H 


ft 


u-t. 

o 


Representative. 

S.  A.  Baldwin 

Joseph  Treu  

Treasurer. 

Joseph  Fields 

Walter  Ross 

Register  of  Deeds. 

S.  H.  Fairfield 

County  Clerk. 

G.  W.  Watson 

Wm.  Mitchell 

Sheriff. 

B.  Hosfeinson    

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

A.  W.  Gregory 

County  Superintendent. 

W.  E.  Richey 

Surveyor. 

S.  R.  Weed 

W.  T.  Mahan 

Coroner. 

T.  N.  Watts 

Commissioner. 

J.  R.  Fi.x  

Wm.  Strassen 

W.  E.  Little     

G.  W.  French 

J.  R.  Gross 

H.  Fauerbach 


M 

78 

25 

22 

46 

36 

36 

32 

49 

11 

11 

2 

3 

4 

8 

413 

83 

12 

7 

1  ^ 

2 

38 

2 

37 

15 

24 

53 

49 

23 

21 

14 

397 

112 

.t3 

18 

7 

43 

39 

13 

30 

49 

15 

57 

13 

13 

12 

3 

477 

19 

36 

12 

31 

1 

33 

23 

40 

14 

20 

7 

38 

13 

13 

19 

319 

131 

82 

27 

38 

46 

70 

38 

67 

63 

35 

64 

49 

26 

25 

21 

782 

99 

40 

29 

36 

42 

18 

32 

40 

23 

15 

43 

40 

11 

13 

19 

500 

33 

.53 

1 

3 

3 

54 

5 

30 

41 

20 

21 

11 

14 

12 

3 

304 

132 

93 

28 

38 

46 

70 

38 

68 

&i 

35 

64 

51 

26 

25 

23 

800 

132 

92 

31 

39 

45 

73 

38 

71 

64 

M 

64 

51 

26 

25 

23 

806 

130 

93 

20 

38 

35 

73 

38 

71 

ft4 

34 

64 

51 

26 

25 

23 

785 

52 

69 

28 

31 

31 

37 

28 

34 

53 

9 

60 

21 

16 

22 

22 

513 

78 

22 

1 

7 

2 

33 

8 

37 

12 

26 

4 

29 

9 

3 

1 

272 

112 

92 

31 

39 

47 

70 

38 

71 

63 

35 

64 

51 

26 

25 

22 

786 

^ 

24 

4 

14 

7 

13 

159 

31 

78 

13 
17 

5 
34 

41 

4 

42 

21 

26 
12 

33 
34 

54 

2 

15 
19 

4 

47 

10 

18 

7 

153 
118 
101 
189 
42 

16 

158 

780 
196 

800 
808 
779 
241 

767 

6 

17 

147 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention,  Alma,  Thursday,  September  16.  A. 
Sellers,  chairman:  Geo.  W.  French,  secretary. 

The  following  candidates  were  nominated:  S.  A.  Baldwin,  repre- 
sentative; Jo?.  Fields,  treasurer;  S.  H.  Fairfield,  register  deeds;  G. 
W.  Watson,  county  clerk;  B.  Hoskinson,  sheriff;  A.  W.  Gregory, 
district  clerk;  W.  E.  Richey,  county  superintendent;  S.  R.  Weed, 
county  surveyor;  T.  N.  Watts,  coroner;  J.  R.  Fix,  W.  E.  Little  and 
.J.  R.  Gross,  commissioners. 

People's  convention,  Germania  Hall,  Alma,  October  12.  J.  M. 
Lingfelter,  chairman;  H.  A.  Stiles,  secretary. 

Nominations:  Joseph  Treu,  representative;  Walter  Ross,  county 
treasurer;  S.  H.  Fairfield,  register  deeds:  Wm.  Mitchell,  county 
clerk;  B.  Hoskinson,  sheriff;  A.  W.  Gregory,  clerk  district  court;  W. 
E.  Richey,  county  superintendent;  T.  N.  Watts,  coroner;  W.  T. 
Mahan,  surveyor;  W'm.  Strassen,  G.  W.  French  and  J.  R.  Gross, 
commissioners. 


170      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY.  KAN. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1876. 


Candidates. 


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President.  » 

R.  n.  Haj-es 

S.  J.  Tlldeii 

Congressman, 

Thos.  R3'an 

S.  J.  Crawford 

Governor. 

Geo.  T.  Anthony 

John  Martin 

Judge. 

J.  G.  Morton 

Senator. 
O.  H.  Sheldon 

D.  B.  Uurdick 

Representative. 

E.  N.  Morehouse 

Jos.  Treu 

Probate  Judge. 
G.  G.  Hall 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

H.  G.  Liicht 

£.  D.  Rose 

Countv  Superintendent. 
W.  E.  Richey 

County  Attorney- 

W.  A.  Doolittle 

W.  F.  Cotton 

E.  H.  Sanf ord 


110 
32 

114 

29 

74 

G8 

143 

74 
67 


109 
25 

109 
26 

88 
39 

131 

84 
48 


74    78 
67    49 

142 


86 
51 

141 

92 
37 


135 

89 
38 

129 

68 
60 


66 
49 

45 
10 

77 
14 

41 

18 

66 
48 

42 
15 

75 
16 

39 
20 

57 

57 

34 

21 

,54 
29 

24 
34 

114 

57 

91 

59 

65 
49 

37 

20 

53 

38 

25 
34 

51 
59 

44 
10 

53 
35 

23 
35 

113 

.56 

91 

59 

42 
70 

27 
27 

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29 

25 
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56 

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26 

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42 

5 
14 

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14 

11 

46 

18 

11 
35 

21 

4 

44 

26 

26 
20 

18 
5 

728 
275 

725 
2&1 


453 
441 


5.50  116 
434 


1005 

.544 
457 

534 

450 

990 

.591 
398 

984 

537 

281 
161 


87 
84 

193 

250 


NOTES. 


Republican  convention.  Alma,  Wednesday,  September  27.     Enoch 
Piatt,  Wabaunsee,  chairman;  W.  H.  Warren,  Maple  Hill,  secretary. 

The  following  nominations  were  made:  representative,  E.  N. 
Morehouse;  probate  judg"e,  G.  G.  Hall;  clerk  court,  H.  G.  Licht; 
county  superintendent,  W.  E.  Richey;  county  attorney,  W.  A. 
Doolittle. 

Mass  convention.  Alma,  October  7.  G.  S.  Kneeland,  Keene, 
chairman;  Warren  Scofield,  Alma,  secretary. 

Nominated  Joseph  Treu  for  representative  and  W.  F.  Cotton  for 
county  attorney. 

Endorsed  G.  G.  Hall  for  probate  judg^e  and  W.  E.  Richey  for 
county  superintendent. 


EARLY  TIISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      177 


Wabaunsee    County  Election  Returns,  1877. 


CANUIDATEr.. 

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J.  T.  Keajry 

County  Treasurer. 
A.  L.  MeN:iir 

Jos.  Field*" 

64 

Sherlir. 
n.  M.  Gardner 

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Register. 

S.  H.  Falrflel.J 

Ch  »s.  Koss 

County  Surveyor. 

J.  B    Eister 

W.T,  Maiian 

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Coroner, 

J.  P.  Brown  

Geo    Koeniii 

Commissioaer. 

Jasner  Holmiin 

L.  P.iuly 

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31 

491    16 
475 

100 

260  160 
164    68 
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!  239  135 

G.  W.  French       

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36 

66 
15 

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21    18 

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Win.  .Mitciiell 

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58  105 

41    3.: 

Henry  Faiirbiich '     . 

1 

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5 

17 

35  102 

NOTES. 

Republican    convention    Thursday,    October    4;    J.    H. 
Wabaunsee,  chairman;  M.  W.  Janes,  Maple  Hill,  secretary. 


Gould, 


Two  Alma  delegations— origin  of  Watson  and  Sellers  factions. 
Watson  delegation  H.  Schmitz,  chairman,  seated.  Sellers  delegation 
led  by  W.  H.  Lyons  bolted  the  convention,  chairman  and  secretary 
going  out  with  bolters.  Convention  was  reorganized  with  H.  McKee 
chairman  and,  G.  W.  Greenwood,  secretary.  Bolters  repaired  to  Mc- 
Elroy's  store  and  elected  J.  C.  Henderson  chairman  and  C.  C.  Little 
secretary. 


Extra  mill  tax  alleged  to  be  assessed  for  banking  purposes  the 
leading  argument  used  in  the  campaign.  The  candidates  iirst  named 
were  nominated  by  the  Sellers  convention. 


178      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1878. 


Candidates. 


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Governor. 

J.P.St..Toliu 

J.  K.  Goodin      

Congress. 

Thos.  Kyiiu     

J.  li.  Fugate        

Senator. 

L.  R.  Kmch   

D.  B.  Hnrdick 

Representative. 

C.  O.  Kinne  

L.  J.McCrumb      

G.  S.  Kueelaiid 

Probate  Judtre. 

G.  G.  Hall 

G    Zwanzij^er 

County  Attorney. 

J.  M.  Matheny 

W.  A.  Doolittle 

Countv  Suuerinteudent. 

W.  E.  Kichey 

Matt.  Thomson 

District  Clerk. 

W.H. Lyons 

H  G.Lioht 

Commissioner. 

A.  Schewe 

L.  Panly ;.       


84 
80 

111 

20 

45 
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52 

8 

42 
10 

48 
67 

57 
11 

28 

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32 
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19 
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9 

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55 
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54 
27 

28 
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20 
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108 
18 

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64 

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5.) 

106 

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18 

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24 
11 

84 
66 

37 

27 
19 

6 

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51 
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68 
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64 
99 

12 
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37 
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33 
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100 
46 

68 
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27 

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54 

38 
41 

37 
42 

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108 

72 
66 

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NOTES. 

Greenback  convention,  Thursday,  Augu.st  1.  H.  A.  Stiles,  chair- 
man; John  Sudweel<;s,  secretary. 

The  following  nominations  were  made:  G.  S.  Knoeland  for  repre- 
sentative: J.  M.  Matheny,  county  attorney;  Matt.  Thomson,  county 
superintendent;  G.  G.  Hall,  probate  judge  and  district  clerk  (nominn- 
tion  declined  by  Judge  Hall). 

Republican  convention,  Thursday.  October  10.  (Sellers  Faction '. 
0.  B.  Lines,  chairman:  A.  F.  Wade,  secretary. 

The  first  named  candidates  were  nominated  at  this  convention. 

Opposition  convention,  Monday,  October  15.  (Watson  Faction). 
Ed.  Herrick,  chairman;  P.  Hawes,  secretary. 

In  the  call  "all  qualified  electors  without  regard  to  party"  were 
invited  to  participate  in  the  convention. 

Democratic  convention,  Saturday,  Oct(»ber  19.  Jo.scph  Treu,  chair- 
man: C.  H.  Thompson,  secretary. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUXSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.       179 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1879. 


Candidates. 


Clerk. 

T.  N.  Watts 

A    J.  Ward 

'I'loasiirer. 

('has.  Koss 

V'in.  Straseii 

KeiTister. 

1.  A.  Eidv 

S.  H.  Kairfleld 

T.  U.  McElroy 

Sheriff. 

D  M.  Gardoer 

Jolin  Mock 

Surveyor. 

W.T.  Mahan 

J    H.  Easier 

J.  M.  Paiifoast    

Coroner. 

.T.  P.  Brown 

M.  F.  Trivett 

Conimissiouers. 
G.  W.  Ii'rench   ... 

John  Barlow 

Geo  L.  Hortou 


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166 

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112 
16 

111 
11 

58 

67 

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116 

13 

48 
69 
11 

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33 
24 

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30 

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60 
45 
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899 
186 

464 

568 
9 

838 
373 

674 
271 
152 

875 
219 

203 

52 


564 
713 

104 
565 
403 

656 
151 


NOTES. 

Copies  of  newspapers  not  on  tile  with  historical  society — hence 
dates  of  conventions  held  could  not  be  obtained. 

First  named  candidates  were  nominated  at  a  Republican  conven- 
tion held  .sometime  in  October. 

Last   named    candidates  — except   commissioner  —  nominated    at 
Democratic  mass  convention. 


Being  an  off  year  the  campaign  was  quiet  from  the  beginning. 


180     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1880. 


Candidates. 


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2 

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Senator. 

L.  E.  Flncli 

H.  D.  Shepard 

Representative 

L.  J.  McCrumb 

Geo.  W.Thompson 

A.  H.  Stiles 

Probate  Judge. 

J.  T.  Keagy , 

G.  G.  Hall 

A.  W.  Gregory 

County  Attorney. 

G.  G.  Cornell 

H.A.Pierce ,.. 

E.  H.  Sanford 

County  Superintendent- 
Matt  Thomson  

W.  E.  RIchey 

Clerk  of  District  Court. 

H.  G.  Licht 

W.  H.Lyons 

C.  A.  Reid 

Commissioner. 

F.  L.  Raymond 

8.  S.  BlytoM 


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7 

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12 

4 

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64 

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59 

7 


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29  9 

49  42 

66  74 

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37  25 

I 

97  81 

25  53 


69   89 
42   39 


34 


114    16 
106    67 

I 

188   64 

32    14 

41     3 

1J6    42 

67;  29 
29    12 


148 
67 


142 

77 

141 
56 
21 

148  . 
53 


86    23 
91    41 

I 

123   46 

.56    19 

111     1 

51    35 


104 
32 

1.53 
13 

18 


25 


95    40 

78   24 

118  55 
28'  2 
44i  11 

152  ... 
35  ... 


52 


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108 


748 
1022 


1181254 
;H)  423 
10,    58 

100  1145 
44  455 
18   293 

62  1247 
22  2:17 
72   221 

HI  1220 
40  519 
I 

123  12.52 
14,  239 
22   B03 

...  4.58 
...  I  174 


174 
831 

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o 
o 

701 
949 

284 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention  held  Thursday,  October  7;  J.  H  Gould, 
Wabaunsee,  chairman;  L.  E. 'North,  Eskridge,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention  Friday,  October  8;  L.  Pauly,  Alma,  chair- 
man; R.  A.  Wald,  secretary. 

Greenback  convention  Saturday,  October  23. 

The  interest  of  the  Republican  convention  was  centered  on  rep- 
resentative—Mr. L.  J.  McCrumb  and  Mr.  Alden  E.  True,  being  the 
contestants.  The  former  was  regarded  as  belonging  to  the  Watson 
faction  and  Mr.  True  to  the  Sellers  faction.  In  forecasting  the 
strength  of  the  two  factions  there  appeared  to  be  a  majority  of  four 
in  favor  of  the  Sellers  side,  thus  assuring  the  nomination  of  Mr.  True. 
When  the  vote  was  taken  Mr.  McCrumb  was  declared  the  nominee. 
The  ballot  on  superintendent  resulted  as  follows:  W.  E.  Richey,  34; 
A.  F.  Wade.  22:  E.  Newby,  10;  blank  1,  giving  Mr.  Richey  the  nomina- 
tion by  1  vote. 

The  vote  on  president:  Garfield,  1279;  Hancock,  510. 

For  governor:    John  P.  St.  John,  1032;  Edmund  G.  Ross,  697. 

For  congress:    Thos.  Ryan,  1250;  Wade  McDonald,  502. 

Forjudge:    John  T.  Morton.  910;  Jacob  Saflford,  831. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


STUEWE  BROS.'  CREAMERY,  1S92. 


h 


LUTHERAN  CHURCH  DEDICATION,  TEMPLIN,  SEPTEMBER  20,  1891. 


RAKLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KA>J. 


noTTBLK  AllCfr  IJIlinOK. -K()1T|{   .HrLKS  SOlTTri-WKST  OF  ALMA. 


^VAXOKLICAI,  CinitCH.  WKLT.S  rHKKK. 


*y. 


■■a 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ALMA  SALT-WORKS  IN   1874. 


I 


iii   i 


i 


SCHOOL-HOUSE.  District  No.  15. 


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SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  45. 


SWEDISH   LUTHERAN  CHURCH, 
Mill  Creek  Township. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


^^i.-? 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  23, 
Rock  Creek. 


UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 
Eskridge. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  WM.  HORNE, 

Alma. 


VIEW  OF  KANSAS  RIVER, 
from  the  Andy  Wilson  place. 


fTli 


WESLEYAN  METHODIST  CHURCH, 
Keene. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  48. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  ESKRIDGE. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ALMA,  1880. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  ALMA. 


EVANGELICAL  CHURCH,  ALMA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  PARSONAGE,  AND  SCHOOL,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH. 
Plumb  Township. 


SCHOOLHOUSE  AT  WILMINGTON. 


_      %  'rr"        P--J%     '    M 


A  BAND  OF  POTTAWATOMIE  INDIANS  IN  ALMA-1881. 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ALTA  VISTA. 


ROCK  ISLAND  BRIDGE,  MAPLE  HILL. 


MR.  W.  S.  ISHAM'S  STORE,  MAPLE  HILL. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ONE  OF  -'UNCLE  SAM'S  KIDS." 
Mr.  Ira  Hodgson,  of  Frisco,  Ok. 


MRS.  WALPURGE  DAUM, 
Alma,  1870. 


COVENANTER  CHURCH,  ESKRIDGE. 


CHRISTIAN   CHURCH,  ESKRIDGE. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


SOHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  9. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No. 


;:1  11    IHln 


Stone  School-hocse. 


Falk  School  Building.    ^ . 


/-  ,„^7\, 

,^ 

^^j fi w Tif ^'""^"^yTBiiPfcj "  *  Yii  wbh 

Old  School  Building.  Keene  School  Building. 

THE  ALMA  CITY  SCHOOLS. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      181 


Wabaunsee   County  Election  Returns,  1881. 


Candidates. 

> 

5 

B 
ffl 

-> 

7i 

S 

1 
5" 

B 

W 

ic 

o 

2: 

Q 

0 

— 

1=! 

E. 

en 

■^ 

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(V 

n 

a 

T 

3 

?,' 

m 

3- 

5 
IB 

X 

3 

Treasurer 

Cbas  Kurf8 

127 

12 

126 

60 

79 

91 

69 

263 

136 

53 

52 

1071 

724 

G.  Zwauziiifi" 

102 

42 

as 

1 

10 

44 

4 

21 

35 

39 

26 

347 

Keeister  of  Deeds. 

hi.   H.  Fairtleld 

90 

24 

87 

18 

62 

87 

22 

137 

84 

61 

34 

706 

28 

Joseph  Fields 

135 

28 

60 

45 

26 

41 

47 

139 

85 

28 

44 

078 

County  Clerk. 

D.  M.  Gardner 

98 

6 

100 

27 

30 

65 

"> 

69 

71 

8 

15 

492 

105 

W.  A.  Ddolitlle 

43 

6 

4 

6 

18 

52 

37 

103 

.35 

50 

34 

387 

T.N.  Watts 

2rt 

19 
24 

45 

1 

21 

8 

35 
6 

11 

10 

3 
33 

49 
68 

29 
36 

23 
11 

20 

7 

317 
230 

D.  V.  Dowd  

SUerlfif. 

H.J.  Pippert 

104 

49 

19 

5 

25 

5 

86 

49 

76 

.52 

470 

113 

W.  T.  DeArmond  

103 

5 

22 

29 

1 

39 

15 

53 

3 

10 

280 

J.  E.    Anderson.., 

11 

5 
5 

"2 

81 

1 

24 

9 
19 

4 

72 

7 
3 

27 
16 
30 

42 
20 

7 

82 
28 
67 

19 
49 

7 
'5 

7 
1 
8 

357 
148 
153 

B.  F.  Huskinsou  

G.  A.   Woods 

Surveyor. 

W.T.  Maiian 

IW 

49 

100 

53 

24 

77 

18 

89 

128 

82 

43 

827 

259 

W.  D.  Deaus 

61 

t 

44 

6 

6;s 

55 

56 

192 

42 

9 

33 

568 

Coroner. 

E    W.  Eldridjre  

130 

50 

90 

46 

73 

38 

26 

138 

119 

69 

53 

832 

529 

Wm.  Johnson     

22 
66 

4 

1 

31 
18 

4 
8 

13 

2 

74 
17 

1 
43 

104 
22 

31 
9 

15 
4 

4 
15 

30:i 
205 

J.  C.  McElvaln 

Cummlssloaer. 

Geo.  MoKge 

223 

54 

. . . 

67 

82 

75 

501 

501 

B.  H.  Vouukor 

74 
59 

191 

80 

266 
139 

126 

j^-. 

... 

... 

NOTES. 

Republican  convention,  Thursday,  September  7.  H.  A.  Pierce, 
Newbury,  chairman;  D.  C.  Robinson,  Mission  Creek,  secretary. 

B.  F.  Hoskinson  was  nominated  for  sheriff  on  the  eighth  ballot. 

At  this  convention  Chas.  Ross  was  nominated  for  treasurer;  D.  V. 
Dowd  for  county  clerk;  Jos.  Fields  for  register  of  deeds;  W.  T.  Mahan 
for  surveyor;  E.  W.  Eldridge  for  coroner,  and  Geo.  Mogge  for  com- 
missioner 1st  district,  and  B.  H.   Younker  commissioner  2nd  district. 

Among  other  claims  it  was  urged  that  all  the  candidates  nom- 
inated, except  for  sheriff,  were  residents  of  Alma.  This,  with  other 
reasons,  led  to  the  calling  of  a  mass  convention.  The  claim  that  the 
convention  was  packed  in  the  interest  of  certain  candidates  led  to  the 
announcement  of  several  independents — making  the  contest  a  com- 
plicated free-for-all  race— the  divided  vote  requiring— in  case  of  clerk 
or  sheriff— but  a  comparatively  small  number  to  elect. 


182        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1882. 


Candidates. 


w 

S 

2 

5« 

o 

55 

O 

W 

5! 

Ji 

5J 

» 

c 

■3 

a 

X 

o 

a 

-1 

c 

c 
1 

o 
o 

o 
O 

p 

cr 
p 

c 

B 

3 

cc 

p 

(0 

• 

o 

■< 

(t> 

P 

n 

^ 

PT 

s 

O 

-1 

(TJ 

. 

D 

C 

: 

: 

: 

' 

s 

p 


Governor. 

Goo.  W.  OlleK,  I) 

John  F.  8t  John,  K 

ConBrossrriiin,  4lh  Dst. 

Tlios.  Kyjiu.  K 

JoIju  C.  Ciiunon,  D 

Hep  resentatlve. 

L.  Piuily,  D 

Joseph  Little.  R 

Probate  J  udR:e. 

John  Keagv,  U        

Clerk  Dlst.  Court. 

H.  G.  Licht,  K        

County    Attorney. 

O.G.  Cornell, H 

E.  n.  Siinfoni,   D 

County  Superintendent. 

Mutt  Thomson,  D 

E.  Nowby,  li  

Commlsslonerd. 

J.  W.  Core,  Ind  R  

J.C.Henderson,  U 


53 

45 
10 

25 
14 

74 
34 

76 
51 

80 
17 

40 
16 

43 
60 

101 

68 

20 

1  i 

47 

48 

58 
91 

16 
30 

614 

5 

95 
109 

942 
6Sl 

l.S.H 

75 

14 

16 
25 

43 
37 

67 
51 

(iO 
45 

41 
4 

101 
17 

90 
30 

92 

8 

66 
35 

129 
6 

41 

6 

8 
53 

170 
39 

1076 
459 

166 
46 

43 
11 

23 
16 

69 
40 

72 
56 

77 
26 

31 
33 

27 
90 

100 
70 

18 
83 

44 

58 

61 
96 

14 
35 

67 
5 

67 
143 

879 
807 

190 

53 

41 

107 

127 

105 

64 

118 

169 

98 

97 

154 

!>0 

71 

213 

1657 

199 

55 

41 

107 

127 

105 

&i 

118 

169 

101 

78 

1.58 

49 

7-4 

212 

16.55 

178 
34 

13 
13 

41 

88 
21 

125 
1 

75 

28 

30 
34 

24 
97 

158 
44 

54 

43 

47 
50 

133 
21 

30 
16 

?2 

5;j 

159 

1151 
522 

166 
45 

41 
15 

32 
11 

64 
47 

69 
58 

86 
19 

51 
13 

18 
45 

72 
47 

46 

72 

100 
71 

22 

78 

36 
54 

51 
50 

100 
56 

9 

42 

43 
4 

70 
3 

142 
70 

147 

04 

1072 
C23 

290 
239 

2i77 
017 
73    > 


626 

447 

51 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention  held  at  Alma,  Thursday,  September  28. 
Henry  Rickel,   Eskridge,   chairman;  G.  Zwanziger,   Alma,  secretary. 

The  question  of  resubmission  was  the  controlling  issue  in  the 
contest  for  state  officers,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  lirst  dem- 
ocratic governor  since  the  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  state.  The  same 
issue  resulted  in  the  election  of  Mr,  Pauly  for  representative. 


The  question  of  rotation  in  office— the  feeling  that  Wilmington 
was  entitled  to  the  commissioner— was  made  manifest  at  the  polls- 
resulting  in  the  election  of  Mr.  Core.  Mr.  Henderson  having  accepted 
the  nomination  under  protest  and  against  his  best  judgment,  and  that 
only  upon  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  friends,  was  perhaps  among 
the  least  disappointed  at  the  result. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        183 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1883. 


Candidates. 


Kl 


s 


District  Judije. 

Jobn  Martin,  1> , 

W.C   Webb,  K 

County  Clerk. 
H.  G.  Licht,  K 

D.  M.  Gardner,  k  

Reeister  of  Deeds. 

S.  H.   Fairfield,  K 

P.  F.  A.  Sciiwarting.  R., 
County  Treasurer, 

Joseph  Fields.  K 

Wm.  Neiswerid«r,  D 

Sherifif. 

H.  J.  Pippert,  R 

Surveyor. 

W.T.  iMiihan,  R 

Coroner. 

E.  W.  Weems.  R  

Cummissioner. 
A.  E.  True,  K 


2W 
43 

45 

8 

141 
19 

16 

IS 

79 
14 

78 
16 

157 

77 

81 
37 

33 
37 

73 
51 

74 

3 

28 
14 

118 

44 

78 
28 

42 

18 

1247 
427 

107 
131 

43 
12 

104 

20 
16 

80 
14 

89 

7 

161 
71 

86 
31 

51 

18 

116 
6 

40 
43 

5 
39 

90 
83 

94 
9 

50 
10 

1126 
.562 

162 

47 

8 

115 
45 

10 
26 

25 

69 

84 
11 

200 

71 
49 

21 
47 

13 
114 

63 

18 

8 
36 

5o 

74 
29 

31 
29 

871 
833 

19(j 
53 

32 
22 

86 
66 

21 
15 

37 
55 

24 
72 

75 
156 

41 

70 

31 
39 

42 

82 

73 
6 

34 
5 

146 
26 

90 
15 

55 
5 

984 
687 

254 

56 

154 

36 

93 

87 

233 

121 

70 

124 

85 

22 

174 

105 

60  1673 

259 

56 

155 

36 

94 

46 

2-^1 

116 

70 

108 

81 

37 

1"6 

106 

601624 

229 

56 

159 

36 

93 

96 

230 

118 

70 

120 

83 

42 

177 

36 

60  1605 

138 

53 

91 

139 

... 

... 

421 

820 

564 

38 

297 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention  held  at  Eskridge,  October  IG. 
Enoch  Piatt,  Wabaunsee,  chairman. 
W.  A.  Doolittle,  Eskridge,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention  held  at  Eskridge,  October  23. 


At  the  Republican  county  convention  the  following  nominations 
were  made: 

For  County  Clerk,  H.  G.  Licht. 
For  Register,  P.  F.  A.  Schwarting!  • 
For  Treasurer,  Joseph  Fields. 
For  Sheriff,  H.  J.  Pippert. 
For  Surveyor,  W.  T.  Mahan. 
For  Coroner,  E.  W.  Weems. 
For  Commissioner,  A.  E.  True. 


184     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1884. 


Candidates. 


> 

•^ 

T 

7i 

S 

c» 

3» 

O 

Si 

o 

fc 

5: 

:: 

Si 

n 

(A 

H 

c 

s 

■1 

B 

01 

* 
^ 

5" 
X 

O 

o 

1 
0 

re 

1 

«; 

c 

0 

c 
pr 
o 

C 
3 

E 

D 

ST 

a 
® 

, 

— * 

a 

ri 

•< 

"* 

(1) 

CB 

»; 

p 

*• 

?r 

CO 

«• 

« 

0 
c 

: 

^ 

•c 


FresldcDt. 
Blalno.  H 

182 

23 

34 

78 

128 

79 

1H4 

4;^ 

Vf 

77 

W' 

65 

Goveruor. 

John  A.  Martin,  R 

143 

15 

29 

63 

122 

42 

Geo.  W.  Glick.  U 

170 

51 

21 

8il 

50 

103 

CouKress. 

Thos.  Ryan,  R 

18" 

23 

34 

75 

130 

79 

8  N    Wood,  1)  

127 

■dA 

15 

75 

32 

66 

Senator. 

Geo.  S.  Green, R 

105 

17 

41 

123 

136 

41 

H.  A.  Pierce.  Ind.  R 

-m 

45 

y 

**•) 

19 

102 

Kepreseiitatlve. 

Robt.  McClelland,  Resub... 

218 

,58 

29 

48 

.58 

108 

F.  L.  Raymond.  R 

104 

7 

20 

103 

109 

:^6 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

T.  8.  Splelnoan.  K 

oOl 

fifi 

50 

152 

171 

l4;^ 

Probate  JudRe. 

John  T.  Keagy.  R    

311 

66 

50 

150 

172 

172 

County  Superintendent. 

Matt  Thomson,  D 

22(i 

.52 

37 

103 

114 

111 

E.  Newbv.  R    

i'6'  14 

10 

46 

5^ 

34 

County    Attorney. 

E.  U.  Sanford,  D 

188 

.50 

25 

43 

22 

116 

W.  A.  Doollttle,  R 

73 

56 

9 

7 

20 
6 

73 
30 

80 
67 

21 
3 

Geo.  G.  Cornell, 

A.A.Graham,  ..   

..3 

Commissioners 

Geo.  Mtiggre.  1> 

223 

55 

1 

97 

Horace  Paul,  tt           

81 

8 

48 

43 

59 
21 

51 

28 

.58 
21 

45 
34 

48 
32 

80 

80 

56 
23 

24 

41 

10 

5 


125 

26 

123 
29 

125! 

26 

182 
2"J' 

22! 
127 

152 

152 

52 

98 

21 

68 

62 

1 


134 

89 

116 

10 

135 

8-i 

107 

107 

113 
109 

222 

222 

139 

82 

85 
8' 
32 
14 


123 

26 

i.-a 

30 

130 
30 

121 

38 

44 

115 

161 

160 

33 
124 

13 

90 

42 

8 


100 
54 

88 


169 

50 

172 


69  60 

106  177 

.58  48 


65 
94 

111 


132 

83 


56  U9 


161 

164 

96 
69 

93 
5' 
13 
2 


16: 


230 

231 

88 
140 

32 

84 
99 
17 


311  26 
15  68 


77 

237 
101 

261 

74 


6  221 


113 

124 
214 

337 

335 

145 

189 

99 

213 

12 

6 


1.538 
799 

1362 
1041 

1576 
7.56 

1325 
947 

11G8 
1223 

2371 

2381 

1.365 
1011 

910 
936 
461 

58 

471 
a51 


739 
321 
820 
378 

55 

354 

26 

120 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention  Thursday,  September  4. 

Democratic  mass  convention  on  Friday,  October  17. 

Resubmission  convention  held  on  the  same  day. 

Colored  voters  held  convention  October  24. 

Mass  convention  nominated  Robt.  McClelland  for  representative, 
E.  H.  Sanford  for  county  attorney,  J.  J.  Mitchell  probate  judge,  J.  C. 
Henderson  clerk  of  district  court,  and  endorsed  H.  A.  Pierce  for  state 
senator,  Matt  Thomson  for  county  superintendent,  and  Geo.  Mogge  for 
commissioner.  Nominees  for  probate  judge  and  clerk  of  court  de- 
clined nominations. 


Resubmission  was  the  declared  l.ssue  in  this  campaign. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        185 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1885. 


Candidates. 


District  Judge, 

R.  B.  Spillman  R 

Ellis  Lewis, 

County  Treasurer. 

G.  S.  Burt,  R 

Jos.  Fields, 

County  Clerk. 

H.  G.  Licht.  R 

Geo.  W.  French 

Keclster  of  Deeds. 

J.  C.Collins,  K , 

J.C.Henderson,    , 

Sheriflf. 

J.  M.  Russell,  R 

W.  T.  DeAraiond,  ....  . 

D.  M.  Gardner 

K.  Shumate 

J.  C    Plppert , 

hurveyor. 

W.  D.  Deiins,  R 

W.  T.  Mahan 

Coroner. 

J.  C.  McElvain.  R 

C.  J.  Sawyer , 

Commissioner, 

A.  F.  Wade.  R 

8.  G.  Cantrill 


107 
22S 

54 

280 

1.53 
182 

87 
-249 

59 

91 

172 

6 

8 

122 
211 

148 
184 


^ 


a 


182 
53 

148 
63 

178 
36 

153 
51 


13132 

29 

48 

4 

3 


106 
108 

55 
157 


68 
66 

58 
77 

68 
65 

73 
60 

80 

1 

11 

35 

2i 

114 
16 

8 
123 

35 
93 


39  29 
36  20 


109'  37 
27  33 


105 

28 

77 
60 

49 


91 


15 

29 

2 

71 

65 

4 
132 

106 
23 


71 
62 

82 
55 

23 
112 


26i  69 
42  66 


108 
2 

3 

20 

1 

129 

8 

17 
116 


8175 
54  166 


1169 
63  177 


56 
285 

85 
258 

17 

'20 
111 


18  206 
46J142 

11  2 
52  345 


196 
1 150 


851  9  1031 
97  104  1043 


10' 


104 


5 
109 

17 
97 


891 
1169 

995 
115S 


87  13  809 
95il01 1239 


759 
356 
451 
267 
27 

1103 
950 

334 
1741" 

401 
317 


75 

5 

74 

67 

23 

24 

7 

14 

3 

3 

80 

31 

102 

80 

27 

10 

135 

104 

... 

s 


12 


278 


163 


430 
308 


153 


1415 
84 


NOTES. 


Republican  convention,  Wednesday,  September  23.  Mr.  A.  F. 
Thayer,  Maple  Hill,  chairman:  Mr.  J.  B.  Fields,  Alma,  secretary. 

Democratic  county  convention  called  People's  Mass  convention 
to  meet  at  Alma,  September  26,  3885.  Work  unsatisfactory,  nearly 
every  nominee  declining  to  run. 

People's  Mass  meeting  called  to  meet  Saturday,  October  10. 

1^  All  candidates  nominated  at  the  mass  convention,  except  sheriff, 
Surveyor  and  commissioner,  were  elected. 

pf'  For  the  office  of  sheriff  this  was  a  free-for-all  race,  the  lack  of 
statutory  provisions  relative  to  the  printing  of  tickets  offering  in- 
ducements to  independent  candidates  that  under  the  Australian  ballot 
does  not  exist. 


18G       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1886. 


Candidates. 


> 

B 
? 

SB 

B 

9 

2 

g 
iT 

0 
B 

p 

D 

a> 

a- 

c 

O 

o 

C3 

W 

o 
o 

1 

IB 
C 

n 

B 

a 

H 

n 

a. 

0 

a 

ri 

• 

>< 

s 

n 

«i 

P 

1 

: 

?r 

•1 

1 

w 

O 

D 

D 
O 

s 

10 


Governor. 

John  A.  Martin,  K 

Thos.  Moonlight,  D 

ConereBsmuD,  4tb  Dst. 

Thoa.  Kyan,  R 

JobD  Martin,  D 

Representative. 

Chas  Taylor,  R 

Jolin  Clark,  D 

Kred  Craft,  Ind 

Probate  JudKe. 

J.T.  Kea»?y  R     

A.  A.  StrlnKham  D 

Clerk  Dist.  Court. 

Theo.  S.  Spielman,  R 

Wm.  Berroth,  D 

County    Attorney. 

J.  B.  BarneB,  R 

E.  H.  Sanford,  D 

County  Superintendent. 

W.  W.  Ramey.  R 

MattTbomson,  D 

Coroner. 

E.  \V.  Eldridge,  R  

R.  A.  Ueaburn,  D 

Commissioners. 

6.  W .  Greenwood,  R 

Morltz  Hund,  D 

Henry  Bieymeyer,  Ind.  . 

For  Amendment  

ARainst  Amendment 


145 
lh3 

1(>5 
15T 

46 

m 

11'6 

213 

108 

138 

187 

162 
158 

64 
259 

IMO 

120 


159 
55 


44 

28 

40 
33 

36 

29 

62 
9 

158 
14 

48 
18 

37 
34 

47 
25 


54  107 

871  36 


.53  36 

89  107 


58 
64 
19 

&3 

58 

59 

82 

65 
74 

52 
91 

30 
21 

85 
39 
15 

2 

105 


,53 

84 

6 

91 

49 

112 
32 

167 
33 

35 

108 

a5 

15 
116 


76 

60 
73 

56 
66 
27 

84 
56 

63 

77 

51 

88 

:« 

101 

74 
65 


103 
22 

104 
22 

98 

19 

8 

78 
48 

105 
20 

77 
43 

107 
17 

107 
19 


106 
95 

105 

96 

76 
80 
47 

107 
92 

110 
93 

120 
80 

74 
128 

112 

91 

92 
110 


104 
42 

102 

4a 

104 

44 

5 

113 
41 

109 
46 

103 

48 

91 
61 

115 
41 


95 
59 

91 

66 

94 

64 

3 

102 
59 

102 
60 

102 

58 


73 

104 
59 


138 


166 
64 

154 
76 

125 
58 
49 

158 
73 

154 

78 

13< 
90 

153 

77 

169 
62 

153 
46 
33 
49 

145 


1 

5 

44 

40 
10 

6 
<:44 


264 
100 

259 
102 

220 

140 

4 

197 
151 

266 
98 

202 
1.55 

280 
84 

269 

87 


76 
112 


1.302 
916 

1307 
960 

1045 
737 
513 

1467 
801 

1502 
896 

1289 
952 

1124 
1160 

1418 
701 

446 

222 

48 

466 

1029 


446 


347 
308 


666 


606 


337 


717 


224 


563 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention,  Saturday,  October  2.    Mr.  H.  J.  Loomis, 
Mission  Creek,  chairman:  Mr.  A.  H.  Stiles,  Wabaunsee,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention.    Saturday,    October  9.     Mr.   L.   Pauly, 
Alma,  chairman;  Mr.  E.  S.  Vance,  Harveyville,  secretary. 


Resubmission  being  the  paramount  issue  in  the  campaign,  Mr. 
Crafts  was  induced  to  run  as  an  independent  candidate— after  the 
nomination  of  Mr.  Taylor— leading  democrats  assuring  Mr.  Crafts  that 
their  party  convention  would  put  forward  no  opposing  candidate. 
Although  prominent  democrats  having  the  best  interests  of  their 
party  and  the  issue  at  heart,  made  every  effort  to  bring  about  the 
withdrawal  of  Mr.  Clark,  other  influences  (?)  seemed  to  prevail, 
with  the  anticipated  and  inevitable  result— the  election  of  Mr.  Taylor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        187 

Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1887. 


Candidates. 


> 

B 
? 

B 

1 

c 

c 

2 

a 
3 
cr 

S 

8° 

■a 

5" 

7i 

SB 

■a 

05 

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on 

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0 

3 

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o 

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2 
® 

c 

• 

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• 

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a> 

>< 

!• 

;' 

. 

S 

»r 

3 

p 

o 

1 


County  Treasurer. 
J.  B.  Fields.  R 

F.  Stuewe,  lud.  K 

Resrister  of  Deeds. 

J.  C.  Henderson.  R 

County  Clerk. 

G.  W,  French,  R 

J.  P.  Peters.  D  

Sberiff. 

J.  M.  Russell,  R 

J   H.  McMahan,  D 

Purveyor. 

W.  D.  Deans,  R 

Robt.  John.  D    

Coroner. 

K.  W.  Eldridge.  R 

A.  L.  Stlers,  D 

C«.<mmissloner. 
Gilbert  Anderson,  R... 
Jos.  Treu,  D  


198 
162 

32 
57 

133 
57 

106 
44 

63 
67 

84 
95 

111 
175 

73 

48 

47 
23 

77 
65 

86 
44 

6 

47 

74 

98 

61 
51 

1148 
1033 

2(6 

60 

151 

122 

105 

109 

226 

93 

67 

112 

79 

29 

103 

77 

1609 

261 
96 

39'l46 
47  44 

75 
79 

90 
36 

95 

82 

166 
123 

78 
45 

56 
15 

78 
63 

70 
60 

39 
24 

94 

76 

48 
64 

1325 

854 

132 
223 

29138 
60  57 

102 
51 

70 
60 

63 
114 

195 
94 

87 
35 

64 

8 

f6 

47 

49 

81 

29 
24 

78 
97 

43 

68 

1175 
1013 

197 

lai 

43 
46 

149 
40 

107 

4S 

86 
44 

98 

78 

174 
115 

98 
25 

63 

8 

103 
40 

70 
60 

25 

28 

95 
79 

62 
49 

1370 
821 

334 
5 

75 
2 

177 
10 

119 

20 

130 

177 

224 
11 

103 
19 

71 

129 
3 

123 

53 
12 

166 
5 

105 
6 

1810 
70 

139 
223 

29 

60 

89 
50 

93 
36 

41 

... 

38 
73 

400 

483 

115 

1551 
471 

162 

549 

1740 

83 


NOTES. 


Republican  convention,  Tuesday,  September  27.  Mr.  John  Sud- 
weeks,  Eskridge,  chairman;  Mr.  A.  H.  Stiles.  Pavilion,  secretary. 

No  delegates  from  Kaw  or  Washington  township. 

Democratic  convention,  Saturday,  October  8.  Mr.  Geo.  W. 
Thompson,  Wabaunsee,  chairman;  Mr.  J.  Y.  Waugh,  Eskridge,  sec- 
retary. 

The  democratic  convention  made  no  nomination  for  register  of 
deeds.  In  this  convention  Mr.  Stuewe  was  put  forward  by  the  demo- 
crats for  treasurer.  As  in  the  campaign  of  '96  resubmission  entered 
Into  the  contest,  especially  in  the  election  of  sheriff. 

The  News  said:  John  McMahan  got  right  down  to  business,  and 
we  were  actually  afraid  about  that  record.  The  man  that  runs  against 
J.  M.  wants  to  be  a  long  way  ahead  in  the  start  or  else  be  up  early  in 
the  morning.— D.  W.  Scott,  Ed. 


188       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1888. 


Candidates. 


^ 

03 

^ 

H 

c 

V- 

1 

ni 

r* 

D 

e»- 

£, 

C 

3« 

Tl 

a. 

a 

an 

o 

P 

(C 

m 

3 

<B 

n 

5j 
"I 


Presidential  Electors. 

Harrison,  R 

Cleveland.  D 

Congressman,  4tb  Dist. 

Thc>8.  Ryan,  R 

David  Overmyer,  D 

Governor. 

L.  U.  Humphrey,  R 

John  Martin,  D 

Senator,  20th  Dl8t. 

John  K.  Wright,  R 

L.  Fauly.  D 

Representative. 

A,  F.  Wade,  R  

S.  G.CantrlU,  D 

Probate  JudRe. 
L.  Richards,  R 

B.  F.Martin.  D 

County  Attorney. 

J.B.Barnes,  R 

A.  A.  Graham.  D 

Clerk  DIst.  Court. 

Theo.  S.  Splelman.  R 

Wm.  Nelswender,  D 

County  Superintendent. 

W.  W.  Ramey.  R 

Matt  Thomson.  D 

Commissioner. 

BIl  Walton.  R 

E  Shumate,  D 


198 
198 

196 
202 

194 
300 

143 

176 
221 

152 
244 

:oo 
189 

206 
190 

163 
230 


29 
44 

28 
44 

26 
47 

24 
49 

26 

48 

26 

48 

29 
45 

28 
46 

3i 

40 


82  78  189 
61  85  67 


83  70 
63  93 


190 
65 

178 
99 


73176 

90  78 


155 

97 

190 
66 

194 
60 

194 
61 

173 

83 


141 
31 

143 
30 

136 
34 

141 

32 

127 
39 

14;i 
32 

139 

29 

141 
31 

154 
17 


66  140 
161  34 


156 


156 

128 

156 
128 

153 
131 

146 
134 

156 

128 

156 
121 

154 
130 

138 
144 


144 

46 

144 

46 

144 

48 

152 
49 

116 

85 

133 

70 

1.54 
46 

149 
53 

142 
61 

162 
39 


46 

87 
61 

86 
48 

85 
66 

70 
76 

128 
26 

95 
56 

62 
96 

110 
44 


203 
73 

20-.; 

73 

198 
76 

200 


203 
74 

203 
74 

203 
74 

20.) 
69 

190 
81 


26 


218  1708 


77 

218 

77 

216 

79 

223 
73 

301 


214 
83 

213 

85 

224 
74 

250 
64 

187 
105 


960 

1713 
981 

1684 
1006 

1605 
1094 

15.51 
114M 

1677 
1049 

1747 
942 

1720 
1006 

1696 
1020 

.555 
244 


748 
732 
678 
5U 
408 
6.34 
805 
704 
676 
311 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention,  Saturday,  October  6.    Mr.  I.  D.  Gardiner, 
Alma,  chairman;  Mr.  T.  C.  Danforth,  secretary. 

Meeting  called  to  order  by  Mr.  A.  E.  True,  chairman  county  cen- 
tral committee. 

Democratic  county  convention,  Saturday,  October  13.    Mr.  A.  A. 
Graham,  Eskridge,  chairman:  Mr.  Irwin  Boyer,  Paxico,  secretary. 


This  being  a  presidential  campaign  party  lines  were  closely  drawn 
and  the  result  was  a  sweeping  victory  for  the  entire  Republican 
ticket  with  unprecedented  majorities. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       189 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1889. 


Candidates. 


3 

o 

-> 

SB 

e 

3 

2 

B 

5 

s 

B 
IQ 

O 

3 

ST 

B 

5" 

s 

n 

o 

ES 

« 

X 

CO 

OB 

Z 

t 
•< 

3 

Q 
® 

OB 

? 

Mrt 

"t 

B 

ft 

* 

T 

• 

B 

jr 

»r 

s 

SB 

o 


Judge,  35tla  District. 

Wm.  Tbi>m90n,  R 

tiheriff. 

S.  E.  Hull,  R 

G.  W.  Leonhiirdt.  D 

Clerk,  unexpired  term. 

C  O.  Kinne.  R 

M  J    Walton.  P 

Clerk,  regular  term. 

CO.  Kinne,  H 

M.  J.  Walton,  P  

Treasurer,  unexpired  term. 

F.  Stuewe.  R 

John  Williif,  P 

Treasurer,  regular  term. 

F.  Stuewe,  R. 

John  Willig,  P 

Register  of  Deeds, 

.T.  C.  Henderson,  R I 

0.  W,  Mallory,  D 

Surveyor.  ! 

W.  I).  Deans.  R > 

J,  H.  Jones,  D      ' 

Coroner. 

Dr.  T.  H.  Hall,  R 

A .  W,  Gregory,  D 

Dr.  Scheldt,  P 

Oom'r.  3d  DIst. 

Wm   Mitchell,  R 

Ed.  Worsely.  D  


242 

117 
176 

198 

207 
57 

212 
45 

214 
47 

173 

1^ 

171 

130 

184 
58 
42 


41 1 160:106 

6134!  80 

40.  26|  56 

431153 106 


15:jil04 


8 

m 


8 
108 


174 

135 
S5 

174 


171 
21 

173 


3'  24 


42 
2 

41 
2 

41 
2 

82 

13|  10  60|  53 

24  140 100:1731 

22i  2O1  42,  .i-'' 

Ml' 

3815.5102  1711 
8     1   40    50 
6 


157;  108 1 170 
3|  24 


llff  82|16S 


68!232   89 


34II67 
90;  a^ 


213 
41 

213 
41 

228 
2ti 


56  228 


147.. 
1*.. 


60 
150 


26i 

1.18 

lai 

1981 

m\ 

206 

54 

4 


39 '88    81 


33  46 

7,63| 

35  77 
a:^0 

aj78 

530 

85|8I 
5281 
1 

a5!83| 
5128 


13    161164 


2!  94 


70    14 
10  ... 


121  15 
17 


17 


34 


3»i73 
7,41 

3471 
3  43 
2 


771  14 
10... 

I 
75;  14    17 

ll|...l... 

75!  14   17 
II1...I... 


67    12   16 


6  1 

I 

4  11 

15  6 


701  13    11 


6     6 


125] 

132 
53 

135 
S3 

1.55 
42 

152 
41 

116 
103 

123 
101 

122 
9' 
10 

86 
134 


84 1 1.597 

I 
61  1056 
49{  891 


1594 
165 


78145711148 
9i  309 


92il479 
311 


1168 


15071237 

370j 

15201250 

270j 

1233!  50 i 


30j  730 

6813'9 
39!  660 

70 1 1380 


481 
96 

346 
368 


659 


803 


22 


NOTES. 

Republican  convention,  Tuesday.  September  24.  Malcolm  Nicol- 
son,  Alma,  chairman ;  P.  S.  Taylor,  Grant,  .secretary. 

Democratic  convention,  Tuesday,  October  1.  L.  Pauly,  Alma, 
chairman  :  Elmer  Thompson,  Wabaunsee,  secretary. 

Mr.  Elmer  Thompson  and  Mr.  Fred  Zeferjahn,  the  Democratic 
nominees  for  clerk  and  treasurer,  withdrawing  from  the  race,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  Riggs  (Commercial)  house  and  the  names  of  Messrs. 
Walton  and  Willig  substituted.  Mr.  Scheldt  was  nominated  for  cor- 
oner and  Messrs.  Leonhardt  and  Mallory  endorsed.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  commissioner  the  entire  Republican  ticket  was  elected. 

The  candidates  marked  "P""  were  nominated  at  the  Riggs  house 
meeting. 


r 


lyu     EARLY   HISTORY  OF  \VABAU^'SEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1890. 


Ca  Mil  HATES. 


> 

^ 

> 

t; 

«« 

S» 

2 

s 

5< 

a 

:c 

X 

e 

CO 

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IS 


Governor. 

CbHrles  Uobinson,  D 

J.  F.  WUIits.  P 

L.  U.  Huiripiirey.  K 

CongTessman. 

John  G.  Otis.  F 

Harrison  Kelley.  R , 

Representative. 

John  RehrlR.  F 

L.J.  MoCrumb,  R 

Probate  Jodge. 

L.  T.  Rice.  F 

L.  Richiird.s,  R 

County  Attorney. 

J.  H.  Jones.  F , 

J.  It.  names.  R 

Clerk  District  Court. 

H.  ii.  Jones.   P 

Theo.  Spiel  man,  R 

County  Superintendent. 
Florence  Diclcinson,  F  ... 
W.  W.  Ilamey.  R 

Com'r,  Isl  Dlst. 

Josepli  Treu.  D 

J.  \V.  Spencer,  P 

Geo.  W.  Wilson.  R 


^7; 
I  2l[ 
|U0| 

bonj 

I5t 

218 
il61 

1001 

277j 

203 
163 

86 
273' 

181 
181 

260 
2fi 

81 1 


40! 
Ill 
111 

ss! 

14| 

54 
14 


3.5I  561  57 
t)3    751121 

47  18|  79 

91:121(157 

48  28  100 


49 
59 
33 

108 


n8;i5.-)iio 

30  104    33 


8«|121 
54    27 

99  124 
15    23 


24  5l  a5l  6 
29'  981  99  l:ii« 
37 i  701  98  108 

!       i 
35  1031 179; 129 
50|  701115,111 


.39 

."iO! 


97:162  l-.» 
75  1291111 


115 

25 

96 
49 


28  .. 
62  .. 

54l.. 


157il06i  35 j 104 

102j  34  .56]  69 

163  1091  31  104 

93  33  58  69 


145 
104 


190  100 
68  41 


1 
112 

39 

115 
37 


391  15 
110  15 
lOUi  1 


14/  30 
102  1 


113  144  30 
39I10;1     1 


1801301102 
1111109!  50 

179'l45lll6 
111;  901  35 


148  20 
100  11 

174:  29 
72     2 


33  102  131  132  111  143  21 
54,  70  130  106:  37:103     8 


.541117 
37    .55 


160 
121 


135  109  15.5  28 
103i  39    89     1 


3 

no 

17 


3! 

I  Oil 
164 


22  141 
9|164 


1049 
924 


125 


1640,603 
10371 


221141:1620.54: 


16411073! 


13M479l'.W4 
174  1215' 


146 
151 

131 


131 
173 


1702734 
968, 

K{5l'l03 
l-il8, 

1.593  543 
1050].: 

47s'23l 

2471 
186l 


NOTES. 


Alliance  convention,  Saturday,  August  16.  Dow  Busenbaik,  Esi<- 
ridge,  chairman ;  A,  M.  Jordan,  Mill  Creek,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention,  Saturday,  August  16.  L.  Pauly,  Alma, 
chairman:  Matt  Tiiomson,  Alma,  secretary. 

.Joseph  Treu  nominated  for  commissioner,  after  which  convention 
adjourned  to  Wednesday,  September  3,  when  all  Alliance  candidates,  ex- 
cept clerk  of  court  and  commissioner,  were  endorsed.  Chas.  Sawtell 
was  nominated  for  clerk  but  declined. 

Republican  convention,  Saturday,  August  30.  "Wm.  F.  Cotton, 
Wabaunsee,  chairman :  W.  K.  Beach,  Grant,  secretary. 

The  opposition  papers  in  the  county  during  the  campaign  referred 
to  the  Alliance  as  the  "Line-Back-Steer  Party."  But  the  name  ap- 
peared to  have  no  particular  effect  on  the  result. 

At  the  Democratic  congressional  convention,  held  at  Emporia,  no 
nomination  was  made,  the  Democrats  supporting  the  Alliance  candi- 
datf. 


EARLY  HISTOUY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.        191 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1891. 


Candidatks. 


> 

^ 

3 

VJ 

s 

:? 

n 

1 

ti» 

? 

2: 

? 

t: 

1 

3; 

H 

-1 
s 
re 

5 
T 

3 

5 

5 

1 

B 
3 

c* 

■J. 
l 

= 

2. 

1 

X 
3 

2. 

5 

t 

5_ 

O 

'6 

Register  of  Deeds. 

W.  B.  Small,  K 

li.  A.  Kuapp,  A 

B.  F.  Martin.   D 

Tr«a8urf  r. 
John  H.  Mlchaelis,  D... 
G.  A.  Kberliardt,  A. 

J.  W.  Boyer,  I 

Sheriff. 

H.  J.  Palen.ske,  K 

•lames Cass.  A 

S.  K.  Hull.  I 

Oouuty  Clerk. 

C.  O.  Kinne,  U  

Wm.Treu,  A 

Surveyor, 

W.  D.  Deans.  K 

B.  Buchli.  sr..  A 

Coroner. 

Dr.T.  H.  Hall.  R 

Dr.  U.  R.  Schmidt.  A... 
Com'r.  3d  Dist. 

Ell  Walton,  R 

A.  Pringle,  A        


78 

18 

254 

231 
10 
11 

198 

32 

li-T 

2.51 
its 

215 
130 

225 
118 


112101 
9710!) 
17     1 

124  inn 
96 108 


91  78 
.59108 
75i  25 


VSS   24115(1 
102    89'  9fi 
21    45 


";i 


115    .51  188 

118   83100 

101 .. .      i 


591:^2100 
lOj  93111 

34  127  99 
36   98112 

I 
26l.'}010l 
^\   95110 


jI02 

iioe 


114!  34 

112   87 
16    12 

lS3i  .52 
HI    83 


71 
91 

8 

6fi 
102 


Uli  74 

87    9 
91      3 


125 
119 

122, 
121 


176 
115 

174 
114 


181  ,, 

110  93 

178  71 

110  98 


51 

25 

1 

43 

30 

3 

50 

24 

3 

51 1 

25 1 

53I 
24 

53 

241 

.50 
27 


49j  64 
88 1  .59 
, . .  I  31 


9:     8'109] 
5   13   8« 


49,1017 


3    80 


194 

83 
« 


35    171168 
4   48 

41  7l) 


21(185 
3  101 


126 
16.' 

174 
112 


945 
.550 

1418 

10731 

40 


103 


343 


1210  396 
814 
522 


42  14.56 
89  1082 

I 
.51 '1262 
801277 

,56  1368 
75  116" 


374 

15 
201 


401    60 
34ll 


NOTES. 


I 


Alliance  cunvenllon  held  at  Alma,  Tuesday,  September  22.  M.  W. 
Janes,  "VVillard,  chairman ;  I.  D.  Gardiner,  Alma,  secretary.         , 

Republican  convention,  Saturday,  Octobers.  A.  F.  Wade,  Grant, 
chairman:  W.  J.  Hinshaw,  Harveyville,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention,  Tuesday,  October  13.  Henry  Pauly,  Alma, 
chairman:  Elmer  Thompson,  Wabaunsee,  secretary. 

The  Democratic  convention  was  held  in  Scheidt's  hall. 

The  Republicans  liaving  nominated  Mr.  Micliuelis  (Democrat)  for 
treasurer,  Mr.  Boyer  (Rep.)  announced  himself  as  an  independent  can- 
didate. 

The  Democrats  made  no  nomination  except  that  of  Mr.  B.  F.  Mar- 
tin for  register  of  deeds. 

The  mixed  political  conditions  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  can- 
didates nominated  by  the  Republicans  witli  the  exception  of  surveyor. 


ly2     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1892. 


CANDrnATBS. 


^ 


O    2 


3 
5" 

X 

cs 

m 

o 

O 

m 

a 

•♦ 

Ci 

« 

•^ 

• 

n 

n 

TT 

• 

Presidential  Electors. 

Harrlsoa.  H  

Weaver,  P  

Hid  well.  Pro 

CoQsjressmari,  4tli  Dist. 
Chas.  Curtis,  li 

E.  V.  Wharton,  P     

(lOveriior. 

A.  W.  Smith,  li 

L.  U.  Leweillnsr.  P 

Seoator,  lilst  Dist. 

A.  l'\  Wado,  K 

A.  E.True.  P 

Rcpreneiitatlve,  46th  Dist. 

Wdi.  Strowig,  K 

.I.Treii.  I' 

Probate  Judge. 

L.  Richards.  K 

I..T.  Kice,  P 

Clerk  District  Court 

H.O.  LIcht,  R 

H.  B.Jones,  P 

County  Superintendent. 

F.  A.  Seaman,  K 

G.  L.  Clothier,  P 

County  Attorney. 

W.  A.  Doolittle,  K 

J.  H.Jones,  P 

Com'r,  3d  Dist. 

H   Wertzberger,  R 

M.  Hund.P 

Constitutional  Convention 

For : 

Ajrainst 


174 
205; 

3 

175 
20,)| 

174! 

aoi) 

17.T 

2o:j 

!213! 

338 
ll.W 

ll(J5 
SOU 

165 
213 

120 
25!) 


139   .^l 


125 

7 

139 
1^5 


ittlS 


I.S9  49 

135  92 

I 

l-~'9  ."iO 

131  92 

I 

139  57 

124'  85 

130  .52 


13 1 

106 
161 

130 
144 

131 
13-^ 

134 
130 

57 
170 


91 

43 

100 

45 
97 

46 
92 


103133 
152191 

1.. 


1931128 
1261109 


10ill32 
154jl92 

102!l.32' 
1.54192 

iwl  30 

150192 

I       ] 

10.5;i4.> 

151177 

101129 

1561931 

I      I 

99126; 

158198; 

961181 
159,203 

10312(1 


200 
121 

200 
121 


128 
109 

128 
110 


85   66 


203  1281 
121:110 


83    .58    43 
96    93;  45 


!51 

lOR 

150 


197 

129 
193 


200 
125 

199 
126 

196 
130 

199 
136 

105 
130 


11226.5 
65  33 


59 
224 


138 
110 

126 

ml 

128| 
110 

126 
112 

128 
109 


18 
161 


541  22 
96!  68 


96 

84 
2 

101 

79 

102 

78 

102 

78: 

»; 

87 


.59  49  10 

92  40i  81 

61  32'  94 

89  .58|  89 

62  32  103 

89  58    78 


60   21 
89    69 


92   84   56 
40'    3i  91 


4  87 

28|  97 

17i  92 

151  H 

41  88 

201  94 

87 

25  97 


21      4 

33   28 


29    17 
3il28 


1856 

1.52;» 

20 

1362 
1.519 


169 


157 


1361 
1523  162 


.56  1397 
32  1474 


1352 
15251173 


5711440 
30' 1455    15 

54  1298 
:fcj  1 586 1 288 

268 


1572 


1253 
1618 

421 
5()4 

1326 


92 
40il097i 


365 

143 

229 


NOTES. 


Kopnblican  county  convention,  Saturday,  Augu.st  i;{  Iliram  Ward, 
Harveyville,  chairman:  V.  C.  Welch.  Alma,  secretary. 

People's  Party  convention,  Saturday,  August  27.  Dow  Busenbark, 
Eskridge,  chairman ;  D.  C.  Robinson,  Mission  Creek,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention,  Saturday,  September  10.  People's  Party 
ticket  endorsed. 

A  procession  a  half  mile  or  more  in  length  was  one  of  the  unique 
features  of  the  People's  Party  convention.  The  Hendricks  Creek 
drum  corps  led  the  procession. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


193 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1893. 


Candidates. 


B 
? 

B 
a 

P 

3 

2 

c 
B 

2 

SB 

5 

P5 

SB 

B 

B 
R 
<:♦ 

O 

O 

a 

o 

3 

3 

n 

o 

2. 

03 
t 
P 
S 
n 

CD 

■o 

3 

o 

ft 

® 

c 

2 

cc 

; 

. 

* 

?7 

S" 

K 

p 
£      o 


Judge  35tb  Judicial  DIst. 

William  TtioniBon.  U 

J.  W.  Fltz«rerald,  F 

County  Treasurer, 

John  H.  Michaells,  V 

W.  H.  Melrose,  K 

Reclster  of  Deeds. 
W.  B  Small,  R 

A.  J.Thoes.  F 

County  Clerk. 

J   R.  Henderson,  K  

W.  O,  Gantz,  F 

Sheriff. 

H  J.Palenske.  R 

T.  P.  Walton.  F 

County  Surveyor. 
Robt.  A.  Rutledee,  R 

B.  Buchli,  sr..   F 

Coroner. 

G.C,  Beals,  R 

H.  R.Schmidt.  F 

Oom'r,  Ist  Diet. 

P. P. Johnson,  R 

Wm.  Mass.  D 

Fred  Dierklni:.  P.  P 


239  48 
80  25 

143 
66 

119 
73 

110 

74 

53 
59 

18K 
92 

75 
64 

50 
35 

65 
80 

84 
57 

20 
17 

15 
12 

126 
117 

60 
63 

197  58 
120  15 

99 
114 

96 
93 

87 
91 

74 
35 

80 
212 

63 

78 

31 
49 

81 
65 

67 
76 

24 
13 

24 

6 

144 
101 

72 
50 

197  25 
1-^1  50 

ll:i 
100 

94 
94 

117 
67 

42 

62 

183 
106 

"0 
70 

51 
34 

65 
83 

84 
.55 

20 
17 

9 
20 

107 
134 

60 
63 

2.53  50 
6;  15 

121 
93 

99 
93 

95 

«3 

53  188 
49  100 

73 
C9 

53 
31 

63 
84 

95 
51 

32 
6 

22 
7 

128 
118 

71 

48 

269  n 
^i     0 

137 

77 

85 
109 

101 
7!) 

63  178 

42  109 

1 

78 
62 

50 
35 

64 

81 

101 
43 

.36 
4 

26 
4 

165 
73 

81 
44 

121  14 
200  55 

109  97 
97,  94 

96 
83 

44  185 
60  101 

88 

53 
32 

62 

83 

78 
65 

t 

31 

6 
24 

99 
141 

44 
79 

128  14 

187  .50 

118  97 

85  91 

87 

83 

47  180 
.56  101 

77 
65 

51 
34 

63 

82 

74 

67 

13 

23 

4 

20 

91 
144 

49 
70 

127  24 

40  \i 

155  40 

1 

55 
9i 

72 

28 
21 

14 
10 
14 

8 

8 

15 

50 
44 
32 

..1  .. 

i 1393  479 
014 


1200 
1121 


82 


1236  160 
1076 


1402 
908 


494 


1.506  686 
820 


1104 
1198 

1093 
11158 

350 
254 

277 


95 

65 
73 


NOTES. 

Democratic  judicial  convention.  Alina.  Monday,  October  2.  J.  W. 
Fitzgerald  nominated. 

People's  Party  convention,  Alma,  August  12.  Dow  Busenbark.  of 
Eskridge,  chairman ;  J,  W.  Spencer,  of  Alta  Vista,  secretary. 

Republican  county  convention,  Alma.  Tuesday,  September  19.  A. 
F.  Wade,  Mission  Creek,  chairman :  A.  J.  Gleason,  Alma,  secretary. 

Democratic  county  convention.  Alma,  Saturday,  October  7.  L. 
Pauly,  Alma,  chairman:  Matt  Thomson,  Alma,  secretary  People's 
Party  candidates  endorsed. 

For  treasurer.  Republican  convention  : 

Ballots 1st.  2d.  3d. 

W.  H.  Melro.se 54  68  81 

W.  K.  Beach 61  59  61 

C.  O.  Kinne 26  15  . . 

County  clerk:  1st.    2d. 

J  R.  Henderson 77     84 

W.  .T.  Hinshaw 65     58 


194      EARLY  lllSTOKY  OF  WABAUNSP^E  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns.  1894. 


Candidates. 

5 

3 

e 

3 

c 
B 

X 

B 

a 

X 

£. 

0 

n 

r. 
O 

2. 
a 

It 

CO 

■B 

1 
(8 

1 

F 

S 

» 

e* 
© 

c 

T 

9 

a 

«! 

T 

3 

® 
2. 

r 

tr 

. 

o 

» 

; 

: 

Governor. 

i 

; 

E.N.  Morrill.  11 

KiO 

21 

1.11 

i:«  1.3.1 

(58 

190 

9^ 

57 

76 

81 

22 

3 

129 

69 

1893  344 

David  Overmyer.  D 

iH) 

2.T 

•-'7 

.S     19 

43 

18 

4 

2 

4 

22 

8 

8 

29 

6 

312 

L.  W.  Lewelling,  P 

m 

16 

85 

92  100 

.54 

102 

77 

35 

89 

53 

14 

12 

125 

69 

1049 

Fickeriug,  Pro 

a 

11 

10      1 

1 

8 

1 

1 

... 

>> 

•   • 

39 

ConKTessman,  4th  Dist. 

Chas.  Curtis,  R 

173   -20 

l.-)« 

137  149 

71 

196 

93 

57 

76 

81 

19 

7 

124 

70 

1415 

1;>3 

T.J.  O'Neil.  1) 

ti't    2.) 

21 

3     8 

30 

11 

3 

1 

3 

18 

4 

0 

U 

H 

197; 

S.  M.  Scott,  P 

681  13 

8t 

loi; 

90 

59 

108 

79 

.17 

87 

54 

17 

14 

129 

65 

10431 

Representative 

1 

G.G.Cornell,  R 

1V9    19 

162 

141 

137 

67 

195 

95 

.58 

78 

76 

16 

5 

126 

63 

1417|144 

Jos.  Treu.  P 

1431  40 

104 

P9,10tJ 

91 

117 

76 

35 

90 

80 

'-» 

13 

151 

M 

1273] 

Probate  Judge. 

l.-Moi  38 

L.  J.  Woodara,  R 

142    16 

111 

U'  134 

57 

194 

95 

5(! 

77 

81 

18 

3 

117 

67 

J.  H.  Joues.  P 

173'  46 

ua 

102  lOJ 

94 

115 

76 

35 

88 

66 

24 

a2 

l.)8 

76 

1302 

Clerk  District  Court. 

1 

W.  G.  Weaver.  R 

140 
16-,' 

20 

162 
105 

1271128 

117  km; 

64 

78 

171 
140 

88   57 

74 
92 

75 
68 

16 
26 

16 

11.T 

1,53 

■<o 

73 

1313    20 

Dow  Busenbark,  P 

87 

35 

1293 

County  Attorney. 

J.  B.  Barnes,  R  

214 

38 

142 

132 

117 

62 

194 

89 

.50 

71 

73 

24 

1» 

126 

V,i 

•431!276 

A.  A.  Sturee*!.  P 

82 

2:. 

113 

107 

109 

86 

110 

81 

50 

93 

70 

14 

9 

ISl 

69 

1135' 

County  Superintendent. 

C.  C.  Carter.  R 

Ifil 

18 

147 

l.il 

136 

60 

20 « 

102 

55 

74 

73 

18 

t 

69 

1397  184 

Ge'\  L  Clothier.  P        

H3 

42 

117 

80]l0,s 

i 

87 

98 

.71 

40 

88 

71 

24 

17 

152 

75 

1213 

Suffrajfe  Amendment. 

For. . 

4t) 

7 

7,S 

73    56 

127 

89 

3 

61 

;w 

l> 

44 

38 

719 

Against 

2I.'5 

47 

Via 

124'  96 

137 

.55 

47 

59 

101 

36 

25 

181 

H2 

14.50  731 

Com'r,  2d  District. 

1 

IHsll'O 

C.N. Earl    R 

G.  A.  Eberhardt.  P 

1H5 

31 

319 

88 

46 

101 

::: 

no 

88 

80 

40 

818' 

NOTES. 

Republican  county  convention,  Tuesday,  Augu.st21.  W.H.Mel- 
rose. Eskridge.  chairman :  J.  B.  Fields,  Alma,  secretary. 

People's  Party  convention.  Saturday,  September  1.  Dow  Bu.sen- 
bark.  Eskridge.  chairman :  Wm.  Treu.  Alma,  secretary. 

The  Democrats  desired  that  J.  H.  Jones  should  succeed  himself  as 
county  attorney,  and  that  L.  T.  Rice  should  again  be  a  candidate  for 
the  office  of  probate  .judge,  but  a  resolution  against  a  third  term  gave 
the  nomination  for  county  attorney  to  A.  A.  Sturgis,  and  J.  H.  Jones 
was  nominated  for  probate  judge.  By  reason  of  the  strained  relations 
existing,  and  the  lack  of  a  concert  of  action,  the  entire  Republican 
ticket  was  elected.  With  Democratic  representation  on  the  ticket,  or 
with  nominations  in  accord  with  the  wishes  of  the  Democrats,  the  re- 
sult might  have  been  difforenl. 


EAKLY  lllbTUiiY  OF  WABAUNSEE  C0U:NTY,  KAS.       195 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1895. 


Candidates. 


I 

3 

o 

3 


a 


M     C! 


Chief  Justice. 

Davtd  Martin,  b' 

Chas.  K.  Holliday.  K.... 
Treasurer. 

W.  H.  Melnise,  K 

J.  M.Lee.  F 

Kegister  of  Deeds. 

Ktutnfi  Little,  K 

Kd.  Worsley,  F    

Oonnt.v  Clerk. 

J.  R.  Henderson.  R 

Wui,  Neiswender,  F 

Sheriff. 

S.  E.  Hull.  R 

Wm.  Treu.  F 

Surveyor. 

W.  D.  Deans.  R 

Coroner, 

G.C.  Reals.  R 

H.  R.  Schmidt.   F 

Com'r,  3d  District. 

W,  R.  Strowis.  R 

I.  D.  Keyser.  F 


.1171  137 
.26    15 

I       I 

.140  108 
.!H9  100 

i       i 
.  l.T:->liT 

:i27|  86 

178  126 
10-1 

lU 
148 


109 
167 


V£i\l29 

26!  e« 

114(112 

871150 


134 

30 

160 
148 


103120  192 


102134 

1341162 
75.  94 


95 
117 

i:i6i 

107 
89! 

12ll 
82- 


99 

184 

107 


63120  122  195 


83  1371104 


138165 

1171 1-27 

77]  118 

1-'5179 
68    74 


189 

169 
110 


92 


82 
111 

104 
81 

110 
80 

101 
90 

121 

107 
83 


57  .56 
23  24 

681  64 

88J  87 

77  77 
84|  69 

I 
54   78 
105  65 

i 
71'  49 
83100 

88  88 

70i  70 
80  74 


34   67 
3    13 

isi  67 


38i  65 


7 
4 

71 
30 

t) 
18 

73 
100 

9 
15 

94 
77 

16 
10 

96 

77 

5 

20 

.S2 
90 

13 

108 

1185 
333 

1123 
12S4 


45  1246 
28II101 

I 
47  1392 
23   977 


1170 
1235 

1.5.50 

1163 
1108 


490 
305l 


85a 

161 
135 

415 

65 

54 
185 


NOTES. 

Republican  primarie.s.  Crawford  county  system,  Saturday,  Septem- 
ber 14.  . 

People's  Party  convention,  Saturday.  September  21.  Dow  Busen- 
bark,  Eskridge.  chairman:  Wm.  Treu.  Alma,  secretary. 

Democratic  central  committee  met  Saturday.  September  21,  and 
endorsed  People's  Party  ticket. 

The  first,  and  the  last,  .selection  of  candidates  by  the  Crawford 
county  system. 

At  Republican  primaries  there  were  six  candidates  for  sheriff, 
three  for  treasurer,  three  for  register,  two  for.  surveyor,  two  for  cor- 
oner, and  one  each  for  clerk  and  commissioner. 

At  the  primaries  for  sheriff  S.  E.  Hull  received  307  votes:  J.  M. 
Russell,  170;  J.  B.  Fields,  146:  .John  Thompson.  87:  John  Cromer,  85; 
Frank  Mossman.  72. 

For  treasurer.  W.  H.  Melrose,  ;i32:  J.  B.  Crumb,  284:  W.  K.  Beach, 


llHi     EAKLV  illSTOUV  OF  VVABAUJSSEE  COUJSTY,  KAS. 

Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1896. 


Candidatkh. 


^  3 

—  c* 

S  B 

a  ^ 

s 

3 


33 


3 

3. 


2 

s* 

o 

s 

o 

i) 

n 

B 

*• 

r; 

fl> 

n 

w 

» 

ft 

K 

, 

Prosldeiitlal  electors. 

liryan,   I) 

McKlnley,  H 

Uovernor. 

L«?cuy.  I> 

Morrill.  K 

.\ppollate  Judge. 

Hlii.liDHn.  1) 

Wells.  K 

Con^ressniiin,  4tli  Dlst, 

Miicldeu.  D 

Curtis.  K 

State  Senator. 

Stewart.  D 

Ho.s(ilii.  K 

Keprosentatlve. 

PaltMiske.  D 

ytuewe,  K 

Probate  Judtre. 

Kowley,  D 

Woodard.  H 

District  Clerk. 

•  'ore.  D 

Weaver,  R 

County  Attorney. 

.loiies,  D 

Barnes,  R, 

Supi.-rlntendent. 

Uusenbark,  D 

Carter.  R 

Com'r,  l.st  District. 

Dlerklnjf,  D 

Eck.  H     


100 
1S2 


lOtI    98 
18U|  8(1 

10.ji  «8 
1731  «i 


1(50 

13: 
l.")B 

i;« 
l.w 

133 
l.V 

137 
.[1721173!  7fl|  1.5.1 

1187  114  11311,38 
I109ll6lj    6a|l47 


l.V)  1.3.31  98 

174'l;->:ji  80 

I       I 

149!  m  98 

;183jir>7  80 

184!llll  98 


il3-Jll07 
j:20l|l?i 

I  871  79 
I21()2,)l 


97ji:3H 
74  l.W 


13111(54  107 
*22  109i  67 

i 
1301  liie  10.5 


i::7 
151 

1.57 
134 

138 


3091150,  65il4( 

|131!... 
1207:   .  . 


128' 
121| 

l.«l 
122! 

137 
131 

129 
120 

i.?r 

130 
120 

133 
118 

124 

122 

143 
101 

123 
122 


43  160 
30J180 

40  1.57 
20  189 

43  1.5B 
17187 

421161 
18; 193 

40  160 
20  180 


142110.5 
151 1  80 

wh'mi 


161 
186 

1.54 
192 


141 

150 

41]  157  139 

17  190  1.50 


147 

140 
146 

141 
1.53 

141 
149 


79 

109 

78 

109 

78 

no 


138|I10 
148!  78 


18167 

44  17o 

321171 


69 
113 

150 


24177133 


103 

84 

101 

84 

77 

112 
77 


87 
72 

85 
71 

85' 
69 

88 
70 

8*'. 
09 

91 

67 

9-3 
63 


67 
101 

07 


45 

:» 

42 
30 

43 
27 

42 

28 

42    66 

28 1 102 

,50 1  77 
30    95 

351  62 
36; 108 

30!  6 
40! 105 

28 1  68 


07   20 
104    33 

67i  19 
10:i!  14 


18 

351 

I 

18: 


12    9H 
23    91 


10.3   35i 


io;3 

73 
94 


19 
31 

28 
28 

21 
30 

I 

181 

a5 

13 

40 

24 
39 


78! 
941  -'81 


>2 
23 

13 

2 ' 

20 
19 

14 

18 

11 

%i 

II 
26 

]« 
21 

15! 
24! 


99 
93 

99 
92 

s*9 
93 

98 
93 

95 

96 

110 

76 

no 
79 


1442 
1686 


144 


1421 
15.56, 125 


1431 
1.528 


49  1440 
51  1.561 

48  1481 
.51,1531 


1 555 
1475 

1408 
1562 

i:«)9 
1664 

1427 

1497 
1404 

.501 
510 


97 
121 

.50 

80 

1.54 

;j.5.-) 

130 
3;i 

15 


NOTES. 

Kepublicaii  county  (•(jtivcMitiun  held  Tuesday.  September  1.  A.  .1. 
Skeene,  of  Chalk,  chairman:  B.  P.  Morlan,  of  Halifax,  secretary. 

People's  Party  convention  held  Saturday.  September  '>.  J.  R. 
Moreland.  of  Eskridge,  chairman:  Wni.  Treu  of  Alma,  secretary. 

Democratic  (bounty  convention  held  Wednesday,  September  .3.  M. 
F.  Trivctt.  of  Eskridj^e,  chairman  :  R.  L.  Shumate,  of  Eskridge,  sec- 
retary. 

The  vote  on  probate  judge  in  the  Republican  convention  :  .\ 

'^«";'^-\„:     v-, 1st.     2d.     M.     4th.    1 

!-.  iii'-hards 2.")       •>7      20       IS 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS.       197 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1897. 


Candioatem. 


2. 

X 


-> 

-5 


-"^       hrl 


r"  I  x" 


* 


District  Judge. 
Wm.  Thouison,  K... 

B.  F.  Martin,  D  .... 

Treasurer. 
J.  B.  Kistlfir,  K...  . 

J.  M.  Lee.D 

Iteg-lster  of  Deeds. 
Emma  Little,  K...  . 

C.  H.  Thompson    P 

County  Clerk. 

B.P.  Morlan,  K 

B    Buchll,  D 

Sheriff. 
G.  VV.  Crouch,  R... 

Wm.  Treu.  F 

Surveyor. 
W.  8.  Wliltlock,  R.. 

J.  H,  .Tones,  P 

Coroner. 

D.  H.  Hazzard.U... 
H.  R.Schmidt.  P.  .. 

Com'r.  -id  Dlst. 
C.N.  Earl.  K 

E.  H.  McMillan.  P. 


'188:136 

I 1501  63 

1108120 
i26J15 

13(1105 
19.5  13;l 


ion 

68 

74 
100 

77 
96 


»>lll9!  .59 


I2.5:illl2 


90 

:J47 

•*8 
225 

106 
220 


119 
120 

ItU 

118 

128 
.03 


HO 

76 
98 

99 
74 

71 

87 


152 
67 

142 

103 

148 

98 

134 

109 


140 
109 

120 
130 

126 
122 

lOij 
145 


23  152 

36  91 


145 
157 

177 
il» 

165 


165  123 


81 

141 

99 

135 
97 


132 

124 

128 

128 
123 


.52'l31 


111 

88 

103 
127 


66  72!  35 

82'  .56  39 

721  62  19 

96  93|  58 


121  72  77  25  91 
106  91  75  531  68 


105 

55 

132 

37 


29  16  94  40 1465 
It;  19'  W   29  1031 


119,  681  57i  8  87  8 
lOS  98100;  65  74  41 


12  1Cljll5  fit; 
.50  138  114  101 


1651112  70 
120  113  97 


19  164  114 
42  118  ilOt) 


22-.'107 
I  7>*  116 


57  U  85 


66 


76 


16  93 

57  66 

15  94 

55  62 


102 


15  89 
23  86 


1261 
1477 


40  ia34 
40  1377 


111  79  41  1155 
29!  98  37 i 1562 


61  87 
33  j  89 


87 


411222 
381 1.517 

4<<1272 
33  140:1 


14    10    90;  4111269 


102i  44 

'  721  3» 


475 
300 


4»4 

21« 

43 

407 

295 

131 

90 
175 


NOTES. 

The  Democratic  judicial  convention  held  at  Alma.  Tuesday,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1897 :  P>.  F.  Martin  nominated. 

People's  Party  judicial  convention  held  at  Alma,  Saturday,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1897  ;  B.  F.  Martin's  nomination  endorsed. 

The  Republican  judicial  convention  was  held  at  Alma,  Wednesday, 
Aug.  4.  Judge  Wm.  Thomson  being  nominated  without  opposition. 

Republican  county  convention  held  Tuesday,  September  14.  1897. 
W.  S.  Bolton,  of  Paxico,  chairman :  Wyatt  R  )u.sh.  of  Harveyville,  sec- 
retary. 

Democratic  county  convention  held  fSaturday,  September  18,  1897. 
M.  F.  Trivett,  of  E.skridge.  chairman:  O.scar  Schmitz,  of  Alma,  sec- 
retary. 

People's  Party  convention  held  Saturday  September  18.  J.  R. 
Moreland.  of  Eskridge.  chairman :  Wm.  Pringle,  of  Harveyville.  secre- 
tary. 


198     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1898. 


Candidatbb, 

a 

-1 
-1 

3 

2 

c 
B 

3 

X 

9 

B 
a 

O 

P 
a 

w 

2. 
o 

3 

r. 

1 

-I 
o 

o 

CO 

tr 
ft 

B 

9 

"0 

to 
><_ 
o 

0 

3 
c 

S 
o 

• 

■r 

n 

m 

9 

■1 

■^ 

n 

a> 

(* 

1  , '. 

Q 

*% 

a 

i 

rii 

;• 

T 

: 

• 

D 

X 

n 

■B 

Oovornor. 

1 

J.  W.  Leedy,   K  

i«n 

.-iO 

H7 

89    89 

82 

lOtl 

78 

29 

87 

57 

19 

12 

21 

42 

126 

34  1174 

W.  K.  Stiinlt-y.  R.... 

173 

27 

13!) 

1.39  173 

83 

184 

84 

38 

81 

108 

20 

16 

18 

43 

121 

23  1464 

290 

W.  A.  PutTec.  Pro.... 

5 

10 

12 

2 

1 

15 

.  ■  • 

1 

1 

1 

.  .  . 

•  .  . 

.    .   . 

2 

50 

C'oni;..  4th  ilist. 

H.  S.  Miirtiii,   K  

IW 

4:1 

H3 

87 

90 

79 

106 

73 

30 

82 

54 

15 

10 

20 

41  117 

34  1107 

J.  M.  MllliT.  R 

17!t 

al 

US 

141) 

16- 

82 

188 

86 

37 

87 

HI 

22 

14 

20 

41  124 

24  1497 

39U 

Roprosentatlve. 

L.  Palonske,  V 

•M) 

57 

92 

102 

89 

80 

111 

77 

28 

81 

65 

28 

24 

24 

46 

123 

45 

12V2 

W.  M.  KiiH>li!irt.  R.. 

13« 

13 

13.5 

130  1G9 

78 

182 

80 

38 

86 

98 

12 

7 

16 

41 

123 

13 

1355    83 

C<Minty  Allirney. 

1 

H.  M,  Jones.  F 

i:i7 

12 

lie 

94  100 

83 

94 

82 

31 

89 

.59 

19 

16 

19 

47 

116 

>.o 

1180 

V.  E.  Ciirroll.  K  ..   .. 

:.'12 

23 

nil 

141,1.56 

84 

200 

76 

36 

78 

107 

27 

15 

20 

40 

129 

28  1491 

311 

(Vuinty  Siipt. 

1 

Dow  Hiiseiil)iirk,   F. . 

ISl 

.53 

no 

117  119;  98 

145    93 

3:^ 

103 

74 

24 

17 

24 

M 

i;30 

36 

1411 

152 

D    G.  Mtirtin,  R     ..    . 

Kit) 

111 

121 

121 

141    6(5 

154 

66 

33 

68 

90 

16 

1* 

17 

32 

115 

22 

1259 

i'lerk  of  Dist.  Court. 

J.  \V.  Taylor.  F 

130 

43 

84 

81 

51    78 

121 

83 

31 

88 

51 

12 

16 

21 

44 

122 

34 

11411 

Wytitl  Roiish,  R 

184 

22 

144 

157 

108    81 

173 

74 

36 

831107 

26 

15 

19 

38 

125 

24 

1460 

320 

Prol)Hte  .ludsrt . 

1 

M.  K    Anderson.  F.. 

I0!» 

33 

71 

81 

88    71 

no    73 

29 

101 

46 

12 

8 

19 

39;  101 

27  1021 

T.  S.  Spiel  man.  R.  .. 

214 

311 

lot) 

146 

169   90 

182 

83 

36 

69 

117 

30 

18 

20 

46  145 

30:1590 

!)69 

Ciironer. 

1 

o.  R.  Webb.  P 

145 

45 

H4 

85 

93    79 

91  i  70 

28 

89 

48 

11 

101  Ifl 

39  1341  32il«98| 

T.  W.  Hunt.  R 

169 

19 

14-2 

143 

163   74 

205    bi7 

n 

78 

103 

28 

13!  30 

41 

111 

2.) 

1457aT9 

Com'r,  Hri   Dlst. 

Henry  Brt  vmever.F. 

89 

88   65 

. 

.  •  • 

71 

15 

828 

A.  R.  Strowlg.  R 

134 

165 

83 

IVO 

41 

592  265 

NOTES. 

Democratic  convention  held  Saturday,  September  3,  1898.  J.  H. 
Michaelis.  of  Paxico,  chairman;  Oscar  Schmitz,  of  Alma,  secretary. 

•  People's  Party  convention  held  Saturday,  September  3,  1898.  Wm. 
Prinprle.  of  Harveyville,  chairman:  W.  T.  Stewart,  of  Wabaunsee, 
secretary. 

Republican  convention  held  Tuesday,  September  13,  1898.  A.  J 
Skeene,  of  Rock  Creek,  chairman:  O.  W.  Little,  of  Ahna.  secretary. 

J.  N.  Dolley,  of  Maple  Hill,  was  nominated  for  representative  by 
the  Republicans,  but  withdrew  and  W.  M.  Rinehart,  of  Eskridge,  was 
substituted  by  the  committee. 

In  the  Republican  convention  all  the  nominees  were  named  by 
acclamation,  except  coroner  and  probate  judjJi'e.  there  beinptive  ballots 
for  prol)ate  jiidjre— Messrs.  Spii'lmaii.  Sudweeksand  r»ichar(isbeiiiK the 
contestants. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


199 


Wabaunsee 

Cou 

nty 

Election 

Returns, 

189S 

. 

> 
3 

^ 

p 

? 

2 

?5 

s 

2 

5 

2 
3 

o 
?r 

5 
3 

3 

5: 
3 

C 
to 

3: 

to 

•0 

5" 

0 

3 

2 

2 
"0 

Candidates. 

B 
3 
a> 
IS 

9 

• 

■ 

X 

O 

s 
a 

3 

O 
3 

a- 

-3 

•< 

a. 

p 
2_ 

3? 

0 

0 

-» 
9 

IB 

Treasurer. 

1 

Jos.  LaKoiitrtiDe,  F., 

106 

91 

31 

90 

100 

13« 

48 

110 

90 

84 

47 

20    55 

48 

36 

21 

66 

37 

1306 

36 

Gilbert  Stewart,  K. 

122 

103 

13 

53 

167 

113 

20 

169 

131 

69 

37 

20    11 

100 

15 

14 

79 

34 

1270 

County  rlerk. 

B    Buchli,  F 

239 

99    31 

113 

1~'6 

173 

5  J 

134 

98 

94 

74 

28   65 

83 

47 

SO 

82 

46  1616 

591 

O.  J.  Kose,  K 

96 

95 

12 

37 

I3ti 

78 

14 

156 

126 

(i•^ 

18 

13     3 

70 

7 

7 

68 

27 

1025 

Sheriff. 

F.  .T.Frey.  V 

240 

80 

3.1 

104 

114 

178 

58 

146 

103 

91 

67 

23   57 

58 

34 

25 

92 

43 

1545 

493 

F   M    Mere.liT.li.  R 

93 

112 

12 

44 

143 

76 

9 

37 

118 

65 

23 

13     8 

90 

19 

11 

52 

27 

1052 

Reprlster  of  Deeds. 

v.  Dorian.   F 

184 

09 

23 

75 

93 

115 

42 

119 

86,  87 

46 

22   48 

45 

23 

22 

7(1 

37 

1206 

D.  U.  viilli&on,  R... 

133 

122 

16 

68 1 164 

126 

25 

169 

130 

68 

42 

18i  17  102 

24 

11 

76 

3;5 

ia52 

146 

Surveyor. 

1 

J    H.  .Tones.  F  . . 

201 

90 

28 

3.-) 

90 

126 

43 

l~'l 

941  89 

48 

20 

56 

52 

21 

18 

VI 

40  1243 

W.  8.  Wliitir.cit,  R. 

i:i9 

103 

14 

115 

167 

125 

25 

165 

129,  67 

39 

19 

11 

95 

23 

18 

75 

32 

1351 

108 

Coroner. 

1 

H.  F.  P!tlensl<e.  F. 

229 

75 

28 

86'100129 

45 

103 

93    88 

49 

t.'2 

56 

.•54 

20 

23  68 

39 

1307 

32 

T.  W.  Hum,  R 

108 

112 

13 

51 I 157 

116 

22 

188 

131    69 

41 

18 

10 

95 

23 

11 

78 

3-2 

1275 

Com..  Ist  dist. 

' 

L  T   Hiee   F 

158 
162 

93 

76 
10 

27 
13 

471  62 

20 
27 

15 
22 

'.'. 

tMH 

101 

J."  M.  R.-k".  H.. '.'..'. 

..    61 

18 

84 

397 

NOTES. 

Republican  convention  liekl  Tuesday,  August  29,  1899.     W.  S.  Bol- 
ton, of  Paxico,  chairman :  L.  C.  Johnson,  of  Alta  Vista,  secretary. 

Democratic  convention  held  Saturday,  September  2,  1899.    M.  F. 
Trivett,  of  Eskridge,  chairman :  P.  R.  Young,  of  Eskridge,  secretary. 

People's  Party  convention  held  Saturday,  September  2.  1899.    Wm. 
Pringle,  of  Harveyville.  chairman  :  L.  T.  Rice,  of  Halifax,  secretary. 

In  the  Republican  convention  there  were  contests  for  the  office  of 

treasurer,  sheriff  and  register  of  deed^s. 

For  treasurer:  1st  ballot.    2d  ballot. 

Gilbert  Stewart,  Maple  Hill 44 

Fred  Crafts,  Alma ' 

W.  E.  Little.  Mission  Creek 

For  sheriff : 

F.  M.  Meredith.  Eskridge 

John  Cromer,  Volland     

W.  Chillson,  Alma 

'For  register  of  deeds: 

T).  U.  Millison,  Chalk 

W.  (}.  Weaver.  Alma 

I   H.  Hopps.  Wabaunsee 


41 
12 

1st  ballot. 

48 
28 
21 


37 

8 

2d  ballot. 

56 

28 

9 

1st  ballot. 

50 
44 

•> 


2U0     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAU>'!SKE  COUNTY,  KAS. 


Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns.  1900. 


('ANrnUATKS. 


Pres.  electors. 

MoKlnley,  r  

BryHii.  i 

Governor. 
W.  E.  Slaiiley.  r  ... 
J.W.Urcldoiitliiil.f. 

CoDtr  4tli  district. 

J.  M.  Miiler,  r 

Thos.  H.Grisliaui,f 
Stato  8nn.  21st.  dlst. 
G.  W  MoKiiiKlit.  r. 
.1 .  W.Liiwderiiiilk,  t 

Kep.48th  IMstrlct.  I 
Jqo.  Surtweel{8.  r.. 
ArtiiurCale,  f....| 
Prol)ttt.e  .luage  j 
Theo.  8.  Splelnian.r 
Clerk  district  court 

Wyatt  Uousli,  r 

Will .   Bciwes,  f I 

County  attorney. 

Fred  Seaman,  r 

J.  R.  Moreland,  t.. 
County  Supt. 

T.J.  Ferry,  r 

J.  H.  Houston,  f... 

Commissioner. 
S.  B.  Chapman,  r.. 
Wni.  Prinyle.  f 


^ 

9 

g 

i'=- 

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m 

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ts 

8 

is 

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s 

0 

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: 

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^ 

.£ 

■« 

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mm 

■ 

5 

S 

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* 

1 

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t 

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i 

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. 

^ 

< 

911 

B 

CO 

5 

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K 

s 

:    3 

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c 

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s 

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a 

A. 

1. 

i 

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z 

s 

172 

18 

27 

25 

l2:t 

197 

99  172 

;t> 

60 

1 
114:179 

94 

28 

7(i 

1.H3 

228 

1798 

532 

ItW 

21 

26 

45 

140 

86 

891  67 

j 

*■> 

38 

80  100 

82 

.50 

tu 

52  150 '1266 

1.57 

14 

21 

24 

127 

193 

941160 

31 

56 

lis  172 

82 

81 

73 

126*229  11709 

402 

181 

10 

25 

41! 

139 

86 

92  75 

21 

49 

82  105 

91 

44 

68 

5.i|l38l!i;j07 

1 

Ifi.-) 

14 

2;5 

24 

i:i5 

188 

90  164 

31 

5.5 

1111174 

80 

28 

71 

1292251  :i70!i 

44.5 

1«« 

18 

21 

44 

132 

84 

88  69 

24 

38 

81  104 

92 

4a 

64 

51  1371  1264 

147 

14 

28 

24 

1:>J 

'8«) 

9\  164 

34 

54 

111  164 

83 

29 

72 

126  220  il683 

399 

183 

;n 

23 

4;^ 

1.3 

84 

87  70 

24 

40 

81  107 

1 

90 

45 

m 

Xi  137  1284 

173 

14 

28 

20 

133 

188 

96  161 

34 

5.1 

94  157 

81 

29 

62 

126  192  '16I9 

a54 

151. 

17,  23 

4:^ 

132 

82 

80  68 

j 

24 

40 

971114 

91 

44 

71 

52 

166  J1295 

224 

20  ;« 

41 

160 

227 

113172 

1 

38 

59 

10!>  192 

101 

54 

75 

143 

245 

3006 

21.5 

19  29 

30 

145 

ia5 

99  145 

38 

54 

106  189 

89 

41 

76 

128 

228' 

1816 

667 

104 

17  23 

1 

36 

I2t 

82 

80,  91 

20 

''1 

8ij  »5 

88 

29 

58 

47 

131 

1149 

•*8 

23  29; 

43 

156 

180 

96  164 

38, 

51 

105161 

931 

.52 

66 

126 

202 

1790 

610 

109  la; 

Zi< 

24 

114 

96 

88  63 

20 

42 

8.ijilH 

83; 

1 

22 

71 

53 

162 

1180 

158  19 

ae 

38| 

140 

147 

84  l.Vl 

84 

.54 

100185 

83l 

37, 

71 

103  216 

1636 

29*i 

158  18 

29 

37| 

129 

182 

1 

93  77 

33; 

40 
41 

91j  95 
106117 

90J 

( 

a5 

67 

79  147 

197' 

1340 
461 

1 

i>i 

86  16  »| 

168 

471 

10 

NOTES. 

Hepublican  convention  held  July  17.  1900.     W.  S.  Bolton,  of  Paxico. 
cliairman:  S.  C.  Smith,  of  Wabaunsee,  secretary. 

People's  Party  convention  held  July  28,  1900.     Wm.  Pringle,  of 
Harveyvllle,  chairman:  J.  W.  Taylor,  of  Maple  Hill,  .secretary. 

Democratic  convention  held  July  28,  1900.    M.  F.  Trivett,  of  Esk- 
ridge.  chairman:  J.  Y.  Waugh,  of  Eskridge.  secretary. 

With  the  exception  of  Mr.  Spielman,  every  candidate  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket  resided  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  county. 

One  of  the  surprises  of  the  convention  was  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Seaman  for  countv  attorney,  he  not  being  an  aspirant  for  the  position. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  C.  STRATTON, 
Pavilion. 


THE  DAN  MORLAN  QUARRY, 
Near  Eskridge. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  35. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  47. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  FRED  DIERKING, 
Rock  Creek  Township. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  AUG.  MEINHARDT, 
Newbury  Township. 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


GERMAN    METHODIST  CHURCH,  Rock  Creek. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  66. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  A.  E  TRUE,  Newbury. 


ROYAL  NEIGHBORS'  FLOAT,  Alma,  Woodman  Day,  August  30,  1900. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  W.  J.  TOD'S  RESIDENCE  ON   THE  FOWLER  RANCH,  Maple  Hill. 


MAPLE   HILL  SCHOOL,  1902. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


AN  OLD  LANDMARK. 

Where  "  Butter-Hanness"  kept  store  in  1869. 


THE  "MILL"  SCHOOL. 
District  No.  59,  near  Paxico. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MAIN  STREET,  Alta  Vista. 
Looking  south  from^Bnak. 


WOOD  MAX  HALL  AND  POST-OFFICE, 
Chalk. 


■  I 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  OTTO  WINKLER, 

Vera. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  FRANK  SCHMIDT. 
Alma. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  86. 


MISSION  POINT  BAPTIST  CHURCH, 
Plumb  Township. 


EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  PETE  HOLMAN 
Alta  Vista. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  W.  H.  MELROSE, 
Eskridge. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  56,  Keene. 


SONS  OF  VETERANS  HALL,  Keene. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  7. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  44. 


1 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


THE  OLD  AND  THE  NEW. 
Schoolhouses  at  Halifax. 


THE  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH,  ALMA. 
Before  spire  was  built. 


SCHOOLHOUSE,  DISTRICT   No.  30. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


FRAME  SCHOOL-HOUSE,  Wabaunsee. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  Paxico. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  71. 


SCHOOL-HOUSE,  District  No.  3. 


i 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


WE3LEYAN  METHODIST  COLLEGE, 
Eskridge. 


EARL  BROS'.  STORE. 
Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


WAUSHARA  M.  E.  CHURCH. 


M.  E.  CHURCH  AT  HARVEYVILLE, 


OFFICE  AND  YARDS  OF  PAXICO  LUMBER  COMPANY. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      201 

Wabaunsee  County  Election  Returns,  1901. 


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Commissioner,  3rcl  District. 

Andrew  Bell 137 

45 

17 

4A 

35 

40    418 

=S<» 

J.  E.  Romick 

7 

176 

18 

8 

73 

77    359 

List  of  County  Officers 


Wit})  ISlaroe  ar){J  Date  of  Gleetior). 


REPRESENTATIVE. 


Amasa  Bartlett November  8,  1859 

Ernest  Hohencek December  6,  1859 

Abner  Allen    "  6.1859 

E.  J.  Lines    "  6,  1859 

C.  B.  Lines November  6,  1860 

J.  B.  Ingersoll "  5,1861 

A  C.  Pierce "  5,  1861 

T.  F.  Herzog    "  5,  1861 

D.M.Johnston •'  4,1862 

D.M.Johnston "  3,1863 

H.  D.  Rhepard '•  8,1864 

H.  D.  Shepard "  7,1865 

H.  J.  Loomis "  6,1866 

Wm.  Mitchell    "  .5,1867 

Samuel  R.  Weed "  6,1868 

A.  Sellers "  5,1872 


A.  Sellers   November  4,  1873 

S.A.Baldwin   "  3,1874 

S.  A.  Baldwin   "  2,  1875 

E.N.Morehouse  '•  7,1876 

L.  J.  McCrumb "  5,1878 

L.  J.  McCrumb •'  2,1880 

L.  Pauly "  7,  1882' 

F.L.Raymond  '  5,1884 

Chas.  Taylor   "  2,1886 

A.  F.  Wade    "  6,  1888 

John  Rehrig    "  4,1890 

Joseph  Treu "  8,1892 

G.  G.  Cornell   "  6,  1894 

L.  Palenske   '•  3.  1896 

W.  M.  Rinehart   "  1898 

John  Sudweeks "  1900 


COUNTY  CLERK. 


Geo.  M.  Harvey March  28,  1859 

S.  E.  Beach November  8,  1859 


H.  M.  Seldon. 
H.  M.  Seldon*. 
S.  H.  Fairfield 
S.  R.  Weed.... 
J.  M.  Matheny 
G.  W.  Watson. 
U  W.  Watson. 
G.  W.  Watson 
T.  N.  Watts  . . . 


5,  1861 

3,  1863 
7.  1865 

5.  1867 
2,  1869 
7,  1871 

4,  1873 
2,  1875 

6,  1877 


T.  N.  Watts November  4,  1879 

D.M.Gardner "  8,1881 

H.  G.  Licht "  6,  1883 

G.W.French "  3,1885 

G.  W.  Frencht "  8,1887 

C.  O.  Kinne "  5,1889 

C.  O.  Kinne "  11,1891 

J.R.Henderson "  7,1893 

J.R.Henderson '•  5.1895 

B.  Buchli,  Jr ■'  2,1897 

B.  Buchli.Jr "  1899 


♦Died  in  office,  S.  A.  Baldwin  appointed  July  3,  1865. 
tDied  in  office,  C.  O.  Kinne  appointed  December  15,  1888. 


202      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


COUNTY  TREASURER. 


Henry  Harvey      March  28,  1859 

H.  M.  SeUlon .^ .  November  8,  1859 

S.  E.  Hcach *  5,  1861 

S.  R.  Weed "  3,  18«3 

S.  R.  Weed "  7,  1865 

S.  H.  Falrtleld "  5,  1867 

S.  H.  Fairfield "  2,1869 

Chas.  Ross "  7,  1871 

Chas.  Ross "  4,  1873 

Joseph  Fields "  2,1875 

Joseph  Fields  "  6,  1877 


Chas.  RO.SS November  4,  1879 

Chas.  Ross '•  8,1881 

Joseph  Fields "  6,1883 

Joseph  Fields "  3,1885 

J.  B  Fields "  8,  1887 

F.  Stuewe "  5,  1889 

J.  H.  Michaelis "  3,1891 

J.  H.  Michaelis '•  7,1893 

J.  M.  Lee "  5,  1H95 

J.  M.  Lee "  2,  1H97 

Jos.  Latontaine  "  1895) 


PROBATE  JUDGE. 


J.  M.  Hubbard March  28,  18,59 

J.  M.  Hubbard November  8,  1859 

G.  G.  Hall "  4,  1862 

G.  G.  Hall "  8,  1864 

G.G.Hall    "  (5,1866 

G.G.Hall "  3,1868 

G.  G.  Hall "  8,1870 

G.  G  Hall "  5,  1872 

G.G.Hall      "  3.1874 

G.G.Hall    "  7,1876 

G.G.Hall "  5,1878 


J.  T.  Keagy Nov 

J.  T.  Keagy  

J.  T.  Keagy  

J.  T,  Keagy  

L.  Richards 

L.  T.  Rice 

L.  T.  Rice  

L.  J.  Woodard 

L.  J   Woodard 

T.  S.  Spielman 

T.  S.  Spielman 


ember 


2,  1880 

7,  1882 

5,  1S84 

2,  1886 

6,  1888 
4,  1890 

8,  1892 
6,  1894 

3,  1896 
1898 
199U 


REGISTER  OF  DEEDS. 


Moses  C.  Welch March  28,  1859 

E.  C  D.  Lines  November  8,  18.59 

S.  R.  Weed "  5,  1861 

S.A.Baldwin "  3,1^63 

S.  A.  Baldwin "  7, 1865 

S.  R.  Weed "  5,  1867 

S.H.Fairfield "  2,1869 

S.  H.  Fairfield ,"  7,1871 

S.  H.  Fairfield "  4,1873 

S.H.Fairfield "  2,1875 

S.  H.  Fairfield "  6,1877 


S.  H.  Fairfield November  4,  1879 

S.H.Fairfield "  8,1881 

S.H.Fairfield "  6,1883 

J.C.Henderson "  3,1885 

J.C.Henderson "  8,1887 

J.C.Henderson. '*  5,1889 

W.  B.  Small "  3,  1891 

W.  B.  Small "  7,  1893 

Emma  Little "  5,1895 

C.H.Thompson "  2,1897 

D.  U.  Millison "  1899 


SHERIFF. 


Jehu  Hodgson March  28,  1859 

Jehu  Hodgson November  8,  1859 

Jehu  Hodgson "  5,1861 

S.B.Harvey "  y,  1863 

Geo.  W.  Daily '•  8,1864 

J.  H.  Pinkerton "  7,1865 

J.  H.  Pinkerton "  5,1867 

E.  Hcrrick "  2,1869 

E.  Herrick •'  7,  1871 

"^Boskin.son ■'  4,1873 

u   H,x:^in*<''>i "  2,1875 

L.M.  Galt.^J^e'^ "  «• '«" 


O.  M.  Gardner November  4,  1879 

H.  J.  Pippert "  8,  1881 

H.  J.  Pippert "  6,1883 

J.  M.  Russell •'  3,  1885 

J.M.Russell "  8,1887 

S.  E.  Hull "  5,  1889 

H.  J.  Palenske "  3,1891 

H.  J.  Palenske "  7,1893 

Wm.  Treu "  5,1895 

Wm.  Treu "  2,1897 

FredJ.  Frey "  1899 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      203 


COUNTY  ATTORNEY. 


R.  G.  Terry March  28,  1859 

W.  Odlin November  8,  1859 

A.  H.  Case  (Dist.  Atty)  "  b,  1861 

A.  H.  Case  (Dist.  Atty)  3,  1863 

E.  J   Lines 8,  1864 

N.  H.  Whittemore 6,1866 

N.  H.  Whittemore 3,1868 

N.  H.  Whittemore*....  8,1870 

J.  T  Keagv ••  5,1872 

J.T.  Keagy '  3.1874 

W.  A.  Doolittle '•  7.  1876 

W.  A.  Doolittle  ••  5,1878 


G.  G.  Cornell 

..November  2.  1880 

G.  G.  Cornell 

7.  1882 

W.  A.  Doolittle  ... 

5,  1884 

J.  B.  Barnes 

2,  1886 

J.  B.  Barnes 

6,  1888 

J.  H.  Jones 

4,  1890 

J.  H.  Jones 

8   1892 

J.  B.  Barnes 

6,  1894 

H.  B.  Jones 

3,  1896 

C.  E.  Carroll 

1898 

F.  A.  Seaman 

1900 

CLERK  DISTRICT  COURT. 


E.  C.  D.  Lines December  6,  1859 

J.  V.  B.  Thompson Novembers,  1861 

S.  R.  Weed •■  4,  1862 

S.  R.  Weed ••  8,  18&4 

S.  R.  Weed 6,1866 

S.  R.  Weed ■  3,  1868 

R.  G.  Mossman •  8,1870 

R.  G.  Mossman ■  5,1872 

W.  A.  Doolittle "  4,  1873 

Percival  Hawes "  3,1874 

A.W.Gregory "  2,1875 

H.  G.  Licht ■•  7,1876 


H.  G.  Licht November  5,  1878 


H.  G.  Licht. 

H.  G.  Licht 

T.  S.  Spiel  man. 
T.  S.  Spielman. 
T.  S.  Spielman. 

H.  B. Jones 

H.  B. Jones 

W.  G.  Weaver.. 
W.  G.  Weaver.. 
Wyatt  Roush  .. 
Wyatt  Roush  .. 


2,  1880 

7,  1882 

5,  1884 

2,  1886 

6,  1888 
4,  1890 

8,  1892 
6,  1894 

3,  1896 
1898 
1900 


SURVEYOR. 


G.  Zwanziger March  28,  1859 

G.  Zwanziger November  8,  1859 

G.  Zwanziger •  5,1861 

J.E.Evans ••  3,1863 

G.  Zwanziger "  7.1865 

S.  R.  Weed ■■  5,1867 

J.  M.  Matheny "  2,1869 

G.  Zwanziger "  7,1871 

G.  Zwanziger "  4,1873 

S.  R.  Weed "  2,  1875 

J.B.Easter "  6,1877 

W.  T.  Mahan "  4,1879 


W.  T.  Mahan November  8, 1881 

W.  T.  Mahan 

W.  D.  Deans 

W.  D.  Deans 

W.  D.  Deans 

B.  Buchli.  Sr 

B.  Buchli,  Sr 

W.  D.  Deans 

J.  H.  Jonest October  14,  1897 

J.  H.  Jones    November  2,  1897 

W.  S.  Whitlock •  1899 


«, 

1883 

3, 

1885 

8, 

1887 

"            5> 

1889 

3. 

1891 

'■           7, 

1893 

"            a, 

1895 

COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS. 


J.  E.  Piatt March  28.  18.39 

J.  H.  Gould November  8.  1859 

J.  H.  Gould '•  6,  1860 

J.  H.  Gould ■■  4,  1862 

Isaiah  Harris 7,1865 

Isaiah  Harris •  6,1866 

T.  M.  Allen "  3,  1868 

T.M.Allen "  2,1869 

R.  M.  Tunnell "  8,1870 

W.F.Cotton "  7,1871 

W.  S.  McCormick "  5,  1872 

F.  W.  Kroenke  '  3,1874 

W.  E.  Richey '  2,1875 


W.  E.  Richey 

..November  7,  1876 

Matt  Thomson 

5,  1878 

Matt  Thomson 

2   1880 

Matt  Thomson 

7,  1882 

Matt  Thomson 

5,  1884 

Matt  Thomson 

2,  1886 

W.  W.  Ramey  

6,  1888 

Florence  Dickinson. 

4,  1890 

Geo.  L.  Clothier 

8,  1892 

C.C.Carter   

6,  1894 

Dow  Busenbark 

3,  1896 

Dow  Busenbark 

1898 

T.  J  Perry 

1900 

*Died  in  office,  J.  T.  Keagy  appointed. 

tMr.  Deans  died  in  office.    Mr.  Jones  appointed. 


J 


204      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


CORONER. 


August  Brasche March  28,  1859 

August  Urasche November  8,  1859 

August  Brasche "  5.1861 

August  Brasche 3,1863 

August  Brasche 7.1865 

August  Brasche "  5,  186V 

August  Brasche "  2,1869 

C.S.Montgomery "  7,1871 

Henry  Schmitz '  4.1873 

T.  N.  Watts •■  2,  1875 

J.P.Brown "  6.1877 

J.  P.  Brown "  4,  1879 


E.  W.  Eldrldge November  8,  1881 

E.  W.  Weems "  6.1883 

J.  C.  McElvain "  .^  1884 

C.  J.  Sawyer "  3,  li*85 

E.  W.  Eldridge "  2,  1886 

E.  W.  Eldridge "  8,1887 

T.  H.  Hall "  5,  1889 

T.  H.  Hall "  3,  1891 

H.R.Schmidt "  7,1893 

G.  C.  Beals "  5.  1895 

H.  R.Schmidt "  2,  1897 

H.  F.  Palenske '•  1899 


ASSESSOR. 


H.  M.  Seldon March  31,  1860 

H.  J.  Loomis November  6,  1860 

D.  L.  Bates '■  5,  1861 

Wm.  Kreig "  3,1863 


Geo.  M.  Harvey November  7,  186.=s 

John  Herriott "  5,1867 

E.  Herrick "  3,  1868 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONER. 
(Henry  Harvey,  J.  M.  Hubbard  and  G.  Zwanziger  appointed  by  Governor.) 


James  W.  Blain March  6,  1860 

James  B.  IngcrsoU "  6,1860 

G.  Zwanziger "  6,1860 

Wm.  Mitchell November  6,  1860 

F.  X.  Hebrank "  6,1860 

J.  B.  IngersoU "  6,1860 

Wm.  Mitchell "  5,1861 

F.  X.  Hebrank "  5.1861 

J.  B.  IngersoU "  .5,1861 

E.  R.  McCurdy "  3,1863 

Joseph  Treu "  3.1863 

H.  D.  Shepard "  3,1863 

Wm.  Mitchell "  7.1865 

Henry  Schmitz "  7.1865 

W.  D.  Ewing "  7,1865 

Henry  Schmitz "  5,1867 

H.  M.  Sanford "  5,1867 

Morris  Walton "  5,  1867 

JohnCopp "  2,1869 

Enoch  Piatt "'  2,1869 

Allen  Hodgson "  2,1869 

Joseph  Thoes     "  7, 1871 

Allen  Hodgson •  7,1871 

Allen  Phillips "  7,1871 

Joseph  Thoes "'  4,1873 

J.  W.  Crandall •  4.1873 

A.E.True "  4,1873 

J.  R.  Fix "  2,1875 


W.  E.  Little November  2,  1875 

J.  R.  Gross '•  2,  1875 

Lorenz  Pauly "  6' 1877 

Geo.  W.  French "  6.1877 

Wm.  Mitchell "  6,1877 

L.  Pauly "  5,  1878 

F.L.Raymond "  2,1880 

Geo.  Mogge "  8,  1881 

B.  H.  Younker "  8,  1881 

J.  W.  Core "  7,  1882 

A.  E.  True "  6,  1883 

A.  F.  Wade "  .3,  1885 

G.W.Greenwood "  2,1886 

Joseph  Treu "  8, 1887 

Eli  Walton "  6,  1888 

Ed  Worsley "  5,1889 

Joseph  Treu "  4,  1890 

Eli  Walton "  3,  1891 

Moritz  Hund '  8,1892 

P.F.Johnson "  7,1893 

C.  N.  Earl "  6,  1894 

Robert  Strowig "  5,1895 

Joseph  M.  Eck "  3,1896 

C.  N.  Earl "  2,1897 

Robert  Strowig "  1898 

L.  T.  Rice "  1899 

Wm.  Pringle "  1900 

Andrew  Bell "  1901 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      205 


The  Old  Santa  Fe  Trail. 


At  the  old  mail  station  at  Elm  creek,  just  over  the  line  in  Brecken- 
ridge  (now  Lyon  Co.)  we  first  became  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of 
plainscraft. 

It  was  here  that  was  born  the  desire  to  know  more  of  the  bound- 
less West — to  see  with  our  own  eyes  the  land  of  the  Aztec. 

Throug'h  the  influence  of  an  uncle,  Mr.  Ben.  Thomson,  of  Inde- 
pendence, Mo.,  my  father  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Overland  Mail 
Company  (carrying  the  U.  S.  mail  from  Independence,  Mo.  to  Santa 
Fe,  New  Mexico). 

My  father  entered  upon  his  duties  March  1,  1859,  and  for  three 
years  we  lived  at  the  old  station,  building  the  frame  house  seen  in  the 
illustration  in  1859.  The  old  log  buildings  were  constructed  several 
years  before  by  former  agents  of  the  mail  company. 

In  the  Southeast  corner  of  Richardson  county  (now  Wabaunsee) 
the  military  road  from  Fort  Leavenworth  formed  a  junction  with  the 
greatest  and  most  extensively  traveled  thoroughfare  on  the  American 
continent. 

For  three  quarters  of  a  century  the  people  of  more  than  a  hundred 
flourishing  towns  in  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  and  old  Mexico  had 
received  their  supplies  in  wagons  drawn  by  mules  and  oxen  over  the 
historic-Santa  Fe  trail. 

From  small  ventures  the  traffic  increased  until  goods  to  the  value 
of  two  millions  of  dollars  were  annually  purchased  from  the  merchants 
of  Kansas  City,  Independence.  Lexington  and  Boonville  (Old  Franklin). 

This  meant  the  employment  of  an  army  of  men  and  the  purchase 
of  thousands  of  (.xen  and  mules,  with  hundreds  of  wagons  to  meet  the 
constantly  increasing  demands  of  the  trade  between  the  people  of  the 
States  and  those  of  New  Mexico. 

Having  crossed  the  plains  half  a  score  of  times  during  the  sixties 
and  having  been  a  quasi  resident  of.  the  territories  for  nearly  three 
years  during  that  period  our  knowledge  of  the  then  existing  conditions 
is  based  upon  actual  experience  among  the  participants  in  the  stirring 
scenes  of  a  most  eventful  period  in  our  country's  history. 

Our  stay  at  the  old  mail  station  we  regard  as  the  most  pleasurable 
of  our  existence.     For  three  years  we  unthoughtedly   reveled  in  an 


206      EA  RLY  HISTORY  OB^  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

atmosphere  of  romantic  incident.  With  boyish  eas'erness  we  listened 
to  tales  of  frontier  life— to  the  stories  told  by  plainsmen,  army  officers, 
soldiers  in  the  ranks,  and  employes  of  the  mail  company— each  and 
every  one  of  whom  had  courted  danger  from  every  standpoint. 

While  among  the  relators  there  were  some  poltroons  there  were 
many  heroes — heroes  without  dreaming  of  it.  There  was  no  bragga- 
docio in  manner  or  speech.  Tlie  greatest  difficulty  lay  in  eliciting 
facts  from  unwilling  tongues:  only  the  mock  hero  is  prone  to  lavish 
and  extravagant  recitals  of  tales  of  personal  prowess  that  have  an  exis- 
tence only  in  the  relator's  vivid  imagery. 

But  few  other  than  those  who  know  the  facts  can  realize  the 
immense  volume  of  trade  that  passed  over  the  trail  through  Wabaun- 
see county  to  Santa  Fe  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  iron  horse. 

For  days  the  rumble  of  the  heavily  laden  wagons,  the  cracking  of 
whips,  and  the  noise  incident  to  a  constant  passing  of  trains  made  a 
din  indescribable  and  almost  incessant.  During  the  summer  season 
hundreds  of  wagons  passed  daily  on  their  way  to  Santa  Fe.  During 
the  Pike's  Peak  excitement  in  '59  as  many  as  .300  vehicles  of  all 
descriptions  would  go  into  camp  near  the  old  mail  station  at  the  Elm 
creek  crossing.  In  this  motley  crowd  would  be  from  500  to  1,000  men 
— but  few  women — of  a  dozen  nationalities.  Usually  Americans  pre- 
dominated but  our  Mexican  neighbors  came  in  for  a  clo.se  second. 

Fully  one-half  of  the  overland  traffic  was  carried  on  by  Mexican 
freighters — in  wagons  drawn  by  mules  or  oxen — about  equally  divided. 

Around  the  nightly  camptires  could  be  heard  songs  of  mirth,  tales 
of  adventure,  and  recitals  that  would  almost  congeal  the  blood  in  one's 
veins.  Possibly  exaggeration  was  purposely  engrafted  for  the  editica- 
tion — or  discomfiture— of  the  tenderfoot. 

That  in  the  youthful  listener  the  desire  was  enkindled  to  know 
more  of  the  great  plains,  the  historic  ground  and  the  quaint  people 
beyond  was  but  natural.  As  with  the  New  England  boy  the  stories  of 
people  beyond  the  seas  begot  a  longing  to  cross  the  ocean  so  with  the 
youth  living  on  the  margin  of  the  Great  American  Desert — whether 
on  the  prairies  of  Kansas  or  the  borders  of  Missouri— there  was  early 
instilled  in  his  veins  an  unquenchable  longing  to  cross  the  plains. 

He  would  view  with  his  own  eyes  the  halls  of  the  Montezumas.  The 
weird  and  gruesome  tales  of  the  deadly  trail  across  the  "Jornada"* 
incited  no  fears  in  the  boy  who  Would  brave  every  danger  to  do  as 
many  boys  had  done  before  him. 

*This  refers  to  the  dry  route  between  the  Cimarron  crossing  of  the 
Arkansas  and  the  Cimarron  (Lost)  river.  The  distance  trains  were 
compelled  to  travel  without  water  varied  from  60  to  90  miles  and  dur- 
ing a  dry  time  there  was  no  water  for  man  or  beast,  except  that  carried 
in  kegs  from  the  tepid  waters  of  the  Arkansas  or  the  brackish  liquid 
oozing  through  the  sands  of  the  Cimarron.  Sometimes  whole  trains 
would  perish  and  the  bones  lay  bleaching  on  the  Plains.  For  this 
reason  this  part  of  the  trail  was  called  "Jornada  del  Muerto"— "The 
journey  of  the  Dead." 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      207 


He  would  see  the  ^ 'Bier  Timbers,"  but  in  the  scattering  cotton- 
woods  of  the  Upper  Arkansas  there  was  naught  but  disappointment. 
"Old  Fort  Atkinson"  dwindled  into  insignificance  as  the  few  rods  of 
dilapidated  stone  and  adobe  walls  loomed  into  view.  "Raton  Pass," 
"Apache  Hill"  and  the  "Turkey  Mountains"  divested  of  the  romance 
clinging  to  their  names  become  commonplace,  and  even  Historic  Santa 
Fe,  Old  Baldy  Mountain  and  the  turbulent  Rio  Grande  are  not  worth 
the  candle  as  compared  with  the  pleasant  memories  clustered  about 
the  home  fireside  and  the  old  log  cabin  of  the  early  pioneers. 

But  lack  of  water  wasn't  the  only  unpleasant  feature  of  a  journey 
over  the  old  trail.  The  Indians  were  a  constant  source  of  anxiety  if 
not  of  vexation  and  trouble.  Wagon-masters  in  charge  of  trains,  no 
matter  how  large  the  outfit  were  given  opportunities  to  disgorge,  it 
was  a  case  of  put  up  or  lose  a  "whoa-haw."  The  custom  was  to  put  up 
a  sufficient  amount  of  bacon,  flour,  sugar  and  coffee  for  a  feast — the 
amount  depending  on  the  hostile  attitude  of  the  begging  Indians, 
their  numbers,  or  estimated  ability  to  enforce  their  demands. 

The  leader  of  every  band  of  Indians,  large  or  small,  went  armed 
with  his  begging-paper.  It  was  just  as  essential  as  any  other  part  of 
a  warrior's  equipment— not  so  war-like,  but  equally  effective  in 
replenishing  the  empty  larder  as  the  rifle  and  lance,  or  bow  and  arrow. 
But  all  this  is  changed — by  that  modern  cizilizer,  the  railroad.  The 
modern  school-house  with  its  patent  seats  stands  where  stood  the 
Indian  Tepee.  Forty  years  ago  (1862)  the  writer  in  search  of  Indian 
curios  wandered  down  the  banks  of  the  Pawnee  (near  Larned)  and 
fctund  more  than  he  was  looking  for.  He  found  himself  ushered  into 
the  presence  of  Satank;*  was  asked  to  dine,  and— well,  he  didn't 
refuse.  But  as  Mr.  Satank  will  hardly  see  these  lines  and  no  apology 
be  demanded,  we  will  take  the  liberty  of  saying  that  the  coffee  was 
too  strong,  the  plum  stew  too  sour,  and  the  buffalo  soup  was  altogether 
too  fresh.  The  horn  spoons  and  mussel  shell  ladles  were  interesting 
as  curiosities  but  "by  the  great  horn  spoon"  our  appetite  did  not  crave 
soup  without  salt  conveyed  to  the  mouth  in  a  mussel  shell.  But  we 
never  grumbled  at  the  fare.  Just  two  years  before  Satank  had  settled 
his  saore  with  Peacock  at  the  mouth  of  the  Walnut.  Possibly  ou|- 
knowledge  of  this  fact  caused  us  to  partake  of  the  fare  set  before  us 
with  a  seeming  relish.  As  we  were  about  starting  on  our  return  trip 
to  camp  we  were  somewhat  startled  by  a  blast  from  Satank's  bugle 
(any  person  passing  over  the  Santa  P'e  trail  from  '60  to  '65  will  remem- 
ber Satank  and  his  bugle).  The  blast  brought  into  his  presence  a 
young  Indian  mounted  on  a  beautiful  pony  and  leading  Satank's  war- 
horse.    The  old  chief  was  going  to  our  camp  but  he  had  no  idea  of 


*His  begging  paper  gave  us  the  first  intimation  as  to  his  name. 


208      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

walking,  nor  of  pennitlintr  oiirsclf  to  enjoy  this  niiicli  preferred  privi- 
lege. We  rodc-at.  Satank's  invitation.  It  may  be  that  our  reaay 
acquiescence  in  coniplyiiiK' with  tlie  old  chief's  every  request  was  due 
to  some  hypnotic  influence,  for  wliich  we  were  then  unable  to  account. 
Rut  at  tills,  the  eleventh  hour,  we  niln{j:le  our  thanks  with  contjratu- 
lations.  The  tlianks  are  lor  Satank  and  the  congratulations  for  our- 
self— that  we  are  here  to  chronicle  this  Ion?  deferred  account  of  our 
first  banquet  with  the  wiliest  of  Kiowas  in  his  tepee  on  the  banks  of 
the  Arkansas. 

Durii)},'^  the  summer  of  1867  the  combined  tribes  of  the  plains  dis- 
puted the  passing  of  all  trains  over  the  Santa  Fe  trail.  If  there  were 
exceptions  the  fact  was  due  to  advantages  in  the  matter  of  force  or 
organization  not  in  favor  of  the  Indians.  They  were  peaceable  or 
otherwise  as  the  probability  of  losing  their  scalps  seemed  apparent. 
But  with  the  advent  of  the  railroad  came  the  conviction  to  the 
Indian  that  it  was  time  to  be  good.  The  mysterious  power  of  the 
"talking  wire"  and  the  facility  with  which  troops  could  be  transported 
from  one  point  to  another  caused  Mr.  Lo  to  put  on  his  thinking  cap. 
This  thing  of  swooping  down  on  a  train  and  cutting  out  a  few  of  the 
hindmost  wagons  was  ended.  The  iron  horse  could  not  be  stampeded, 
nor  could  his  locomotion  be  stopped  by  the  old  process  of  cutting  the 
ham-strings.  Corraling  a  train  and  cutting  off  the  water  supply; 
shooting  and  scalping  the  teamsters  while  guarding  the  herds  of  cattle 
or  mules;  picking  them  off  while  hastily  constructing  breastworks 
behind  which  to  conceal  their  bodies — are  among  the  things  of  the 
past,  and  are  less  to  be  attributed  to  a  change  of  heart  on  the  part  of 
the  Indian  tlian  to  the  civilizing  influences  exerted  by  the  iron  horse. 

This  article  on  the  Old  Trail  would  be  incomplete  without  some 
reference  to  the  overland  mail— carried  in  the  sixties  in  a  Concord 
coacli  drawn  by  six  mules  with  an  outrider* — as  a  promoter  of  speed. 
Witli  each  coach  were  three  men  and  occasionally  one  or  more  extra 
coaches  were  required.  The  schedule  time  from  Independence  to 
Santa  Fe  was  twenty  days  until  1860,  when  it  was  reduced  to  fifteen 

,  *Boyish  pleasure  never  assumed  the  superlative  form  in  a  ^iiore 
eminent  degree  than  in  our  own  case  while  playing  the  role  of  outrider 
on  tlie  overland  mail.  If  we  could  manage  to  meet  the  mail  at  Wil- 
mington and  be  "whipper-up"  to  the  old  station  and  thence  to  142 
creek  (of  course  we  wanted  to  go  there  after  the  mail)  we  would  feel 
as  though  we  had  met  with  an  unusual  piece  of  good  luck.  Our  pre- 
dilection for  this  employment  is  probably  responsible  for  our  failure  to 
take  a  course  at  college.  Being  proffered  a  scholarship  (at  Lebanon 
college,  Tenn.)  my  brother  Bavis  remarked  that  a  place  on  the  mail 
line  would  be  more  to  my  liking.  My  father's  displeasure  in  the  mat- 
ter was  shown  by  his  never  leferring  to  the  matter  again.  But  we  are 
not  complaining. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      209 


days.  Until  1859  Lost  Springs  was  the  last  station  and  outfitting 
point.  Beyond  this  only  "long-route  mules"  were  serviceable,  the 
broken-down  and  short  winded  "short-route  mules"  being  detailed  for 
service  on  short  drives  on  the  east  and  west  ends  of  the  line.  Here, 
time  was  made,  as  much  as  150  miles  being  covered  in  the  first  24 
hours.  Conductors  and  driverswere  heavily  armed  as  a  protection  to 
the  mail  and  the  large  sums  of  money  sent  in  the  care  of  the  company. 
Though  seldom  attacked  the  crews  were  frequently  held  up  by  Indians 
with  begging  papers.  This  meant  generous  treatment  or  imminent 
risk  of  the  consequences,  that  were,  as  a  rule,  averted.  The  killing  of 
the  Smith  brothers  referred  to  in  "Bill  Cole's  Last  Drive"  was  an 
exception— one  that  had  little  effect  in  curtailing  the  number  of 
applications  for  eniployment  at  the  office  of  the  Overland  Mail 
Company. 

As  early  as  1831,  the  town  of  Franklin,  150  miles  west  of  St.  Louis, 
was  an  outfitting  point  for  the  Santa  Fe  traders. 

Wagons,  drawn  by  oxen,  were  first  used  in  1829,  by  Major  Riley, 
who,  with  three  companies  of  infantry  and  one  of  riflemen,  escorted 
the  caravan  as  far  as  Choteau  Island  on  the  Arkansas.  The  train 
being  attacked  by  Indians  the  escort  continued  with  the  caravan  as 
far  as  Sand  creek.  The  use  of  oxen  by  Major  Riley  was  a  surprise  to 
plainsmen.  The  oxen  stood  the  trip  as  well,  if  not  better,  than  mules 
and  after  that  time  about  half  the  freighters  used  oxen. 

As  early  as  1831  Council  Grove  was  used  as  an  outfitting  point  by 
fur  traders  and  emigrants  to  Oregon,  though  up  to  that  time  there 
was  not  a  house  west  of  Independence.  The  name— Council  Grove — 
had  its  origin  in  the  fact  that  in  1825  Messrs  Reeves,  Sibley  and  Math- 
ers, commissioners  appointed  to  establish  and  mark  a  road  from  Inde- 
pendence to  Santa  Fe,  made  a  treaty  with  the  Osages  to  gain  their 
consent  to  the  establishment  of  the  road.  The  council  was  held  in  the 
Grove  at  the  crossing  of  the  Neosho.  The  caravans  organized  here  by 
electing  a  captain,  detailing  guards,  etc.,  for  the  protection  of  the 
caravan  while  passing  through  the  hostile  tribes  of  the  plains,  and  the 
more  dangerous  hordes  of  robbers  that  preyed  on  unsuspecting  outfits 
at  will. 

In  1843,  large  escorts,  under  Capt.  Philip  St.  George  Cook  accom- 
panied the  caravans  as  far  as  the  Arkansas  river. 

An  item  from  "Annals  of  the  Great  Western  Plains"  is  deserving 
of  a  place  here.  "In  1857,  9,884  wagons  left  Kansas  City  for  New 
Mexico.  Now,  if  these  wagons  were  all  in  one  train,  they  would  make 
a  caravan  223  miles  long,  with  98,840  mules  and  oxen,  and  freighting 
an  amount  of  merchandise  equal  to  59,304,000  lbs." 

As  fully  as  many  wagons  were  outfitted  at  Leavenworth,   Inde- 


21U      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


pcndence  and  other  points  the  above  figures  represent  not  more  than 
lialf  tlie  trallic  passinj^  over  tlie  old  trail. 

Amontj:  tlie  items  of  tratlic  received  at  Kansas  City  that  year  was 
one  of  r^O.OOO  butTalo  robes. 

Another  item  in  the  "Annals"  says:  "As  early  as  1840  it  was  not 
imeoninion.  on  tlio  arrival  of  Mackinaw  boats,  to  see  as  many  as  300  or 
400  men  on  tlie  levee  (at  Kansas  Cityj  at  one  time,  and  all  of  them  buy- 
ing more  or  less  from  the  traders." 

Among  other  items  of  trade  were  rings  that  cost  ten  cents  in  St. 
Louis  and  sold  to  the  Indians  for  five  or  six  dollars.  In  view  of  these 
prices  there  need  be  no  cause  for  wonder  at  the  fabulous  fortunes  piled 
up  by  the  Astors, 

Among  the  landmarks  of  the  Old  Trail  not  yet  obliterated  is  an 
old  log  house  on  HlutT  creek,  twelve  miles  east  of  Council  Grove— made 
memorable  as  the  home  of  the  noted  guerilla,  Bill  Anderson.  In  1862, 
Bill  was  a  harmless  youth,  to  all  appearances  at  least.  He  was  a  regu- 
lar attendant  at  the  neighborhood  debates*  and  spelling  schools,  taking 
a  part,  with  other  young  men,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  old  home.  Bill's 
first  trip,  and  we  believe  his  last,  across  the  plains,  was  with  Parker's 
mule  train,  just  before  the  civil  war.  On  this  trip  Bill  became  an 
expert  at  pistol  practice,  affected  broad-brimmed  hats  and  in  a  few 
months  cast  his  lot  with  Quantrill;  was  at  the  sacking  of  Lawrence 
and  on  the  night  of  July  3,  1802,  burned  Baker's  stone  house  at  the 
Santa  Fe  crossing  of  Rock  creek,  shooting  Baker  as  he  attempted  to 
escape  through  the  cellar  window.  Bill  celebrated  the  4th  the  follow- 
ing morning  by  shooting  36  holes  through  the  front  door  of  the  old 
stage  station  at  Elm  creek — then  occupied  by  Henry  Jacobi.  The  bed 
in  which  two  children  slept  was  tilled  with  lead  but  the  little  ones 
were  unharmed. 

*At  one  of  these  debates  (so  deeply  impressed  on  memory's  tablet, 
as  never  to  be  effaced),  in  which  Bill  took  part  in  January,  1862,  held 
at  Charley  Withington's,  at  the  crossing  of  142  creek,  the'  writer  had 
the  honor  of  acting  as  secretary.  As  we  remember  it  a  hand.some 
Miss  "Muller"— and  as  worthy  and  accomplished  as  handsome — pre- 
sided as  one  of  the  judges.  Tf  the  "Judge"  failed,  through  fickleness, 
or  from  dilatory  uncertainty,  to  make  hay  while  the  sun  shone  so 
brightly  it  is  safe  to  say  that  as  he  looks  regretfully  down  the  long 
vista  of  years  his  eyes  are  never  so  bedimmed  that  he  is  unable  to  see 
the  application  of  Whittier's  truthful  lines:     "It  might  liave  been." 

As  to  Bill  Anderson  (in  his  boyhood  days  he  was  known  by  no  other 
name  than  Bill):  Mild  in  manner  and  timid  in  speech,  as  one  might 
have  observed  him  that  evening.  Bill  was  a  study.  Tall  and  straight 
as  an  Indian,  with  his  light  blue  eyes  and  jet  black  hair— long  and 
flowing,  one  can  harily  realize  that  within  one  short  year,  with  bridle 
reins  in  his  teeth  and  a  revolver  in  either  hand.  Bill  Anderson  could 
be  transformed  into  a  living  exemplification  of  Sherman's  truism  that 
"war  is  hell." 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      211 

Santa  Fe  was  the  Mecca  of  boys  living  on  the  border  in  the  sixties 
desirous  of  graduating  in  plainscraft.  This  city  has  the  honor  of 
being  the  oldest  town  but  one  in  the  United  States.  At  the  time  my 
father  was  agent  for  the  Mail  company  Santa  Fe  was  the  western 
terminus  of  the  line.  It  is  the  capital  of  New  Mexico  now  as  it  was 
then.  It  boasts  of  some  fine  buildings  but  a  large  majority  of  the 
residences  are  built  of  ad'obe.  Many  wealthy  families  are  located  here, 
having  grown  rich  in  the  mining,  ranching  or  mercantile  business — 
being  the  proprietors  of  many  of  the  trains  that  in  the  early  days 
hauled  all  their  merchandise  from  points  on  the  Missouri  river  on  the 
great  thorouglifare  passing  through  Wabaunsee  county. 

While  many  of  the  families  residing  here  were  fabulously  rich  the 
worldly  possessions  of  the  great  majority  is  a  matter  of  but  little 
concern  to  the  ta.v  collector  and  but  little  more  perhaps  to  the  average 
Mexican,  provided  he  is  of  the  "Greaser"  class  and  the  average  Mexi- 
can is  always  a  "Greaser." 

Give  the  Greaser  a  serapa  (Mexican  blanket),  a  burro  (donkey)  and 
a  few  rich  relations  on  his  visiting  list  and  he  is  independent.  Add  to 
these  p()S.sessions  a  horse,  saddle,  a  huge  pair  of  spurs,  and  a  broad- 
brimmed  hat,  and  he  is  nionarch,  in  a  literal  sense,  of  all  he  surveys; 
and.  in  many  instances,  of  all  he  can  lay  his  hands  on. 

The  Greaser's  dream  of  happiness  is  to  marry  some  rich  man's 
daughter  that  he  may  live  at  his  ease— and,  at  the  expense  of  his  wife's 
relations.  Failing  in  this  he  is  content  to  become  an  outlaw,  and  firm 
in  the  belief  that  the  world  owes  him  a  living  he  starts  out  to  look  it 
up.  As  to  whether  it  is  to  be  found  at  the  gambling  table,  or  at  the 
end  of  a  lasso,  it  is  immaterial  to  him. 

But  these  remarks  refer  only  to  the  reckless  class  whom  the  fates 
ordained  should  be  born  in  New  Mexico.  Rowdies  with  the  self-same 
characteristics  are  not  peculiar  to  that  latitude,  to  the  climate,  or  to 
the  people. 

Though  Santa  Fe  was  the  terminal  point  of  the  mail  line  from 
Independence  the  trail  over  which  the  thousands  of  tons  of  freight 
were  hauled  extended  far  down  the  Rio  Grande  and  beyond  into  old 
Mexico. 

On  the  lower  Rio  Grande  is  another  "Jornada  del  Muerto"— an 
arid  waste  of  sand  and  cactus,  interspersed  with  sage-brush  and  some 
dwarfed  mesquite.  There  are  no  trees  and  yet  the  arid  plain  is  not 
destitute  of  fuel.  A  species  of  cactus  fifteen  feet  in  height  and  thick 
as  a  man's  body  is  found  here.  This  and  the  sage-brush  is  utilized  as 
a  substitute  for  the  more  solid  woods  abounding  in  the  mountains. 

Then,  there  is  the  mesquite,  the  greater  part  of  which,  grows 
under  ground.  In  the  past,  when  we  were  told  that  on  the  arid  plains 
of  New  Mexico  wood  was  obtained  by  digging,  we  concluded  that  the 


212      EARLY  IIISTOllY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

narration  would  make  a  fitting  appendix  to  the  stories  of  Muncliausen, 
but  sucli  is  a  fact. 

Prior  to  the  advent  of  the  railroad,  nearly  all  the  fuel  used  by  the 
troops  at  Fort  Craig,  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  the  roots  of  the  mesquite— a  small  bush  furnishing  as 
much  as  a  cord  of  wood.  These  roots  are  very  easily  dug  from  the 
sandy  soil  and  are  less  crooked  than  much  of  the  pinon  and  other 
scrubby  timber  growing  in  the  foot-hills. 

Though  in  a  dry  time  the  stretch  of  arid  plain  without  water  lies 
between  terminal  points  ninety  miles  apart  there  are  occasional  rains 
or  downpours  that  till  up  the  holes  along  the  route  across  the  Jornada. 

At  the  Point  of  Rocks  was  one  of  these  holes  at  which  water  was 
occasionally  found  after  a  hard  rain.  The  place  is  what  the  name 
indicates— a  rough,  jagged  promontory,  not  very  high  above  the  sur- 
rounding country,  but  conspicuous  by  reason  of  its  altitude  above  the 
surrounding  plains.  Here,  the  dust-begrimed  traveler  was  supplied 
with  a  fair  quality  of  water  with  which  to  quench  his  thirst  after  his 
weary  march. 

In  times  past,  the  weary  traveler  looked  forward  to  his  arrival  at 
this  point  on  his  route  with  feelings  of  joy,  mingled  with  a  dread  that 
could  not  be  shaken  off.  Though  almost  fami.shed,  he  hardly  dared 
approach  the  water  holes  for  fear  that  the  draught,  though  refreshing, 
might  be  his  last.  He  feared  that  his  stooping  to  drink  might  be  the 
signal  for  the  launching  of  a  shower  of  arrows  sent  on  their  deadly 
errand  by  a  score  of  Indians  that  might  lay  concealed  behind  the 
boulders. 

Many  a  lone  expressman  or  mail  carrier  met  his  death  at  the  hands 
of  the  treacherous  Apaches  at  the  Point  of  Rocks. 

But  connected  with  the  history  of  the  old  trail  are  hundreds  of 
horrifying-  incidents  for  which  the  Indian  is  in  nowise  responsible. 
Just  beyond  the  point  where  the  old  trail  emerged  from  the  mountains 
at  the  foot  of  Raton  pass  was  a  little  clump  of  willows  where  in  1868 
an  American  miner  encamped  for  the  last  time.  He  was  on  his  way  to 
the  "States,"  doubtless  anticipating  the  many  pleasures  in  store  for 
him  at  the  old  homestead.  There  was  no  railroad  then  and  he  could 
not  afford  the  luxury  of  a  ride  in  the  mail  coach  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
mile.  To  his  mind  it  would  be  extravagant  to  expend  for  stage  fare, 
at  the  rate  of  $25  per  day,  money  that  had  been  earned  by  hard  work 
at  perhaps  a  half  a  hundred  per  month. 

Purchasing  a  burro,  he  started  with  his  camping  outfit  for  home. 
He  had  saved  considerable  money  and  for  this,  probably,  he  was  way- 
laid and  murdered.  His  body  was  found,  wrapped  in  his  blankets  and 
cast  away  in  the  willows— another  victim  whose  murder  is  unavenged. 
Thirty-four  years  have  gone  by  and  mayhap  loving  friends  are  yet 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MEXICAN   BURROS  CARRYING  WOOD. 


IN   THE  TURKEY  MOUNTAINS. 
On  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail. 


EARLYHISTORYOF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      213 

listening  for  the  footsteps  of  him  who  will  never  come.  But  a  city 
(Raton)  now  occupies  the  spot  and  long  ago  neighboring  church  bells 
have  tolled  the  requiem  of  the  departed  spirit  of  the  victim  of  the 
assassin's  treachery. 

Less  than  a  day's  drive  from  this  point  the  old  trail  crossed  the 
Cimarron,  just  as  it  emerges  from  the  mountains.  Here,  lived  Lucien 
B.  Maxwell,  a  Frenchman,  one  of  the  Fremont  party,  who,  with  Kit 
Carson,  and  several  other  members,  settled  in  New  Mexico,  married 
Spanish  women,  and  thereby  came  into  possession  of  princely  fortunes. 
Maxwell's  possessions  exceeded  in  area  several  counties  as  large  as  our 
own.  Though  autocratic,  the  old  guide  and  ranchman  was  generous 
to  a  fault.  His  will  was  the  only  law  recognized  by  the  hundreds  of 
Indians  and  Mexicans  who  looked  to  him  for  employment,  and— 
protection. 

A  one-company  post  was  at  one  time  established  within  a  stone's 
throw  of  Maxwell's  home,  but  certainly  not  by  reason  of  any  concern 
that  might  be  felt  for  the  safety  of  himself  or  his  people.  The  whole 
Ute  tribe  was  as  absolutely  under  his  control  as  is  an  obedient  child  to 
its  mother.  Then,  the  Mexicans  about  the  place  were  always  suflB- 
ciently  numerous  to  guarantee  immunity  from  the  depredations  of  any 
marauding  bands  of  plains  Indians. 

Separated  by  an  adobe  wall  from  the  Maxwell  home  stands  a  two- 
story  hotel  of  seventy  rooms— Lambert's  Hotel— that  would  be  a  credit 
to  any  city.  Though  the  walls  are  of  adobe  you  would  never  suspect 
it— they  being  plastered  and  penciled  in  imitation  of  stone  and  the 
iron  caps  over  the  windows  with  the  heavy  iron  cornice  above  gives 
the  building  an  appearance  that  inspires  the  question— how  came  it 
here?  Look  for  the  answer  in  the  turbid  waters  of  the  Cimarron— 
made  turbid  by  the  miners  washing  for  gold.  Here  the  miners  would 
spend  their  winters  and  with  the  vanishing  snows  on  the  range  they 
would  return  to  the  diggings— wiser,  maybe,  but  penniless. 

Though  a  number  of  the  rooms  are  now  unused  the  handsome 
carpets  and  furnishings  of  others  are  indicative  of  the  luxurious  tastes 
of  the  man  who  built  the  hotel — Mr.  Lambert. 

But  Lambert's  bar-room  has  a  record.  Though  built  in  1871  no 
less  than  25  men  have  died  with  their  boots  on  in  front  of  Lambert's 
bar.  A  flash  of  steel  or  a  shot  and  another  score  was  settled— another 
grudge  wiped  out. 

One  wouldn't  think  that  the  quiet,  thin-faced  Frenchman  who 
today  attends  personally  to  the  comfort  of  his  guests  at  the  Hotel 
Lambert  had,  in  the  years  gone  by,  with  a  nerve  just  as  cool,  and  a 
face  just  as  calm,  witnessed  time  and  again,  in  his  own  house,  scenes 
that  would  rival  those  of  the  French  revolution.  In  the  days  prior  to 
the  advent  of  the  railroad  Lambert's  bar-room,  a  score  of  times,  pre- 


214      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

sented  more  the  appearance  of  a  slautrhter-pen  than  of  a  hotel  of 
Metropolitan  pretensions.  Rut  the  tourist  who  todjty  conies  in  con- 
tact witli  tile  proprietor  of  the  only  hotel  at  the  old  liistoric  ranch 
sees  only  the  genial  host  in  Mr.  Lanihert,  the  friend  and  companioi»of 
Maxwell. 

While  niakintf  a  tri[)  over  the  Santa  Fe  trail  in  ISOT  two  of  our 
teamsters  met  with  a  narrow  escape  from  the  Indians  that  may  be  of 
especial  interest  to  all  ''tenderfeet"  who  may  pass  that  way— on  the 
cars. 

The  name  of  one  of  them  was  Schaffer,  a  young  Jew,  who  had 
taken  advantage  of  the  high  wages  paid  at  the  time  (on  account  of 
the  Indian  hostilities)  to  laise  the  funds  necessary  to  get  a  start  in 
the  wool  business.  The  air  castles  he  was  continually  building 
with  reference  to  the  profits  he  hoped  to  realize  in  his  proposed  wool 
speculation  lixed  upon  hi  n  the  sobriquet  of  "Wool  Dealer."  During 
the  whole  trip  he  was  known  by  no  other  name,  so  by  that  name  we 
will  call  him.  One  of  the  six  mules  composi)ig  Wool  Dealer's  team 
was  remarkable  for  contrariness.  The  wool  speculator  had  consider- 
able difficulty  in  picking  his  team  from  the  herd  but  this  mule  he 
claimed  to  know  by  his  "general  appearance."  On  this  account  that 
particular  mule  was  dubbed:    "General  Appearance." 

While  encamped  at  Fort  Dodge  General  Appearance,  concluding, 
perhaps,  that  it  was  unwise  to  enter  any  farther  Into  any  wool  specu- 
lations, resolved  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  his  master  no  longer.  At 
any  rate,  he  started  out  over  the  hills  north  of  the  post,  followed  by 
Wool  Dealer  and  a  chosfen  companion.  F()r  three  or  four  miles  tlie 
boys  followed  the  mule. 

Then  they  espied  in  thte  distance  what  they  supposed  to  be  a  band 
of  Indians  on  the  march— about  500  they  thought.  To  be  continually 
joked  about  the  prospects  of  the  wool  trade  was  anything  but  desirable, 
but  life  in  camp  was  preferable,  by  all  odds,  to  the  fate  in  store  for 
them  in  case  of  capture  by  the  Indians. 

Rapidly  taking  in  the  situation  the  boys  put  spurs  to  their  saddle 
mules  and  struck  for  camp.  In  a  short  time  they  left  the  formidable 
band  of  Indians  far  in  the  rear.  The  boys  had  got  within  about  a 
mile  of  camp,  and  were  congratulating  themselves  on  their  fortunate 
escape  when  a  new  danger  presented  itself. 

Nearly  in  their  front  and  just  behind  a  little  knoll,  one  of  the 
boys  (more  scared  than  the  other)  saw  four  or  five  Indians  trying  to 
cut  otf  their  retreat.  Galloping  down  a  ravine,  they  followed  the  old 
trail  into  camp,  without  having  been  seen,  as  they  supposed,  by  the 
straggling  Indians. 

The  boys  told  the  story  of  their  narrow  escape,  and  the  facts  being 


EA  RLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUXTY,  KAN.      215 


communicated  to  General  Brooke  he  sent  out  a  squad  of  soldiers  to 
reconnoitre. 

In  a  short  time  the  soldiers  overtook  the  four  or  five  "straggling 
Indians."  whom  they  found  to  be  scouts  from  tlie  fort  on  their  way  to 
meet  the  rock  train,  hauling  stone  from  the  quarries  on  Saw-Log 
creek.  The  rock  train  proved  to  be  what  the  boys  had  mistaken  for 
the  band  of  Indians  on  the  march. 

"Wool  Dealer  and  his  companion  never  heard  the  last  of  their 
''Thrilling  adventures  among  the  Kiowas,  or  of  ''How  we  lost  the  old 
mule  at  Fort  Dodge." 

On  our  first  trip  to  Santa  Fe  over  the  Old  Trail  we  were  impressed 
with  the  number  of  goats  and  burros  to  be  seen  everywhere.  Back  in 
the  states  a  goat  is  a  curiosity  and  a  donkey  more  of  a  rarity  than  his 
bearded  lordship. 

Goats  are  .sometimes  kept  about  the  barnyards  of  our  eastern 
neighbors  under  the  impression  that  their  presence  is  desirable  by 
reason  of  the  possession  on  the  part  of  the  goat  of  peculiar  disinfect- 
ing properties. 

If  there  is  any  foundation  in  this,  the  country  about  the  western 
terminus  of  the  old  trail  should  be,  as  it  is,  a  healthful  country,  but  it 
is  doubtful  about  the  goat  being  entitled  to  any  part  of  the  credit 
due  for  the  fact.  At  any  rate  the  two  animals  named  are  serviceable 
Creatures  and  we  are  unable  to  see  how  their  place  could  well  be  filled. 

The  goat  is  as  essential  to  the  welfare  of  our  Xew  Mexican  neigh- 
bors as  is  the  cow  to  the  average  Kansan.  The  ranchman  without  his 
herd  of  goats  is  an  exception.  The  milk  of  cows  is  considered 
unhealthful  as  food  for  the  human  family  and  good  for  calves  only.  A 
Mexican,  though  the  owner  of  fifty  cows  would  not  milk  one  of  them, 
but  would  keep  a  herd  of  goats  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  fam- 
ily with  milk,  cheese,  etc.  By  the  way.  Goat's  milk  cheese,  as  an 
active  agent  In  appeasing  hunger  is  a  product  of  no  mean  value,  as  the 
writer  can  testify  from  personal  experience,  and  were  we  less  willing 
to  pander  to  our  vitiated  tastes,  and  more  anxious  to  economize,  so  as 
to  be  enabled  to  live  within -our  means  we  would  follow  the  example 
set  by  our  neighbors  by  keeping  a  few  goats  for  the  cheap  food 
products  with  which  they  would  provide  us. 

In  other  things  besides  the  goat  question  is  the  example  of  our 
Mexican  friends  worthy  of  emulation— especially  when  we  would  view 
matters  from  an  economical  standpoint.  A  Kansas  man  must  hitch 
a  pair  of  big  horses  to  a  heavy  lumber  wagon  to  haul  a  load  of  wood, 
hay,  or  corn.  If  he  finds  it  necessary  to  go  to  town  for  a  few  groceries, 
the  same  cumbersome  wagon  is  called  into  requisition. 

With  the  Mexican  it  is  different.  Should  he  find  the  wood  supply 
getting  short  he  mounts  his  burro  and  starts  for  the  nearest  timber. 


216      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


In  ii  short  time  he  returns  with  the  wood  but  if  you  are  a  tenderfoot 
you  may  wonder  what  has  become  of  the  donkey.  If  you  are  a  close 
observer  you  may  discover  his  long  eare  and  diminutive  legs  in  front 
and  beneath  a  huge  mountain  of  wood. 

With  a  load  of  hay  you  would  see  as  much  of  the  burro  as  in  the 
former  case  except  the  ears  and  legs  as  aforesaid.  Y'ou  would  probably 
indulge  in  a  little  speculation  as  to  what  new  motive  power  had  been 
invented  by  the  descendants  of  Montezuma. 

If  our  Mexican  friend  desires  to  go  on  a  visit  to  his  wife's  people 
(which  he  often  does)  he  has  only  to  drive  up  to  the  door  his  favorite 
donkey,  and  the  carriage  is  in  waiting.  It  is  not  unusual  to  see  a 
whole  family  riding  upon  a  single  donkey.  It  might  be  well  to  state, 
however,  that  the  families  that  are  in  the  habit  of  riding  upon  one 
donkey  do  not  consist  of  more  than  four  or  five  persons,  but  it  is  safe 
to  add  that  their  combined  weight,  in  many  cases,  exceeds  that  of  the 
donkey  on  which  they  are  riding. 

If  the  head  of  the  family  finds  it  convenient  to  go  on  a  long 
journey  he  invariably  takes  the  donkey  along— to  ride  when  he  is  tired, 
for,  when  he  is  in  a  hurry,  he  invariably  goes  on  foot — in  a  dog  trot, 
driving  the  donkey  before  him.  On  such  occasions  the  donkey  is  a 
great  convenience,  the  driver  can  ride  while  he  is  resting. 

One  must  admit  that  the  donkey  isn't  handsome,  but  he  possesses 
many  good  qualities  that  recommend  him.  He  does  not  object  to  eat- 
ing hay  and  a  little  corn  or  oats  but  such  luxuries  are  the  exception 
and  not  the  rule.  A  few  dry  tufts  of  grass,  and  an  occasional  gunny- 
sack  and  he  is  content.  His  digestive  organs  are  usually  in  good  con- 
dition. It  has  been  said  that  he  can  digest  miners'  overalls,  rubber 
boots  and  stray  fruit  cans,  but  these  statements  are  not  well  authen- 
ticated. 

But  taken  all  in  all,  the  burro,  as  a  faithful  servant  of  man  is 
worthy  of  mention.  He  is  hardy,  or  he  would  not  survive  the  treat- 
ment he  receives.  It  is  claimed  that  he  is  a  small  eater.  He  might 
eat  more  but  his  opportunities  in  this  direction  are  not  usually  good. 
He  is  reputed  to  be  long  lived.  This  is  doubtless  true,  at  least  the 
writer  never  having  seen  a  dead  burro  is  not  prepared  to  refute  the 
statement. 

But  of  one  thing  he  is  assured,  and  that  is  that  the  burro  is 
utilized  in  every  possible  way.  The  sheep  herder  carries  his  sack  of 
meal  from  place  to  place  on  the  back  of  his  donkey.  To  the  miner  he 
is  indispensible,  carrying  his  provisions  and  prospecting  outfit  along 
precipices  and  over  mountainous  districts  where  a  horse  would  not 
venture.  He  is  well  adapted  to  the  work  required  of  him;  he  is  worthy 
of  better  treatment  than  he  receives  and  is  capable  of  serving  man  in 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MEXICAN  OVEN  AND  ADOBE  HOUSE. 


GOAT  CURIOSITY, 
On  the  old  Santa  Fe  Trail. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      217 

a  wider  field  of  action.    Success  to  tlie  burro  and  may  we  have  more 
of  him. 

One  of  the  many  interesting  land-marks  of  the  western  terminal 
point  of  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail  is  what  is  called  the  Pecos  church, 
built  more  than  .300  years  ago  by  the  Jesuit  missionaries.  The  quaint 
carvings  with  which  the  edifice  was  oncfe  adorned  are  yet  to  be  seen  in 
many  of  the  '"casas"  of  the  rancheros  within  a  radius  of  many  miles 
from  the  pile  of  debris  that  marks  the  site  of  the  ancient  edifice. 

But  more  interesting  still  is  Old  Fort  Barclay,  twenty  miles  east 
of  Las  Vegas.  The  fort  is  built  in  the  form  of  a  square.  At  two  of 
the  corners,  diagonally  opposite,  is  a  turret,  or  block  house,  the  walls 
of  which  are  perforated  with  holes,  through  which  rifles  may  be,  and 
often  have  been,  thrust,  to  repel  the  attacks  of  marauding  bands  of 
Apaches,  that  were  wont  to  make  their  visits  more  frequent  than 
pleasant. 

And  that  wasn't  very  long  ago,  either.  This  condition  of  things 
has  existed  for  more  than  300  years,  and  to  this  fact  is  due  the  quaint 
style  of  architecture  peculiar  to  the  country  bordering  on  that  part  of 
the  Santa  Fe  trail  passing  through  New  Mexico.  The  house  of  every 
ranchero  is  a  fort.  The  home  ranch  is  built  in  the  form  of  a  square 
with  a  court  in  the  center.  The  roof  is  flat  and  the  walls  extending 
two  feet  above  the  roof  furnish  excellent  means  of  defense  against  a 
hostile  force. 

What  was  once  a  necessity  is  now  a  custom  and  the  "plaza"  is  the 
rule  and  not  the  exception  in  the  style  of  building  peculiar  to  the 
Mexican  ranch. 

Fort  Fiarclay  was  for  years  the  home  of  the  proprietor  of  the 
Kroenig  land  grant.  Mr.  Kroenig  was  one  of  the  scores  of  men,  who, 
after  their  term  of  enlistment  in  the  regular  army  had  expired,  had 
settled  down  in  the  land  of  the  Aztec.  He  was  an  old  friend  and  com- 
panion of  Maxwell  and  Kit  Carson,  and  like  them,  had  been  smitten 
by  a  fair  Senorita,  the  charm  of  whose  smile  had  weaned  the  soldier 
from  a  life  on  the  tented  field.  Within  the  walls  of  Fort  Barclay  and 
for  the  time  a  member  of  the  family  of  Don  Julian  Kroenig  the  writer 
of  these  lines  had  every  reason  to  be  assured  that  the  placid  old 
gentleman  never  regretted  that  the  partner  of  his  joys— and  sorrows, 
maybe— was  one  of  the  daughters  of  Castile. 

While  domiciled  here  as  a  receiver  of  forage  for  the  Quarter- 
master's department  at  P\)rt  Union  (in  the  winter  of  '68  and  '69)  our 
duties  were  not  so  pressing  as  to  debar  us  the  privilege  of  becoming 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  Mexican  character  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  are  enabled  to  testify  to  the  many  good  traits  of  this 
quaint  people. 

At  a  distance  from  the  military  posts,  where  the  native  population 


218      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

has  not  been  contaminated  by  adverse  American  influences,  hospitality 
is  a  leading^  trait.  Americans  receive  a  hearty  welcome  at  the  hands 
of  the  better  classes,  and  right  here  it  might  be  said  that  some  of  the 
fair  occupants  of  these  Mexican  homes  have,  time  and  again,  taken  a 
special  interest  in  the  welfare  of  their  American  cousins— teaching 
tliem  to  foiget  that  back  in  the  "States"  bedimmed  eyes  awaited  in 
vain  their  promised  home-coming. 

The  language  of  the  people  is  the  Spanish.  Although  Ollendorph 
claims  that  the  pure  Castilian  is  spoken  in  but  two  provinces  of  Spain, 
it  may  be  said  that  comparatively  few  provincialisms  have  crept  into 
the  language,  considering  the  isolation  of  the  people  from  the  mother 
country,  the  intermingling  of  the  race  with  the  native  tribes  of 
Indians,  and  other  natural  causes. 

Though  it  has  been  claimed  by  a  number  of  the  know-all  family 
that  the  Spanish  language,  in  its  purity,  is  not  spoken  in  New  Mexico, 
one  can  rest  assured  that  no  fears  need  be  entertained  that  should  a 
native  of  the  country  be  addressed  in  the  Spanish  language  that  he 
will  not  comprehend  the  meaning  of  the  words  spoken. 

The  language  is  musical  and  flows  from  the  lips  in  a  way  that  adds 
much  to  the  charm  of  conversation.  Then,  too,  it  is  readily  learned. 
There  are  many  German  residents  in  the  country  and  their  testimony 
is  that  the  language  can  be  mastered  in  half  the  time  necessary  to 
acquire  equal  familiarity  with  the  English. 

A  little  insight  into  the  construction  of  the  language  will  readily 
account  for  the  facility  with  which  it  can  be  learned.  For  instance, 
the  gender  of  nouns  is,  in  many  cases,  indicated  by  the  terminal  letter 
— the  letter  "o"  representing  the  masculine,  and  ''a,"  the  feminine 
gender.    The  following  will  illustrate  our  meaning: 

Muchacho,  boy,  Muchacha,  girl, 

Ilermano,  brother,  Hermana,  sister, 

Hijo,  son.  Hija,  daughter. 

In  other  words  the  difference  in  gender  is  indicated  by  the  primal 
letter,  as  padre,  father,  and  mad  re,  mother.  In  these  words  the  sim- 
ilarity to  the  Latin  language  is  recognized.  This  is  further  illustrated 
by  a  comparison  of  the  Latin  and  Spanish  numerals. 


Latin 

% 

Spanish 

■1.  Unus. 

L  Uno, 

2.  Duo. 

2.  Dos. 

■A.  Tres, 

;i  Tres, 

4.  Quatuor, 

4.  Cuatro, 

5.  Quinque, 

5.  Cinco, 

H.  Sex, 

G.  Seis, 

7.  Septem, 

7.  Siete, 

8.  Octo. 

8.  Ocho, 

9.  Novem, 

9.  Nueve, 

10.  Decem. 

10.  Diez. 

From  the  above  it  is  appai 

rent 

I  that  a 

per 

•son 

somewhat  familiar  with 

Latin  will  And  the  labor 

of 

acquiri 

ng 

a 

k 

nowk'dge  of  the  Spanish 

language  materially  lessened. 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      219 

As  to  the  time  required  to  familiarize  one's  self  with  the  language, 
that  would  depend,  of  course,  on  the  degree  of  application  with  which 
the  study  is  pursued,  and  the  aptitude  of  the  student.  When  one  is 
thrown  on  his  own  resources,  his  percep^tive  faculties  are  quickened, 
and  his  memory  is  the  better  prepared  to  endure  the  tax  made  upon  it. 
The  writer  can  testify  to  the  truth  of  this  statement,  having  passed 
several  weeks  with  the  family  of  Don  Vicente  Romero,  at  La  Cueva. 

But  one  person  on  the  ranch  could  speak  a  word  of  English.  This 
was  young  Romero,  who  had  received  the  benefit  of  a  college  educa- 
tion in  the  "States."  Inasmuch  as  the  greater  part  of  his  time  was 
passed  away  from  home,  but  little  benefit  was  derived  from  his  assist- 
ance in  communicating  with  the  native  population. 

But  the  result  with  reference  to  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the 
language  was  very  satisfactory.  The  fact  that  the  phrase,  "chili-con- 
carne"  referred  to  a  conglomerate  mass  of  meat,  gravy,  and  red  pep- 
per, with  the  latter  ingredient  largely  in  the  majority,  was  learned  at 
an  early  stage  of  the  lingual  development. 

The  words  almuerzo,  comida,  and  cena  (breakfast,  dinner,  and 
supper)  were  learned  by  their  association  with  the  several  occasions 
when  all  met  around  the  family  board  to  discuss  the  superiority  of 
"chili-con-carne"  over  the  commonplace  American  dish  of  ham  and 
eggs. 

But  in  the  discussion  let  us  not  forget  the  more  practical  side  of 
our  subject  lest  by  our  digression  our  readers  lose  all  interest  in  the 
Old  Trail. 

A  government  train  consisted  of  26  wagons,  drawn  by  six  mules 
each.  The  train  was  in  charge  of  a  wagon-master,  and  an  assistant, 
with  a  cook  and  one  or  two  extra  hands— usually  30  men  to  a  train. 
Each  wagon  was  drawn  by  six  mules  or  six  yoke  (12)  of  oxen.  Wagons 
of  private  freighters  were  drawn  by  10  or  12  mules  each,  or  by  from 
four  to  six  yoke  of  cattle  to  the  wagon. 

Government  mule  trains  made  but  one  drive  of  from  25  to  30  miles 
a  day — breaking  camp  at  daylight  and  going  into  camp  about  10  o'clock 
in  the  summer  and  about  4  o'clock  in  winter.  With  ox  trains  two 
drives  were  made — early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon — 
often  extending  far  into  the  night.  Winter  trips  were  seldom  made 
with  government  trains  drawn  by  oxen,  but  contractors  paid  but  little 
heed  to  the  weather  or  season. 

The  animals  were  guarded  day  and  night  by  from  two  to  six  men — 
more  if  a  dry  camp*  was  made,  or  stormy  weather,  or  the  presence  of 
Indians  deemed  extreme  caution  necessary. 

*In  1862,  our  train  lost  50  head  of  cattle,  while  making  a  dry  camp 
in  the  Chevenne  bottoms.    Moving  the  wagons  to  Cow  creek  we  spent 


220      EA IILY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Wliile  passiiifj  tlirough  llie  Indian  country— when  attacks  from 
the  hostiles  were  feared  the  animals  were  kept  in  a  corral  formed  by 
the  wagons— in  a  circle— or  were  securely  tied  with  lialters  or  lariats. 

To  outfit  a  government  mule  train  160  mules  were  required,  but 
for  a  train  drawn  by  oxen  there  were  312  oxen  and  four  mules. 

Guards  were  detailed  by  the  assistant  wagon-master.  It  was  also 
his  duty  to  draw  and  distribute  rations,  assist  in  repairing  such  parts 
of  wagons  as  might  be  broken  through  careless  driving,  stampedes,  or 
impeifect  timbers.  Extra  timbers  and  full  kits  of  tools  and  a  medi- 
cine chest  formed  a  necessary  auxiliary  to  every  outlit. 

However  inclement  the  weather  men  on  the  plains  were  seldom 
sick  from  exposure.  To  be  warmly  clad  was  the  rule  and  to  be  pre- 
pared to  endure  the  hardships  incident  to  a  trip  across  the  plains  was 
one  of  the  pre-requisites  to  employment.  Though  rough  fare  and  a 
hard  life  were  the  rule  there  was  a  fascination  about  the  Old  Trail 
that  tended  to  obliterate  from  memory's  tablet  the  pleasures  of  the 
home  tire-side— it  requiring  years  of  time  to  enable  the  victim  of  the 
hallucination  to  realize  that  that  fascination  was  but  a  glittering 
bauble. 

Though  the  Old  Santa  Fe  Trail  is  of  the  past,  the  memories  clus- 
tered about  it  are  not  all  unpleasant.  Let  us  cherish  these  as  we 
would  the  many  kind  acts  and  pleasant  incidents  that  cheer  us  on  as 
we  wend  our  way  over  that  other  Trail  that  leads  to  the  Great  Beyond. 

three  days  looking  for  the  strays.  The  few  water  holes  along  the 
creek  were  tilled  with  turtles  and  while  encamped  here  a  band  of 
twenty  Cheyenne  Indians  came  along  and  went  prospecting  for  meat. 
In  half  an  hour  there  were  twenty  pony  loads  of  turtles  on  the  banks 
of  Cow  creek  but  not  a  single  turtle  in  that  hole  of  water.  The 
Indians  would  dive  for  the  turtles  and  seldom  missed.  Failure  to 
.secure  a  turtle  brought  shouts  of  derision  from  the  other  Indians  tliat 
induced  renewed  exertion  and  better  luck— but  n(»t  to  the  turtle.  The 
Indians  requesting  permission  for  the  use  of  our  camp-tire  to  cook  a 
terrapin  found  on  the  prairie  we  were  treated  to  our  first  lesson  in  the 
preparation  of  terrapin  a  la  Cheyenne.  The  terrapin  was  placed  on 
its  back  before  the  fire  and  roasted  alive.  Without  pepper  or  salt  for 
.seasoning  the  meal  was  devoured  with  seeming  relish  and  the  meat 
was  .so  tender  that  neither  knife  nor  fork  was  needed  in  the  servintr. 
Their  hunger  appeased  the  Cheyenne  braves  wrapped  their  catch  of 
turtles  in  their  blankets  and,  happy  and  contented,  departed  for  their 
camp  on  the  Arkansas. 

Note.  Among  the  incidents  of  our  visit  to  the  Kiowa  camp,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Pawnee  (see  page  207)  was  a  sick  call  that  was  unique 
in  our  experience.  Lying  under  a  canopy  of  green  boughs  was  the  worst 
used  up  specimen  of  the  Lo  family  T  ever  saw.  The  Indian  had  been 
gored  l)y  a  wounded  buffalo  and  if  that  Kiowa  ever  went  on  another 
hunt  the  medicine  man  that  patched  him  up  ought  to  be  interviewed 
and  the  case  reported  in  full  for  the  benefit  of  the  medical  profession. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


REV.  W.  S.  CROUCH, 
Pastor  Congregational  Church,  Maple  Hill. 


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THE  ELIOT  CHURCH  (CONGREGATIONAL),  MAPLE   HILL. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Rev.  George  Kettering. 


Rev.  R.  M.  Tunnell. 


Rev.  D.  R.  Steinek. 


Rev.  John  Scott. 


FORMER  MINISTERS  OF  THE  CONGREGATION'L  CHURCH,  ALMA. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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FLORAL  SCENE  AT  THE   HOME  OF  MR.  S.  H.  FAIRFIELD,  Alma. 


REVEREND  SCHMID'S  CONFIRMATION'  CLASS,  Lutheran  Church,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      221 


MR.  A.  S.  ALLENDORPH 

Was  born  in  Booneville,  Mo.,  Oct.  17,  1867,  coming  to  Kansas  when 
a  boy  of  ten  years,  his  parents  locating  at  Lawrence.  Here  he  was 
educated— at  the  city  High  School  and  at  the  Kansas  State  University, 
taking  a  special  course  in  civil  engineering.  Mr.  Allendorph  demon- 
strated his  fitness  for  this  position  by  two  years  of  practical  work  on 
the  Wyandotte  &  Northwestern,  the  terminal  point  at  that  time 
being  Hastings,  Neb. 

Seeing  a  more  inviting  field  in  the  cattle  business  Mr.  Allendorph 
came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  1888,  leasing  a  large  body  of  pasture 
lands,  the  lease  to  run  five  years  and  the  stipulated  price  being  the 
tax  on  the  lands  for  that  period. 

By  agreeing  to  drive  the  cattle  from  Douglas  county  and  return- 
ing them  in  the  fall  2,000  head  at  $1.50  per  head  for  the  season  were 
secured.  Tlie  land  was  all  open  prairie  but  the  second  year  seven 
sections  were  fenced  and  4,000  head  secured  at  $1.75,  the  cattle  being 
from  the  A.  L.  C.  ranch,  the  property  of  the  Acoma  Land  &  Cattle 
Co.,  of  New  Mexico. 

In  1890,  the  increase  in  the  business  necessitated  the  leasing  of 
more  pasture  land  and  so  great  was  the  demand  for  pasturage  that  the 
firm  of  Allendorph  &  Co.  found  themselves  compelled  to  provide  for 
16,000  head  during  a  single  pasturage  season. 

The  fourth  year  others  embarked  in  the  business,  renting  lands  at 
$200  per  section.  In  addition  to  being  called  the  Switzerland  of  Kan- 
sas our  county  has  gained  a  reputation  throughout  Western  Kansas, 
Oklahoma,  Colorado,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  for  furnishing  the  best 
summer  pasturage  to  be  found  anywhere — the  best  evidence  being 
found  in  the  fact  that  the  price  has  advanced  to  the  present  average 
of  $3.50  per  head  for  tlie  season.  When  it  is  considered  that  but  a  few 
years  ago  these  same  lands  would  have  been  thought  dear  at  $3.00  per 
acre  the  magnitude  of  the  cattle  business  of  today  may  be  readily  sur- 
mised. So  great  has  been  the  change  that  lands  which  a  few  years 
ago  were  considered  valueless  except  for  pasturage  are  now  sought 
after  for  farming  purposes  at  twenty  five  dollars  per  acre. 

Mr.  Allendorph  having  traveled  extensively  through  the  cattle 
ranges  of  the  West  and  being  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  condi- 
tions as  they  exist  should  be  competent  authority  on  questions  affect- 
ing our  county  as  a  desirable  range  for  the  vast  herds  of  cattle  that 
are  annualy  pastured  within  our  limits.  Mr.  Allendorph's  opinion  is 
that  Wabaunsee  county  is  the  garden  spot  of  the  world  so  far  as  cattle 
range  is  concerned. 

That  Mr.  Allendorph's  judgment  is  not  at  fault  is  in  evidence  in 
two  notable  instances;  the  first  in  fixing  upon  our  county  as  a  place  of 


222      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

residence  and,  second,  in  the  clioice  of  a  helpmeet — Miss  Mame  I. 
Flintom,  to  whom  he  was  happily  married  on  June  18,  1891.  Mr. 
Allendorph  besides  owning  r),080  acres  of  good  land  resides  in  one  of 
the  most  pleasant  homes  in  Alma.  Coming  here  with  nothing  he  has 
proven  by  his  works  that  which  he  professes  to  believe — that  Wabaun- 
see county,  as  a  place  of  residence  has  no  superior  on  earth. 


MR.  GEORGE  W.  THOMPSON  (Dec'd) 

W^is  born  in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  Dec.  17,  1831,  and  in  Feb.,  1853, 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Sarah  Ilerriott,  of  Union  county,  Ohio. 
To  this  union  three  children  were  born — Charles  II.,  who  so  creditably 
tilled  the  office  of  register  of  deeds,  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Josiah  Iliner,  and 
Elmer,  now  a  resident  of  Manhattan. 

For  nearly  a  third  of  a  century  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  resident  of 
Wabaunsee  county,  coming  to  Kansas  in  1866,  settling  on  the  farm 
where  he  died  on  Tuesday  morning,  Oct.  18,  1898. 

With  an  unsullied  reputation,  of  sterling  integrity  and  prompted 
by  the  purest  and  noblest  impulses,  no  man  enjoyed  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  acquaintance  to  a  greater  degree  than  did  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

With  him  the  ties  of  kinship  were  sacred  and  the  love  of  home 
and  family  were  attributes  that  challenged  comparison  and  com- 
manded that  admiration  that  invariably  ripened  into  the  warmest 
friendships  that  even  that  grim  monster.  Death,  cannot  sever. 

Though  not  a  politician,  for  more  than  twenty  years  the  name  of 
Mr.  Geo.  W.  Thompson,  as  chairman  of  the  democratic  county  com- 
mittee, was  familiar  to  the  people  of  Wabaunsee  county.  And  yet 
he  was  not  a  politician.  No  man  would  spurn  the  appellation  more 
than  he.     With  him  it  was:     "Not  as  I  desire,  but  as  my  party  wills." 

The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  E  Richards,  for  four 
years  pastor  at  Wabaunsee,  assisted  by  Rev.  S.  H.  Woodhull,  the  then 
resident  minister. 

Characteristic  sentences  that  went  home  to  the  heart  were: 
"Man  lives  to  labor  and  dies  to  rest;"  "We  grieve  because  of  the  cruel 
hand  of  Death,  but  with  God  it  is  the  coming  home  of  his  children." 


MR.  W.  A.   DOOLITTLE. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  a  native  of  New  York  but 
removed  at  an  early  age  with  his  parents  to  the  far  west— settling  in 
Illinois,  removing  thence  to  W^isconsin  and  afterwards  to  Iowa,  acquir- 
ing such  rudiments  of  an  education  as  the  scanty  opportunities  of  the 
frontier  afforded,  going  sometimes  as  far  as  six  miles  on  foot  to  the 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      223 

district  school.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  and  was 
mustered  into  Company  K,  5th  Iowa  Infantry,  July  15,  1861,  and  served 
with  his  regiment  in  the  south  and  southwest,  participating  in  the 
various  battles  and  sieges  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged  until 
August  9,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Blair  &  Braw- 
son,  attorneys,  of  Manchester,  Iowa.  In  1868  he  came  to  Kansas, 
settling  in  this  county,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870,  when 
court  was  held  in  the  upper  part  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  old 
Kaufman  building.  John  T.  Morton  was  the  judge  of  the  district 
court  at  that  time,  and  Samuel  R.  Weed,  clerk. 

Mr.  Doolittle  held  several  positions  of  trust  in  Wabaunsee  county, 
among  others  that  of  county  attorney,  to  which  he  was  several  times 
elected.  He  was  for  years  identified  with  the  public  schools,  teaching 
at  Alma,  but  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  he  chose  to  teach  in  the 
country  districts,  where  he  could  the  better  prepare  himself  for  his 
chosen  profession— that  of  the  law. 

By  close  study  and  constant  application  Mr.  Doolittle  became  a 
thoroughly  educated,  well  informed  man,  possessing  the  conlidence 
and  esteem  of  the  people. 

Although  now  a  resident  of  Iowa,  the  greater  part  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  Wabaunsee  county,  where  Mr.  Doolittle  has  left  a  host  of 
friends  and  a  record  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud. 


MR.  B.  BUCHLI,  SR.  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  and  raised  in  Switzerland.  In  his  early  days  he  received 
a  thorough  training  in  the  excellent  system  of  common  schools  in  his 
native  country,  and  afterwards  took  a  full  course  of  instruction  in  the 
higlier  branches  and  among  others  that  of  trigonometry  and  surveying 
at  Schiers  Seminary,  graduating  with  honors.  This  is  a  school  where 
normal  methods  are  taught  and  the  fact  that  Mr.  Buchli  held  a  life 
certiticate  to  teach  was  an  evidence  that  he  was  assiduous  in  his  efforts 
to  gain  the  topmost  round  of  the  ladder.  According  to  national  cus- 
tom, Mr.  Buchli  served  his  allotted  time  in  the  Swiss  army,  holding, 
when  his  services  were  concluded,  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Kansas:  and  after  having  lived  five  years  on  a  home- 
stead in  Rilev  county,  moved  to  Wabaunsee  county.  After  coming  to 
America  Mr/Biichli  resumed  his  former  occupation  of  teaching  and 
taught  successfully  some  of  the  best  schools  in  the  county,  among 
others,  the  schools  at  Halifax  and  Alma. 

Mr.  Buchli  was  elected  county  surveyor  in  1891  and  re-elected  in 
1893,  dying  in  office  but  a  few  days  prior  to  the  close  of  his  second  term 
—leaving  to  an  estimable  family,  as  an  heritage,  a  life  spent  in  honest 
and  conscientious  endeavor— looking  to  the  attainment  of  the  highest 
ideals  in  the  life  here,  and  a  peaceful  haven  of  rest,  beyond  the  grave, 
in  the  hereafter. 


224      EARLYIIISTOIIYOF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


SAMUEL  WELFELT 

In  1892  was  city  marshal  of  Alma.  Sam,  besides  upholding  the 
dignity  of  the  law,  was  the  tirst  incumbent  in  that  oftice  to  wear  a 
uniform  of  metropolitan  pattern.  Sam  was  also  skilled  in  the  art  of 
woodcraft,  furnishing  proof  of  his  prowess  in  the  number  of  beaver 
and  otter  pelts,  mink  hides  and  skins  of  other  wild  animals,  the  pres- 
ence of  which  in  our  county  was  hardly  suspected  until  ocular  proof 
rendered  a  denial  out  of  the  question.  After  a  few  months  sojourn  in 
tlie  wilds  of  the  Indian  Territory,  Sam  moved  with  his  family  to  the 
Pacitic  coast,  where  as  captain  and  owner  of  the  "Katie  Thomas,"  he 
is  making  a  fortune  in  the  fishing  industry. 


H.  J.  PALENSKE 

Was  born  September  10,  1860,  in  Richardson  county,  Kansas,  now 
known  as  Wabaunsee  county.  Received  a  common  school  education. 
Was  raised  on  a  farm  till  he  was  17  years  old.  He  then  came  to  Alma 
and  worked  a  year  for  Kinne  &  Kerans,  again  returning  to  the  farm 
for  one  year,  after  which  he  returned  to  town  and  held  a  position  in 
the  store  of  F.  C  Simon,  dealer  in  general  merchandise,  for  two  years. 
On  March  20,  1891,  Herman  again  returned  to  the  farm.  The  follow- 
ing fall  Mr.  Palenske  was  elected  sheriff  of  Wabaunsee  county,  enter- 
ing upon  the  duties  of  this  office  January  11,  1902.  At  the  close  of  his 
term  he  was  re-elected,  giving  the  people  four  years  of  honest  and 
efficient  service  as  sheriff. 

Mr.  Palenske  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Marion  Ross,  of  Mis- 
sion creek,  on  February  3,  1892. 

Since  the  close  of  his  second  term  of  office  as  sheriff,  Mr.  Palenske 
has  resided  on  his  farm,  one  mile  south  of  Alma,  where  contentment 
reigns  in  a  happy  home. 


HIRAM  WARD 

Was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Virginia,  January  27,  1837.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  in  his  early  life  had  but  few  educational 
privileges,  having  attended  school  not  to  exceed  18  months  altogether. 
There  was  no  system  of  common  schools  in  Virginia  and  subscription 
schools  during  the  winters  supplied  but  meagerly  the  wants  of  the 
people. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  Mr.  Ward  removed  to  Benton  county,  Arkansas, 
where  he  married  and  lived  until  November.   1862,   when  he  came  to 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      225 


Kansas,  locating  at  Tecamseh,  Shawnee  county.  At  that  time  his 
worldly  possessions  consisted  of  a  horse  and  fifty  cents  in  money.  The 
condition  of  his  finances  compelled  him  to  work  on  the  farm  or  in  the 
quarries  as  a  day  laborer. 

When  Lawrence  was  burned  and  her  loyal  citizens  murdered  he 
took  an  active  part  in  organizing  the  Second  Regiment  of  Kansas  Re- 
serves, being  elected  second  lieutenant  of  Company  C,  and  when  called 
into  service  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign  on  the  border  in  1864. 
He  was  a  participant  in  the  battle  of  the  Blue  under  Curtis  and  Blunt. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Ward  moved  to  Osage  county  and  engaged  in  stock 
raising,  establishing  the  School  Creek  herd  of  Shorthorns. 

For  three  years  he  was  president  of  the  Osage  County  Fair  Associa- 
tion. For  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  at 
Harveyville,  where  he  died  Nov  10,  1895,  higlily  respected  by  all. 

Mr.  Ward  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  church  organizations  and 
all  charitable  enterprises.  He  was  frank  and  courageous  in  his  con- 
victions and  an  earnest  advocate  of  what  he  considered  just  and  right. 


J.  H.  JONES 

Was  born  in  Washington  county,  Virginia,  February  27,  1828. 
Attended  the  common  schools  of  the  country  until  able  to  do  farm 
work,  when  he  was  kept  from  school  to  work  upon  the  farm,  having 
mastered  Websters's  Elementary  spelling  book  to  the  word  immate- 
riality Could  read  by  stopping  to  spell  many  of  the  words,  could  not 
write  orcompute  with  figures,  beyond  simple  addition,  subtraction 
and  multiplication.  At  the  age  of  18  he  prevailed  on  his  father  to 
send  him  to  school.  He  went  to  a  high  school  six  months,  and  was 
again  put  to  work  on  the  farm  and  denied  further  school  privileges. 
All  his  leisure  moments  on  the  farm  were  devoted  to  study  in  which 
he  made  such  proficiency  that  at  the  age  of  20  by  permission  of  his 
father  he  taught  public  .school.  Before  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  21 
was  appointed  deputy  county  surveyor  of  Smyth  county,  Virginia, 
and  soon  thereafter  was  elected  county  surveyor  of  the  same  county 
for  a  term  of  seven  years. 

During  this  time  he  devoted  his  spare  hours  to  the  study  of  law, 
his  hours  for  study  being  from  9  p.  m.  to  3  a.  m.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1855,  coming  to  Kansas  the  same  year 

The  following  year  Mr.  Jones  was  married.  He  was  twice  elected 
to  the  legislature,  being  a  member  of  the  House  in  r863  and  of  the 
state  Senate  in  186')-6.  In  1864  he  was  captain  of  a  company  of  state 
militia,  participating  in  the  battle  of  the  Blue,  near  Wesport,  Mis- 
souri, in  October. 

From  186.3  to  1868  Mr.  Jones  was  engaged  as  civil  engineer  in   the 


226      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

location  and  construction  of  the  U.  P.  Railway.  In  1882  he  was 
re-en }:rai]^ed  in  railway  construction  for  the  Union  Pacific. 

Mr.  .Jones  became  a  resident  of  Wabaunsee  county  in  1880  and 
engajjed  in  farniinj?  until  1890  when  he  was  elected  county  attorney, 
being  re-elected  two  years  later,  and  elected  county  surveyor  in  1897, 
in  every  ca.se  running  ahead  of  his  ticket  and  elected  by  good  majori- 
ties. 

Mr,  Jones  occupies  an  enviable  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people 
irrespective  of  party  artl]iation.s,  and  he  has  a  host  of  warm  friends 
who  hope  that  he  will  again  consent  to  .serve  them  in  the  capacity  of 
a  public  orticial. 


D.  U.  MILLISON 

Was  born  Nov.  10,  18fj2,  at  Council  Grove,  where  his  parents  had 
lived  for  many  yeans,  his  father  being  employed  by  the  Government  as 
blacksmith  for  the  Kaw  Indians. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  the  Council  Grove 
High  School,  being  a  graduate  of  that  institution.  On  Sept.  3,  1891, 
Mr.  Millison  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  B.  Wibert,  of  Andover,  Ohio. 
Two  children,  David  Oren,  and  Nellie  Avilda,  twins,  were  born  to 
this  union. 

Mr.  Millison  is  a  school  teacher  by  profe.ssion,  having  taught  15 
terms  in  Wabaunsee  county,  6  terms  in  Nebraska,  and  1  term  in  West 
Virginia,  while  there  on  a  visit.  In  1898  he  was  elected  trustee  of 
Rock  creek  to. vnship  and  in  Nov.,  1899,  register  of  deeds  of  Wabaun- 
see county,  a  position  he  now  holds,  the  term  being  extended  one  year 
by  legislative  enactment. 

When  a  child  of  six  years,  on  July  3,  1868,  Mr.  Milli.son  distinctly 
remembers  being  hustled  into  a  large  building  with  all  the  women 
and  children,  while  all  the  available  men  of  Council  Grove  and  vicinity 
were  in  arms  to  repel  a  threatened  attack  from  the  Ciieyenne  Indians, 

A  painstaking  official  and  an  excellent  penman,  Mr.  Millison  bids 
fair  to  become  his  own  succes.sor  in  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  for 
Wabaunsee  county. 


T.  S.  SPiELMAN 


Was  V)oin  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  on  April  22,  1844,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  In  1860,  removed  to  Washing- 
ton county,  Maryland.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  having 
joined  the  Baltimore  battery  of  Light  Artillery,  under  command  of 
Captain  Fred.  W.  Alexander,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Baltimore. 

He  was  discharged  from  the  army  on  June  17,   1865,   and   was  en- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      227 

gaged  during  his  term  of  service  mostly  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and 
on  the  borders  of  Western  Maryland.  His  battery  was  with  Milroy  at 
the  battle  of  Winchester  and  with  Wallace  at  the  battle  of  Monocacy, 
and  in  several  minor  engagements  in  Virginia.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  taught  a  public  school  near  the  Antietam  battle  ground,  at 
Keedysville,  Maryland. 

In  1866  he  returned  to  his  native  city,  St.  Louis,  and  in  1867  was 
appointed  a  messenger  in  the  office  of  the  assistant  treasurer,  U.  S., 
remaining  in  that  office  until  the  summer  of  1876,  when  he  came  to 
Wabaunsee,  Kansas. 

On  July  1, 1884,  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  district  court  by 
Hon.  .Judge  John  Martin  to  fill  an  unexpired  term  in  said  office.  At 
the  regular  elections  held  in  1884,  1886  and  1888  he  was  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  clerk  of  the  district  court.  In  1890  he  was  a  candi- 
date for  re-election  but  was  defeated  together  with  all  the  nominees 
on  the  Republican  ticket. 

In  October,  1892,  he  was  appointed  deputy  county  treasurer  and 
served  in  the  treasurer's  office  six  years.  At  the  regular  elections  in 
1898  and  1900  he  was  elected  probate  judge. 

Judge  Spielman  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
for  over  twenty  five  years.  As  a  public  servant  of  the  people  he  has 
performed  the  duties  in  a  manner  generally  with  satisfaction  to  the 
people.  He  has  honestly  endeavored  to  perform  the  trusts  confided  to 
him  by  the  people  in  such  a  manner  as  to  gain  their  confidence  and 
support,  and  he  has  the  friendship  and  good  will  of  the  people  irre- 
spective of  political  affiliations  as  their  faithful  and  respected  public 
.servant. 


C.  M.  ROSE 


Was  born  in  Onondaga  county,  New  York,  June  10,  1839,  remov- 
ing with  his  parents  to  Michigan  when  but  four  years  of  age.  Came 
to  Kansas  in  1858,  going  to  Eldorado  where  he  worked  in  a  saw  mill, 
helping  to  saw  the  first  boards  and  assisting  in  building  the  first 
house  built  of  boards  in  Butler  county. 

Mr.  Rose  participated  in  some  of  the  buffalo  hunts  of  that  season 
(1858)  after  which  he  returned  to  his  home  at  Mendon,  Mich.,  where 
he  remained  until  August  5,  1863,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  19th 
Michigan  Infantry. 

While  serving  with  his  regiment  Mr.  Rose  was  in  some  hot  chases 
after  Morgan;  was  at  Fort  Donaldson,  Nashville,  and  Franklin;  with 
Rosecranz  at  Chattanooga  and  Sherman  at  Atlanta.  Was  twice 
wounded— at  Spring  Hills,  Tenn.,  and  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  the  wound  he 
received  at  Dallas  preventing  his  being  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to 


228      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

the  sea.  Surrendered  with  his  regiment,  Col.  Coburn,  commanding, 
at  Spring  Hills,  and  sent  to  Libby  prison,  where,  after  .30  days,  he  was 
paroled  and  sent  Nortli.  After  recovering  from  wounds  received  at 
Dallas,  lie  was  on  detached  service,  till  the  close  of  the  war. 

General  Shafter  was  major  of  the  regiment  in  which  Mr.  Rose  en- 
listed—surrendering  at  Spring  Hills  to  General  Wheeler— who  fought 
under  Shafter  at  Santiago. 

In  1873  Mr.  Rose  came  to  Alma,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
doing  a  thriving  business  in  pumps  and  windmills,  unusually  hale  and 
hearty  at  the  age  of  63  years. 


FRED  A.  SEAMAN 

Was  born  at  Elmore,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  on  August  16,  1866. 
He  attended  the  Greenspring,  Ohio,  public  schools  for  six  years,  gradu- 
ating in  May,  1884.  After  an  attendance  of  two  years  at  the  Green- 
spring  Academy  Mr.  Seaman  came  to  Kansas,  locating  in  Wabaunsee 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

After  teaching  the  Keene  schools  for  three  years.  Mr.  Seaman 
came  to  Alma,  where  he  taught  three  terms,  being  principal  of  the 
Alma  City  schools  two  years.  After  another  year  as  principal  of  the 
Eskridge  schools,  Mr.  Seaman  taught  the  home  school  on  Mission 
creek  (Dist.  No.  4)  for  five  consecutive  years. 

During  this  time,  besides  looking  after  the  work  of  the  farm  Mr. 
Seaman  spent  his  evenings  in  studying  law,  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  May,  1899.  In  November,  1900,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
attorney,  the  nomination  coming  to  him  without  solicitation — it  being 
a  clear  case  of  the  office  seeking  the  man. 

On  September  30,  1891,  Mr.  Seaman  was  happily  married  to  Miss 
Ada  Gillis,  only  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  W.  Gillis,  of  Mission 
creek.  Subsequent  to  his  marriage,  Mr.  Seaman  took  a  post  graduate 
course  at  Campbell  University  that  he  might  the  more  satisfactorily — 
to  himself,  at  least,  fight  the  battle  of  life.  That  he  will  succeed  is 
evidenced  by  his  energetic  and  progressive  spirit— made  manifest  in 
the  performance  of  his  duties  as  county  attorney  and  as  editor  of  the 
Alma  Signal-. 


MRS.  WALPURGE  DAUM 

Is  kindly  remembered  by  every  old  settler  in  the  (ierman  settle- 
ments of  the  Mill  creek  valley.  Her  pleasant  greeting  insured  a  hearty 
welcome  from  her  regular  patrons  who  awaited  her  coming  that  their 
surplus  stores  of  buttei- and  eggs  might  be  exchanged  for  the  many 
things  needed  in  the  humble  houses  of  the  early   pioneers.     When   it 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      229 


was  sucrisrested  to  Photographer  Bliss  that  he  take  her  picture  she 
insisted  that  it  should  look  as  natural  as  life  and  she  straightway 
adjusted  her  pack  for  the  occasion. 

Inside  the  sack  was  a  large  tin  vessel  with  compartments  for 
butter  and  eggs  that  she  took  in  exchange  for  the  goods  bought  of 
Schmitz  &  Meyer,  at  that  time  the  only  merchants  in  Alma. 

While  on  the  farm  on  Loire  creek,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Frank 
Oehmann,  the  woman  peddler  supplied  the  good  people  of  Alma  with 
the  best  of  fresh  vegetables,  invariably  bringing  her  wares  to  town  on 
foot.  The  supplies  for  the  farm  were  carried  as  shown  in  the  photo 
and  whether  the  load  consisted  of  a  few  bundles  of  dry  goods  or  a  hun- 
dred pound  sack  of  flour  there  was  no  hesitation  about  making  the 
trip. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  the  woman  peddler  moved  to 
Alma,  occupying  the  little  frame  building  between  the  Commercial 
House  and  Mr.  Simon's  store.  But  a  fatal  illness  came  on  and  the 
familiar  face  was  seen  no  more  by  the  thrifty  housewives  in  the  Mill 
creek  valley. 

A  goodly  sum  had  been  laid  up  for  a  rainy  day,  and  a  handsome 
donation  was  left  with  Father  Hundhausen  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Catholic  church,  of  which  organization  the  woman  peddler  was  a  con- 
sistent member.  Though  long  years  have  elapsed  there  are  hundreds 
of  good  people  living  in  the  German  settlements  who  will  readily 
recognize,  in  the  engraving,  one  who,  nearly  forty  years  ago,  was  a 
weekly  and  welcome  visitor. 


MR.  WILLIAM  DREBING  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Minden,  Germany,  in  May,  1827,  coming  to  America 
in  1845,  at  the  opening  of  the  Mexican  war.  With  the  ardor  of  youth, 
he  being  at  that  time  in  his  19th  year,  William  enlisted  in  an  infantry 
regiment  but  was  later  transferred  to  the  artillery  and  participated  in 
every  important  battle  of  the  war. 

The  young  recruit  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  with  General  Taylor 
from  the  time  the  American  forces  took  up  their  march  from  Point 
Isabel  until  the  close  of  the  campaign— crowned  with  the  victory  over 
Santa  Anna  at  Buena  Vista.  In  this  engagement  Mr.  Drebing  was 
wounded  by  a  lance  thrust  through  the  shoulder.  As  he  lay  on  the 
battlefield,  weak  from  the  loss  of  blood  and  stiffened  by  the  cold  (the 
night  of  February  23,  1847)  the  gallant  young  soldier  wes  enabled  to 
attest  from  personal  observation  that  the  foundation  of  Hon.  Albert 
Pike's  beautiful  poem,  "The  Angels  of  Buena  Yista,"  was  not  a  myth. 
He  was  one  of  the  many  wounded  whose  thirst  was  quenched  by  the 
kind-hearted  Mexican  women,  who  knew  neither  friend  nor  foe  in 


230      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

their  ministrations  of  mercy.  A 1  though  severely  wounded  Mr.  Dreb- 
ing  recovered  in  time  to  join  General  Scott  in  his  memorable  campaign 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  City  of  Mexico. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Drebing  re-enlisted  for  three  years, 

doing  service  in  New  Mexico.  Being  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
Spanish,  as  well  as  the  English  and  German  languages,  he  was  after 
his  release  from  army  duties,  employed  by  Northrup  &  Chick,  whole- 
sale merchants  of  Kansas  City,  as  interpreter— necessary  in  their 
immense  business  with  New  Mexican  freighters. 

While  a  resident  of  Missouri,  Mr.  Drebing  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  Klein.  After  engaging  in  business  for  several  years  at 
Wesport,  Missouri,  he,  in  company  with  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Bert- 
ram Klein,  Mr.  Henry  Schmitz  and  Mr.  Joseph  Treu,  came  to  Kansas, 
settling  on  Mill  creek  in  1856. 

During  the  Price  raid  in  the  civil  war  Mr.  Drebing  did  service  as 
a  lieutenant,  his  company  doing  guard  duty  at  the  state  capital  until 
the  threatened  danger  was  past,  after  which  all  returned  to  their 
several  homes  to  resume  avocations  of  peace. 

Mr.  Drebing  was  a  man  with  whom  love  of  home  and  family  and 
loyalty  to  friends  were  leading  characteristics.  The  golden  rule  was 
his  creed  and  to  be  guided  by  the  right  in  all  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow-man  was  his  constant  endeavor. 

At  11:30  on  Tuesday  night,  June  27,  1899,  the  spirit  was  called 
home.  William  Drebing  had  lived  73  years,  1  month  and  9  days. 
Revs.  Silbermann  and  Bernard  conducted  the  funeral  services  at  the 
family  residence  and  one  of  the  largest  funeral  processions  ever  seen  in 
Wabaunsee  county  followed  the  remains  to  their  last  resting  place 
in  the  Alma  cemetery. 

One  of  the  kindest  hearted  men  we  ever  knew  had  gone  to  rest. 

Note.  Mr.  Drebing  was  the  last  survivor  of  the  Mexican  war, 
resident  of  Wabaunsee  county.  Two  others.  Mi*.  M.  W.  Rock  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Cummings — now  in  Oklahoma— were  both  participants  in  the 
war  with  Mexico. 


MRS.  MARY  LOUISA  KLOCKMAN 

Was  born  in  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  on  October  17,  1804,  residing 
in  the  mother  country  till  1856,  when,  with  her  husband  Mrs.  Klock- 
man  came  to  America,  landing  at  New  Orleans  in  the  fall  of  1856. 
Coming  over  in  the  same  ship  were  the  Dieballs,  Gongol),  Maike  and 
Henry  Palenske.  In  March,  1857,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klockman  hired  a 
Mexican  to  haul  them  to  the  Mill  creek  settlement.  The  Mexican 
dumped  their  goods  out  in  the  snow  near  Mr.  Schewe's,  a-nd  charged 
$40  for  the  trip. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      231 

Across  the  ridge  from  their  home  lived  Mr.  Ed.  Krapp,  who  kept 
a  country  store,  and  being  away  much  of  the  time,  as  was  Mr.  Klock- 
man,  the  two  pioneer  women  passed  many  lonely  days  together.  But 
they  were  not  alwa}'S  lonely.  The  Indians  called  often  and  sometimes 
at  unseasonable  hours.  One  night  a  big  Indian  broke  into  the  cellar 
and  after  helping  himself  to  such  things  as  suited  him  came  upstairs 
and  lay  before  the  fire  till  morning.  Mrs.  Klockman  came  over  and  as 
big  as  the  Indian  was  she  bumped  his  nose  against  the  lounge  till  the 
brave  concluded  the  climate  was  too  warm  and  left. 

On  another  occasion  an  Indian  called  at  the  Krapp  home  while 
Mrs.  Klockman  was  there  and  wanted  to  buy  ten  cents  worth  of  chil- 
dren. Stepping  on  one  of  the  little  ones  toes  the  little  one  cried, 
whereupon  Mrs.  Krapp  knocked  the  Indian  over  with  a  broom  stick 
and  pushed  him  out  of  the  back  door.  Mr.  Gerlach's  coming  caused 
the  Indian  to  leave.  The  Indian  slept  that  night  in  Peter  Thoes'  pig 
pen,  but  next  morning  returned  and  tried  to  get  in  at  a  window.  Mrs. 
Klockman  pointed  an  old  rusty  gun  at  the  Indian  that  hadn't  been 
loaded  for  years  but  it  had  the  desired  effect — the  Indian  yelled: 
"Don't  shoot"  and  ran  away. 

In  1864,  while  the  Indians  were  having  their  war  dances  at  the  big 
spring  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klockman  slept  in  the  timber  and  thought 
their  time  had  come  till  Capt.  Ed.  Krapp  went  to  their  camp  and 
induced  them  to  return  to  their  reservation.  Mrs.  Klockman  says 
there  were  so  many  Indians  that  they  were  all  day  in  passing. 

After  selling  their  farm  to  Mr.  Heder,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klockman 
intended  to  pass  their  declining  years  on  the  farm  but  one  night  a 
man  called  and  attempted  to  rob  the  worthy  couple  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  the  farm.  But  Mrs.  Klockman  by  her  presence  of  mind 
thwarted  the  would-be  robber.  He  had  tied  his  horse  in  the  timber 
and  slept  in  the  hen  house  till  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  he 
went  to  the  house  and  broke  open  the  door  and  demanded  money — 
pointing  a  revolver  at  Mr.  Klockman. 

"Take  the  money"  said  Mrs.  Klockman,  "but  don't  shoot." 
During  the  parley  Mr.  Klockman  had  climbed  to  the  attic.  Mrs. 
Klockman  soon  followed,  and,  closing  the  trap  door,  called  so  loudly 
for  help  that  all  the  dogs  in  the  neighborhood  set  up  a  din  that  scared 
the  would-be  robbei  away. 

The  next  day  a  man  called  to  borrow  money  and  was  dumbfounded 
by  Mrs.  Klockman  saying:  "Why,  you  were  here  last  night  after 
money;  why  do  you  come  again  today?" 

The  incident  resulted  in  these  worthy  people  moving  to  Alma, 
since  which  time  death  has  deprived  Mrs.  Klockman  of  her  help-meet. 
Though  refusing  to  give  money  to  the  robber  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Evangelical  church  can  vouch  for  the  good  woman's  generosity— 


232      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

she  having  donated  $600  toward  the  purchase  of  the  bell  and  the  build- 
ing of  the  spire. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Klockman  is  making  her 
home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adolpli  Zockser.  Though  in  her  97th  year 
she  is  hale  and  hearty  and  her  mental  faculties  are  not  in  the  least 
impaired.  Her  store  of  pioneer  incidents  is  inexhaustible  and  she 
heartily  enjoys  their  recital. 


P.  P.  SIMIVIONS. 

We  present  our  readers  with  a  half-tone  portrait  of  P.  T.  Simmons, 
a  specialist  in  auctioneering,  residing  at  Eskridge,  Kansas,  but  at 
present  temporarily  doing  insurance  work  in  Atchison  county.  Mr. 
Simmons'  appearance  would  indicate  that  he  was  of  a  happy  disposi- 
tion and  lived  in  a  healthful  climate. 

Mr.  Simmons  was  born  in  Buchanan  county,  Missouri,  on  Septem- 
ber 20,  1861,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Piatt  county,  Missouri, 
when  three  years  of  age.  He  lived  there  until  the  spring  of  1880,  then 
moved  to  Atchison  county,  Kansas.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he  moved 
to  Wabaunsee  county,  where  he  now  resides.  He  commenced  crying 
sales  in  the  year  1886  in  his  neighborhood  and  vicinity.  Five  years  ago 
he  put  his  advertisement  in  the  Wabaunsee  county  papers  and  he  has 
made  auctioneering  a  regular  business  ever  since.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Kansas  Auctioneers'  association.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
high  grades  and  thoroughbred  cattle  and  hog  sales. 

But  Mr.  Simmons  doesn't  confine  himself  to  the  business  of  an 
auctioneer.  He  is  a  first  class  farmer  and  an  all-around  good  fellow — 
just  such  a  man  as  the  people  will  be  looking  for  in  the  not  distant 
future  to  serve  them  in  an  official  capacity.  They  could  make  no 
better  selection. 


H.  G.  LIGHT 

Was  born  in  the  city  of  Copenhagen,  Denmark,  and  received  his 
education  in  that  city.  At  the  age  of  14  he  was  bound  over  to  his 
uncle  for  five  years  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  trade  of  painter, 
continuing  with  him  for  six  years.  At  the  age  of  22  he  arrived  in 
the  city  of  New  York  and  there  joined  the  Long-Shore  Ship  Painters 
association  and  had  to  serve  again  a  short  apprenticeship  to  become  a 
full  member. 

He  managed  to  live  through  his  apprenticeship  with  his  board 
and  $15  per  week.  He  afterwards  received  $3.50  a  day  and  nine  hours 
work;  was  member  of  this  organization  five  years.    In  order  to  learn 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      233 


the  English  language  he  attended  night  school  in  the  city  of  New 
York. 

A  strike  occurring  in  1869,  Mr.  Licht's  ideas  and  the  association's 
did  not  agree  and  he  came  west  to  Topeka,  Kansas.  After  stopping 
two  years  in  Topeka  he  came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  the  fall  of  1871. 

Mr.  Licht  was  four  times  elected  to  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  dis- 
trict court  and  once  as  county  clerk. 

After  retiring  from  public  office  he  accepted  a  position  as  book- 
keeper in  the  Topeka  sugar  works  and  afterwards  was  transferred  to 
the  Attica  works,  which,  unfortunately,  made  an  assignment.  Mr. 
Licht  remained  with  the  assignee  about  three  months,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Alma. 

For  a  number  of  years  past  Mr.  Licht  has  made  his  home  in  To- 
peka. But  the  best  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  Wabaunsee 
county,  among  friends,  who,  on  five  different  occasions,  by  their  votes, 
have  endorsed  his  official  work  in  two  of  the  best  offices  within  the 
gift  of  the  people. 


C.  E.  SMITH,  M.  D. 

Was  born  in  Jersey  county,  Illinois,  on  October  4,  1865.  Took  a 
normal  course  at  the  Indiana  State  Normal  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana, 
and  after  his  graduation  at  that  institution  taught  seven  years  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  state.  Took  a  course  in  medicine  and  surgery  at 
the  Louisville  Medical  college,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  graduating  in 
the  class  of  '93,  also  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  Rush  Medical  college, 
of  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Smith  came  to  Kansas  in  1893,  locating  in  Brown  county, 
where,  two  years  later  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maggie 
Small,  of  Hiawatha. 

During  his  three  years  residence  in  Alma  Dr.  Smith  has  built  up 
an  excellent  practice  and  the  many  difficult  and  complicated  surgical 
operations  performed  under  the  Doctor's  immediate  supervision  attest 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession  and  insure  a  continuance  of 
that  success  that  has  attended  him  during  his  residence  among  the 
people  of  Wabaunsee  county. 


JOHN  T.  KEAGY 


Was  born  November  2,  1840,  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Grew  up  on  a  farm.  Enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  101st  Regt. 
Penn.  Volunteers.  Was  wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  Virginia,  May  31,  1802 
and  discharged  on  account  of  wound  December  20,  1862.  Read  law  at 
Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Bedford  in 


234      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

February,  1865.  After  five  years  practice  at  Bedford,  Mr.  Keagy  came 
West,  locating  at  Alma  in  1870. 

In  1872  Mr.  Keagy  was  elected  county  attorney,  to  which  position 
he  was  re-elected  two  years  later.  In  1880  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  probate  judge,  serving  the  people  four  successive  terms.  In  two  of 
the  four  campaigns  there  was  no  opposing  candidate. 

Mr.  Keagy's  thorough  knowledge  of  the  law  is  recognized  by  liis 
long  continuance  in  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  a  position  to 
which  the  people,  irrespective  of  party  lines,  have  for  years  persisted 
in  electing  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens. 

No  man  in  Wabaunsee  county  takes  a  greater  interest  in  archaeo- 
logical researcli  than  does  Mr.  Keagy,  liis  collection  of  prehistoric 
curios  furnishing  ample  proof  of  the  statement.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Quivira  Historical  Society  of  which 
the  Hon.  J.  V.  Brower,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  is  president.  The  society 
is  doing  much  towards  unraveling  the  long  hidden  mysteries  connected 
with  the  explorations  of  Coronado  in  1541. 


BARTHOLOMEW  BUCHLI 

Was  born  at  Versan,  Canton  Grison,  Switzerland,  August  24,  18G2. 
Came  to  Riley  county,  Kansas,  with  his  parents  in  1870,  and  to  Wa- 
baunsee county  in  1876.  Attended  the  common  schools,  after  wliich 
he  graduated  at  the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  college,  class  of  '84, 
and  at  the  Iowa  State  college,  class  of  '86.  Taught  in  the  schools  of 
Wabaunsee  county  for  eiglit  years  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Alma 
school  board. 

Mr.  Buchli  was  elected  county  clerk  in  1897  and  re-elected  in  1899. 
He  is  a  competent  and  painstaking  official,  and  enjoys  in  an  enviable 
degree  the  confidence  of  the  people. 


MR.  HENRY  SCHMITZ  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  the  village  of  Wahn,  near  Cologne,  in  Germany.  Tlie 
rebellion  of  1848  found  him  a  young  man  of  25  years,  an  active  and 
leading  participant  in  what  he  considered  a  just  cause.  But  disaster 
followed  and  the  persecutions  in  store  for  the  adherents  of  the  lost 
cause  drove  thousands  of  the  participants  to  America.  Among  these 
came  Mr.  Schmitz,  who  landed  in  America  in  1852.  Four  years  later 
he  came  to  Kansas,  settling  on  the  Klein  farm,  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Charles  Burgett. 

In  1866,  together  witli  Mr.  Josepli  Treu,  Dr.  Brasche,  Ed.  Krapp, 
G.  Zwanziger  and  others  organized  the  Alma  Town  company.    The 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      235 


firm  of  Schmitz  &  Meyer  was  established  and  for  years  conducted  the 
largest  business  in  Wabaunsee  county. 

Mr.  Schmitz  was  foremost  in  every  undertaking  that  gave  promise 
of  good  to  Alma.  He  was  ever  at  the  front,  with  his  means  and  coun- 
sel, to  build  up  the  city.  Though  never  seeking  an  office,  he  took  an 
active  part  in  party  organization  and  for  years  the  influence  of  no 
other  resident  of  the  county  exceeded  that  wielded  by  Mr.  Henry 
Schmitz — the  conditions  suggesting  the  sobriquet  of  "King  Henry" — 
at  first  used  in  an  ironical  sense  by  his  opponents— who  in  each  suc- 
ceeding campaign  were  furnished  additional  proof  that  the  term  was 
anything  but  a  misnomer. 

But  in  the  privacy  of  his  home— surrounded  by  his  estimable  fam- 
ily, the  true  worth,  the  characteristic  traits,  of  one  of  our  foremost 
citizens  shone  brightest.  Here,  with  those  in  whom  his  affections 
were  centered,  he  loved  to  pass  his  later  years.  Here,  with  reading 
and  study,  Uncle  Henry  stored  his  mature  mind  with  knowledge,  that, 
added  to  a  long  life  of  usefulness  among  his  fellow  men  rendered  his 
companionship  more  than  usually  enjoyable. 

An  eventful  career  was  closed  at  his  home,  near  Alma,  on  Friday, 
April  7,  1893,  at  the  ripe  age  of  69  years,  10  months  and  26  days.  No 
other  man  in  Wabaunsee  county  had  so  great  a  number  of  his  fellow 
citizens  bound  to  him  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity.  No  one  was  more 
highly  esteemed  and  the  death  of  no  individual  in  our  midst  could 
cause  so  wide  a  feeling  of  regret,  such  depth  of  sorrow,  or  create 
within  the  breasts  of  his  fellows  a  more  vivid  realization  of  the  trans- 
itory nature  of  all  things  earthly. 


MR.  MICHAEL  HUND  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  September  22,  1824.  Eight  years 
later  the  family  came  to  America,  first  settling  on  a  farm  near  St. 
Charles,  Missouri.  Here,  in  1848,  Mr.  Hund  was  married  to  Miss  Ger- 
trude Borgmeyer,  of  St.  Charles.  Three  children  blessed  this  union- 
Mrs.  Mary  Guth,  Moritz,  and  Michael  Hund,  Jr.    . 

In  1855  the  family  moved  to  Mankato,  Minnesota,  but  Mrs.  Hund 
died  before  their  destination  was  reached. 

Mr.  Hund  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Otilda  Peters,  of  St. 
Charles,  Missouri,  who  still  survives.  To  this  union,  six  children  were 
born,  five  of  whom  are  now  living,  Joseph,  Leo,  Phillip,  Mrs.  Francis 
Meinhardt  and  Mrs.  Theresa  Glotzbach. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Hund  moved  to  Kansas,  settling  in  Newbury  town- 
ship. His  eight  children  are  all  married  and  with  the  exception  of 
Leo,  all  reside  in  Newbury  township— being,  as  was  their  father  before 
them,  leading  and  influential  citizens. 


236      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

By  his  upright  conduct;  by  his  forgiving  spirit,  and  by  his  kind- 
ness of  heart  Mr.  Ilund  gained  for  himself,  in  a  marked  degree,  the 
esteem  of  all  with  wiiom  he  came  in  contact. 

Mr.  Hund  was  a  pioneer  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  term— having 
lived  in  Minnesota  at  the  time  of  the  Spirit  Lake  massacre  in  1862. 
The  family  lived  in  close  proximity  to  the  death-dealing  Sioux— his 
farm  being  but  a  few  miles  distant  from  New  Ulm,  that  was  almost 
completely  destroyed  by  the  murderous  Sioux  in  one  of  their  raids  in 
the  fall  of  1862. 

Mr.  Ilund  died  at  his  home  in  Newbury  township  on  Monday, 
June  27,  1898,  honored  and  beloved  by  all. 


P.  L.  WOODY 


Was  born  May  4,  1833,  at  Dahlonega,  Georgia,  removing  to  Platte 
county,  Missouri,  in  1866,  and  to  Kansas  in  1870,  locating  on  the  Sno- 
komo,  where  he  still  resides.  Was  married  July  4,  1856,  in  Lumpkin 
county,  Georgia,  ten  children  being  born  to  this  union.  Though  by 
no  means  a  politician,  Mr.  Woody  has  always  had  a  voice  in  the  coun- 
cils of  his  party,  attested  by  his  familiar  presence  at  state  and  county 
conventions.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  Newbury  township  and  for 
eighteen  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  has  always 
been  active  in  church  work  and  has  availed  himself  of  every  opportun- 
ity to  advance  any  good  cause  that  gave  promise  of  the  betterment  of 
his  fellows. 


MRS.  ELIZA  WOODY  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  January  6, 1833,  in  Hebersham  county,  Georgia,  and  died 
of  pneumonia,  at  the  family  home  on  the  Snokomo,  on  January  8,  1901. 
To  make  home  happy  was  her  constant  endeavor:  to  minister  to  the 
sick  and  to  care  for  the  afflicted  was  with  her  a  Christian  duty— that 
when  the  Angel  of  Death  should  beckon,  the  spirit  might  find  rest  in 
that  Home  made  without  hands,  eternal  in  the  Heavens. 


MR.  JACOB  HORNE  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  July  8,  1837,  but  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  when  but  an  infant,  being  but  a  year  old  when  the 
family  first  made  their  home  in  Chicago.  In  1840,  the  family  moved 
to  Jamestown,  Wisconsin,  where  Mr.  Home  passed  the  greater  part  of 
his  life. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Home  was  married  to  Miss  Victoria  Lang,  of  James- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      237 


town.  Here,  the  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  were 
born.  In  1883,  the  family  came  to  Alma,  where  Mr.  Home  died,  on 
August  7,  1899,  at  the  age  of  62  years  and  29  days. 

Love  of  home  and  family  were  characteristic  traits  of  one  who  was 
highly  esteemed  for  his  many  good  qualities  of  head  and  heart.  With 
generosity  and  kindness  the  strong  bond  of  friendship  was  cemented 
with  the  many  who  revere  the  memory  of  one  who  was  always  ready 
to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  the  hour  of  need— of  one  to  whom  the  hand 
seeking  charity  was  never  extended  in  vain. 


MR.  HERMAN  SCHULTHEIS  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  at  Neustadt,  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany,  on  June  10,  1833, 
coming  to  America  when  a  young  man  of  19  years,  first  locating  at 
Cincinnati,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  harness  maker;  came  to 
Osage  county  in  1857,  taking  a  claim  on  the  Wakarusa.  In  1865,  came 
to  Wabaunsee  county  settling  on  the  farm  where  he  died  on  August  8, 
1899,  at  the  age  of  66  years,  1  month,  and  28  days. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Schultheis  was  married  to  Miss  Marguerite  Ricker- 
shauser.  To  this  union  three  daughters  were  born;  Mrs.  Henry 
Wertzberger,  Mrs.  Herman  Wertzberger,  and  Mrs.  Nick  Thoes. 

Generous  to  a  fault,  the  soul  of  probity  and  honor,  no  man  stood 
in  higher  esteem  with  his  fellows  than  did  Herman  Schultheis.  His 
word  was  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  a  promise  made  by  him  was  as  sure 
of  fulfillment  as  the  rising  of  the  morning's  sun. 


WATERS  CHILLSON 


Was  born  in  the  city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  March  2,  1843,  removing 
with  his  parents  soon  after  to  Oswegt)  county,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
liood  on  a  farm.  In  April,  1861,  he  enrolled  as  a  member  of  Co.  C,  24th 
New  York  infantry,  serving  two  years,  when  he  was  discharged,  but 
again  enlisted — this  time  in  Co.  A,  24th  N.  Y.  cavalry,  where  he  re- 
mained till  the  close  of  the  war.  Was  twice  wounded— on  June  18,  1804, 
and  on  April  5,  1865,  being  discharged  from  Hix  hospital  in  Baltimore. 
In  September,  1865,  Mr.  Chillson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
M.  Gardner,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  he  resided  but  a  short 
time,  when  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  New  York. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Chillson  moved  to  Michigan,  where  he  opened  up  a 
farm,  served  the  people  as  supervisor,  sheriff  (4  years),  deputy  sherifl:, 
and  marshal.  Came  to  Kansas  in  '76,  locating  in  Saline  county,  where 
he  kept  store  and  postoffice  for  9  years,  was  trustee  7  years  and  during 
the  time  managed  to  cultivate  400  acres  of  land  and  raise  a  few  cattle 


238      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

and  horses.  He  then  came  to  Alma,  bought  the  Commercial  Hotel, 
kept  store  in  the  Odd  Fellows  building,  speculated  some  in  lands  and 
patent  rights,  developed  some  valuable  mining  property  in  Olilahonia, 
and  occasionally  bobs  up  as  a  delegate  to  slate  and  county  conventions 
— just  to  let  his  friends  and  others  know^  he  is  on  earth— a  fact  they 
never  fail  to  recognize.  Has  lots  of  friends  and  a  few  enemies.  Is 
independent  of  the  one  and  loyal  to  the  other. 


WYATT  ROUSH 


Was  born  near  Hillsboro,  Highland  county,  Ohio,  on  July  10,  1858, 
coming  to  Kansas  with  his  parents  in  1879.  Enjoyed  excellent  educa- 
tional privileges  at  the  Hillsboro  High  School,  supplementing  his 
work  here  by  a  course  in  the  Normal  school  at  Carlisle,   Kentucky. 

For  Ave  years  was  engaged  in  teaching,  two  years  in  Ohio,  and 
three,  in  Kansas.  Was  married  on  September  22,  1881,  to  Miss  Martha 
A.  Parmiter,  three  sons  and  two  daughters  being  born  to  this  union. 
Mr.  Roush  served  the  people  of  his  home  township  (Plumb)  five  years 
as  treasurer,  and  three  years,  as  trustee.  Was  elected  clerk  of  the 
district  court  in  1898,  and  re-elected  in  1900.  He  is  a  capable  official, 
and  is  conscientious  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office. 


FRANZ  MEIER 

Was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Schwerin,  on  July  7,  1821,  coming  to 
America,  landing  at  New  York  on  July  13,  1846.  Located  first  in  Wis- 
consin, where  he  remained  six  years,  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  1854,  locating  on  Pottawatomie  creek,  in  Anderson 
county,  where  he  lived  during  the  troublous  times  in  1856.  Helped 
bury  the  three  Doyles,  Will  Sherman,  and  Nicholson,  killed  by  John 
Brown  and  15  others,  on  the  22nd  of  May,  the  same  year.  Was  twice 
robbed  by  Jayhawkers  in  '56.  The  settlers  took  part  on  one  side  or 
the  other,  and  robbed  their  nearest  neighbors.  Was  one  of  the  county 
commissioners  of  Anderson  county  when  the  county  was  organized. 
Since  1859  has  been  a  resident  of  Wabaunsee  county. 

While  residing  in  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Meier  was  married  to  Miss 
Augusta  Stranze,  on  January  31,  1850,  four  children  resulting  from 
this  union.  While  a  student  at  college  Mr.  Meier  took  a  course  in 
civil  engineering,  the  knowledge  standing  him  in  good  stead  in  the 
early  settlement  of  Kansas.  He  is  an  excellent  draughtsman,  a  good 
penman,  and  though  81  years  of  age  he  appears  twenty  years  younger. 
His  kindness  of  heart,  and  genial  manner  make  a  favorable  impres- 
sion on  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      239 


ED.  IVIANN 

Was  born  on  March  2,  1870,  in  Jefferson  county,  Kansas.  Came  to 
Wabaunsee  county  in  1881,  living  on  a  farm  near  Eslcridge  until  1895, 
when  he  came  to  Alma.  When  the  President's  call  for  volunteers  was 
issued  Ed  went  forth  to  battle  for  his  country,  enlisting  in  Co.  G,  of 
the  21st  Kansas.  Fought  the  hardest  battle  of  his  life  in  the  malarial 
atmosphere  in  the  military  camp  at  Chickamauga,  emerging  from  the 
conflict  unscathed. 

Mr.  Mann  is  an  expert  jeweler;  is  always  busy,  and  is  ever  earnest 
in  his  desire  to  please  his  patrons. 


T.  J.  PERRY 


Was  born  in  North  Carolina,  April  20,  1868,  his  parents  coming 
the  following  year  to  Kansas,  locating  in  Chase  county.  Since  his 
19th  year  Mr.  Perry  has  been  identified  with  the  work  of  teaching, 
first  in  Chase  county,  and  since  1896  in  Wabaunsee  county.  Was  mar- 
ried August  25,  1892,  tu  Miss  Parthena  Harrison,  of  Emporia,  four 
children  being  born  to  this  union.  A  thorough  course  of  instruction 
in  our  excellent  system  of  common  schools  has  been  supplemented  by 
a  business  college  course  and  at  the  State  Normal  school  at  Emporia. 
Mr.  Perry  is  also  taking  correspondence  work  from  Chicago  University 
and  Zaneriah  Art  College,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

In  November,  1900,  Mr.  Perry  was  elected  to  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  schools  for  Wabaunsee  county,  which  position  he  now 
holds.  He  is  active  and  earnest  in  educational  work,  and  is  up-to-date 
in  all  that  pertains  to  his  chosen  profession. 


JOSEPH  LaFONTAINE 

Was  born  in  Luxemburg,  Belgium,  on  October  20,  1841,  coming  to 
America  in  1857,  locating  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  where,  on  October 
23,  1862,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Jacquet,  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter  being  born  to  this  union.  In  1877, 
Mr.  LaFontaine  came  to  Kansas — on  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  Dr. 
E.  B.  Allen,  former  secretary  of  state.  Though  never  aspiring  to 
office,  Mr.  LaFontaine  has  been  twice  elected  trustee  and  for  seven 
terms  was  elected  to  the  office  of  treasurer  of  his  home  township — 
Wabaunsee. 

Was  elected  treasurer  of  Wabaunsee  county  in  1899  and  is  the 
present  incumbent  in  one  of  the  most  important  offices  in  the  gift  of 
the  people.  Is  a  capable  and  efficient  officer  and  enjoys  in  a  high 
degree  the  confidence  of  his  constituents. 


240      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


GOTTLIEB  NOLLER 

Was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  (Jcrniany,  March  20,  1856,  coming,'  to 
America  in  1881.  The  following?  year  was  married  to  Miss  Theresa 
Rebholz,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  whom  three  sons  were  born.  While  in 
the  Fatherland  Mr.  Noller  .served  three  years  in  the  German  army, 
being  a  corporal  in  the  29th  Wurtemburg  Artillery.  Came  to  Kansas 
in  ]884  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1897,  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
Hotel  Paxico.  After  four  ye'ars  of  success  in  the  hotel  business  here 
Mr.  Noller  bought  the  Denver  House  at  McFarland,  where  he  is  now 
running  one  of  the  best  hotels  in  the  county  on  up-to-date  principles. 
Besides  the  hotel  Mr.  Noller  owns  340  acres  of  good  faiiuing  land.  He 
is  popular  with  the  traveling  public,  with  whom  he  has  established  a 
good  reputation  as  a  landlord. 


H.  B.  CHANNELL 

Was  born  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  on  November  15,  1848,  com- 
ing with  his  parents  to  Kansas  in  1857,  when  but  nine  years  of  age. 
the  family  locating  in  Nehama  county.  In  1890,  Mr.  Channell  came 
to  this  county,  settling  on  a  good  farm  in  Rock  Creek  township,  where 
he  now  resides.  On  New  Years  day,  1869,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Ellen  Armstrong,  of  America  City,  Nemaha  county.  Three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  with  their  parents  constitute  the  family  in  the 
Channell  home.  Besides  farming  Mr.  Channell  has  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  auctioneer  since  1884.  Is  hail  fellow,  well  met  with  the  boys, 
and  possesses  the  faculty  of  getting  the  full  value  of  any  property 
placed  on  sale  in  his  hands — a  fact  proven  by  his  constantly  increasing 
patronage. 


EDWARD  A.  KILIAN 

Was  born  September  1,  1828,  at  (Jiessen.  (fraud  Duchy  of  Hesse, 
Germany.  Educated  in  public  schools,  Real  and  Polytechnic  school, 
Darmstadt,  and  Normal  school,  at  Friedburg.  Came  to  the  United 
States  in  consequence  of  participation  in  the  Revolution  of  1848,  arriv- 
ing in  New  York  October  12,  1849.  Taught  school  in  Illinois,  Missouri, 
and  Kansas.  In  1876-79  was  assistant  in  the  Museum  of  the  Society 
of  Natural  Science,  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Came  to  Kansas  in  August, 
1879,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  in  Alma.  Was  principal  of  the 
Alma  schools  three  years  and  of  the  (Jerman-Eiiglish  Academy  at 
Leavenworth  one  year.  In  1884-85  did  journalistic  work  on  the  Leav- 
enworth Freie  Presse.     Enlisted  June  14,   1861,   in   the  1st  Missouri 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,KAN. 


MR.  HORACE  ADAMS'S  RESIDENCE  AND  ELEVATOR,  Maple  Hill. 


WOODMAN  TEAM.  Harveyville. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


TABLEAU  AT  CLOSE  OF  ALMA  CITY  SCHOOLS. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  HENRY  RONNAU,  Kaw  Township. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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AN   INTERESTING  FAMILY-ALMA. 


A  FORMER  POPULAR  SHERIFF  OUT  SERVING  A  WRIT. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


GRADUATING  CLASS,  ESKRIDGE  HIGH  SCHOOL,  1902. 


A  GROUP  OF  GOOD  FELLOWS,  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      241 


Light  Artillery.  Participated  in  tlie  capture  of  Camp  Jackson,  in 
action  at  Booneville,  Dug  Spring,  and  Wilson's  Creek,  where  he 
received  severe  wound  in  riglit  arm.  Discharged  November  16,  1861, 
on  account  of  wounds.  In  November,  1862,  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  17th 
Missouri  Infantry:  promoted  to  sergeant-major,  and  adjutant.  Par- 
ticipated in  Vicksburg  and  Atlanta  campaigns.  Discharged  Septem- 
ber 24,  1864. 

Mr.  Kilian  has  one  of  the  best  libraries  in  the  county;  is  well 
versed  in  conchology  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  historical  and 
archaeological  research.  Has  contributed  quite  a  number  of  valued 
contributions  to  the  magazines  and  literary  journals — many  of  which 
have  been  highly  appreciated  by  the  reading  piiblic. 


MARK  SAGE 

Was  born  in  Somerset  Shire,  England,  on  April  28,  1836,  came  to 
Onondaga  county,  New  York,  in  1850,  and  to  Dover,  Kansas,  in  July, 
1857.  In  1863,  freighted  across  the  plains  for  the  government  with  an 
ox  team,  hauling  corn.  In  1864  lie  built  the  stone  house  at  the  head 
of  Mill  creek  on  the  Council  Grove  road,  known  as  Copp's  station. 
This  was  on  the  line  of  the  Topeka  and  Council  Grove  mail  route. 
The  mail  was  carried  in  a  canvas  covered  hack  drawn  by  two  horses, 
changing  drivers  and  horses  at  the  old  station.  John  Copp  had  charge 
of  the  station  several  years  until  the  mail  route  was  discontinued, 
when  he  moved  to  Paxico.  Mark  has  probably  built  more  bridges  and 
stone  houses  in  Wabaunsee  county  than  any  other  one  man.  Though 
not  far  from  the  three  score  and  ten  mark  he  is  as  stout  as  an  ox  and 
one  of  the  most  obliging  men  in  the  county.  When  he  learned  inci- 
dentally that  we  wanted  the  photo  of  the  ugliest  man  in  the  county 
he  sent  his  own  as  quick  as  he  could  get  it  in  the  mail.  But  we  must 
admit  that  his  is  the  handsomest  picture  for  an  ugly  man  to  sit  for  we 
ever  saw.  W^iiile  going  through  the  woi'ld  Mark  believes  in  looking 
on  the  bright  side  and  but  few  men  can  scatter  more  sunshine  along 
life's  pathway  than  Mark  Sage. 

Note.  In  February,  1868,  a  tragedy  was  enacted  at  the  old  Copp 
station  that  has  no  parallel  in  the  history  of  Wabaunsee  county. 
The  station  was  dismantled  then  and  the  bare  walls  were  anything 
but  inviting.  But  while  moving  from  Alma  in  March  a  nephew  of  W. 
H.  Morrison's  was  prompted  to  take  a  look  at  the  old  station.  In  the 
deserted  stable  he  was  horrified  to  find  the  body  of  a  man  apparently 
dead  for  several  weeks.  Dr.  Brasche  was  coroner  then,  John  Pinker- 
ton,  sheriff,  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Lyons,  his  deputy.  Dr.  Brasche  held  an 
inquest,  Mr.  Lyons  securing  the  jury.  The  man's  skull  had  been  frac- 
tured in  three  places  by  blows  from  a  heavy  cattle-whip.  Dr.  Brasche 
giving  it  as  his  opinion  that  either  one  would  have  caused  death.  The 
mark  of  a  heavy  money  belt  was  plainly  visible  about  the  body  and  the 


242      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

man's  pants  were  covered  with  white  horse-hairs.  About  six  weeks 
before  two  men  liad  stopped  at  Mr.  Sebring's,  on  Mill  creek,  stating 
tliat  tlicy  were  on  their  way  to  Texas  to  buy  cattle.  One  ol'  tlie  men 
was  riding  a  white  horse.  Tlie  next  night  a  man  leading  a  wliite 
horse  stopped  at(iideon  liaughman's,  on  Elm  creek.  Mr.  W.  A.  Doo- 
little  was  boarding  at  Baugliman'.s,  teaching  school  in  the  old  log 
school  house  in  tlie  Sanner  district  (No.  13).  Mr.  Lyons  buried  the 
man  just  outside  of  the  old  stable.  The  weatlier  was  very  cold  and 
the  man  had  wrapped  about  his  feet  pieces  of  an  Atchison  paper.  In 
December,  1895,  while  in  cliarge  of  the  Taylor  dry  goods  assignment 
Mr.  Lyons  was  approaclied  by  a  cattleman  from  Texas,  who  inquired 
if  the  dead  l)()dy  of  a  man  had  been  found  at  Copp's  station  in  18(i8. 
On  Mr.  Lyons  stating  that  he  had  buried  the  man  murdered,  the 
cattleman  stated  that  in  October  a  man  liad  been  hung  in  Texas  for 
stealing  cattle  and  on  the  scaffold  had  confessed  to  the  murder  of  his 
employer  at  Copp's  station  in  IS^iS.  The  ruins  of  the  old  station  are 
plainly  visible  from  the  car  window  at  tlie  head  of  the  Copp  branch  of 
Mill  creek,  two  miles  northwest  of  Eskridge.  No  inquiries  were  ever 
received  of  the  young  man  who  had  left  home  with  bright  prospects 
before  him— of  making  a  fortune  in  the  cattle  business. 


ANDREW  BELL. 


Robert  Bell  was  a  gardener  and  botanist  of  Dumfries  .Shire,  Scot- 
land, and  Mrs.  Bell  was  raised  in  one  of  the  romantic  glens  of  the 
highlands  of  Perth  Shire.  Mr.  Bell,  Sr.  and  wife  came  to  America  in 
1849,  settling  in  New  York,  and  five  years  later  came  to  Wisconsin, 
and  to  Kansas  in  1878,  where,  ten  years  later,  Mr.  Bell,  Sr.  died,  on 
July  24th.  Mrs.  Robert  Bell  then  lived  with  her  son  till  her  death  on 
February  6,  1899,  when  she  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  100  years. 

Andrew,  the  only  son,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Wisconsin 
when  five  years  of  age. 

He  was  raised  on  the  farm,  receiving  a  common  school  education, 
supplemented  by  one  term  at  an  academy.  When  not  engaged  in 
farming  worked  at  carpentry  and  blacksmithing.  When  of  age  he 
went  to  the  Wisconsin  pineries  where  he  learned  saw-milling  and 
much  about  machinery.  Came  to  Kansas  in  February.  1877,  and  in 
September  was  married  to  Miss  Rebeka  Heberlein.  To  this  happy 
union  four  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  The 
two  daugliters.  Lulu  and  Bertha,  20  and  17  years  of  age,  respectively, 
are  graduates  of  the  St.  Marys  High  School,  and  the  son,  Andrew, 
while  but  ten  years  of  age,  promises  to  be  an  expert  mechanic,  know- 
ing more  about  the  steam  engine  than  the  average  person  at  sixty. 

With  the  exception  of  two  years  in  the  grocery  business  at  St. 
Marys  and  a  short  time  in  FlagstaiT,  Arizona,  Mr.  Bell  has  lived  on  his 
farm  ever  since" coming  to  Kansas. 

Mr.  Bell  runs  his  farm  on  up-to-date  principles.  Does  mixed  farm- 
ing and  has  a  large  irrigating  pump  for  use  in  dry  seasons.    He  also 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      243 


runs  a  large  steam  thresher  and  his  shop  is  a  )nodel  of  convenience, 
being  supplied  with  all  kinds  of  blacksmith  and  carpenter's  tools', 
lathe,  and  gasoline  engine,  enabling  him  to  do  all  his  machine  repair- 
ing. From  a  financial  standpoint  Mr.  Bell  has  made  farming  a  suc- 
cess, having  accumulated  about  $20,000  as  the  result  of  industry  and 
good  management. 

Has  been  elected  four  times  trustee  of  Kaw  township  and  is  now 
serving  the  people  as  county  commissioner,  receiving,  practically,  the 
unanimous  vote  of  his  home  township  (Kaw),  a  deserved  endorsement 
of  one  of  our  best  and  most  popular  citizens. 


RUDOLPH  ARNDT 


Was  born  on  April  21,  1829,  at  Koenigsburg,  Prussia,  coming  to 
America  and  to  Kansas  in  September,  1860,  locating  on  the  farm  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  For  years  the  Templin  settlement  was 
on  the  border  in  its  truest  sense.  It  was  but  a  few  miles  to  the  Kaw 
reserve  and  that  tribe  being  engaged  in  constant  warfare  with  the 
Pawnees,  Cheyennes,  and  Arapahoes  the  settlers  lived  in  a  state  of 
apprehension  by  reason  of  possible  raids  from  either  the  Kaws  or  the 
more  hostile  and  aggressive  tribes  of  the  plains.  The  old  stone  fort 
(seepage  113)  was  built  in  anticipation  of  one  of  these  possible  raids. 
Inasmuch  as  a  war  party  of  Cheyennes  appeared  in  sight  of  Council 
Grove  as  late  as  1868  it  will  be  readily  seen  that  the  fears  of  the  set- 
tlers about  Templin  were  not  entirely  groundless.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year  while  Mr.  Adolph  Zeckser  was  on  a  visit  with  friends 
at  Templin  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  Arndt  home  deserted.  The 
doors  were  wide  open  but  nobody  at  home.  Nobody  at  home  at  Fet- 
tings.  But  going  to  the  Wolgast  home  the  mystery  was  explained. 
The  settlers  had  gathered  together  for  protection  from  an  expected 
raid.  The  men  were  all  moulding  bullets  and  the  women  were  there 
to  assist  in  case  they  could  be  of  service.  The  old  stone  fort  was  still 
standing  and  here  the  settlers  repaired  when  night  came.  The  storm 
blew  over  but  the  Kaws  at  the  Grove  didn't  get  off  without  a  fight. 
At  the  Grove,  too,  the  women  and  children  were  hustled  into  the 
Mission  building  for  protection.  Three  years  later  the  smallpox  left  a 
trail  of  death  in  the  Templin  settlement,  invading  among  other  homes 
that  of  Mr.  Arndt. 

In  the  years  gone  by  Rudolph's  influence  was  always  sought  in  the 
heat  of  political  campaigns.  Though  never  seeking  office  himself  he 
was  always  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  his  friends.  He  is  a  man 
of  influence  with  his  neighbors,  warm-hearted  by  nature  and  is  ever 
anxious  to  welcome  a  friend  beneath  his  hospitable  roof. 


244      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


S.  E.  HULL 

Was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  on  February  4,  1842.  Was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Phcribce  Martin,  on  December  27,  186G. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  tbe  fall  of  1877,  locating  on  the  farm  he  now  owns, 
near  Eskridge.  On  May  9,  1861,  enlisted  as  a  musician  in  Co.  C,  26th 
Ohio  Infantry,  re-enlisting  in  January,  18«4.  Participated  in  engage- 
ments at  Shiloh,  Stone  River.  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  At- 
lanta, Franklin,  and  thence  to  Texas,  where  he  was  mustered  out  at 
Victoria,  in  October,  1865,  having  served  4  years,  6  months,  and  7  days. 
Mr.  Hull  was  nine  times  elected  trustee  of  Wilmington  township  and 
served  the  people  two  years  as  sheriff,  showing  himself  to  be  a  capable 
and  efficient  officer,  having,  during  liis  term,  been  put  to  the  most  rigid 
tests  by  some  of  the  slickest  prisoners  ever  confined  in  the  Alma  jail. 
As  a  band  leader  he  has  few  equals  and  no  superior— the  Alma  A^olun- 
teer  band  furnishing  an  excellent  example  of  what  can  be  accom- 
plished by  skill,  untiring  energy,  and  persistent  application.  In  June, 
1901,  Mr.  Hull  took  charge  of  the  New  Commercial  House  In  Alma 
and  by  his  tact,  good  judgment,  and  genial  manner  has  made  his  hotel 
one  of  the  popular  stopping  places  on  the  line  of  the  Rock  Island. 


MICHAEL  IVIcWILLIAlVIS 

Was  born  in  County  Derry,  Ireland,  on  March  5,  1829,  coming  to 
America  in  May,  1854,  and  to  Kansas  in  1868,  locating  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  Was  married  February  22,  1876,  to  Miss  Maria 
McDonald,  at  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  at  St. 
Marys,  Kansas,  three  sons  and  a  daughter  coming  to  bless  a  pleasant 
home. 

Besides  "Pete  and  Henry"— Reding  and  Ronneau,  Mr.  Mc Wil- 
liams was  the  first  white  settler  in  what  is  now  Kaw  township.  But 
he  had  plenty  of  neighbors— all  Pottawatomies.  Mr.  McWilliams  was 
for  years  one  of  the  most  intluential  men  of  Kaw  township  and  though 
73  years  of  age  hasn't  lost  his  interest  In  matters  pertaining  to  the 
welfare  of  the  people.  Looks  twenty  years  younger  than  is  shown  by 
the  family  record  and  is  as  spry  as  a  man  of  fifty. 


FREDERICK  L.  RAYMOND 

Was  born  August  11,  1851,  on  a  farm  at  Westboro,  Worcester 
county,  Massachusetts.  After  attending  the  town  schools  and  the 
high  school,  he  spent  two  years  at  Wesleyan  Academy,  at  Wilbraham, 
iMass.    After  being  employed  two  years  in  a  wholesale  canned  goods 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      245 


house  in  Boston  came  West  and  settled  eleven  miles  northeast  of 
Colorado  Springs  to  try  his  luck  with  sheep.  As  the  western  terminus 
of  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  at  that  time  was  at  Granada  (the  west  line  of 
Kansas)  and  there  was  a  stage  ride  of  about  150  miles  to  Colorado 
Springs  that  made  the  country  rather  new  to  a  New  England  boy 
the  romance  soon  wore  off.  Having  a  chance  to  close  out  he  drifted 
to  Kansas,  arriving  at  Wamego,  May  31,  1874,  and  the  next  day  drove 
down  through  the  Mill  creek  valley,  and  soon  located  in  Maple  Hill 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On  the  building  of  the  Rock 
Island  through  the  farm  Mr.  Raymond  was  instrumental  in  securing 
a  flag  station  and  postoftice  that  was  named  Vera.  Mr.  Raymond  was 
elected  county  commissioner  in  1880,  and  representative  in  the  state 
legislature  in  1884.  Was  a  capable  and  popular  official.  Is  happily 
married,  has  an  interesting  family,  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
Mill  creek  valley,  and  in  an  enviable  degree  enjoys  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  his  fellows. 


FRANZ  SCHMIDT 


Was  born  in  Bayern,  Germany,  on  January  27,  1824.  Was  married 
ill  May,  1850,  to  Miss  Lidwina  Eschay.  Came  to  America  in  1855,  stop- 
ping for  awhile  at  Covington,  Kentucky,  coming  in  the  spring  to 
Kansas,  locating  in  the  Mill  creek  valley  just  west  of  Alma.  This 
was  a  new  country  then,  game  being  plentiful  everywhere— plenty  of 
turkeys  in  the  timber  and  the  deer  were  so  tame  that  they  could  fre- 
quently be  seen  feeding  with  the  cattle.  Mr.  Schmidt  has  always 
been  a  generous  contributor  to  the  Catholic  church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  life-long  and  consistent  member.  Was  made  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Liederkranz  in  recognition  of  generous  concessions  to  the 
society,  their  handsome  grounds  being  located  on  his  holdings  near  the 
City  of  Alma.  Mr.  Schmidt  owns  a  fine  farm  of  640  acres  adjoining 
the  townsite  of  Alma  and  his  residence  is  one  of  the  many  handsome 
stone  buildings  for  which  Alma  is  noted. 


ROBERT  FIX 


Was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  5,  1837,  coming 
with  his  father,  Michae'-  Fix,  to  the  farm,  near  Volland,  in  the  fall  of 
1856.  Enlisted  July  1,  1861,  in  Co.  D,  20th  Indiana  Infantry  and  re- 
enlisted  July  12,  1865.  in  Co.  K,  the  7th,  14th,  and  19th  having  been 
consolidated.  Was  .«ent  to  Fort  Hatteras,  but  returned  to  Fortress 
Monroe  in  time  to  v  itness  tlie  engagement  between  the  Monitor  and 
the  Merrimac.  The  regiment  was  encamped  at  Newport  News, 
within  300  yards  jf  where  the  Congress  was  burned  and  sunk  and  but 


246      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


half  II  mile  from  where  the  Cumberland  went  down.  Participated  in 
the  seven  days  fight,  the  campaign  closing  with  the  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Fix  was  married,  in  Indiana,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Larch. 
Besides  the  father  and  mother,  eight  handsome  daughters  compose 
the  Fix  family  (see  illustration);  named  from  left  to  right,  as  follows: 
Mrs.  Mamie  Brasche,  Mrs.  Alice  Cromer,  Mrs.  Lida  Home,  Misses 
Pearl,  Laura,  Emma,  Mabel,  and  Clara. 

Mr.  Fix  owns  a  fine  farm  of  1,000  acres  near  Volland,  besides  much 
other  property  in  Alma  and  Alta  Yista,  one  of  the  handsomest  coun- 
try homes  in  the  county  (see  illustration).  Has  served  the  people  two 
years  as  county  commissioner,  making  one  of  our  county's  most  popu- 
lar officials.  His  library  is  well  supplied  with  the  works  of  the  best 
authors,  as  well  as  current  literature  of  the  day,  enabling  Mr.  Fix  to 
keep  well  posted  on  the  issues  before  the  people. 


MARTIN  MUCKENTHALER 

Was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  on  January  2,  1825.  In 
March,  1853,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Eha.  Left  for 
America  on  March  4,  1854— was  52  days  on  the  water.  Located  in 
Minnesota,  where  he  lived  fifteen  years,  thirty  miles  south  of  St.  Paul. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  1859,  settling  on  the  Pottawatomie  reserve,  that 
had  a  short  time  before  been  thrown  open  to  settlement.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Muckentlialer  were  born  fourteen  cliildren,  eight  of  whom  are 
still  living.  Mrs.  Muckenthaler  died  November  13,  1890,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Muckenthaler  has  made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mr.s. 
Lizzie  Hesse. 

Those  who  know  Mr.  Muckenthaler  best  will  readily  recognize  in 
his  portrait  the  kindly  face  of  one  of  Wabaunsee  county's  best  and 
leading  citizens.  Devout  and  consistent  as  a  Christian,  honorable 
and  conscientious  as  a  man,  an  obliging  neighbor  and  a  loving  father, 
Mr.  Muckenthaler  occupies  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 


ALBERT  FRANCIS  THAYER 

Was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  September  4,  1840.  His 
mother  dying  when  he  was  but  nine  months  old  he  was  adopted  by  an 
uncle.  Attended  the  public  schools  in  Boston,  graduating  from  the 
Dwight  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen  and  enrolleo  as  a  pupil  of  the 
English  high  school,  but  his  brother  induced  him  to  accept  a  position 
in  liis  grocery  store,  where  he  remained  three  yea.'S.  Was  manager 
and  collector  for  the  Equitable  Safety  Insurance  Co.  I'ntil  1862,  when 
i 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      247 


he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  E,  44th  Mass.  Volunteers.  Was  after- 
wards promoted  to  \\e  2nd  sergeant.  As  a  mark  of  appreciation  the 
Insurance  Co.  presented  him  with  $300,  coupled  with  the  promise  of 
his  old  position  at  the  close  of  his  enlistment— nine  months.  The 
promise  was  fulfilled  to  the  letter  and  Mr.  Thayer  retained  his  posi- 
tion until  b)'  reason  of  severe  marine  losses  the  company  was  compelled 
to  suspend  business.  After  filling  various  positions  of  trust,  among 
others  that  of  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Huron  Copper  Mining 
Co.;  secretary  of  the  Alabama  &  Chattanooga  R.  R.  Co.  (which  com- 
pany built  the  road  from  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  to  New  Orleans,  La.); 
treasurer  of  the  Boston  Water  Power  Co.,  Mr.  Thayer  came  to  Kansas 
—first,  on  a  visit  that  revealed  the  beauties  of  our  state  and  created 
the  desire  to  own  a  home  in  Kansas.  The  purchase  of  the  fine  farm 
of  320  acres  in  Maple  Hill  township  was  the  result  of  that  visit  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thayer  to  his  wife's  sister,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Crouch,  of  Maple  Hill. 
Mr.  Thayer  moved  with  his  family,  in  December,  1874,  but  after  sev- 
eral years  on  the  farm  accepted  a  position  with  his  old  employers  (at 
their  urgent  request)  to  take  charge  of  the  construction  of  40  miles  of 
the  Fort  Scott  &  Wichita  R.  R. — building,  ironing,  and  equipping  the 
road  from  Ft.  Scott  to  lola  in  less  than  3  months.  While  on  a  visit  to 
Boston  was  offered  and  accepted  the  position  of  private  secretary  to 
Hon.  Thos.  Nickerson,  former  president  of  the  Santa  Fe  R.  R.,  but  at 
that  time  engaged  in  building  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  the  Sonora, 
Southern  California,  and  Mexican  Central  lines  of  railroad.  But  with 
a  few  months  of  confinement  came  the  desire  to  again  breathe  the 
free  air  of  Kansas. 

Mr.  Thayer  is  well  known  in  political  circles,  having  served  many 
times  as  chairman  and  secretary  of  Republican  and  Populist  conven- 
tions. Has  served  the  people  of  his  home  township — Maple  Hill— one 
term  as  trustee,  has  filled  the  office  of  district  clerk  for  over  20  years, 
and  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  at  the  Eliot 
church,  of  Maple  Hill,  for  three  years,  and  treasurer  of  the  church 
and  cemetery  for  eight  years,  and  is  still  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
church,  having  held  the  position  many  years.  On  December  10,  1867, 
Mr.  Thayer  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Frances  Cheney,  of 
Newton,  Mass.  Four  children  were  born  to  this  union,  two  of  whom 
are  still  living,  Mrs.  Eleanor  T.  Brett,  and  Mr.  Ellis  C.  Thayer.  Mr. 
Thayer  is  a  man  of  honest  convictions  and  an  earnest  advocate  of 
what  he  believes  to  be  right— the  essential  requisites  of  good  citizen- 
ship. 


248      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

M.  W.  JANES 

Was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  22,  1841,  but  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  prior  to  coming  to  Kansas  was  spent  at  Erie, 
Pennsylvania,  tlie  birtliplace  of  his  parents,  and  where  many  of  his 
relatives  resided.  Attended  the  common  schools  until  fourteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  entered  Allegheny  College,  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  completing  the  course  in  mathematics.  Mr. 
Barker  was  president  of  the  faculty.  Board  was  two  dollars  a  week. 
There  were  but  few  "extras"  on  the  bill  of  fare  but  plenty  of  "sub- 
stantials."  After  a  term  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Mercantile  College,* 
at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Janes  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  for  S. 
N.  Scatcherd,  an  extensive  lumber  dealer  in  Buffalo.  After  one  year 
witli  this  firm  returned  to  Eric,  where  he  kept  books  for  his  father, 
who  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  all  along  the 
lakes.  Enlisted  in  the  first  regiment  raised  at  Erie  under  the  three 
months  call  in  1861.  Was  appointed  assistant  commissary  for  the 
regiment,  which  was  ordered  to  Pittsburg,  where  a  large  number  of 
soldiers  were  encamped.  Also  acted  as  assistant  commissary  for  the 
camp,  under  Major  Derickson.  of  Meadville,  Pa.  Before  the  battle  of 
Bull's  Run  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  Went  to  the  oil  country 
where  his  father  had  extensive  interests.  After  remaining  here  for 
seven  years  came  West,  and,  after  looking  at  a  good  deal  of  country 
located  in  the  northeast  part  of  Wabaunsee  county,  and  has  never 
regretted  his  choice  of  location.  Owns  an  excellent  farm  of  1,400  acres 
with  a  frontage  of  two  miles  on  the  Kaw  river,  with  the  best  of 
water,  soil,  and  timber.  Is  fifteen  miles  west  of  Topeka,  on  the  Rock 
Island— near  Willard— and  three  miles  from  Rossville,  on  the  Union 
Pacific.  Mr.  Janes  is  an  extensive  raiser  of  Hereford  cattle  and  trot- 
ting bred  horses,  many  of  which  have  made  more  than  creditable 
records  on  the  race  courses  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

While  not  a  politician,  Mr.  Janes  has  taken  a  keen  interest  in 
matters  affecting  the  interests  of  the  people,  especially  at  such  times 
as  the  conditions  were  out  of  joint.  Has  always  been  regarded  as  one 
of  Wabaunsee  county's  leading  citizens  and  is  ever  at  the  front  in 
forwarding  public  enterprises. 

*Mr.  Spencer,  father  of  the  Spencerian  System  of  Penmanship, 
was  one  of  the  instructors  at  this  college  and  a  great  many  times  has 
sat  by  Mr.  Janes'  desk  giving  instructions  in  penmanship.  Mr.  Janes' 
penmanship,  today,  is  an  excellent  endorsement  of  Mr.  Spencer's  work 
as  an  instructor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      249 


J.  J.  MITCHELL 

Was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Illinois,  on  July  19,  1854.  A  good 
conimon  school  education  was  supplemented  by  a  course  at  St.  Joseph's 
( 'Dllege,  at  Teutopolis,  Illinois.  On  April  12,  1874,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, at  Plainfield,  Illinois,  to  Mi.ss  Hannah  Bower,  four  children 
being  born  to  this  union— a  daughter,  Mrs.  Lillie  Piersol,  of  Paola, 
Kansas,  and  three  sons— Dr.  Eden  E.  Mitchell,  of  Alma,  J.  J.  Mitchell, 
Jr.,  assistant  postmaster  at  Eskridge,  and  Joseph,  who  is  attending 
school. 

Studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Geo.  W.  Fithian,  member  of  con- 
gress from  Mr.  Mitchell's  home  district.  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1878,  comijig  to  Kansas  two  years  later,  locating  at  Eskridge— at  that 
lime  tile  prospective  county  seat  of  Wabaunsee  county. 

Mr.  Mitchell  stands  in  the  foremost  rank  of  attorneys  in  Wabaun- 
Mie  county  and  is  one  of  our  leading  citizens.  Has  represented  one 
^ide  of  nearly  every  important  lawsuit  since  his  residence  in  the 
county.  Has  never  been  beaten  by  reason  of  any  defect  in  his  plead- 
ings—a fact  that  has  assured  his  phenomenal  success  as  a  member  of 
his  chosen  profession. 


EDWARD  KRAPP 

Was  a  native  of  Solingen,  Germany — born  November  30,  1824. 
Landed  at  New  Orleans,  November  26,  1850.  After  one  year  on  a  farm 
near  St.  Louis,  came  to  Wesport  landing,  Kansas  City.  In  November, 
1853,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Thoes.  Came  to  Wabaun.see  county 
with  his  brother.s-in-law,  Peter  and  Jo.seph  Thoes,  arriving  March  1, 
1855.  Built  three  log  houses— one  each  week,  on  their  claims  four  miles 
south  of  Alma.  Hauled  goods  from  Westport  to  Fort  Riley  for  two 
years  over  the  old  Mormon  Trail,  passing  through  the  south  part  of 
Wabaunsee  county.  Then  started  a  store  on  the  farm— the  store,  for 
several  years,  being  one  of  the  busiest  places  in  the  county.  From 
186(j  to  1888  Mr.  Krapp  was  one  of  our  most  energetic  and  successful 
rattle  dealers.  Moved  to  Alma  in  1888  and  ten  years  later  disposed  of 
ills  fine  farm  of  360  acres.  During  the  war  was  captain  of  a  militia 
company  called  to  defend  the  capital  when  General  Sterling  Price 
threatened  the  invasion  of  the  state.  William  Drebing  and  Joseph 
Treu  were  lieutenants  in  the  same  company.  Dealt  much  with  the 
Pottawatomie  Indians  and  was  a  man  of  great  influence  with  the 
chiefs  of  that  nation.  At  one  of  the  most  critical  periods  of  the  early 
sixties  came  to  the  relief  of  the  settlers  by  going  to  the  Indian  camp 
on  South  branch  in  company  with  Mr.  William  Ross,  the  agent,  and 
inducing  the  Indians  to  return  to  their  deserted  villages  on  the  reserve 


250      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

(See  illustration  "Coming  back  to  the  Reservation").  No  man  in  Wa- 
baunsee county  has  been  more  closely  identified  with  our  early  history 
than  has  Mr.  Krapp.  With  willing'  hands  and  strong  arms  he  assisted 
in  laying  the  foundation  on  which  tlio  people  have  built  a  solid  super- 
structure. He  has  ever  been  ready  to  help  the  needy— always  a  friend 
to  the  friendless.  Though  nearly  four  score  years  of  an  eventful  life  are 
behind  him  Mr.  Krapp  is  yet  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  mental  faculties 
and  but  lor  a  terrible  experience  in  a  blizzard*  on  the  old  Mormon  trail 
in  1850,  would  today  present  an  example  of  hale  and  hearty  manhood 
with  few  parallels  to  be  found  anywhere. 

*Mr.  Krapp's  lower  limbs  were  frozen  while  encamped  on  the  head 
of  the  Wakarusa  in  a  blizzard.  So  badly  frozen  as  to  be  unable  to  wear 
his  shoes  he  gave  them  to  a  fi'iendless  boy  who  accompanied  him  on 
the  trip— freighting  to  Fort  Riley. 


L.  J.  WOODARD 


Was  born  in  Richmond,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  on  July  29,  1831. 
After  attending  the  common  schools  in  Richmond  and  Monroe,  com- 
pleted a  high  school  course  in  a  select  school  at  Pierpont.  Ohio.  On 
October  23,  1850,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Delilah  Davis,  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  being  boin  to  this  union — 
Havilah,  Byron,  Zora  D,  and  John  D.  Woodard,  and  Mrs.  Cora 
Clybourne,  dec'd,  and  Mrs.  C.  Anderson. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Woodard  came  to  Kansas,  locating  near  Beman,  but 
came  to  Alta  Vista  on  the  completion  of  the  Rock  Island  to  that 
place.  Was  elected  probate  judge  of  Wabaunsee  county  in  1894  and 
re-elected  in  1896,  serving  the  people  four  years  in  one  of  the  most 
responsible  otlices  within  the  gift  of  the  people.  Since  his  retirement 
from  ottice.  Judge  Woodard,  and  his  estimable  help-meet,  are  enjoying 
1,he  fruits  of  a  well  spent  life  in  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  plea.santly 
l(jcated  homes  in  Alta  Vista. 


MR.  AUGUST  MEYER  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  at  Braunsweitz,  IM'ussia,  Germany,  October  17,  1818, 
coming  to  America  in  1848,  locating  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1860,  first  stopping  at  Havana,  near  Wilmington.  Came  to 
Alma  in  1866.  With  Mr.  Henry  Schmitz  opened  the  first  store  in 
Alma  under  the  firm  name  of  Sc^hmitz  &  Meyer,  in  the  lower  story  of 
the  Kaufman  l)uilding— our  tirst  court  house.  Was  married  Septem- 
l)er  9,  1870,  to  Miss  Emilie  Dieball.  Died  April  25,  1886,  leaving  three 
sons,  Otto,  Ricliard,  and  August.  Mi'.  Meyer  was  Alma's  first  post- 
master, iieing  appointed  in  18(;7.  soon  after  Alma  had  been  designated 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      251 


as  the  county  seat.  Mr.  Meyer,  in  conjunction  with  his  business 
partner,  Mr.  Henry  Schraitz,  was  ever  active  in  advancing  the  inter- 
ests of  Alma.  They  had  been  instrumental  in  fixing  upon  the  loca- 
tion; had  erected  the  first  buildings,  and  left  nothing  undone  that 
would  tend  to  promote  the  growth  of  the  town.  Mr.  Meyer  was  a 
man  of  strong  convictions  and  possessed  a  will  power  capable  of  ensur- 
ing acquiescence  in  such  views  as  might  be  suggested  by  existing  con- 
ditions. Was  faithful  as  a  friend,  kind  and  indulgent  as  a  husband 
and  father,  and  to  those  with  whom  fortune  had  dealt  unkindly  was 
over  a  friend  in  the  hour  of  need. 


JOHN  C.  HENDERSON 

Was  born  March  29,  1833,  at  New  Athens,  Harrison  county,  Ohio. 
Was  married  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  June  8,  1859,  to  Miss  Agnes  Russell, 
to  whom  three  sons  and  a  daughter  were  born— B.  R.,  Charles  B.,  and 
James  R.,  and  Miss  Nellie  Henderson.  Came  to  Kansas  in  February, 
1871.  settling  in  Mission  Creek  township.  Was  elected  register  of 
deeds  tliree  successive  terms,  1885,  1887,  and  1889,  a  period  of  six  years. 
During  the  civil  war  was  enrolling  officer  until  the  re-organization  of 
the  14th  Illinois,  when  he  was  commissioned  as  first  lieutenant  of  Co. 
(t,  of  that  regiment.  AVas  attached  to  Scofield's  division,  joining 
Sherman  after  his  famous  march  to  the  sea,  at  Goldsboro,  North  Caro- 
lina. After  the  close  of  the  war  was  employed  for  seven  years  in  the 
internal  revenue  service,  filling  the  various  positions  of  assistant 
assessor,  storekeeper,  gauger,  and  assistant  inspector.  Is  extensively 
engaged,  with  his  sons,  in  farming  and  mining  investments,  but  for 
several  years  past  has  enjoyed  life  in  his  pleasant  home  in  Alma — 
filling  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 


CHARLES  C.  GARDINER 

Was  born  in  Chenango  county,  New  York,  in  October,  1834.  Re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Akron,  Ohio,  when  seven  years  of  age. 
After  remaining  here  five  years  his  parents  returned  to  Rhode  Island 
—their  native  state,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  A  thorough  course 
of  training  in  the  common  schools  was  followed  by  a  higher  course  at 
Alfred  Academy,  in  Jamestown,  Rliode  Island.  Came  to  Kansas  in 
May,  1859,  pre-empting  a  quarter  section  four  miles  north  of  Burlin- 
game.  After  working  awhile  at  his  trade — that  of  carpenter— at 
L:ivvrence,  went  to  Jetferson  City,  where  he  was  employed  as  foreman 
in  a  sash  and  blind  factory.  While  here,  in  August,  1860,  Mr.  Gardiner 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  Buffington,  of  Chester  county, 
Penn.sylvania,  the  ceremony  performed  being  tliat  in  vogue  by  the 


252      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAU^'SEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Friends,  of  which  society  Mrs.  Gardiner  was  a  life-long  member.  In 
1865,  Mr.  Gardiner  returned  to  Kansas  and  the  following  year  bought  a 
farm  near  Waveland,  Shawnee  county.  Came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in 
1884  and  bought  the  farm  of  1,500  acres  since  known  as  the  Brightside 
farm,  where  he  resided  until  1896.  when  he  retired  from  the  active 
management  of  the  place.  On  the  Brightside  farm  i\re  three  dwelling 
houses,  three  large  barns,  a  steam  feed  mill,  cribs,  stock  sheds,  gran- 
ary, etc.  The  farm  is  well  watered  and  has  17  miles  of  fence,  20  acres 
of  orchard,  and  a  number  of  acres  of  artificial  timber,  besides  many 
acres  of  alfalfa.  400  head  of  cattle  and  from  200  to  300  head  of  hogs 
are,  each  year,  kept  on  the  place.  That  Mr.  Gardiner  has  made  farm- 
ing a  success  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  revenue  from  the 
products  of  the  farm  up  to  1896  aggregated  the  sum  of  $80,000. 

The  location  of  the  station  and  postoffice  at  Bradford  was  largely 
due  to  Mr.  Gardiner's  efforts  and  influence.  The  building  of  the 
flouring  mill— burned  in  1899 — and  the  establishment  of  a  creamery 
resulted  fiom  Mr.  Gardiner's  efforts. 

In  1854,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  united  with  the  Congregational 
church,  of  which  organization  he  has  ever  been  a  consistent  member. 
Mr.  Gardiner  was  the  father  of  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  were  educated  at  the  State  Agricultural  College,  at 
Manhattan. 


JAMES  R.  HENDERSON 

Was  born  September  10,  1866,  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  Came  to  Kansas 
with  his  parents  when  but  live  years  of  age,  Mr.  Henderson,  Sr.,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  Mission  Creek  township.  Tauglit  school  two  terms, 
was  deputy  register  of  deeds  live  years  and  one  year  assistant  cashier 
of  the  Alma  State  Bank.  Was  elected  county  clerk  in  1893  and  re- 
elected in  1895.  In  1890  was  special  agent  of  the  census  bureau  under 
Noble  Prentis— compiling  mortgage  statistics — his  field  being  the 
counties  of  Shawnee,  Morris,  Greenwood,  and  Pratt.  Continued  with 
Mr.  Prentis  until  the  close  of  the  work  at  Newton,  Mr.  Henderson's 
methods  and  neat  manuscript  ensuring  his  retention  in  clerical  woik 
to  the  last— eflticiency  in  this  as  in  every  other  employment  being 
characteristic  of  one  of  Wabaunsee  county's  most  popular  officials. 

Mr.  Henderson  is  one  of  the  firm  of  Henderson  Bros.,  abstracters 
and  dealers  in  real  estate.  Are  also  heavy  stockholders  in  the  AVyom- 
iug  Copper  &  Gold  Mining  Co.,  Ijesides  owning  valuable  mineral  lands 
in  the  Arkansas  lead  and  zinc  fields. 

On  June  18,  1896,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Hannah  ('rafts,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Crafts,  of 
Alma.  Little  Ruth,  aged  four  years,  is  the  only  child.  The  family 
resides  in  one  of  the  mziest  homes  in  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      253 


J.  B.  BARNES 

Was  born  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  June  20,  1846.  Was  educated 
atCantleld,  and  Poland.  Ohio,  being  a  graduate  of  Poland  Academy. 
Read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  S.  W.  Gilson,  of  Canfield.  Was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1870  and  in  1884  came  to  Wabaunsee  county  and  two  years 
later  was  elected  county  attorney.  Was  re-elected  in  1888,  and  again 
elected  in  1894.  In  criminal  litigation  as  well  as  in  civil  practice  Mr. 
Barnes  has  been  successful  in  an  eminent  degree— the  number  of  crim- 
inals sent  to  the  penitentiary  at  Lansing  through  his  efforts  furnish- 
ing indubitable  proof  in  the  one  case  and  the  flattering  increase  in  the 
number  of  his  clients  indicating  his  popularity  as  an  attorney.  Mr. 
Barnes  has  been  mentioned  as  an  available  and  possible  candidate  for 
the  judgeship  of  this,  the  35th  judicial  district.  Though  reluctant  to 
make  the  race  the  people  may  yet  present  arguments  so  forcible  as  to 
insure  his  candidacy— and  election. 


DR.  0.  S.  CHESTER 

Was  born  at  Fairfield,  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  June  1,  1866.  Was 
educated  at  the  Des  Moines  High  school,  and  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, at  Mt.  Pleasant.  Took  a  course  in  medicine  at  the  Missouri 
Medical  college,  of  St.  Louis,  supplemented  by  three  courses  at  the 
Marion  Sims  college,  of  the  same  city,  being  a  graduate  of  the  latter 
institution— class  of  1889.  On  September  8,  1891,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  Tescot,  Kansas,  to  Miss  Myrtle  S.  Smith,  three  children  being 
born  to  this  union— Mahrea,  Lynn,  and  Tillie  Clair.  Dr.  Chester  came 
to  Wabaunsee  county  in  December,  1898.  Stands  high  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  in  March,  1902,  was  appointed  by  Governor  Stanley  to  the 
office  of  coroner  of  Wabaunsee  county,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  Dr.  H.  F.  Palenske,  by  reason  of  his  removal  to 
Arkansas.  Dr.  Chester  tilled  the  position  of  county  health  officer  two 
successive  terms,  and  during  the  visitation  of  smallpox  gave  evidence 
to  the  people  of  the  wisdom  of  his  appointment.  For  several  years  has 
been  at  the  head  of  the  Order  of  Maccabees  in  Alma— whicli,  in  itself, 
is  a  certificate  of  good  standing  among  the  people  with  whom  Dr. 
Chester  has  cast  his  lot. 


MR.  HENRY  RONNAU   (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Schleswig  Holstein,  Germany,  March  23,  1841,  Came 
to  America  in  1866  and  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  1868,  settling  on  the 
Pottawatomie  reserve  when  first  thrown  open  to  settlement.  Pete 
and  Henry— Reding  and  Ronnau— took  claims  in  what  is  now  Kaw 


254      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

townsliip  wlieii  their  only  neighbors  were  Indians,  who  had  chosen 
the  best  hinds  for  their  allotments.  On  November  2,  1873,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Frances  Auer,  to  whom 
four  sons  were  born — Frank,  George,  Fred,  and  Edward.  On  August 
;{,  ISy.J,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  died  at  liis  lionie,  in  Kaw  townsliip, 
at  the  age  of  54  years,  4  montlis,  and  11  days.  A  kind  husband  and 
father  had  gone  to  rest.  A  good  citizen,  one  of  our  early  pioneers, 
liad  gone  home  to  that  better  land  beyf)nd  the  grave. 

HENRY  FAUERBACH 

Was  born  in  tlio  Kingdom  of  Hanover.  (Jermany,  September  14, 
1833.  Came  to  America  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Monroe 
county,  Illinois.  Was  raised  here,  getting  his  education  behind  the 
plow.  Came  to  Kansas,  first,  in  185G,  but  went  to  Nebraska  the  same 
year.  Was  employed  by  Majors,  Russell,  and  Waddell,  who  had  the 
contract  for  freigliting  supplies  to  the  military  posts.  Crossed  the 
plains  a  number  of  times  between  the  Missouri  river  and  Salt  Lake. 
In  1S60,  .sought  for  golden  treasures  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado  but 
found  them  not.  Again  tried  freighting — this  time  on  his  own  hook 
— between  the  Missouri  river  and  the  Rocky  Mountains — on  both  the 
Platte  and  Santa  Fe  routes.  On  the  last  trip  loaded  at  Lawrence — 
then  the  terminus  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad— for  New  Mexico. 
Was  corraled  by  Indians  on  Cow  creek  for  eight  days,  the  incident 
being  mentioned  by  Captain  Inman  in  his  book.  Settled  in  Wabaun- 
see county  in  1868,  being  one  of  the  first  white  settlers  on  the  Potta- 
watomie reserve,  soon  after  the  Indian  lands  were  opened  for  .settle- 
ment. 

Has  made  a  success  of  farming  on  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
Mill  creek  valley.  Follows  up-to-date  methods.  Has  rai.sed  a  wortliy 
family  of  sons  and  daughters,  who  have  inherited  a  competence  that 
includes  the  many  good  qualities  of  one  of  Waliaunsee  county's  leading 
citizens. 


S.  A.  BALDWIN 


Was  born  in  Meriden,  Connecticut,  June  29,  1827.  When  but  three 
years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  New  Britain,  Conn.  Attended 
school  here  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  accepted  a  position  as 
clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  his  uncle,  J.  G.  Baldwin,  in  his  store  at 
Middletown.  Remained  with  his  uncle  four  years  when  he  purchased 
an  interest  in  a  manufacturing  concern  located  at  Branford,  Conn., 
having  charge  of  the  packing  and  shipping  department.  To  better 
distribute  tlie  goods  manufactured  by  the  firm  (locks  of  all  de.scrip- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      255 


lions,  door  knobs,  etc.)  a  store  was  opened  in  New  York  City,  Mr. 
Baldwin  taking  charge.  After  two  years  here  disposed  of  a  part  of 
liis  interest  and  came  to  Kansas  as  a  member  of  the  "Connecticut 
Colony,"  ory:anized  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Lines,  of  New  Haven.  The  colony 
started  early  in  the  spring  of  1856.  The  party  outfitted  at  Kansas 
City,  purchasing  teams  and  supplies,  and  in  due  time  arrived  at 
Walxiunsee.  near  which  place  Mr.  Baldwin  has  since  resided.  In  the 
fall  Mr.  Baldwin  returned  East  and  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Augusta 
Barnes,  of  New  Haven.  In  the  spring  of  1857  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin 
came  West  and  lived  in  a  tent  until  the  completion  of  their  house. 

Besides  tilling  the  office  of  township  treasurer  for  seven  years  Mr. 
Baldwin  was  one  of  the  trustees  having  in  charge  the  building  of  the 
Wamego  bridge  across  Kansas  river,  has  served  several  years  as  deputy 
clerk  of  the  district  court,  was  twice  elected  register  of  deeds— 1863 
and  1S()5:  was  appointed  county  clerk  on  the  death  of  Mr.  H.  M.  Sel- 
den.  in  July,  1865,  and  served  two  terms  as  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature— faithful  service  in  these  several  offices  of  trust  securing 
for  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  citizens  an  enviable 
place  in  the  esteem  of  his  constituents. 


ROBERT  SIMIVIONS 


Was  born  August  10,  1845,  in. St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Moved  with  his 
pirents  to  Illinois  in  the  early  fifties.  Was  married  in  1874  to  Miss 
Caroline  A.  Blaksley,  of  Crystal  Lake,  Henry  county,  Illinois.  Came 
to  I-Cansas  in  1879,  locating  at  Eskridge,  where  the  family  has  since 
resided.  During  the  war  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  17th  Illinois  Cavalry,  and 
now  holds  the' position  of  Adjutant  of  W.  H.  Earl  Post,  No.  75.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Simmons  are  estimable  people.  Their  only  daughter.  Miss 
Josie  May,  is  a  young  lady  of  rare  accomplishments — one  of  the  gradu- 
ates of  the  Eskridge  schools,  class  of  1892.    See  illustration. 


L.  M.  CHRISTY 


Was  born  at  Leetonia,  Ohio,  April  6,  1873.  Came  with  his  parents 
to  Kansas  in  1879.  Was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Manhattan. 
Learned  the  printer's  trade  and  has  mastered  the  most  intricate  prob- 
lems that  confront  the  progressive  printer.  Was  for  three  years  fore- 
man of  the  Alma  Signal  office  and  for  a  year  past  has  been  foreman  of 
the  Eskridge  Star.  In  the  battle  of  life  Mr.  Christy  has  set  an  example 
worthy  of  emulation— especially  to  young  men  thrown  on  their  own 
resources.  On  April  23,  1902,  Mr.  Christy  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Minnie  Paige,  an  accomplished  young  lady  of  Eskridge. 


25(3      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


GEORGE  SUTHERLAND 

Was  born  in  Marshall,  Michigan,  July  27,  1861,  removing  with  liis 
parents  to  Minnesota  when  but  six  years  of  age.  Came  to  Kansas  in 
1871,  his  parents  locating  in  Franklin  county.  In  1878  Mr.  Sutherland 
came  to  Alma,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  saddler  and  liarness 
maker  witli  Mr.  Henry  Pippert.  In  September,  1883,  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Augusta  M.  Wendland,  six  children,  a  son  and  five 
daughters,  being  born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Sutherland  is  serving  his 
fourth  year  as  a  member  of  tlie  school  board  and  his  fifth  term  as 
mayor  of  Alma — the  best  of  indications  that  he  has  the  confidence  of 
the  people,  liesides  a  substantial  business  house  Mr.  Sutherland  owns 
one  of  the  many  handsome  residences  in  Alma.    See  illustration. 


JOHN  SCHWANKE  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  January  (5,  18.%.  Came  to  America 
when  but  17  years  of  age.  Three  years  later  came  to  Kansas,  locating 
on  South  Branch  of  Mill  creek.  On  February  2,  1862,  was  married  to 
Miss  Wilhelmina  Hankammer,  ten  children  being  born  to  this  union, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living— Charles,  William,  Henry,  Mrs.  Achah 
Schreiber,  Mrs.  Emma  Koch,  Mrs.  Clara  Schreiber,  and  Misses  Mary 
and  Anne.     Mr.  Schwanke  died  on  July  15,  1887. 

Mr.  Schwanke  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Farmer  township- 
then  Alma  township— and  during  his  life  was  a  man  of  much  influence. 
In  February,  187,3,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Moltke  (Cobb),  on 
the  mail  line  from  Alma  to  Council  Grove,  holding  the  office  until  it 
was  discontinued  by  reason  of  a  lack  of  patronage  resulting  from  the 
building  of  the  M.  A.  &  B.  Railway. 


M.  F.  TRIVETT 

Was  born  at  Jefferson,  Ashe  county,  North  Carolina,  July  10,  1845. 
The  education  received  at  Jefferson  Academy  was  supplemented  by  a 
college  course  at  Independence,  Virginia.  Received  his  first  medical 
education  at  Jefferson,  followed  by  a  course  of  lectures  at  Newburn. 
North  Carolina.  Is  also  a  graduate  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  at  St.  Louis.  After  practicing  one  year  at  Elk  Cross  Roads, 
North  Carolina,  came  West  in  1874— driving  overland.  Was  six  months 
on  the  road.  Was  looking  for  a  location  and  as  his  funds  were 
exhausted  concluded  to  stop— especially  as  the  country  in  the  vicinity 
of  Eskridge  seemed  to  possess  all  the  requisites  of  an  ideal  liome. 
Bought  the  Sam  Waldo  homestead,  a  half  mile  .south  of  the  "Corners," 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      257 


and  engaged  in  farming  in  conjunction  with  tlie  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. Has  been  eminently  successful  as  a  physician.  Was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Eskridge  State  Rank  and  has  ever  since  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  and  a  heavy  stockholder  of  the  bank. 
Besides  several  fine  farms,  Dr.  Trivett  owns  one  of  the  many  hand- 
some homes  in  Eskridge  and  is  ever  at  the  front  in  advancing  the 
material  interests  of  the  city— near  which  he  located  nearly  thirty 
years  ago  and  in  which  he  built  the  first  house. 

I 


IVIR  W.  D.  DEANS  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  at  Moscow,  Illinois,  October  12,  1826.  Came  to  Alma  in 
1883,  but  kept  a  store  at  Albion  Postotlice,  near  the  present  site  of 
Alta  Vista  several  years  before  moving  to  the  county  seat.  Was 
county  surveyor  four  terms  and  was  again  the  nominee  for  that  office 
when  tiie  end  came.  Was  a  member  of  the  city  council  several  years 
and  was  mayor  of  Alma  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
October  10,  1897.  Was  also  vice-president  and  one  of  the  directors  of 
of  the  Alma  State  Bank  when  Death  called  him  from  his  earthly 
cares.  Nine  children  survived  him,  six  of  whom  lived  in  Kansas- 
Rev.  John  Deans,  of  Lyon  county,  David,  for  several  years  foreman  of 
tlie  Signal  office,  Oscar,  one  of  our  teachers,  Charlie,  living  in  Texas, 
Mr.s.  Mollie  Riley,  of  Wichita,  and  Mrs.  Ida  Brady,  of  Manhattan. 
Mr.  Deans  was  one  of  of  Alma's  most  highly  esteemed  citizens- 
honored  as  few  men  have  been  honored  and  worthy  of  every  honor 
bestowed  upon  him. 


WILLIAM  PROTHERO 

Was  born  In  Baltimore,  Maryland,  but  lived  several  years  near 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  Emigrated  to  Rock  River  Valley,  near  Ster- 
ling, Illinois,  in  1840.  In  1859  was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention, 
at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  .John  M.  Palmer  presided.  Witnessed 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois.  Among  the  del- 
egates present  were  Abraham  Lincoln,  Richard  Yates,  "Long  John" 
Wentworth.  and  Colonel  Bissell,  who  received  the  nomination  as  first 
republican  candidate  for  governor.  The  convention  put  forward  the 
name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  U.  S.  Senator.  The  great  debate  be- 
tween Lincoln  and  Douglas  followed  and  resulted  in  the  election  of 
Lincoln  to  the  presidency.  For  thirty-five  years  Mr.  Prothero  has 
made  his  home  in  Wilmington.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
elected  and  re-elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  is  one  of  our  leading 
citizens. 


258      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  JOHN  COPP     Dec'd) 

Was  born  at  Steinheini,  Province  of  WiirtemV^urg,  Germany, 
December  31,  1832.  I'ame  to  America  with  his  uncle,  John  Copp, 
when  but  1(5  years  old,  locatiiiK^  at  Reading.  Pennsylvania.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1856,  and  in  the  following  year  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Mauzenbrinck,  whose  parents  pre-empted  the  land  afterwards  sold  to 
Christian  AVert/.berger.  Mr.  Copp  lived  first  on  the  Finney  rancli, 
near  Halifax,  then  at  Copp"s  station,  near  Eskridge,  on  tlie  Topeka 
and  Council  Grove  mail  route,  but  later  at  Paxico.  In  his  day  but  few 
men  in  the  county  wielded  greater  inlluence.  Was  county  commis- 
sioner from  1870  to  1872— a  stormy  period  in  our  county's  history.  He 
was  a  man  of  firm  convictions,  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  his 
friends,  and  his  few  enemies  always  knew  where  to  tind  hitn— always 
striking  out  from  the  shouldei'.  irrespective  of  ccmsequences  to  himself 
as  well  as  those  arrayed  against  him  in  a  cause  he  considered  just  and 
right.  Mr.  Copp  died  March  10,  1888,  at  San  Diego,  California,  highly 
esteemed  by  all. 


LARDNER  J.  IVIcCRUIVlB 

Was  born  in  Mercer,  now  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  March 
30,  1843.  Received  as  good  educational  advantages  as  the  country 
alforded.  Enlisted  in  the  83rd  Pennsylvania  Infantry  on  August  19. 
1861.  Discharged  for  disability  INlarch,  1863.  Re-enlisted  in  June  and 
participated  in  the  Gettysburg  campaign.  Enlisted  for  the  third  time 
in  February,  1864,  in  the  14th  Pa.  Cavalry,  and  mustered  out  at  Fort 
Leavenworth  in  November,  1865.  In  March,  1870,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jennie  A.  F>aiker,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
Barker,  of  Mission  creek.  Besides  farming,  Mr.  McCrumb  has  madf 
a  spejcialty  of  the  best  breeds  of  horses,  meeting  with  financial  success 
in  whatever  he  has  undertaken.  Has  also  been  successful  from  a 
political  standpoint,  having  been  elected  representative  in  1878,  and 
re-elected  in  1880.  Is  president  of  the  Alma  National  Bank,  and 
resides  in  one  of  the  prettiest  homes  in  the  Mill  creek  valley,  one  and 
a  half  miles  east  of  McFarland. 


JOHN  LUDWIG  SCHEPP 

Was  boiii  on  a  farm  near  Manhattan,  October  29,  1867.  l)ut  ha.s 
lived  in  Wabaunsee  county  the  greater  part  of  his  life— on  Illinois 
creek,  or  the  Muehlenbacher  branch  of  Mill  creek,  where  his  mother 
owns  2.000  acres  of  the  best  land    in   Wabaunsee  countv.   besides  i)2o 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      259 


acres  in  Lyon  county.  :{50  acres  of  this  land  is  in  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  2,000  acres  is  the  best  of  pasture,  on  which  1,500  head  of 
cattle  range,  in  addition  to  300  head  belonging  on  the  farm.  The  bal- 
ance is  covered  with  the  finest  growth  of  timber  in  Wabaunsee  county. 
•'Louie,"  as  he  is  always  called,  lives  with  his  mother  in  one  of  the 
three  large  stone  houses  on  the  farm,  deals  largely  in  cattle,  and  is  one 
of  the  slirewdest  business  men  in  the  county.  Is  always  ready  to 
accommodate  a  friend  with  a  loan  at  reasonable  rates  and  was  never 
known  to  oppress  a  creditor.  Besides  being,  prospectively,  one  of  the 
wealtiiiest  men  in  Wabaunsee  county.  Louis  possesses  the  grit  that 
will  enable  him  to  protect  his  holdings  even  under  the  most  trying 
circumstances,  as  was  proven  on  March  17.  189-4,  when  liis  Uncle  Peter 
was  shot  down  at  the  old  home,  wliere  for  years  the  tliree  bachelor 
brothers,  Louis,  F'red,  and  Peter  Muehlenbacher,  lived  with  their 
sister,  on  what,  is  perhat)S  the  largest  and  best  farm  owned  by  a  single 
indivi<iua]  in  Wabaunsee  county. 


THOMAS   MANEY 

Was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  Dec.  21,  1844.  Came  to 
America  in  18(51,  entering  tlie  quartermaster's  employ  at  Fort  Leaven- 
wortl).  In  1864  went  to  St.  Mary's,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Josephine  Iligbee,  at  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  Feb- 
ruary 28.  1868.  In  1873,  located  on  Weils  creek,  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maney  have  eight  children,  four  sons,  Alva, 
Maurice,  Thomas,  and  Joseph,  and  four  daughters,  Margaret, 
Catherine,  Mary,  and  Alice.  Mr.  IVIaney  owns  a  good  farm  and  deals 
extensively  in  live  stock.  Has  an  interesting  family  and  is  one  of 
those  men  of  whom  it  is  truly  said— "has  a  heart  in  him  as  big  as  an 
ox.v  In  other  words,  is  a  man  generous  by  nature  and  warm  hearted 
l)ecause  he  was  born  that  way. 


AUGUST    FALK 


Was  born  in  (iroszei'lang,  Brandenburg,  Germany,  on  February  21, 
1849.  Came  to  America  in  1870— coming  direct  to  Wabaunsee  county. 
Aug.  5,  1872,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Malinda  Fix,  six  children, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters  being  born  to  this  union:  George,  Paul, 
Henry,  and  Elmer,  and  Mrs.  Laura  Smith  and  Miss  Rosa.  (See  illus- 
tration.) Mr.  FaJk  is  a  stone  mason  and  marble  cutter,  being  pro- 
prietor of  the  Alma  Marble  Works,  that  from  a  small  beginning  has 
attained  more  than  local  celebrity— there  being  much  demand  for 
tombstones  and  memorial  tablets  of  his  handiwork  in  cemeteries  far 
removed  from  his  pleasent  home  in  the  outskirts  of  Alma. 


2G0      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


JOHN   WINKLER 

Was  born  in  Gettingen,  Hanover,  Germany,  August  26,  1828.  On 
March  (i,  1860,  was  united  in  marriatre  to  Miss  Lena  Martin,  to  whom 
six  children  were  born:  Mrs.  Augusta  Eldridge,  and  Mrs.  Amelia 
Weaver,  who  were  born  in  Germany,  and  Robert,  Artliur,  Otto,  and 
Mrs.  Lena  McCrumb,  who  were  born  in  America— Robert  being  the 
first  white  child  born  in  Alma.  Mr.  Winkler  came  to  America  in  1866, 
coming  direct  to  Kansas,  to  tlie  home  of  liis  cousin,  Mr.  Joseph  Trcu. 
(deceased.)  For  eighteen  years  Mr.  Winkler  was  adjutant  of  the 
Hanover  Curassieurs,  and  was  an  active  participant  in  the  Austro- 
Pru.ssian  war,  Hanover  espousing  the  cause  of  Austria.  When  the 
Hanover  troops  capitulated  to  tiie  Prussian  army,  Mr.  Winkler  was 
among  those  paroled  and  came  to  America.  Built  the  first  liotel  in 
Alma,  wliicli  he  sold  to  Mr.  Ed.  Krapp  and  went  to  Maple  Hill,  where 
he  was  elected  trustee  on  the  organization  of  tluit  township.  Returned 
to  Alma  and  built  the  Winkler  Hotel  (see  illustration)  that  stood 
where  now  stands  the  New  Commercial.  After  a  few  years  of 
successful  farming,  Mr.  Winkler  returned  to  the  hotel  business,  build- 
ing the  Denver  House  at  McFarland,  wliich  he  sold  to  the  present 
proprietor,  Mr.  trottlieb  NoUer.  Though  in  his  74th  year  Mr.  Winkler 
looks  but  little  more  than  tifty  and  is  as  hearty  and  jovial  as  twenty 
years  ago. 


JAMES  CARROLL 


Was  born  March  14,  1844,  in  the  town  of  Belleville,  Ontaiio,  Canada, 
removing  with  his  parents  a  few  years  later  to  Sidney,  Shelby  county, 
Ohio.  While  a  youth  acquired  a  good  academic  education.  When  the 
war  broke  out  his  patriotic  zeal  prompted  him  to  enter  the  service  of 
ills  country  but  he  was  twice  rejected.  But  his  persistence  was  at  last 
rewarded  and  in  March,  1864,  we  find  him  a  momber  of  Co.  F,  4Tth 
Infantry,  Ohio  A^olunteers.  Tlie  regiment  was  at  once  ordered  to  the 
front  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  after  which  he  was 
taken  prisoner  near  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  March  27,  1865,  and 
confined  as  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  until  the 
following  June.  Though  the  war  was  over,  he,  a  prisoner  was  none 
the  wiser.  On  August  27,  1865,  was  married  to  Miss  M.  E.  Hodge,  to 
which  union  two  children  were  born,  Mr.  Carey  E.  Carroll  and  Mrs. 
Lilia  M.  Huber,  of  DeGratT,  Ohio.  After  the  close  of  the  civil  war  Mr. 
Carroll  entered  upon  tlie  study  of  the  law  in  the  ollice  of  Mf  .-tin  ^ 
McKercher,  being  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  bar  at  Lima,  Ohio.  I' 
1880  located  in  Alma,  this  being  his  tjrst  and  last  change  of  resi:leno. 
On  May  20.  1S85,  Mr.  Carroll  met  his  greatest  misfortune  in  the  dea  i 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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MAIN   STRKKT,    ESKUIDGE,    LOOKING   SOUTH. 


SCHOOL   HOUSE,    ALTA    VISTA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


HOTEL  ALMA,  Mes.  Theeesa  Hoese,  Proprietress. 


MISSOURI  STREET,  ALMA,  Looking  south  from  Hotel  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


WINKLER'S  HOTEL,  ALMA,  1S80. 


THE  COURT-HOUSE,  ALMA,  1880. 


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LOWER   MISSOURI  STREET,  ALMA,  1880. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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V. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      261 


of  Mrs.  Carroll.  Since  his  residence  in  Alma  Mr.  Carroll  has  been  one 
of  our  most  successful  attorneys.  He  has  been  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  department  of  the  interior  and  has  assisted  many  of  his  former 
comrades  in  securing  pensions  for  services  rendered  their  country  in 
the  hour  of  need. 


A.  A.  COTTRELL 


Was  born  in  Meredith,  Delaware  county,  New  York,  in  1835.  Was 
educated  at  Delaware  Aca'demy,  Delhi,  New  York.  Came  to  Kansas 
in  1856,  with  the  New  Haven  colony.  Was  one  of  the  committee  that 
located  the  company  at  Wabaunsee.  Enlisted  in  Co.  E,  10th  Illinois 
Infantry  at  first  call  for  troops.  Afterwards  re-enlisted  in  Co.  G,  1st 
Illinois  Cavalry.  Was  taken  prisoner  five  different  times  by  General 
Price.  In  1862  was  united  in  marriage  at  Mendon,  Illinois,  to  Miss 
Martha  Piatt,  nine  children,  six  daughters  and  three  sons,  being  born 
to  this  union.  Seven  of  the  children  are  graduates  of  the  Kansas 
State  Agricultural  College,  at  Manhattan,  and  the  other  two  will  soon 
add  their  names  to  the  list  of  graduates.  Mr.  Cottrell  is  an  up-to-date 
farmer  who  has  made  a  success  of  his  calling,  and  one  of  our  oldest 
and  most  exemplary  citizens. 


GUS  THIERER 

Was  born  in  Weston,  Platte  county,  Missouri,  November  22,  1851. 
Came  to  Kansas  when  but  five  years  of  age  with  his  parents,  who 
located  in  Geary  county.  In  1869,  came  to  Wabaunsee  county  and  in 
August,  1874,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rosa  Fix,  five  children, 
three  sons,  F.  C,  John  B.,  and  Geo.  W.,  and  two  daughters.  Misses 
Mamie  and  Lottie,  being  born  to  this  union.  Besides  a  farm  of  400 
acres  on  West  branch,  Mr.  Thierer  owns  another  fine  farm  of  410  acres 
on  McDowell  creek,  in  Geary  county.  This  progressive  farmer,  with 
his  estimable  family  resides  in  one  of  the  many  pretty  homes  on  West 
branch  of  Mill  creek,  seven  miles  southwest  of  Alma. 


WILLIAM  HORNE,  SR. 

Was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  June  30,  1833,  coming  to  America 
with  his  parents  when  but  threeyears of  age.  Located  in  Jo  Daviess 
county,  Illinois,  but  later,  moved  to  Wisconsin.  In  1852  joined 
the  throng  of  gold-seekers  wending  their  w^ay  to  California.  Was 
married  in  San  Francisco  in  1857,  and  returned  by  way  of  the  Isthmus 
to  his  former  home  in  Wisconsin.    Two  years  later  the  discovery  of 


262      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

new  gold  fields  drew  him  to  the  mountains  of  Colorado,  his  young  wife 
accompanying  him  on  the  trip  to  the  mountains  and  to  his  present 
home  in  Kansas  in  the  fall  of  1859.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ilorne  have  four 
sons  and  four  daughters.  The  family  is  pleasantly  located  on  a  well 
stocked  farm  of  1,100  acres  on  the  head  of  Spring  creek,  where  in  the 
days  when  the  mails  were  carried  on  horseback  from  Alma  to  Junction 
City  Mr.  Home  was  postmaster  at  Elvenia.  Tliough  nearing  the 
three  score  and  ten  mark  Mr.  Home  is  stout  and  hearty  and  as  genial 
as  in  the  days  of  long  ago. 


S.  H.  FAIRFIELD 


Was  bom  September  4,  1833,  in  Middleton,  E.s.sex  county,  Massa- 
chusetts. Went  to  Minden,  Illinois,  in  1856,  reaching  Kansas  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year,  selecting  a  claim  near  Wabaun.see.  In  1860 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  M.  H.  Burt,  of  Tabor,  Iowa.  Return- 
ing to  Kansas  he  was,  in  1861,  elected  doorkeeper  of  the  state  senate, 
also  of  the  high  court  of  impeachment.  In  September,  1861,  enlisted 
in  Co.  K,  11th  Kansas  Volunteers,  Was  detailed  as  clerk  at  regi- 
mental headquarters,  and  subsequently  assigned  to  duty  as  postmaster 
of  his  division  and  the  army  of  the  border.  In  1863,  had  entire  charge 
of  the  military  mail  in  Kan.sasCity,  for  Missouri,  Kansas,  and  Colo- 
rado.* Rejoined  his  company  in  1864,  the  regiment  then  being  cavalry, 
and  served  as  corporal  till  1865,  when  he  was  detailed  as  clerk  in  the 
quartermaster's  department  of  the  frontier.  During  the  same  year 
rejoined  his  company  at  Horse  Shoe,  Wyoming  Territory,  where  he 
remained  while  subduing  the  hostile  Sioux.  Was  mu.stered  out  at 
Fort  Leavenworth,  September  15,  1865.  While  in  the  army  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Maysville,  Cane  Hill,  Prairie  Grove,  Van  Buren, 
Lexington,  and  the  Big  Blue.  In  1865,  was  elected  county  clerk, 
county  treasurer  in  1867  and  1869.  Also  to  the  office  of  register  of 
deeds  the  same  year,  which  office  he  continued  to  hold  'till  January, 
1886.  Was  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Alma  Union  two  years.  Wns 
a  member  of  the  court  house  building  committee  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  building  the  Congregational  church,  being  the  first  Sunday 
school  superintendent.  Mr.  Fairfield  owns  a  pleasant  residence  in 
Alma  besides  several  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county.  He  is  largely 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business  and  has  always  been  at 
the  front  in  advancing  any  public  enterpri.se. 

*An  item  in  the  Kansas  City  Journal  in  December,  1863,  says:  Mr. 
Fairfield,  postmaster  at  headquarters,  keeps  himself  informed  of  the 
location  of  the  various  regiments  and  companies,  and  forwards  all 
mail  for  officers  and  soldiers  without  delay.  The  arrangement  uf 
mail  matters  for  convenience  of  those  in  the  service,  seems  to  be 
about  perfect. 


] 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      263 


PROSPER  E.  LEONARD 

Was  born  in  Luxemburg,  Belgium,  July  18,  1850.  When  but  two 
years  of  age  his  parents  came  to  America,  locating  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  received  a  good  education  in  the  county  schools. 
In  April,  1879,  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  May  Seurmour.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1884,  locating  in  Wabaunsee  township.  Owns  a  good  farm 
of  400  acres  neur  Alma.  Is  superintendent  of  the  county  Poor  Farm, 
a  position  to  which  he  has  been  appointed  five  times  in  succession — 
the  best  evidence  of  satisfactory  work,  by  an  honest,  conscientious 
official. 


CURTIS  IM.  LOWRY 


Was  born  January  30,  1875,  in  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania. 
When  but  three  years  of  age  came  to  Kansas  with  his  parents,  who 
located  in  Dickinson  county.  Mr.  Lowry  was  educated  at  the  Dickin- 
son county  High  school,  of  which  he  is  a  graduate.  Is  also  a  graduate 
of  the  Kansas  State  Normal  school,  at  Emporia.  Has  taught  school 
live  terms.  Was  principal  of  the  Eskridge  schools  two  years,  graduat- 
ing a  class  of  fourteen  in  the  class  of  1902.  Is  a  young  man  of  excep- 
tional character  and  ability  and  that  the  future  has  much  in  store  for 
him  is  unquestioned. 


DOW  BUSENBARK 

Was  born  at  Jonesboro,  Grant  county,  Indiana,  November  7,  1853. 
Came  with  his  parents  to  Kansas  March  1,  1860,  locating  in  Jefferson 
county,  but  came. to  Wabaunsee  county  in  1878.  On  August  14,  1876, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Olive  A.  Coxen,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters  being  born  to  this  union.  Was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Kansas,  supplemented  by  a  course  of  normal  work  at  Leba- 
non, Ohio,  and  another  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana.  The  better  part  of 
his  life  was  passed  in  the  school  room,  the  greater  part  of  which  has 
been  in  the  schools  of  Wabaunsee  county.  AVas  elected  county  super- 
intendent of  schools  for  Wabaunsee  county,  in  November,  1896,  and 
re-elected  in  November,  1898.  Was  also  appointed  for  the  interim 
of  four  months  resulting  from  the  change  in  the  beginning  of  the 
official  term.  During  his  term  of  office  began  the  publication  of  the 
"Teacher,  Patron,  and  Pupil,"  the  first  number  being  Issued  in  Octo- 
ber, 1897,  continuing  the  publication  until  April,  1900.  Purchased  and 
began  publishing  the  Eskridge  Star  in  March,  1900,  in  which  business 
he  has  ever  since  been  engaged.    Mr.  Busenbark  has  made  for  himself 


264      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

an  excellent  reputation  as  a  teacher,  was  even  more  successful  in  the 
office  of  county  superintendent,  and  as  editor  of  the  Star  has  done 
much  to  raise  the  standard  of  journalism. 


JAMES  IVl.  LEE 

Was  born  in  Manslield,  England,  March  26,  1852,  coming  with  his 
parents  to  America  when  but  an  infant.  Was  educated  in  the  city 
schools  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  On  September  20,  1871,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  M.  Shaw,  four  children,  two  sons,  James 
H.  and  Elmer  William,  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  C.  C.  McMichael  and 
Miss  Grace,  being  born  to  this  union.  Besides  240  acres  of  excellent 
farm  land,  Mr.  Lee  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the  best  appointed  stores  in 
Eskridge,  located  in  the  first  story  of  the  Woodman  Hall  building. 
The  official  honors  that  have  fallen  on  Mr.  Lee's  shoulders  are  the 
best  Indications  of  the  degree  of  confidence  reposed  in  one  of  Wabaun- 
see county's  best  known  citizens.  Twice  elected  township  treasurer, 
for  four  years  city  treasurer,  and  twice  elected  mayor  of  Eskridge  it 
wasn't  difficult  to  find  in  Mr.  Lee  the  material  for  county  treasurer, 
to  which  office  he  was  twice  elected— in  1895  and  again  in  1897 — being 
for  four  years  one  of  our  most  popular  officials. 


MR.  ANDREW  PRINGLE,  SR.  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  In  Melrose,  Scotland,  October  28,  1827.  Came  to  America 
in  1857,  settling  in  Canada,  but  removing  to  Kansas  in  1870— to  the 
farm  near  Harveyville,  where  he  died,  March  15,  1889,  leaving  to 
mourn  his  loss,  a  wife  and  five  sons:  Andrew,  William,  John  W., 
James  T.,  and  Robert— all  estimable  citizens.  Mr.  Pringle  was  a  man 
of  strict  integrity,  highly  esteemed  by  all  as  a  conscientious,  Christian 
gentleman. 


MR.  C.  B.  LINES  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  March  12,  1807..  Was 
married  July  18,  1829,  to  Miss  Maria  Woodard.  Came  to  Wabaunsee 
county  at  the  head  of  the  Connecticut  colony,  in  March,  1856,  locating 
at  Wabaunsee.  Mr.  Lines  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions  and  the 
strictest  integrity — a  leader  among  men.  Besides  his  wife  he  left,  to 
mourn  his  loss,  three  daughters— Mesdames  Geo.  S.  Burt,  J.  P.  Evans, 
and  I.  H.  Lsbell. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      265 


WILLIAM  M.  RINEHART 

Was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  September  6,  1839.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1870,  locating  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  one  mile 
east  of  Eskridge.  For  a  number  of  years  kept  a  country  store  at 
"The  Corners"— long  before  the  advent  of  the  railroad.  On  November 
28,  1860,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Riley,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters  being  born  to  this  union.  During  the  Civil  war  Mr. 
Rineliart  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Co.  F,  121st  Ohio  Infantry,  and  for 
two  years  was  a  marine  on  the  steamer  Baltic.  During  the  Spanish 
war  one  of  his  sons  was  a  member  of  the  "Rough  Riders."  Three  of 
tlie  four  children  are  now  residents  of  Montana.  In  1898  Mr.  Rinehart 
was  elected  to  the  legislature,  the  nomination  coming  to  him  unsolic- 
ited. Is  an  experienced  horticulturist,  a  good  citizen  and  as  a  member 
of  the  legislature  made  a  clean  record — always  bearing  in  mind  the 
interests  of  his  constituents. 


MR.  CHRISTIAN  KUENZLI  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  August  20,  1831,  in  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland.  Came 
to  America  in  1850,  locating  at  Highland,  Illinois.  Was  married  in 
1853  to  Miss  Magdalena  Moser,  of  Highland.  In  1856,  moved  to  Buch- 
anan county,  Missouri,  and  in  1859  came  to  Wabaunsee  county,  loca- 
ting on  the  farm  where  he  died  on  July  10,  1899.  No  man  was  held  in 
higher  esteem  by  his  neighbors  and  the  death  of  no  one  could  be  more 
universally  regretted.  At  the  Kueiizli  home  hospitality  was  for  years 
dispensed  with  a  generous  hand  and  those  in  need  of  substantial 
assistance  were  never  turned  away  if  it  was  possible  for  Christian 
Kuenzli  to  lend  a  helping  hand. 


LaFAYETTE  RICHARDS 

Was  born  in  Wyoming  county.  New  York,  June  12,  1834.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1880,  locating  in  Rock  Creek  township,  this  county.  On 
February  28,  1855,  was  married  to  Miss  Cynthia  Spinck,  two  sons  and 
four  daughters  being  b(n-n  to  this  union.  Mr.  Richards  is  a  graduate 
of  the  A'arysburg,  New  York,  High  scliool  and  lias  taught  school  four 
terms,  one  of  which  was  in  liis  home  district  on  Rock  creek.  lias 
served  the  people  of  his  townsliip  four  terms  as  trustee  and  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  for  twelve  years.  In  1888  was  elected  probate 
judge  of  AVabaunsce  county,  his  education  and  sound  judgment  emi- 
nently fitting  liim  for  the  duties  of  this  important  otfice. 


26(i      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


GUSTAY  H.  MEIER 

Was  born  on  the  home  farm  near  Halifax,  January  2,  1865. 
Received  a  good,  practical  education  in  the  district  school,  supple- 
mented by  a  course  at  the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  College,  at  Man- 
hattan. In  1887  began  the  study  of  photography  with  L.  Palenske. 
Has  mastered  every  branch  of  the  business  and  is  today  one  of  the 
best  artists  in  the  state — a  fact  proven  by  his  handiwork— seldom 
equaled  and  never  excelled. 


DAVID  M. GARDNER 


Was  born  in  New  York  City,  July  4,  1850,  coming  to  Illinois  in 
1863  and  six  years  later  to  AVabannsee  county.  On  November  23,  1873, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  S.  CrTindall,  of  Mission  creek, 
a  son  and  a  daughter  being  born  to  this  union.  In  1877,  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Wabaunsee  county  and  re-elected  in  1879;  and  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  clerk  in  1881,  filling  with  credit  two  of  the  most 
important  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people.  Has  resided  in  Alma  since 
his  first  election  to  a  county  office  and  is  the  present  incumbent  in  the 
office  of  city  marshal.  His  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Flora  Taylor,  was,  for 
several  years,  a  popular  teacher  in  the  Alma  city  schools. 


ROSS  C.  McCORIVIICK 

Was  born  in  Knoxville,  Iowa,  April  1,  1872.  Came  to  Kansas  with 
his  parents  in  1879,  the  family  locating  at  Phillipsburg.  Is  a  graduate 
of  the  Phillipsburg  High  School,  also,  of  the  Nickerson  Normal  Col- 
lege, at  Nickerson,  Kansas.  Has  taught  school  three  years,  one  of 
which  was  principal  of  the  Alma  City  schools,  making  for  himself  a 
most  excellent  record  as  a  teacher  and  disciplinarian.  Being  a  young 
man  of  acknowledged  ability  and  excellent  judgment  his  success  in 
the  battle  of  life  is  assurred. 


CHARLES  MUCKENTHALER 

Was  born  July  30,  1876,  at  Newbury,  Kansas.  Supplemented  a 
course  in  the  common  schools  by  a  four  years  course  at  St.  Marys  Col- 
lege, of  which  excellent  institution  he  is  a  graduate.  June  12,  1900. 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bernadina  Kolde,  an  accomplished 
young  lady  of  Newbury.  In  1897,  became  a  member  of  the  Paxico 
Lumber  Company,  the  company  adding  a  stock  of  hardware  in  1899. 
Mr.  Muckenthaler  is  a  young  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and,  com- 
bined with  excellent  business  qualifications  there  need  be  no  hesitancy 
in  predicting  for  him  a  bright  and  successful  future. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      267 


J.  M.  JOHNSON 

Was  born  in  Mount  Carmel,  Fleming  county,  Kentuclcy,  May  4, 
1836,  moving  witli  his  parents  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  October, 
1849.  Worked  in  a  tan-yard  until  sixteen  years  of  age  and  then  started 
out  to  be  a  farmer.  In  September,  1858,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Susan  M.  Fields.  Came  to  Kansas  in  1865,  settling  in  Wabaunsee 
county.  Was  elected  representative  in  1871.  Has  held  the  offices  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  townsliip  treasurer,  and  township  clerk.  Since 
coming  to  Kansas  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
Made  a  good  record  in  the  legislature;  is  successful  as  a  farmer  and 
one  of  our  best  citizens. 


DAVID  F.  CLAYTON 


Was  born  in  Sidney,  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  October  6,  1851.  In  1875, 
went  to  Illinois.  On  September  15,  1872,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Martha  Carroll.  Came  to  Kansas  in  1887,  locating  at  Alma, 
wliere  he  lias  since  resided.  Mr.  Clayton  is  serving  his  ninth  term  as 
township  trustee  and  his  fifth  term  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
Alma— excellent  proof  as  to  the  degree  of  conlldence  reposed  in  him 
as  a  public  official. 


WILLIAM  DIEBALL 


Was  born  in  Germany,  May  29,  1853.  Landed  with  the  family  at 
New  Orleans,  in  1856.  coming  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  the  spring  of 
1857.  On  October  27,  1875,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Hess, 
six  children  being  born  to  this  union,  five  of  whom  still  survive— one 
son,  Emil,  and  four  daughters:  Mrs.  Dora  Barger,  Mrs.  Louise  Diehl, 
and  the  Misses  Caroline  and  Olga.  Mr.  Dieball  owns  a  well  stocked 
farm  of  960  acres  and  has  recently  erected  one  of  the  finest  residences 
in  Wabaunsee  county  (see  illustration).  Though  young  in  years,  when 
the  family  came  to  Kansas,  Mr.  Dieball  has  a  vivid  remembrance  of 
the  many  incidents  of  pioneer  days.  Deer  and  turkeys  were  plentiful, 
he  having  shot  many  of  the  latter  while  in  his  teens.  He  remembers 
that  deer  were  very  tame,  also,  and  that  they  often  shared  with  the 
cattle  their  feed  when  the  weather  was  severe  and  the  grass  covered 
with  snow.  With  his  estimable  family  Mr.  Dieball  enjoys  the  fruits 
of  years  of  toil  and  excellent  management  of  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
Wabaunsee  county. 


268      EARLY. HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


JOHN  SUDWEEKS 

Was  born  in  Canada,  November  20,  1849.  Came  to  Kansas  Auf,nist 
1,  1870.  On  November  23,  1873,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sallie 
M.  Pratt,  to  which  union  four  children  were  born:  Mabel,  John  W., 
James  E.,  and  Charles  P.  Sudweeks.  For  twenty  years  Mr.  Sudweeks 
was  one  of  the  progressive  teacliers  of  Wabaunsee  county,  was 
appointed  county  commissioner  to  till  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  dcatli 
of  Mr.  C.  N.  Earl,  and  was  elected  representative  in  November,  1900, 
being  the  present  incumbent  in  that  important  office— a  convincing 
proof  of  his  high  standing  among  the  people. 


A.  M.  JORDAN 


Was  born  August  29,  1858,  near  Topeka,  Kansas.  Three  years 
before,  his  father,  William  Jordan,  had  come  west  to  help  make  Kan- 
sas a  free  state.  He  died  in  1895,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  with  whom 
he  had  lived  for  many  years  before  the  end  came.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  received  a  good  education,  first,  in  the  county  schools  of 
Shawnee  county,  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  City  High  School  in 
Topeka.  On  September  5,  1894,  Mr.  Jordan  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Luettie  Case,  to  which  union  three  children  were  born,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter.  Since  1885,  Mr.  Jordan  has  been  a  resident  of  Wa- 
baunsee county,  and  during  that  period  has  acquired  a  more  than 
state-wide  reputation  as  a  breeder  of  Poland  China  Swine,  of  best 
families,  and  Plymouth  Rock  Chickens  of  leading  strains.  The 
"Chinquapin  Farm"  is  a  fine  body  of  land  of  440  acres,  well  watered 
and  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  used— a  stock  farm— on 
which  are  raised  and  kept  for  sale  nothing  but  first  class  stock.  By 
the  exercise  of  sound  judgment  and  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  the 
business  Mr.  Jordan  has  attained  that  degree  of  success  at  which  he 
aimed  in  the  beginning.  Brain,  brawn,  and  printer's  ink — for  he  has 
called  all  these  into  requisition — have  brought  customers  from  points 
far  removed  from  the  Chinquapin  farm — known  far  and  wide  as  one  of 
the  best  in  the  state. 


FREDERICK  J.  FREY 

Was  born  June  6,  1864,  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  Received  tlie  benefits 
of  an  excellent  system  of  schools,  supplementing  a  good  common  school 
education  with  a  course  at  Davenport  Academy.  Came  to  Kan.sas  in 
1878,  and  on  April  15,  1896,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Kolde, 
to  which  union  three  children  were  born:  Adelaide,  Theresa,  and 
Frank.    Mr.  Frey  has  served  the  people  of  Newbury  township  one 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      269 


term  as  trustee  and  has  been  constable  since  he  was  old  enough  to 
vote,  his  excellent  work  in  that  office  pointing  him  out  as  the  right 
man  for  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Wabaunsee  county— to  which  important 
office  he  was  elected  in  1899.  Mr.  Frey  has  proven  himself  a  capable 
official.  His  metal  has  more  than  once  been  subjected  to  the  crucial 
tests  essential  to  secure  a  verdict  of  approval.  He  has  served  the 
people  truly  and  well,  and  they  seldom  fail  to  mete  out  to  the  faithful 
that  reward  to  which  they  are  justly  entitled. 


MR.  GEORGE  BERROTH  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  February  8,  1833.  In  1856, 
came  to  America,  locating  in  Pennsylvania.  On  August  24,  1856,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Magdalena  Burkhardt,  in  the  city  of  Phil- 
adelphia. Uame  to  Kansas  in  1869,  locating  in  Pottawatomie  county, 
but  five  years  later  came  to  Wabaunsee  county,  to  the  farm  where  he 
died  on  March  9,  1896.  Mr.  Berroth  was  a  successful  farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  a  man  with  a  kind  heart  and  generous  nature,  elements  in  a 
man's  character  that  insure  the  esteem  of  his  fellows. 


J.  W.  ROBERTSON 

Was  born  in  Flemingsburg,  Kentucky,  January  8,  1866.  Was  edu- 
cated at  Newton,  Illinois.  Came  to  Kansas,  August  1,  1884,  and  six 
years  later  was  imited  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice  L.  Reynard,  to  which 
union  tliree  children  were  born:  Roel  R.,  Donald  B.,  and  William  H. 
Mr.  Robertson  is  a  dealer  in  paints  and  wallpaper.  From  a  small 
business  at  tlie  beginning  he  has  seen  an  infant  industry  grow  to  pro- 
portions seldom  seen  in  a  city  many  times  the  size  of  the  busy  little 
town  of  which  he  is  mayor.  He  has  attained  success  by  hard  work  and 
well  directed  effort. 


W.  T.  ECKLES 


Was  born  at  Mount  Vernon,  Missouri,  July  22,  1868,  and  when  but 
an  infant  came  with  his  parents  to  Kansas.  Is  a  graduate  of  the  State 
Normal  School,  at  Emporia,  but  since  1888  has  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  Mudge  Mercantile  Company.  After  eleven  years  of  faithful 
service  was  installed  as  manager — another  proof  that  merit  wins.  In 
the  year  1900,  Mr.  Eckles  was  mayor  of  Eskridge  and  true  to  his  old  time 
instinct  he  was  again  promoted — on  June  12,  1901,  when  he  was  united 
ill  marriage  to  Miss  Nellie  M.  Kingman.  His  popularity  is  indicated 
by  his  success — in  whatever  he  undertakes. 


270      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


IVIR.  JOHN  ADAM  KRATZER  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  IJavaria,  (iermaiiy,  July  4,  1834.  Came  to  America  in 
1856  and  to  Kansas  in  18()0,  and  four  years  later,  to  Wabaunsee  county. 
Was  educated  at  Vicid,  CJermany.  On  June  25,  1863,  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Louise  Hubcr,  to  which  union  fourteen  children 
were  born,  ten  of  whom  still  survive.  On  Octobers,  1861,  Mr.  Kratzer 
enlisted  in  Co.  M,  5th  Regt.  Oliio  Cavalry,  Capt.  John  Henry,  com- 
manding. On  March  5,  1863,  was  discharged  by  reason  of  physical 
disability.  Besides  an  excellent  farm  of  198  acres  Mr.  Kratzer  left  to 
the  world  ;in  estimable  wife  and  family  of  sons  and  daughters.  With 
hosts  of  friends  and  no  enemies  he  passed  to  the  great  beyond.  His 
memory  was  revered  by  all  and  his  departure  universally  regretted. 


AMOS  T.  TAYLOR 


Was  born  in  West  Virginia,  April  12,  1853,  coming  to  Kansas  with 
his  parents  in  October,  1867.  Celebrated  the  4th  of  July,  in  1878,  by 
being  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  P^'lora  A.  Smitli,  to  which  union 
three  children  were  born.  Became  a  voter  in  Wabaunsee  county  and 
there  is  no  indication  of  a  desire  to  change  his  place  of  residence. 
Besides  a  pleasant  home  owns  valuable  property  interests  in  Eskridge, 
and  just  now  is  in  possession  of  a  certificate  of  good  standing  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity— that  entitles  him  to  the  privilege  of  a  place  in 
the  East. 


CHARLES  H.  BURGETT 

Was  born  in  1869,  atQuincy,  Illinois.  Came  to  Kansas  ten  years 
later  with  his  parents,  who  located  at  McPherst)n,  where  he  received 
the  benetit  of  a  liberal  education.  On  April  10,  1890,  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Doreta  Drebing,  to  which  union  three  children  were 
born— Clyde,  Ralph,  and  Ruth.  Though  owning  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  Kansas,  Mr.  Burgett,  by  reason  of  an  injury  received  in  a  runaway, 
has  opened  a  barber  shop  in  Eskridge,  where  he  is  pleasantly  located 
with  his  family. 


MR.  ANDREW  ANDERSON  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Norway,  January  18,  1818.  Came  to  America  in  1866, 
settling  on  the  north  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  2,  town- 
ship 14,  range  8,  in  Wabaunsee  county,  in  July,  1870.  Mr.  Anderson 
died  in  August,  1883,  at  the  age  of  65  years  and  6  months. 

Mrs.  Anna  Anderson  was  born  October  24,  1819,  and  died  Septem- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      271 


ber  4,  1897,  being  at  the  time  of  her  death  nearly  78  years  of  age.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  were  of  that  class  of  sturdy,  hard  working  people 
who  did  much  to  redeem  Kansas  from  conditions  that  were  responsible 
for  the  name  of  Great  American  Desert.  Besides  an  unsullied  name 
the.se  model  citizens  left  behind  them  the  best  of  legacies— an  estim- 
able family  of  sons  and  daughters. 


IVIARK  PALMER 


Was  born  November  24,  1877,  in  Monroe  county,  Iowa.  Was  edu- 
cated at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Northern 
Indiana  Normal  School,  located  there.  On  August  1,  1899,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  May  F.  Parsonage,  an  accomplished  young 
lady  of  Esl<ridge,  of  which  city  Mr.  Palmer  is  postmaster.  Was 
appointed  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being 
the  youngest  postmaster  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Palmer  is  affable 
as  well  as  capable  and  justly  entitled  to  the  $1,300  salary  allowed  by 
the  department.    ■ 


JERRY  B.  FIELDS 


Was  born  March  1,  1861,  at  Wilmington,  Clinton  county,  Ohio. 
Came  to  Kansas  with  his  parents  in  1865.  Supplemented  a  thorough 
course  of  training  in  the  public  schools  by  a  four  yeai'S  course  at  Wash- 
burn College,  taking  up  mineralogy  as  a  special  branch— much  of  the 
practical  work  of  assaying  being  directly  under  his  supervision.  On 
June  26,  1891,  Mr.  Fields  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Olive  A. 
DeArmond,  for  several  years  a  teacher  in  the  Alma  city  schools. 
Besides  240  acres  of  good  farming  and  grazing  lands  Mr.  Fields  has 
extensive  interests  in  mining  properties  in  Missouri,  Wyoming,  and 
Oregon.  Is  one  of  Alma's  leading  dealers  in  real  estate,  and  is  inde- 
fatigable in  his  efforts  to  please  his  customeis. 


IRA   L.  MORRIS 


Was  born  in  Linn  county,  Missouri,  on  March  16,  1876.  Came  to 
Kansas  November  25,  1892.  A  thorough  elementary  training  in  the 
schools  of  liis  native  state  was  supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  Esk- 
ridge  High  School.  On  January  4,  1897,  Mr.  Morris  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Bessie  May  Luke,  an  accomplished  young  lady  of 
Eskridge.  Is  the  junior  member  of  the  Arm  of  J.  L.  Morris  &  Son, 
and  is  one  of  the  rising  young  business  men  of  Eskridge. 


272      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

OSCAR  SCHMITZ 

Was  born  in  Alma  on  December  26,  1875.  Besides  a  tboroiif^li 
course  in  the  Alma  city  schools  Mr.  Schmitz  is  a  graduate  of  the  Dick- 
inson County  High  School,  located  at  Chapman,  Kansas.  Also  took 
the  law  course  at  Kansas  State  University.  In  June,  1898,  Mr.  Schmitz 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eva  DeArmond,  of  Alma,  who,  for 
several  years  was  a  popular  teacher  in  the  city  schools.  Besides  own- 
ing a  good  farm  of  200  acres  near  Alma,  Mr.  Schmitz  deals  extensively 
in  stock,  and  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice  in  the  courts  of  Wabaunsee 
county,  being  one  of  the  rising  young  attorneys  of  the  city  in  which 
he  first  .saw  the  liglit. 


JOSEPH  SNYDER 

Was  born  December  14,  1860,  Is  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  when  but 
four  years  of  age  removed  witli  his  parents  to  Michigan.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1889.  A  good  educational  training  in  tlie  common  schools 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  one  of  the  best  business  colleges  in 
Michigan— at  Ionia.  On  June  23,  1895,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Agnes  Sluirrai,  to  which  union  one  daughter.  Miss  Lucille,  was 
born.  For  several  years  past  Mr.  .Snyder  has  had  cliarge  of  tl)e  cream- 
ery station  at  Paxico.  Is  a  good  barber  and  an  all  around  luistler  and 
by  strict  attention  to  business  is  winning  success. 


REV.  J.  H.  MUELLER, 

Of  McFarland,  was  born  October  23,  1872,  in  Lincoln,  Missouri. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  September,  1896.  On  November  22nd  of  the  same 
year  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  Boehmer,  to  \v])ich  union 
two  daughters  were  born — Misses  Helen  and  Irene.  In  1890,  Rev. 
Mueller  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  several  congregations  at 
Paxico,  McFarland,  Wells  Creek  and  Wamego,  but  at  the  present  time 
the  pastorate  includes  only  the  charges  at  McFarland  and  Paxico, 
Wamego  and  Wells  Creek  having  become  self-sustaining.  Thougli  the 
congregations  at  Paxico  and  McFarland  are  comparatively  limited  in 
numbers  their  appreciation  of  Rev.  Mueller's  services  are  indicated 
by  tlie  self-sacrilicitig  spirit  shown— in  their  cordial  support  of  their 
popular  minister,  and  by  the  building  of  an  addition  to  the  parsonage 
for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  their  pastor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      273 


Our  Illustrations. 


REV.  KAMP'S  CONFIRMATION  CLASS. 

Named  from  left  to  right:  Herman  Haller,  Mary  Bellinger,  Joseph 
Sanders,  Anna  Steimel,  John  Steimel,  Ella  Schubert,  Gertrude  Schut- 
ter,  John  Dittman,  Frank  Terrass,  Floribert  Eagan,  Emma  Loehr, 
Matilda  Wetzel,  Minnie  Diehl,  John  Wentrode,  Leo  Leonard,  Anna 
Bohn,  Adam  Degenhardt.  These  worthy  young  people  are  members 
of  our  best  families  and  it  may  be  expected  that  in  after  years  they 
will  reflect  credit  on  themselves,  their  parents  and  their  spiritual 
counselor  and  teacher. 


THE  ALMA  LIEDERKRANZ. 

From  left  to  right:  First  tier— standing— Alfred  Umbehr,  Philip 
Birk,  G.  H.  Meier,  Hartman  Bollier.  B.  Buchli,  Conrad  Zehner,  Fred 
Meyer.  Second  tier— seated— Carl  Lang,  H.  R.  Schmidt,  Emil  Beutel, 
Otto  Sawallisch,  Richard  Thoes,  Carl  Schubert,  August  Peters,  Rein- 
hold  Diepenbrock,  August  Ohst,  Fritz  Brunner,  George  Femmel. 

AN  OLD  LANDMARK 

At  Lookout  Station,  four  miles  south  of  Alma.  Just  across  the 
road  was  the  old  sawmill.  Col.  Sanford  had  brought  it  down  from 
Manhattan.  It  had  an  incumbrance  but  a  night  drive  shook  it  off, 
and  before  tlie  sun  went  down  again  the  old  mill  took  a  rest.  Mr. 
Spieker  built  the  log  house  for  Knopf,  who  started  a  store.  Then 
came  Goldstandt  &  Cohen,  followed  by  "Butter-Hanness."  His  other 
name  was  John  or  Hans,  but  because  he  took  butter  in  trade  he  was 
known  far  and  wide  as  "Butter-Hanness."  Then  came  Wm.  Sol- 
scheid,  before  building  his  store  in  Alma.  Col.  Sanford  boarded  at 
Ed.  Krapp's  and  a  lawsuit  of  six  years  duration  was  the  sequel. 
Ed.  got  judgment  for  $800  and  the  old  mill  was  sold  for  scrap 
iron.  Spieker  ran  the  postoffice  in  the  log  cabin  in  the  ravine  north 
of  the  old  station.  But  in  the  fall  of  1866  Alma  was  voted  the  county 
seat  and  naturally  wanted  a  post  office  nearer  home.  The  driver  on 
the  Americus  and  Wamego  mail  line  reported  in  favor  of  Alma  and 
one  day  Mr.  August  Meyer  got  his  commission  and  went  out  and  got 
the  records.  Then  the  county  officers  got  their  mail  at  home— Alma 
had  taken  another  step  forward— it  had  a  postoffice  of  its  own.    Then 


274      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

the  people  bejxan  putting  on  airs— they  wanted  mail  twice  a  week,  and 
asked  for  a  mail  route  to  Council  Grove  and  another  to  BurliiiRame 
and  a  third  line  to  Mission  creek.  They  soon  objected  to  the  wind 
blowing  on  mail  days,  as  the  waves  in  the  Kaw  river  ran  so  high  the 
boat  couldn't  cross  and  in  consequence  there  was  no  mail. 


HAYING  AT  CHRIS  LANGVARDT'S. 

Showing  how  things  are  done  on  the  broad  prairies  of  Kansas  by 
men  of  push  and  energy  who  surprise  the  world  by  doing  things.  For 
years  Mr.  Chris  Langvardt  was  the  leading  cattle  and  hog  buyer  of 
AltaVista  and  it  was  with  feelings  of  deepest  regret  when  it  was 
announced  that  this  popular  dealer  would  retire  from  the  business. 
His  method  of  working  in  the  hay  field  was  but  an  index  of  Mr.  Lang- 
vardt's  manner  of  conducting  the  farm  on  business  principles. 


Threshing  at  the  Palenske  farm  by  horse  power  is  now  a  thing  of 
the  past  but  in  the  days  gone  by  all  welcomed  the  coming  of  the 
threshers.  It  was  like  a  reunion.  With  jest  and  song  the  work  went 
merrily  on.  Even  the  women  of  the  household,  with  their  increased 
burdens,  couldn't  say  they  disliked  the  annual  threshing  bee  of  ye 
olden  time. 


WILMINGTON. 


Historic  old  town.  A  few  years  ago  it  was  our  opinion  that  the 
old  stone  buildings  would  insure  the  old  landmark  a  permanent 
reminder  of  the  old  Santa  Fe  trail.  But  the  stone  buildings  were  con- 
crete and  most  of  them  have  fallen  to  decay.  But  the  old  town  is  a 
relic  of  the  past,  nevertheless.  O.  H.  Sheldon  was  the  first  postmaster 
and  H.  D.  Shepard,  the  first  storekeeper.  In  1870,  besides  Mr.  Shep- 
ard,  there  were  two  other  stores,  kept  by  Penfield  &  Son,  and  by  James 
Cripps  &  Co.,  Dr.  Wilkerson  had  built  a  drug  store  and  Dr.  Easter  was 
talking  of  building  another,  Henry  Burns  ran  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
J.  and  H.  McPherson,  builders,  had  all  they  could  do.  Then  came 
John  Buchanan  with  his  store  and  shoe  shop,  and.  soon  after,  the 
hotel.  Then  there  were  Rice  Lewis  and  Jack  Turner— two  bachelors 
—who,  later  on,  quit  the  business.  Then,  there  was  John  Easter,  the 
surveyor,  and  Mr.  Dyer,  both  of  whom  have  gone  from  among  us. 
But  Sam  Bright  still  holds  the  fort  and  Mr.  Prothrow,  who  has  written 
J.  P.  after  his  name  all  his  life  and  he  is  still  at  it — a  worthy  citizen 
and  one  of  the  old-timers.  Wilmington,  as  a  reminder  of  the  old 
Santa  Fe  trail  is  still  there— a  memory  of  the  long  ago. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


HALIFAX  STATION 

Before  the  building  of  the  raih-oad  was  Icnown  as  "Bismarck." 
Trouble  relative  to  mail  matters  was  the  cause  of  the  change  so  far  as 
the  postoffice  department  was  concerned.  Sacks  of  mail  intended  for 
people  attending  the  fair  at  "Bismarck  Grove,"  near  Lawrence, 
prompted  a  change  in  the  name.  "Go  to  Halifax"  is  as  old  as  the 
hills  but  as  many  people  in  Wabaunsee  county  could  not,  without 
great  inconvenience,  obey  the  mandate,  we  bring  Halifax  to  them. 


AN  INTERESTING   FAMILY. 

Alma  people  will  readily  recognize  Miss  Minnie,  the  handsome 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Palenske,  as  the  principal  figure  of 
tliis  interesting  family.  How  natural  to  be  just  a  little  partial  to  the 
baby  of  the  household.  But  Miss  Minnie  is  seemingly  proud  of  them 
all,  nevertheless.  Child  nature  is  alike  the  world  over  and  that  we 
are  all,  at  best,  but  children  of  larger  growth  is  every  day  exemplified. 
But  for  the  love  of  the  human  family  for  the  little  ones  the  world 
would,  indeed,  be  a  blank. 


POYNTZ  AVENUE  IN  1866. 

Those  who  know  something  of  the  bustle  and  energy  characteris- 
tic of  Manhattan's  busiest  thoroughfare  of  today  will  hardly  realize 
that  but  a  few  short  years  ago  the  prolonged  stopping  of  a  government 
wagon  train  and  scores  of  lazy  ox  teams  on  the  main  street  of  the  town 
would  cause  no  serious  impediment  to  travel. 

But  to  the  old-timer  the  immense  ricks  of  hay  stacked  near  the 
timber  on  the  banks  of  the  Blue  river  tell  the  story — the  train  has 
stopped  for  forage,  preparatory  to  a  camp  for  the  night  at  the  "Devil's 
Elbow"— a  short  distance  down  the  river.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
desirable  camping  places  on  the  military  road  from  Fort  Leavenworth 
to  Fort  Riley.  The  timber  for  firewood  v^^as  plentiful  and  there  was 
an  abundance  of  good  water — two  of  the  essential  requisites  of  a  good 
camping  place. 

Usually  sufficient  corn  was  taken  along  for  the  trip  but  the  farm- 
ers along  the  route  were  depended  on  to  supply  the  trains  with  hay. 
Crossing  the  Pottawatomie  reservation  Eli  Nadeau,  Louis  Vieux,  and 
Pat  Behan  were  always  well  supplied  with  forage,  and  if  chickens, 
butter,  and  eggs  were  wanted  to  help  out  the  commissary  supplies 
these  worthy  people  were  amply  provided  with  the  needed  luxuries. 

There  were  few  stores  in  Manhattan  then  and  the  customers  were 


27(i      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

not  so  plentiful  that  the  stopping  of  a  train  on  the  main  street  of  the 
town  wasn't  a  welcome  incident  of  the  time.  It  meant  brisk  times 
for  the  merchants  and  a  supply  of  gloves  and  warm  clothing  for  their 
customers.  The  engraving  is  an  excellent  index  of  the  conditions  as 
they  existed  when  the  best  of  Kansas  towns  was  an  infant. 


STUEWE  BROS.'  CREAMERY. 

Though  long  since  set  aside  for  more  lucrative  enterprises  the 
creamery  of  ten  years  ago  is  an  excellent  example  of  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  honest  elTort  and  capable  management.  Teams  were 
sent  into  nearly  every  neighborhood  in  the  county  to  gather  cream  for 
the  plant.  The  product  was  excellent  in  quality  and  the  quantity 
surprisingly  large.  From  a  small  beginning  the  business  grew  until 
the  proportions  were  gigantic— laying  the  foundation  for  the  hand- 
some competence  now  enjoyed  by  the  firm  of  Stuevve  Bros.,  bankers 
and  heavy  dealers  in  cattle. 


OUT  SERVING  A  WRIT. 

A  book  devoid  of  a  little  spice  would  be  as  savorless  as  meat  with- 
out salt— hence  the  picture  of  a  former  popular  sheriff  out  for  an 
airing.  Born  in  Kansas  he  realizes  the  necessity  of  taking  along  at 
any  and  all  seasons,  an  overcoat,  umbrella,  and  a  fan.  The  umbrella 
you  see  under  his  arm,  the  motion  of  the  mules  ears  serve  the  purpose 
of  a  fan  and  the  overcoat — well,  Hertnan  has  evidently  improvised  a 
cushion  out  of  that.  The  picture  will  cause  a  smile  where  frowns 
too  often  appear — and  that  accounts  for  its  presence  here. 


RETURNING  TO  THE  RESERVATION. 

VVaneka  instead  of  Pem-Co-Wye  was  the  name  of  the  Indian  warn- 
ing Mr.  Fred  Palenske  of  the  intended  uprising  of  the  Pottawatomies 
(see  page  22).  The  bulk  of  the  Pottawatomies  had  gone  into  camp 
near  the  big  spring  at  Mike  Mueller's,  the  camp  extending  as  far  up 
the  creek  as  Henry  Schroeder's.  Passing  to  nnd  from  the  reservation 
over  the  trail  past  Ed.  Krapp's  the  settlers  became  alarmed,  the  alarm 
V^eing  increased  by  the  report  that  the  Indians  were  nightly  called 
together  by  the  din  of  the  tom-tom,  and  that  war  dances  were  being 
indulged  in  to  incite  the  warriors  of  the  tribe  to  deeds  of  valor  in 
which  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  were  to  be  prominent  factors 
in  the  coming  struggle.  To  sleep  in  their  corn  fields  was  the  rule  and 
there  were  several  instances  where  the  families  that  for  some  reason 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      277 


had  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  Indians  liad  gone  to  Topeka  for 
protection.  Personally,  Mr.  Ed.  Krapp  believed  the  fear  of  an  Indian 
uprising  to  be  groundless  but  being  aware  of  the  general  feeling  of 
unrest  among  the  settlers  he  went  to  Mr.  Wm.  Ross  (brother  of  Mr. 
Chas.  Ross),  the  Indian  agent,  and  induced  him  to  go  with  him  to  the 
Indian  camp,  state  the  facts  to  the  chiefs,  and  prevail  on  the  Indians 
to  return  to  their  deserted  villages  on  the  reservation.  That  the 
efforts  of  Mr.  Krapp  and  Agent  Ross  were  successful  is  indicated  by 
the  illustration. 


THE  ROCK  ISLAND  EATING  HOUSE. 

AtMcFarland,  is  conducted  on  up-to-date  methods.  "We  strive 
to  please"  is  the  motto  of  the  management,  and  if  excellent  meals  and 
a  lunch  counter  that  would  do  credit  to  any  city  are  evidences  of  an 
intention  to  carry  out  the  spirit  of  their  motto  the  Rock  Island  people 
have  no  reason  to  fear  any  adverse  criticism  relative  to  their  methods 
as  caterers  to  an  appreciative  but  hungry  public.  The  dining  room  is 
a  model  of  beauty,  the  waitresses  are  polite  and  attentive  and  the 
viands  tlie  best  to  be  had  on  the  market. 


INDIANS  IN  ALMA  IN  1881. 

"Palmer's  Indians,"'  they  were  called.  The  Indians  were  not  look- 
ing for  scalps  but  Palmer  was  after  the  settlers'  lands.  There  were 
some  flaws  in  the  Indian  titles  and  the  members  of  the  "lost  band" 
had  been  found.  Palmer  came  an  unbidden  guest  and  a  more  univer- 
sally despised  man  never  set  foot  in  Wabaunsee  county.  The  old  set- 
tlers will  tell  you  that  the  Indians  he  brought  with  him  were  angels 
in  comparison  witli  the  man  who  discovered  them. 


MAIN  STREET,  HARVEYVILLE, 

Just  as  you  see  it  from  the  depot  platform.  The  old  settlers  of 
that  neighborhood  will  be  more  than  usually  interested  in  this  illus- 
tration, by  reason  of  the  contrast  with  the  conditions  existing  44 
years  ago— when  the  nearest  railroad  station  was  at  Jefferson  City, 
Missouri,  and  when  the  settlers  got  their  scant  mail  from  Burlingame, 
by  chance.  The  floor  of  Mr.  Henry  Harvey's  house  was  made  of 
puncheons  and  that  of  Sam  Devaney  and  many  others  were  less  costly 
but  more  substantial — consisting  of  a  solid  footing  of  mother  earth. 
The  log  cabin  was  the  rule  and  these  were  few  and  far  between. 


!T8      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  B.  BARNES.  ALMA. 

One  of  the  t'o/Jcsl  ami  most,  all  raclivo  private  i-esirleiu'cs  in  Alma 
is  Ihat  of  Hon.  .J.  ii.  Barnes,  city  attoiiiey  of  Alma.  With  a  handsome 
lawn  and  walks  to  correspond— sittiated  on  llie  main  business  street 
and  yet  sulliciently  removed  from  the  center  of  trade  to  insure  tliat 
((Uiet  so  essent  ial  to  a  complete  liome. 


THE  DOUBLE  ARCH   BRIDGE 

Over  West  branch  of  Mill  creek,  four  miles  soutliwest  of  Alma, 
serves  to  make  this  one  of  tilt!  most  picturesque  spots  in  Wabaunsee 
county.  Also  a  fair  sample  of  the  many  substantial  bridges  spanning 
the  numerous  streams  throughout  the  county— making  travel  over  our 
country  roads  at  all  times  safe.  Delays  from  high  waters  and  floods 
are  now  things  of  the  past— a  fact  that  is  appreciated  by  the  old  set- 
tlers, who,  in  the  early  days,  could  not  always  leave  home  with  a  cer- 
tainty of  returning  on  schedule  time.  But  the  clouds  are  no  longer 
scanned— nor  the  weather  bulletins  consulted — lest  a  flood  might  cause 
unavoidable  delays  on  tlie  way. 


THE  ELIOT  CHURCH 

Is  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  resident  of  Maple  Hill  township — 
each  and  every  one  of  whom  rejoices  that  it  has  not  been  abandoned  — 
if  not  consigned  to  oblivion— by  the  consolidation  of  the  Maple  Hill 
churches,  as  recently  proposed.  Some  alterations  have  been  made  in 
the  tower  since  the  photograph  was  taken,  but  the  picture  represents 
the  old  church  as  it  was  in  the  days  gone  by.  The  memories  clustered 
about  the  old  stone  cluirch  are  numberless  and  as  sacred  as  they  are 
old.  In  the  churchyard  lie  buried  the  people's  dead.  To  this  hallowed 
spot  does  the  suppliant  turn — as  the  Mohammedan  to  his  Mecca — in 
offering  prayers  to  the  Most  High.  'Tis  here  the  people  come  to  hold 
silent  commune  with  those  who  have  gone  before.  'Tis  here  they 
expect  to  return  when  their  earthly  task  is  completed;  when  the 
Master's  work  is  done. 

HISTORY. 

In  1874,  it  seemed  best  by  some  of  the  families  who  had  recently 
settled  at  Maple  Hill,  from  New  England,  that  something  be  done  for 
the  religious  welfare  of  the  people  of  that  thriving  little  city.  With 
tliat  end  in  view  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  Dist.  No.  39.  The 
permanent  organization  was  perfected  October  11,  1874,  with  sixteen 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      279 


members.  By  spring  there  were  one  hundred  names  on  the  roll,  with, 
an  actual  average  attendance  of  thirty.  Rev.  L.  M.  Scribner,  of  St. 
Marys,  as  well  as  some  of  the  Topeka  pastors,  preached  occasionally 
and  the  desire  for  a  permanent  organization  increased. 

By  the  advice  of  Rev.  R.  D.  Storrs,  superintendent  of  the  Kansas 
home  missionary  society,  and  other  pastors  who  had  preached  here, 
the  necessary  steps  were  taken,  and  on  June  3,  1875,  a  council  of  neigh- 
boring churches  convened  in  the  above  school  house  with  R.  D.  Parker, 
of  Manhattan,  moderator,  and  the  following  churches  were  repre- 
sented by  pastor  and  delegate: 

Topeka.  South,  Rev.  Linus  Blakesly  and  delegate;  Topeka,  North, 
Mi.ss  H.  C.  Castle,  delegate;  St.  Marys,  Rev.  L.  M.  Scribner  and  dele- 
gate: Louisville,  Rev.  H.  C.  Scotford  and  delegate;  Manhattan,  Rev. 
R.  D.  Parker;  Alma,  Rev.  U.  Jones  and  delegate;  Dover,  Rev.  F.  P. 
Newcomb  and  delegate;  Wabaunsee,  C.  B.  Lines  and  E.  F.  Burt,  dele- 
gates; Quindaro,  Rev.  S.  D.  Storrs. 

After  the  devotional  exercises  Mr.  William  H.  Warren  read  the 
record  of  the  previous  meetings,  conducted  by  the  band  of  Christian 
workers,  wlio  proposed  to  organize  the  church,  also  the  covenant  and 
articles  of  faith  they  wished  to  adopt.  The  council  then  retired  for 
deliberation  and  reported  an  approval. 

The  following  program  was  then  carried  out  to  complete  the 
organization: 

Sermon,  by  Rev.  L.  Blakesly,  of  Topeka;  Reading  of  the  articles  of 
faith  and  covenant,  by  Rev.  L.  M.  Scribner;  Right  hand  of  fellowship, 
R.  D.  Parker:  Charge  to  the  church,  Rev.  S.  D.  Storrs;  Prayer,  by  Rev. 
Harvey  Jones;  Benediction,  by  Rev.  S.  W.  Newcomb. 
.  The  following  were  enrolled  as  charter  members: 

Messrs.  Dura  Warren,  W.  H.  AVarren,  G.  W.  Moore,  J.  W.  Wood- 
ford, Henry  Allen,  Thomas  McElroy;  Mesdames  J.  A.  M.  Cheney,  Dura 
AVarren,  W.  H.  Warren,  G.  W.  Moore,  Thomas  McElroy,  A.  F.  Thayer; 
Mi.sses  Alice  Warren  and  Annie  E.  Warren. 

In  the  meantime  services  were  continued  in  the  school  house 
until  August,1882.  when  the  stone  church  was  dedicated,  free  from 
debt.  Cemetery  grounds  were  laid  out  adjacent  to  the  church  and 
the  following  year  the  parsonage  was  built.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  ministers  who  have  served  the  church: 

Revs.  L.  M.  Scribner,  Albert  Matson,  Pliny  Smith,  J.  Mavers, 
Oscar  Ostrum,  William  S.  Crouch. 

At  the  time  of  the  dedication  in  1882,  Rev.  W.  S.  Crouch  accepted 
a  call  as  the  pastor  of  the  church,  and,  with  a  short  intermission,  has 
continued  to  preach  until  the  present  time. 


280      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

ROCK  ISLAND  BRIDGE  AT  MAPLE  HILL. 

This  substantial  combination  of  stone  and  steel  is  but  one  of  the 
eight  strong- bridges  spanning  Mill  creek  along  tlie  line  of  the  Rock 
Island  between  the  mouth  of  the  stream  and  Alta  Vista— besides 
quite  a  number  of  smaller  bridges  crossing  the  many  pretty  streams 
emptying  into  the  main  creek  along  the  route  in  Wabaunsee  county. 
The  material  for  tlie  stone  work  was  taken  from  the  Fox  quarries,  now 
Albert  Dieball's,  four  miles  west  of  Alma— the  same  quarry  furnish- 
ing the  stone  for  the  depot  buildjng  at  Topeka. 


AN  OLD  TIME  FENCE, 

When  the  only  cow  was  picketed  out  will  be  recognized  by  every 
old  settler  in  Wabaunsee  county.  Settlers  who  fail  to  connect  the 
illustration  with  the  early  incidents  of  their  experience  in  Kansas  are 
not  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  prefix  "old"  in  connection  with  their 
coming  to  the  new  country.  Cattle  and  corn  were  incongruous — in 
that  they  refused  to  grow  on  a  farm  where  fences  liadn't  been  built 
— unless  the  cow  (usually,  being  the  only  representative  of  the  brute 
creation  on  the  farm)  was  restrained  by  the  persuasive  argument  exer- 
cised by  the  picket  rope — that  alone  was  sufficiently  potent  to  keep 
"Bossy"  out  of  the  corn  patch— we  refrain  fiom  saying  "cornfield"  for 
the  reason  that  the  small  corners  grubbed  out  in  the  bends  of  the 
creeks  were  hardly  worthy  the  name  as  long  since  interpreted  on  the 
broad  prairies  of  Kansas. 


MEXICAN  OVEN  AND  ADOBE  HOUSE. 

These  are  inseparable.  A  New  Mexican  home  would  be  lacking 
in  one  of  the  essentials  were  there  no  oven  adjacent  to  the  "casa." 
The  adobe  house  possesses  all  the  requisites  in  the  matter  of  comfort, 
being  cool  in  summer  and  warm  in  winter.  As  to  the  oven,  a  pinon  or 
pine  stick  fire  will  soon  enable  the  housewife  to  have  ready  for  the 
table  as  nice  a  baking  as  could  be  provided  by  an  expert  in  any  city 
bakery. 

The  illustration  "Goat  Curiosity"  portrays  these  active  habitues 
of  every  Mexican  ranch  as  one  may  see  them  at  any  time  while  passing 
til  rough  the  "Land  of  the  Aztec."  For  further  explanation  see  our 
reference  to  the  goat  in  "The  Old  Santa  Fe  Trail." 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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WEST  SIDE  MAIN  STREET,  Maple  Hill. 


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WILLIAM   ROGGE'S  ELEVATOR,  Paxico. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


TEMPLIN  POSTOFFICE. 


VOLLAND  STATION. 

Seven  miles  southwest  of  Alma. 


MAIN  STREET,  PAXICO. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  AND   FARM   BUILDINGS  OF   MR.  J.  M.  BI3BEY,  Pavilion. 


COUNTY   POOR   FARM,  four  miles  south  of  Alma. 


McKELVEY'S  STORE  AND  WOODMAN  HALL,  Wabaunsee. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


WILMINGTON,  ON  THE  OLD  SANTA  FE  TRAIL,  1901. 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  M.  F.  TRIVETT,  ESKRIDGE. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


FOR  TWEVE  YEARS  THE  HOME  OF  THE  SIGNAL,  Alma. 
Where  this  History  was  written. 


MR.  AUGUST  UTERMANNS  BARN,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


COURT-HOUSE,  ALMA. 


ALMA  NATIONAL  BANK,  ALMA. 
( Palenske  Block). 


MR.  F.  C.  SIMON'S  STORE,  ALMA. 


KINNE  &  KERANS  BLOCK,  ALMA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  A.  H.  MESEKE,  ALMA. 


THE  NEW  COMMERCIAL,  ALMA. 
Mr.  S.  E.  Hull,  Proprietor. 


h. 

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EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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THE  LIMERICK  &  CRAFTS  BLOCK,  ALMA. 


THE  DENVER  HOUSE,  McFARLAND. 
Mr.  Gottlieb  Noller,  Proprietor. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JUDGE  THEODORE  S.  SPIELMAN,  ALMA. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  CAREY  E.  CARROLL,  ALMA. 


/ 


^^ 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  ARTHUR  WINKLER,  McFARLAND. 


MR.  ARTHUR  WINKLER'S  STORE,  McFARLAND. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      281 


MR.  E.  C.  D.  LINES  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  May  9,  1836,  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  Was  educated 
in  the  New  Haven  city  schools  and  at  Prof.  Lovell's  private  school. 
Was  a  son  of  Hon.  C.  B.  Lines,  president  of  the  Connecticut  colony, 
coming  to  Kansas  with  the  colony  in  1856.  On  May  24,  1857,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Grace  A.  Thomas,  to  which  union  two 
cliildren  were  born,  Lizzie  and  Edna.  Mr.  Lines  was  elected  register 
of  deeds  in  1859,  and  clerk  of  the  district  court  the  same  year.  Was 
clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors  until  1861,  when  he  joined  the  army. 
Was  captain  of  Co.  B.  2d  Kansas,  and  was  killed  on  the  skirmish  line 
near  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  September  1,  1863.  Was  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  a  promising  future.  It  was  in  his  honor  the  Lines  Post, 
Alma,  was  named. 


G.  W.  GILLIS 


Was  born  at  Kinsman,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  Novembers,  1832. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  1855.  Landed  at  Kansas  City  and  walked  to 
Topeka,  then  a  town  principally  composed  of  shacks.  One  of  these 
where  he  boarded  is  yet  standing— a  short  distance  north  of  tlie 
Sliawnee  mills.  Afterwards  went  to  Lawrence.  Drove  stage  from 
Lawrence  to  Quindaro.  Boarded  at  same  house  with  a  printer  named 
Plumb,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted— long  before  Plumb  was 
thought  of  for  U.  S.  senator.  Saw  Lane  shoot  Jenkins  at  Lawrence 
and  was  principal  witne.ss.  Served  four  years  in  the  army  during  the 
war — was  a  member  of  the  6th  Ohio  cavalry  and  also  a  member  of  the 
1st  Kansas  cavalry,  in  border  ruffian  war,  of  which  company  Jim 
Legates  was  captain.  In  1866,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lottie  Murdoch,  of  Kinsman,  Ohio,  a  daughter,  now  Mrs.  F.  A. 
Seaman,  being  born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Gillis  owns  a  farm  of  190 
acres  of  first  class  land  on  Mission  creek,  but  is  now  a  resident  of 
Alma.  Is  full  of  old  time  reminiscences  and  though  nearing  the 
tliree  score  and  ten  mark  is  hale  and  hearty  and  has  lost  none  of  that 
genial  spirit  that  has  always  been  a  characteristic  of  one  of  our  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens. 


C.  L.  DAVIS. 


Chet  Davis  was  born  at  Auburn,  Kansas,  September  15,  1861. 
Received  a  good  common  school  education— enough  to  make  his  way 
through  the  world,  he  thought,  and  has  had  no  reason  to  complain  so 
far.  On  March  23,  1882,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  L. 
Saffle,   to  which  union  nine  children  were  born,  eight  of  whom  are 


282     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

still  livirifj:  .Tonnio,  Ilfidie,  Jeff,  Winnie,  Daisy,  Ora,  Clarence,  and 
Fiank.  Mr.  Davis  is  onool'  the  tirni  of  Davis  Bros.,  wlio  own  1,2K0 
acres  of  ^jood  land  and  pasture  (),000  head  of  cattle.  Is  also  one  of  the 
firm  of  Fields  &  Davis,  who  deal  largely  in  real  estate,  make  loans, 
and  write  insurance.  Mr.  Davis  owns  one  of  the  coziest  homes  in 
Alma  and  has  hosts  of  friends  wliC)  hope  he  may  lon<r  enjoy  it. 


CHARLES    DAILEY 


Was  born  near  Wilkesbarre,  Pennsylvania,  February  IG,  1842. 
Moved  with  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  1855,  and  to  Kansas,  August  7, 
1874.  Has  followed  transfer  work  nearly  all  his  life— first  in  the  log- 
ging camps  with  oxen  and  afterwards  with  horses.  Was  engaged  in 
freighting  between  Alma  and  Wamego  before  the  railroad  was  built, 
and  freighted  for  Schmitz  &  Meyer  when  they  were  in  tlie  general 
merchandise  business  in  Alma  and  is  still  handling  goods  for  the  firm. 
Charley  has  seen  many  of  the  ups  and  downs  of  pioneer  life  in  the 
northwest  and  though  coming  to  Wabaunsee  county  twenty  years 
after  the  first  settlers,  came  in  time  to  see  the  country  in  its  infancy. 
Mr.  Dailey  is  a  lover  of  children  and  Harry  Newman,  his  able  assist- 
ant, is  a  son  by  adoption. 


WM.  PRINGLE 

Was  born  in  Roxburgshire,  Scotland,  Augnst21,  1856.  Came  to 
Canada  with  his  parents  when  but  two  years  of  age.  and  to  Kansas  at 
the  age  of  14.  Is  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Plumb  township 
and  now  resides  at  the  old  Pringle  homestead.  Was  twice  elected 
clerk  of  his  home  township  and  lield  the  office  of  trustee  two  terms. 
But  the  best  proof  of  Mr.  Pringle's  standing  among  the  people  who 
know  him  best  was  his  election  in  November,  1900,  to  the  ofiice  of 
county  commissioner,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Is  a  capable  and 
efficient  officer,  making  a  creditable  record  in  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant positions  within  the  gift  of  the  people. 


MR.  J.  M.  ECK  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  New  York  City,  January  6,  1852.  Received  an  excel- 
lent educational  training  in  the  city  schools.  Came  to  Alma  in  1878, 
and  two  years  later  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bertha  Thoes,  to 
which  union  eight  children  were  born.  Mr.  Eck  held  an  exalted  place 
in  the  esteem  of  the  people,  he  having  been  several  times  elected  as  a 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUKSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      283 


member  of  the  city  council  and  mayor  of  tlie  city.  Served  the  people 
three  years  as  county  commissioner  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
a  member  of  the  school  board.  For  many  years  Mr.  Eck  was  resident 
manager  of  the  Chicago  Lumber  Co.  Whether  as  a  private  citizen  or 
as  a  public  official,  deceased  was  one  and  the  same— ever  mindful  of 
the  interests  of  all.  But  it  was  in  the  home  that  the  best  points  in 
liis  character  shone  brightest.  To  his  friends  he  was  ever  loyal  and 
true,  but  to  his  family  he  was  more  than  devoted— ever  mindful  of  the 
duty  devolving  on  iiim  as  a  friend  and  counselor. 


MR.  H.   P.  THOIVIPSON  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  December  14,  1835.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1878.  In  1856,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Retina 
Rudolph,  throe  sons  and  three  daughters  being  born  to  this  union: 
George,  Cliarles,  and  John,  and  Rhoda,  Sarah,  and  Hattie.  On  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1898,  death  came  without  warning  at  his  home  on  Hendricks 
creek.  Deceased  was  a  man  with  a  warm  heart  and  of  a  sympathetic 
nature.  His  affections  were  centered  in  and  about  the  home  circle, 
from  which  he  was  so  suddenly  taken  away. 


PETER  THOES 


Was  born  in  Germany,  November  1,  1821.  Came  to  America  in 
18.j4,  and  to  Kansas  the  following  year,  March  1,  1856,  locating  on  the 
farm  where  he  died.  May  30,  1894.  On  January  19,  1862,  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Ernestine  Dieball,  to  which  union  five  children  were 
born:  Albert,  Ernest,  Mrs.  Olga  Morris,  and  Hulda,  An)elia  dying  at 
the  age  of  14  years.  Mrs.  Thoes  owned  a  thousand  acres  of  the  best 
farming  and  grazing  land  in  the  county — well  stocked  and  with  excel- 
lent improvements.  Mr.  Thoes  was  a  man  of  industrious  habits  and 
sterling  integrity— characteristics  that  secured  him  an  enviable  place 
in  the  esteem  of  the  people. 


FREDERICK  STEINIVIEYER,  SR. 

Was  born  .January  11,  1824,  in  Lippe  Detmold,  Germany.  Came 
to  America  December  21,  1856,  and  to  Kansas  March  9,  1857.  Was 
educated  at  AmptSchwalenburg,  Germany.  On  Novembers,  1856,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Frederika  Holzapple,  to  which  union  nine 
children  were  born:  Anna,  Henrietta,  Louisa,  Helena,  Caroline,  Carl, 
Henry,  Frederic,  and  John.     Mr.  Steinmeyer  owns  320  acres  of  good 


284     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

farming  land  and  has  made  a  success  of  liis  chosen  calling.  Has  gone 
through  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  and  in  his  declining 
years  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  he  has  done  his  duty  to  the 
world,  and  in  so  doing  has  secured  for  himself  and  family  the  esteem 
of  all. 


J.  Y.  CONNELL 


Was  born  in  Aurora,  Indiana,  July  2,  1867.  Came  to  Kansas  with 
his  parents  in  his  infancy.  Received  a  good  common  school  education 
and  when  but  a  young  man  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  a  calling 
for  which  he  is  naturally  adapted,  having  proven  himself  one  of  the 
best  mechanics  in  the  country.  Owns  a  tirst  class  shop  and  knows 
how  to  run  it.  On  March  30,  1892,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Kate  Hahn,  at  San  Marcial,  New  Mexico,  working  at  his  trade  in  the 
territory  more  than  five  years.  He  is  a  diligent  worker  and  is  well 
liked  by  all  his  acquaintances. 


L.  A.  WALKER 


Was  born  at  Hinton,  West  Virginia,  August  1,  1868.  Came  to 
Kansas  February  28,  1898.  On  October  16,  1901,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Sue  I.  Haller.  Dr.  Walker  is  a  graduate  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Old  Virginia,  also  of  the  Kansas  Medical  College.  Enjoys  a 
lucrative  practice  and  has  the  confidence  of  the  people,  the  best 
requisite  to  that  success  that  is  already  assured. 


JAMES  E.  JOHNSON 


Was  born  November  5,  1808,  in  Lewis  county,  Kentucky.  On 
December  12,  1850,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice  Disbrow,  five 
children  being  born  to  this  union:  James  M.,  Virginia,  Martha, 
Thomas  R.,  and  John  W.  Of  the  daughters,  Mrs.  Virginia  McPher- 
son  is  a  resident  of  lola,  Kansas,  and  Mrs.  Martha  Fields  resides  in 
Topeka.  Of  the  sons,  Thomas  R.  died  in  Streeter,  Illinois,  in  1893, 
and  John  W.  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Corinth,  Mississippi,  a  member 
of  the  8th  Kansas  Volunteers.  Mrs.  James  M.  Johnson  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  February  8,  1841,  coming  to  Kansas  with  her 
husband  in  1865.  (See  biography,  page  267).  Mr.  James  E.  Johnson 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the  Dragoon  settlement,  locating  on 
a  claim  two  miles  west  of  Harvey  ville  in  1857.  Was  a  kind  and  genial 
gentleman  of  the  old  school. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      285 


S.  G.  CANTRILL 

Was  born  April  15,  1849,  at  Snow  Hill,  Ohio.  Came  to  Kansas, 
September  5,  1869,  locating  on  Dragoon  creek,  two  miles  west  of 
Harveyville.  On  July  4,  1872,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Augusta 
Burroughs,  to  which  union  two  children  were  born:  Ora  and  Orville. 
Mr.  Cantrill  owns  nearly  3,000  acres  of  the  best  farming  land  in 
Wabaunsee  county,  well  improved  and  adapted  to  stock  raising,  his 
favorite  employment— Mr.  Cantrill  being  one  of  the  most  extensive 
dealers  in  stock  in  the  county.  Came  to  the  country  when  it  was  new 
and  by  industry  and  good  management  has  secured  a  place  in  the 
front  ranks  of  those  on  whom  Fortune  has  smiled  from  the  beginning. 
But  few  men  are  more  favorably  known  and  none  more  highly 
esteemed  than  Squire  Cantrill. 


GEORGE  A.  FECHTER 

Was  born  October  7,  1879,  at  Eppingen,  Germany.  Came  to  Amer- 
ica witli  his  parents  when  but  two  years  of  age,  the  family  locating  on 
West  branch.  Was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of 
17  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  store  in  Alma,  and  after  four  years  of 
efficient  service  went  to  Topeka,  where  he  has  launched  out  into 
business  on  his  own  account.  The  portrait  shows  Mr,  Fechter  as  he 
appeared  at  the  age  of  21.  The  face  bears  the  Impress  of  a  strong 
character  and  Indicates  a  spirit  of  energy  and  perseverance  that  is 
bound  to  win  success. 


H.  W.  STEINMEYER 


Is  a  Wabaunsee  county  boy,  having  been  born  in  Farmer  township, 
July  9,  1866.  Received  a  sound  educational  training  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  county.  On  August  3,  1895,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Carrie  E.  Droege,  three  children  being  born  to  this  union: 
Mildred,  Cordelia,  and  Irene.  Mr.  Steinmeyer  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  320  acres  and  besides  shipping  a  car  load  of  prime  cattle  and 
hogs  occasionally,  is  a  breeder  of  Duroc  Jersey  swine,  his  Egypt  Valley 
herd  being  the  best  of  tlie  kind  in  the  country.  The  illustration 
speaks  for  itself— commendatory  of  the  owner's  persevering  effort  and 
success  in  reacliing  the  topmost  round  of  the  ladder  in  his  particular 
branch.  Mr.  Steinmeyer  always  has  a  few  choice  lots  on  sale,  and  the 
number  of  shipments  made  furnish  the  best  proof  of  the  growing 
popularity  of  his  herd. 


286     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  ALLEN  PHILLIPS  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  In  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  June  12,  1819.  Received  an 
excellent  educational  training  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city.  On 
March  3,  1836,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E,  Graham,  ten 
children  being  born  to  this  union,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Levi,  now  at  El  Reno,  Oklahoma;  Nancy  Jane  Ralston,  of  Washing- 
ton; Mrs.  Mary  E.  Walker,  Paxlco;  James,  In  Oklahoma;  Allen  A.,  of 
Vera;  William,  In  California,  and  Mrs.  Martha  Higbee,  of  Falrbury, 
Illinois.  Before  coming  to  Kansas,  Mr.  Phillips  had  resided  In  Illi- 
nois, Iowa,  and  Wisconsin,  and  had  made  two  overland  trips  to  Cali- 
fornia, once  with  cattle  in  1850,  and  again  with  a  drove  of  horses  In 
1864.  In  1868,  Mr.  Phillips  came  to  Wabaunsee  county,  being  among 
the  first  settlers  after  the  opening  of  the  Pottawatomie  reserve.  Was 
one  of  the  five  men  who  laid  out  the  town  of  Newbury,  and  had  aid 
been  granted  the  Santa  Fe  Railway,  Newbury  would  today  rank 
among  the  largest  cities  In  Kansas  west  of  the  Missouri  river.  Mr. 
Phillips  was  a  man  of  strong  personal  character,  owned  a  thousand 
acres  of  land  and  was  one  of  the  largest  farmers  and  most  extensive 
wheat  raisers  in  the  county.  Was  county  commissioner  in  the  years 
1872  and  1873,  and  was  always  at  the  front  In  the  advancement  of  any 
public  enterprise.  (See  notes  of  June  30,  1878,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Phillips,  without  a  moments  warning  were  called  home — in  life, 
esteemed  by  everyone,  and  their  death  universally  regretted. 


W.  H.  LYONS 

Was  born  October  14,  1842,  in  New  York  City.  Came  to  Kansas 
in  April,  1865.  November  4,  1869,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Margaret  Mahan.  One  daughter,  Mrs.  Bertha  Martin,  being  born  to 
this  union.  In  1867  Mr.  Lyons  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  by  J.  H. 
Pinkerton,  serving  two  years.  Was  also  deputy  under  Sheriffs  Herrlck, 
Gardner,  Russell,  and  Palenske— some  of  his  early  experiences  as  an 
official  being  among  the  most  exciting  periods  of  the  county's 
history— see  page  241.  Served  several  terms  as  city  marshal.  During 
the  Civil  War  was  corporal  in  Co.  B,  11th  New  York  Infantry,  and  has 
served  several  terms  as  Commander  of  Ed.  Lines  Post  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
at  Alma.  Mr.  Lyons  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  though  in  his  60th 
year,  would  pass  muster  as  twenty  years  younger.  But  Mrs.  Lyons  Is 
the  older  pioneer,  having  lived  on  the  borders  of  the  Pottawatomie 
reserve  when  the  settlers  slept  in  their  corn  fields  from  choice— at  a 
time  when  "Dutch  Bill"  was  supplying  the  Indians  with  firewater  of 
his  own  manufacture.    Mrs.  Lyons  tells  of  Grifenstein's  air  castles— 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      287 


how  through  the  tact  and  the  protection  afforded  by  his  Cheyenne 
wife,  he  expected  to  amass  a  fortune*  big  enough  to  enable  him  to 
live  at  his  ease— without  the  wife's  further  assistance.  He  discarded 
his  Cheyenne  bride  for  Chief  Burnett's  daughter,  and  died  with 
barely  enough  of  this  world's  wealth  to  insure  the  once  millionaire  a 
decent  burial. 

*In  1864,  while  Grifenstein  with  his  Cheyenne  wife  was  on  a  visit 
with  old  friends  in  Alma  and  vicinity  he  would  relate  how  his  shrewd 
wife  would  trade  cups  of  sugar  for  fifty  dollar  bills— the  Indian  holders 
not  knowing  the  difference  between  a  one  dollar  bill  and  a  fifty. 
Query:  Where  did  the  Indians  get  the  fifty  dollar  bills?  Let  the 
ghosts  of  the  lone  freighters  who  met  their  death  on  the  banks  of  the 
Walnut  in  1864  give  answer.  (See  "A  Timely  warning,"  pages  136-138). 


GEO.  S.  CONNELL 


Was  born  February  17,  1839,  in  Aurora,  Indiana.  In  August, 
1862,  enlisted  in  the  10th  Kentucky  Cavalry  and  was  mustered  out  in 
September,  1863.  On  July  1,  1866,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Margaret  A.  Nlghbert,  to  which  union  six  children  were  born,  four  of 
whom  survive:  Mrs.  Cora  Kasson,  Mrs.  Hattie  Kasson,  Joseph  and 
Jethro.  Though  for  years  a  resident  on  the  Snokomo,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Connell  now  reside  in  Paxico,  where  he  is  passing  his  declining 
years,  enjoying  the  esteem  of  all. 


AUGUST  UTERMANN 

Was  born  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  December  25,  1857.  A  good 
educational  training  in  the  public  school  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
at  the  Agricultural  college  of  Westphalia.  Came  to  America  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1877,  stopping  in  Wisconsin  till  the  following  November,  when 
he  came  to  Kansas,  locating  in  Lyon  county.  In  1884  came  to  Alma, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1888  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Undorf,  three  daughters  being  born  to  this  union:  Maria, 
Augusta  and  Sophia.  Ever  since  coming  to  Alma  Mr.  Utermann  has 
been  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  Has  built  up  a  good  trade  and 
has  a  constantly  increasing  patronage. 


MR.  JOSEPH  TREU  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Gottingen,  Germany,  June  22,  1833.  Came  to 
America  in  1850,  enlisting  soon  after  in  the  regular  army,  serving  on 
the  border  under  General  Harney  in  several  campaigns  against  the 


288     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  AVABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Sioux  Indians.  Was  in  the  engagement  at  Ash  Hollow  and  for  a 
time  was  stationed  at  Fort  Laramie,  protecting  the  overland  traffic 
to  Salt  Lake  and  California.  Came  to  Wabaunsee  county  In  1857,  and 
on  April  20,  1859,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catharine  Klein,  to 
which  union  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born: 
Mr.  Treu  received  the  benefit  of  a  collegiate  education  and  was 
eminently  fitted  for  the  many  official  positions  he  was  called  on  to  fill 
during  his  lifetime.  Besides  township  and  school  district  offices,  he 
served  the  people  eight  years  as  county  commissioner  and  two  years  as 
representative  Jn  the  state  legislature— filling  each  and  every  position 
with  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  his  constituents.  On  April  27, 
1901,  an  eventful  life  was  closed— a  man,  beloved  by  the  people,  one 
whom  they  delighted  to  honor,  had  gone  to  rest. 


SAMUEL  R.  WEED 


Was  born  In  Marblehead,  Massachusetts,  February  21,  1832.  Came 
to  Kansas  in  the  fall  of  1850.  Received  the  benefit  of  a  collegiate 
education  at  Wilbraham,  Massachusetts,  thoroughly  fitting  him.self — 
from  an  educational  standpoint— for  the  battle  of  life.  In  1861,  Mr. 
Weed  was  elected  register  of  deeds.  In  1862,  1864,  and  1866,  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  district  court.  In  1865,  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer, and  In  1867  was  elected  to  the  offices  of  county  clerk,  register  of 
deeds,  and  surveyor,  and  in  1868,  district  clerk  and  representative. 
The  battle  of  life  was  on.  The  county  had  no  safe  in  those  days,  but 
the  old  settlers  will  tell  you  there  was  no  need  of  a  safe— Sam  carried 
the  funds  in  his  vest  pocket.  In  those  days  the  office  sought  the  man 
and  Mr.  Weed  was  found  as  many  as  three  times  in  a  single  campaign 
—holding  as  many  as  five  offices  at  one  and  the  same  time.  But  there 
were  no  newspapers  then  and  consequently  no  kicking.  Mr.  Weed's 
portrait  is  from  a  photograph  taken  while  a  member  of  the  legislature. 
Today,  he  is  the  same  genial  "Sam"  as  of  old— kind  hearted  to  the 
core,  and  brimming  full  of  reminiscences  of  Auld  Lang  Syne.  May 
he  live  long  to  relate  them. 


ALDEN  E.  TRUE 


Was  born  in  West  Corinth,  Orange  county,  Vermont,  June  7,  1845. 
Good  educational  training  In  the  common  schools  was  supplemented 
by  a  two  years  course  In  the  seminary  at  New  Hampton,  New  Hamp- 
shire. In  1870,  Mr.  True  came  to  Kansas,  locating  on  the  farm  in 
Newbury  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  January,  1878,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Marcia  L.  Castle,  to  which  union  two  sons 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      289 


and  two  daughters  were  born.  The  many  evidences  of  good  will  and 
confidence  reposed  in  Mr.  True  by  the  people  are  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  he  has  served  one  year  as  township  clerk,  three  years  as  trustee 
and  more  than  twenty  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  Was 
three  years  county  commissioner  and  for  four  years  was  state  senator; 
filled  each  and  every  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  the 
people  he  represented  in  the  full  meaning  of  the  term.  As  senator,  Mr. 
True  was  especially  interested  in  securing  liberal  appropriations  for 
state  and  educational  Institutions,  believing  that  the  people  and  the 
state  are  insured  the  best  returns  from  funds  thus  expended.  Mr.  True 
owns  one  of  the  neatest  country  homes  in  the  county  (see  illustration), 
located  near  the  center  of  a  fine  farm  of  965  acres.  Is  one  of  our  most 
influential  citizens  and  is  universally  esteemed— a  fact  too  often 
proven  to  admit  of  successful  contradiction,  and  a  statement  in  no 
danger  of  being  challenged. 


A.  A.  JONES 


Was  born  November  18,  1844,  at  Syracuse,  Ohio.  On  October  22, 
1865,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maria  Lanius,  to  which  union 
seven  children  were  born:  Cora,  Sheldon,  Ed.,  Clyde,  Nettie,  Pearl, 
and  Ellice.  Mr.  Jones  owns  a  tine  farm  of  320  acres,  at  Bradford,  the 
J.  M.  Meredith  homestead,  where  he  is  engaged  in  mixed  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Has  attained  success  by  years  of  Industry,  good  man- 
agement and  up-to-date  methods.  Has  an  interesting  family  and  a 
pleasant  home,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all. 


JOHN   PETERSON 

Was  born  in  Denmark,  December  5,  18.33.  Came  to  America  in 
1863,  locating  in  Connecticut.  In  1870,  came  to  Kansas,  settling  on  a 
homestead  three  miles  northwest  of  Eskridge,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  on  June  17,  1894,  at  the  age  of  64  years.  But  few  men  have 
fought  the  battle  of  life  against  greater  odds  than  did  Mr.  Peterson. 
To  the  young  men  of  today  he  set  an  example  that  they  might  well 
consider.  With  a  determination  to  win  he  knew  no  such  word  as  fail. 
He  started  literally  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  but  before  the  end 
came  had  left  his  family  located  in  a  comfortable  home.  At  first  he 
dug  into  the  bank  for  a  place  to  rest  at  night,  from  the  laborious 
employment  in  which  he  always  engaged  during  the  day.  He  quarried 
rock  and  wheeled  them  to  the  place  selected  for  a  home  on  a  wheel- 
barrow of  his  own  make.  For  mortar  he  used  clay,  and  when  the 
walls  had  reached  the  proper  height  a  roof  of  sod  was  laid  to  shed  the 


290     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

rain  and  snow.  The  quarters  were  comfortable,  not  elegant,  maybe, 
but— it  was  iiome.  But  provisions  must  be  had.  He  had  no  money, 
but  stronpr  arms,  and  with  these  he  .sought  employment  at  Topcka. 
The  provisions  earned  by  hard  labor  were  wheeled  home  on  that  home- 
made wheelbarrow.  To  say  that  John  Peter.son  succeeded  in  gaining 
a  competency  for  himself  and  family  would  be  superfluous.  Chris- 
tiana Peterson  died  June  5,  1894,  at  the  age  of  60  years.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Peterson  eight  children  were  born,  six  of  whom  are  living:  H. 
P.,  Mary,  John,  Samuel,  Curtis,  and  Fred.  If  the  children  but  follow 
the  example  of  their  worthy  parents  success  is  their.s— and  happiness 
and  contentment,  as  well. 


WALDO  G.  BURROUGHS 

Was  born  in  New  York,  November  7,  1846.  Came  to  Kansas  in 
1869.  On  November  15,  1876,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Cantrill,  to  which  union  four  children  were  born:  Lilly,  Leona,  Edna 
and  Allie.  Owns  160  acres  of  good  land  on  which  he  erected  one  of 
the  coziest  farm  homes  in  Wabaunsee  county,  planned  by  his  worthy 
helpmeet,  whose  ability  as  an  architect  is  proven  by  practical  demon- 
stration  in  a  practical  way.  A  part  of  Mr.  Burroughs'  farm  was  the 
John  Meredith  homestead.  The  original  claim  house  was  an  8x10 
frame,  in  which  a  part  of  the  first  term  of  school  in  Dist.  27  was 
taught  by  Marlon  Meredith.  The  house  wasn't  very  big  but  several 
pupils  from  outside  districts  could  have  been  accommodated — if  there 
had  been  any  outside  districts.  Sunday  school  was  held  here,  and, 
occasionally,  Mr.  Joseph  Hughes  exhorted  and  Mr.  W.  S.  McCormick 
preached.  Near  at  hand  is  a  hole  of  water  where,  in  1870,  Mr.  McCor- 
mick baptized  a  half  dozen  converts  to  the  faith  that  brings  solace  to 
the  soul,  buoys  up  the  frail  body  while  here,  and  fits  us  for  that  better 
life  beyond  the  grave. 


MR.  HENRY  MICHAELIS,  SR.  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Luxemberg,  Germany,  January  20,  1823.  Came  to 
America  in  1847,  locating  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  On  June  19,  1851, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Katharine  Ruf,  at  Indianapolis,  where  he 
resided  until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Topeka,  Kansas.  In  February, 
1870,  came  to  Wabaunsee  county,  locating  at  Newbury.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Michaelis  ten  children  were  born,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Florlbert,  Robert,  and  Joseph  (these  three  living  at  Indianapolis); 
Lizzie  Glotzbach  and  George,  of  Los  Angeles,  California;  John,  Henry, 
Nicholas,   and    Mrs.   Margaret  Eagan— living  in    this  county.     Mr. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      291 


Michaelis  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  also  owned  a  nice  farm,  on 
whicli  he  lived  at  the  time  of  his  death,  on  January  9,  1894,  Mrs. 
Michaelis  dying  but  two  days  later,  at  the  age  of  66  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Michaelis  were  kind  and  genial  to  all  and  were  universally 
esteemed. 


JOHN  H.  MICHAELIS 

Was  born  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  November  27,  1852,  being  the 
eldest  son  of  Henry  Michaelis,  Sr.  (deceased).  Came  to  Kansas  with 
his  parents  when  IG  years  of  age.  On  November  28,  1878,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Schroeder,  of  Indianapolis,  seven  children 
being  born  to  this  union,  six  of  whom  are  living:  John,  William, 
Nicholas,  Frank,  Clara,  and  Leo.  Mr.  Michaelis,  like  his  father 
before  him,  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  has  taken  time  to  serve  the 
people,  faithfully,  in  one  of  the  most  responsible  offices  in  the  gift  of 
the  people — that  of  county  treasurer— serving  two  terms,  from  1892 
td*  1896.  Is  an  up-to-date  farmer  and  one  of  our  most  substantial 
citizens. 


FRANK  HODGSON 

Was  born  July  13,  1862,  on  the  farm,  near  Harveyville,  on  which 
he  has  resided  all  his  life.  On  March  14,  1886,  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Woods,  four  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Alta, 
Archie,  Louis,  and  Ernest.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodgson  were  both  engaged 
in  teaching  prior  to  their  marriage  and  are  probably  the  oldest 
married  couple,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  the  county.  Mr.  Jehu 
Hodgson,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  the  first  sheriff  of 
Wabaunsee  county,  being  three  times  elected.  Brought  the  first 
team  of  horses  into  the  Dragoon  settlement.  Mr.  Frank  Hodgson  has 
followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  being  one  of  the  leading  horse 
breeders  of  the  county.  Was  three  years  president  of  the  Old  Set- 
tlers' association  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  every  one. 


W.  S.  WHITLOCK 


Was  born  near  Belleville,  Illinois,  February  4,  1874,  his  parents 
coming  to  Kansas  tlie  following  .year,  locating  in  Kaw  township.  A 
good  educational  training  in  the  district  schools  was.supplemented  by 
a  full  course  of  instruction  at  the  Campbell  University  at  Holton, 
taking  in  addition  a  special  course  in  civil  engineering     For  several 


292     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

years  Mr.  Whltlock  has  been  eriKaped  In  teaching,  being  in  the  front 
rank  of  laborers  in  the  work  of  the  scliool  room.  In  1889,  was  elected 
to  the  ortlce  of  county  surveyor  and  is  the  present  incumbent  in  that 
important  office.  Mr.  Whitlock  is  the  youngest  county  officer,  is  pop- 
ular with  the  people,  especially  with  those  of  his  own  township. 


JOHN  MOCK 


Was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  November  14,  1836.  In  1845,  when 
but  nine  years  of  age,  came  with  his  parents  to  America,  locating  at 
Davenport,  Iowa.  In  1850,  the  family  moved  to  Illinois,  where 
Mr.  Mock  remained  until  1869,  when  he  came  to  Kansas,  where  he 
now  resides— two  miles  north  of  Paxico.  In  1858,  Mr.  Mock  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Meinhardt,  fifteen  children  being 
born  to  this  union,  nine  living,  all  in  the  vicinity  of  Newbury:  Mrs. 
Elibabeth  Schmitz,  Valentine,  Mrs.  Emma  Rickstatter,  James,  Paul- 
ine, William,  Mrs.  Caroline  Zeller,  John,  and  Josephine.  Mr.  Mock  is 
one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Newbury  township. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  one  of  tlie  influential 
citizens  who  could  always  be  relied  upon  in  securing  the  rights  of  the 
people  in  the  game  of  politics.  Mr.  Mock's  father,  Nicholas  Mock,  a 
line  old  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  died  in  1900,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  93  years.  The  son  (in  the  illustration),  Mr.  Valentine  Mock,  is  also 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  one  of  the  rising  men  of  influence  in  New- 
bury township.  Edward  sits  on  his  papa's  lap,  and  if  longevity  is  the 
rule  in  the  family  in  the  future  as  in  the  past,  he,  as  a  representative 
of  the  fourth  generation,  may  have  the  pleasure  of  showing  this 
picture  of  four  generations  to  his  great,  great,  grandchildren. 


GEORGE  S.  BURT 

Was  born  in  Walworth  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1838.  Received  an 
excellent  educational  training  at  the  high  school  in  New  Brittain, 
Connecticut.  Came  to  Kansas  in  November,  1859,  and  on  March  16, 
1863,  was  united  In  marriage  to  Miss  Lulu  B.  Lines,  to  which  union 
nine  children  were  born,  six  of  whom  are  living:  F.  I.,  George  S., 
Henry  F.,  Sherman  B.,  Chas.  L.,  and  Louis  B.  When  Mr.  Burt  came 
to  Kansas,  he  walked  from  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  to  Wabaunsee.  Had 
Just  ten  cents  in  money  on  his  arrival.  Now  owns  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  county,  160  acres  of  the  best  bottom  land  in  the  Kaw 
Valley.  Served  eleven  years  as  township  trustee  and  took  the  census 
of  the  county  in  1870.  Is  a  leading  citizen  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
of  the  people. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      293 


ALBERT  MUCKENTHALER 

Was  born  in  Scott  county,  Minnesota,  June  9,  1862.  Came  to  Kan- 
.sas  in  1869,  and  on  October  22,  1891,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Augusta  Ebert,  to  which  union  six  children  were  born,  four  of  whom 
survive:  Abbie,  Walter,  Viola,  and  Lawrence.  Owns  an  excellent 
farm  of  140  acres— all  bottom,  but  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  to  buying  and  shipping  hogs  and  cattle.  Always  pays  the  high- 
est price  the  condition  of  the  markets  will  allow  and  in  all  his  dealings 
follows  the  precepts  of  the  golden  rule. 


EDWIN  FORREST  IVIOORE 

Was  born  at  Fort  Callioun,  Nebraska,  May  6,  1856.  Came  to  Kan- 
sas in  December,  1886,  and  two  years  later  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  B.  Crawford,  to  which  union  two  children  were  born: 
Arthur  N.  and  Florence  A.  Moore.  Dr.  Moore  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Kansas  City  Medical  College  and  a  post  graduate  of  one  of  the  leading 
medical  colleges  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  Is  pleasantly  located  at  Esk- 
ridge,  where  he  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice. 


F.  M.  MEREDITH 

Was  born  in  Coles  county,  Missouri,  January  10,  1847.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1869  and  in  1870  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sue  D. 
Carter,  three  children  being  born  to  this  union.  Besides  a  nice  home 
Mr.  Meredith  is  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Meredith,  at  Eskridge.  Is  a 
popular  landlord  and  in  conjunction  with  his  estimable  wife,  has 
demonstrated  to  the  traveling  public  that  the  leading  hotel  at  Esk- 
ridge is  an  institution  of  which  that  thriving  little  city  may  well  be 
proud. 


GEORGE  G.  CORNELL 

Was  born  November  20,  1828,  in  Bristol,  Ontario  county.  New 
York,  coming  to  Kansas  in  1879,  locating  at  Alma.  Received  excellent 
educational  advantages  at  Canandagua  Academy,  supplemented  by 
the  full  course  at  Genessee  College,  of  which  he  is  a  graduate. 
Received  his  degree  as  Bachelor  of  Laws  at  the  State  and  National 
Law  School,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  graduating  with  the  highest 
honors.  On  January  3,  1873,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Emma  Avery.  Besides  nearly  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Wabaun- 
see county,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cornell  own  several  fine  residence  properties 


294      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


in  Topeka,  where  the  family  now  resides.  On  September  27,  1881,  Mr. 
Cornell  met  with  one  of  the  severest  losses  of  a  life  time  by  the  burn- 
ing of  the  Krueger  building— the  first  big  fire  in  Alma.  Besides  a 
library  of  more  than  a  thousand  volumes,  many  of  them  very  valuable, 
many  family  portraits  and  souvenirs,  much  valuable  manuscript  was 
consumed.  Among  the  latter  was  the  marniscript  of  a  legal  work  on 
Vested  Rights  and  Eminent  Domain  that  Mr.  Cornell,  after  years  of 
hard  labor,  had  just  completed  and  had  ready  for  publication.  In 
1894,  Mr.  Cornell  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature,  his  legal  know- 
ledge and  matured  judgment  eminently  fitting  him  for  the  responsible 
position.  Mr.  Cornell  is  well  versed  in  the  law,  meeting  with 
unusual  success  in  his  practice.  He  is  conservative  and  conscientious 
and  in  an  enviable  degree  has  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 


C.  J.  GLOTZBACH 

Was  born  October  1,  1851,  in  Harrison  county,  Indiana.  Came  to 
Kansas,  April  18,  1870.  On  Muy  28,  1878,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Fischer,  to  which  union  were  born  nine  children. 
Besides  owning  320  acres  of  excellent  farm  land  Mr.  Glotzbach  is 
carrying  one  of  the  largest  and  best  assorted  stocks  of  goods  in  Wa- 
baunsee county,  succeeding  by  purchase  to  the  business  for  years 
successfully  carried  on  by  Bolton  Bros.  Mr.  Glotzbach  enjoys  a  fine 
trade  and  is  making  a  success  of  the  mercantile  bu.siness  as  he  has 
heretofore  on  the  farm. 


WILLIAM  ROGGE 

Was  born  October  9,'  18(51,  in  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  coming  to 
Kansas  in  1886.  On  May  1,  1901,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mi.ss 
Eleanor  Guest,  one  of  Alma's  most  popular  young  ladies  and  for 
several  years  a  saleslady  with  Bolton  Bros.,  of  Paxico,  and  Erbachers, 
of  St.  Marys.  Since  1888  Mr.  Rogge  has  operated  a  threshing  machine 
and  elevator  and  has  been  a  dealer  in  feed,  paying  the  highest  cash 
prices  for  grain.  Is  a  stirring  business  man  who  has  attained  success 
by  treating  the  people  right. 


W.  H.  EARL  (Dec'd) 


Was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  November  2,  1829.  Moved 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana.  Came  to  Kansas  in  18G9,  locating  on  a 
homestead  one  mile  east  of  Eskridge,  where  he  died  December  20,  1885. 
In  1877,  Mr.  Earl  opened  a  small  country  store  at  the  "Corners."    In 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      295 


1880,  when  the  M.  A.  &  B.  was  completed  to  Eskridge  the  small  stock 
of  goods  was  removed  to  the  new  town,  and  from  a  small  beginning  a 
large  trade  was  soon  established.  After  his  death,  in  1885,  the  busi- 
ness was  continued  under  the  firm  name  of  Earl  Bros,,  until  Charlie's 
death,  November  23,  1899,  since  which  time  Mr.  W.  H.  Earl,  Jr.,  has 
conducted  one  of  the  largest  dry  goods  and  grocery  stores  in  the 
county.  In  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Earl  was  a  member  of  the  4th  Iowa 
Battery,  the  photograph  showing  him  in  his  uniform  being  the  only 
one  available.  Of  the  family  but  four  children  survive,  two  of  the 
daughters  living  in  Washington  and  two  sons  in  Eskridge,  Mr,  Ed. 
Earl  and  Mr.  W.  II.  Earl,  Jr.,  proprietor  of  the  store. 


C.  C.  COPP 


Was  born  July  3,  1876,  at  Paxico,  Kansas.  Received  a  good,  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  schools.  On  March  15, 1898,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  Klein,  an  estimable  young  lady  of  Kansas 
City.    Since  July  7,  1878,  has  been  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with 

HERMAN  B.  OEHMS 

Another  popular  young  man,  of  Eskridge,  but  for  many  years  a 
resident  of  Paxico. 

Mr.  Oehms  was  born  August  2,  1878,  and  the  business  is  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  Copp  &  Oehms — two  young  men  who  have  won 
their  way  to  pcjpular  favor  by  honest  and  fair  dealing  and  strict 
business  methods. 


ANTON  SCHEWE 

Was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  November  2,  1830.  Landed  in  New 
York,  January  20,  1851,  locating  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  the  spring  of  1856,  settling  on  the  farm  on  which  he  still 
resides.  Owns  800  acres  of  good  farming  and  grazing  lands  in  Wabaun- 
see county  and  900  acres  in  Louisiana,  the  value  of  which  is  likely  to 
reacli  the  million  mark.  For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Schewe  was  elected 
trustee  of  what  was  then  Alma  township— Farmer  township  having 
since  been  organized— an  excellent  proof  of  his  standing  in  the  com- 
munity where  lie  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schewe  have  four  children: 
Mary,  Willie,  Anton,  and  Clara,  and  are  pleasantly  located  in  a  com- 
fortable home  five  miles  south  of  Alma. 


2%      EAULY  IIISTOUY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


IVI.  JESTER 

"Was  born  November  23,  1838.  in  Camden,  Delaware.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  ISiiT,  and  to  Wabaunsee  county  two  years  later.  On  October 
(),  1872,  was  united  in  marriaj^e  to  Miss  Kate  Woodard,  a  dauf,'bter, 
Mrs.  Birdie  Cartwriybt,  being  born  to  tliis  union.  Mi-s.  Kate  Jester 
dying,  was  a  second  time  married— to  Mrs.  Jennie  Lowe,  on  June  18, 
1890.  Mr.  Jester  bas  beld  tbe  ottices  of  townsbip  trustee  and  treasurer, 
owns  238  acres  of  good  fanning  land  and  by  industry  and  well  directed 
energy  bas  attained  tliat  degree  of  success  of  wbicb  be  is  in  every  way 
deserving. 


MR.  E.  H.  SANFORD  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  .January  24,  1822,  in  Allegbeny  county.  New  Yoik. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  1857,  and  to  Eskridge  in  1808.  In  1863,  wys  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  J.  St.  John,  two  daughters  being  born  to  this 
union.  Col.  Sanford,  as  he  was  always  called,  was  educated  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan,  being  a  graduate  of  the  law  department  of  Wie  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan.  As  a  man  of  letters  Col.  Sanford  ranked  far 
above  many  who  attained  wider  distinction.  As  a  financier  he  was  a 
failure.  But  he  possessed  stores  of  wealth  denied  to  others  better 
equipped  to  win  smiles  from  that  tickle  goddess — Fortune.  He  was  a 
man  with  a  resourceful  brain  and  generous  impulses.  He  was  the 
father  of  Eskridge.  And  yet  when  he  staked  his  all  on  the  issue; 
when  he  invested  his  last  dollar  in  the  first  house  built  in  Eskridge 
there  were  doubting  Thomases  who  tapped  their  foreheads  with 
ominous  meaning.  But  later  on  when  a  change  of  19  votes  would  have 
made  Eskridge  the  county  seat,  opinions  derogatory  to  the  Colonel's 
judgment  underwent  a  change.  To  his  persistence  is  due  the  fact 
that,  today,  Eskridge  has  a  place  on  the  map.  Let  credit  be  given  to 
whom  it  is  due.  On  April  11,  1901,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  the  spirit  left 
the  tenement  of  clay — the  rays  from  a  bright  intellect  had  been  extin- 
guished; a  man  with  a  kind  heart  had  gone  home. 


E.  STURDY 

Was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  in  1858.  Came  to  Kansas  in 
1883.  On  July  24,  1880,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  E.  J.  Flick- 
inger,  to  which  union  seven  children  were  born:  Esther,  Harry, 
Ralph,  Guy,  Dora,  Ray,  and  Glenn.  Mr.  Sturdy  is  manager  of  the 
Freeman  ranch,  six  miles  southeast  of  Eskridge,  owns  600  acres  of 
land,  and  has  attained  a  degree  of  success  that  is  alike  flattering  to  the 
man  and  to  the  country  and  conditions  that  have  made  that  success 
possible. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      297 


AUGUST  HANSEN 

Was  born  in  Schleswig  Holstein,  Germany,  April  10,  1860.  Came 
to  America  in  1880,  and  two  years  later,  to  Kansas.  Received  the 
benefits  of  a  good  education  at  Apenlarade,  Germany.  Owns  an 
excellent  farm  of  160  acres,  near  McFarland,  and  one  of  the  prettiest 
farm  houses  in  the  county.  Is  proprietor  of  the  McFarland  Creamery, 
and  besides  supplying  the  markets  with  the  best  quality  of  choice 
dairy  butter  has  the  contract  for  supplying  the  Rock  Island  eating 
house  witli  cream— annually  supplying  the  Rock  Island  management 
with  more  than  three  thousand  gallons  of  choicest  cream.  His 
creamery  is  equipped  with  all  the  modern  improvements  and  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  country. 


WILLIAM  MAAS 

Was  born  May  26,  1841,  at  Ilagenow,  Mecklenburg,  Germany. 
Came  to  America  in  August,  1869,  direct  to  Wabaunsee  county,  loca- 
ting on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides— in  one  of  the  coziest  farm 
residences  in  the  county.  (See  illustration).  Mr.  Maas  received  a 
classical  education  in  the  city  schools  of  Hagenow,  and  started  out 
well  equipped,  from  an  educational  stand-point,  for  the  battle  of  life. 
On  June  11,  1861,  Mr.  Maas  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lisette 
Stellies,  to  wliich  union  nine  children  were  born,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Mr.  Maas  owns  920  acres  of  good  land,  and  the  fact  that 
lie  lias  served  the  people  several  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  has 
been  elected  seven  times  as  township  trustee  is  the  best  indication  of 
his  high  standing  among  tho.se  best  informed  as  to  his  merits. 


MR.  PATRICK  MAGUIRE  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  County  CaA-an,  Ireland,  in  March,  1828.  Came  to 
America  in  1846,  locating  in  Pennsylvania.  Came  to  Kansas  in  1871, 
but  not  did  permanently  locate  here  until  1873— on  the  farm  where  he 
died,  on  December  25,  1899,  at  the  age  of  71  years  and  9  months.  Mrs. 
Realiill  Maguire  died  February  6,  1901,  at  the  age  of  75  years,  9  months 
and  5  days.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maguire,  four  sons  and  a  daughter  were 
born,  all  but  one  son  surviving:  Hugh,  John,  and  Pat,  alUivingon 
and  near  tlie  old  homestead.  Mary,  the  only  daughter,  is  happily 
married  and  lives  in  Kansas  City.  Mr.  Maguire  owned  a  fine  farm  of 
272  acres  and  by  industry  and  economy  had  amply  provided  for  his 
children.  He  was  generous  and  warm  hearted  and  of  a  kindred  spirit 
was  his  worthy  helpmeet. 


298      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  CHARLES  N.  EARL  (Dec'd) 

Was  one  of  the  men  holding  official  place  in  Wabaunsee  county 
who  died  in  office.  He  had  been  maj'or  of  his  home  town,  Eskridgc, 
two  terms,  and  was  serving  his  second  teim  as  county  commissioner. 
lie  came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  18G9,  with  his  paionts,  when  he 
was  but  a  small  boy.  Grew  up  in  the  old  home  near  the  "Corners."  of 
which  his  father's  homestead  was  a  part.  Carried  on  the  mercantile 
business,  the  legacy  of  his  father,  for  twenty-live  year.s,  and  during 
that  time  never  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  tiie  needy  nor  refused  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  the  distressed.  Mr.  Earl  died  December  28,  1899. 
His  estimable  widow  and  an  only  daughter  reside  in  Eskridge— a  town 
in  which  Mr.  Eail  always  took  a  leading  part  in  the  upbuilding. 


L.  T.  RICE 


Was  born  in  West  Hartford,  Connecticut,  September  2,  1852. 
Came  to  Kansas  in  1856,  with  his  parents,  who  located  in  Shawnee 
county.  Mr.  Rice  was  left  motherless  at  the  age  of  7  years.  Received 
a  good  common  school  education,  supplemented  by  a  cour.se  at  a  busi- 
ness college.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  driving 
three  yoke  of  oxen,  drawing  material  from  Lawrence  and  Leaven- 
worth, to  Topeka,  to  erect  what  was  then  known  as  Lincoln  College 
but  now  a  part  of  Washburn.  After  the  close  of  the  Civil  war 
returned  with  his  parents  to  Connecticut,  but  after  a  two  years 
residence  again  came  to  Kansas.  Worked  two  years  for  the  Santa  Fe 
and  again  returned  to  the  farm.  Was  married  in  1880,  and  five  years 
later  came  to  this  county,  locating  near  Halifax.  In  1890  was  elected 
probate  judge  and  two  years  later  was  re-elected.  In  1899,  was  elected 
county  commissioner  and  is  the  present  incumbent  in  that  office.  Is 
a  progressive  farmer  and  a  popular  official. 


JAMES  H.  LAWLOR 

Was  born  October  5,  1830,  at  Buffalo,  New  York.  Became  a  sailor 
and  served  twenty  years  steady  on  the  lakes.  Was  captain  on  several 
boats.  Served  in  the  U.  S.  Navy  during  the  Civil  war.  Came  to  Kan- 
sas in  1870,  locating  the  first  hotel  in  Eskridge.  Was  the  town 
company's  agent  for  the  sale  of  the  whole  town  site.  Mr.  Lawlor  was 
the  first  station  agent  at  Eskridge;  was  one  of  the  first  councilmen, 
and  served  three  terms  as  mayor.  On  April  3,  1856,  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Mansfield,  four  children  being  born  to 
this  union:    Geo.  II.,  Franklin  H.,  Amy  M.  Swartz,  and  Lettie  J. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      299 


Cosley.  Mr.  Lawlor  has,  from  the  day  of  its  location  been  an  enthusi- 
astic advocate  of  the  prosperity  and  upbuilding  of  Eskridge.  His 
wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Lawlor,  was  the  first  postmistress  of  Eskridge,  and, 
with  her  husband,  lias  done  much  to  build  up  and  beautify  the  town. 
Slie  now  conducts  the  Palace  House  in  Eskridge,  where  she  enjoys  a 
large  trade. 


JOHN  Y.  WAUGH 


Was  born  July  31,  1858,  in  Ontario,  Canada.  Received  the  best  of 
educational  advantages  at  Listowel,  Ontario.  In  1888  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Sadie  D.  Gallagher,  to  which  union  five  children 
were  born:  Grace,  William,  Ivan,  John  Y.,  Jr.,  and  Davis.  Long 
years  of  service  in  the  banking  business,  combined  with  business 
sagacity  of  no  ordinary  degree  have  brought  phenomenal  success  to 
one  of  Eskridge's  most  prominent  citizens.  Mr.  Waugh's  residence  is 
commodious  and  handsome— one  of  the  prettiest  in  the  city. 


DR.  AUGUST  BRASCHE  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  June  13,  1820.  Came  to  Wabaunsee  county  in  1857,  from 
Wyandotte,  where  he  first  located,  running  the  largest  drugstore  in 
the  city.  On  June  11,  1866,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie 
Schultz,  of  West  Branch.  Dr.  Brasche  was  elected  coroner  March  28, 
1859,  and  was  re-elected  six  times  in  succession.  Was  township  treas- 
urer several  terms  and  was  eight  times  elected  township  trustee, 
holding  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  death,  on  March  19,  1883,  after  a 
few  days  illness  with  pneumonia,  leaving  an  estimable  wife,  three 
sons  and  a  daughter  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  kind  husband  and  father, 
a  most  estimable  citizen,  and  one  who  was  probably  more  widely 
known  than  any  other  man  in  the  county.  Dr.  Brasche  was  a  graduate 
of  one  of  the  best  medical  colleges  in  Europe,  located  at  Halverstadt, 
Prussia.  In  early  life  entered  the  Prussian  army  as  Surgeon  with  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant.  Was  more  than  usually  proficient  in  the  art  of 
surgery  and  on  many  occasions  demonstrated  his  thorough  familiarity 
with  every  detail  of  his  profession. 


LOUIS  PALENSKE 


Was  born  January  3,  1858,  on  the  farm,  near  Alma.  Received  the 
benefits  of  a  good  educational  training  in  the  Alma  city  schools,  under 
the  supervision  of  Profs.  Kroenke  and  Orlopp.  On  January  7,  1883, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Thoes,  to  which  union  three 


300      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

sons:  Max,  Fred,  and  Arnold,  and  two  daughters,  Miss  Minnie  and 
little  Laura,  were  born.  In  1877,  Mr.  Palenske  took  up  tlie  study  of 
photography,  under  the  tutorship  of  the  ablest  masters  of  the  art  in 
Topeka  and  Kansas  City,  mastering  the  l)usincss  in  every  detail  and 
acquiring  for  himself  a  reputaticju  as  an  artist  of  more  than  local 
celebrity.  In  1882,  Mr.  Palenske  opened  a  small  book  and  stationery 
store;  musical  instruments  and  sewing  machines  were  added  until  his 
business  was  immense  in  volume,  and  today  he  carries  perhaps  the 
largest  stock  of  a  similar  kind  in  the  county.  In  1888,  banking  on  a 
small  scale  was  added  to  his  list  of  business  ventures,  under  the  tirm 
name  of  L.  Palenske  &  Co.  Later,  in  1889,  this  was  merged  into  the 
Alma  State  Bank,  and  on  January  3,  1898,  into  the  Alma  National 
Bank,  of  which  excellent  institution  Mr.  Palenske  has  been  cashier 
since  the  organization  of  the  bank.  In  1896,  Mr.  Palenske  was  elected 
representative  in  the  state  legislature,  and  in  this  as  well  as  in  all  other 
positions  of  honor  and  trust,  acquitted  himself  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  his  constituents.  No  man  in  Wabaunsee  county  is  more  widely 
known  and  more  highly  esteemed  than  is  Mr.  Palenske.  His  father, 
Mr.  Fred  Palenske,  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers,  settling  on  the 
line  of  the  Pottawatomie  reserve  when  there  were  but  few  white 
neighbors  and  when  log  houses  were  the  rule,  and  they,  few  and  far 
between. 


MR.  HENRY  GRAVES  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  July  9,  1844.  Came  to  America  in 
April,  1865,  and  to  Kansas  in  1876.  On  November  9,  1870,  whs  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Grafar,  eight  children  being  born  to 
this  union:  Lizzie,  Katie,  Harry,  Emma,  William,  May,  Dora,  and 
Lena.  On  July  23,  1900,  Mr.  Graves  died  at  his  home,  near  McFarland. 
He  owned  320  acres  of  land  and  by  industry  and  economy  had  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  competency  for  a  worthy  family  who  were  left  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  a  kind  husband  and  father. 


A.  R.  STROWIG 


Was  born  January  9,  1863,  in  Jackson  county,  Kansas.  Received 
the  benefit  of  an  excellent  educational  training  in  the  Holton  city 
schools.  On  October  24,  1887,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Kaul,  to  which  union  five  children  were  born:  Warner,  Harry,  Edna, 
Olive,  and  Elmer.  Mr.  Strowig  built  the  first  house  on  the  present 
site  of  Paxico  and  resides  in  one  of  the  coziest  homes  in  the  city. 
Started  in  business  in  1887  and  by  a  strict  attention  to  the   wants  of 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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POVNTZ  AVENUE,  MANHATTAN,  1866. 
A  government  train  on  the  way  to  Fort  Leavenworth  — taking  forage. 


RESIDENCE  OF   MR.  S.  H.  FAIRFIELD,  ALMA. 


EARLY, HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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BOLTON  BROS.  (NOW  C.  J.  GLOTZBACH'S|)ISTORE,;PAXICO. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  C.  O.  KINNE,  ALMA. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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RESIDENCE  MR.  FRED  REUTER,  Alma. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  B.  CASSIDY,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MB.  C.  TOMSON,  Paxico. 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  O.  E.  WEBB,  Paxico. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR,  GEORGE  SUTHERLAND,  Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  E.  MEYER,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J,  C.  HENDERSON,  Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  MORITZ  HUND,  near  Paxico. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  R.  HENDERSON,  Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  E.  STURDY,  Manager  Freeman  Ranch,  Bradford. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  MATT  THOMSON, 
Alma. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  H.  STDEWE, 
Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  GU3  SCHROEDER, 
Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  WM.  RICKERSHAUSER, 
Near  Halifax. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  ROBERT  STROWIG,  near  Paxico. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  C.  L.  DAVIS,  Alma. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  H.  McMAHAN,  Alma. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  R.  FIX,  VOLLAND.  1901. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  ALBERT  DIEBALL,  NEAR  ALMA,  1901. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      301 


his  customers  has  acquired  a  handsome  competency.  Deals  in  grain 
and  live  stock,  hardware,  implements,  etc.  Is  an  up-to-date  business 
man  and  his  success  is  already  assured. 


JOSEPH  GLOTZBACH,  SR. 

Was  born  in  Grosherzog,  Germany,  February  12,1825.  Came  to 
America  in  1839.  After  one  year's  residence  in  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
the  family  moved  to  Indiana.  In  1856,  moved  to  Wisconsin  and  in 
1870,  came  to  Kansas,  locating  in  Newbury  township.  In  1849,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Sendelbach,  to  which  union  eight 
children  were  born:  Charles,  George,  William,  Rosa,  Kate,  Joseph, 
Mary  (deceased),  and  Valentine.  For  eight  years  prior  to  his  marriage 
Mr.  Glotzbach  was  a  cigar  maker.  With  the  exception  of  his  son, 
George,  who,  in  November,  1900,  moved  to  California,  the  children 
live  in  Newbury  township,  within  a  short  distance  of  the  old  home- 
stead—where,  in  peace  and  quietude,  Mr.  Glotzbach,  Sr.,  and  his 
estimable  helpmeet  live  at  ease,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  a 
well  spent  life.    (See  illustration). 


PHILLIP   HUND 

Was  born  in  Mankato,  Minnesota,  October  13,  1865.  Came  to 
Kansas  with  his  parents  when  but  five  years  of  age,  the  family  locating 
near  Newbury.  Was  educated  in  the  district  and  parochial  .schools. 
On  May  1,  1888,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Lamm,  to  wliich 
union  seven  children  were  born.  Until  September,  1900,  Mr.  Hund 
was  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Newbury  township,  but  is  at 
present  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Paxico,  which,  under  his  efficient 
management  has  attained  a  reputation  as  a  popular  stopping  place 
with  the  traveling  public— equalled  by  few  and  excelled  by  none. 


CHARLES  H.  THOMPSON 

Was  born  March  9,  1856,  in  Union  county,  Ohio.  Came  with  his 
parents  to  Kansas  in  1866,  locating  on  the  farm  on  Hendricks  creek. 
A  good  common  school  education  was  supplemented  by  several  years 
attendance  at  the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  College,  at  Manhattan. 
On  December  11,  1877,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maria  Myers, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Hiram  Myers.  Mrs.  Thompson  died  August  17,  1883, 
and  Homer,  the  only  child,  died  November  25,  1894.  On  March  18, 
1885,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  C.  Rand,  four  children 
being  born  to  this  union:    Miss  Mabel,  Raymond  C,  George  Eldon, 


302      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

and  Rollin.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Thompson  occupied  a  leading 
place  as  teacher  in  the  schools  of  Wabaunsee  county.  In  November, 
1897,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  of  Wabaunsee  county. 
After  rendering  the  people  efficient  service  for  two  years  retired  from 
office  of  his  own  volition  and  against  the  urgent  wishes  of  his  friends, 
considering  his  duty  to  his  family  and  his  own  private  business 
interests  paramount  to  all  other  considerations.  Though  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Riley  county  he  will  ever  occupy  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people  of  Wabaunsee  county. 


LOUIS  UNDORF 

Was  born  in  New  York  City,  August  2,  1866.  Came  with  his 
parents  to  Kansas  in  October,  1878,  the  family  locating  in  Alma. 
Received  the  benefit  of  a  good  educational  training  in  the  city  schools 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  When  17  years  of  age  engaged  as  clerk  with  Mr. 
J.  B.  Cassidy,  being  consecutively  employed  by  Messrs.  Cassidy,  Lim- 
erick, P.  R.  Meyers,  Green,  and  Miller  for  eight  years,  when  he  went 
into  business  for  himself  as  proprietor  of  the  City  Meat  Market,  in 
which  he  has  been  ever  since  engaged— his  business  growing  from  an 
infant  industry  to  a  volume  that  would  do  credit  to  any  city  of  much 
larger  pretensions  than  Alma.  By  a  strict  attention  to  business 
methods  and  the  needs  of  his  customers  Mr.  Undorf  has  achieved  that 
degree  of  success  of  which  he  is  in  every  way  deserving. 


CHARLES  B.  HENDERSON 

Was  born  September  29,  1865,  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  Came  to  Kansas 
with  his  parents  in  1872,  the  family  settling  in  Mission  Creek  town- 
ship. Received  the  benefit  of  a  good  educational  training  in  the 
schools  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  in  those  of  his  home  district.  Was 
deputy  register  of  deeds  six  years.  Was  admitted  to  the  Wabaunsee 
county  bar  in  1892,  since  which  time  has  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice, 
but  finds  more  agreeable  and  remunerative  employment  in  looking 
after  the  investments  being  made  by  Henderson  Bros,  in  mining 
properties  in  Arkansas  and  Wyoming.  Is  one  of  the  organizers  and 
principal  stockholders  of  the  Wyoming  Copper  &  Gold  Mining  Co.,  it 
being  the  purpose  of  the  Company  to  develop  their  valuable  mining 
properties,  twelve  miles  south  of  Grand  Encampment,  Wyoming,  the 
investment  already  promising  fabulous  returns  to  the  stockholders. 
Equally  promising  are  the  prospective  returns  from  investments  made 
in  the  Arkansas  lead  and  zinc  fields,  valuable  timber  lands  and  marble 
quarries  constituting  auxiliary  features  none  the  less  desirable.    The 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      303 


firm  of  Henderson  Bros,  is  also  largely  engaged  in  the  cattle  and 
grazing  business,  real  estate,  loans,  abstracting  and  insurance.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  thorough  going  business  man,  who,  by 
honest  dealing  and  strict  application  to  business  methods  has  secured 
the  key  to  the  door  of  success,  the  opening  of  which  only  awaits  his 
bidding. 


HERMAN  ARNDT 


Was  born  November  25,  1860,  on  the  farm  at  Templin,  where  he 
now  resides.  On  February  21,  1886,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ida  Johnson,  five  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Eleanor,  Arthur, 
Walter,  Herman,  and  Gertrude.  Mr.  Arndtowns  an  excellent  farm  of 
500  acres,  and  in  addition  to  mixed  farming  is  largely  engaged  in  the 
business  of  raising  thoroughbred  Poland  Chinas,  the  demand  for 
whicli  indicates  the  wide  reputation  achieved  by  his  fine  hogs.  Mr. 
Arndtisnota  politician  but  has  served  the  people  of  Garfield  and 
Washington  townships  four  years  as  clerk  and  and  five  years  as  town- 
ship trustee.  Was  a  popular  official,  but  his  duties  on  the  farm 
engross  his  entire  attention,  leaving  no  time  to  indulge  in  the  thank- 
less and  unprofitable  game  of  politics. 


MR.  HEINRICH  JOSEPH  UNDORF  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  May  28,  1820,  at  Kommerscheid,  Prussia.  Came  to  Alma 
in  October,  1878,  from  New  York  City,  where  he  had  lived  many  years, 
following  the  occupation  of  tailor  from  his  boyhood  days  until  his 
death,  on  December  17,  1901.  Was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Thoes,  eight  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Mrs.  Catharine 
Femmel,  Mrs.  Mary  Utermarm,  Charlie,  Mrs  Theresa  Orff,  Louis, 
Sister  Mary  Leander,  Mrs.  Barbara  Tenbrinck,  and  Hubert— worthy 
and  estimable,  all,  as  was  their  father  before  them— with  a  kindly 
face  and  a  warm  heart  he  passed  the  threshold  of  life  with  an  unsul- 
lied name,  and  beloved  by  everyone. 


E.  WORSLEY 


Was  born  in  Upper  Canada,  July  1,  1848.  Moved  to  Wappingers 
Falls,  New  York,  in  April,  1865,  and  from  thence  to  Kansas,  April  1, 
1877.  Received  a  good  educational  training,  even  though  it  was  in  a 
log  school  house  in  the  woods  of  Upper  Canada.  On  March  13,  1877, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  J.  Whitehead,  to  which  union  seven 
children  were  born:    Jolin  E.,   J.  P.,  E.  Rowland,  Frank  W.,   Fred 


.-504      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Arthur,  Edith  M.,  and  Constance  V.  Worsley.  In  1889,  Mr.  Worsley 
was  elected  county  commissioner  for  a  three  ycai-s  term,  rendering  the 
people  efficient  service  in  one  of  the  most  important  offices  in  the  gift 
of  the  people.  Owns  a  good  farm  of  400  acres  and  is  pleasantly  located 
ill  a  comfortable  home  in  Maple  Hill  township. 


W.  G.  WEAVER 


Was  born  January  7,  1864,  in  New  London,  Connecticut.  Came  to 
Kansas  with  his  parents  when  but  four  years  of  age,  the  family  loca- 
ting at  Wabaunsee.  Dr.  L.  P.  Weaver,  the  father,  was  a  skilled 
physician  and  for  several  years  postmaster  at  Wabaunsee— where,  on 
January  23,  1874,  he  died  at  the  age  of  74  years.  - 

On  December  14,  1892,  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Clara  B.  Chamberlain,  to  which  union  three  children 
were  born:  Marguerite,  Hall,  and  the  baby— three  months  having 
passed  in  an  unavailing  search  for  a  name  pretty  enough  to  fit  the 
little  one's  personal  appearance.  Mr.  Weaver  served  the  people  four 
years  as  clerk  of  the  district  court  and  several  additional  years  as 
deputy.  Was  a  capable  official  and  as  popular  as  efficient.  Since 
November  1,  1899,  has  been  engaged  in  the  abstract  business  in  Alma. 


HENRY  GRUVIM 


Was  born  June  16,  1831,  in  Weinsberg,  Wurtemburg,  Germany. 
Came  to  America  in  1852  and  five  years  later  to  Kansas,  locating  on 
the  farm  near  Volland,  where  he  now  resides.  Received  excellent 
educational  advantages,  taking  a  college  course  at  Meinfels,  Germany. 
In  1857,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Graaf,  seven  children 
being  born  to  this  union:  Charles,  Emma,  Rosa,  George,  William, 
Edward,  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Grimm  owns  one  of  the  largest  farms  in 
the  county,  there  being  2,090  acres  in  the  tract,  200  acres  being  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  The  farm  is  stocked  with  200  head  of  fine 
cattle,  the  place  furnishing  excellent  pasturage  for  a  much  larger 
number.  Though  among  the  early  settlers  Mr.  Grimm  had  no  fear  of 
the  Indians.  He  manifested  his  friendship  on  so  many  occasions  that 
a  strong  bond  of  mutual  regard  grew  up  between  the  pioneer  settler 
and  the  sons  of  the  forest.  But  on  the  plains  Mr.  Grimm  didn't  fare 
so  well.  (See  page  119).  Two  gruesome  souvenirs  remind  him  of  that 
life  and  death  struggle  at  Platte  Bridge  in  1864.  One  arrow  point 
passed  entirely  through  his  leg,  the  shaft  protruding  seven  inches  on 
either  side.  Another  was  buried  three  inches  in  his  spine.  But  after 
weeks  of  suffering  his  health  was  partially  restored.    But  though  38 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      305 


years  have  gone  by  Mr.  Grimm  is  constantly  reminded  of  that  savage 
onslaught  of  the  Sioux  Indians  at  Platte  Bridge.  Mr.  Grimm  is  one 
of  Wabaunsee  county's  most  substantial  citizens,  who  has  proven  by 
his  works  what  can  be  accomplished  by  leading  a  life  of  industry, 
strict  integrity,  and  a  conscientious  regard  for  the  rights  of  his  fellows. 


WILLIAM  TRUSLER 


Was  born  October  10,  1853,  in  Sinclairville,  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York.  Came  to  Kansas  in  1881,  locating  at  Eskridge,  where  he 
has  always  been  found  doing  business  at  the  old  stand.  On  September 
25,  1883,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Carrie  M.  Lown,  two  children 
l)eing  born  to  this  union:  Golden  and  Geraldine.  Mr.  Trusler  has 
been  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Eskridge  for  21  years  and 
his  success  has  been  phenomenal.  Besides  being  one  of  the  thorough 
going,  energetic  business  men  of  our  neighboring  city  he  has  shown 
himself  as  generous  and  public  spirited  as  he  is  far  seeing  and  pro- 
gressive—his  donation  to  the  Wesleyan  Metliodist  College  being  the 
best  of  proof  that  any  statement  tending  to  create  a  favorable  impres- 
sion in  Mr.  Trusler's  behalf  cannot  be  overdrawn.  Should  the  large 
stone  building  prove  inadequate  to  the  needs  of  the  school  in  the 
near  future  neither  Mr.  Trusler  nor  his  friends  will  have  the  least 
reason  for  regret.  In  proportion  as  the  attendance  shall  increase  in 
numbers  just  in  that  ratio  will  Mr.  Trusler's  wishes  be  gratified 
and  the  expectations  of  his  friends  be  realized. 


A.  F.  WADE 

Was  born  October  29,  1843,  at  Kinsman,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio. 
Received  the  benefits  of  an  excellent  educational  training  at  James- 
town, Pennsylvania.  On  October  13,  18(36,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Orra  C.  Cole,  two  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Harmon  C. 
and  Dolson  N.  AVade.  On  March  26,  1868,  came  to  Kansas,  locating  on 
the  farm  near  Keene  postofHce,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Taught 
school  in  Pennsylvania  and  for  a  number  of  years  after  coming  to 
Kansas,  taking  a  front  place  in  the  work  of  the  school  room.  Was  for 
several  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  examiners  and  from  1886  to 
1889  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  and  in  1889, 
represented  Wabaunsee  county  in  the  state  legislature.  Served  all 
through  the  war— in  the  2nd  Ohio  and  the  14th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
Owns  2,900  acres  of  land  and  for  several  years  has  been  largely  inter- 
ested in  the  cattle  business.  On  July  4,  1872,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade 
made  the  first  cheese  in  the  Keene  factory.    They  own  one  of  the 


;J0(5      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

prettiest  homes  in  Mission  Creek  townsliip  and  enjoy  it  for  the  best  of 
reasons— they  know  how  they  earned  it— by  tirelcvss  industry  and  hard 
knocks  on  the  farm. 


W.  J.  HINSHAW 


Was  born  in  Clay  county,  Indiana,  March  15,  1849.  Came  to  Kan- 
sas in  March,  1871,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarali  .1. 
Elliott,  at  Anadarko,  Oklahoma,  on  April  12,  187.3.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ilinshaw  have  four  living  children:  L.  M.,  Fred  I.,  Mary  A.,  and 
Everett  B.  Hinshaw.  Since  1874,  Mr.  Ilinshaw  has  lived  on  the  farm, 
three  miles  northwest  o|  Harvey  ville,  but  during  the  time  has  varied 
the  monotony  of  farm  work  by  the  equally  arduous  duties  of  the  school 
room,  belonging  to  that  class  of  teachers  whose  services  are  always  in 
demand  by  school  boards  having  at  heart  the  true  interests  of  the 
children  under  their  immediate  supervision. 


M.  P.  EARLY 


Was  born  August  30,  1838,  in  Adams  county,  Ohio.  Came  to  Kan- 
sas, March  2,  1883.  On  December  2,  1862,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Armstrong,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  three  children 
being  born  to  this  union:  Mary  M.,  Sarah  V.,  and  O.  M.  Early.  Dur- 
ing the  war  served  one  year  as  a  member  of  the  1st  Missouri  Cavalry 
and  in  the  last  year  of  the  war  in  the  ISlst  Ohio.  Owns  230  acres  of 
land  near  TIarveyville  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  that  progressive  and  up-to-date  town — his  suc- 
cess in  a  new  field  of  labor  being  the  best  proof  of  his  zeal  in  providing 
for  the  needs  of  his  patrons. 


MR.  J.  W.  MOSSMAN   (Dec'd) 

Was  born  January  5,  1809,  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  Came 
to  Kansas  in  1857,  settling  on  the  claim  he  pre-empted  and  on  which 
he  lived  until  his  death,  on  March  12,  1891.  On  September  9,  1845,  the 
sul)ject  of  this  notice  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Wood- 
ford, five  children  being  born  to  this  union:  L.  J.,  R.  G.,  Lois  C,  S. 
L.,  and  Zada  A.  Mossman.  Mrs.  Mossman  was  born  December  28, 
1814,  and  died  January  30,  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mossman  were  well 
mated,  in  that  they  were  alike  generous  and  warm  hearted;  kind  and 
considerate  as  to  the  rights  and  opinions  of  others,  and  ever  willing 
to  look  on  the  bright  side  of  life  rather  than  render  unpleasant  their 
own  surroundings  or  those  of  their  friends  with  whom  they  daily  came 
in  contact. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      307 


EMERSON  S.  SHOECRAFT 

Was  born  March  17,  1873,  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  Came  to  Kan- 
sas in  1881.  Was  educated  at  PhilHpsburg,  Kansas,  being  a  graduate 
of  the  high  scliool  at  that  place.  Is  boolcl^ieeper  and  cashier  at  Trus- 
Icr's  department  store  in  Eslcridge,  an  employment  where  a  person's 
ability  and  efficiency  is  daily  put  to  the  severest  tests.  That  he  has 
not  been  found  wanting  in  any  of  the  requisites  essential  to  a  further 
continuance  in  the  esteem  of  his  employer  is  evident  to  any  one 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Trusler's  qualifications  as  a  business  manager. 
Mr.  Shoecraft  is  fortunate  in  the  possession  of  those  qualifications 
that,  years  ago,  directed  him  in  tlie  right  path  leading  onward  to 
success. 


JOHN  N.  BARLOW 

Was  born  January  10,  .1840,  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio.  Came  to 
Kansas  February  13,  1869,  locating  near  Harveyville,  wliere  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  On  December  25,  1862,  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Emiline  Murrell,  to  wliich  union  two 
sons  were  born:  Charles  W.  and  Ennis  N.  Barlow.  Mr.  Barlow  owns 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  Wabaunsee  county  and  during  liis  thirty- 
three  years  residence  liere  lias  proven  by  his  works  what  industry  and 
persevering  energy  can  accomplish  on  the  rich,  agricultural  lands  of 
the  land  of  sunflowers  and  wind,  drouth  and  grasshoppers.  Mr.  Bar- 
low is  one  of  Wabaunsee  county's  substantial  citizens  and  universally 
esteemed. 


GUY  C.  BEALS 

Wlis  born  June  24,  1858,  in  Ottawa  county,  Micliigan.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1893,  locating  at  Alma,  where  he,  with  his  family,  has  since 
resided.  On  September  4,  1888,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Cornelia  West,  three  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Florence, 
Gertrude,  and  Guy  Carleten.  Dr.  Beals  is  a  graduate  of  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College,  of  New  York  City,  and  has  taken  wliat  is 
equivalent  to  a  post  graduate  course  by  unremitting  study  and  a 
determination  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times.  In  1895,  Dr.  Beals  was 
elected  to  the  position  of  county  coroner  and  for  several  years  was 
county  physician  and  health  officer,  a  position  lie  now  holds  and  tlie 
duties  of  which-he  is  eminently  qualified  to  perform. 


:J08      early  history  of  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


GEORGE  L.  HORTON 

Was  born  in  Ripley  county,  Indiana,  July  17,  1842.  Came  to  Kan- 
sas in  November,  1868,  and  in  March,  1875,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Rachel  A.  Jeffries,  two  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Piatt 
and  Emma  Ilorton.  Mr.  Horton  owns  a  tine  farm  of  240  acres,  two 
miles  north  of  Ilarveyville,  where  he  has  continuously  resided  since 
first  coming  to  Kansas.  Was  three  years  in  the  army  and  is  com- 
mander of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Harveyville.  With  an  interesting 
family,  a  pleasant  home  and  the  esteem  of  all  Mr.  Ilorton  has  no 
reason  to  complain  of  Fortune's  favors  in  the  past  nor  cause  for 
anxiety  as  to  what  the  future  may  bring  forth.  ,, 


IVIR.  CONRAD  HESSE  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  October  20,  1828.  From  1847  to 
1849,  was  in  the  Prussian  Army— the  2nd  Cavalry  Regiment  of  the 
Wienen  Guards  (4th  Squadron,  Berlin).  Came  to  America  in  184!), 
locating  for  a  short  time  at  New  Orleans,  but  later,  went  to  Minne- 
sota, then  to  Iowa,  and  in  1878,  to  Kansas,  locating  on  the  farm  where 
he  lived  until  his  death.  February  20,  1898.  Was  married  to  Miss  Dora 
Daring,  one  child,  now  Mrs.  Louisa  Kallenbach,  of  Iowa,  being  born 
to  this  union.  His  first  wife  dying  after  one  and  one-half  yeans,  Mr. 
Hesse  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Meinhardt,  of  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  ten  children  blessing  this  union:  Philip,  now  of  Adell, 
Oklahoma,  Lawrence,  Nicholas,  John,  Adam,  Frank,  Mrs.  Matilda 
Pantler,  now  of  Evansville,  Illinois,  Joseph,  Bernard,  and  Mary.  Mr. 
Ilesse  was  a  tailor  by  trade  but  after  coming  to  Kansas  devoted  his 
efforts  to  stock  and  small  grain.  Was  a  successful  farmer  and  a  most 
estimable  citizen,  leaving  to  the  world  an  excellent  family  of  sons  and 
daughters.    (See  full  page  illustration). 


ANDREW  MEARS 


Was  born  in  Scotland,  September  24,  1820.  Mary  Jane  McMaster 
was  born  in  England,  July  1,  1829.  Were  married  May  15,  1849,  coming 
to  America  the  same  year,  locating  at  Vinegar  Hill,  Illinois.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1870,  locating  on  what  is  known  as  the  Miss  Agnes  Young 
farm,  three  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Eskridge.  Fenced  forty  acres 
of  tliat  farm  in  1871,  with  a  sod  fence— perhaps  the  largest  tract  of 
land  ever  enclosed  by  a  sod  fence  in  Wabaunsee  county.  Today,  not  a 
trace  of  that  fence  can  be  seen,  being  entirely  crumbled  and  worn 
away.     Afterwards  located  four  miles  south  of  Eskridge,  on  what  is 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      309 


known  as  the  Mears  farm,  making  them  a  pleasant  home.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mears  were  born  six  sons  and  two  daughters:  Jesse,  Hannah, 
Lizzie,  William,  James,  John,  Oscar,  and  Walter,  Children  and 
parents  all  living. 


MR.  JAMES  L.  THOMSON  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  Clarke  county,  Kentucky,  June  26,  1813.  In  1837,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  Davis,  to  which  union  four  sons 
were  born:  Haynie,  Davis,  Matt,  and  Henry.  Moved  to  Lincoln 
county,  Tennessee,  in  1842,  and  in  1857,  to  Wabaunsee  county.  Be- 
longed to  a  family  of  drovers,  supplying  the  Southern  markets  with 
hogs  and  mules,  all  of  which  were  driven  overland,  requiring  several 
months  to  make  a  trip.  After  his  removal  to  Tennessee  was  largely 
engaged  in  farming,  saw-milling  and  the  mercantile  business,  until 
1853.  when  his  fortune  was  wrecked  by  a  tornado  that  literally  de- 
stroyed Fayetteville,  the  county  seat.  After  stemming  the  tide  for 
three  years  came  to  Kansas,  in  1856,  locating  the  claim  now  known  as 
the  Herbert  Shaw  farm,  on  Dragoon  creek.  On  August  6,  1857, 
occurred  the  first  death  in  the  Dragoon  settlement,  the  mother  of  the 
writer  being  stricken  down  with  malarial  fever.  On  July  20,  1859,  the 
subject  of  tills  sketch  was  again  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane 
Washburn,  of  Norris'  creek,  Tennessee.  In  1859,  I860,  and  1861,  was 
agent  for  the  Santa  Fe  Mail  company,  having  charge  of  the  station  at 
Elm  creek.  On  February  4,  1882,  death  called  the  spirit  home— after 
a  pilgrimage  here  of  68  years,  7  months,  and  8  days.  Deceased  was  a 
man  with  wliom  kindness  was  a  characteristic  trait.  He  was  a  liberal 
contributor  to  public  enterprises  and  charitable  objects,  among  other 
contributions  was  one  of  $500  to  Lincoln  College,  at  Fayetteville,  of 
which  city  he  was  several  terms  mayor.  It  was  his  nature  to  be 
liberal,  a  statement  that  could  be  amply  corroborated  by  many  of  the 
later  settlers  on  the  Upper  Dragoon,  who  gladly  recognized  In  more 
than  one  of  the  old  pioneers  a  friend  in  the  hour  of  need. 

Note.    The  portrait  was  taken  from  a  Daguerreotype. 


MR.  MICHAEL  SWEENEY  (Dec'd) 

Was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  in  1819,  coming  to  America  in 
his  youth,  living  in  Wisconsin  until  October,  1874,  when  he  came  to 
Kansas,  locating  in  Kaw  township.  Was  united  in  marrriage  to  Miss 
Bridget  Moye,  to  which  union  were  born  seven  children,  four  sons  and 
three  daughters:  Mary,  Mrs.  Ellen  Finney,  Mrs.  Margaret  Lynn, 
Martin,  James,  Michael,  and  Thomas.    There  were  but  few  settlers 


310     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

on  the  reserve  lands  when  Mr.  Sweenej'  first  opened  up  a  farm  in  the 
Kaw  bottoms,  tliree  miles  southwest  of  St.  Marys,  but  27  years 
wrought  many  changes  and  found  him  the  possessor  of  one  of  the 
largest  farms  in  the  county.  On  July  25,  1901,  Mr.  Sweeney  died  at 
his  home  in  the  Kaw  Valley.  He  was  a  man  of  a  strong  will  and  a 
warm  heart.  Was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  needy, 
forgive  a  wrong,  and  to  forget  an  injury. 


S.  D.  SHAW 


Was  born  January  12,  1850,  in  Warren  county,  Indiana.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  1868.  Received  the  benefits  of  excellent  educational  train- 
ing in  the  schools  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Shaw  owns  240  acres  of  good  farm 
land  and  has  attained  a  measure  of  success  proportionate  to  well 
directed  effort  by  one  who  thoroughly  understands  his  business.  Has 
an  interesting  family,  a  pleasant  home,  and  such  surroundings  as 
bring  happiness  and  contentment. 


S.  M.  HARRIS 

Was  born  August  11,  1858,  on  the  farm  where  he  has  ever  since 
made  his  home.  On  June  H,  1881,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Thackery,  nine  children  being  born  to  this  union:  May, 
Maud,  Frank,  Lynn,  Carrie,  Richard  I.,  Vida,  Verda,  and  Zora. 
Though  an  old  settler  himself,  still  living  under  the  same  roof  is  his 
mother,  one  of  the  very  first  pioneers  of  the  Dragoon  settlement. 
Mr.  Harris,  Sr.,  who  died  but  a  few  years  ago,  was  twice  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  superintendent  of  schools  and  once  appointed  to  fill 
the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Mr.  E.  R.  Twitchell.  Mr.  Harris, 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  is  a  poet  of  more  than  local  fame,  his 
poems  partaking  of  the  Whitcomb  Riley  type,  many  productions  of 
his  pen  rivaling  the  best  efforts  of  his  Hoosier  contemporary.  But 
one  glance  at  that  interesting  family  group  answers  the  (luery  as  to 
why  Mr.  Harris  prefers  a  quiet,  contented  life  on  the  old  homestead 
even  though  accused  of  hiding  his  light  under  a  bushel. 


H.  C.  SHAW 


Was  born  P'ebruary  22d,  1849,  in  England.  Came  to  America  in 
in  1854  and  to  Kansas  in  1872.  With  his  father  established  the  first 
woolen  mill  in  Wabaunsee  county,  on  Mission  creek.  On  August  27, 
1879,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Matilda  Chrisp,  eleven  children 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      311 


being  born  to  this  union:    Ella,  Frederick  E.,  Sarah,  Charley  Ida 
Etta,  Bertha,  Phoebie,  Sebie,  Herbert  C,  Jr.,  and  Esther.    Mr.  Shaw 
owns  160  acres,    the    James  L.  Thomson  farm,    a  fine    place  with 
excellent  improvements,  among  which  is  a  beautiful  park,  always  open 
foru.se  by  picnic  parties,  or  others  wishing  to  enjoy  the  cool,  shady 
grove,   or  a  ride  in  the  "Santa  Maria,"  built  on  the  Dragoon  in  1895 
Mr.  Shaw  is  an  expert  machinist  and  for  several  years  was  proprieto 
and  manager  of  the  Burlingame  woolen  mill  and  later,   on  the  farm, 
supplied  the  stores  of  E.skridge  and  other  towns  with  many  articles  of 
apparel  made  at  his  factory  on  the  old  homestead  where  he  now 
resides. 


FRANK    RICKERSHAUSER 

Was  born  at  Neustadt,  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany,  March  9,  1833. 
Came  to  America  in  1852,  locating  at  Connersville,  Indiana.  Came  to 
Kansas  in  the  fall  of  1856,  locating  a  claim  on  the  head  of  the  Waka- 
ru.sa,  removing  to  Wabaunsee  county,  near  Halifax,  in  1868,  but  in 
1875  bought  the  farm  near  Paxico,  on  which  he  has  since  resided. 
Owns  4,000  acres  of  fine  farming  and  grazing  land  stocked  with  nearly 
seven  luindred  head  of  cattle.  Has  always  farmed  on  a  large  scale,  as 
is  indicated  by  our  illustration,  which  presents  to  view  one  of  the 
finest  stock  and  grain  ranches  In  Wabaunsee  county — the  result  of 
hard  labor  and  good  management  on  the  part  of  one  of  our  leading 
citizens — one  who  has  always  been  foremost  in  the  advancement  of 
any  public  enterprise,  and  ever  just  as  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
to  tho.se,  who,  in  tlie  battle  of  life,  have  been  less  fortunate.  A  single 
example  of  Mr.  Rickershauser's  generous  and  sympatlietic  nature  will 
emphasize  the  statement.  In  1873,  when  the  news  came  to  Mr. 
Rickershauser  that  Judge  Hall's  fine  residence  and  nearly  all  his  per- 
sonal property  had  been  destroyed  by  a  prairie  fire,  Mr.  Rickershauser 
loaded  up  his  big  farm  wagon,  with  double  sideboards,  with  corn, 
hauled  it  to  Wabaunsee,  and  dumped  the  contents  into  Mr.  Hall's 
crib.  No  solicitation  was  needed.  It  was  but  the  spontaneous  act  of 
one  of  Nature's  noblemen.  When  the  Alma  Salt  Works  needed  a  man 
to  push  business  to  the  front,  Mr.  Rickershauser  took  charge  in 
person  and  with  crude  appliances  made  fifty  barrels  of  the  finest  salt 
per  day.  Acres  of  cord  wood  were  piled  about  the  works,  giving  a 
large  number  of  men  employment.  Mr.  Rickershauser  has  led  an 
active  life.  Hard  work  has  been  the  rule  of  his  life  and  though  at 
this  writing  his  health  is  Impaired  it  is  hoped  that  for  many  years  he 
may  yet  enjoy  the  fruits  of  industry  and  well  directed  effort.  He  has 
not  only  seen  the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose  but  he  has  rendered 
valued  assistance  in  bringing  about  the  miraculous  changes  that  have 
been  wrought. 


312     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


0.  E.  WEBB 

Was  born  December  2,  1866,  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa.  Came  to 
Kansas  with  his  parents  in  1873,  locating  in  Pawnee  county.  Was  a 
farmer  boy  for  years  and  l^nows  wliat  hard  work  is  and  thoroughly 
understands  the  practical  side  of  life— his  knowledge  being  gained  by 
experience  in  starvation  times  and  the  grasshopper  raids  in  the  short 
grass  country.  Is  a  graduate  of  Central  Business  College,  of  Sedalia, 
Missouri.  Also  graduated  in  a  special  science  course  at  the  C.  N.  C, 
Great  Bend,  Kansas.  After  teaching  eight  years  in  the  county  and 
city  schools  of  Pawnee  county,  Kansas,  entered  upon  the  study  of 
medicine,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Beaumont  Hospital  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  class  of  1896.  Located  at  Paxico  in  March, 
1895,  and  by  strict  application  to  business,  by  constant  study,  and  his 
own  natural  ability  has  built  up  a  lucrative  practice,  attaining  a 
phenomenal  degree  of  success  in  his  chosen  profession.  In  May,  1896, 
Dr.  Webb  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Esther  C.  Willms,  of 
Ellinwood,  Kansas,  three  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Charley, 
Florence,  and  Fleta.  Dr.  Webb  is  one  among  the  first  of  our  profes- 
sional men  to  make  a  practical  application  of  a  system  of  telephones 
in  his  business.  In  1898,  he  constructed  his  first  line  to  McFar- 
land.  Since  that  time  he  has  constructed  lines  to  Keene,  Dover, 
and  Kuenzli  creek.  He  uses  the  Bridging  system  and  already  has  65 
phones  in  operation  and  the  number  is  constantly  increasing.  He  has 
50  miles  of  wire  and  on  the  completion  of  tlie  new  stone  building — 
the  first  in  Paxico— he  will  have  one  of  the  best  appointed  offices  in 
the  county.  A  view  of  his  pleasant  home  in  Paxico  is  shown  in  the 
illustration,  and  the  bundles  of  wires  speak  volumes  in  the  Doctor's 
behalf — showing  how  forethought,  energy,  and  up-to-date  methods 
will  bring  success. 


REV.  J.  J.  SILBERMANN 

Was  born  at  Uman,  Russia,  December  25,  1854.  Was  educated  at 
Basel,  Switzerland,  taking  a  theological  course  at  the  University 
located  there,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1880.  Came  to  America  the 
same  year.  In  1883,  came  to  Kansas,  locating  at  Eudora.  Has  been  a 
resident  of  Alma  since  1898.  On  January  23,  1883,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Frida  Sonderegger,  four  children  being  born  to  this  union: 
Olga,  Anna,  Oscar,  and  Esther.  The  Evangelical  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Silbermann  is  pastor,  is  one  of  the  neatest  church  edifices  in 
Alma.  Was  built  in  1880,  though  the  spire  wasn't  erected  until  1888. 
The  church  has  a  membership  of  forty  families  and  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition— a  fact  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  personal  efforts  of 
their  highly  esteemed  minister. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.    312a 


ROBERT  GUTH 

Was  born  April  28,  1837,  in  Baden,  Germany.  Came  to  America  in 
1847,  landing  at  New  Orleans.  Lived  nine  years  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
going  from  there  to  Mankato,  Minnesota.  Is  a  harness  maker  by 
trade  and  during  the  Civil  war  was  employed  by  the  government 
at  VIcksburg,  Mississippi,  from  1863  to  1865.  On  July  23,  1857,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Magdaline  Hund,  to  which  union  ten 
children  were  born,  seven  living:  Moritz  and  William,  of  Hutchinson, 
Kansas;  Mrs.  Ottilia  Muckenthaler,  August,  Mary,  Leo,  and  Henry. 
Mr.  Guth  came  to  Newbury  in  1873,  kept  boarding  house  awhile,  and 
worked  at  his  trade.  Was  postmaster  and  ran  a  general  store  until 
1895.  Has  retired  from  business  and  is  comfortably  located  at  his  old 
home  in  Newbury. 


W.  H.  H.  SMITH 


Was  born  April  6,  1858,  at  Jersey  ville,  Illinois.  Came  to  Kansas 
In  1890.  Received  a  good  classical  education  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana. 
Took  the  full  medical  course  at  the  North  Western  Medical  College, 
of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  a  post  graduate  course  at  the  Missouri 
Medical  College,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  On  February  22,  1882,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maria  Rhodes,  of  Ethingham,  Illinois, 
four  children  being  born  to  this  union:  Grover  Eugene,  August 
Herman,  Dewey,  and  Willie  H.  Dr.  Smith  has  been  for  six  years  a 
resident  of  Wabaunsee  county  and  during  that  time  has  demonstrated 
his  ability  as  a  physician,  and  the  number  of  difficult  surgical  oper- 
ations performed  by  him  attest  a  thorough  and  intricate  knowledge 
of  every  detail  of  his  chosen  profession. 


ROBERT  STROWIG 


Was  born  July  13,  1853,  in  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin.  Came  to  Kansas 
with  his  parents  when  five  years  of  age.  Received  a  good  education  at 
the  Banner  school,  one  of  the  best  in  Jackson  county.  On  January  1, 
1879,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Riederer,  to  which 
union  four  children  were  born:  Otto,  Mabel,  Milton,  and  Homer. 
Was  six  years  county  commissioner— from  January,  1896,  to  January, 
1902.  Besides  being  a  popular  official,  Mr.  Strowig  is  one  of  the  best 
millers  in  the  state,  the  mill  being  located  on  Mill  creek,  near  Paxico. 
The  mill  was  built  in  1879  and  has  a  capacity  of  75  barrels  of  flour  and 
50  barrels  of  meal  per  day.  Has  five  double  stands  of  9x15  rolls  on 
wheat,  one,  three  high  on  corn.    Has  one  sifter,  two  purifiers,  two 


n2b    EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

centrifiifiral  rolls,  smutter  and  sepnrators.  Is  one  of  the  best  mills 
in  Kansas  and  is  operated  and  owned  by  Strowig  &  Son.  Mr.  StrowiK 
bought  his  land  of  an  Indian,  and  for  several  years  after  the  mill  was 
built  the  last  remnant  of  the  Prairie  band  of  Pottawatomies  in  Wa- 
baunsee county  lived  in  two  wigwams  within  two  hundred  yards  of 
Mr.  Strovvig's  fine  residence  near  the  mill. 


JOSEPH  MUCKENTHALER 

Was  born  in  Scott  county,  Minnesota,  May  13,  1868.  Came  with 
his  parents  to  Wabaunsee  county  the  following  year.  On  September 
8,  1891,  was  united  in  .marriage  to  Miss  Ottilia  Guth,  to  which  union 
were  born  five  children:  Louis,  Eleanor,  Clements,  Joseph,  and  Paul. 
Owns  the  old  family  homestead  north  of  Newbury  and  that  he  is 
making  a  success  of  farming  is  indicated  by  the  many  improvements 
being  made  on  the  farm,  among  others,  the  best  and  most  convenient 
swine  shed  in  the  county.  For  many  years  has  been  leader  of  the 
Newbury  band  and  is  one  of  the  best  cornet  players  in  Kansas. 


ED.    L.  CAMPBELL 


Was  born  December  28,  1858,  in  Kushville,  Illinois.  Was  educated 
in  the  Rushville  schools  and  came  to  Kansas  in  1881.  On  September 
18,  1887,  was  united  in  mairiage  to  Miss  Mary  Sage,  of  Dover,  Kansas, 
to  which  union  three  children  were  born:  Lyle,  Charlie,  and  Clyde. 
Mr.  Campbell  was  postmaster  at  Eskridge  four  years  but  is  at  present 
engaged  in  farming,  owning  a  good  farm  of  160  acres  on  Mission  creek. 
Ed.  is  one  of  the  world's  good  fellows,  was  popular  as  a  postmaster 
and  is  making  a  success  of  life  on  the  farm. 


THOMAS  OLIVER 


Was  born  in  Dcnholm,  Roxburgshire,  Scotland,  April  28,  1859. 
Came  from  Edinburg  to  Old  Maple  Hill,  October,  1884.  When  the 
new  town  was  laid  out  in  1887,  Mr.  Oliver,  who  already  lived  on  the 
new  site,  moved  liis  wagon  shop  into  the  new  town  and  assisted  in 
erecting  the  first  building,  Mr.  J.  N.  Dolley's  general  store,  and  built 
the  first  dwelling  house — a  five  room,  two  story  structure.  lie  still 
operates  the  only  wagon  shop  and  has  erected  a  majority  of  the  build- 
ings in  what  is  one  of  the  neatest  towns  in  the  county,  of  which  Mr. 
Oliver  is  an  esteemed  citizen.  Isabella  Maple  Hill  Oliver  was  born 
September  19,  1887— the  first  child  born  in  the  new  town  and  the  first 
child  baptized  in  the  new  M.  E.  church. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      313 


f\  Court  RerninisGeriGe. 


.  The  following  interesting  reminiscence  of  the  courts  in  the  years 
agone  is  from  the  pen  of  Hon.  A.  H.  Case,  of  Topeka.  Mr.  Case  was 
our  first  district  attorney,  when  Wabaunsee  county  (or  Richardson 
county  then)  was  one  of  the  13  counties  comprising  the  3d  judicial 
district— taking  in  Pike's  Peak  and  a  good  share  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

Under  the  act  of  the  legislature  of  1860,  29  counties  were  included 
in  the  2d  judicial  district,  in  which  Wabaunsee  was  one  of  them, 
Rush  Elmore,  judge.  At  that  time  Arrapahoe  was  in  the  1st  district 
and  county  attorneys  were  in  vogue.  In  1861  Wabaunsee  was  placed  in 
the  3d  judicial  district  with  Shawnee,  and  all  west  of  Davis  county 
was  supposed  to  be  attached  to  this  district  for  judicial  purposes.  At 
the  fall  election  in  1861  Jacob  Safford  was  elected  judge  of  this  district, 
he  being  the  first  judge  under  the  state  constitution,  and  I  was 
elected  at  the  same  time  as  district  attorney.  The  judge's  salary  was 
sure,  but  the  district  attorney  took  his  pay  in  county  scrip,  worth 
about  20  cents  on  the  dollar.  The  highest  fee  was  in  murder  cases, 
$25,  but  we  had  no  such  cases,  as  no  attention  was  paid  to  accidents  of 
that  character.  Our  whole  time  was  occupied  in  stock  stealing  cases 
and  the  old  dram  shop  law.  To  convict  for  the  larceny  of  stock,  pos- 
session by  the  defendant  was  sure  conviction  unless  he  could  prove 
that  he  was  not  in  the  United  States  at  the  time.  Under  the  dram 
shop  act,  the  grand  jury,  on  proof,  would  find  a  bill,  the  case  would  be 
continued,  and  the  next  term  the  defendant,  by  his  learned  counsel, 
would  produce  a  license,  antedated  of  course,  showing,  under  the 
honest  seal  of  the  officials,  that  he  was  authorized  by  law  to  keep  shop. 
We  had  no  railroads  so  we  migrated  from  court  to  court  by  stage, 
horseback,  on  foot,  and  wagon.  The  stage  charged  ns  ten  cents  a 
mile,  provided  we  carried  a  rail  to  help  out  of  a  mud  hole.  When  we 
went  from  Topeka  by  horse  or  In  wagon  we  left  in  the  afternoon,  went 
to  the  Wa'terman  crossing  at  Mill  creek,  tied  up,  ate  cold  lunch, 
washed  it  down  with  red  eye,  slept  the  sleep  of  the  just  and  in  the 
morning  drove  or  rode  to  Manhattan  for  breakfast,  thence  on  to 
Junction  City,  our  western  terminus,  where  we  stopped  with  Jim 
Brown,  at  the  Old  Eagle  Hotel,  at  $4  per  day  for  bacon  and  coffee,  and 
in  the  goodness  of  his  heart  Jim  would  place  our  buffalo  robes  on  the 


314      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

floor  for  a  bed,  crowd  in  an  outsider  and  cliarge  liim  a  dollar  for  its 
use. 

Lawyers'  fees,  in  those  days,  were  exceedingly  small.  If  we  got 
enough  to  buy  grub  and  the  wash  down  and  not  leave  the  town  in 
debt,  we  were  satisfied.  After  Judge  Ehnore  went  off  the  bench  he 
traveled  with  us,  the  jolliest  and  best  of  men.  His  heart  was  in  his 
hand  and,  unless  out  late,  he  had  imported  stuff  in  his  .saddle  bags.  I 
remember  we  were  at  Junction  City  with  liim  and  all  broke.  Lucl<ily, 
the  grand  jury  found  somebody  guilty  of  something  and  employed 
Elmore.  Two  yoke  of  oxen  for  fee.  Well,  we  camped  in  the  "Flag-of- 
our-Union-saloon"  on  the  amount  realized  from  the  sale  of  those 
steers.  So  that  steers,  as  is  well  known,  are  good  to  eat  as  well  as 
drink.  Another  time  we  were  at  Junction  City,  broke,  as  usual. 
What  to  do? 

This  was  after  I  was  out  of  office  and  a  private.  We  concluded  we 
would  have  a  mock  court,  arrest  somebody  when  the  judge  was 
snug  in  bed,  try  him,  convict  him,  tine  him  ten  dollars,  get  it  and  let 
him  go.  With  this  bountiful  ten  dollars  we  managed  to  allay  thirst 
for  the  next  thirty  hours.  We  were  young  then,  no  one  intended  to 
do  harm;  it  was  life  in  the  wooly  west  and  we  made  the  best  of  it  as 
we  saw  it. 

Many  things  could  be  said,  but  no  history  will  ever  be  written 
that  can  or  will  tell  all  that  occurred.  A  good  many  things  best  be 
not  told  as  some  are  living  yet  that  enacted  a  part  in  those  early  days. 

I  want  to  give  your  county  credit  for  one  thing  and  that  is,  the 
scrip  issued  by  it  for  officers'  fees  became  par  and  was  paid  in  full  the 
first  of  any  county  in  the  state,  while  Shawnee  scrip  at  that  time  was 
worth  only  forty  cents. 


The  /VIma  Salt  WorKs,  (874. 


The  News,  of  February  12,  1873.  speaking  of  the  Alma  oil  well 
said  that  it  was  yielding  over  one  hundred  barrels  per  day  of  oil 
and  water.  As  Fred  Link  had  poured  but  a  pint  of  oil  in  the  well  he 
was  digging  at  the  Winkler  hotel  there  is  no  risk  in  stating  that  it 
was  mostly  water. 

But  what  was  intended  as  a  hoax  resulted  in  the  organization  of 
the  Alma  Oil  &  Mining  Company.  A  hole  was  drilled  585  feet  in 
depth  and  a  flow  of  strong  brine  reached.  Analysis  of  this  brine 
showed  fifty  pounds  of  salt  to  fifty-three  and  one-half  gallons  of  water. 
The  result  was  the  Alma  Salt  Works.  John  Gibson  went  East  and 
purchased  a  number  of  large  kettles;  two  evaporating  vats  16x112  feet 
were  constructed;  a  brick  smoke  stack  sixty  feet  in  height  was  built 
and  from  thirty  to  fifty  barrels  of  pure,  white  salt  was  the  dally 
output.  But  mismanagement  or  an  undue  interest  in  outside  matters 
resulted  in  closing  down  the  plant.  It  was  afterwards  leased  to  S.  T. 
Wright,  but  the  lack  of  funds  prevented  the  proper  development  of 
an  industry  that  may  yet  prove  a  bonanza  at  some  time  in  the  near 
future.  That  the  brine  is  sufficient  in  quantity  and  strength  to 
justify  a  judicious  investment  seems  apparent. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      315 


htlstorlcal  Notes. 


Prior  to  1833  the  country  now  known  as  Wabaunsee  county  be- 
longed to  the  Kaw  or  Kansas  Indians.  In  that  year  Rev.  Isaac  McCoy, 
a  missionary  having  charge  of  the  location  of  the  different  Indian 
tribes,  assisted  by  his  son,  John  McCoy,  surveyed  a  strip  120  miles  in 
length  from  east  to  west,  and  19  miles  in  width  from  north  to  south, 
for  an  outlet  for  the  Shawnee  Indians  from  their  reservation  to  the 
Buffalo  country.  This  was  known  as  the  Shawnee  Purchase.  Three 
years  later  the  north  line  of  the  Kaw  reserve  was  located. 

By  a  treaty  with  the  Kaws,  January  14,  1846,  the  Pottawatomies 
were  granted  a  tract  of  land  30  miles  square,  comprising  a  part  of  the 
counties  of  Wabaunsee,  Pottawatomie,  Jackson  and  Shawnee.  In  1847 
the  "Pottawatomies  of  the  Woods."  and  the  "Mission  Band,"  about 
1,500  in  numbers,  located  in  this  tract.  In  1850  a  band  of  Michigan 
Pottawatomies  numbering  about  650  joined  the  tribe  at  St.  Marys. 

November  15,  1861,  a  treaty  was  made  by  which  the  Mission  band 
was  allotted  lands  in  severalty,  while  the  Prairie  band  elected  to  con- 
tinue tribal  relations.  William  W.  Ross,  a  brother  of  Charles  Ross, 
was  Indian  agent  at  that  time  and  the  treaty  was  made  at  Rossville. 
On  the  part  of  the  Indians  the  treaty  was  signed  by  Shaw-que,  To- 
Penubbee,  We-Weh-Seh,  Shomen,  Joseph  N.  Bourassa,  George  L. 
Young,  B.  H.  Bertrand,  M.  B,  Beaubien,  L.  H.  Ogee,  John  Tipton 
and  Louis  Vieux— all  well  known  to  the  early  settlers  of  Wabaunsee 
county. 

This  treaty  provided  for  the  sale  of  all  lands  not  chosen  for  allot- 
ments to  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  Company.  The  Mission  band  removed 
to  the  Indian  Territory  in  1870,  and  the  Prairie  band,  780  strong,  was 
given  a  body  of  land  twelve  miles  square  in  Jackson  county,  on  which 
they  now  live. 

At  this  treaty  a  half  section  of  land  was  reserved  for  the  Baptist 
Mission,  located  near  Uniontown,  adjoining  the  farm  of  Mr.  M.  W. 
Janes,  opposite  the  old  Darling  ferry.  This  mission  was  in  operation 
until  1859. 

In  1847,  St.  Marys  Mission  was  moved  from  Sugar  creek  to  the 
south  side  of  Kaw  River  but  the  year  following  was  transferred  to  its 
present  location  on  the  north  side. 


316      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

When  Ricliardson  county  was  set  off  and  given  a  name  by  the 
Territorial  legislature  of  1855,  the  width  of  the  county  from  East  to 
West  was  but  24  miles.  The  legislature  of  1859  changed  the  name  to 
Wabaunsee  county  and  in  1860,  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  C.  B.  Lines, 
our  representative,  a  strip  six  miles  in  width  was  added  to  the  west 
side  of  the  county. 

In  1864,  72  square  miles  of  territory  were  taken  from  the  southwest 
corner  of  Wabaunsee  county  and  attached  to  Morris  county.  This 
territory  was  recovered  by  Captain  Wm.  Mitchell  in  1868,  but  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  returned  to  Morris  county  and  in  1870  was  divided 
between  the  two  counties.  In  1871,  John  Pinl<erton  betrayed  his 
trust  by  having  himself  set  over  into  Riley  county,  taking  a  strip  six 
miles  wide  and  fifteen  miles  long  from  the  wqst  side.  In  1872,  Mr.  J. 
M.  Johnson  introduced  and  caused  to  be  passed  by  both  branches  of 
the  legislature  a  bill  recovering  the  lost  territory  but  by  some  hocus- 
pocus  the  bill  failed  to  become  a  law,  but  the  following  year  Represen- 
tative Sellers  succeeded  in  recovering  six  miles  of  this  territory.  No 
changes  have  been  made  since. 

The  first  white  men  in  the  county  built  a  log  house  in  the  heavy 
timber  on  Dragoon  creek  about  the  year  1844.  But  their  purpose  was 
highway  robbery.  This  gang  of  cut-throats,  if  not  the  company  raised 
by  John  McDaniel,  on  the  frontier,  to  raid  the  Mexican  trains,  was 
one  organized  for  the  same  purpose.  Captain  Philip  St.  George  Cooke 
was  sent  out  from  Fort  Leavenworth  on  several  different  occasions  to 
capture  or  disperse  these  hordes  and  how  well  he  succeeded  is  attested 
by  the  records  of  the  war  department  of  that  period.  Captain  Cooke's 
capture  of  the  remnants  of  the  dispersed  bands  led  by  Colonel  War- 
field  and  Major  Snively,  near  where  Old  Fort  Atkinson  was  afterwards 
established  furnishes  indisputable  evidence  of  his  valor  and  efliciency 
as  an  annihilator  of  robber  hordes.    (See  pages  141-145). 

The  first  actual  settlements  by  homeseekers  were  in  Wabaunsee 
and  Wilmington  townships,  with  the  weight  of  evidence  in  favor  of 
Wabaunsee.  Mr.  J.  M.  Bisb&y,  of  Pavilion— see  illustration— is  prob- 
ably entitled  to  first  place  among  the  few  living  settlers  of  the  olden 
time.  He  came  to  Wabaunsee  in  the  fall  of  1854.  Closely  following 
were  Peter  and  Bartholomew  Sharai,  J.  11.  Nesbitt  (the  first  store- 
keeper), D.  B.  Hyatt,  Clark  Lapham,  Joshua  Smith,  and  Rev.  Leonard. 

Mr.  Henry  Harvey  and  his  two  sons,  George  and  Samuel,  selected 
their  claims  on  the  Dragoon  in  the  fall  of  1854,  but  not  until  May, 
1855,  did  they  make  actual  settlement. 

Milton  Haywood  built  the  first  house  on  Rock  creek  in  1855,  but 
the  following  year  sold  his  claim  to  William  Exon. 

Ed.  Krapp,  Joseph  Thoes,  and  Peter  Thoes  arrived  on  their  claims 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      317 


four  miles  south  of  Alma,   March  1,  1855,  and  in  three  weelcs  built 
three  log  houses,  one  for  each  of  the  newcomers. 

Fred  Palenske,  Terrass,  and  Hendricks  came  up  the  Missouri  river 
on  the  same  boat,  arriving  May  8th. 

Mr.  Mauzenbrinck  and  wife  settled  on  the  claim  afterwards  owned 
by  C.  Wertzberger.  On  a  trip  to  Kansas  City  to  buy  goods  to  start  a 
country  store  Mr.  Mauzenbrinck  was  drowned  in  the  Missouri  river. 
Herman  Dierker,  a  returned  California  miner,  married  the  widow, 
and  his  place  was  known  as  Alma— West  Precinct.  Mr.  Dierker  was 
for  several  years  cook  in  the  gold  camps  of  the  Pacific  coast,  receiving 
ten  dollars  a  day  for  his  services.  He  afterwards  sold  the  farm  to  Mr. 
C.  Wertzberger  and  bought  a  farm  near  Alma.  A  few  years  ago  left 
for  Ohio  and  when  he  left  surprised  a  few  of  his  intimate  friends  by 
inviting  them  into  his  smoke  house.  With  the  assistance  of  his 
invited  friends  he  soon  dug  up  a  pot  of  gold  containing,  according  to 
diverse  statements,  a  sum  ranging  from  $20,000  to  $70,000.  It  may  be 
unnecessary  to  state  that  none  of  the  gold  ,is  there  now,  but  our 
peddler,  Scheminski,  feels  proud  of  the  fact  that  many  a  time  he  has 
thrown  his  bundle  of  hides  on  the  ground  where  that  gold  for  nearly 
half  a  century  lay  hidden. 

In  May,  1855,  came  Ernest  Honeke,  a  surveyor  and  one  of  three 
representatives  in  the  state  legislature  of  1860.  Mr.  Honeke  was  one 
of  a  colony  from  Cincinnati  and  laid  out  what  was  probably  the  first 
town-site  in  the  county.  It  was  located  on  the  hill  just  south  of  the 
Palenske  homestead  and  was  called  Humboldt  City. 

Honeke,  besides  being  among  our  first  representatives  in  the 
legislature  was  one  of  the  first  proprietors  of  a  still.  William  Griflen- 
stein  was  his  partner  in  the  business.  The  capacity  of  the  still  was 
five  gallons  a  day  and  the  Indians  were  their  best  customers.  The 
Indians  would  patiently  wait  until,  drop  by  drop,  their  bottle  was 
filled  and  then  got  over  on  their  own  side  of  the  reservation.  (For 
further  notes  as  to  Griffenstein  see  pages  136-138). 

The  first  building  erected  at  Fort  Riley  was  in  1854,  by  Major 
Ogden. 

For  the  protection  of  overland  traffic  across  the  plains  Fort 
Atkinson,  six  miles  above  Dodge  City,  was  built  by  Colonel  Sumner 
in  1850. 

Kansas  Territory  was  organized  May  30,  1854. 

One  of  the  first  houses  built  in  the  Mill  creek  valley  was  of  logs 
on  the  Christian  Hankammer  place,  and  was  for  many  years  used  by 
Mr.  Hankammer  as  a  residence.  Wooden  pins  instead  of  •  nails  were 
used  in  constructing  the  house  built  by  Gleich  &  Antoine  in  1855  and 
torn  down  by  Mike  Boetcher  in  April,  1890.  Before  locating  on  Mill 
creek  Mr.  Gleich  had  worked  at  Darling's  ferry,  opposite  Uniontown, 


318      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

near  the  east  line  of  the  farm  owned  by  Mr.  M.  W.  Janes.  Mr.  Gleich's 
marriage  on  April  IG,  1857,  to  Mrs.  Catherine  Terrass,  is  the  first  on 
record  in  the  county.  Mr.  Terrass  had  settled  on  the  reservation  near 
Mr.  Peter  Johnson's,  and  his  death,  in  1856,  was  probably  the  tirst 
in  the  county. 

The  death  of  Mrs.  Susan  D.  Thomson,  wife  of  Mr.  James  L.  Thom- 
son, and  mother  of  the  writer,  was  the  first  in  Wilmington  township. 
The  date  was  August  6,  1857. 

Mr.  J.  M.  Bisbey  reports  the  winter  of  '55-'56  the  coldest  of  his 
experience  in  Kansas.  On  a  trip  to  Kansas  City  for  provisions,  was 
snowbound  three  days  and  could  make  but  10  to  15  miles  a  day.  On 
his  return  found  his  family  out  of  breadstulls  for  three  days  but  had 
plenty  of  frozen  potatoes  and  beef.  From  December  22,  to  January 
15  was  intensely  cold  and  on  February  3  was  32  degrees  below.  On 
several  days  was  24  below,  while  the  sun  shone  brightly. 

Mr.  Fred  Palenske  bought  his  claim  from  a  man  named  Gilbert, 
who  was  living  on  the  place  in  a  tent.  He  paid  $20  for  the  claim,  in- 
cluding tent,  tools  and  provisions. 

Rev.  Harvey  Jones  located  at  Wabaunsee  in  1855.  Organized  the 
First  Church  of  Christ,  of  which  he  was  the  first  pastor  till  ISflO, 
when  he  returned  to  Ohio.  In  1864  went  to  southern  Kansas  and  two 
years  later  returned  to  Wabaunsee. 

After  Ed.  Krapp  located  his  claim  he  hauled  goods  from  Westport 
Landing  to  "Whiskey-Point,"  a  small  town  opposite  Fort  Riley.  Left 
the  Old  Santa  Fe  Trail  at  110  creek  and  folluwed  the  old  Mormon  trail 
over  tne  divide  between  the  waters  of  Mill  creek  and  Rock  creek.  Be- 
tween the  Big  Spring  near  Eskridge  and  Moss  Springs  in  Geary  county, 
a  distance  of  28  miles,  there  was  no  water  to  be  had  except  that 
hauled  in  kegs.  Fifty  or  more  freighters  would  be  met  on  the  road 
every  day,  and  he  would  often  have  several  thousand  dollars  in  gold  in 
a  keg  or  box  in  the  wagon  to  buy  goods  or  for  deposit.  Was  badly 
frozen  in  a  blizzard  on  one  of  these  trips  in  1856  while  encamped  on  the 
head  of  the  Wakarusa. 

Richardson  county  was  named  by  the  legislature  of  1855  in  honor 
of  Wm.  A.  Richardson,  congressman  from  Illinois,  who  introduced 
the  first  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  in  the  house  of  representatives.  The 
present  name,  Wabaunsee,  was  in  honor  of  an  Indian  chief.  The  word 
means,  in  English,  "dawn  of  day." 

The  Connecticut  colony,  or  the  Beecher  Rifle  colony,  left  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  March  31,  1856,  and'  arrived  at  Wabaunsee  April  28. 
Capt.  C.  B.  Lines  was  chosen  president  of  the  company.  The  com- 
pany built  a  town  hall  and  a  mill  and  a  church— the  latter  being  a 
part  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  A.  J.  Bowman.  The  following  members 
of  the  Connecticut  colony  remained  over  three  months:    C.  B.  Lines, 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      319 


W.  Hartley,  Jr.,  J.  D.  Farren,  Geo.  H.  Coe,  F.  H.  Hart,  S.  M.  Thomas, 
L.  H.  Root,  J.  M.  Hubbard,  Jr.,  Wm.  Mitchell,  Jr.,  O.  Bardwell, 
Rollin  Moses,  A.  A.  Cottrell,  H.  S.  Hall,  S.  A.  Baldwin,  Benjamin 
Street,  J.  J.  Walter,  T.  C.  P.  Hyde,  E.  C.  D.  Lines,  E.  D.  Street,  Tim- 
othy Read,  H.  M.  Selden,  George  Wells,  W.  S.  Griswold,  Isaac  Fenn, 
J.  P.  Root,  J.  F.  Willard,  H.  D.  Rice,  H.  Isbell,  D.  F.  Scranton,  E.  J. 
Lines,  F.  W.  Ingham,  L.  A.  Parker,  E.  N.  Penfleld,  R.  W.  Griswold. 
G.  H.  Thomas,  M.  C.  Welch,  B.  C.  Porter,  F.  Johnson,  C.  E.  Pond,  L. 
W.  Clark,  and  W.  G.  McNary.  In  the  fall  of  1856,  Messrs.  S.  H.  Fair- 
field, S.  R.  Weed,  J.  E.,  L.  H.,  and  Enoch  Piatt  came  from  Menden, 
Illinois,  and  joined  the  settlers  at  Wabaunsee.  So  closely  identified 
with  the  early  settlement  of  the  township  as  to  be  usually  considered 
as  part  of  the  original  colony.  Of  the  original  Beecher  colony  but  four 
now  reside  in  the  county:  Messrs.  A.  A.  Cottrell,  S.  A.  Baldwin, 
Captain  Wm.  Mitchell,  and  J.  F.  Willard.  But  quite  a  number  of  the 
descendants  of  the  New  Haven  colony  still  reside  at  Wabaunsee— on 
the  homestead  selected  by  their  parents  in  1856.  Others,  though  now 
residents  of  other  states,  still  regard  Wabaunsee  as  the  dearest  spot 
on  earth,  by  rea.son  of  the  many  hallowed  associations  connected  with 
the  early  settlement  of  the  town. 

The  first  railroad  in  Wabaunsee  county  was  of  the  underground 
pattern,  with  stations  at  Wabaunsee  and  Harveyville— a  fact  not 
generally  known  until  the  road  went  into  liquidation  by  reason  of  a 
lack  of  patronage. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Mission  creek  township,  coming  to  the 
county  in  1856,  were:  S.  F.  Ross,  Captain  Henry,  Wm.  P.  Hill,  Mr. 
Mason,  William  Collins,  a  brother  and  three  sisters,  Mrs.  Drummond, 
Dr.  James  Fletcher,  C.  C.  Brooks,  J.  N.  Winslow,  W.  K.  Beach,  and 
Dr.  S.  E  Beach.  Dr.  Beach  was  surgeon  of  the  8th  Kansas.  Was 
captured  at  Chickamauga,  and  died  at  Nashville  soon  after  being 
exchanged.  Of  the  Ross  family,  E.  G.  Ross  was  U.  S.  Senator,  W.  W. 
Ross  was  agent  of  the  Pottawatomies  and  Charles  Ross  was,  for  eight 
years,  county  treasurer. 

In  1857,  the  Mission  creek  settlement  received  several  additions. 
Among  these  were:  J.  W.  Mossman,  John  Shadd,  George  Johnston, 
S.  W.  Higbee,  C.  A.  Sexton,  H.  J.  Loomis,  D.  M.  Johnston,  A.  S. 
Waters  and  brother,  R.  P.  Miller,  Sylvester  Moore,  John,  Fred,  and 
Allen  Doty,  E.  M.  Hewens,  and  W.  E.  Little.  July  4th  was  celebrated 
at  Fremont  City— three  ladies  being  among  the  fifteen  persons  present. 
Boiled  rice,  milk,  and  mulberry  pies  were  the  luxuries  provided  for 
the  occasion. 

In  1858,  Martin  and  William  Woodford,  Anson  Eddy,  T.  M.  Allen, 
Wm.  and  Homer  Hewins  and  their  mother,  Wm.  and  Harris  Ewing, 


320      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

W.   T.   Berryman,  Orson   Frizzle  and  Asaph  Frizzle,  Tlios.   Barker, 
n.  F,  Drake,  Abe  and  George  Ilartwell,  settled  on  Mission  creek. 

In  the  winter  of  1856-57,  the  editor  of  the  New  York  Sur^ gave 
$250  toward  building  a  school  house  at  Wabaunsee.  A  church  (Con- 
gregational) costing  $4,000  was  built,  also  a  school  house,  2Gx36,  two 
stories  in  height— school  room  below  and  hall  above.  ^ 

Ma'am  Sawin's  boarding  house  at  Wabaunsee  is  remembered  by 
old  timers  of  1855  and  1857.  There  were  four  young  scions  of  the 
Sawin  household,  who,  in  the  summer  season,  were  subjected  to  weekly 
dousings  in  the  raging  Kaw.  A  rope  about  their  bodies  saved  them 
from  drowning  during  the  cleansing  process.  Pancakes  were  daily 
served"  and  even  the  house  cat  relished  them— a  fact  evidenced  by  an 
exclamation  of  mine  hostess:  "Scat!  This  is  the  third  time  I  have 
caught  you  in  the  batter."  But  the  patrons  becoming  too  exacting 
Ma'am  Sawin  moved  to  parts  unknown. 

In  the  summer  of  1858,  the  Zeandale  and  Wabaunsee  neighbor- 
hoods were  aroused  by  the  report  that  a  child  was  lost— a  little  tot  of 
two  years  belonging  to  the  Meacham  family,  living  on  Deep  creek. 
Hundreds  of  searchers  failed  to  solve  the  mystery.  But  months  after- 
wards the  bleaching  bones  of  an  infant  told  the  heartrending  story  of 
the  little  one  that  strayed  from  home  while  the  mother  was  busy  with 
the  cares  of  the  household. 

G.  Zwanziger  built  a  gristmill  in  Alma  in  1858,  and  Christian 
Hankammer  began  the  construction  of  a  sawmill  three  miles  above 
on  Mill  creek.  Both  were  badly  damaged  by  the  big  flood  of  June  28th. 
In  the  gristmill  there  was  but  one  small  pair  of  burrs,  run  by  an  old 
fashioned  wooden  wheel  of  the  "Undershot"  pattern.  By  getting  an 
early  start  eight  bushels  a  day  could  be  ground.  There  was  no  roof 
over  the  mill  until  1860,  and  then  there  was  no  water  in  sight  above 
the  dam.  Occasionally,  water  could  be  found  in  the  deep  holes  but 
they  were  few  and  long  distances  apart.  Settlers  going  to  Kansas 
City  for  bacon  or  to  Atchison  for  some  of  "Pomeroy's  beans"  camped 
in  the  dry  bed  of  Mill  creek  at  the  Rocky  Ford  crossing,  though  there 
was  plenty  of  water  for  stock  in  Dry  creek  near  its  mouth.  The  mill 
was  sold  to  L.  Pauly  in  1862. 

Patrick  and  Ezekial  Dix,  and  Elisha  Edwards  settled  on  Rock 
creek  in  1858.  David  Tyler  built  a  house  on  the  Wm.  Brewer  place, 
and  Martin  Tyler  built  a  house  on  the  Pardee  place. 

During  the  Pike's  Peak  excitement  in  1859  the  steamer  Gus  Linn 
advertised  to  go  within  150  miles  of  Pike's  Peak.  The  steamer  drew 
23  inches  forward  and  18,  aft.  Left  Kansas  City  May  10,  with  140  tons 
of  freight,  three-fourths  of  which  was  for  Manhattan  and  Fort  Riley. 
May  15,  reached  St.  Marys  Mission— a  place  of  4,000  Indians,  half- 
breeds  and  whites.    On  the  16th  reached  Wabaunsee,  town  containing 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  JOSEPH   MUCKENTHALER,  Paxico. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  H.  MICHAELIS,  near  Paxico. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  AUGUST  UTERMANN.Alma. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  S.  D.  SHAW,  Plumb  Township. 


J 


EARLY  HISTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  GDS  THIERER,  near  Volland. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  WM.  DIEBALL,  four  miles  southwest  of  Alma, 


1 


i 

J 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  M.  W.  JANES,  near  Willard. 


MR.  M.  W.  JANES'S  BARN,  near  Willard. 


t 

I 


i 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ALMA -LOOKING  WEST  FROM  THE  SANTA  FE  DEPOT. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  G.  W.  GILLIS,  MISSION  CREEK. 


4 


Tw9!' 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  A.  F.  WADE,  Mission  Creek. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  J.  N.  BARLOW,  near  Harveyville. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  WM.  MASS,  Spring  Creek. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  HENRY  GRIMM,  West  Branch. 


4 


i 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF   MR.  HERMAN   ARNDT,  Templiu. 


RESIDENCE  OF   MR.  D.  F.  CLAYTON,  Alma. 


I 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


i&-if\  n 


OLD  HOME  OF   MR.  ANDREW  MEIRS,  near  Eskridge. 


iiiifij!iiniini»!i!fli]lMi>il!>i 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  G.  G.  CORNELL.  Alma. 


( 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1^      . 


I     '^l^.'^'^ 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  A.  R.  STROWIG,  Paxico. 


S^':r^:ii^ 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  FRED  ZEFFERJAHN,  Paxico. 


I 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      321 


one  store  and  fifteen  houses,  and  the  prospective  terminus  of  an 
important  railroad.  This  boat  carried  the  material  for  the  first  paper 
published  at  Manhattan.  Between  Lawrence  and  Topeka  a  girl  baby 
was  born  to  a  Mrs.  Kelly,  on  her  way  to  join  her  husband  at  Manhat- 
tan. The  baby  was  named  after  the  boat— Gus  Linn.  There  were  six 
boats  besides  the  Gus  Linn,  navigating  the  Kaw  at  that  time:  War 
Eagle,  Excel,  Silver  Lake,  Coloma,  Star  of  the  West,  and  Kate 
Sweeney. 

The  Wyandotte  Constitution  was  adopted  July  29,  1859.  Ratified 
October  4,  1859.  Act  of  Admi-ssion  approved  January  29,  1861.  Until 
1860,  Wabaunsee  county  was  attached  to  Geary  county  for  judicial 
purposes.  A  bill  of  $761.62  was  presented  to  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners for  court  expenses. 

The  office  of  district  attorney  was  created  on  June  4,  1861,  and 
abolished,  January  1,  1862,  and  again  created  February  12,  1864.  June 
18,  1861,  Almu  township  was  divided  into  two  voting  precincts;  the 
place  of  holding  the  elections  in  the  East  precinct  to  be  at  the  house 
of  Peter  Thoes,  and  that  for  the  West  precinct  at  the  house  of  Her- 
man Dierker  (C.  Wertzberger's). 

March  3,  1863,  the  county  commissioners  voted  to  pay  the  costs  of 
an  inquest  on  the  bodies  of  Gilliland  and  Menser,  before  Squire 
Haynes,  acting  coroner.  These  men  were  horse  dealers  of  unsavory 
reputation,  who  had  been  overhauled  by  the  sheriff  of  Shawnee 
county,  at  Zeandale.  All  that  was  given  out  at  the  inquest  for  the 
information  of  the  general  public  was  that  they  had  come  to  their 
death  at  the  hands  of  parties  unknown. 

On  September  1,  1863,  Capt.  E.  C.  D.  Lines  was  killed  on  the  skir- 
mish line  near  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas. 

Iti  the  summer  of  1863,  1,400  Kickapoo  warriors  encamped  near 
the  spring,  on  the  present  site  of  Mr.  William  Home's  orchard,  in 
Washington  township,  on  their  way  to  fight  the  Cheyennes.  In  three 
or  four  weeks  they  returned— camping  three  or  four  days  at  the  spring. 
They  were  short  on  ponies  and  long  on  wounded  and  sick  Indians — 
none  of  them  having  much  to  say  and  they  held  no  scalp  dances.  The 
Cheyennes  were  attending  to  that  part  of  the  program.  But  the 
Kickapoos  buried  several  Indians  near  the  spring  and  on  several  occa- 
sions since  that  time,  in  plowing,  William  has  turned  up  such  grue- 
some relics  as  skulls  and  other  parts  of  bodies  that  were  buried  too 
near  the  top  of  the  ground  in  1863. 

In  October,  1864,  Governor  Carney  issued  a  proclamation  requiring 
all  able-bodied  male  citizens  between  the  ages  of  18  and  60  to  attach 
themselves  to  some  regiment  of  troops,  each  man  to  bring  two  blank- 
ets, a  tin  cup,  knife  and  fork,  and  haversack;  a  coffee  pot  and  frying 
pan  to  every  five  men;  each  detachment  to  furnish  its  own  rations  and 


322     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

transportation.  The  company  from  the  East  branch  of  Mill  creek 
WHS  commanded  by  Capt.  Ed.  Krapp;  l.st  Li.eut.  Wm.  Drebinp,  and  2d 
Lieut.  Jos.  Treu.  The  West  branch  contingent  was  commanded  by 
1st  Lieut.  Chas.  Weber,  and  2d  Lieut.  Wm.  Home.  All  went  to 
Topeka  to  guard  the  place  while  the  militia  from  there  went  to  the 
front.  The  militia  dug  a  trench  four  feet  deep  around  the  town, 
erected  a  stockade  40  ft.  square  in  the  center.  The  report  came  that 
Price  had  taken  Lawrence  and  was  marching  to  Topeka.  Then  the 
props  that  supported  the  bridge  over  the  Shunganunga  were  knocked 
out  that  the  invaders  might  be  drowned  in  tlie  mud.  Orders  were 
given  to  march  to  the  bridge  at  3  a.  m.  Some  made  their  wills  before 
retiring  but  the  cook  was  up  early,  saying  the  boys  should  have  a  cup 
of  coffee  before  they  died,  and  they  did.  They  all  came  home  in  the 
morning. 

In  1864,  J.  W.  Mossman  was  captain  of  the  militia  from  Mission 
creek  and  S.  P.  Wamplc  and  T.  K.  Tomson,  lieutenants. 

Af  the  April  session  of  the  board  of  commissioners  the  Pottawa- 
tomie reserve  was  attached  to  the  several  townships  of  Alma,  Wa- 
baunsee, and  Mission  creek,  and  that  part  attached  to  Mission  creek 
organized  into  a  precinct  to  be  called  Maple  Hill,  elections  to  be  held 
at  the  house  of  R.  H.  Waterman. 

Henry  Schutter,  a  brother  of  Joseph  and  Barney  Schutter,  was 
killed  at  Cottonwood  Holes  by  the  Kiowas,  in  the  summer  of  1864. 
This  and  other  Indian  news*  alarming  the  settlers,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  Wm.  Krieg's,  on  West  branch,  to  take  steps  fo^-  protection. 
The  following  named  settlers  were  at  this  meeting:  G.  Zwanziger, 
August  Brasche,  Carl  Falk,  Rudolph  Arndt,  Fetting,  Secrest,  Yolland, 
Wm.  Home,  Lehmberg,  Thowes,  and  Muehlenbachers.  At  this  meet- 
ing it  was  resolved  to  build  a  fort.  Zwanziger  wanted  to  build  the 
fort  at  Alma,  but  others  favored  a  point  near  Dr.  Brasche's  as  being 
more  central.  Wm,  Home  wasn't  in  favor  of  building  a  fort.  Pre- 
ferred to  go  to  Manhattan,  where  there  were  plenty  of  stone  houses 
and  where  there  was  plenty  of  water.  The  diversity  of  opinion 
resulted  in  the  meeting  breaking  up— not  exactly  in  a  row,  but  not  a 
few  were  warmed  up  over  the  discussion  about  building  the  fort.  The 
final  outcome  was  the  building  of  the  fort  at  Templin.  (See  page  113). 

In  1866,  the  first  house  was  built  in  Alma.  (See  pages  74-75).  But 
not  until  1868  was  the  first  village  council  organized.  Sam  Weed  was 
chairman,  and  August  Meyer,  Henry  Schmitz,  John  Winkler,  and 
Herman  Dierker,  the  other  members.    S.  R.  Weed  acted  also  as  police 

*Charlie  Lehmberg,  Jr.,  was  herding  cattle  on  the  ridge  southwest 
of  the  Schuch  place.  One  of  the  neighbors  seeing  the  cattle  took 
them  for  Indians.  The  neighboorhood  was  aroused  and  not  until  the 
fort  was  built  was  the  fear  from  Indian  raids  dispelled. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      323 


jiidse,  and  N.  H.  Whittemore,  as  attorney  for  the  council.  Alma  was 
made  a  voting  precinct  April  3,  1867.  At  the  January  session  a  safe 
was  voted  for  the  county  treasurer,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  $300.  But 
the  amount  was  increased  in  April. 

July  9,^1868,.  a  new  voting  precinct  was  formed  of  the  west  part  of 
Wilmington  township  to  be  called  Rock  creek. 

July  13,  the  body  of  an  unknown  man  was  found  in  the  river  at 
Wabaunsee. 


Items  From  the  Press- -and  Other 

Sources. 


1869. 

First  newspaper  published:  The  Ileiald,  by  Sellers  &  Bertram. 
First  number  issued  April  1st,  1869.  At  that  time  Alma  contained 
four  houses,  besides  a  frame  shanty  used  by  F.  C.  Simon  for  a  black- 
smith shop,  and  a  log  shanty  where  Winkler's  hotel  was  built.  The 
houses  were  the  Kaufman  building  (the  court  house),  Schmitz  & 
Meyer's  store,  Winkler's  Hotel,  and  Dierker's  boarding  house. 

From  the  Herald  we  learn: 

That  Alma  boasted  of  the  largest  school  house  in  the  county,  with 
patent  seats  and  capable  of  seating  sixty  persons. 

That  R.  M.  Tunnell  and  S.  R.  Weed  were  appointed  teachers'  ex- 
aminers. 

That  Bliss  the  photographer  would  be  in  Alma  for  a  week. 

That  Volney  Love  would  auction  sales.  * 

That  the  following  postmasters  were  appointed  on  the  new  mail 
line  to  Burlingame:  John  Hess,  Bismark;  E.  H.  Sanford  at  Finn  City 
(Upper  Canada),  and  John  Shaw  at  Harveyville. 

That  Carl  Braun  opened  the  first  barber  shop  in  Alma  in  August. 

That  the  Sioux  and  Cheyennes  killed  seven  men  and  took  three 
women  prisoners  on  the  Saline  River,  20  miles  north  of  Ellsworth. 

That  a  ferry  had  been  established  at  St.  Marys  in  July. 

That  on  June  3d  the  Wamego  ferry  was  reported  in  good  condi- 
tion to  transfer  teams  when  the  boat  wasn't  leaking  or  the  wind 
didn't  blow,  or  the  water  wasn't  too  high  or  too  low,  or  it  didn't 
freeze,  snow,  or  rain,  or  you  didn't  call  too  early  or  too  late,  or  the 
ferryman  isn't  up  in  town.    At  all  other  times  you  could  cross. 


324     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

That  the  ferry  boat  at  Manhattan  was  sunk  in  a  gale  in  April,  and 
that  the  editors  of  the  Herald  objected  to  the  wind  blowing  on  Wed- 
nesday's and  preventing  crossing  on  the  ferry  boat — thus  depriving 
the  editor  of  the  news. 

The  Herald  of  April  15th  advised  the  people  to  cease  paying  a  dol- 
lar a  gallon  for  molasses  and  plant  sorghum.  With  four  cane  mills 
running  there  should  be  no  fears  as  to  getting  the  cane  made  up. 

Among  the  incidents  recorded  in  the  Herald  was  one  of  a  man  who 
had  poured  oil  into  his  ear  to  cure  a  bad  case  of  sore  throat. 

The  Alma  Debating  society  was  organized  August  11th— Henry 
Schmitz  was  elected  Chairman,  and  N.  H.  Whittemore  secretary. 

The  first  house  in  (the  Old  Town)  Eskridge  was  built  by  Col.  San- 
ford,  Robt,  Haslett  and  John  Cousins  doing  the  stone  work. 

July  10th  the  Alma  Concordia  gave  a  dance  in  Adolph  Zeckser's 
new  house,  the  Alma  String  band  being  in  attendance. 

In  April  a  man  from  Lyon  county  brought  a  grist  to  Pauly's  mill — 
having  taken  335  pounds  of  wheat  to  a  local  mill  and  getting  but  90 
pounds  of  flour— and  the  sacks,  concluded  to  make  a  change.  He  ap- 
peared well  pleased  at  the  result  of  his  trip. 

We  also  learn  that  Dr.  L.  P.  Weaver  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Wabaunsee  in  place  of  G.  G.  Hall,  resigned  (on  account  of  the  moving 
of  the  county  seat  to  Alma),  and  that  John  Winkler  had  found  a  good 
salt  spring  ten  miles  below  Alma  on  the  reserve. 

That  a  party  of  buffalo  hunters  passed  through  Alma,  December  7. 

That  District  No.  4  had  completed  a  new  stone  school  house  and 
that  Mrs.  G.  W.  Gillis  would  teach  the  school. 

That  J.  M.  Johnson  of  Dragoon  creek  had  called  and  reported  91 
bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre. 

Losses  from  prairie  tires  In  all  parts  of  the  county  reported  and 
that  Alma  was  saved  only  by  the  most  stenuous  exertions  of  the  citi- 
zens under  the  leadership  of  G.  Zwanziger— fighting  the  Are  until 
1  o'clock  a.  m. 

That  Charlie  Fields,  a  boy  eleven  years  of  age,  with  his  little  dog, 
while  out  in  the  woods  on  Dragoon  creek,  killed,  with  a  spade,  one  of 
the  largest  wildcats  ever  seen  in  the  county. 


I 


1870. 

Andreas  Thowc  celebrated  the  New  Year  by  .shooting  a  hole 
through  the  palm  of  his  hand  while  handling  a  revolver. 

The  following  persons  took  claims  in  Rock  creek  township:  John 
Ilogue,   Horace  Paul,   F.  Hecke,   M.  K.  Ander.son,  Ben  Riggs,   Wm. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      325 


Brewer,  Charles  Cross,  W.  G.  Long,  Creed  Clement,  W.  H.  Harrison, 
Henry  Haas,  and  H.  Slocumb. 

The  Herald  agitates  the  question  of  a  daily  mail  for  Alma. 

Mr.  Pauly  built  a  new  residence  near  the  mill;  the  Lutheran  par- 
sonage was  completed  in  March,  and  Father  Remele  raised  $400 
towards  building  a  Catholic  church. 

P.  L.  Woody 's  arrival  is  reported  in  the  items  from  "Jaketown," 
March  10th,  and  the  same  month  Wm.  M.  Rinehart  bought  Charlie 
McCormick's  claim,  near  Eskridge,  for  $300. 

On  March  29th,  Mr.  Half-day  was  brought  before  Squire  Lange,  in 
Alma,  and  fined  ten  dollars  for  beating  his  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Wa- 
wa-qua. 

The  Pittsburg  colony  arrived  in  Alma  May  11th. 

Messrs.  Moore  &  Thomson,  attorneys,  inserted  card  in  Herald. 
Mr.  Thomson  graduated  from  the  Chicago  University  in  1867.  (Judge 
Thomson  was  the  "avant  courier"  of  the  firm.  Renting  an  office,  he 
went  to  Burlingame,  and  while  there  concluded  to  locate  there 
instead  of  in  Alma.  Mr.  Moore  died  in  the  East  before  his  partner 
became  settled  in  the  new  country). 

The  Kaw  reserve  was  opened  to  settlement  this  year,  and  Wm. 
Exon  reports  30  families  located  in  his  school  district  (23). 

Newbury  was  settled  by  a  colony  of  Ohioans  in  April.  The  town 
was  laid  out  by  Dan.  Home,  Bartling,  Kellam,  and  Lakin,  of  Topeka, 
and  Col.  Phillips,  of  Wabaunsee  county.  The  Santa  Fe  owned  half 
interest  in  the  town.  In  June,  there  were  eleven  houses  in  the  town 
and  two  or  three  families  in  each  house.  There  were  two  stores,  one 
hotel,  and  a  blacksmith  shop. 

Goldstandt  &  Cohen,  who  had  run  the  Winkler  hotel  one  year, 
left  June  1st  for  the  new  town. 

The  Alma  Cemetery  was  laid  out  in  May. 

Sunday,  January  16,  was  the  most  sudden  change  ever  known  in 
the  country. 

200  Arapahoes  killed  several  settlers  on  Big  creek,  near  Fort  Hays, 
in  February. 

John  Bisbey's  stable  burned  April  13th. 

Allen  Phillips'  hay  and  stables  burned  by  prairie  fire,  Sunday, 
April  24th. 

May  24th,  Mr.  Ressler  killed  a  large  rattlesnake  in  Pauly's  timber 
that  had  swallowed  two  rabbits  and  was  trying  to  swallow  another. 
Sheriff  Herrick  brought  in  a  large  badger  from  the  Pottawatomie 
reserve. 

The  Herald  of  April  7tli  .said  that  H.  D.  Shepard  would  put  in  a 
large  new  store  at  Wilmington,  and  that  Dr.  Wilkerson  had  erected 
a  new  store  building,  and  that  Dr.  Easter  was  preparing  to  build 


326     EARLY  IIISTOllY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

jinother,  Penfield  &  Son,  and  James  Cripps  &  Co.  had  opened  stores, 
and  ITenry  Burns,  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  that  J.  and  H.  McPherson, 
builders,  liad  all  they  could  do. 

Sunday,  June -Ith,  Abe  Johnson,  a  young  man  working  for  I.  H. 
Isbell  was  drowned  while  bathing  in  the  Kaw  river  at  "Wabaunsee. 

Wilmington  township  was  divided  into  three  precincts  in  April: 
Dragoon,  Elm  creek  and  Rock  creek. 

Postoffices  established  at  Newbury  and  Grant,  J.  W.  Mossman, 
postmaster.  Grant,  and  P.  H.  Moser,  Newbury. 

August  18th,  Soza— Ne-Ma-Acan  advertises  for  lost  note  for  $100. 

November  1st,  Seymore's  house  on  Snokomo  burned. 

Dr.  L.  P.  Weaver,  on  a  trip  to  Denver  writes,  October  12th,  of 
seeing  herds  of  buffalo  from  the  car  window  and  that  they  were  very 
tame,  one  rolling  over  twice  within  15  rods  of  the  train. 

In  item  in  the  Herald  from  the  Topeka  Commonwealth,  says  of 
Wichita:  "It  is  located  at  the  junction  of  the  Big  and  Little  Arkan- 
sas rivers  and  will  probably  be  the  point  where  the  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  will 
cro.ss  the  Arkansas.  It  has  grown  quite  rapidly  the  past  season  and  is 
a  place  of  considerable  trade.  AVilliam  Grifenstein,  alias  "Dutch 
Bill,"  a  son-in-law  of  Chief  Abram  Burnett,  of  the  Pottawatomies, 
called  on  us  yesterday  and  reported  progress  of  the  town.  He  has 
recently  located  there  and  is  doing  an  extensive  trade  with  settlers  in 
that  locality.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  land  in  that  vicinity  open 
to  pre-emption  and  there  will  be  more  when  the  treaty  with  the 
Osages  is  ratified.  The  military  road  to  Fort  Sill  and  Fort  Arbuckle 
runs  through  the  town.  Mr.  Grifenstein  will  start  several  teams 
loaded  with  goods  for  his  store  in  a  few  days.  Glad  to  hear  of  Mr. 
Grifenstein 's  success." 


1871. 

January  11th,  Cummings  boys  killed  catamount  between  mouth 
of  Hendricks  creek  and  Pok-Tah's. 

March  25th,  Court  House  Building  association  formed;  W.  T. 
Aderhold,  chairman,  Joseph  Treu,  secretary,  and  S.  fl.  Fairfield, 
treasurer.  Other  members  of  committee:  Henry  Schmitz,  Ed.  Krapp, 
Robert  Fix,  Charles  Lehmberg,  Peter  Thoes,  L.  Pauly,  J.  P.  Gleich, 
and  A.  Schevve.  Contract  let  to  build  court  house:  Stone  work  to 
Fred- Link  for  $2,157;  carpenter  work  to  Fritz  Vollmer  at  $2,200,  and 
the  plastering  to  George  Bender  at  $600. 

Mr.  Ilower's  house  on  Kuenzli  creek  burned  first  week  in  May. 

May  21st,  a  son  of  Mr.  L.  Wendland,  11  years  old,  drowned  while 
in  swimming. 


EARLY  niSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      327 


May  25th,  200  Indians  from  Nebraska  passed  through  Alma  on  a 
visit  to  the  Kaws,  near  Council  Grove. 

June  26th,  the  nine  year  old  son  of  J.  F.  Willard,  near  Wabaunsee, 
died  from  the  bite  of  a  rattlesnake. 

June  24th,  George  Colgrove  and  another  horse  thief  shot  by 
Sheriff  ITerrick  and  the  sheriff  of  Dickinson  county  at  a  farm  house 
in  Mill  creek  township  while  resisting  arrest.  Slept  with  Will  Her- 
rick  in  same  room  with  his  father.    Escaped  night  of  July  5th. 

July  27th,  Schmitz  &  Meyer  had  over  four  tons  of  butter  in  cellar. 

August  4th,  a  German  named  Speckman,  60  years  old,  drowned  in 
Mill  creek,  four  miles  above  Alma. 

September  20th,  August  Weber's  coat  pocket  caught  in  tumbling- 
rod  of  threshing  machine.  Arm,  with  shoulder  blade  torn  out. 
Wound  dressed  by  Dr.  Brasche  and  fully  recovered. 

October  12th,  Thomas  Barker,  Mission  creek,  lost  200  tons  of  hay 
by  prairie  tire. 

October  19tli,  body  of  man  found  in  Mill  creek,  near  Aderhold 
crossing,  by  L.  M.  LaDuke.  Had  been  murdered.  Pockets  turned 
inside  out.    Had  T.  S.  W.  on  arm:  age  35  or  40;  sandy  complexion. 

In  October,  two  men  named  Anderson  were  caught  in  prairie  fire 
between  Manhattan  and  Zeandale.  One  was  burned  to  death  and  the 
recovery  of  the  other  doubtful. 

New  school  house  built  in  Dist.  No.  5:  also  in  No.  11. 

November  4th,  body  of  Melancthon  In  man  found  dead  on  bank  of 
river,  four  miles  below  Wamego.  Had  died  October  11th.  Was  a 
trapper.    John  Mock  held  inquest. 

Mr.  Henry  Klein  killed  deer  weighing  160  pounds  on  Klein  farm 
on  East  branch  of  Mill  creek. 

Postofflce  at  Maple  Hill  established,  John  Winkler,  postmaster. 
Office  supplied  from  Newbury. 

November  14th,  eleven  men  started  from  Harvcyville  on  a  buffalo 
hunt.  Saw  only  a  few  old  Buffalo  and  barely  escaped  freezing.  jNec- 
essary  to  keep  constantly  on  the  move. 

December  23d,  contract  let  for  building  the  bridge  over  Kansas 
river  at  Wamego. 

December  2.'^d,  a  young  man  named  Samuel  Walker  killed  by  acci- 
dental discharge  of  gun. 

December  26th,  Smith  Kelsey's  house  at  Wabaunsee  burned. 


1872. 

January.    Stabbing  affray  on  Snokomo— Keeler  and  Ferrin— over  a 
claim. 


328     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Smallpox  in  Berlin  settlement  (Tcmplin),  Alma,  and  on  East 
branch  of  Mill  creek.  Among  those  dying  of  smallpox  was  N.  H. 
Whittemore,  county  attorney.  John  T.  Keagy  was  appointed  by 
Judge  Morton  to  fill  vacancy. 

Tuesday  night,  January  23d,  J.  M.  Matheny  stepped  out  of  west 
door  of  State  house,  falling  20  feet,  breaking  left  thigh  and  receiving 
serious  injuries  in  head. 

New  courthouse  occupied  last  week  in  March.  St.  Marys  bridge 
completed  in  February  and  Wamego  bridge,  in  June. 

Flock  of  turkeys  ranged  in  Pauly's  timber.  Ed.  Hcrrick  and  Dr. 
Wharry  brought  in  one  weighing  16  lbs. 

In  April,  while  U.  O.  Kinne  was  with  his  father  in  the  timber  on 
Mulberry  creek  a  black  bear  rose  on  his  liaunches  and  after  a  few 
growls  ambled  across  the  prairie  in  a  northwest  direction.  Mr.  Kinne 
says  he  wasn't  hunting  for  bear  that  day.  Hadn't  even  a  pocket 
knife  and  wasn't  liungry  for  bear,  anyway. 

A  five  year  old  son  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Smale  died  of  a  chill  in  the  school 
room— Dist.  30,  in  March. 

March  9th,  Alfred  Rod,  while  hunting  ducks  in  Kansas  river  near 
mouth  of  Mill  creek,  shot  accidentally  by  companion. 

March  26th,  Rosa,  a  little  daughter  of  Martin  Muckenthalcr,  of 
Newbury,  burned  by  clothes  catching  from  tire  in  yard.  Lived  until 
the  following  day. 

April  8th,  a  13  year  old  daughter  of  Philip  Lltz  drowned  in  Mill 
creek.    Found  by  Ferdinand  Schmanke  three  miles  above  Alma. 

April  14th,  whirlwind  on  Nehring  branch  hurled  cow  20  feet, 
striking  against  stone  wall  and  breaking  her  neck. 

During  the  prevalence  of  smallpox  P.  F.  Johnson  made  arrange- 
ments with  Drs.  Brasche  and  Wharry  to  vaccinate  all  who  desired  it 
free.  Dr.  Weaver,  of  Wabaunsee,  vaccinated  466  persons  during  the 
scare. 

Mrs.  Catherine  Greemore  (nee  Bourassa),  an  historical  character 
favorably  known  to  every  traveler  across  the  reserve  by  reason  of  her 
many  kind  acts,  died  March  17th. 


1873. 

Robert  Shaw  operated  the  first  woolen  mill  in  the  county— on  the 
head  of  Mission-creek.  Mr.  Herb  Shaw  peddled  the  product  of  the 
mills  through  the  adjacent  territory  in  a  two-horse  wagon. 

In  February,  John  Schwanke  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Moltke 
(Cobb);  Henry  (jrlmm,  at  Grimm  postolllce,  and  Charles  Lehmberg,  at 
Berlin  (Templln). 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN,      329 


J.  W.  McCoinb  killed  large  catamount  within  a  rod  of  his  house, 
on  Mission  creek,  in  May. 

Lincoln  house,  in  Alma,  opened  by  T.  R.  McElroy,  in  September. 

Among  the  many  losses  from  prairie  fires  this  year  was  the  resi- 
dence of  Judge  Hall,  at  Wabaunsee,  burned  Friday  night,  November 
14th.  Loss  84,000,  including  60  tons  hay,  300  bushels  corn,  1,800  lbs. 
cheese,  and  6  fat  hogs.  Also,  Geo.  S.  Burt's  stables,  grain,  etc.  Mr. 
Finn,  near  Eskridge,  lost  hay  and  stables.  Kuenzli  and  Nicely,  a 
large  amount  of  hay.  Much  property  destroyed  on  Rock  creek.  H.  J. 
Loomis,  W.  H.  Coleman,  and  James  McMahan,  each  lost  everything 
except  dwelling. 


1874. 

Catholic  church  erected.  No  resident  priest  until  1880.  Supplied 
by  Jesuit  fathers  from  St.  Marys.  Then  Fr:  Hundhau.sen  until  1891; 
Fr.  Hohe  until  1892;  Fr.  Bollwig  until  1895;  Fr.  Cihal,  August,  1895, 
until  March,  1896;  then  Fr.  Kamp— the  present  incumbent. 

Sylvester  Kraemer,  on  Rock  creek,  killed  six  deer  during  the 
heavy  snows  in  January. 

John  S.  Buchanan  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Wilmington  in 
May.  I.  L.  French,  at  French  Valley,  in  August,  and  Geo.  W.  Moore, 
at  Maple  Hill,  the  same  month. 

In  July,  stages  left  Alma  for  Wamego,  daily;  for  Silver  Lake, 
twice  each  week,  Tuesdays  and  Fridays;  for  Americus  and  Council 
Grove,  every  Wednesday,  and  for  Burlingame  and  Topeka,  every 
Friday. 

In  October,  500  Otoe  Indians  left  their  reservation  in  Southern 
Nebraska,  to  join  the  Osages,  who  were  reported  going  on  the  war- 
path. A  runner  overtook  the  band  at  Marysville  and  induced  about 
half  of  tlio  warriors  to  return  to  the  reservation.  The  remainder  got 
as  far  as  Wamego  vvhen  they  were  intercepted  by  troops  sent  out  from 
Fort  Riley,  where  the  chiefs  and  head  men  were  imprisoned.  About 
200  went  into  camp  three  miles  northeast  of  Wamego,  alarming  the 
settlers  by  their  presence  in  the  vicinity  of  their  homes. 

On  a  trip  from  Alma  to  Wamego,  in  December,  a  large  gray  wolf 
followed  the  hack  several  miles.  Quite  a  number  of  shots  were  fired 
before  his  wolfship  changed  his  course. 

During  December  of  this  year  the  first  tire  department  in  Alma 
was  organized.    John  Gibson  was  mayor. 

This  is  known  in  Kansas  Annals  as  the  "grasshopper  year."  The 
gras.shoppers  (or  locusts)  came  in  myriads,  obscuring  the  sun,  and  in  a 
few  short  liours  transformed  a  land  teeming  with  plenty  into  a  desert 


330     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

waste.  A  truthful  story  would  savor  of  Muncliausonisni  and  tlie 
narrator  be  set  down  as  unworthy  of  belief.  They  devoured  every 
green  tiling,  even  to  the  leaves  of  the  trees  and  their  excrement  falling; 
into  the  streams  poi.soned  the  tlsh.  Many  cattle  died  from  druikiiiK 
the  water  and  others  were  fatally  poisoned  by  eating  the  remains  of 
the  fodder  shocks  on  which  they  had  aliglited  and  partly  devoured. 
Melons  were  eaten  to  the  core  and  the  vines  destroyed.  A  patch  of 
turnips  was  but  as  a  luncheon,  the  insects  burrowing  into  the  cham- 
bers hollowed  out  by  their  mandibles.  There  had  been  a  dearth  of 
moisture  and  between  drouth  and  the  grasshoppers  the  settlers  were 
ground  as  between  the  upper  and  nether  millstones.  Millions  of  holes 
were  bored  in  the  ground,  wherein  myriads  of  eggs  were  deposited, 
and  when  the  warm  sunshine  of  spring  came,  from  every  egg  was 
hatched  a  grasshopper.  To  destroy  the  insects  many  plans  were 
devised  but  little  was  accomplisiied.  Tliey  had  come  as  unbidden 
guests  and  the  plagued  pests  had  seemingly  settled  down  for  another 
feast  when  their  wings  were  unfolded  and  they  departed— as  uncer- 
emoniously as  they  had  come,  and,  it  is  lioped,  to  a  place  where  grass- 
hoppers' visits  are  more  welccaue  than  fn  Kansas. 


1875. 

'J'he  News  of  January  6th,  said:  Three  more  days  of  pleasant 
weather  will  place  the  Alma  Salt  Works  in  full  blast. 

School  opened  in  the  new  stone  building,  January  18th. 

On  Januaiy  20th,  fires  were  started  under  25  huge  kettles  at  the 
Salt  Works.  The  owners  were:  John  Winkler,  Joseph  Treu,  Ilcnry 
Schmitz,  August  Meyer,  G.  Zwanziger,  and  Frank  Rickershauser. 
The  News  says:  "The  town  is  happy,  the  community  is  happy,  tiiat 
there  is  a  permanent  manufacturing  enterprise  in  our  midst  that  will 
be  a  source  of  revenue  for  all  time  to  come."  Hundreds  of  cords  of 
wood,  covering  several  acres  of  ground  were  piled  near  the  works. 
Salt  was  sold  at  two  dollars  a  barrel. 

The  News  of  March  nth,  contained  this  item:  "It  is  reported 
that  a  spring  trap  went  off  at  a  smoke  house  door  on  the  East  brancli 
of  Mill  creek  one  night  last  week  and  that  a  certain  man  has  been 
sick  in  bed  ever  since."  The  smoke  house  belonged  to  Ed.  Krapp,  and 
the  man— died. 

April  2()th,  George  Boydston  had  an  eye  knocked  out  by  boys 
throwing  stones. 

On  the  night  of  March  Kith,  an  attempt  was  made  to  burn  tlie 
bank  but  was  frustrated  by  Harry  Licht.    The  tire  was  among  a  lot  of 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      331 


rubbish  and  a  barrel  of  coal  oil  and  three  kegs  of  powder  were  already 
in  the  blaze. 

The  News  of  May  19th,  says:  "Prof.  M.  Kast  sends  up  a  grand 
balloon  from  Winlder's  hotel  Friday  night." 

Snokomo  P.  O.  established  in  June,  G.  S.  Kneeland,  postmaster. 

Alma  made  a  money  order  office  July  5th,  Geo.  Fechter,  post- 
master.    First  order  issued  to  John  T.  Keagy. 

July  4th,  John  Spiecker's  house  struck  by  lightning.  Mr.  Spiecker 
unconscious  for  six  hours. 

August  24th,  stranger  from  Missouri,  while  herding  sheep  near 
west  line  of  county,  killed  by  tree  falling  on  him,  while  asleep. 

September  23d,  Carl  Fink  thrown  from  wagon  near  Wm.  Krieg's 
place,  crossing  of  Spring  creek.    Died  from  injuries  following  Sunday. 

October  17th,  F.  C.  Simon  had  leg  broken  in  two  places  while 
hitching  up  young  horse  to  light  wagon. 

October  20th,  Gus  Droege  reports  to  News  raised  120  bushels  corn 

to  acre  by  actual  measurement,  A.  Kettermann  reports  800  bushels 
on  six  acres. 

October.  Mrs.  Woods,  of  Rock  creek,  narrowly  escaped  death  from 
bite  of  tarantula. 

December  6th,  Mr.  Buttenhoff,  of  Spring  creek,  killed  near  Bias- 
ing's, on  Deep  craek,  by  team  running  away.  Was  coming  home  from 
Manhattan  with  load  of  lumber. 

News,  December  8th:  "The  beavers  are  building  a  dam  on  Mill 
creek,  near  east  line  of  Henry  Schmitz'  new  farm.  Their  work  is  a 
curiosity.  Large  cottonwoods  are  cut  and  thrown  into  the  stream 
with  as  much  precision  as  though  felled  by  the  most  expert  axemen. 
Brush  an'd  mud  are  laid  upon  the  logs  and  their  work  is  well  secured. 
They  have  already  raised  the  water  two  feet." 

Mails  in  1875:  Left  Alma  for  Pavilion,  Wabaunsee,  and  Waniego, 
daily.  Left  Alma  for  Newbury,  Maple  Hill,  Plowboy,  and  Silver 
Lake,  twice  a  week.  Left  Alma  for  Bismark,  Eskridge,  Harveyville, 
and  Burlingame,  weekly.  Left  Alma  for  Grimm,  Templin,  Moss 
Springs,  Munson,  and  Council  Grove,  weekly.  Left  Alma  for  Rockton, 
Grant,  Dover,  and  Topeka,  weekly.  Left  Alma  for  Cobb,  Chalk 
Mound,  Agnes  City,  Dow  creek,  and  Americus,  weekly.  Left  Esk- 
ridge for  Clialk  Mound  and  Council  Grove,  weekly.  Left  Eskridge  for 
French  Valley,  Waushara,  and  Emporia,  weekly.  Left  Eskridge  tor 
Harveyville  and  Burlingame,  weekly.  Left  Eskridge  for  Bismark  and 
Alma,  weekly. 


332      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1876. 

February  2d,  Ed.  Colchcr,  age  17,  killed  in  front  of  school  house  at 
Newbury  by  l)cin<i  thrown  from  horse,  breakinf?  his  neck.  Horse 
scared  by  two  dogs  lighting. 

June  24th,  Miss  McGregor,  of  Mission  creek,  killed  by  being 
thrown  under  horses  feet  while  driving  a  two-horse  wagon. 

The  sixth  annual  fair  of  the  Wabaunsee  County  Agricultural 
association  was  held  at  Alma,  October  3-4. 

In  April,  a  daughter  of  Wm.  Wiley,  of  Wabaunsee,  died  of  a 
snake  bite  inflicted  in  1872. 

W.  M.  Rinehart  started  store  at  Corners  in  tlie  spring  of  1870. 

At  the  October  term  of  court  W.  A.  Fry  was  convicted  of  maim- 
ing in  the  fourth  degree.  Escaped  from  Sheriff  Iloskinson.  (Sec 
page  108). 

December  Lst,  Mrs.  Schroeder,  of  Farmer  township,  fell  dead 
while  milking. 


1877. 

In  February,  Rocky  Ford  postofflce  established,  M.  W.  Janes, 
postmaster. 

Friday  night,  March  2d,  type  in  News  office  pied.  In  the  fall 
campaign  controversy  through  the  columns  of  the  only  newspaper 
were  long  and  bitter — communications  from  two  to  six  columns  in 
length  were  frequent.  The  Farmer's  Savings  bank  was  a  bone  of 
contention,  it  being  urged  that  a  levy  of  an  extra  mill  had  been  made 
to  secure  a  surplus  for  the  bank. 

Tower  to  Catholic  church  erected  in  March.  Rev.  Frank  R. 
Smith  moved  into  M.  E.  parsonage  in  September. 

Bourn's  sawmill  in  Watson's  timber,  one  and  one-half  miles  south- 
west of  Alma. 

Item  in  the  News,  March  28th:  "As  Mr.  J.  W.  Emerson  was  on 
the  road  to  Wamego  one  day  last  week,  about  two  miles  west  of  AVa- 
baunsee  a  large  gray  wolf  suddenly  appeared  by  the  side  of  the  wagon 
and  attacked  his  large  shepherd  dog,  which  was  saved  only  by  the 
interference  of  Mr.  Emerson.  Those  having  little  children  should  be 
careful  not  to  let  them  wander  from  the  house,  alone." 

Stone  school  house  at  Harvey ville  built,  size  31x43. 

J.  M.  Lingfelter,  at  April  session,  was  appointed  county  superin- 
tendent to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  F.  W.  Krocnke. 

Cheese  factory  opened  at  Wabaunsee  in  May. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      333 


W.  T.  Pollock  opened  a  store  in  Col.  Sanford's  building,  -at  Esk- 
ridge,  in  October. 

Tuesday,  July  3d,  Marvin,  a  son  of  Capt.  R.  J.  Stephenson,  was 
killed  by  lightning  in  Maple  Hill  township  while  crossing  the  prairie 
on  horseback.  His  brother,  a  mile  away,  was  also  stunned,  and  a  son 
of  Mr.  Fauerbach  was  shocked  by  lightning. 

While  pulling  a  gun  out  of  a  wagon  muzzle  foremost  Arthur  Rand 
received  gunshot  wound  in  arm.  Saturday,  November  3d,  limb  ampu- 
tated by  Drs.  Patee  and  Splllman,  of  Manhattan. 


1878. 

January  30th,  a  large  wildcat  killed  by  J.  W.  Bowman  on  Pretty 
creek. 

Mr.  Brooks,  of  Mission  creek,  erects  windmill  to  grind  grain,  in 
January. 

D.  P.  Matthews,  of  Maple  Hill,  died  of  heart  disease  while  eating 
breakfast.    Left  large  family;  two  daughters  taught  school. 

Lutheran  and  M.  E.  churches  built.  Also,  Waushara  M.  E. 
church. 

March  9th,  Harvey  Thomson's  residence  on  Hendrick's  creek 
burned. 

March  31st,  Mrs.  Bertram  Klein,  of  Halifax,  died  of  heart  disease 
while  sitting  in  her  chair. 

Buildings  being  scarce  at  the  "Corners"  W.  M.  Rinehart  rented  a 
part  of  the  room  occupied  by  his  store  to  Ira  Hodgson  for  a  harness 
and  shoe  shop.  The  two  departments  were  separated  by  a  chalk  mark 
on  the  floor. 

June  30th,  W.  W.  Cone  reported  a  hog  raised  by  D.  C.  Keeler,  of 
Mission  creek,  weighing  900  pounds,  measuring  7  feet  3  inches  long; 
height,  3  feet  1  inch:  breadth,  through  .shoulders,  25  inches;  circum- 
ference, 7  feet. 

While  passing  under  a  sycamore  tree  at  the  Moon  crossing  of 
Mission  creek,  on  Sunday,  June  30th,  at  4  p.  m.,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen 
Phillips  were  killed  by  lightning.  The  team  was  uninjured  and 
stopped  in  front  of  Mr.  Moon's  house,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west 
of  the  creek.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  were  returning  to  their  home 
(the  Godard  ranch)  from  a  visit  to  his  son,  L.  M.  Phillips,  of  North 
Topeka.  Some  time  previous  Mr.  Phillips  had  expres.sed  the  belief 
that  he  and  his  wife  would  die  suddenly  and  at  the  same  time.  Mr. 
Phillips  was  one  of  the  fir.st  settlers  in  Newbury  township  and  was 
one  of  the  five  men  who  laid  out  the  town  of  Newbury.    Was  a  lead- 


334     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

inp  citizen,  and  owned  one  of  tlie  best  farms  in  the  county,   being 
extensively  en^jaged  in  raising  wheat. 

On  February  7th,  the  following  were  enrolled  In  the  principal's 
department  of  the  Alma  school  (two  teachers  were  employed):  Otto 
Zwanziger,  Ottllie  and  Arthur  Schmitz,  Otto  Hess.  Willie  and  Minnie 
Pauly,  Charles,  Jerry,  James,  Sell,  and  Ulysses  Fields,  Emma  and 
Richard  Thoes,  Margery,  Lizzie,  and  John  McElroy,  Geo.  Fechter, 
Amelia,  Robert,  Arthur,  and  Otto  Winkler,  Frank  Lenk,  Frank 
Jackson,  Emil  Bcutel,  George  and  Willie  Huebner,  Rosa,  Maggie,  and 
Frank  Ressler,  Josie,  Ida,  and  Frank  Wiedemann,  Matilda  and  Henry 
Palenske,  and  Joseph  Hensel. 


1879. 

No  newspaper  file  could  be  found  for  this  year. 

August  2d,  138,700  bonds  voted  for  M.  A.  &  B.  Railroad,  to  run  30 
years  from  July  1,  1880. 


1880. 

Eskridge  (the  new  town)  platted  in  April  and  first  house  hauled 
on  the  town  site  by  Dr.  Trivett  and  placed  on  corner  where  bank  now 
located.    First  residence  built  by  Dr.  Trivett,  for  O.  T.  Lamb. 

August  4th,  Fred  Muehlehbacher  found  dead  in  timber.  Disap- 
peared tlie  3d.    Grape  vine  around  neck  with  body  supported  by  pole. 

January  5th,  attempt  made  to  break  into  vault  in  county  treas- 
urer's office.  Hole  drilled  through  outer  door,  powder  poured  in  and 
exploded.    Vault  now  used  by  surveyor. 

March  16th,  Willie  Fortner,  Zeandale,  while  out  hunting  shot  by 
accidental  discharge  of  companion's  gun. 

May  23d,  M.  Gehrts'  house  burned. 

The  News  of  June  30th  says  of  Eskridge:  "J.  H.  Lawler  has  opened 
a  hotel,  and  Mudge,  a  general  store.  Three  or  four  dwellings  erected 
and  foundations  for  others. 

July  5th  (the  4th  coming  on  Sunday)  was  a  gala  day  for  Alma. 
5,000  people  and  5  bands.  Alma  was  celebrating  the  4th  and  our  first 
railroad.  Col.  Sanford  delivered  excellent  speech  concerning  the 
growth  of  transportation  facilities  in  the  United  States. 

July  18th,  railroad  reached  Wabaunsee. 

Fairfield  postofflce  established,  Hiram  Musselman,  postmaster. 

July  26th,  arrangements  made  to  move  buildings  at  the  "Corners" 
to  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      335 


August  25th,  S.  T.  Wright  making  20  barrels  salt  per  day  at  Alma 
Salt  Works. 

September  1st,  first  mail  carried  on  M.  A.  &  B. 

September  17th,  William  Hare,  brakeman  on  M.  A.  &  B.,  got  foot 
caught  in  switch  at  Alma  depot  and  two  wheels  ran  over  leg,  necessi- 
tating amputation.  Accident  occurred  Friday  morning  and  operation 
performed  at  5  p.  m.    Died  during  operation. 


1881. 

In  1881,  contracts  were  let  to  run  mall  lines  from  Alma  by  way  of 
Newbury,  Paxico,  Maple  Hill,  Post  creek,  Plowboy,  and  Valencia,  to 
Topeka.  From  Alma  via  Grimm,  Templln,  Albion,  Chester,  Damorris, 
and  Luther,  to  Council  Grove.  From  Junction  City  via  Briggs  and 
Elvenia,  to  Alma.  From  Waushara  via  Wilmington,  to  Burlingame. 
From  Eskridge  via  Chalk  and  Alburtis,  to  Council  Grove.  From  Esk- 
ridge  via  French  Valley,  Allen,  Ivy,  and  Dell,  to  Emporia.  From 
Blsmagnk  (Halifax)  via  Rockton,  Snokomo,  Mission  creek,  Keene,  and 
Dover,  to  Topeka. 

January  7th,  Charlie  Vannatta  had  left  leg  shattered  by  acciden- 
tal discharge  of  shotgun.    Died  Tuesday  following. 

January  14th,  Bennington  Ayres,  Wabaunsee,  commits  suicide. 

February  14th,  Alexander  Chambers,  teamster  for  the  "Colony" 
(Rock  creek)  found  frozen  on  prairie. 

September  1st,  Newt  Gann  killed  by  lightning  while  riding  a  mule 
and  leading  some  horses,  six  miles  northwest  of  Alma. 

September  8th,  German,  named  Hestel  dropped  dead  while  plow- 
ing in  field  on  Kuenzli  creek. 

September  27th,  first  big  fire  In  Alma.  Krueger  building  burned 
at  noon.  Supposed  cause:  Boys  and  matches.  G.  G.  Cornell  lost 
library  of  1,000  volumes,  family  souvenirs  and  valuable  manuscript. 
Dr.  Greene  lost  library.  Fred  Meyer  and  Mrs.  Sawallisch  lost  every- 
thing. 

October  5th,  Matt.  Fooks  kills  George  Miller  on  Spring  creek. 
(See  page  162). 

November,  foundation  for  Congregational  church  In  Alma  put  in 
—for  stone  building. 

Mr.  S.  T.  Wright  reports  making  25  to  30  barrels  purest  salt  per 
day  at  Alma  Salt  Works. 


33(3     EARLY  niSTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1882. 

January  20th,  suicide  of  G.  W.  Adam— sliotgun. 

April  5th,  Charles  McQuarrie  shot  Armenia  Lapham  and  himself 
at  the  Lapham  farm,  Wabaunsee. 

April  14th,  Mrs.  Semena  Cann's  body  found  in  Farmer  township, 
200  yards  from  house,  in  hazel  brush.    Last  seen  about  March  6th. 

A.  Ketterman  found  pieces  of  lead  as  large  as  peas  in  sand  pump 
while  drilling  well  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Alma. 

March  31st,  Francis  Downey  kicked  to  death  by  horse.  Thrown 
and  caught  foot  in  harness. 

May  14th,  Evangelical  church  dedicated. 

August  17th,  Congregational  church  and  cemetery  at  Maple  Hill 
dedicated. 


1883. 

Annie,  the  two  year  old  daughter  of  W.  E.  Richey,  fell  from  south 
end  of  west  porch  at  State  house.    Fell  20  feet. 

April  13th,  buildings  at  Meyer  place,  used  for  poor  farm,  demol- 
ished by  cyclone. 

April  13th,  Daniel  McGonigle,  Kaw,  killed  by  lightning. 

April  14th,  the  five  year  old  son  of  C.  Kobiske  died  from  hydro- 
phobia. 

June,  Fred  Meyer  feeding  30,000  silk  worms  on  leaves  of  the  Osage 
orange. 

October,  Copp  erected  telephone  line  from  store  to  his  house. 

Nov.  8th,  W.  H.  Earl's  house  burned  near  Eskridge;  loss,   $2,000. 

December  17th,  F.  L.  Raymond's  house  at  Vera  damaged  $300  by 
fire. 


1884. 

May  6th,  a  small  cyclone  demoll.shed  house  occupied  by  J.  Liston 
and  family,  Maple  Hill.    Family  had  just  left  the  house. 

52  buildings  erected  in  Alma  during  the  year. 

The  News  of  May  21st  said  that  the  number  of  plug  hats  seen  on 
the  streets  was  another  evidence  of  Alma's  advancement  towards 
metropolitan  importance. 

June  13th,  corner  stone  of  Catholic  church  at  Newbury  laid. 

July  23d,  Wm.  Maike  fell  26  feet,  receiving  severe  injuries  to  spine 
while  building  Newloury  church. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      337 


October  Iflth,  Greenwood's  barn,  Kaw  township,  burned. 

October  2Tth,  remains  of  Charles  Koch  found  by  John  Bingaman, 
half  mile  north  of  Hendricks  creek  crossing.  Identified  by  clothing; 
last  seen  April  18th. 

November  1st,  Licht  &  Lingfelter  put  in  telephone  from  their 
land  office  to  court  house. 

November  9th,  Frank  McKee,  15  year  old  son  of  Henry  McKee, 
near  Eskridge,  killed  by  accidental  discharge  of  gun. 

November  15th.  August  Kietzmann,  Sr.,  dropped  dead  in  his  yard. 

November  16th,  George  D.  Godard  accidentally  killed  by  gun 
being  drawn  through  fence. 


1886. 

January  25th,  M.  E.  church,  at  Wabaunsee,  dedicated. 

March,  Rockton  postofflce  established;  Agnes  Hill,  postmistress. 

March  10th,  R.  B.  Spillman  appointed  judge. 

March  28th,  A.  O.  Hogbin's  barn  and  six  liorses  burned. 

May  25th,  James  Sparks  died  at  Star  hotel  (opposite  Mrs.  Meyer's) 
from  overdose  of  laudanum. 

June  22^,  Ham  Stone's  house.  Maple  Hill,  burned  by  lamp  up- 
setting. 

July  18th,  fire  in  rear  of  F.  C.  Simon's  store— loss  $1,000. 

August  17th,  stone  barn  of  W.  S.  Combs,  Kaw,  burned— horses  and 
machinery. 

September  12th,  John  Ewing,  on  A.  Norlin's  place  died  of  kick 
from  a  horse. 

October  2d,  Geo.  Holmes'  barn,  three  horses  burned. 

November  8th,  wildcat  killed  three  miles  south  of  Alma. 

November  15th,  Arthur  Haller  killed  by  accidental  discharge  of 
gun. 

November,  postoffice  at  Elvenia  discontinued. 

December  13th,  Dura  Warren's  residence.  Maple  Hill,  burned. 
Loss  $7,000. 


1886. 

January  9th,  Lewis  Clark's  house,  Snokomo,  bnrned. 
February  13th,  M.  W.  Janes'  barn  burned,  Maple  Hill,  loss  $7,000. 
June  3d,  John  Clark's  barn,  Elm  creek,  burned,  loss  $6,000. 
June  26th,  young  man  named  Krieger  killed  by  lightning  on  Pretty 
creek.     While  plowing  took  shelter  in  vacant  house. 


338     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

July  nth,  Rock  Island  bonds  voted.  In  four  townships  690  for 
and  29  against. 

August  20th,  A.  Stech's  house,  near  Paxico,  burned. 

August  29th,  the  14  year  old  son  of  B.  F.  Funkhouser,  Mission 
creek,  drowned  while  bathing. 

August  30th,  Arthur  Hare,  eight  years  old,  drowned  while  bathing 
In  Mill  creek  at  Alma. 

October  19th,  barn  on  Fowler's  ranch  burned  by  lamp  explosion— 
15  horses— loss  $10,000. 

Pike  laid  out  by  W.  D.  Deans  in  October.  Name  changed  to 
Cable  City,  and  in  March,  1887  to  Alta  Vista. 

Paxico  laid  out  and  named  in  December. 


1887. 

March  8th,  Allen  Hodgson's  house,  near  Harvey ville,  burned. 

March  21st,  Fred  Jackson's  house,  Snokomo,  burned. 

March  25th,  Rock  Island  reaches  Alma. 

March  26th,  Timothy  McCarthy  killed  by  James  Sleet  on  Rock 
Island  grade,  near  Templin. 

May,  McFarland  laid  out  and  platted. 

June  19th,  H.  J.  Pippert's  barn,  Alma,  burned. 

August  18th,  Mrs.  Milton  Riggin,  near  Wilmington,  killed  by 
lightning. 

August  25th,  M.  Gehrt's  house,  Paxico,  burned. 

September  24th,  Mrs.  Bruegger's  house.  West  Alma,  burned. 

October  10th,  Matt  Thomson's  barn.  Alma,  burned. 

November,  Congregational  parsonage  completed. 

December  12th,  Brandt  hotel  opened. 

Wamego  bridge  made  free  April  12th. 

July  31st,  August  Herman  drowned  near  M.  A.  &  B.  bridge. 

October  7th,  Jack  O'Donnell  run  over  and  killed  by  cars  at  Rock 
Island  depot. 

St.  Marys  bridge  made  free  October  20th. 

November  15th,  D.  K.  Pugh  thrown  off  abutment  of  Rock  Island 
bridge,  west  of  Maple  Hill.    Lived  five  minutes;  fell  22  feet. 

November  5th,  Frank  Rice,  brakeman,  killed  at  Paxico. 


1888. 

January  16th,  J.  F.  Limerick  and  ten  others  injured  in  wreck  on 
Rock  Island,  one  mile  west  of  Willard.    Two  sleepers  derailed. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      339 

February  19th,  ten  freight  cars  fell  through  Deep  creek  bridge. 
Millard  Foster,  fireman,  killed. 

March  4th,  Anthony  Saddler  killed  at  McFarland  In  attempting 
to  board  moving  freight  train. 

April  11th,  James  Woods'  child,  Rock  creek,  drowned  in  spring. 

April  13th,  Alma  postofflce  burglarized  and  safe  blown  open. 

April  21st,  13  year  old  son  of  T.  C.  Austin  died  from  kick  of  mule. 

August  3d,  Jersey  Small's  residence,  Maple  Hill  township,  de- 
stroyed by  lightning;  loss  $10,000. 

August  3d,  Watson  &  Aderhold's  store  at  McFarland  demolished 
in  wind  storm. 

September  15th,  Herman  Oehms,  11  years  old,  badly  crippled  at 
Paxico  while  attempting  to  cross  the  track  in  front  of  incoming  train. 

October  3d,  100  Pottawatomie  Indians  passed  through  Alma  going 
on  a  visit  with  friends  in  Indian  Territory. 

November  3d,  J.  E.  Torrlngton,  of  Topeka,  while  hunting  near 
Maple  Hill,  had  nearly  all  flesh  torn  from  lower  part  of  arm  while 
pulling  loaded  gun  from  wagon. 

November  9th,  75  head  of  cattle  killed  in  M.  A.  &  B.  wreck  near 
Pavilion. 

November  19th,  H.  P.  Jesse^  a  brakeman,  killed  while  coupling 
cars  at  Maple  Hill. 


1889. 

January  23d,  Bank  of  Wabaunsee  county  failed  with  $20,000  lia- 
bilities. 

February  14th,  James  Nelson,  Mission  creek,  suicides.  Had  deeded 
his  property  to  his  wife.  She  died,  leaving  the  property  to  her  sisters 
in  Sweden.  A  refusal  of  one  of  the  sisters  to  marry  Nelson  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  tragedy  near  Eskridge. 

February  22d,  a  vein  of  coal  3  feet  8  Inches  thick  reported  at  a 
depth  of  1,680  feet  at  Alma  coal  hole. 

March,  first  term  of  court  35th  judicial  district,  Wm.  Thomson, 
judge;  C.  E.  Carroll,  stenographer. 

April  4th,  C.  L.  Hine,  while  working  in  a  box  car  at  McFarland, 
killed  by  pistol  shot  fired  by  Chas.  E.  Jackson  from  near  Denver  house, 
150  yards  distant. 

April  1st,  J.  H.  Lynn's  barn  and  two  horses  burned  In  prairie  fire 

near  Paxico. 

April  14th,  unknown  man  suicides  at  Hotel  Paxico. 

April  7th,  Willetts'  barn  burned— 17  horses. 

May  8th,  C.  Kuenzll's  barn  burned  by  lightning;  loss  $1,000. 


340     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

July,  Vera  postofflce  established— at  "Grafton." 

June  24th,  Alma  State  Bank  opened  for  business. 

.July  18th,  Adam  Dichl's  two  year  old  child  drowned  in  hole  of 
water  at  Paxico. 

July  28th,  seven  tribes  participate  in  Indian  dances  near  St.  Marys. 

Septen)ber  2d,  Robert  Walter  run  over  by  freight  train  and  killed 
—midnight. 

October  26th,  14  cars  derailed  by  cow  on  track  on  Frank  Rlcker- 
shauser's  farm,  near  Paxico. 

October,  Conrad  Mogge  throvt'n  from  cart  in  crossing  ditch  and 
killed. 

November  2d,  cornerstone  of  M.  E.  church,  Alta  Vista,  laid. 

November  3d,  E.  Worsley's  barn  and  three  horses  burned.  Maple 
Hill.    Boys  shooting  pigeons. 

December  2d,  Billy  Moore's  house,  Alma,  burned. 

December,  panther  seen  on  Hendricks  creek.  Welfelt  boys  cap- 
ture 25  beaver  before  Christmas.  Muskrats,  mink,  and  skunks  by  the 
score. 


1890. 

January  6th,  Stephen  Perkins,  the  village  blacksmith  at  Halifax, 
dies  suddenly.  When  found  was  sitting  at  stove  with  half  tilled  pipe 
in  his  hand. 

January  3d,  John  Zellers  house,  barn,  and  granary,  Paxico,  burned. 

January  I2th,  Palenske  building  and  Wetzel  property  (Conrad 
Mueller's)  burned.  Los.ses:  L.  Palenske,  $6,500;  C.  Mueller,  $2,500:11. 
M.  Berry,  $1,000;  D.  W.  Johnson,  $1,000;  M.  Kast,  $500;  Masonic  Lodge, 
$300;  T.  Morris,  $250;  Alma  State  Bank,  $200;  Henry  Stein,  $150. 

January  12th,  McNemar's  store  at  Fairfield  burned.  Postoftice 
in  building. 

March  13th,  William  Crockett  and  Frank  Leggitt  killed  at  coal 
shaft. 

March  15th,  Wm.  Ilolvey  knocked  from  scaffold  and  killed  while 
cleaning  ice  from  coal  shaft. 

March  29th,  Jacob  S.  Crohn  knocked  off  of  blind  baggage  and  run 
over  by  train  at  McFarland.  Raked. by  brake  rods.  Died  in  Alma, 
April  3d. 

German  M.  E.  church  on  Rock  creek  erected.  Also  Lutheran 
church  and  school  house,  in  Alma. 

March  12th,  big  fire  at  Eskridge;  burning  all  buildings  on  west 
side,  between  Mudge's  and  Trusler's.  Loss  $25,000.  E.  L.  Shumate  & 
Son,  W.  II.  Mills,  J.  W.  Taylor,  and  Parmiter  &  Co.,  being  main  losers. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  ANTON  SCHEWE,  Farmer  Township. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  FRED  THOWE,  Farmer  Township. 


EARLV  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  JACOB  TERRASS,  Farmer  Township. 


RESIDENCE   OF   MR.  AUGUST  HANSEN,  near  McFarland. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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4 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  OTTO  HESS,  Halifax. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  WILLIAM  DREBING,  near  Halifax. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  FRANK  BLANC,  Illinois  Creek. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  CHAS.  ZECKSER,  on  West  Branch. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF   MR.  GDS  DROESE,  Farmer  Township. 


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RESIDENCE  OF   MR.  JOSEPH  THOES,  Farmer  Townsliip. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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HOME  AND  FARM  BUILDINGS  OF  MR.  FRANK  RICKERSHAUSER,  near  Paxlco. 


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RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  CHRISTIAN   KUENZLI  (deceased.) 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


THRESHING  AT  THE  PALENSKE  FARM,  NEAR  ALMA. 


RESIDENCE  OF  COL.  E.  H.  SANFORD  (deceased). 
The  First  House  in  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


•saiu,. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  JOHN  SCHVVALM,  Kuenzli  Creek. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  CHRIS  THOWE,  Farmer  Township. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ALMA  ROLLER  MILLS,  H.  F.  DI3BR0W,  PROPRIETOR. 


SCENE  AT  DAVIS  BROS.'  RANCH,11898. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  WILLIAM  HORNE,  Spring  Creek. 


RESIDENCE  OF  THE  LATE  MR.  D.  A.  WOODARD,  Wilmington  Townsliip. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      341 


March  23d,  a  destructive  prairie  fire  passes  through  Mill  creek  and 
Newbury  townships. 

March  24tli,  Warren,  Saxton  &  Offord's  barn,  Maple  Hill,  burned. 
Loss  $20,000.    Ten  imported  stallions. 

March  30th,  A.  C.  Kuenzli's  meat  market,  Paxico,  burned. 

April  7th,  A.  Kettermann's  barn,  corn,  hay,  and  wheat  burned. 

June  27th,  Wm.  Baldwin,  engineer  on  Rock  Island,  knocked  from 
step  and  killed  by  bridge  over  Mission  creek. 

July  3d,  Fowler  Bros,  largest  barn  struck  by  lightning  and  burned 
in  30  minutes. 

October  6th,  Squire  Cantrill,  Harveyville,  shipped  hog  to  Kansas 
City  market  that  weighed  980  pounds. 

July  27th,  Henry  Michaelis'  wheat  stacks  burned. 

August  22d,  Charlie  Zwanziger's  barn  burned. 

September  8th,  ten  empty  cars  wrecked  at  Dan  Morlan  place  on 
M.,  A.  &  B. 

October,  Thos.  Cousins  severely  cut  by  corn  cutter  in  runaway. 

November  9th,  First  National  Bank  (J.  F.  Limerick,  president) 
suspended. 

December  4th,  Pancoast  house.  Alma,  burned. 

December  22d,  old  Alma  hotel,  bank  building  and  Allen  Bros,  store 
burned. 

December  23d,  Alliance  corn  crib,  power  corn  sheller  and  freight 
car  burned  at  Harveyville. 


1891. 

January  2d,  David  Crawford  fell  forty  feet  off  of  Santa  Fe  bridge- 
arm  broken. 

January  5th,  Goddard's  barn,  Vera,  burned— spontaneous  com- 
bustion. 

February  17th,  Rocky  Ford  bridge.  Maple  Hill,  completed.     Mc- 
Crumb  bridge  and  Dry  Creek  bridges  completed  in  March. 

Double  arch  bridge  at  Dieball  crossing  completed. 

Church  at  Templin  dedicated,  September  20th. 
•  March  1st,  Dowell  killed  Wheaton,  near  Alta  Vista,   in  dispute 
over  rented  farm. 

March  17th,  the  biggest  steer  on  record,  the  property  of  L.  Pauly, 
died;  7  feet  high  and  weighed  2,600  pounds.    Hide  weighed  300. 

April  21st,  C.  C.  Brooks  drowned  while  attempting  to  cross  Mis- 
sion creek. 

June  4th,  coal  chute  at  McFarland  burned. 


342     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

School  house  at  McFarland  completed  in  November, 
Kclvue  bridge,  cost  $8,000,  completed  December  1st. 
15,000  foreign  cattle  grazed  in  Wabaunsee  county  this  year. 
September,  L.  Iluebner's  house,  Hendricks  creek,  burned. 
Peter  Lang  had  both  legs  broken  in  runaway,  caused  by  load  of 
lumber  slipping  forward  on  team  while  going  down  hill. 


1892. 

John  E.  Mayes  committed  suicide  in  cemetery  at  Wabaunsee. 

March  3d,  Dr.  Gulp  escaped  from  Alma  jail  by  the  aid  of  keys  made 
from  a  piece  of  broom  handle.  Run  over  and  killed  by  cars  at  Albu- 
querque, New  Mexico,  May  4th. 

March  30th,  Frank  Meier's  barn,  near  Halifax,  with  one  cow  and 
five  horses  burned. 

April  4th,  stone  school  house  In  Dist.  18  demolished  by  cyclone. 

September  17th,  drill  for  coal  at  McFarland  reached  a  depth  of 
1,700  feet. 

M.  E.  church  at  Bradford  dedicated. 

October,  Liederkranz  singing  society  organized  in  Alma. 

December,  Bates  Bros,  left  Vera. 

50  quarrymen  and  stone  cutters  employed  at  Fox's  quarrie.s,  four 
miles  southwest  of  Alma. 

July  16th,  George  Eden,  baggagemaster,  killed  in  Indiana.  While 
train  was  backing  piece  of  coupling  pin  broke  and  hit  George  in  head. 


1893. 

New  addition  to  court  house  erected. 

February  11th,  Louis  Drebing  killed  a  deer  near  Halifax. 

April  9th,  George  Berroth's  house,  midway  between  Alma  and 
Wamego,  burned. 

April  I8th,  Jesse  Cahill  shot  in  breast  by  Ira  Johnson  at  Junction 
City. 

January  8th,  remains  of  Wm.  Keeler,  killed  at  Falls  City,  Ne- 
braska, brought  to  Alma  for  burial. 

January  11th,  II.  G.  Richter  killed  27  jack  rabbits  at  Templin. 

February  7th,  James  Carroll  injured  in  wreck  on  the  Big  Four, 
near  Pana,  Illinois.  91  passengers  injured  and  baggageman  burned  in 
wreck. 

February  13th,  Louis  Muehlenbacher  killed  by  Hying  limb  while 
felling  a  tree.    Rendered  speechless  by  wound  in  liead. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OP  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN,      343 


February,  four  members  of  Tillman  family  died  with  measles- 
death  resulting  from  exposure  on  deck  of  vessel  in  New  York  harbor. 

March,  Prairie  band  of  Pottawatomies  paid  at  St.  Marys.  Each 
received  $95.75. 

J.  Francis  Harris,  the  long  haired  man— not  from  Borneo,  but 
from  the  hills  of  Michigan,  the  Black  Hills,  and  other  parts  of  the 
world  too  numerous  to  mention,  discovers  Alma. 

April  18th,  fire  at  Rosenstengel's,  near  Newbury. 

April  7th,  Otto  Graf  Von  Wartensleben  died  at  Wheaton,  Texas. 
Son-in-law  of  Charles  Hanson;  Count;  belonged  to  one  of  leading 
German  families.  Great  traveler  and  showed  with  much  pride  invi- 
tations to  royal  receptions.  Had  letters  of  recommendation  from 
titled  personages  in  old  world.    Taught  home  school  in  Dist.  18. 

James  Lumsden  one  of  300  cowboys  to  start  from  Chadron,  Ne- 
braska, July  3d,  for  World's  fair,  Chicago. 

October,  quite  a  number  of  pigs  killed  by  wolves  four  miles  south 
of  Alma. 

October  loth,  three  colored  men  killed  in  collision  at  Paxico. 

October  22d,  John  Sudweeks'  residence,  Eskridge,  burned. 

October  23d,  Fred  Miller's  house,  South  branch,  burned— lamp 
explosion. 

October  28th,  Conrad  Zehner  found  dead  in  his  office. 

Sunday.  December  10th,  Miss  May  Withgot,  Paxico,  injured  in 
runaway.    Died  Tuesday. 

December  19th,  Franz  Meier's  house  near  coal  shaft  burned. 

June  30th,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Eck  struck  by  lightning. 


1894. 

January  11th,  S.  H.  Fairfield's  office  building,  McFarland,  burned. 

February  2d,  Henry  Biesterfeldt  badly  injured  by  overturned 
wagon  on  grade  of  Belvue  bridge.  Died  October  1,  1897.  Constant 
sufferer  for  nearly  four  years. 

January  22d,  the  divorced  wife  of  Ira  Johnson  dies  from  symptons 
of  poisoning.    Died  at  Charles  Wenzel's. 

February  10th,  John  Johnson  killed  by  falling  off  stone  abutment 
of  Rock  Island  bridge  over  Hendricks  creek. 

March  2d,  Jo  Davis  killed  by  Hugh  Russell  at  Paxico.  Struck  in 
back  of  liead  by  rock  thrown  by  Russell. 

March  12th,  James  Enlow's  house,  Wabaunsee,  burned. 

March  17th,  Peter  Muehlenbacher  murdered.    (See  pages  157-161). 

April  23d,  Ad  Thompson's  house.  Mission  creek,  burned. 

June  13th,  Henry,  the  five  year  old  son  of  Carl  Maike,  drowned  by 


344     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

falling  headlong  into  a  barrel  while  attempting  to  feed  the  pigs. 

July  4tli,  Charlie  Zwanziger's  house,  near  Alma,  burned.  Before 
retiring  the  smell  of  burning  pine  caused  search  for  tire  but  could  not 
be  located.  Mr.  John  Winkler  going  home  from  celebration  awakened 
the  family. 

July  9th,  Connell's  blacksmith  shop,  Paxico,  burned. 

August  6th,  Oke  Anderson,  Nehring  branch,  found  dead  in  stock 
well. 

August  6th,  freight  train  parted  between  Volland  and  Alma, 
causing  collision  at  Alma  depot.    47  head  of  cattle  killed. 

August  7th,  Lillian  Smith  fell  from  top  to  bottom  of  outside 
stairway,  Kaufman  building. 

August  8th,  Mrs.  Matt.  Thomson,  Alma,  while  opening  shutters 
fell  from  second  story  window;  severely  injured. 

August  10th,  Dr.  Trivett,  J.  Y.  Waugh,  and  John  Sudweeks  in- 
jured in  runaway. 

August  14th,  James  Driver's  granary,  near  Vera,  burned. 

October  14th,  M.  E.  church,  Kaw  township,  dedicated. 


1895. 

January,  vein  of  red  marble  found  while  digging  a  well  on  farm  of 
Rev.  O.  F.  Zeckser,  Templin. 

Sunday,  January  27th,  5  p.  m.,  Commercial  House  burned— defect- 
ive flue. 

January  30th,  Henry  N.  Castle  and  wife  lost,  with  400  passengers, 
on  steamer  Elbe,  between  San  Francisco  and  Sandwich  Islands. 

February  3d,  Scheldt  building,  owned  by  C.  Wertzberger,  burned. 

March  1st,  Chas.  Zwanziger's  house  and  barn,  near  Alma,  burned. 

March  15th,  Stuewe  Bros,  opened  Bank  of  Alma. 

March  24th,  Solscheid  building,  in  Alma,  burned. 

April  5th,  Biglin  school  house  (Jt.  Dist.  30)  demolished  by  cyclone. 
Considerable  damage  done  on  Illinois  creek. 

July  11th,  tri-weekly  mail  service  put  on  between  Alma  and  Esk- 
ridge  on  account  of  washout  on  M.  A.  &  B.,  July  4th.  12  inches  rain 
fell.    150  men  repairing  track  and  building  bridges. 

September  14th,  Dr.  Trivett  found  body  of  Simon  Griffith  in  his 
house,  near  Bradford.  Death  had  resulted  from  a  self-inflicted  gun- 
shot wound  about  six  days  before. 

September  18th,  George  Ewing's  house,  barn,  and  granary,  five 
miles  northwest  of  Alma,  burned. 

John  Clifford  Smith,  Maple  Hill,  accidentally  shot  while  looking 
for  some  article  in  a  trunk.     Died  nine  hours  later. 

October  19th,  fire  discovered  under  stairway  in  Brandt's  hotel. 
Timely  di.scovery  saved  building. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      345 


1896. 

January,  Joseph  Tillman,  Newbury,  loses  four  children,  measles, 
exposed  in  N.  Y.  harbor  by  quarantine  ofiBcer. 

January  5th,  Vet  Stratton's  residence  near  Alta  Vista,  burned 
while  family  were  at  church. 

February  4th,  2  p.  m.,  Richter  building,  occupied  by  Louis 
Schroeder,  furniture,  and  restaurant  occupied  by  Enlow,  burned. 

March  12th,  three  different  fires  at  Cornell's  residence  in  Alma— 
10  a.  m.,  noon  and  7  p.  m.  The  fire  caught  from  the  thimble  through 
the  ceiling,  extending  along  the  joists  to  the  sides  and  roof.  Only  by 
the  most  strenuous  exertions  was  the  building  saved. 

March  16th,  Daniel  Shoecraft,  of  Eskridge,  and  young  grandson, 
Byron  Shoecraft,  of  St.  Joseph.  Mo.,  drowned  at  Krapp  crossing  of 
Mill  creek.  The  train  being  late,  Claude  Shumate  undertook  to  drive 
them  to  Eskridge.  Mr.  Shoecraft  sank  immediately,  but  the  little 
boy,  after  drifting  200  yards,  caught  an  overhanging  limb.  Claude 
secured  a  rope  at  Geo.  Screiber's  ( Lund  place )  and  threw  it  three 
times,  but  Byron  failed  to  catch  it.  With  a  parting  "good  bye"  the 
noble  little  fellow  went  down  in  the  turbid  waters  of  Mill  creek. 
Three  hundred  searchers  came  together  and  at  3  p.  m.  Sunday  the 
bodies  were  found,  about  ten  feet  apart,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  the 
crossing,  Jim  Moore  found  the  body  of  little  Byron  and  but  a  moment 
later  Mr.  Shoecraf t's  body  was  found  by  Elmer  Meredith.  At  the  time 
this  was  the  only  crossing  between  Alma  and  Eskridge  without  a 
bridge. 

March  16th,  Wm.  Wehrle,  formerly  of  Halifax,  found  murdered 
on  his  claim  near  Alva,  Oklahoma, 

March  19th,  Frank  Mitchell  murdered  ( see  page  155). 

March  26th,  Fred  Stein meyer,  Sr.,  had  both  shoulders  dislocated 
in  a  runaway. 

March  28.  Alma  purchased  her  first  fire  apparatus  and  500  feet  of 
hose  from  Junction  City  for  $250. 

April  14th,  opera  house  (lower  floor  Odd  Fellows  building)  narrowly 
escaped  destruction  by  overturned  lamp — flames  rose  to  ceiling. 

April  17th,  the  James  Driver  building  on  East  Main  St.,  Alma, 
burned,  3  a.  m. 

April  23d,  John  Mc Williams'  residence  in  Kaw  township,  burned. 

April  24th,  cloudburst  on  Spring  creek,  wall  of  water  10  feet  high. 
Geo.  Schade  lost  24  head  of  stock  and  Conrad  Mueller  2  head.  Herman 
Kesitzke  compelled  to  climb  a  tree  where  he  remained  till  the  flood 
subsided. 

December  26th,  Herman  Zeckser,  16  year  old  son  of  Aug.  Zeckser, 
lost  three  fingers  by  gun  explosion. 


346     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

On  the  same  day  J.  M.  Lee  and  Ed.  Coxen  narrowly  escaped  drown- 
ing while  crossintf  Mill  creek  east  of  the  poor  farm. 

May  20th,  Jansen's  house  near  Maple  Hill,  destroyed  by  a  small 
cyclone;  also  the  house  of  John  Gilkerson  near  Valencia.  The  funnel- 
sliaped  cloud  was  plainly  visible  from  Maple  Hill  and  Newbury. 

May,  Charles  Hanson  narrowly  escaped  drowning  at  the  Krieg 
crossing  of  Spring  creek.  Team  drowned,  but  Mr.  Hansf)n  caught 
on  a  tree.  Henry  Renter  waded  as  far  as  he  could,  then  witli 
a  long  pole  succeeded  in  extricating  Mr.  Hanson  from  his  perilous 
position. 

June  18th,  Isidor  Hallcr's  corn  cribs,  with  1,700  bushels  corn 
burned. 

July  9th,  lames  Mullin,  aged  21,  drowned  by  Ijank  caving  in  while 
(ishing  in  Rock  creek. 

July  12th,  Johnnie Christensen,  the  14  year  old  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
N.  H.  Christensen,  of  Alta  Vista,  thrown  from  horse,  dying  two  days 
later  from  injuries  received. 

August,  Alta  Vista  camp  Sons  of  Veterans  mustered. 

August  23d,  Eddie  Anderson,  Halifax,  had  heel  crushed  between 
bumpers  while  attempting  to  cross  between  the  cars  of  a  cattle  train. 

September  2d,  a  small  building  owned  by  X.  Wiedemann  in  south- 
east part  of  Alma  burned  at  midnight. 

November  29th,  DeWitt  Allendorph,  wliile  out  hunting  witli  Roy 
Hensel  was  shot  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  his  shotgun  that  lie 
had  leaned  against  an  old  unused  boiler  in  Mr.  Pauly's  timber.  A 
part  of  the  collar  bone  and  four  inches  of  the  arm  bone  were  removed 
by  a  surgical  operation.  The  best  of  care  and  a  strong  constitution 
insured  an  early  and  complete  recovery. 


1897. 

January  8th,  a  14  year  old  son  of  Henry  Hupe,  Kaw  township, 
starting  on  a  hunt  slipped  on  icy  porch,  discharging  contents  of  shot- 
gun in  abdomen.    Buried  following  day. 

January  25th,  Rock  Island  depot.  Maple  Hill,  burned. 

McMahan  property,  built  for  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  and  Jouvenal 
building  burned  Saturday  night,  January  29th. 

February  26th,  a  brakeman  whose  home  was  in  Belleville,  killed 
at  crossing  of  M.  A.  &  B.  track,  near  Pavilion.  His  first  trip.  Blinded 
by  steam  and  walked  between  cars. 

March  3d,  Stone's  store,  Wabaunsee,  burglarized. 

March  6th,  Jacob  Bagwell  killed  by  train  near  Eskridge. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      347 


Marcli  J3tli,  Elma,  tlie  tlir^e  year  old  dang-hter  of  F.  Stuewe,  died 
frotii  result  of  an  operation. 

March  28tli.  Sammie  Hull  accidentally  shot  in  hand  at  Eskridge. 

April  22d,  llonry  Miller's  house  on  Paw  Paw  creek  destroyed  by 
cyclone.  Henry's  le^^  broken  in  two  places;  August,  his  7  year  old  son, 
killed;  Paulina,  a<,-ed  3,  arm  broken:  Mrs.  Miller,  bad  cut  in  leg;  Bessie 
Simuierwell  bruised  all  over,  and  Paul  Schmanke  slightly  injured. 
Patli  of  storm  8  feet  wide.  Struck  hill  east  of  house  and  disappeared 
in  clouds. 

April  23d,  Rd.  Krapp's  house  burned.  Mrs.  Krapp  making  soap, 
boiled  over  setting  house  on  tire. 

New  stone  sch(tol  house  in  Dist.  45  built. 

May  2()th,  small  barn  near  Lutheran  church  burned.  Small  boy 
and  matches. 

May  13th,  .lames  Driver's  house,  Paxico,  burned. 

.'une  21st,  Ct)mmercial  house  barn  .burned,  at  midnight. 

July  8th,  Mrs.  Robert  Enlow  died  as  result  of  operation  performed 
in  Topeka. 

August  21st,  Mrs.  Green,  Wabaunsee,  seriously  burned  by  explod- 
ing lamp. 

October  19th,  club  house,  Paxico,  fired  by  incendiary.  Building 
saved  by  hard  work. 

October  28th.  Henry  Wille  fired  house  and  barn  and  killed  himself. 

November  11th,  Herman  Diepenbrock's  slaughter  house  burned. 

November  17th,  Willie  Pries  playing  with  matches  set  fire  to 
house.     Extinguished  by  Vena  Lang. 

December  fjth,  Scott  Willis,  Maple  Hill,  found  dead. 


1898. 

January  3d,  Alma  National  Bank  opened  for  business. 

May  4th,  John  Thomas  shot  four  persons  at  Maple  Hill.  (See  page  17). 

July  16th,  the  Allm  home,  the  property  of  Chris.  Anderson,  and 
lately  vacated  by  him,  caiught  fire  while  five  children  were  asleep. 
Mary,  Eva,  and  Edna,  aged  13,  3,  and  9,  burned  to  death.  Others 
badly  burned. 

Evangelical  church.  Wells  creek,  dedicated.  Rev.  Abele  assisted 
by  Revs.  Silbermann,  Kallich,  Nagel,  and  Barkmann. 

August  9-15th,  M.  A.  &  B.  track,  Alma  to  Manhattan,  torn  up. 

August  31st,  Catholic  fair  and  festival  at  Liederkranz  Parle— $700 
receipts. 

September  27th,  Bradford  mill  burned. 


348     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

September  29th,  the  two  year  old  son  of  John  Haynes,  near  Keene, 
badly  mutilated  by  hogs— having  strayed  from  house  and  fallen  into 
pen. 

October  5th,  Wm.  Correll  killed  at  bridge  near  John  Boettcher's 
while  leaning  from  cab  window. 

October  17th  and  18th,  worst  blizzard  ever  known  for  the  season, 
many  cattle  in  pastures  dying. 

November  19th,  five  wagon  loads  of  Pottawatomie  Indians  passed 
through  Alma  on  way  from  Indian  Territory  to  Reserve. 

November  30th,  John  Thoes  found  dead  on  north  side  of  Ad. 
Lund's  barn.  Had  been  dragged  four  miles.  Had  left  Alma  at 
8  p.  m.  the  night  before.  17  years  before,  Nick  Thoes,  a  brother, 
had  been  drowned  at  the  crossing  200  yards  north  of  where  body  was 
found,  E.  Wetzel,  with  him  at  the  time,  swimming  ashore.  Creek 
swollen  from  melting  snows. 

December  5th,  service  from  Alma  to  Manhattan  over  Rock  Island 
discontinued. 

December,  new  school  house  in  Dist.  15  completed. 


1899. 

January  9th,  George  McCrumb  run  over  and  killed  one  mile  east  of 
McFarland. 

January  18th,  John  Spiecker's  house,  four  miles  south  of  Alma, 
burned. 

January  22d,  LaFayette  Ditty,  former  resident  of  Alma,  drowned 
himself  and  son  on  "Lucky  Baldwin's"  ranch,  near  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

February  6th,  Catholic  church,  Alma,  burned  3:30  a.  m.  Built  in 
1874.  Richly  furnished.  Organ,  vestments,  and  decorations,  Build- 
ing 38x60,  with  tower  on  west  end,  16x16.    Loss  $10,000, 

February  7th,  G.  Nehring  had  ankle  badly  shattered  while  cutting 
tree  on  Nehring  branch. 

March  16th,  Wm.  Freeman,  express  messenger,  burned  in  wreck 
atVolland;  4  cars  burned. 

March  20th,  Guy  Lumsden  killed  on  A.  M.  Jordan's  farm,  Kuenzli 
creek.  Team  ran  away  and  struck  tree,  upsetting  wagon  on  pile  of 
rails,  with  body  underneath. 

March,  McFarland  depot  moved  from  north  to  south  side  of  track. 

June  15th,  postofflce  at  Fairfield  discontinued. 

August  22d,  Catholic  picnic  at  Liederkranz  park;  receipts  $600, 

October  8th,  Waushara  M,  E.  church  dedicated.  34x50  and  cost 
$1,600,    Replaced  old  church  built  in  1878. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      349 


AuRustSOth,  James  Herron's  barn,  Plumb  township,  burned,  with 
five  liorses. 

October,  Miller  precinct  established. 

October  27tb,  Harry  Sparling  thrown  from  horse  near  Eskridge, 
dying  next  day. 

June  16th,  son  of  David  Oliver,  Maple  Hill,  killed  by  horse  falling 
backwards.    Just  one  year  before  to  a  day  another  son  was  drowned. 

June  28th,  Harry  Tandy  and  Calvin  Burger  murdered  at  Mc- 
Farland. 

June  27th,  Wni.  Drebing  died  at  his  home  on  Mill  creek.  (See 
biography). 

July  6th,  cloudburst  Clapboard  ravine  came  near  resulting  in  dis- 
aster to. the  four  families  camping  out.  13  cars  ditched  on  M.  A.  «&  B. 
at  Leo.  Gersbach's,  and  washout  at  Volland  on  Rock  Island. 

December  19th,  new  Catholic  church  dedicated  by  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Fink.    Corner  stone  laid  August  27th. 


1900. 

.January  1st,  John  Sudweeks  appointed  county  commissioner  to 
till  vacancy  caused  by  death  of  C.  N.  Earl. 

January  15th,  Harvey  Roark,  aged  15,  killed  by  horse  falling  on 
him  while  driving  cattle  on  Muehlenbacher  branch. 

April,  Eskridge  State  Bank  organized. 

June  20th,  AltaVista  Bank  opened. 
August  10th,  VV.  II.  Collier's  house.  Alma,  burned. 
August  30th,  10,000  people  at  Woodmen  celebration,  Alma. 
August  31st,  Rock  Island  depot  burned  1:30  a.  m. 
October  14th,  Mr.  Hearn's  barn  (on  Dierker  place)  burned. 
November  19th,  barn  at  Kinne  place,  occupied  by  D.  U.  Millison 
burned. 

December  2d,  Evangelical  church,   Wells  creek,   dedicated,  700 

present. 

December  24th,  17  year  old  son  of  Mr.  Blair,  Maple  Hill,  killed  by 
discharge  of  gun  he  was  trying  to  pull  through  hedge,  muzzle  fore- 
most. 

December  28th,  George  Thierer,  Volland,  accidentally  shot  by 
discharge  of  gun  his  brother  was  cleaning. 

While  attempting  to  board  freight  train  at  McFarland  tramp  fell 
off  bridge  breaking  several  ribs  and  dislocating  hip. 


350     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


1901. 

January  25th,  Rock  Island  depot  burned,  origin  of  fire  unknown. 

February  13th,  Alva  Feaglians,  of  Alma,  killed  In  Philippines. 

June,  new  Lutheran  parsonage  completed.  Old  building  sold  to 
Mr.  Collier  for  residence. 

June  26th,  John  Olson  committed  suicide. 

August  1st,  Stuewe  Bros,  lose  250  tons  alfalfa  by  spontaneous 
combustion. 

September  30th,  wreck  at  Maple  Hill,  stock  killed, 

November  3d,  Woodmen  hall  and  two  other  buildings  burned, 
Maple  Hill. 

November  10th,  Charles  Maas,  aged  17,  killed  by  accidental  dis- 
charge of  gun. 

November,  Fred  Slusser,  fireman  on  M.  A.  &  B.,  killed  in  collision 
with  Mo.  Pac.  at  Osage  City. 

July  19th,  Johnnie  Schilling,  8  years  old,  accidentally  killed  by 
gun  in  hands  of  10  year  old  sister. 

Clyde  Burkett,  14  year  old  son  of  Jerry  Burkett,  6  miles  east  of 
Eskridge,  killed  by  lightning. 


1902. 

January  1st,  only  four  of  the  Connecticut  colony  in  the  county: 
A.  A.  Cottrell,  S.  A.  Baldwin,  J.  F.  Willard,  and  Wm.  Mitchell. 

February  4th,  L.  Pries'  store,  Alma,  burned,  1  a.  m.;  loss  $14,000. 

Dolley  &  Stewart's  store  at  Maple  Hill  burned.    Loss  $25,000. 

March  28th,  L.  B.  Moss,  of  Trenton,  Missouri,  brakeman  on  Rock 
Island,  killed  at  McFarland. 

April  22d,  a  Mr.  Quinn  drowned  in  Mill  creek  at  Maple  Hill. 

May  13th,  half  mile  of  Rock  Island  track  washed  out  on  Henry 
Grimm's  farm,  near  Volland. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      351 


Newspaper  Hristory. 


The  News:  First  paper  in  county,  first  number  issued  as  The 
Wabaunsee  County  Herald,  by  Sellers  &  Bertram,  Alma,  April  1st, 
1869.  Bertram  sold  his  interest  toS.  H.  Fairfield,  October  28th,  1869. 
March  9th,  1871,  S.  H.  Fairfield  became  sole  proprietor  and 
clianged  name  to  Alma  Union,  with  R.  M.  Tunnell,  as  local  editor  till 
November  12th,  1871.  May  1st,  1872,  Sellers  becomes  sole  proprietor 
and  changes  name  to  Wabaunsee  County  News.  Sold  to  Nathan 
Hughes,  October  10th,  1883.  Sold  to  D.  W.  Scott,  August  24th,  1887, 
and  on  July  5th,  1888,  to  I.  D.  Gardiner,  who  changes  name  to  The 
Alma  News.  Sells  an  interest  to  F.  W.  Graham  in  December,  1889. 
A.  O.  Grigsby  takes  charge  of  the  paper  December  8th,  1892,  and  re- 
tires November  23d,  1893,  leaving  L.  H.  Gregory  as  manager.  January 
11th,  1894,  the  paper  suspends  publication.  The  material  is  shipped 
to  Topeka  and  the  subscription  list  sold  to  the  Alma  Enterpise. 

The  Alma  Blade,  R.  Cunningham  &  Co.  First  number,  Alma, 
March  ]4th,  1877,  and  last  issue  February  20th,  1878.  The  Mail  was 
issued  from  the  Blade  office  during  the  fall  campaign  of  1877. 

The  Wabaunsee  County  Herald,  J.  B.  Campbell  &  Bro.,  editors. 
First  issue.  Alma,  October  1880.  Sold  to  W.  W.  Cone,  September  1881, 
and  name  changed  to  the  Home  Weekly.  Moved  to  Eskridge,  January 
26th,  1882.  April,  1885,  Cone  sold  to  Richey  &  Andrews— The  Home 
Weekly  Publishing  Co.,  Henry  Rickel,  editor,  till  October  29th,  1885, 
when  paper  was  sold  to  D.  V.  Dowd.  Consolidated  with  the  Eskridge 
Star,  September  13th,  1888. 

The  Alma  Enterprise,  Yol.  1,  No.  1,  Welch  &  Sage,  editors.  First 
number  issued  October  11th,  1884.  Welch  sold  interest  to  O.  W.  Little, 
October  16th,  1891,  since  which  time  the  paper  has  been  conducted  by 
Sage  &  Little. 

The  Paxico  Courier,  L.  E.  Hoffman,  editor.  First  number  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1888.  Leased  to  Oscar  Rose,  June  21st.  1889.  Bought  by 
Matt.  Thomson  September  1st,  1889.  Material  moved  to  Alma  and 
used  in  publishing 

The  Alma  Signal,  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  Matt.  Thomson,  editor  and  pub- 
lisher, being  issued  September  7th,  1889.  Sold  to  Chester  &  Carroll, 
October  18th,  1901.  Chester  sold  his  interest  to  F.  A.  Seaman,  Feb- 
ruary 16th,  1902. 


352     EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

The  Progressive  Patriot,  published  at  Alma  by  Mrs.  E.  W.  Crumb 
from  September  20th  to  December  7,  1895. 

Teacher,  Patron  and  Pupil,  publi.shed  by  Dow  Busenbark  as  an 
educational  journal  from  October.  1897,  to  April,  1901. 

Truth,  published  at  Alma  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Kirkpatrick,  from  1899  to 
1901. 

The  Land  Mark,  E.  H.  Sanford,  editor.  First  published  at  Esk- 
ridge,  in  1871.  It  was  published  at  intervals— first  at  Eskridge,  then 
at  Alma,  and  again  at  Eskridge  until  the  publication  was  discontinued. 

The  Eskridge  Star,  Vol.  ],  No.  1,  J.  J.  Mitchell,  editor,  October 
19,  1883;  Mitchell  &  Dowd,  January  31,  1884:  Rickel  &  Dowd,  March 
27,  1884;  D.  V.  Dowd,  June  21,  1884;  Dowd  &  Shelton,  August,  1885; 
E.  L.  Shelton,  October  22,  1885:  Perry  &  Gardiner,  July  1,  1886;  E.  n. 
Perry,  June  7,  1888;  Mitchell  &  Melrose,  August  15,  1889;  W.  11.  Mel- 
rose, February  13,  1890;  J.  J.  Mitchell,  January  12,  1899;  Dow  Bu.sen- 
bark.  March  29,  1900,  the  present  editor  and  publisher. 

Wabaunsee  County  Democrat,  Dr.  Patte,  editor,  Eskridge,  June 
12,  1886.  Published  a  few  weeks  and  material  sold  to  Perry  &  Gar- 
diner. 

Plarveyville  Herald,  E.  S.  Vance,  editor.  First  number  June  11, 
1886.  Moved  to  Eskridge  in  October  and  name  changed  to  Wabaunsee 
County  Democrat.  Sold  to  A.  A.  Graham  November  12th,  and  to 
Perry  &  Gardiner,  December  3,  1886. 

Alta  Vista  Register,  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  June  16,  1887,  by  S.  A.  Stauffer. 
Suspended  March  27,  1889. 

Alta  Vista  Bugle.  First  issue  by  George  W.  Foster,  June  7,  1889. 
Sold  to  H.  F.  Frame  July  12th  and  suspended  January  3,  1890. 

Alta  Vista  Record,  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  by  J.  C.  Padgett,  April  17,  1890; 
S.  M.  Padgett,  October  16th.    Last  issue,  December  27,  1895. 

Alta  Vista  Journal,  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  by  Fred  D.  James,  June  9,  1899. 
Sold  to  B.  F.  Amsbury,  August  4th,  and  to  J.  E.  Reagan,  August  11, 
1899.    Bought  by  J.  A.  Schilling,  January  17,  1902. 

Eskridge  Tribune,  Frank  Hartman,  August  23,  1900.  October  10, 
1901,  F.  A.  Seaman  buys  half  interest,  and  January  10,  1902,  buys  the 
other  half  interest.  March  7,  1902,  C.  E.  Carroll  and  F.  A.  Seaman, 
the  present  publishers. 

Eskridge  Sun,  October,  1888,  by  A.  A.  Graham.  Suspends  after  n 
few  weeks. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      353 


PETER  RIYNARD 

Was  born  in  France,  April  30,  1830.  Came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  but  eight  years  of  age.  On  November  10,  1865,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Zahner  at  Milwaulcee,  Wiscon- 
son,  and  two  years  later  came  to  Wabaunsee  county,  locating  near 
Eskridge.  Three  daughters  and  two  sons  came  to  the  Riynard  home: 
Mrs.  Lena  E.  Dingman,  Mrs.  Emma  E.  Higby,  Mrs.  Alice  L.  Robert- 
son, Mr.  Albert  H.  and  Mr.  Jesse  E.  Riynard,  During  the  civil  war 
Mr.  Riynard  was  a  member  of  Co.  D,  1st  Oregon  Cavalry.  Died  at 
Eskridge  Marc^  12,  1885.  He  was  an  industrious,  hard  working  man 
and  one  of  our  most  highly  esteemed  citizens. 


I 
G.  HALL 


Was  born  April  25,  1803,  in  Herkimer  county.  New  York.  In 
1850  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Helen  A.  Wadsworth,  of  Utica, 
New  York.  Came  to  Kansas  in  1858,  locating  at  Wabaunsee  where 
lie  resided  until  1873.  He  was  once  appointed  and  nine  times  elected 
to  the  office  of  probate  judge.  He  was  a  popular  official,  but  the  state- 
ment is  superfluous  when  ills  repeated  reelection  to  one  of  the  most 
important  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people  is  before  us.  By  his  upright 
conduct,  strict  integrity  and  sterling  worth.  Judge  Hall  secured  for 
himself  an  exalted  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  people. 


AUGUST  WOLGAST,  SR. 

Was  born  December  25,  1835,  in  Ardmansbalde,  Germany.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  educational  training  atGerswalde,  and  came  to  America 
and  to  Kansas  in  1860.  He  was  married  May  16  of  the  same  year  to 
Miss  Dorothea  Geinther,  to  which  union  eight  children  were  born. 
Mr.  Wolgast  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  700  acres  near  Templin  and  is 
one  of  our  most  substantial  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens,  witli 
a  family  of  estimable  children,  who  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of 
their  worthy  parents. 


WILLIAM  TREU 


Was  a  Wabaunsee  county  boy,  born  on  the  farm,  October  16, 
1805.  Received  good  educational  advantages,  but  preferred  life  on 
the  farm,  where  he  remained  until  elected  sheriff  of  Wabaunsee 
county  in  1895.     Was  reelected  two  years  later  and  at  the  close  of  his 


354      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

second  term  again  returned  to  the  farm,  but  this  time  in  Texas,  in 
the  Beaumont  oil  fields,  but  before  Mr.  Treu  could  reap  the  beneflt  of 
his  lucky  investment  he  died  on  June  8,  1900,  aged  34  years,  7  months 
and  22  days.  Before  going  to  Texas  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate 
Little,  a  son  being  born  to  this  union.  Deceased  was  a  young  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  by  his  gentlemanly  deportment  had  secured  for 
himself  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 


JOHN  HESS 


Was  born  July  7,  1825,  in  Altenrath,  Prussia.  He  was  educated  at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main.  Came  to  America  in  1853  and  to  Kansas  in 
1857,  locating  at  the  mouth  of  Copp  branch  of  Mill  creek.  On  Decem- 
ber 31,  1854,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Gertrude  Schmitz,  to 
which  union  six  children  were  born,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Anna, 
Elenora,  Otto  and  Henry.  Mr.  Hess  died  April  5,  1877.  He  was  one 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  time  and  a  man  of  much  influence,  al- 
ways exerting  his  efforts  for  the  general  good.  He  was  highly  es- 
teemed and  his  death  universally  regretted. 


ABE  WELFELT 


This  picture  of  an  Alma  boy  of  ye  olden  time  is  true  to  life.  Abe 
is  now  in  the  Indian  Territory  and  a  trusted  member  of  the  Indian 
police.  While  the  history  was  in  preparation  Abe  came  to  Alma  on  a 
visit  with  friends  of  years  agone  and  before  he  got  away  a  snap  shot 
paved  the  way  for  an  item  in  this  history  that  would  be  much  more 
interesting  had  Abe  left  behind  him  the  particulars  of  a  few  of  the 
many  incidents  that  would  read  like  a  romance  if  set  before  our  read- 
ers in  cold  type.  Abe  is  a  good  hearted  boy  that  has  seen  more  of  the 
rough  side  of  life  than  one  in  ten  thousand  and  his  many  friends  need 
have  no  fears  as  to  his  ability  to  hold  his  own  in  any  little  adventure 
that  may  chance  to  come  his  way. 


W.  S.  WILLIAMS 

This  portrait  recalls  an  amusing  as  well  as  a  thrilling  incident  of 
which  this  old  pioneer  constable  and  deputy  U.  S.  Marshal  was  a  par- 
ticipant—in fact  one  of  the  principal  actors — the  other  party  was  a 
wounded  buffalo  that  Williams  had  shot.  There  was  a  scrimmage 
from  which  Williams  emerged  pretty  much  in  the  condition  of  our 
first  parents  before  partaking  of  the  forbidden  apple.    The  buffalo's 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      355 


horns  were  responsible  for  the  lack  of  apparel  but  Williams  took  a 
philosophical  view  of  the  situation  and  attributed  his' ill  luck  to  his 
refusing  to  remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy.  His  compan- 
ions had  remained  at  the  camp,  possibly  not  altogether  oblivious  of 
the  fact  that  they  were  out  of  meat.  At  any  rate,  Peter  Sharai  was 
on  the  alert  and  but  for  a  shot  from  his  unerring  rifle  there  would 
have  been  a  funeral  in  camp  instead  of  a  feast.  Even  horse  thieves 
had  the  greatest  respect  for  Williams  and  never  intentionally  crossed 
his  path.  For  the  numerous  accidents  of  this  character  Williams  was 
alone  responsible. 


LOUIS  HORNE 


Was  born  August  16,  1870,  at  Jamestown,  Wisconsin.  Came  to 
Alma  with  his  parents  when  but  twelve  years  of  age.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  taught  school  one  term.  On  May  6, 
1896,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Theresa Schutter,  to  which  union 
one  son,  Leo,  was  born.  Died  August  20,  1901,  at  the  age  of  31  years, 
He  was  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Alma  and  a  director  of  the  Alma 
National  Bank.  The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Silbermann, 
and  as  a  mark  of  respect  all  business  houses  in  town  were  closed. 


THE  ALMA  LIEDERKRANZ 

Was  organized  October  1st,  1890.  First  officers:  President,  G.  H. 
Meier;  Vice  Pres.,  Carl  L:ing;  Secretary,  C.  Schubert;  Treasurer,  Otto 
Sawallisch.  Fred  Meyer  was  elected  instructor  in  vocal  culture. 
After  a  short  stay  at  Philip  Birk's,  the  Catholic  school  building  was 
used,  but  the  growth  of  the  society  demanding  more  room  land  was 
rented  of  Mr.  Franz  Schmidt,  wlio,  in  recognition  of  his  liberality, 
was  made  an  honorary  member  of  the  society.  A  tract  of  land  con- 
taining three  and  two-fifths  acres  was  purchased  in  1893  and  a  room 
20x40  erected  at  a  cost  of  $400.  Steps  were  taken  to  beautify  the 
grounds,  Mr.  C.  Schubert  being  intrusted  with  this  duty.  The 
grounds  today  are  the  best  evidence  that  he  has  been  faithful  to  his 
trust.  In  1900  the  building  was  again  enlarged,  rendered  necessary  by 
the  constant  increase  in  the  growth  of  the  society,  the  number  hav- 
ing reached  125  and  with  many  applications  for  membership  on  file. 


STREET  SCENE  IN  CHICKASHA. 

Had  our  readers  been  in  Chickasha  at  the  opening  of  the  Kiowa 
and  Comanche  lands  in  Oklahoma  in  August,  1900,  they  would  have 
seen  just  what  the  artist  caught  with  the  camera— one  of  the  stirring 


356      EARLY  RISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

scenes  that  for  months  was  daily  repeated.  But  this  is  but  a  prototype 
of  similar  scenes  enacted  on  the  streets  of  Leavenworth  and  Kansas 
City  in  1856  to  1860,  when  homeseekers  were  looking  for  a  haven  of 
rest  in  sunny  Kansas.  In  both  instances  the  march  of  empire  was 
wending  its  way  westward.  But  the  settler  seeking  a  home  in  Okla- 
homa possessed  advantages  the  Kansas  pioneer  never  enjoyed— his 
home  market  and  base  of  supplies  were  brought  nearer  by  the  railroad. 
But  the  conditions  are  undergoing  a  revolution  and  a  few  years  hence 
there  will  be  no  western  border— no  vacant  lands  to  offer  the  pioneer 
a  home  for  the  asking. 


ALMA  VOLUNTEER  BAND. 

Names  of  members  from  left  to  right.  First  tier:  George  Linss, 
August  Bandel,  John  Degenhardt,  Richard  Thoes,  William  vSpeer, 
Theo.  Geisler,  Chas.  Meyer,  John  Senge.  Second  tier:  Clarence  Eck, 
Ralph  Sage,  Louis  Burt,  S.  E.  Hull  (Band  Instructor),  Charlie  Thom- 
son, Paul  Geisler.    Third  tier:  Charlie  Palenske,  Guy  Cleaveland. 


OUT  FOR  A  ROUND  UP. 

We  might  say  "swapping  work"— a  custom  among  cattlemen  of 
assisting  one  another  in  rounding  up  and  cutting  out  cattle  suitable 
for  the  market  or  shipping.  Named  from  left  to  right:  Sell  Fields, 
Fred  Bates,  Ed.  Buckingham,  John  Berroth,  Chet  Davis,  Al  Davis, 
A.  S.  Allendorph  and  Tom  Mankins.  Though  several  ciphers  would 
be  required  to  indicate  the  property  holdings  of  several  of  these 
parties,  all  are  cowboys  for  the  time  being  and  either  one  can  rope  a 
steer  with  the  ease  of  any  expert  on  the  range. 


SCENE  ON  DAVIS  BROS.'  RANCH. 

An  every  day  occurrence  on  the  range  in  the  fall  when  the  boys 
"out  for  a  round  up"  have  bunched  the  cattle  preparatory  to  cutting 
out— the  one  task  being  but  preliminary  to  the  other.  The  round  up 
means  work.  It  means  long  rides  over  hill  aUd  dale  and  vigilant 
search  through  clumps  of  bushes  and  in  cozy  nooks  for  the  widely 
scattered  remnants  of  the  herd.  In  pleasant  weather  it  is  agreeable 
employment,  but  when  the  threatening  clouds  lower  and  the  vivid 
lightning  plays  on  the  tips  of  the  long  horns  the  thought  that  wells 
up  is  "the  dearest  spot  on  earth  is  home" — a  thought  that  is  usually 
dispelled  by  the  first,  bright  rays  of  the  summer's  sunshine. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      357 


VISITORS  AT  THE  RANCH. 

A  visit  at  the  ranch  from  the  ladies  is  to  the  cowboy  like  an  oasis 
in  the  desert.  Their  coming  means  a  break  in  the  monotony  of  every 
day  life  on  the  range;  it  means  an  array  of  tempting  viands  at  the 
noon  hour  to  which  the  boys  are  hardly  accustomed,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  briglit  rays  of  sunshine  for  which  old  Sol  is  in  nowise  responsible. 


Catholic  Church  and  Altar,  Newbury. 

Witli  the  pews  cost  $3410.  Built  in  1884,  by  Rev.  Father  Hund- 
hausen.  Two  years  later  the  parsonage  was  built  at  a  cost  of  more 
than  $1500.  Capacity  of  church,  350.  Membership,  500— about  seventy 
families.  Prior  to  the  building  of  the  stone  church,  services  were 
held  in  the  little  frame  building  nearby— built  in  1874  by  Rev.  Father 
Vanderburg. 


REV.  WIENER'S  CONFIRMATION  CLASS. 

The  date  should  be  1900.  Members  of  the  class  named  from  left 
to  right  are  as  follows:  Theo.  Muckenthaler,  Engelber  Richtstadter, 
Eddie  Mock,  Leo  Schmidt,  Jos.  Werner,  Jos.  Rosenstengel,  Paulina 
Hund,  Maggie  Zeller,  Isidor  Glotzbach,  Katie  Glotzbach,  Clemens 
Marstall,  Clara  Scbultz,  Rosa  Muckenthaler,  August  Storch,  Aloys 
Frey,  Geo.  Noller,  Mary  Schott,  Katie  Eagan,  Elizabeth  Michaelis, 
Frankie  Michaelis.  Victor  Muckenthaler.  Ida  Hund,  Johnnie  Knoeb- 
ber,  Joseph  Higert,  Margaretha  Michaelis,  Cecilia  Meinliardt,  Willie 
Schilling,  Lizzie  Hund,  Clara  Meinhardt— forming  a  classof  most  es- 
timable young  people,  members  of  the  best  families  of  Newbury  and 
vicinity.  That  their  life  work  may  be  all  the  more  commendable  by 
reason  of  their  early  religious  training  all  may  rest  assured. 


The  Newbury  Philharmonic  Band 

Was  organized  October  1,  1883,  by  Rev.  Hundhausen,  with  Ferdi- 
nand Hermann,  of  Alma,  as  musical  instructor  and  Mr.  Martin 
Muckenthaler,  Jr.,  (now  deceased),  band  leader.  The  band  is  the  old- 
est in  the  county,  and,  although  but  three  of  the  old  organizntion 
are  now  members  of  the  band  it  still  ranks  as  one  of  the  best.  The 
members  own  a  nice  set  of  uniforms  and  a  band  wagon.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  the  band,  named  from  left  to  right:  Standing- 
Leo  Hund,  Frank  Muckenthaler,  (dec'd.),  Franz  Breitenstein,  Albert 


358      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

Mucken thaler.  J.  P.  Zellers,  (with  flag),  Wm.  Glotzbach,  Jo.seph 
Glotzbach,  MoritzGuth, Ferdinand  Hermann,  (Alma),  Fred  Zeferjahn, 
John  Mock.  Standing— Joseph  Muckenthaler,  James  Mock,  C.  J. 
Glotzbach,  Martin  Muckenthaler,  Jr.,  (Dec'd.),  Val  Mock,  Leopold 
Muckenthaler,  Wm.  Mock. 


ALMA  VOLUNTEER  BAND  (STREET  SCENE). 

From  left  to  right:  Charlie  Palenske,  Theo.  Geisler,  Charlie 
Thomson,  John  Degenhardt,  Sam  Mongerson.  James  Thom.son,  Rich- 
ard Thoes,  Ralph  Sage,  August  Bandel,  George  Linss,  William  Speer, 
Louis  Burt,  Hugo  Brandt,  Charlie  Dilley,  Dick  Hull,  John  Senge, 
Paul  Geisler,  Clarence  Eck  and  Guy  Cleaveland. 


THE  BOUCHEY  STACKER. 

Our  illustration  shows  Al  Bouchey,  the  inventor,  at  work  on  an 
invention  that  is  endorsed  by  the  largest  ranchmen  in  Kansas.  Sim- 
plicity and  durability  are  features  that  commend  the  stacker  and 
with  the  low  price  at  which  the  machine  is  offered  ought  to  insure 
Mr.  Bouchey  a  just  recompense  for  time  and  labor  expended  in  per- 
fecting his  invention.  The  testimonials  are  of  the  highest  order  and 
from  men  who  write  from  an  unbiased  standpoint.  Mr.  Bouchey  has 
already  secured  patents  on  two  valuable  inventions  and  has  made  ap- 
plication for  another  patent  from  which  he  expects  to  realize  a  hand- 
some income.  He  secured  his  patents  through  C.  A.  Snow  &  Co.,  of 
Washington,  T>.  C. 


August  Falk  and  Family. 

From  left  to  right:  Henry,  Mr.  F'alk,  Paul,  Elmer,    Mrs.   Laura 
Smith,  Mrs.  P''alk,  George  and  Rose. 


Family  of  Mr.  Joseph  Glotzbach,  Sr. 

Joseph  Glotzbach,  Sr.,  and  Margaret,  his  wife:  Charles  J.  and 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  and  children:  Tony,  Rose,  George,  Carl,  Isador, 
Florian,  Otto,  Bernard  and  Martha:  Geoige  Glotzbach  and  Elizabeth, 
his  wife,  and  children:  Joseph,  Katie,  John  and  Benno;  Wm.  Glotz- 
bach and  Theresa,  his  wife,  and  children:  Richard,  Vincent  and  Ela- 
nore;  Joseph  Glotzbach  and  Christina,  his  wife,  and  children:  Victor, 
Lily,  Esther,  Irene  and  Alphon;  Lewis  Seeling  and  Kate  Glotzbach 
Seeling,  his  wife,  and  children;  Rose  Muckenthaler,  daughter  of 
Frank  Muckenthaler,  (deceased):  William,  Lizzie,  Theresa  and  Mary 
iSeeling;  Valentine,  Rosa  and  Mary  Glotzbach  (the  later  deceased). 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      359 


Four  Generations. 

Mr.   A.  G.  Biirgett,  Mrs.  W.  S.  McCauley,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Dallas  and 
daughter. 


Five  Generations. 


Mrs.  C.  Schwanke,  Mrs.  P.  F.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Henry  Kriegenhardt, 
Mrs.  Lena  Deppish  and  daughter.  All  living  and  enjoying  good 
health. 


r 


A  Group  of  Good  Fellows. 

From  left  to  right:    George  Eclcles,  C.  E.  Edlin,    W.  H.  Sparling, 
W.  T.  Eclcles,  F.  W.  Edlin,  R.  L.  Hershberger  and  Nilcs  Mossman. 


ESKRIDGE  CORNET  BAND. 

From  left  to  right:  Back  line — Geo.  Eckles,  Arthur  Moore,  Ed- 
gar Bowden,  C.  E.  Edlin,  F.  W.  Edlin,  J.  H.  Lee,  J.  W.  Barnett. 
Middle  line— Jesse  Reynard,  Walter  Warren,  A.  B.  Hartman,  J.  T. 
Mills,  C.  M.  Lowry,  J.  J.  Mitchell,  Jr.,  J.  R.  Hauschildt.  Drummers 
—George  D.  West  and  J.  W.  Robertson. 


WOODMAN  TEAM,  HARVEYVILLE. 

From  left  to  right:  First  tier— L.  C.  Lewis,  S.  G.  Cantrill,  Wil- 
liam Boatwright,  Harry  King.  Second  tier— Everett  Yoacum,  O.  B. 
Cantrill,  Bert  Grigsby.  Third  tier— Lee  Heinlein  and  Dr.  L.  A. 
Walker. 


CONRAD  HESSE  AND  FAMILY. 

From  left  to  right:  First  tier— John,  Nicholas,  Bernard,  Adam, 
Frank  and  Joseph.  Second  tier— Lawrence,  Matilda,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hesse,  Mary,  Philip  and  Louisa. 


LADY  MACCABEES. 


From  left  to  right:  First  tier— Miss  Carrie  Meyer,  Mns.  Alfred 
Umbehr,  Miss  Laura  Thoes,  Mrs.  Tena  Mongerson,  Miss  Rosa  Eck. 
Second  tier— Mrs.  J.  H.  McMahan,  Mrs.  Matt.  Thomson,  Mrs.  I.  S. 
Hastings,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Gibson  and  Mrs.  T.  N.  Watts. 


360      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


OUR  COUNTY  AND  SCHOOLS,  1886: 

Engraved  from  a  drawing  by  Matt  Thomson.  Shows  sketch  of 
every  schoolliouse  in  the  county  at  date  of  drawing,  (1886).  with  pos- 
sibly one  or  two  exceptions,  every  building  erected  for  school  purposes 
since  1886  will  be  found  in  the  list  of  illustrations.  The  size  of  the 
original  drawing  is  20x24. 


TABLEAU— THE   FAIRIES. 

From  left  to  right:  Elsie  Richter,  Jeannette  Watts,  Eva  Bernard, 
Marie  Fields.    Kneeling— Rosa  Falk  and  Nannie  Rusenbark. 


FAMILY  OF  MR.  WILLIAM  MAAS. 

From  left  to  right:  First  tier— Mrs.  Dora  Schaal,  Fred,  Adolf, 
Richard  and  Mary  Schmitz.  Second  tier— Ida,  Mr.  Maas,  Charlie, 
Willie,  Mi-s.  Maas  and  Alice. 


FAMILY  OF  MR.  GUS  THIERER. 

From  left  to  right:  Frank,   Mamie,  George,  John,  Mr.   Theirer, 
Lottie  and  Mrs.  Theirer. 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  ALMA,  1880. 

Built  in  1878,  when  sidewalks  were  almost  unknown  in  Alma.  For 
years  the  church  stood  solitary  and  alone — no  trees  or  buildings  near. 
Rev.  Geo.  E.  Nicholson  was  pastor  when  the  church  was  built.  Prior 
to  that  service  had  been  held  in  the  court  house  and  school  house  by 
Revs.  Kirkman,  Lord,  McNair,  and  B.  Frank  Smith.  The  money 
required  to  build  the  church  was  raised  entirely  by  subscription.  Mr. 
C.  M.  Rose  had  charge  of  the  building,  as  foreman,  while  the  work 
was  being  done.  The  parsonage  was  built  for  a  residence  by  Mr.  Ben 
Iloskinson,  sheriff,  in  1875,  and  bought  by  the  church  in  1877 — before 
the  church  was  built.  After  Mr.  Nicholson  came  Revs.  Parlette, 
Collins,  Kendall,  Murray,  Browning,  Smith,  Meeks,  Baker,  Johnson, 
Nathan,  Dennis,  Young,  Marsh,  Elliott,  Bernard,  and  the  present 
minister.  Rev.  Gib.son.  The  bell  in  the  M.  E.  church  was  the  first 
church  bell  in  Alma.  The  first  funeral  in  the  church  was  that  of  Mrs. 
C.  M.  Ro.se,  on  January  30,  1879. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


'^^'-^'X'A 


MR.  AL  BOUCHEY,  THE  INVENTOR,  Maple  Hill, 
at  work  on  his  hay-stacker. 


HOTEL  WINDLER,  Maple  Hill. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


FIRST  HOME  OF  MR.  MICHAEL  FIX,  1856. 
Near  VoUand. 


MR.  CHARLES  DAILEY'S  EXPRESS  LINE  IN  1886. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


HOME  OF   MR.  ANDREW  BELL,  Kaw  Township. 


RANCH  HOME  OF  MR.  J.  W.  NAYLOR,  near  Alta  Vista. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


MR.  AUGUST  ZECKSER'S  RESIDENCE  AND  FARM  BUILDINGS,  near  Alma 


ST.  MARY'S  BRIDGE. 


WAMEGO  BRIDGE. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


.„  •,-.---*"* -^'ff'^ 


*N|PII»J 


'•  «  , ' .  ■".J"^:.t,f.-?.«i-..s.,',v  >"  V 


OUT  FOR  A  ROUND-UP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  WILLIAM  WAUGH,  ESKRIDGE. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


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EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


HERD  OF  POLAND-CHINA  SWINE. 
Bred  by  Mr.  Herman  Arndt,  Templin. 


HERD  OF  PUROC-JERSEYS. 
Bred  by  Mr.  H.  W.  Steinmeyer,  Volland. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.  CARL  STEINMEYER,  lUinois  Creek. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


HERD  OF  HEREFORDS,  FOWLER'S  RANCH,  Maple  Hill, 


RURAL  SCENE  ON  THE  FOWLER  RANCH,  Maple  Hill. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


AN   OLD-TIME  FENCE. 
When  the  only  cow  was  picketed  out. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  '76, 
Or  escaped  from  the  German  army  -  by  being  born  in  the  United  States. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ALMA  CEMETERY,  1901. 


STREET  SCENE  AT  CHICASHA,  OPENING  OF  THE   KIOWA  LANDS. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      361 


G.  flr.  F{.  Posts. 


ED.  LINES  POST,  ALMA. 

W.  CniLLsoN,  Commander.  E.  A.  Kilian,  Adjutant. 


E.  A.  KilUan,    Oo.   A,    1st,  Res,  Mo.Light  Artillery;  P.  O.  Alma,  Kan. 

Gunshot  wound  right  forearm,  Wilson  Greek,  Aug.  10,  '01. 
James  Carroll,  Co.  F,  147th  Ohio,  Inf.,  P.  O.,  Alma,  Kan. 

Injury,  left  ankle,  Oalesta,  N.  C. 
.Joseph  Fields,  Oo.  D,  79th  Ohio,  Inf.,  P.  O.,  TopekaKan. 
Fred  Crafts,  1st  Lieut.,  Ist  Indian  Reg't.  P.  O.,  Alma,  Kan. 
John  T.  Keagy,  Oo.  D,  101  Penn,  Inf.;  P.  O.,  Alma.  Kan, 

Injury.left  leg.  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,    May  31.  '62. 
M.  W.  Rock,  15th  Kan.  Oav.;  P.  O.,  Tecumseh,  Ok 
S.  H.  Fairfield,  Oo.  K,  11th  Kan.  Oav. :  P.  O..  Alma,  Kan. 
Edwin  Herrick,  Oo.  H.  14th  Penn.,  Oav. ;  P.  O.,  Seattle,  Wash. 

Adolph  Hnkammer,  Co.  B.  2nd  Kan..  Inf.;  Oo.  K.  11th  Kan.  Cay.,  P.  O,,  Alma,  Kan. 

Lance  thrust  in  back,  North  Platte  bridge,  July  20,  '65, 
T.  N.  Watts,  Co.  E.  32nd  111.,  Inf.,  P.  O.,  Alma,  Kan. 
A.  W.  Gregory,  Co.  L,  11th  Kan.  Oav.,  P.  O.,  Alma,  Kan. 
S  T  Wright,  Co  0,  13th  N  J  Inf,  Sergeant;  Address  unknown. 
Charles  Hensel,  Co  F,  11th  Mo  Oav.,  Corporal.  Colorado  Springs,  Col. 
Charles  Fairfield,  Co  D.  38th  N  Y  Inf,  and  Oo  K,  17th  N  Y  Inf,  Capt,  address  unknown 

Gunshot  in  right  shoulder,  Dec  21,  '62. 
W  T  Mahan,  Oo  E,  11th  Kan,  Oav,P  O.  St.  Louis,  Mo; 

Gunshot  in  head,  Shelby  Road,  Dec  '64. 
Charles  Ross,  Oo  F,  2nd  Kan,  Cav.  Sergeant,  P  O,  Santa  Ana,  Oal. 
W  A  Doolittle,  Co  K,  5th  Iowa,  inf,  P  O  Wesley,  Iowa. 
W  W  Cone,  Co  E,  13th  N  Y,  P  O.  Mo. 

Wm  Bandel,  OoF,  11th  Kan,  Oav,  Bugler,  P  O,  Alma,  Kan. 
J  R  Fix.  Co  D,  20th  Indiana  Inf,  P  O,  Volland,  Kan. 
Robert  Kath,  Co  H,  145th  N  Y,  Inf.  P  O,  unknown. 
Geo  M  Keene,  Oo  L,  17th  Mass,  Inf,  Corporal,  P  O,  Hartford,  Conn. 

L  J  McCrumb,  Co  F  83d  Pa,  Inf,  and  Co  A.  14th  Pa,  Cav,  Corporal, 

P  O,  McFarland,  Kan. 

David  Palmer,  Co  A,  6th  Iowa,  Inf,  Sergeant,  Address  unknown, 

T  S  Spielman,  Baltimore  Battery  and  Mo  Light  Artillery.  P  O,  Alma,  Kan. 

Wm  H  Lyons.  Oo  B.  11th  N  Y  Inf.  Corporal,  P  O.  Alma,  Kan. 

Geo  D  Ensign,  Co  K,  11th  Kan,  Oav,  P  O,  Topeka,  Kan. 

Hiram  Keyes,  Oo  K,  11th  Kan,  Oav,  Address  unknown. 

Thomas  H  Perkins,  Co  H,  78th  111  Inf,  P  O,  Wamego,  Kan, 

Orciila  M  Yaw,  Co  G,  8th  Iowa,  Inf,  address  unknown. 

Marcellus  Yaw.  Oo  F,  32nd  Iowa,  Inf,  and  Co  G,  8th  Iowa  Inf,  address  unknown. 

C  M  Rose,  Co  K,  19th  Mich,  Inf,  Corporal.  P  O,  Alma.    Kan ;    Gunshot   wound   right 

leg  and  left  hand,  Thompson's  Station,  May  3  '63  and  Dallas,  Ga.  May  25,  "65. 


362      EARLY  IIISTOEY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

A  G  Murray,  Oo  G,  51.st  Ind,  Inf,  1st  Lieut;  P  O.  Oklahoma  City,  Ok. 

W  T  DeAimond,  Co  A,  2Gth  Ohio.  Inf.  Ooiporal.  P  O.  Alma,  Kan. 

Sylvester  Hlner,  Co  D,  15th  VV.  Va..  Inf.  P  O,  Vollaud,  Kan. 

E  \V  Ames,  Co  C.  15th  111,  Inf,  P  O.  Beivue.  Kan. 

W  II  Morrison,  OoE.  86th  Ind,  Inf,  P  O,  Tooeka,  Kan. 

S  B  Madden.  Co  H.  80th  Ohio,  Inf,  Paxlco,  Kan. 

J  B  Stephens,  Co  B,  7th  Iowa,  Inf,  Sergeant. 

Samuel  Sutton,  Oo  C,  !)7th  Ohio.  Inf.  and  Co  F,  97th  Ohio. 

Jacob  Wilt,  1st  Ohio,  Battery,  P  O,  Paxlco. 

D  W  Johnson.  Co  F,  85th  Ind.  Inf.  Musician,  P  O.  Alma. 

G  P  Tiffany,  Oo  B,  52nd  Pa.  Inf,  P  O,  Topeka,  Kan. 

S  V  Fair.  Co  E,  30th  Ind.  Inf,  P  O  Alma,  Kan. 

A  K  Winkoop,  P  O,  Topeka,  Kan. 

Wm  Feaghans,  Oo  F.  188th  Ohio,  Inf,  P  O.  Belknap,  111. 

Daniel  Stotler,  Oo  E.  8,  heavy  artillery.  P  O,  Alma.  Kan. 

A  A  Grlgsby,  Topeka,  Kan. 

John  E  Allen.  Oo  1 124th  U  S  C,  Inf,  Alma,  Kan;  Skull  split  open  and    crushed    in 

by  saber  stroke.    Bayonet  thrust  through  body  and  musket  ball  through  right  leg 

etc,  etc.  etc. 

.Tohn  Lucas.  Alma,  Kan. 

Lebanon  Gardcnhlre'  Oo  E,  9th  U  S  C,  Inf,  and  Co  C.  3rd  U  S  O,  Inf,  Alma.  Kan. 

Frank  Bevel,  Alma.  Kan. 


ALTA  VISTA  POST,  NO.  60. 

M.  W.  Case,  Commander.  L.  J.  Woodard,  Adjutant. 


L  J  Woodard 

E 

29th 

Ohio 

Alta  Vista  Kan 

G  W  Kiger 

D 

27th 

*l 

11                             11 

W  A  Kiger 

D 

47th 

111 

Topeka 

B  H  Smith 

B 

7th 

Mo 

OfVv 

Beman           " 

J  Oleaveland 

0 

59th 

111 

1 

Mo 

J  W  Spencer 

B 

16th      . 

Ohio 

Inf,  A  V 

Also 

H 

42nd 

n 

O    V    I 

Robert  Cooper 
Geo  W  Snodgrass 

F 

63rd 

11 

Inf 

Council  Grove  K. 

H 

92nd 

11 

Inf 

Alta  Vista   Kan 

Warren  Ford 

H 

88th 

11 

Inf 

Mo 

Augustus  L  Orton 

0 

47th 

111 

Kan 

David  Widner 

I 

47th 

Ind 

Ind    re- 

enlisted,  died 

Geo  W  Wilson 

K 

13th 

Iowa 

Council  Grove  Ks 

John  A  Morrett 

B 

40th 

Ind 

Alta  Vista  Kau 

Percival  Hawes 

B 

12th 

O 

and  K  23d  O 

ti                      II 

Wm  T  Tolbert 

B 

60th  use 

Inf 

Oklahoma 

Jas  A  Fisher 

H 

108th 

111 

Alta  Vista  Kan 

T  J  Wilson 

F 

126th 

N  Y 

Oav 

Also  Lieut 

A 

10th  use 

Mo 

HARVEYVILLE    POST. 


M  P  Early                 0 

181st 

Ohio 

Inf 

Harvey 

Levi  Stanley,  serg,  0 

14th 

Kan 

Oav 

*• 

K  D  Lewis                 F 

60th 

Ohio 

Inf 

(t 

Geo  L  Horton.  corp  A 

83rd 

Ind 

Inf 

41 

Asa  Carter               0 

193rd 

Ohio 

Inf 

•' 

Edwin  Symes           K 
W  0  Holflday,  lleut  0 

76th 

111 

Inf 

tl 

116th 

Ind 

Inf 

tt 

Carey  Walton           I 
A  M  Harvey              I 

3nd 

Kan 

Inf 

1st 

Kan 

Inf 

Alf  Holmes                B 

79th 

Ohio  Vol 

Inf 

Stephen  J  Spear        E 

8th 

Kan 

Inf 

J  W  Turner 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      363 


J  11  Zabrlske  G 

E  Parnell.  corp'l  A 

W  E  Illchey.  serg't  A 

Hiram  McPhersou  D 
Wm  M  Myers,  sertj't  A 

Wm  Anderson  D 

J  J  Sisson  I) 

E  U  McMlllen  F 


47th 

III 

Inf 

72nd 

III 

Inf 

15th 

Ohio 

Inf 

79th 

Ohio 

Inf 

80th 

Ohio 

Inf 

137th 

Tnd 

Inf 

i;jth 

Iowa 

Inf 

1st 

Wis 

Cav 

WM.  Mckinley  post.  no.  133,  Wabaunsee. 

M.  McKelvey,  Commander.  H.  A.  Peury,  Adjutant. 


M  McKelvey 

G 

15th 

N  Y   heavy 

Art 

A  W  Talcott 

10th 

111 

Oav 

A  A  Oottrell 

10th 

III 

Cav 

M  0  Fairbanks 

G 

9tli 

Kan 

Oav 

Mark  Shocknessy 

I 

28Ui 

Iowa 

Inf 

Geo  Kramer 

K 

11th 

Kan 

Cav 

J  0  Chapman 

NY 

luf 

A  Doremus 

23rd 

Ind 

ETKlncaid 

I) 

1st 

Kan 

Cav 

Wm  Osmer 

F 

2nd 

Kan 

Cav 

L  Newell 

A 

2nd 

Kan 

Cay 

T  A  St  John 

G 

nth 

Kan 

Cav 

Vint  Russell 

it  T  Perry 

A 

1st 

Tenn 

Inf 

John  Zerbe 

13th 

N  Y 

Art 

.1  B  Day 

A 

25th 

Ohio 

Inf 

Gorden  Byers 

B 

6th 

W  Va 

Inf 

J  W  Dorman 

Ohio 

Inf 

II  A  Perry 

E 

nth 

Kan 

Oav 

John  Smith 

L 

nth 

Kan 

Oav 

Wabaunsee  Kan. 


G.  A.  R.  POST,  NO.  348,  ROCK  CREEK. 

Frank  Ludloav,  Commander.  I.  Singer,  Adjutant. 


Frank  Ludlow 
H  C  Sprague, 
I  Singer,  adj. 
Samuel  Shire 
Allen  Nixon 
Joseph  Cooper 
John  Smith 
.lames  Fomes 
Wm  A  Gray 
O  G  Reynolds 
W  W  Dow 


A 

G 


2nd 

Ohio 

Inf 

7th 

Mo 

Cav 

54th 

III 

Inf 

2nd 

Wis 

20th 

Iowa 

1 12th 

111 

nth 

Pa 

5tli 

Pa 

Chalk. 


364      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


W.  H.  EARL  POST,  ESKRIDGE. 

A.  (J.  BuRGETT,  Commander.  Robekt  Simmons,  Adjutant. 


W  H  Mills.  Oo  O.  44th 

Elkanah  Eckles  "  L,           8th 

G  E  Guthrie  "  A  29th 

Wni  Gallagher  "  A  1st 

Robert  Simmons  "  G  17th 

John  P  Hettinger  '•  G  142d 

W  M  Johnson  "  A  18th 

A  M  Kasson  "  B  18th 

F  M  Meredith  "  D  134th 

W  E  Little  ■•  B  1st 

D  C  Moreland  "  D  12th 

A  G  Burgett  •'  E  78th 

Moritz  Kraus  "  K  11th 

WGOook  '•  D  137th 

Drayton  Gillott  9th 

O  O  Cook  "  A  47th 

John  I  Little  "  O  152nd 

A  Oadwalader  '•  H  5th 

Eli  Tucker,  "  D  44th 

G  W  Gillis  "  G  6th 

S  E  Hull  ••  O  26th 

Mark  Dill  "  I  25th 

G  R  Kinzy  "  D  152nd 

John  Stadler  •'  B          128th 

W  Merser  "  B  1st 

IT  Earl  •'  A  57th 

G  W  Hughes  "  E  4th 

A  F  Wade  "  H           14th 

W  C  Mossman  "  H           14th 

Samuel  Chapman  "  H           140th 

Joseph  Little  "  B          83d 

Hezekiah  Quick  •'  D          26th 

E  J  Dally  "  C  17th 

John  Cousins  "  C  21st 

J  B  Montgomery  "  B  53rd 

H  O  McKee  "       I  3rd 

M  Jester  '•  F  114th 

Albert  D  Fuller  "  A  16th 

T  B  Henry  "  B  7th 

O  H  Ford  ••  H  36th 

S  L  Allen  "  B  135th 

H  G  Mace  "  D  8th 
J  II  Ruble                                        48th 

Francis  Warren  "  F  1st 

W  H  Shumate  1st 
John  W  Wendell  U  S  Navy;  Kearsarge, 


111. 
Mo. 
Ind 
R.  I. 
Ill 
Ind 
Mo 
Wis 
Ind 
Wis 
Kan 
111 
Kan 
111 
O 
111 
Pa 
Mo 
Mass 
O 
O 

Iowa 
Ind 
Ind 
W  Va 
Ind 
Mich 
Pa 
Pa 
O 
Pa 
Ind 
111 

Iowa 
111 
Mo 
O 

Iowa 
Iowa 
111 
Pa 
Iowa 
Iowa 
Mo 
Iowa 


Inf, 

Mil. 

Inf 

Inf 

Cav 

Inf 

Inf 

Inf 

Inf 

Cav 

Inf 
Inf 
Inf 
Inf 

Bat 
Inf 

Inf 
Cav 


Inf 

Art 
Inf 
Inf 
C!av 
Cav 
Inf 

Inf 

Cav 
Inf 

Cav 

Inf 

Inf 

Cav 

Inf 

Inf 

Cav 

Cav 
Bat 


P.  O.        Eskrldge.        Kan. 


Alma 
Eskrldge 


Wlnslow  and  Alabama. 


Ilallfax 
Topeka 
Eskrldge 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      365 


REV.  SCHMID'S  CONFIRMATION  CLASS. 

From  left  to  right:  Amelia  Heder,  Henry  Redemske,  Lizzie 
Maike,  Henry  Grunewald,  Freda  Stuewe,  (Rev.  Sclimid),  Emma 
Brasche,  Robert  Weber,  Carrie  Schmanke  and  Emma  Schmanke. 


FRED  ZEFERJAHN 

Was  born  at  Kreis,  Templin,  Germany.  Came  to  America  direct 
to  Kansas  in  1871.  In  1885  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Pauline 
Gehrt,  to  which  union  twelve  children  were  born— nine  of  whom  are 
living:  August,  Louisa,  Herman,  William,  Fred  and  Pauline,  (twins\ 
Ferdinand,  Adolph  and  Walter.  Owns  a  fine  farm  of  over  700  acres 
of  good  land.  Raises  cattle,  hogs,  grain,  etc.  Is  a  successful  farmer 
and  one  of  our  substantial  citizens. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  ALIVIA, 

Was  chartered  October  2,  1880.  Foundation  for  a  stone  building 
completed  November  3rd.  The  church,  (a  frame  building),  was  dedi- 
cated August  28.  1881.  Cost,  $2700.  Rev.  D.  .B.  Scott  was  the  first 
pastor,  entering  upon  his  duties  in  May,  1870 — more  than  ten  years 
prior  to  the  building  of  the  church.  Pastors  following  in  their  order 
were:  Revs.  R.  M.  Tunnell,  Morris  Oiflcer,  Harvey  Jones,  Hiram 
Myers,  J.  R.  Pryor,  John  Scott,  who  built  the  church  and  was  four 
years  pastor,  C.  S.  Marvin,  W.  C.  Wheeler,  D.  R.  Steiner,  Geo.  Ket- 
tering, J.  E.  Kirkpatrick  and  C.  W.  Turrell,  the  present  pastor. 


RURAL  MAIL  ROUTES 

Have  been  established  as  follows:  Route  No.  1,  Maple  Hill,  estab- 
lished April.  1,  1901,  Wm.  Boyles,  carrier;  Route  No.  1,  Eskridge,  es- 
tablished April  15,  1901,  E.  S.  Graves,  carrier;  Route  No.  2,  Eskridge, 
established  April  15,  1901,  W.  C.  Cook,  carrier;  Route  No.  3,  Eskridge, 
established  April  15,  1901,  W.  H.  Moore,  carrier;  Route  No.  ],  Paxico, 
established  April  15,  1901,  Charlie  Hund,  carrier. 


THE  FIRST  LOG  HOUSE.    Page  141. 

Was  doubtless  built  by  the  McDaniel  gang.  They  carried  water 
from  the  same  spring  used  by  George  Harvey.  This  path  to  the  spring 
and  to  the  top  of  Hodgson's  hill  was  plainly  visible  for  years  after  the 
first  settlers  came.  The  gold  was  dug  up  about  ten  years  ago  instead 
of  five.    Mr.  Asa  Gookins  kept  the  hotel  at  Harveyville  at  the  time. 


366      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 

CATHOLIC  CHURCH,  ALMA, 

Was  built  in  1875.  Prior  to  that  time  services  were  held  at  the 
homes  of  the  members,  tne  Jesuit  fathers  of  St.  Marys  attending  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people.  Father  Hundhausen  was  the  first 
regular  priest,  his  regular  pastorate  beginning  in  1880  and  continuing 
till  1891.  Then  came  Father  Hohe,  who  remained  one  year.  Father 
Bollwig  remained  two  years  and  six  months.  Father  Cihal  filling  out 
the  unexpired  year.  Rev.  Father  Kamp  came  March  30,  1896,  and  has 
since  continued  to  minister  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  his  people.  The 
first  church  was  built  in  1875  and  was  destroyed  by  fire  February  6, 
1899.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  August  17,  the 
bell  was  blessed  November  6,  and  the  new  church  dedicated  December 
19.  1899.  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Fink,  of  the  diocese  of  Leavenworth,  be- 
ing present  and  conducting  the  impressive  ceremonies.  The  parson- 
age was  built  in  1881.  The  altar  in  the  new  church  and  the  interior 
decorations  are  the  handsomest  in  the  county.  See  section  8  for  por- 
traits and  illustrations. 


DARLING'S   FERRY 


Was  a  busy  place  in  the  fifties.  It  was  opposite  Uniontown  and 
provided  the  only  means  of  crossing  the  Kavv  river,  except  at  low 
stages  of  water,  when  the  boat  wasn't  needed.  Among  those  who 
assisted  in  running  the  ferry  in  1854-5  was  J.  P.  Gleich,  who,  in  the 
latter  year,  took  a  claim  on  Mill  creek  just  north  of  Joseph  Thoes'. 
Darling  had  a  monopoly  of  the  ferry  business  for  many  years,  but  with 
Immigration  came  the  demand  for  a  ferry  at  the  big  bend  and  Dar- 
ling left  for  the  Indian  Territory  where  he  went  into  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  Shawnee. 


WABAUNSEE  COUNTY  IN  1901 

Contained  1786  farms;  acres  fenced,  380,994;  not  fenced,  6,034; 
acres  in  Corn,  95,209:  Wheat,  6,444;  Oats,  3,148;  Irish  Potatoes,  1,145; 
Sweet  Potatoes,  607;  Flax,  746;  Buckwheat,  257;  Sorghum,  for  syrup, 
225;  Sorghum,  for  forage,  3,495;  Kaffir  Corn,  11,883;  Alfalfa,  8,978; 
Clover.  990;  Blue  Grass,  389;  Timothy,  266;  Prairie  Pasture,  144,404 
acres;  Pounds  of  butter  made  by  families,  352,355;  In  factory.  5,243; 
Number  of  horses,  9,169;  Mules,  700;  Cows,  10,701;  Other  cattle,  42,- 
350;  Swine,  33,713;  Value  of  animals  sold  for  slaughter  in  1901,  $2,298,- 
047;  Number  of  apple  trees  in  bearing,  115,021;  Peach  trees,  33,553. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN.      367 


In  one  respect,  at  least,  the  farming  classesof  our  county  in  the 
early  days  differed  from  those  of  the  present— in  that  no  farm  ma- 
chinery was  left  from  one  season  to  another  in  the  fence  corners  where 
last  used.  The  reasons  are  obvious:  there  were  few  fence  corners  and 
less  machinery.  What  little  of  the  latter  the  farmers  possessed  was 
well  taken  care  of. 


LUTHERAN  CHURCH, ALMA, 

Was  built  in  1878,  the  Lutheran  school  house  in  1890  and  the  new 
parsonage  in  1901.  For  twenty  years  Rev.  H.  C.  Senne  was  the  resi- 
dent minister.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Pennekamp,  and  he 
by  Rev.  A.  Schmid,  the  present  pastor.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr. 
J.  P.  Emrich  taught  school  in  the  frame  building.  Mr.  Henry  Al- 
brecht  taught  several  years,  followed  by  Prof.  J.  H.  Meyer,  the  present 
teacher  of  the  Lutheran  school.    See  illustration,  section  9,  leaflet  6. 

EXPENDITURES  FOR  1901. 

County  Commissioners,  $560;  Bridges,  $2,222.84;  County  Officers, 
$5,907.57;  District  Court,  $611.90;  Probate  Court,  $241;  Sheriff  and 
Bailiffs,  $78.97;  Jails  and  Prisons,  $271.85;  Coroners  and  Inquest,  $72.55; 
Justices  and  Constables,  $241.90;  Poor  Farm,  $1,021.71;  Outside  of  Poor 
Farm,  $2,242.75;  Fuels,  Light,  Repairs,  Janitor  and  Watchman, 
$648.85;  Assessors,  $1,824;  Books  and  Stationery,  $919.86;  Printing, 
$655,30;  Insane,  $242;  Elections,  $584.92;  Bounty  on  Animals,  $153; 
Road  Purposes,  $4,199.55;  Miscellaneous,  $1,208.93.  Total,  $23,909.65. 
Population  of  County  (1901),  12,405;  Acres  in  Poor  Farm,  320. 

In  statement  of  expenditures  for  1860  (page  9),  no  better  idea  of 
the  prosperity  of  the  county  could  be  given.  Hundreds  of  bridges 
span  the  streams  throughout  the  county,  and  every  farm  is  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 


School  statistics:  Number  of  School  Districts,  88;  Teachers  re- 
quired, 101;  Different  teachers  employed:  Males,  49,  Females,  58,  Total, 
107;  Average  wages:  Male  teachers,  $43;  Female  teachers,  $39.42;  Av- 
erage weeks  school  term,  29;  Number  of  school  buildings,  92;  Rooms, 
103;  Number  persons  of  school  age,  (5  to  21  years),  4,591;  Pupils  en- 
rolled, 3,329;  Average  attendance,  2,139. 


ERRATA. 


M.  E.  church,  Harveyville,  Sec.  5  L  6,  should  read  M.  E.  church, 
Bradford. 

Mr.  Martin  Muckenthaler  came  to  Kansas  in  '69,  instead  of  '59,  as 
stated  in  his  biography. 

The  smallpox  in  1871  should  read  in  1S7^. 


368      EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


JEWELS  OF  THE  HOUSEHOLD. 

(1),  Mary,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  T.Taylor,  Eskridge;  (2), 
Ruth,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  Hendenson,  Alma;  (3).  Clayton, 
son  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  M.  F.  Trivett,  Eskridge;  (4).  Clyde,  son  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  E.  L.  Campbell,  Eskridge;  (5).  Bessie,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Copp,  Paxico;  (6).  Agnes,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  II.  F. 
Palenske,  Mountain  Home,  Arkansas;  (7).  Milford,  son  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brady,  Paxico;  (8).  Leo.  son  of  Mrs.  Theresa  Home,  Alma:  (9). 
Forest  and  Raymond,  two  young  blacksmiths,,  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fred  Baker,  Eskridge;  (10).  Johnnie,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matt. 
Thomson,  Henderson,  Arkansas;  (11).  Helen, , daughter  of  Dr.  T.  N. 
Watts,  Alma;  (12).  Hal,  son  of  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  W.  G.  Weaver,  Alma; 
(13).  Hazel,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wyatt  Roush,  Alma;  (14). 
Charlie  and  Florence,  son  and  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  O.  E.  Webb, 
Paxico;  (15).  Ross  and  Beryl,  son  and  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dow 
Busenbark,  Eskridge;  (16).  Ruth,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank 
Simon,  Jr.,  Alma;  (17).  Celina,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank 
Schmidt,  Alma;  (18).  Murray,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Barnes,  Alma; 
(19).  Agnes,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  O.  Kinne,  Alma;  (20).  Emily 
and  Albert,  daughter  and  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  B.  Wilson,  Alma; 
[21).  Gladys,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Nellie  Dilley,  Paxico;  (22).  LeMyra, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  A.  Seaman,  Alma;  (23).  Clarence,  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Otto  Meyer,  Alma;  (24).  Addie  and  Theresa,  daughters 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Frey,  Alma;  (25).  Florence,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Arthur  Winkler,  McFarland;  Y26).  Laurine,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Louis  Schroeder,  Alma;  (27).  Leo,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jos.  Treu, 
Halifax;  (28).  Augusta,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs,  August  Utermann, 
Alma. 


One  of  the  objects  of  this  history  is  to  acquaint  the  people  of  to- 
day with  the  conditions  that  were  the  rule  in  the  past;  of  the  time 
when  a  drouth  in  Kansas  meant  scanty  raiment  and  a  slend&rdiet;  of 
the  days  when  bedsteads  were  double  deckers  and  when  curtains 
served  as  partition  walls  to  separate  the  two  or  more  families  com- 
pelled to  occupy  the  one  room  or  sleep  out  of  doors  with  the  broad 
canopy  of  Heaven  for  a  covering;  of  the  seemingly  endless  days  of 
weary  watching  and  waiting  by  the  bedside  of  a  fever  stricken  father 
or  mother,  brother  or  sister,  hoping  against  hope,  until  the  spirit  had 
flown  to  God,  who  gave  it— to  that  home  where  pain  and  sickness  are 
unknown  and  where  Death  shall  never  come. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


INDEX. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


AUendorph,  A.  S 

Arndt,  Rudolph 

Arndt,  Herman 

Anderson,  Andrew  *. 
Anderson,  Anna   *... 


Barnes,  J.  B — 

Barlow,  J.  N 

Buchli,  B.,  Sr.  * 

Buchli,  B..  Jr  

Bell,   Andrew 

Baldwin,  S.  A 

Berroth.  Geo.  * 

Busenbark,  Dow 

Burgett.  Chas.  H 

Brasche,  Dr.  August  *. 

Beals,  Dr.  Guy  C 

Burt,  Geo.  S 

Burroughs,  Waldo  G. . . 

Copp,  John  * 

Copp,  C.  C 

Chillson.  Waters 

Channell,  H.  B 

Chester,  Dr.  O.  S  

Christj-,  L.  M 

Carroll,  James 

Cottrell,  A.  A 

Clayton,  D.  F 

Cornell,  G.  G 

Connell,  Geo.  S 

Connell,  J.  V 

Cantrill,  S.  G 

Campbell,  Ed  L 


Doollttle,  W.  A 

Daum,  Mrs.  Walpurge  *. 

Dreblng,  Wm.  * 

Deans.  W.  D.  * 

Dieball,  Wm 

Dailey.  Chas 

Davis,  C.  L 


Eck,  J.  M.  * 

Earl,  Wm.  H.,  Sr.  *. 

Earl.  Chas.  N.  * 

Early,  M.  P 

Eckles,  W.  T 


Fix.  Robert 

Falk,  August 

Frey,  Fred,  Jr 

Fields.  J.  B 

Fairfield.  S.  H 

Fauerbach,  Henry 
Fechter,  Geo.  A 


Gardiner,  C.  C 

Gardner,  D.  M 

Gillis,  G.  W 

Guth,  Robert 

Glotzbach,  Joseph,  Sr. 


221 
243 
313 
270 
270 

253 
307 
223 
234 
242 
2.S4 
2C9 
263 
270 
299 
307 
292 
290 

258 
295 
237 
240 
253 
255 
260 
261 
267 
293 
y87 
284 
285 
312 

222 

228 
229 
257 
267 
282 
281 

282 
294 
298 
306 
239 

245 
259 
268 
271 
262 
254 
285 

251 

266 
281 
312 
301 


Glotzbach,  C.  J.. 
Graves,  Henry  *. 
Grimm,  Henry... 

Hesse  John  * 

Henderson,  J.  C. . 
Henderson,  C!.  B. 
Henderson,  J.  R. 
Hund,  Michael  *. 

Hund,  Philip 

Home,  Jacob  *.. 
Home,  Wm.,  Sr.. 
Horne,  Louis  *.. 
Horton,  Geo.  L... 

Hull,  S.  E 

Hanson,  August. 

Harris.  S.  M 

Hlnshaw,  W.  J.  . 
Hesse,  Conrad  *. 
Hodgson,  Prank. 
Hall,  G.  G  * 


Janes,  M.  W 

Jones,  J.  H 

Jones,  A.  A 

Johnson,  James  E. 

Johnson,  J.  M 

Jester,  M 

Jordon,  A.  M 


Keagy,  JohnT 

Krapp,  Edward 

Kllian,  E.  A 

Kuenzli,  Christian  * 

Kratzer,  John  Adam  *.. . . 
Klockman,  Mary  Louisa.. 

Lee,  J.  M 

Licht,  H.  G 

Lafontaine,  Jos 

Lowry,  CM 

Leonard,  P.  E 

Lines,  C  B.  * 

Lines.  E   C.  D.  * 

Lyons,  W.  H 

Lawlor,  J.  H 


Mann,  Ed 

Mainey,  Thos 

Meier,  Franz 

Meier,  G.  H 

Meyer,  August  * 

Mears,  Andrew  

Maas,  Wm 

Moore.  Edwin  F 

Mitchell,  J.  J 

Millison,  D.  U 

McWilliams,  Michael.... 
Muckenthaler,  Martin... 
Muckenthaler,  Albert... 
Muckenthaler,  Joseph... 
Muckenthaler,  Chas 


294 

3t;0 

.304 

354 
251 
302 
252 
235 
301 
236 
261 
3.V5 
308 
244 
297 
310 
306 
308 
291 
353 

248 
225 
289 
284 
267 
296 
268 

233 
249 
240 
265 
270 
230 

264 
232 
239 
263 
263 
264 
281 
286 
298 

239 
259 
238 
266 
2.iO 
308 
297 
293 
249 
226 
244 
246 
293 
312 
266 


*Died. 


II        EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Mock,  John 

Michaells,  Henry,  Sr.  *. 

Michaelis,  J.  H 

McCrumb,  L.  J 

McCormick,  Ross  

Morris,  Ira  L 

Mueller,  Rev.  J.  H 

Meredith,  P.M. 

Maguire,  Patrick  * 

Mossman,  J.  W.* 

Noller,  Gottlieb 

Oliver,  Thos 

Oehms,  Herman  B 


Palenske,  Louis 

Palenske,  H.  J 

Pringle,  Andrew,  Sr.  *. 

Pringle,  Wm 

Prothrow,  Wm 

Perry,  T.  J : 

Palmer,  Mark 

Phillips,  Allen  * 

Peterson,  John  * 


Rice,  L.  T 

Rose,  CM 

Roush,  Wyatt 

Rogge,  Wm 

Raymond,  Fredrick  L. 

Ronnau,  Henry  * 

Rinehart,  W.  M 

Robertson,  J.  W 

Richards,  L 

Rickershauser,  Frank. 
Reynard,  Peter  * 


Spielman,  T.  S 

Seaman,  P.  A 

Schmitz.  Henry  * 

Schmitz,  Oscar 

Schmidt,  Franz 

Smith,  Dr.  W.  H.  H..  .. 

Smith,  Dr.  C.  E 

Shaw,  H.  C 

Shaw.  S.  D 

Schewe,  Anton 

Schepp,  Louis 

Sturdy.  E 

Steinmeyer,  Fred,  Sr. 
Steinmeyer,  H.  W 


*Died. 


292 
290 
291 
258 
266 
271 
272 
293 
297 
306 

240 

313 
295 

299 
224 
264 
282 
2.57 
239 
271 
286 
289 

298 
227 
238 
294 
244 
253 
265 
269 
265 
311 
353 

226 
228 
234 
272 
245 
312 
233 
310 
310 
295 
258 
296 
283 
285 


Simmons,  P.  P 232 

Simmons,  Robert 255 

Schulthies,  H.  * 237 

Sutherland,  George 256 

Sage,  Mark 241 

Schwanke,  John  * 2,56 

Sudweeks,  John 268 

Snyder,  Joseph 272 

Sanford,  E.  H.  * 296 

Shoecraf t,  Emerson  S 307 

Silbermann.  J.  J 312 

Strowig,  Robert 312 

Strowig,  A.  R 300 

Sweeney,  Michael 309 

Thomson,  James  L.  * 309 

Thompson,  Geo.  W.  * 222 

Thompson,  H.  P.  * 283 

Thompson,  Chas.  H 301 

Trivett.  M.  F 256 

Thayer,  Albert  P 246 

Thierer,  Gus 261 

True,  Alden  E 288 

Treu,  Joseph  287 

Treu,  Wm.  * 353 

Thoes, Peter* 283 

Trusler,  Wm 305 

Taylor,  AmosT 270 

Undort,  H.  J.* 303 

Undorf,  Louis 302 

Utermann,  August 287 

Worsley,  E 303 

Waugh,J.Y 299 

Wade,  A.  F 305 

Woody,  P.  L 236 

Woody,  Mrs.  P.  L.  * 236 

Woodard,  L.  J 250 

Webb,  O.  E 312 

Weed,  S.  R 288 

Weaver,  W.  G 304 

Ward,  Biram  * 224 

Winkler,John 260 

Walker.  Dr.  L.  A 284 

Whitlock,  W.  S 291 

Wolgast,  August 353 

Williams,  W.  S.  * 354 

Welfelt,  Abe 354 

Welfelt,  Sam 224 

Zeferjahn,  Fred 365 


GENERAL  ENDEX. 


Auld  Lang  Syne 2 

Avenged 106-  7 

Address   by   Matt  Thomson   at 

Harvey  ville 121 

Anderson,  Bill,  A  Raid  by 139 

Alma  Salt  Works 314 

Alma  Volunteer  Band 356-358 

Brower,  J.  V 48-68 

Bill  Cole's  Last  Drive 104 

Bossy  Solved  the  Problem y      148 

Barnes,  J.  B  ,  Residence 278 

Bridge,  Double  Arch 278 

Bouchey  Stacker,  The 358 


County  Records,  Items  from 6 

Cattle,  Wealth  in 27 

Cattle  Car,  Free  Ride  in 29 

Court,  Attending,  in  the  Sixties.  31 

Cheyenne  Raid.  A 46 

Coronado'R  Expedition 52 

Catholic  Church.  Alma 366 

Congregational  Church,  Alma. ..  365 

County  Seat  Question 74 

Confirmation  Classes, 

Rev.  Kamp's 273 

Rev.  Wieners' 357 

Rev.  Schmids 365 

Court  Reminiscence,  A  313 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Ill 


Chickasha,  Street  Scene 

Davis  Bros.'  Ranch,  Scene  on... 
Darling's  Perry 


Education,  Interested  in. 
Educational  Exhibit,  An.. 

Ethnologic  History 

Election  Returns 

Eliot  Church 

Eskridge  Cornet  Band 

Expenditures  for  1901 


355 

356 
366 

61 

65 

68 

166-201 

278 

359 

367 


Palk,  Aufifust,  and  Family 

Ferry,  Wabaunsee 

Fences,  Our  Stone 

Fence,  An  Old-Time 164, 

Farming  Experience,  Some 

Fairies,  The 

Frontier  History,  A  Bit  of 

Fooks-MiUer  Feud 

Flood,  A  Big 

Family,  An  Interesting- 

Glotzbach,  Joseph,  and  Family.. 

G.  A.  R.  Posts  

Good  Fellows,  A  Group  of 

Ground  Floor,  On  the 

Genius,  Our,  in  Limbo 

Germans,  A  Tribute  to  the 

Generations,  Five 

Generations,  Four 

Goat  Curiosity 


HesBe,  Conrad,  and  Family.. . 

Historical 

Historical  Notes 

Historv,  A  Bit  of  Frontier  . . . 

He  Gathered  Them  In 

Hunter's  Paradise,  A 

Home,  Our  First,  in  Kansas... 
Haying  at  Chris  Langvardt's. 

Halifax  Station 

Harvey ville,  Main  Street 


Innocent  Abroad,  An 

Ice,  Breaking  the 

Iron  Horse,  No,  Then.  ... 

Infant  Industries 

Indians  in  Alma  in  1881 . . . 

Jewels  of  the  Household. 
Jail  Deliveries,  Some 

Kindness  Remembered. . . 


Log  House.  The  First 

Liederkranz,  The  Alma. 

Landmark,  An  Old    

Luteran  Church,  Alma.. 


358 

16 

73 

280 

90 

360 

118 

162 

163 

275 

858 

361 

359 

99 

30 

41 

359 

359 

216 

359 

4 

315 

118 

71 

77 

110 

274 

275 

277 

33 

45 

49 

111 

277 

368 
37 

114 


141 

273,  355 

273 

367 

360 
13 
23 
24 


M.  E.  Church.  Alma 

Marriages,  Some  Early 

Me  Killee  Palenske 

Murder,  Was  it? 

Mule  Brigade.  Charge  of  the ...  88 

McParland  Murderers  and  their 

Victims 149 

Mexican  Burros 213 

Miscellany 92 

Mistake,  Was  it  a? 97 

Marion's  First  School 117 

McFarland.  Double  Murder  at. ..         151 

Mitchell,  Frank.  Murder  of 155 

Muehlenbacher  Murder 157 


Mexican  Oven  and  Adobe  House.  216 

Mexican  Fandango,  At  a.  13s 

Maccabees,  Officers  of '"  359 

Maas,  Wm.,  and  Family '.'.  350 

Not  at  Home og 

Newspaper  History. ...."."".; '.'■.■  351 

Narrow  Escape,  A 40 

Newbury  Band 357 

Odds  and  Ends 50 

Oil  Excitement 40 

Officers,  County,  Elected.      .  201 

Out  Serving  a  Writ '  ...'■"■  ^q 

Out  for  a  Round-up 35c 

Old  Stage  Station  at  Elm  Creek  204 

Our  County  and  Schools,  1886....  52 

Our  First  Visitors 108 

Preface g 

Pem-Co- Wye  repays  a  Kindness  22 

Precious  Pair,  A 25 

Pioneer,  How  He  lived '.  4-> 

Pierre,  The  Capital 81 

Pawnee  Raid.  A 104 

Poyntz  Avenue  in  1866 275 

Press,  Items  from  the 323 

Preparing  for  a  Raid hi 

Queen us 

Remarkable  and  Eccentric 19 

Reminiscence,  A 32 

Resources.  Our 44 

Rabbit  Farm,  A 91 

Returning  to  the  Reservation. . .  28 

Rock  Island  Eating  House 277 

Rock  Island  Bridge,  Maple  Hill..  280 

Rural  Mail  Routes 365 

Richardson  County,  Map  of 5 

Salt  Works,  Alma I6 

Smallpox  in  '71 is 

Sam,  The  Lesson  of 39 

Schools,  Our 53 

Stone  Fort  at  Templin ii3 

Santa  Fe  Trail,  The  old 205 

Stuewe  Bros.'  Creamery 276 

Smith  Brothers,  Killing  of  the  205 

Thomas.  John 17 

Tarantula,  Bitten  by  a 38 

Telephone   Exchange,  The  Mc- 

Mahan 67 

Tenderfoot,  the 150 

Thierer,  Gus,  and  Family 360 

Turkey  Mountains,  In  the 209 

Uncle  Sam's  Kids,  One  of 93 

Unpleasantness,  A  Little 108 

Unmarked  Grave,  An 149 

Visitors  at  the  Ranch 357 

Vigilance  Committee,  Our  First.  145 

"Wooh" 47 

Wrote  his  Sentiments 68 

Words,  Last 64 

Wagon  Shop,  The  First 70 

White  Shirt,  The  First 69 

Were  Their  Fears  Groundless. . .  72 

Warning,  A  Timely 136 

Wilmington 274 

Woodman  Team,  Harvey  ville...  359 

Wabaunsee  County  1901 3(6 

Wabaunsee  County  1882,  Map  of  8 


IV       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTKAITS. 

Explanation:    First  section  faces  page  20,  second  faces  page  40,  etc. 

Ten  leaflets  in  each  section. 


Sec.  I.. 

Abele,  Rev 1  6 

Arndt,  Rudolph 1  10 

Arndt. Herman 3  9 

Anderson,  Anna 3  9 

AUendorph,  A.  S 2  3 

BoUwig,  Rev 8  6 

Bell,  Andrew 1  4 

Baldwin.  S.  A 1  7 

Buchli.  B.,  .=;r 2  3 

Buchli,  B.,  Jr 2  4 

Busenbark,  Dow 2  2 

Brasche,  Mr  and  Mrs.  Aug. 1  1 

Burgett,  Chas.,  and' Wife 2  10 

Beals.  G.  C 4  4 

Barnes.  J.  B  4  8 

Barlow  J.  N 5  l 

Beutel.  Aug 5  2 

Burt,  Geo.  S 5  3 

Berroth,  Geo.,  and  Wife   5  4 

Burroughs,  W.  G.,  and  Family. .  6  10 

Burgett,  A.  G.,  four  Generations  7  4 

Bourassa,  Nellie 7  6 

Cihal,  Rev 8  6 

Copp,  John 1  3 

Clayton,  D.  F 2  5 

Channell,  H.  B 2  7 

Campbell,  Ed 2  9 

Connell,  George  S.,  and  Wife....  2  10 

Cook,  W.  C 3  3 

Cottrell,  A.  A 3  5 

Christy.  Lynn  M ,..  4  2 

Clothier,  George  L 4  3 

Chillson,  Waters 4  8 

Cornell,  G.  G 4  8 

Cantrill,  S.  G 5  5 

Crouch,  W.  S 11  1 

Droege,  Gus 1  10 

Drebing.-  Wm 2  6 

Deans,  W.  D .' 3  4 

Dieball,  Wm.,  and  Wife 5  4 

Davis,  Chef 5  5 

Drumra  Bros 3  8 

Eck,  J.  M 3  6 

Earl,  W.  H  ,  Sr 7  7 

Earl,  C.  N 3  10 

Early,  M.  P.,  and  Wife 5  l 

Eckles.  W.  T 2  a 

Fix,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael 1  2 

Fix,  J.  R.,  and  Family 6  1 

Fix,  Amanda 3  1 

Palk,  Aug..  and  Family 6  2 

Fairfield,  S.  H 2  2 

Frey,  Fred 2  5 

Fields,  Joseph 7  9 

Fields,  J.  B 2  7 

Fechter,  Geo 4  10 

Gleich,  J.  P.,  and  Wife 1  l 

Graves,  Henry 4  9 

Gardner,  D.  M.,  and  Family 7  l 


Sec.  L. 

Gardiner,  C  C 2  9 

Glotzbach,  Joseph,  and  Family. .  G  5 

Hess  John i  6 

Henderson,  J.  C 4  1 

Henderson,  C.  B 2  3 

Henderson,  J.  R 4  5 

Hund,  Michael,  Sr 2  6 

Hankammer,  John  A 2  10 

Home,  Jacob 3  2 

Home,  Wm 3  2 

Hanson,  Aug 3  4 

Hubbard.  J.  M 3  .5 

Hall,G.  G 3  7 

Hull,  S.  E 4  8 

Hinshaw,  W.  J 4  7 

Home,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis 4  9 

Horton,  Geo.  L 5  1 

Harris,  Isaiah 5  6 

Harris,  Mrs.  Isaiah 5  6 

Harris,  S.  M.,  and  Family 6  9 

Hodgson,  Frank 5  10 

Hesse,  Conrad,  and  Family 6  6 

Hundhausen,  Rev 8  8 

Hohe,  Rev 8  6 

Janes  W.  W 1  7 

Jones,  J.  H 2  3 

Jones,  F.  M 1  9 

Jones,  A.  A 4  7 

Johnson,  James  E.,  and  Wife 4  .=> 

Johnson,  J.  M.. , 1  8 

Johnson,  Mrs.  J.  M 4  5 

Jordon.  A.  M 4  1 

Jester,  M 5  1 

Keagy,  J.  T 4  4 

Kamp,  Rev 8  6 

Kinne.  C.  0 2  2 

Kuenzli,  C 1  3 

Kratzer,  Adam 2  10 

Kettering,  Geo 11  2 

Klockman,  Mary  Louisa 3  9 

Krapp,  Ed 5  ?> 

Krenitz,  Frank 7  10 

Kettermann,  Mr.  and  Mrs 5  4 

Lafontaine,  Joseph    2  4 

Lines.  C.  B 3  3 

Lines,  E.  J 3  7 

Lines, E. CD 5  3 

Lowry,  CM 3  3 

Licht,  H.  G 5  8 

Leonard,  P.  E 4  10 

Lavvlor  and  Wife 4  6 

Meyer,  August l  2 

Meier,  Fran:<. 1  6 

Meier,  G.H 3  4 

Mears,  Andrew,  and  Wife 7  2 

Maquire.  Pat 1  9 

McCorraick,  Ross 2  8 

Mitchell, J. J 2  9 

Mitchell.  Wm 7  8 

Millison,  D.  U.,  and  Family 3  3 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Sec.  L. 

Mossman,  J.  W..     3  5 

Morris,  Ira  L 4  2 

Meredith,  F.  M.,  aud  Wife 4  6 

Mann,  Ed 5  2 

Moore,  Ed.  P 5  7 

Meseke,  Herman 5  8 

Muckenthaler,  M 5  9 

Muckenthaler,  Chas 5  9 

Maa.s,  Wm.,  and  Family 6  4 

Mock,  John 6  7 

McKelvey,  Matt 7  8 

McCoy.  W.  A 7  10 

McMahan,  J.  H  ,  (See  Telephone 
Exchange.)  

Noller,  Gottlieb 7  10 

Newman,  Harr}' 5  2 

Oliver,  Isabella  Maple  Hill 7  6 

Oliver,  Thomas  3  8 

Oehmann,  Frank 4  9 

Pauly,  L 1  2 

Pringle,  W 1  4 

Perry, T.J 2  4 

Perry,  S.T 7  8 

Palenske,  Louis 3  6 

Palenske,  H.  J 4  5 

Palenske,  Mrs.  Fred  1  5 

Palenske,  Mrs.  Liouis 1  5 

Palenske,  Daisy  Thomson 3  l 

Phillips,  Mr.  and  Mrs 1  9 

Palmer,  Mark 2  8 

Prothrow,  Wra 5  10 

Peterson,  John,  and  Wife 6  2 

Raymond,  Fred  L 1  7 

Ririehart,  W.  M 1  8 

Roush,  Wyatt 2  4 

Richards,  L 3  5 

Robertson,  J.  W 2  8 

Rose,  C.  M 5  2 

Ronnau.  Henry 4  10 

Reynard,  Peter 3  8 

Rickershauser,  Frank 3  10 

Schmitz,  Henry 1  4 

Schmidt,  Franz 1  5 

Schmidt,  Frank 2  5 

Schmitz,  Oscar 2  7 

Smith,  W.  H.  H 3  6 

Smith,  C.  E 3  6 

Schmid,  A 11  5 

Silbermann.  J.  J 1  6 

Sanford,  E.  H 1  8 

Schewe,  A  1  10 

Spielman,  T.  S 2  1 


Sec. 

Strowig,  Robt ...  2 

Seaman,  Fred  A 2 

Simmons,  P.  P o 

Shoecraft,  Emerson 3 

Steiner,  D.  R '  n 

Scott,  John ....  11 

Scott,  D.  B '/.  5 

Schutter.  Joseph 3 

Sutherland,  Geo 4 

Shaw,  H.  C 4 

Sturdy,  E 4 

Sage,  Mark 4 

Schepp,  Louis 7 

Steinmeyer,  Fred.  Sr.,and  Wife.  7 
Steinmeyer,  H.  W.,  and  Wife. . . .  7 
Schwanke,  Mrs.  C,  (Five  Gener- 
ations   6 

Thomson,  James  L 3 

Thompson,  Geo.  W 1 

Thompson.  H.  P 1 

Thomson,  Matt,  and  Family (3 

Treu,  Joseph 1 

Treu,  Wm 3 

True,  A.  E 4 

Thayer,  A.  F 1 

Thoes,  Peter 1 

Trivett,  M.  F 2 

Tavlor,  Amos 2 

Tunnell.  R.  M 11 

Trusler,  Wm 4 

Thierer,  Gus,  and  Family 6 

Undorf ,  Louis 5 

Utermann,  August 4 

Whittemore,  N.  H 1 

Woody,  P.  L 2 

Woody,  Mrs.  P.  L 2 

Woods,  Samuel 3 

Wade,  A.  F 4 

Weed,  S.  R 4 

Wiedemann,  Frank 2 

Winkler,  John 3 

Worsley,  Ed » 3 

Williams,  W.  S 3 

Wolgast,  Aug 3 

Waugh,  J.  Y 4 

Weaver,  W.G 4 

Willard,  J.  F 4 

Whitlock,  W.  S 5 

Woodard,  L.  J.,  and  Wife 5 

Welfelt,  Abe s 

Walton,  Morris 7 

Wieners,  Rev 11 

Zwanziger,  G 1 


6 
7 
1 
2 
2 
7 

10 
1 
7 
7 

10 
7 
2 


1 
3 
3 

8 
4 
4 
3 
7 

10 
1 
9 
9 


3 
1 

8 
1 
1 
8 
3 
4 
n 
2 
3 
7 
9 
2 

3 
4 
3 
4 
5 
9 
6 

5 


CHURCHES. 


Baptist,  Eskridge 8  7 

Baptist,  German,  Alta  Vista 8  9 

Baptist,  Eskridge .  9  5 

Baptist,  Plumb 9  7 

Baptist,  Plumb,  Mission  Point. . .  10  5 

Christian,  Harveyville 5  6 

Congregational,  Wabaunsee 8  1 

Catholic,  Newbury 8  3 

Catholic,  Alma,  (Old.)  8  5 

Catholic,  Alma,  (New.) 8  6 

Congregational,  Alma 9  5 


Christian,  Eskridge 9 

Congregational,  Maple  Hill U 

Christian,  Wilmington H 

Evangelical,  Alma 9 

Evangelical,  Alma 10 

Evangelical,  Wells  Creek 9 

Lutheran,  Alma 9 

Lutheran,  Kaw. : 8 

Lutheran,  Templin 9 

Lutheran,  (Swedish.) 9 


VI       EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Sec.  L 

M.  E.,  Alma 8  2 

M.  E.,  Bradford  ♦ 5  6 

M.  E.,  Kaw, 8  4 

M.  E.,  Paxico  i  4 

M.  E.,  Wabaunsee 8  4 

M.  E.,  Eskridge 8  7 

M.  E.,  Maple  Hill 8  8 

M.  E.,  McFarland 8  8 

M.  E.,  Alta  Vista 9  10 


^Sec. 

M.  E.,  (German,)  Rock  Creek....  10 

M.  E.,  Harveyville 10 

M.  E..  Washara 10 

Presbyterian,  (Reformed,)  Esk- 
ridge     9 

Presbyterian,  (United,)  Esk- 
ridge     9 

Wesley  an  Methodist,  Keene 9 


10 
10 


*Harveyville— Incorrect. 


SCHOOL  HOUSES. 


AltaVista 13 

Eskridge 8 

McFarland 8 

Paxico 10 

Wabaunsee 10 

District    2 9 

District    3 10 

District    7 10 

District    9 9 

District  11 9 

District  12 7 

District  14 10 

District  15 9 


7  District  16 9  10 

10  District  23 9  4 

1  District  30 10  7 

8  District  35 10  1 

8  District  44 10  6 

3  District  45 9  3 

8  District  47 10  1 

6  District  48 9  4 

10  District  56 10  6 

7  District  59 10  4 

9  District  66 9  10 

7  District  71 10  8 

3  District  86 10  5 


See  our  County  and  Schools,  1882,  facing  page  52. 


HOTELS. 


Hotel  Alma 13       8 

Mrs.  Beaubien's,  Maple  Hill 7       8 

Commercijkl,  Alma 14       7 


Denver  House,  McFarland 14       8 

Paxico  Hotel 5       9 

Hotel  Windier,  Maple  Hill 18       1 


RESIDENCES. 


Arndt,  Herman 16 

Barnes,  J.  B 13 

Bisbey,  J.  M 14 

Barlow.  J.  N 16 

Blanc,  Frank 17 

Bell,  Andrew 18 

Cornell,  G.  G 16 

Carroll,  C.  E 14 

Cassidy,  J.  B 15 

Clayton,  D.  F 16 

Davis,  C.  L 15 

Dierking,  Fred 10 

Drebing,  Wm 17 

Droege,  Gus 17 

Dieball,  Albert 15 

Dieball.  Wm 16 

Fix,  J.  R 15 

Fix,  Michael  (First) 18 

Fairfield,  S.  H 15 

Grimm,  Henry 16 

Gillis,  G.  W 16 


10 
3 
6 
4 
3 


3 

8 

9 
1 
3 

5 

10 

3 

10 
2 
1 

7 
5 


Horne,  Wm.,  Jr 9  4 

Home,  Wm.,  Sr 17  10 

Holman,  Pete 10  6 

Henderson,  J.  C 15  6 

Henderson,  J.  R 15  7 

Hund,  Moritz 15  6 

Hess, Otto 17  3 

Hanson,  August 17  2 

Janes,  M.  W 16  14 

Kinne.  C.  0 15  2' 

Kuenzli,  C 17  6 

Mitchell,  J.  J 5  8 

Mainey,  Thomas 7  7 

Melrose,  W.  H 10  6 

Meinhardt,  August 10  1 

Meseke,  A.  H 14  7 

Meyer,  Mrs.  E 15  5 

Meyer's,  (Mrs.  E.)  Store £  10 

Maas,  William 16  7 

McMahan,  J.  H. 15  9 

Mears,  Andrew 16  9 

Michaelis,  J.  H 16  1 

Muckenthaler,  Joseph 16  1 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


VII 


Sec.  L. 

Naylor,  J.  W 18  3 

Ronnau,  Henry 12  8 

Keuter,  Fred 15  3 

Kickershauser,  Wm 15  8 

Kickershauser,  Frank 17  6 

Stuewe,  F.  and  A 9  i 

Stuewe,  John 15  8 

Schmidt,  Frank 10  5 

Schwalm,  John 17  8 

Stratton,  C 10  i 

Spielman,  T.  S 14  0 

Sutherland,  George 15  5 

Sturdy,  E 15  7 

Schroeder,  Gus 15  8 

Strowig,  Robert 15  8 

Strowig,  A.  R  16  10 

Shaw.  S.  D 16  2 

Sanford,  E.  H 17  7 

Schewe,  Anton 17  1 

Steinmeyer,  Carl 18  7 


Sec.  L. 

True,  A.  E .                   ,0  ■> 

Tod,  W.  J "    . . .  ' 10  3 

Trivett,  M.  F 14  4 

Tomson,  C ;&  4 

Thomson,  Matt 15  « 

Thlerer,  Gus "  le  3 

Thoes,  Joseph '...'.  17  5 

Thowe,  Chris 17  g 

Thowe,  Fred 17  1 

Terrass.  Jacoh "17  2 

Utermann,  August le  2 

Winkler,  Otto 10  5 

Winkler,  Arthur 14  10 

Wehh.O.  E 15  4 

Wade,A.F 16  6 

Woodard,  D.  A 17  10 

Waugh,  Wm is  5 

Zeferjahn,  Fred 16  10 

Zeckser.  Chas 17  4 

Zeckser,  August 18  3 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


Allendorph'a  Ranch,  Scene  on. ..  18  6 

Alma,  View  of 13  1 

Alma  in  1868 13  5 

Alma  Mill 17  9 

Alma,  Missouri  Street 13  8 

Alma,  Missouri  Street,  "80 13  9 

Alma  National  Bank.  •  14  6 

Alma  from  Santa  Fe  Depot  16  5 

Alma,  East  Side  MainoStreet....    6  9 

Alma  Salt  Works 9  3 

Alta  Vista,  Main  Street 10  5 

Band,  Alma  Volunteer 12  1 

Band,  Eskridge  Cornet 12  2 

Band,  Newbury  Philharmonic.  12  3 

Band,  Alma  Volunteer 12  4 

Buffalo  in  the  Sixties 6  10 

Bouchey,  Al,  at  Work 18  1 

Court  House  in  1880 13  9 

Court  House  in  1902 14  6 

Chickasha 18  10 

Cemetery,  Alma 18  10 

Catholic  Church  and  Parsonage    8  6 
Confirmation  Classes: 

Rev.  Kamp's 11  5 

Rev.  Wiener's 11  6 

Rev.  Schmid's .    11  7 

Creamer}'.  Stuewe  Bros' 9  1 

Chalk  Postofflce  and  Hall 10  5 

Davis  Bros.' Ranch 17  2 

Davis  Bros.'  Ranch.  Scene  on —  18  6 

Dailey's  Express,  '86 18  2 

Duroc-Jerseys,  Herd  of 18  7 

Dedication,  Alta  Vista 11  4 

Eskridge,  Looking  North 13  6 

Eskridge,  Looking  South 13  7 

Eskridge,  West  Side  Main  street    7  5 

Earl's  Store,  W.  H 10  9 

Floral  Scene :.  11  5 


Fence,  An  Old  Time 18  9 

Fowler's  Ranch,  iScene  at 18  8 

Fix,    Samuel,   Ranch   Home    in 

Colorado 7  1 

Freeman  Farm,  Orchard  on 7  7 

Glotzbach's  Store,  Paxico 15  2 

Graduating  Class,  Eskridge 12  10 

Group  of  Good  Fellows 12  10 

Halifax,  View  of 13  3 

Harveyville,  Main  Street 13  10 

Herefords,  Herd  of 18  8 

Haying  at  Chris  Langvardt's 8  9 

Interesting  Family.  An 12  9 

Indians  in  Alma  in  1881 9  7 

Janes'  Barn,  M.  W 16  4 

Jewels  of  the  Household 7  5 

Kinne  &  Keran's  Block,  Alma. ..  14  6 

Liederkranz,  Alma 12  7 

Limerick  &  Crafts  Block 14  8 

Landmark,  An  Old 10  4 

Maccabees,  Officers  of ,  1901 12  5 

Maple  Hill,  View  of 13  1 

McFarland  in '94 13  4 

McFarland  in  1902 13  5 

Maple     Hill,    West    Side    Main 

Street 14  1 

Maple  Hill,  East  Side 14  1 

Morlan's  Quarry 10  1 

Out  Serving  a  Writ ■.  12  9 

Paxico,  View  of 13  2 

Paxico  Main  Street 14  2 

Poor  Farm,  View  of 14  3 

Poyntz  Avenue  in '66 15  1 

Poland  Chinas,  Herd  of 18  7 

Paxico  Lumber  Company 10  10 


vm 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WABAUNSEE  COUNTY,  KAN. 


Sec. 
Rogge  s,  (William)  Elevator.        11 

Round-up,  Out  for  a ig 

Royal  Neighbor's  Float 10 

R.  I.  Eating  Hou.se,  McParland  .    8 
R.    I.    Eating     Hou.se,     Interior 
View,  McParlaad 8 

Strowig's  Mill.  Paxico 13 

Signal  Building 14 

Simon's  (F.  C.)  Store,  Alma..    .    14 

Spiritof'76 jg 

St.  Marys' Bridge '  I8 

School  House,  District  23,    (ist).    8 
Sunflowers,  A  Pretty  Bunch  of  11 

Tableau,  The  Fairies' 12 

Templin,  View  of 14 


8 


Sec. 
Threshing  Scene.      ...  17 

Teachers'  lustitute,  Vsm. .'...'." "  n 
Teachers' Institute,  1897..  "  n 

Teachers*  Institute,  1901 "..'.,  n 

Utermann's  (Livery)  Barn 11 

VoUand,  View  of 14 

Woodman  Team,  Harvey ville.. . .  12 
Winkler's  Hotel  in  '80. ...  13 

Woodman  Hall,  Wabaunsee..!!.'.'  14 

Wilmington.  View  of 14 

Wamego  Bridge ""  ih 

Winklers    (Arthur)   Store,  Mc- 

Farland 14 

Wesley  an  College 10 


L, 

7 

8 

9 

10 


6 
9 
3 
4 
4 

10 
9 


UNCHiASSIFIED. 


Auld  Lang  Syne 2 

Map  of  Richardson  County. ..!  5 

Wabaunsee  County  in  1882..  8 

Old  School  Hou.se,  Halifax  12 

First  School  House,  District  io  15 

John  Thomas 17 

Our  County  and  Schools.... 53 

Our  County  and  Schools 53 

Absent  Members  of  the  McMa- 

han  Telephone  Exchange....  08 

Members,  Telephone  Exchange.  68 

Louis  Schroder's  Residence  ....  68 

A  Pawnee  Raid 104 

Our  First  Visitors '  108 

Our  First  Home  in  Kansas.  no 

Old  Stone  Fort  at  Templin. ...  U3 


Preparing  for  a  Raid 144 

Where  the  First  Log  House  was 

Built ,4^ 

Bossy,  also  sample  of  Old-Time 

Fence |<jg 

McFarland  Murderers  and  their 

Victims J50 

The  Muehlenbacher  Home'. 157 

Margaritha's  House .'."  "  if,s 

Mail  Station  at  Elm  Creek    ..  "04 

Bill  Cole's  Last  Drive 2O8 

Turkey  Mountains 213 

Mexican  Burros •'.'  013 

Mexican  Oven  and  Adobe  House.  216 

Goat  Curio.sity ^hq 


2250 


.  W