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1401619 


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GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


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,,,,, ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


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833  01103  1215 


THE   HISTORY 


OF 


^Anderson    County, 


K  A  :n'  S  A  s , 


FROM  ITS  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  TO  THE  FOlltTIl 

OF  JULY,  1876. 


BY 

W.  A.    TOHNSON 


CHAIRMAN     OF     HISTORICAL    COinriTTKK. 


PUBLISHED  BY 
KAUFFMAN  &  ILER,  Garnett  Plaindealhk, 

1877. 


Eutered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1877,  l)y 

KAUFFMAN  &  ILEH, 
In  the  office  of  tlie  Librarian  of  Congress,  Washington.  1),  C. 


1401619 


CITIZENS'  MEETINGS. 


On  the  13th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1876,  there  was 
a  meeting  of  citizens  of  Anderson  county  at  the 
county  hall  in  Garnett  (commonly  known  as  the 
"old  settlers'  meeting"),  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
the  necessary  steps  to  prepare,  compile  and  publish 
a  full  and  complete  history  of  the  county  from  its 
earliest  settlement  to  the  4th  day  of  July,  1876. 

At  this  meeting  a  committee  of  sixteen  per- 
sons, selected  from  different  parts  of  the  County,  was 
appointed,  and  instructed  to  collect  all  matters  and 
items  of  interest  in  their  respective  localities,  and  re- 
port at  a  future  meeting.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  gentlemen  appointed  :  W.  A.  John- 
son, S.  Kauffman,  A.  Simons,  J.  W.  Vaughn,  John 
Moler,  B.  M.  Lingo,  J.  H.  Wolken,  Zar  Bennett, 
A.  G.  West,  T.  J.  Day,  M.  E.  Osborn,  Wm.  Denny, 
C.  E.  Dewey,  Preston  Bowen,  J.  Y.  Campbell,  I. 
P.  Sutton. 

This  committee  organized  by  thb  election  of  Solo- 
mon Kauffman,  chairman,  and  Charles  E.  Dewe}-, 
secretar}',  and  adjourned  to  meet  on  the  following 
Saturday,  May  20,  to  receive  reports  from  the  sev- 
eral members  thereof. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  committee,  May 
20,  an  executive  committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  W.  A.  Johnson,  A.  Simons,  J.  Y.  Camp- 
bell, Dr.  Preston  Bowen,  Charles  E.  Dewey  and 
Solomon  Kauffman,  who    were  instructed    by   the 


4  CITIZENS     MEETINGS. 

original  committee  to  receive  the  reports  of  members 
of  the  historical  committee,  and  to  collect  from  all 
available  sources  all  facts  and  matters  of  interest 
necessary  to  form  the  basis  of  the  history,  to  write 
up,  compile  and  prepare  the  same  for  publication, 
delegating  to  the  executive  committee  full  authority 
to  select  from  their  number,  or  outside  of  the  com- 
mittee, a  suitable  person  or  persons  as  historians  to 
write  up  and  prepare  the  same  for  publication,  and 
to  publish  the  history  in  book  or  pamphlet  form. 

The  committee  organized  by  the  election  of  W. 
A.  Johnson,  chairman,  and  Solomon  Kauffman, 
secretary,  and  proceeded  to  appoint  the  necessary 
committees,  and  to  apportion  the  work  among  them. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee (June  24),  W.  A.  Johnson  was  selected  as 
the  historian,  to  compile  and  write  up  from  the  ma- 
terial furnished,  and  from  the  records  and  other 
sources,  and  complete  the  history,  the  committee  to 
give  every  assistance  in  their  power  in  the  collec- 
tion of  material  for  the  same. 

The  manuscript  being  prepared  and  ready  fo4- 
publication,  a  meeting  of  the  executive  committee 
was  called  (January  27,  1877),  to  provide  for  its 
publication.  There  being  no  funds  in  the  hands  of 
the  committee,  the  following  proposition,  presented 
by  the  firm  of  Kauffman  &  Her,  was  accepted  : 

"That  if  the  executive  committee  will  turn  over  to  Kautt- 
mau  &  Her  a  subscrii)tion  list  of  125  hooks,  at  $1.25  per 
copy,  that  they  will  publish  500  copies  of  the  history,  of  the 
style  heretofore  agreed  upon,  cloth  bindino',  and  of  the 
manuscript  prepared  by  W.  A.  Johnson,  and  supposed  to 
make  about  2.50  pa<>"es,  and  will  sell  the  same  at  $1.25  per 
copy,  witliout  any  further  expense  to  the  said  committee.*" 

W.  A.  Johnson,  Chairman. 
Solomon  Kauffman,  Secretar3^ 


ANDERSON  COUNTY 


Anderson  county  is  located  in  the  second  tier  of 
counties  west  from  Missouri,  tifty  miles  south  of  the 
Kansas  river,  and  seventy  miles  north  of  the  Indian 
Territorv.  It  is  twenty-four  miles  square,  contains 
live  hundred  and  seventy-six  square  miles,  and  is 
well  supplied  with  water  by  the  follo\N'ing  streams  : 
North  Pottowatomie,  tiowinn-  across  the  northern 
portion,  with  the  following  tributaries  in  the  north 
and  west :  Sac  creek,  lanthe  creek,  Kenoma  creek, 
Elm  creek,  Thomas  creek  and  Cherry  creek  :  Cedar 
creek  and  South  Pottowatomie,  rising  in  the  cen- 
tral portion,  flowing  north  into  the  North  Pottowato- 
mie :  Suirar  creek  with  its  numerous  branches,  in  the 
eastern  portion,  flowing  east  into  Linn  county;  the 
Little  Osage  river,  with  its  numerous  tributaries,  in 
the  southeast,  flowing  southeast  through  Bourbon 
countv  :  Deer  and  Indian  creeks,  flowing  south 
through  Allen  county.  These  are  all  streams  of 
pure,  living  water,  abounding  with  fine  tish.  Along 
most  of  these  streams  abundance  of  good  timber  is 
found,  consistino-  of  black  walnut,  burr  oak,  red  oak, 
hickory,  elm,  hackberrv,  svcamore,  hard  and  soft 
maple,  basswood,  Cottonwood,  wild  cherry,  locust 


6  ANDERSON    COUNTY. 

and  mulberry.  The  alluvium  or  bottom  prairies  are 
found  along  all  of  these  streams,  being  as  tine  quality 
of  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  State,  the  soil  be- 
ing from  two  to  live  feet  deep.  The  general  sur- 
face of  the  country  is  a  gentle,  rolling  prairie,  with  a 
few  steep  hills  or  bluffs,  interspersed  with  many 
beautiful  mounds  and  high  ridges.  The  soil  is  of 
fine  quality,  and  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  grow- 
ing of  the  cereals,  fruit,  hemp,  flax,  tobacco,  pota- 
toes, castor  beans,  broom  corn  and  every  variety  of 
products  commonly  grown  in  this  latitude. 

A  superior  quality  of  sand  stone,  for  building  pur- 
poses, is  found  in  the  western  and  central  parts  of 
the  county.  Limestone  is  found  in  most  portions. 
A  fair  quality  of  stone  coal  is  found  in  the  north- 
western and  southeastern  portions. 

Bottom  land,  lo  per  cent.  :  upland,  90  per  cent.  ; 
timber,  6  per  cent.  ;  prairie,  94  per  cent.  ;  average 
width    of   bottom,    about  two    miles. 

A  more  specific  description  of  the  different  por- 
tions of  the  county  will  be  found  in  the  chapters  re- 
lating to  the  different  townships. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTp:k  I. 

FIRST  SETTLEAfENTS. 

History  of  the  First  Settleiiiont  by  the  Pottowatoiuie 
Imliaus  in  1837 — Their  Removal  in  1854— First  Settle- 
ment by  Whites  in  18o4, 17 

CHAPTER  II. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Organization  of  the  Territory — The  several  Eleotious 
in  185.5-6 — Organization  of  Anderson  County.       -        ^i 

CHAPTER  HI. 

EARLY    INCIDENTS. 

Appointment  of  County  Officers — Loeatino-  First 
County  Road — Locating-  Permanent  County  Seat — 
First  Term  of  District  Court — Organization  of  Potto- 
watomie  Rifle  Company — They  Break  up  Gate's  Court 
at  Shermanville, 29 

CHAPTER  IV. 

NOTED  SETTLERS,  ELECTIONS,  BORDER  RUFFIANS. 

Xoted  Settlers  of  185.5— Election  of  Delegates  to  To- 
peka  Constitutional  Convention — Election  on  Adop- 
tion of  Constitution — Election  of  State  Officers  under 
Topeka  Constitution — Noted  Settlers  of  1856— Terri- 
tory Overrun  with  Border  Ruffians— The  Probate 
Judge,  County  Commissioners  and  Sheriff  Flee  the 
Country — John  Brown  Avitli  his  Company  Marching- 
to  the  Rescue  of  Lawrence— United  States  Troops 
Sent  to  Pottowatomie,       ------       35 


8  CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTEH  V. 

I'OTTOWATO.AriK  (ilAUDS.    KIKST  CKLKUK  AT  I  OX,  I{ATT1>K.S, 

SIKKEHINO, 

Orjifauization  of  I'ottt>\vat()iiiie  (riiards — Colebnition  of 
Fourth  of  July,  IH06 — Strtig<>le  between  Free  State 
Men  and  Border  Ruffians— Battle  of  :Middle  Creek- 
How  a  Ivuffian  Lost  his  Nose — lin'id  on  Pottowatoniie 
— Battle  of  Osawatoniie — (ireat  Suftei-in«<  ainon": 
Settlers.  _._-----  4.) 

CH  A I'TEIJ   VI. 

NEW    SpyrTLHKS,    TOWNSITKS.    STEAM    MILL. 

Arrival  of  C.  E.  Dewey  and  Party  from  Ohio— First 
Settlement  on  South  Pottowatoniie — Death  of  Bear — 
Survey  of  (lovernment  Land — Location  of  Kansas 
City, or  lanthe,Townsite — Selection  of  Garnett  Town- 
site — Arrival  of  Louisville  Colony,  with  Machinery 
for  Steam  Mill — Prominent  Settlers  of  (iarnett  in 
1858-9.  -     '  -        -         -         -      '  -         -         -        -         56 

CHAPTER   VH. 

I'OMTIC'AIi    MEETINGS.     COUNTY      OFFICERS,     ELECTIONS. 
CELEBRATION,    SICKNESS. 

Mass  Meetiuy  at  Hyatt — First  Meetinii'  in  (iarnett — 
County  Officers  Appointed — Election  of  Delegates 
to  Lecompton  Constitutional  Convention — Free  State 
Convention  at  Sac  and  Fox  Agency — Celebration  of 
the  Fourth  of  July  at  (xreeley — Dividing  the  ('ounty 
intoMunicii)al  Townships — Free  State  Conventionsat 
Simons"  and  at  Hyatt — First  Election  for  County 
Officers — \^)te  of  the  I'recincts,  except  Shannon, 
thrown  out  by  Prol)ate  Judge — Letter  Giving 
Reasons  for  Same — Free  State  Convention  at  (Grass- 
hopper Falls — Sickness  in  the  Fall  of  1857.       -        -       67 


CONTENTS.  Q 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Er.ECTIONS,    PROBATE    COURT,    PUBLIC   BUILDINGS. 

(^inimissioners  to  Attend  Voting-  Precincts— Election 
under  Leconipton  Constitution— Resignation  of 
(bounty  Otficers— Appointment  of  Agent  to  Contest 
Claim— Election  of  Delegates  to  LeavenAvortli  Con- 
stitutional Convention— Election  of  County  Otficers 
—Election  on  Leavenworth  Constitution— Jurisdic- 
tion of  Probate  Courts— Troubles  in  West  Part  of 
the  County— Contract  to  Erect  Public  Buildins's- 
Vote  on  Leconipton  Constitution,         _         .         .         ^8 

CHAPTER  IX. 

CONVENTIONS,       ELECTIONS,       MAIL       ROUTES,       BORDER 
TROUBLES,  REPUBLICAN  MEETING. 

Convention  at  (3ttumwa— Election  of  Members  of  Ter- 
ritorial Legislature— J]stablishing  Mail  Routes  in 
Southern  Kansas— Free  State  Men  Called  on  to  De- 
fend Settlers  in  the  Border  Counties — Posse  fronj 
Coftey  County  Arrests  Settlers  of  Anderson  County — 
Burning-  of  Painter's  and  P'ox's  Cabin  by  a  Mob— 
Marais  des  Cygne  Massacre — John  Brown's  Parallels 
— Liberation  of  Slaves — Squatters'  Court  Organized 
in  Anderson,  Linn  and  other  (bounties- P'irst  Meet- 
ing- of  the  Republicans  of  Anderson  County,        -        97 

CHAPTER  X. 

POISONING,    HORSE  STEALING,  MURDERS,  TRIALS. 

Attempt  to  Poison  Banta — Trial  of  Theodore  Royer  for 
Horse  Stealing- — His  Suspicious  Disappearance — Mar- 
riage of  Leon  Phillips  and  Sarah  Potter — His  Death — 
Her  Arrest  for  Murder — Examination,  Escape,  Re- 
turn, Re-arrest  and  Trial — Murder  of  James  Lo wry — 
Trial  of  his  Murderers — Conviction  of  Ford — His  Par- 
don by  the  Governor — Trial  and  Acquittal  of  Tuste- 
son  and  Knouft" — Murder  of  Mrs.  Adaline  Duren — 
Capture  and  Execution  of  the  Murderer,  -  -  112 
2 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TAX,       VALUATION,        ROADS,       ELECTIONS,       POLITICAIi, 

DROUTH. 

First  Tax  Levy — Valuation  on  First  Assessment — Ap- 
pointment of  County  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction— Location  of  Territorial  Roads — Election  of 
Delegates  to  the  Wyandotte  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion— Adoption  of  the  Constitution — Organization  of 
Political  Parties— Election  of  State  and  County  Offi- 
cers—Drouth of  1860,  &c., 123 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    WEATHER,    FIRES,  INDIANS. 

Severity  of  the  Winters  of  1865-6  and  1866-7,  and  Mild- 
ness of  those  of  1857-8  and  1858-9 — Prairie  Fires— Sac 
and  Fox  Indians, -        -       136 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

BRIGHT  AND    GLOOMY    PROSPECTS,    RAILROAD    COMPAN- 
IES, VOLUNTEERS,  NEW    PARTY. 

Bright  Prospects  of  1858-9 — Organization  of  Railroad 
Companies — Gloomy  Forebodings  of  1860 — Relief 
Committees — Organization  of  Volunteer  Companies 
— Hardships  Endured  by  the  Women  of  the  County — 
Organization  of  New  Party,  Called  "  Farmers'  and 
Mechanics'  Union  Association" — Election  in  1861,      139 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

SENATORS,     REPRESENTATIVES,     JUDGES,    COUNTY    OFFI- 
CERS. 

Successive  State  Senators — Members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives — Judges  of  the  District  Court — 
County  Officers, 149 


CONTENTS.  II 

CHAPTER  XV. 

ACCIDENTS    AND    MISFORTUNES. 

Shooting  of  Tipsword — DroAv^ning  of  Lester  Dart — 
Christian  Feuerborn  Killed  by  Indians — Josiah  Kel- 
lerman,  his  A\^ife  and  two  Children  Burned  to  Death 
in  a  Prairie  Fire — James  A.  Town  and  Son  Drowned 
in  Pottowatomie  Creek — Levi  L.  Hayden  frozen  to 
Death,  &c., 162 

CHAPTER  XVL 

AID    TO    RAILROADS. 

Various  Bond  Propositions  to  Aid  Railroad  Compan- 
ies to  Build  Railroads — The  Orders  for  Submission 
and  the  Result  of  the  Elections  thereon,       -        -       160 

CHAPTER  XVn.  ' 

GARNETT,  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS,  BUSINESS  MEN,  OFFICERS. 

Contest  over  Townsite — Removal  of  J.  Y.  Campbell, 
Probate  Judge — Appointment  of  Charles  Hidden — 
Pre-emption  of  Townsite — Public  Buildings — Busi- 
ness Houses — Business  Men — Successive  City  Officers 
and  Postmasters,       -        - 169 

CHAPTER  XVm. 

NEWSPAPERS,  FAIR  ASSOCIATION,  RAILWAYS,  SOCIETIES, 

POSTOFFICES. 

The  Garnett  Plaindealer,  the  First  Paper  in  the  County 
— Garnett  Courant,  Established  in  1868— Garnett 
Journal,  Established  in  1873— Organization  of  Ander- 
son County  Fair  Association— Organization  of  the 
Paola  &  Fall  River  Railway  Company— Charitable 
Societies — Postofflces  and  Postmasters,         -        -        188 


12  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

CATTLE    DISEASE,    GRASSHOPPERS,    THE    SEASONS. 

Spanish  Fevor  among"  Cattle — Locusts,  or  Grasshop- 
pers— Synopsis  of  the  Seasons,        -        -        -        -       194 

CHAPTER  XX. 

CHURCHPJS,    SCHOOI.S. 

Religious  Zeal  of  the  Early  Settlers — Churches— Educa- 
tional Interests — Formation  of  School  Districts — 
Building  School  Houses — Value  of  School  Buildings, 
&c.,        ' -        -  201 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

PROMINENT   MEN. 

Names  of  Prominent  Men,  and  Incidents,        -        -        205 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

MURDERS    AND    TRIALS. 

Murder  of  Allen  G.  Poteet — Escape  of  his  Murderer — 
Murder  of  James  Jackson  by  D.  R.  Pattee — Murder 
of  James  Day  by  David  Stewart — Murder  of  A\^illiam 
Hamilton  by  John  AV".  Chamberlain — Trial  of  Dr. 
Medlicott  for  the  Murder  of  I.  M.  Ruth,       -        -       222 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE   ARMY. 

Names  of  Soldiers  who  Served  in  the  Army  for  the  Sup- 
pression of  the  Rebellion — Names  of  the  Heroic 
Dead  who  Sacriticed  their  Lives  in  the  cause  of  their 
Country, 229 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FELONIES. 

Trials  of  Felonies,  less  than  Murder,        -        .        -       239 


CONTENTS.  13 

CHAPTEH   XXV. 

WALICEU    TOWNSHIP. 

Organization — Settlement— Prominent  Men — Electiou.s 
— Successive  Otticers.        -..-._        245 

CHAPTEH   XXVI. 

MOXKOE    TOWX.SHIl'. 

Organization  —  Settlement  —  Towns  —  Elections — Suc- 
cessive Otiicers,         -.--_..        2oo 

CHAPTEH  XXVIi. 

JACK.SOX     TOWNSHIP. 

IJoiiiularies — Organization — Streams — Soil  —  Timber- 
Prominent  Settlers  from  18o5  to  1860 — First  School — 
First  Marriage — First  Deaths— Successive  Otficers,    259 

CHAPTEH  XXV HI. 

REEDER   TOWNSHIP. 

Early  Settlements  —  Boundaries  —  Organization^OtH- 
cers,  etc.,  -         __-.---         263 

CHAPTEH  XXIX. 

WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Organization — Streams — Timber — Settlement — Succes- 
sive Officers,  -         -         .         .        -        -        -  27-4 

CHAPTEH  XXX. 

PUTNAM    TOWNSHIP. 

Organization — Prominent  Settlers — First  School  Dis- 
trict—First Church  Building— Mount  Carmel  College 
— Successive  Officers.        ------       279 


14  CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

lilNCOIvN   TOWNSHIP. 

Houuclaries — Org'anization — Prominent   Settlers — Elba 
Town  Company — Successive  Officers,         -         -         281 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

OZARK    TOWNSHIP, 

Urg-anization — Streams — First  Election — Town  of  Col- 
ony— Ohio  and  Indiana  Colony — ^Snccessive  Officers,  283 

CHAPTER  XXXHI. 

RICH   TOWNSHIP. 

Boundaries — Soil — Streams — Timber — Coal — Early  Set- 
tlers—First  Election — Successive  Officers,       -       -      286 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

INDIAN    CREEK    TOWNSHIP, 

Organization — First    Settlement — Soil — Streams — Suc- 
cessive Officers, -        288 


INTRODUCTION. 


On  the  24th  of  June,  1876,  I  was  selected  bv  the  histori- 
cal committee  to  write  out  and  prepare  for  publication  a 
history  of  the  county  from  its  tirst  settlement  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  1  accepted  the  appointment,  and  at  once  en- 
tered upon  the  work  of  collecting  the  incidents  connected 
with  the  settlement  of  the  territory  now  embraced  within 
the  limits  of  Anderson  county.  The  settlement  of  this 
portion  of  the  Territory  followed  so  closely  on  the  pass- 
age by  Congress  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  with  the  re- 
peal of  the  Missouri  compromise,  that  many  incidents  of 
the  early  struggles  of  this  section  have  undergone  Con- 
gressional investigations,  and  have  consequently  already 
passed  into  our  national  history. 

In  order  to  give  a  full  and  complete  history  of  the  tirst 
settlement  of  the  county,  I  commenced  with  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Pottowatomie  Indians,  in  1837,  and  their  nu- 
merous settlements  along  the  Pottowatomies  since,  with 
their  removal,  and  the  first  white  settlements,  in  1854,  and 
have  carefully  written  up  the  many  thrilling  adventures 
and  hardships  encountered  by  the  bold  and  hardy  pioneers 
who  left  their  homes  in  civilized  communities  and  took  up 
their  line  of  march  in  covered  wagons,  across  the  path- 
less prairies  and  through  the  wild  jungles  that  lay  in  their 
course,  until  their  arrival  at  their  new  and  romantic  set- 
tlements, where  they  intended  to  make  their  future  homes, 
and  to  help  open  up  the  wild  prairies  and  beautiful  valleys 
and  establish  freedom,  and  make  it  a  civilized  community 
and  a  desirable  country  for  future  generations.  The  bitter 
controversy  between  contending  parties  in  the  tirst  settle- 
ment of  the  Territory — one  intent  upon  establishing  a 
government  for  the  new  State  recognizing  and  sustaining 
the  institution  of  slavery  ;  the  other  contending  for  a  gov- 
ernment recognizing  the  freedom  of  all  mankind,  as  free 
and  equal  under  the  law — has  been  touched  upon.  I  have 
also  given  the  first  settlements  in  the  different  portions  of 
the   county ;   the  selection  of  townsites,  their  settlement 


l6  INTRODUCTION. 

iiiid  i)i'()»i,ress,  or  docline.  as  the  lacts  required :  the  locit- 
tion  and  settlement  of  ditterent  colonies,  with  a  l)rief 
sketch  of  the  more  noted  settlers  prior  to  1860;  the  many 
elections  in  Territorial  days:  mass  meetings,  i)olitical  con- 
ventions, railroad  meetings,  oi-ganization  of  railread  com- 
panies, locating-  roads  and  postotRces.  location  of  county 
seats,  tirst  term  of  court,  and  the  manner  in  which  busi- 
ness was  conducted  in  the  courts  for  sevei'al  years  ;  dividing' 
the  county  into  municiijal  townships  and  school  districts, 
the  building:  of  school  houses,  church  organizations  and 
building"  church  editices,  giving  names  of  the  successive 
state  senators,  representatives,  judges  of  the  district  court 
and  county  otficers,  from  the  organization  of  the  county 
to  the  present  time,  with  dates  of  election  or  appointment, 
and  the  time  served  by  each;  a  brief  stateuu-nt  of  the 
organization  of  each  township,  its  setthunents  and  suc- 
(•essive  township  otticers ;  also,  a  synopsis  of  seasons, 
crops,  visitation  of  locusts  or  grasshoppers,  Spanish  fever 
aniong  cattle,  and  the  full  particulars  of  all  the  murders 
and  murder  trials  in  the  county.  1  have  carefully  i)re- 
pared  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  brave  men  wiio  served  in 
the  army  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion,  giving  the 
company  and  regiment  in  which  each  served ;  also  the 
nauH's  of  the  iieroic  dead  who  sacriticed  their  lives  in  the 
service  of  their  country. 

I  have  endeavored  to  furnish  a  true  and  impartial  his- 
tory of  the  county  from  its  tirst  settlement  to  the  present, 
and  in  as  brief  a  uumner  as  possible  to  do  justice  to  all.  In 
the  preparation  of  this  history,  I  (tollected  the  facts  from 
the  imperfect  and  partial  records  of  the  county,  and  de- 
tached papers  in  the  county  otUces.  from  tiles  of  old  new's- 
papers,  old  letters,  and  fn)ui  the  recollection  of  numy  of 
the  early  settlers,  as  well  as  my  own  recollection. 

The  design  of  this  history  is  to  preserve  for  the  i)eople 
of  Anderson  county  an  imperishable  record  of  its  (  arly 
history,  now  existing  only  in  the  memory  of  its  earliest 
settlers  and  in  scattereil  and  detached  papers  and  records, 
which  are  now  fast  wasting  away. 

I  have  tried  to  avoid  partiality  or  favor  to  any  particular 
person  or  place.  VVhat  I  have  written  has  been  with  a  de- 
sire to  present  the  facts,  and  I  now  present  these  matters 
to  the  public  for  their  candid  perusal  and  unbiased  judg- 
ment, hoping  that  it  will  meet  the  api)roval  of  my  fellow 
citizens  who  have  helped  contribute  to  the  transactions 
that  uo  to  make  up  this  histcu-v.  W.  A.  JOIINSOX. 


HISTORY  OF 


ANDERSON  COUNTY,  KANSAS. 


CHAPTER  I, 


History  of  the  Fif-st  Settlement  hy  the  Pottowat- 
o»iie  Indians y  in  iSjy — Thei?-  Removal,  in  18^4. — 
Fi?-st  Settlenient  by   Whites,  in  iSj^. 

In  1837  the  United  States  removed  the  Pottowat- 
omie  Indians  of  Indiana  to  a  tract  of  country  on  the 
Osage  river,  sufficient  in  extent  and  in  every  way 
adapted  to  their  habits  and  necessities.  When  thev 
arrived  on  the  Osage,  or  Marais  des  Cygne,  river 
a  reservation  of  ten  miles  square  had  been  set  off 
near  Osawatomie,  as  a  missionary  reserve  for  the 
various  Indian  tribes  settled  on  the  Osage  river.  The 
earlv  maps  of  Kansas  Territory  show  the  location  of 
this  reservation.  The  Pottowatomie  Indians  had 
their  principal  village  at  what  is  now  known  as  Dutch 
Henry  crossing  of  the  Pottowatomie,  a  stream  that 
waters  the  entire  northern  portion  of  Anderson 
3 


l8  HISTORY    OF 

county,  which  received  its  name  from  the  Pottowat- 
omie  tribe,  on  their  first  arrival  in  the  Territory. 

Soon  after  they  were  located  here  they  began  to 
extend  their  settlement  south  and  west,  along  the 
several  tributaries  of  the  Pottowatomie.  In  1S3S 
they  made  some  improvements  on  the  present  town- 
site  of  Greeley  ;  and  in  the  neighborhood  above  they 
built  some  bark  shanties,  put  some  small  pieces  of 
land  in  cultivation,  and  planted  some  peach  trees. 
This  was  the  first  settlement  of  any  kind  in  the  ter- 
ritorial limits  of  what  now  constitutes  Anderson 
county. 

The  Pottovvatomies  remained  in  this  locality  until 
the  spring  of  1854,  when  they  were  removed  to  that 
portion  of  country  known  as  Pottowatomie  county, 
where  they  owned  a  large  tract  of  land.  These  In- 
dians had  numerous  missionaries  of  the  Baptist  and 
Methodist  denominations  stationed  among  them. 

When  the  first  whites  settled  in  Anderson  county, 
in  the  spring  of  1854,  ^^*^y  found  some  of  the  Indian 
cabins,  and  old  fields  that  they  had  cultivated.  Some 
of  their  peach  trees  remained  on  the  creek  for  sev- 
eral years  afterward. 

In  the  early  part  of  May,  1854,  ^'""^  ^^'^^  white 
settlements  were  commenced  on  the  Pottowatomie, 
in  the  neighborhood  where  the  town  of  Greeley  is 
now  situated.  Valentine  Gerth  and  Francis  Myer 
were  the  first  white  settlers  in  the  territory  now  in- 
cluded in  Anderson  county.  They  came  from  Mis- 
souri, and  settled  on  the  present  townsite  of  Greeley, 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  ig 

early  in  May,  and  planted  a  crop  of  corn,  on  an  old 
Indian  field,  and  raised  a  fair  crop  therefrom.  They 
were  young  men,  without  families.  Henry  Harmon 
came  with  his  family,  and  setded  near  the  junction 
of  the  Pottowatomies,  north  of  the  present  town  of 
Greeley.  He  came  a  few  days  later  than  Gerth  and 
Myer.  Oliver  P.  Ran  setded  in  the  Sutton  valley 
the  same  spring.  During  the  summer  and  fall  fol- 
lowing a  few  more  settlers  came  and  made  settle- 
ment in  the  same  neighborhood,  among  whom  were 
Henderson  Rice,  J.  S.  Waitman,W.  D.  West,  Thos. 
Totton,  i\nderson  Cassel  and  Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick. 

In  the  winter  of  1854  ^"<^  ^^55  ^  number  of  Ger- 
mans from  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  came  to  the  Territory 
and  located  on  the  South  Pottowatomie,  above  Gree- 
ley— took  claims,  and  built  several  cabins  of  poles. 
These  cabins  extended  as  far  up  the  stream  as  the 
timber  was  desirable — they  selected  the  most  desir- 
able timber  claims  on  the  creek.  They  returned  to 
St.  Louis  early  in  the  spring  of  1855,  but,  on  account 
of  the  troubles  in  the  Territory,  they  never  came 
back  ;  and  the  settlers  who  came  in  the  spring  and 
summer  of  1855  moved  into  their  cabins  and  occu- 
pied their  claims. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  after  the  Indians  had  re- 
moved from  the  Pottowatomie,  the  territorv  now 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  Anderson  county  was 
entirely  uninhabited  ;  not  a  human  being  resided 
within  an}^  portion  of  its  territory  ;  it  was  one  vast 
unoccupied  space.     Not  a   single  road   entered  its 


20  HISTORY   OK 

territorial  domain  to  guide  the  loneh'  emigrant  in 
search  of  a  home,  or  to  direct  his  weary  footsteps 
over  the  prairies,  or  to  disclose  to  him  the  places  to 
cross  the  streams.  The  Indians,  their  missionaries, 
their  traders,  and  the  general  loafers  around  Indian 
camps,  had  all  gone.  Everything  about  their  for- 
mer abode  was  dismal,  and  a  gloomy  solitude  per- 
vaded the  former  homes  of  the  noble  red  men  of  the 
forest. 

The  prairie  had  put  on  its  green  vesture,  the  trees 
were  just  putting  forth  their  foliage,  the  beautiful 
landscapes  were  clothed  in  their  habiliments  of 
green,  the  breezes  were  freighted  with  the  fragrance 
of  the  numerous  wild  flowers — all  combined  to  make 
it  a  most  desirable  location  ;  and  when  the  emigrant 
in  search  of  a  new  home  came  in  sight  of  these  beau- 
tiful scenes,  he  exclaimed,  I  have  found  the  place 
where  I  will  make  my  future  home  ;  here  will  I  set- 
tle, erect  my  dwelling  house,  make  a  farm,  call  my 
family  around  me — will  help  build  up  a  prosperous 
country.  We  find  everything  in  nature  here  to  make 
being  happy  and  life  desirable. 

J.  G.  Whittier,  in  his  poem  entitled  "The  Kansas 
Emigrants,"  has  most  beautifully  described  the  feel- 
ings and  sentiments  of  the  early  emigrants  : 

THE  KANSAS  EMKiRANTS. 

\V(^  cross  tlie  pniiric  us  ol"  old 

Tlic  j)ilo-i-iins  crossed  tlic  sea. 
To  make  tlio   West,  as  tlicy.tlu'   Kast. 

Tho  lioiiiestoad  of  tli(>  free! 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  21 

"We  <i"o   Id   rear  a   wall   of  men 

On    I'^rccdoiii's  soiitlicrii   line. 
And  i)lant   beside  tlie  rottoii  In-c 

'llie    nijiired    XoiMlieiii    pine  I 

^Ve"^e  l]<t\\  inji'  rroin  our  nali\('  liills 

As  our  free   rivers   (io\\  ; 
"I'lie  l)lessin<r  of  our  iiiolli<'i--Ianil 

Is  on    us  as  we  ^^o. 

\\'(>  ^"o  {<>  i)lanl    lior  eonuuon  si-liools 

On  distant    i)rairie  swells. 
And  ji^ive  tlie  Sahliatlis  ol"  tlie   wild 

Tiie  music  of  licr  hells. 

l'pi)earinii\   like  tlie   Ark   of  old. 

'I'lie   I>il)le  in  oui"  van. 
We  <ro  to  test  the  truth  of  (iod 

Aj<"ainst   the  fraud  of  man. 

>»o  i)ause.  nor  rest,  save   where   the  streams 

'I'hat   U'i'd   the   Kansas  run. 
Save   whero  oui"   Pilj^i'im   "Oiifalon 

Shall    th»ut   the  settinji'  ■■<"ii  I 

\V'e"ll   tread   tlw  prairie  as  of  old 

Our  fathers  sailed  the  sea, 
And   make  the   West,  as  they   the   Kast, 

'I'lie   homestead   of  the  frc^e  I 


CHAPTER  II. 

Organization  of  the  Territory — The  Several 
Elections  in  iSjj-6 — Organization  of  Anderson 
County^  'January  7,  iS^6. 

The  bill  omanizina"  the  Territories  oi  Nebraska 
and  Kansas  passed  Congress  May  24,  1854,  "^^^  ^'^'^'^ 
signed  by  Franklin  Pierce,  President,  on  the  30th  of 
the  same  month. 

On  the  29th  day  of  June  President  Pierce  com- 
missioned Andrew  H.  Reeder  as  Governor,  and 
Daniel  Woodson  as  Secretary  of  the  Territory-  of 
Kansas.  Reeder  qualified  as  Governor  on  the  yth 
of  July,  b}'  taking  the  oath  of  office  before  Peter  V. 
Daniels,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the*  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  in  Washington,  D.  C. 

On  the  7th  of  October  Gov.  Reeder  arrived  in 
Kansas,  and  established  the  executive  office  at  Fort 
Leavenworth. 

On  November  8  the  Territory  was  divided  into 
sixteen  election  districts  by  the  Governor.  The  ter- 
ritory which  is  now  included  in  Anderson  county 
was  in  the  Fifth  district,  which  had  four  voting  pre- 
cincts, as  follows  :  Bull  Creek,  Pottowatomie  Creek, 
Big  Sugar  Creek  and  Little  Sugar  Creek.  The 
Pottowatomie  precinct  was  located  at  the  house  of 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  2"^ 

Henry  Sherman,  near  what  is  known  as  Dutch 
Henry  crossing  of  the  Pottowatomie,  in  Frankhn 
county. 

The  tirst  election  ever  held  in  the  Territory  was 
on  the  29th  of  November,  1854.  This  was  an  elec- 
tion for  a  delegate  to  Congress.  At  this  election 
there  were  63  Pro-Slavery  and  4  Free  State  votes 
cast  at  the  Pottowatomie  precinct.  The  following 
persons  of  Anderson  county  voted  at  this  election  : 
Henderson  Rice,  J.  S.  Waitman,  W.  D.  West  and 
Thomas  Totton. 

On  the  22d  da}'  of  January,  1855,  Gov.  Reeder 
issued  precepts  to  certain  persons  to  take  a  census 
of  the  Territory.  The  census  of  this  district  was 
taken  by  C.  W.  Babcock.  The  following  were  the 
names  returned  from  Anderson  count}' :  Francis 
Myer,  Valentine  Gerth  and  John  C.  Clark. 

On  the  28th  of  February  Gov.  Reeder  issued  a 
proclamation  calling  an  election  for  members  of  a 
Territorial  I^egislature  to  be  held  March  30,  1855. 
The  following  persons  were  elected  from  the  Fifth 
district :  A.  M.  Coffev  and  David  Lykins,  as  coun- 
cilmen,  and  Allen  Wilkerson  and  H.  W.  Yonger  as 
members  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  The 
following  persons  voted,  at  this  election,  from  An- 
derson county :  A.  Cassel,  V.  Gerth  and  Henry 
Harmon.  This  election  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Henry  Sherman.  There  were  at  this  time  about  50 
legal  votes  in  the  precinct,  and  the  poll-book  re- 
turned  to   the    Governor   showed    199    Pro-Slavery 


24  IirSTOKV    OK 

votes  from  the  precinct.  Most  of  the  legal  voters 
did  not  attend  the  polls,  considering  the  election  a 
farce.  A  majority  of  those  who  did  vote  were  resi- 
dent voters  of  Missouri,  who  returned  homeward  on 
the  ne.\'t  day.  Thev  came  on  horseback,  in  wagons 
and  carriages,  well  supplied  with  w^hisky,  bowie- 
knives,  shot-guns  and  revolvers.  The  motley  crowd 
was  composed  of  perhaps  the  most  heterogeneous 
mass  of  living  humanity  that  could  be  collected  in 
any  country.  Some  came  for  political  purposes — to 
make  Kansas  a  slave  State  :  some,  to  drive  out  the 
"cursed  Yankees,'*  whom  they  regarded  as  negro 
thieves  ;  some,  for  the  love  of  adventure  :  and  some 
with  the  intention  of  taking  a  claim  ;  but  far  the 
greater  number  came  with  the  promise  of  all  the 
land  they  needed,  and  plenty  of  whisky  and  bacon 
on  the  journey. 

This  election  for  councilmen  and  representatives 
was  carried  overwhelmingly  by  the  Pro-Sla^'ery 
partv,  and  placed  the  political  power  of  the  Terri- 
tory in  the  hands  of  our  Missouri  neighbors. 

The  Legislature  thus  elected  convened  at  Pawnee 
City,  on  the  Kansas  river,  about  one  hundred  mileis 
west  from  the  Missouri  border.  It  was  immediately 
adjourned,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  to  the  Shawnee 
Manuel  Labor  School  Mission,  three  miles  west  of 
Westport,  Mo.,  and  there  passed  the  tirst  code  of 
laws  for  the  Territory,  commonly  known  as  the 
"  bogus  laws." 

On  the  ist  day  of  October,  1855,  an  election  was 


ANDERSON  COUNTY. 


25 


held  for  the  election  of  a  delegate  to  Congress.  There 
were  only  nine  votes  polled  at  the  Pottowatomie  pre- 
cinct. At  this  election  Andrew  H.  Reeder  and  J. 
H.  Whitfield  were  the  candidates.  Whitfield  re- 
ceived the  entire  vote  at  Pottowatomie  precinct.  The 
Free  State  men  did  not  participate  in  this  election. 
The  only  person  voting  from  i\nderson  countv  at 
this  election  was  Geo.  Wilson.  Samuel  Mack  was 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  election,  but  refused  to  vote, 
deeming  the  election  a  farce,  and  an  outrage  on  the 
Free  State  men  of  the  Territory,  as  all  the  elections 
had  been  carried  by  fraud  of  the  most  outrageous 
kind. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  of  1855  defined  the 
boundaries  of  the  countv.  Up  to  that  time  there  had 
been  no  countv  lines  established,  and  elections  had 
been  held  by  districts  established  by  the  Governor. 

The  boundary  of  Anderson  county  was  established 
as  follows :  Beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Franklin  countv,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
22,  township  19,  range  21  ;  thence  south  24  miles, 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  15,  township  23, 
range  21  ;  thence  west  24  miles,  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  14,  township  23,  range  17  ;  thence 
north  24  miles,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  23, 
township  19,  range  17  :  thence  east  24  miles,  to  the 
place  of  beginning  ;  containing  an  area  of  576  square 
miles.  The  territory  so  bounded  and  designated  was 
then  named  Anderson  county,  in  respect  of  one  Jos. 
,  C.  Anderson,  speaker  pro  tem.  of  the  House  of  the 
4 


26  IIISTORV  OF 

"bogus"  Legislature,  aii(,l  member  from  the  Sixth, 
or  Fort  Scott,  district.  Anderson  was  a  young  law- 
yer, lived  in  Lexington,  Mo.,  and  was  a  handy  tool 
tor  the  Pr()-Slaver\-  party,  and  always  ready  to  do 
their  dirty  work. 

The  Territorial  Lemslature  having  defined  the 
boundaries  of  the  several  counties,  it  then  provided 
the  manner  for  the  organization  of  counties,  and  for 
the  election  of  county  officers. 

At  this  session  of  the  Legislature  it  elected  Geo. 
Wilson,  in  joint  session,  as  probate  judge  of  Ander- 
son county.  Wilson  was  then  a  citizen  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  a  pliant  tool  of  the  slave  power.  On  the 
27th  day  of  August,  1855,'  Daniel  Woodson,  Secre- 
tary, and  acting  Governor  of  Kansas  Territory,  com- 
missioned George  Wilson  probate  judge  of  Anderson 
county,  for  a  term  of  two  years.  On  the  ist  day  of 
September,  1855,  Geo.  Wilson  took  and  subscribed 
the  followino"  oath  of  office  : 
"United  States  of  Ami'i-ica.  'I'crrilory  of  Kuiisas,  8fl. 

"1.  (ioorjic  Wilson,  do  solonnily  swear,  upon  the  Holy 
E\;uiii('Iists  of  Aluiijiiity  (iod.  that  I  will  support  the  con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  and  that  I  will  sui)port  and 
sustain  the  i)rovisi()ns  of  an  act  cut  it  led  '  An  act  to  orj^an- 
i/.c  the  'rcrrilorics  oj"  Xehraska  and  Kansas,'  and  the  pi-o- 
visions  of  tlu'  law  of  the  United  States,  coninionly  known 
as  the  fujiitive  slave  law,  and  faithfully  and  impartially,  to 
the  hest  of  my  ahility.  demean  myself  in  the  discharjic  of 
iii\   duties  in  tlie  othce  of  pi'ohaie  jud<J"e.  so  hel[)  nu'  (iod. 

'•(iEOlUiE    WiLSOX. 

''Sworn  and  siil)sci-ilied  before  me.  this  1st  thxy  of  Sep- 
tember, 185.').  Daxikl   Woodsox. 

"Actiny  (iovernoi-." 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  2^ 

Wilson  was  the  first  officer  commissioned  for  the 
county.  A  few  days  after  he  received  his  commis- 
sion and  quahfied  he  started  for  the  county,  and  ar- 
rived at  Henry  Sherman's  house,  in  FrankHn  county, 
on  the  loth  of  September,  where  he  remained  until 
the  15th,  when  he  set  out  for  the  house  of  Francis 
Myer,  near  w^here  the  town  of  Greeley  is  now  situ- 
ated. Wilson  had  designated  Francis  Myer' s  house 
as  the  temporary  county  seat  of  Anderson  county. 
He  had  notified  William  R.  True  and  John  C.  Clark", 
who  had  been  appointed  county  commissioners,  and 
A.  V.  Cummings,  who  had  been  appointed  as  sheriff, 
to  meet  with  him  at  Francis  Myer's  on  the  15th  of 
September,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  county  ; 
but  both  Tnie  and  Clark,  and  also  Cummings,  re- 
fused to  accept  the  appointment,  and  Wilson  had  to 
defer  his  attempt  to  organize  the  county.  He  made 
several  attempts  to  have  the  persons  so  appointed 
qualify,  but  they  refused.  Cummings  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Bourbon  county,  and  never  had  been  a  citi- 
zen of  Anderson.  After  Wilson  had  failed  to  a'Ct 
the  commissioners,  or  either  of  them,  to  qualify,  on 
the  30th  day  of  October  he  made  a  personal  appeal 
to  Wilson  Shannon,  who  had,  in  the  meantime,  been 
appointed  Governor,  for  assistance  to  organize  the 
county ;  and  Shannon  thereupon  commissioned 
Francis  Myer  and  F.  P.  Brown  as  count}'  commis- 
sioners, and  Henderson  Rice  as  sheriff. 

On  the   2d    day   of  January,  1856,  Francis  M^-er 
took  and  subscribed  the  following  oath  of  office  : 


28  ANDERSON  COUNTY. 

''I'nitcd  States  of  AiiKM-ica,  Territory  of  Kansas,  set. 

"I.  Francis  Myer,  do  solemnly  swear.  ti])on  the  Holy 
Kvanii'elists  of  Alniiulity  (Jod.  thai  1  will  support  tlie  eon- 
slitiition  of  the  I'nited  States,  and  that  !  will  support  and 
sustain  the  provisions  of  an  aet  entitled  '  An  act  to  oryan- 
i/e  the  Territories  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas,'  and  the  ])i'o- 
visious  of  the  law  of  the  I'nited  States,  eoininonly  known 
as  the  fuji-itive  slaves  law,  and  faithfully  and  impartially, 
and  to  the  best  of  ui;,  ability,  demean  myself  in  the  dis- 
cliarii'e  of  n)y  duties  in  the  otliee  of  commissioner  of  the 
county  of  An(h'rson.  Francis  Mikr. 

"Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  2d  day  of  Jan- 
uary. l«.5(j,  GeORGK  WiIjSON, 

'Mud^-e  of  Pi'obate." 
Januar}-  7,  1856,  George  Wilson,  probate  judge, 
and  Francis  Myer,  met  in  session  at  Francis  Myer's 
house,  the  temporary  county  seat,  George  Wilson  as 
president  of  the  board  of  commissioners,  and  Fran- 
cis Myer  as  member,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
the  probate  and  coiumissioners'  court,  which  they 
did  in  a  very  irregular  manner,  F.  P.  Brown,  the 
other  person  who  had  been  commissioned  as  com- 
missioner, and  Henderson  Rice,  who  had  been  com- 
missioned as  sheriff,  were  neither  present,  and 
neither  of  them  accepted  the  commission  so  tendered 
them.  The  organization  of  Anderson  count}'  dates 
from  the  7th  day  of  January,  1856.  The  business 
of  the  probate  and  commissioners'  court  was  con- 
ducted for  some  years  thereafter  in  a  very  loose  and 
careless  manner. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A^-pointnicnt  of  County  Officers — Locating  First 
Count  Y  Road — Locating  Permanent  County  Seat 
— First  Term  of  District  Court — Organizing 
Pottozuatomie  Rifle  Company — They  break  up 
Cato's    Courts    at   Shcrmanville. 

On  the  12th  day  of  January,  1856,  the  second  ses- 
sion of  the  probate  and  commissioners'  court  was 
lield  at  Francis  Mj^er's.  Present,  Goerge  Wilson, 
probate  judge,  and  Francis  Myer,  member.  A  peti- 
tion was  presented,  asking  the  appointment  of  David 
McCammon  as  sheriff  of  Anderson  county,  where- 
upon they  appointed  David  McCammon  as  sheriff. 

Januar}'  18  David  McCammon  quaHlied  as  sheriff 
by  giving  bond  and  taking  the  oath  prescribed  b}' 
the  law  of  1855,  and  was  the  first  sheriff  of  the 
county. 

January  18  the  probate  and  commissioners'  court 
held  its  third  session,  at  the  house  of  Francis  Myer. 
Present,  George  Wilson,  president,  and  Francis 
Myer,  member.  At  this  meeting  J.  S.  Waitman  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  commissioner.  Waitman 
qualified  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  on 
the  same  day.  This  was  the  first  time  a  full  board 
of  commissioners   had   existed  in  the  county.     The 


30 


III.STOKV  OF 


board,  as  then  constituted,  consisted  of  the  probate 
judge  as  president,  and  two  county  commissioners 
as  members,  and  was  designated  in  law^  as  the  "  board 
of  commissioners,"  but  styled  in  the  record  of  their 
proceedings  the  "probate  and  commissioners' 
court." 

January  i8,  1856,  C.  IL  Price  was  appointed  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  the  county,  and  was  commis- 
sioned by  George  Wilson,  probate  judge.  Price 
qualified  on  the  15th  day  of  March,  by  subscribing 
the  oath  prescribed  by  the  law  of  1855,  '^"<^  ^''^^  the 
first  "justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county. 

On  the  i8th  day  of  Januar}-  the  commissioners 
appointed  C.  H.  Price  treasurer,  and  on  the  same 
day  he  was  commissioned  as  treasurer  of  the  county 
by/George  Wilson,  probate  judge.  Price  qualified 
as  treasurer  by  giving  bond  and  subscribing  the  oath 
required  by  the  law  of  1855,  and  w'as  also  the  first 
treasurer  of  Anderson  county. 

February  4  the  probate  and  commissioners' 
court  held  its  session  at  the  house  of  David  McCam- 
mon.  I^resent,  Francis  M^^er  and  John  S.  Wait-  | 
man,  commissioners,  and  David  McCammon,  sheriff  ; 
George  Wilson,  probate  judge,  absent.  At  this 
meeting  Thomas  Totton  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
probate  and  commissioners'  court. 

A  petition,  signed  by  Richard  Golding  and  others, 
praying  for  the  location  of  a  road  from  Shermanville, 
in  Franklin  county,  to  Cofachique,  in  Allen  county, 
was  presented,  which  the  commissioners  took  under 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  3 1 

consideration  and  adjourned  to  the  9th  of  March, 
when  fliey  again  met  at  Francis  Myer's.  Present, 
George  Wilson,  probate  judge,  Francis  Myer  and  J. 
S.  Waitman,  *members.  The  petition  of  Richard 
Golding,  for  the  location  of  a  road  from  Sherman- 
ville,  to  pass  through  the  county  seat  of  Anderson 
county  ;  from  thence  to  Hampden  and  Cofachique, 
the  county  seat  of  Allen  county,  was  considered, 
and  David  McCammon,  James  Townsley  and  Sam- 
uel Mack  were  appointed  commissioners  thereon,  to 
locate  the  road  as  prayed  for,  to  be  70  feet  wide. 
This  was  the  tirst  road  located  in  the  county. 

February  11,  George  Wilson,  probate  judge,  is- 
sued a  notice  to  Zack  Schutte,  commandino-  him  to 
desist  from  copimitting  trespass  on  school  lands — 
section  36,  township  19,  range  20.  The  notice  was 
addressed  to  David  McCammon,  as  sheriff,  and  was 
served  on  Schutte  the  same  day.  February  11, 
George  Wilson,  as  judge  of  probate,  issued  a  notice 
of  the  same  kind  to  John  Waitman,  for  the  same 
purpose. 

February  18,  1856,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the 
commissioners,  praying  for  the  permanent  location 
of  the  county  seat  of  Anderson  county,  signed  bv 
the  following  persons  :  A.  McConnell,  John  H. 
Wolken,  John  H.  Rockers,  James  McGue,  T.  Bran 
Le  Van,  L.  Phillips,  Chris.  Whitkop,  David  McCam- 
mon, Thos.  Totton,  Darius  Frankenberger,  William 
Rogers,  Patrick  Tyler,  I.  B.-  Tenbrook,  Ephraim 
Reynolds,  Dr.  Charles  Muchelberry  and  Fred.  Toch- 


32  FirSTORV  OF 

terman.  On  consideration  whereof  the  commission- 
ers appointed  David  McCammon,  James  Townsley 
and  Thomas  Totton  commissioners  to  locate  the 
county  seat  of  Anderson  county,  with  positive  in- 
structions that  the  same  should  be  located  within 
three  miles  of  the  geographical  center  of  the  county. 
Febi-uary  28,  1856,  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  locate  the  county  seat  made  the  following  report : 

"Wr  Iiavc  viewed.  Iiiid  oul  and  located,  and  do  rei)ort 
lor  public  ii'ood  to  tlie  county  of  Anderson  at  lar<ie,  and 
luive  examined  as  to  water,  rock,  timber,  and  also  a  duo 
n^gard  to  the  situation,  the  extent  of  population,  and  qual- 
ity of  the  land,  and  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  as  little  as  may  be  to  the  prejudice  of  any  i)erson  or 
persons,  we  have  located  it  as  follows:  Northeast  quarter 
of  section  ol,  township  20,  range  20,  and  soutlieast  (juarter 
of  section  .'^1.  townsliip  20,  rang'e  20,'' 

March  i  the  report  of  the  commissioners  to  locate 
county  seat  was  accepted  by  the  court,  and  the 
county  seat  was  then  located  at  the  point  selected  ; 
and  this  point  was  called  Shannon,  where  all  the 
county  business  was  transacted  from  that  tiine  until 
the  5th  day  of  April,  1859. 

March  i,  1856,  the  board  of  commissioners  al- 
lowed the  first  accounts  against  the  county,  as  fol- 
lows :  Francis  Myer,  $18.00  ;  John  Waitman,  $15.00  ; 
George  Wilson,  $102.95  ;  D.  McCammon,  $18.00; 
in  full  of  all  demands  up  to  February  18,  1856,  for 
services  as  board  of  commissioners  and  sheriff  of 
the  county. 

March  6  William  Rogers  was  commissioned  justice 


ANDERSON  COUNTY. 


33 


of  the  peace  by  the  Governor.  Rogers  quahfied  as 
justice  March  17.  by  subscribing  to  the  oath  pre- 
scribed by  the  law  of  1855. 

March  6,  John  Rogers  was  commissioned  bv  the 
Governor  as  constable,  and  he  qualilied  as  consta- 
ble on  the  17th  of  the  same  month. 

Thomas  Totton  was,  on  the  29th  of  February, 
commissioned  as  clerk  of  the  county,  by  the  Gov- 
ernor. 

April  19,  1856,  Anderson  Cassel  was  commissioned 
by  the  Governor  as  coroner  of  Anderson  county, 
and  qualified  by  taking  the  oath  of  office  May  19, 
1856.     He  was  the  first  coroner  of  the  county. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  in  1855,  in  the  act  de- 
fining the  boundaries  of  counties,  attached  the 
county  of  Coffey  to  Anderson  county  for  civil  and 
military  purposes. 

On  the   28th  day  of  January,   1857,   the  following 

order  appears  on  the  record  of  Anderson  county  : 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  county  coinmissioners  that  tlie  fol- 
lowing- appointments,  made  by  his  excellency.  John  W. 
(xeary.  is  approved  by  the  court  of  Anderson  county,  for 
the  organization  of  Coti'ey  county:  John  "NVoolmau.  as 
probate  judge  ;  Richard  Burr  and  ^Sanuiel  J^osbue,  as  county 
commissioners;  Turner  Losbue,  as  constable;  and  John 
B.  Scott,  as  justice  of  the  peace." 

The  above  persons  were  commissioned  on  the 
8th  day  of  January,  1857. 

On  the  fourth  Monday  in  Api-il,  1856,  the  first 
term  of  the  district  court  was  held  in  the  county,  by 
Sterhng  G.  Cato,  one  of  the  United  States  district 
5 


34 


HISTORY  OF 


judges.  The  court  convened  at  the  house  of  Francis 
Myer,  on  tlie  claim  then  owned  by  him,  near  the 
present  site  oi  Greeley,  but  more  particularly  de- 
scribed as  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19,  town- 
ship 19,  range  21 .  The  following  persons  were  on  the 
grand  jury:  C.  E.  Dewey,  J.  S.  Waitman,  H. 
Britten,  J.  Vanderman,  C  H.  Price,  Patrick  Tyler, 
Wm.  Rogers,  Joshua  Griffith,  D.  Frankenberger, 
I.  B.  Tenbrook,  Samuel  Mack  and  A.  Wilkerson.  J. 
S.  Waitman  was  foreman. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  proceedings  of  this  court 
to  be  found.  It  was  in  session  for  an  entire  week, 
and  the  bills  of  indictment  that  were  found  were 
carried  away  by  the  court.  Cato  brought  his  own 
clerk  and  prosecuting  attorne}'  with  him.  No  ci^'il 
business  was  transacted  at  the  term  of  the  court, 
and  no  arrest  was  ever  made  on  any  of  the  indict- 
ments found. 

The  Pottowatomie  rifle  company  was  organized  in 
the  fall  of  1855.  This  company  had  its  drill  ground 
on  the  Pottowatomie,  between  Dutch  Henry  crossing 
and  the  present  site  of  Greeley.  John  Brown,  jr., 
w^as  elected  captain  of  the  company.  Its  members 
were  Anderson  and  Franklin  county  men.  Jacob 
Benjamin,  James  Townsley,  Allen  Jaqua,  Frank 
Ayres,  D.  G.  Watt,  Samuel  Mack,  A.  Bondi,  H. 
H.  WilHams,  W.  Ayres,  Milton  Kilbourne,  Dr.  Gil- 
patrick  and  others  were  members  from  Anderson 
county. 

The   presence   of  this  company  broke  up  Cato's 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  35 

court  at  Shermanville,  in  the  spring  of  1856,  a  few 
da^'S  after  his  court  had  adjourned  in  Anderson 
county.  Cato  left  in  such  haste  that  he  did  not  take 
time  to  adjourn  his  court,  or  notify  the  jury  that  was 
out  at  the  time,  of  his  intention  to  close  his  court; 
and  this  was  the  last  court  that  Cato  attempted  to 
hold  in  this  part  of  the  Territory, 

1401G19 


CHAPTER  IV. 

\oted  Settlers  of  18 jj — Election  of  Delegates 
to  Topeka  Constitutional  Convention — Election  for 
Adoption  of  Constitution — Election  of  State  Offi- 
cers under  Topeka  Constitution — ]\oted  Settlers  of 
i8j6 — Territory  Overrun  with  Border  Ruffians — 
The  Probate  fudge.  County  Commissioners  and 
Sheriff  Flee  the  County — fohn  Brown  with  his 
Company  Marching  to  the  Rescue  of  Lawrence — 
United  States  Troops  sent  to  Pottozuatomie. 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1855  a  number  of 
settlers  with  their  families  located  in  the  territory 
now  included  in  Anderson  county.  The  following 
are  among  the  prominent  settlers  of  that  year :    Da- 


36  HISTORY  OF 

rius  Frankenberger,  M.  M.  Minkler,  C.  E.  Dewey, 
H.  II.  Williams,  Ephraim  Reynolds,  James  Sutton, 
Benjamin  Davis,  J.  II.  Wolken,  J.  H.  Rockers,  H. 
M.  Rumley,  Samuel  Mack,  John  McDaniel,  Zach- 
arias  Schutte,  Charles  Backer,  James  Townsley,  C. 
H.  Price,  Jesse  Sutton,  Henderson  Rice. 

An  election  for  delegates  to  a  convention  to  frame, 
a  constitution  for  a  State  government,  known  as  the 
Topeka  constitutional  convention,  was  held  on  the 
9th  of  October,  1855.  There  were  49  votes  polled 
at  the  Pottowatomie  precinct  for  delegates  ;  these 
were  all  Free  State  votes,  as  there  was  no  opposi- 
tion ticket  run  at  this  election.  The  Fifth  district 
elected  seven  delegates,  as  follows:  J.  M.  Arthur, 
O.  C.  Brown,  Hamilton  Smith,  Richard  Knight, 
Fred.  Brown,  W.  T.  Morris  and  William  Turner. 

December  15,  1855,  at  an  election  held  for  the 
adoption  or  rejection  of  the  Topeka  constitution,  at 
the  Pottowatomie  precinct  the  following  persons  of 
Anderson  count}'  voted  :  Ephraim  Reynolds,  Sam- 
uel Anderson,  Darius  Frankenberger,  I.  B.  Ten- 
brook,  W.  L.  Frankenberger,  James  Townsley, 
John  McDaniel,  James  Sutton,  Samuel  Mack,  C.  E. 
Dewey,  M.  M.  Minkler,  Benj.  Dunn,  Alex.  Purdue 
and  H.  H.  Williams.  There  were  39  votes  for  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution  and  3  against.  On  the 
proposition  in  the  constitution,  for  the  expulsion  of 
negroes  and  mulattoes,  there  were  25  votes  for  and 
18  against. 

January  15,  1856,   at  an  election  for  State  officers 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  37 

under  the  Topeka  constitution,  the  following  per- 
sons voted  at  Pottowatomie  precinct:  D.  Franken- 
berger,  \V.  L.  Frankenberger,  M.  M.  Minkler, 
Alex.  Purdue,  H.  H.  Williams,  Joseph  Moslv,  Eph- 
raim  Reynolds,  J.  T.  Barker,  James  Sutton,  Law- 
rence Brady,  D.  C.  Davenport,  C.  E.  Dewey,  Benj. 
Davis,  J.  H.  Wolken,  J.  H.  Rockers,  H.  M.  Rum- 
ley.  A.  C.  Austin  and  Samuel  Mack.  Also,  John 
Brown,  jr.,  Fred.  Brown  and  Owen  Brown,  sons,  and 
Henrv  Thompson,  son-in-law,  of  old  John  Brown, 
voted  at  this  precinct.  The  poll  book  and  tally  list 
of  this  election  are  signed  bv  Frederick  Brown,  S. 
B.  Moore  and  Wm.  Partridge,  as  judges  ;  and  H.  H. 
Williams  and  Ephraim  Reynolds,  as  clerks. 

Several  emigrants  came  and  located  in  Anderson 
countv  in  the  spring  of  1856.  Among  the  more 
prominent  settlers  of  that  year  were  W.  C.  McDow. 
A.  Simons,  Samuel  Anderson,  Jacob  Benjamin,  A. 
Bondi,  James  Y.  Campbell,  John  S.  Robinson, 
Solomon  Kauffman,  C.  W.  Peckham,  William  G. 
Hill,  R.  D.  Chase,  Samuel  McDaniel,  G.  W.  Yan- 
dall,  Wilham  Tull,  A.  G.  West,  C.  G.  Ellis,  Rezin 
Porter,  Jno.  Kirkland,Wm.  Dennis,  J.  F.Wadsworth, 
H.Cavender,  Frederick  Tochterman,W.  G.  Nichols. 
•  From  May,  1856,  to  January,  1857,  no  business 
of  any  official  character  was  transacted  by  the  pro- 
bate judge,  the  county  commissioners,  or  the  sheriff 
of  this  county. 

On  the  28th  day  of  January,  1857,  we  find  the 
following  record  : 


■^8  IIISTOKV   OF 

••  Ily  onli'i'  i)f  I  111'  hoard  of  coiiiily  coimiiissioncrs  in  and 
fur  the  county  ol"  Anderson.  Iliat  in  constMiiicncc  of  insur- 
rcction  llii-oiiiiliout  Kansas  'I'ci-ritory,  more  i)ai-ticidarly 
contincd  lo  the  counties  of  Fi-anklin  and  Anderson,  tluit 
llie  piohale  and  couiniissioners"  court  were  unable  to  liold 
tiieir  i-e^iuiai-  or  adjourned  court,  in  and  for  tiie  count  \  of 
Anderson,  and  lias  been  ordered  by  board  of  couiniission- 
ers this  day  lobe  ent<'red  on  the  county  coinuiissioners' 
(locket.  'I'lioAiAS  ToTToN.  Clerk." 

Francis  Mver  and  John  S.  Waitman  were  radical 
Pro-Slavery  men,  and  appointed  to  the  office  of 
county  commissioner  on  account  of  their  loyalty  to 
the  slave  power.  Judge  Geo.  Wilson  had  been 
elected  by  the  bogus  Legislature  as  a  ht  tool  to 
cany  out  the  designs  of  the  Border  Ruffians,  and 
was  elected  because  of  his  peculiar  fitness  for  that 
purpose.  And  when  the  difficulties  of  1856  culmi- 
nated, these  officers  were  in  full  sympathy  with,  and 
took  an  active  and  leading  part  on  the  behalf  of,  the 
Missouri  Ruffians  that  overrun  this  county  at  that 
time  ;  they  believed  that  African  slaver}^  was  a  divine 
institution — and  that  whoever  denied  its  divine  ori- 
gin and  right  were  infidels  and  not  entitled  to  the 
respect  of  law  or  decency.  During  the  exciting 
time  of  the  suiumer  and  fall  of  1856  many  of  the 
Free  State  settlers  on  the  Pottowatomie  creeks  had 
been  notified  to  leave  the  country,  and  in  many  cases 
were  notified  that  if  they  did  not  leave  in  a  given 
time  they  would  be  visited  by  these  ruffians  and 
dealt  with  according  to  their  code. 

In  April,   1856,    Major  Buford  arrived  in  Kansas 


I 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  39 

with  a  large  body  of  men  from  Georgia,  Alabama 
and  South  Carolina.  This  body  of  armed  men 
came  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  driving  all  Free 
State  men  out  of  the  Territory  and  dedicating  Kan- 
sas irrevocably  to  slavery.  About  this  time  the 
*' Herald  of  Freedom"  sa3's  : 

'•  Ivausas  is  atiiiiu  invaded  by  aniicd  ruffians  ;  tliey  jiatlicr 
in  V)y  tons,  and  tifties,  and  liundrcds.  Shannon  lias  rc<i- 
uiarly  cnrcdied  tliom  as  militia.  conunissitnuMl  tlicii-  (ifficers. 
&r.:  at  any  niomcnt  tlicy  may  fommcncf  their  work  of 
devastation." 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1856  the  southern 
portion  of  Kansas,  and  all  along  her  borders,  a  semi- 
barbarous  class  of  rutiians  overrun  the  country,  and 
assumed  the  guardianship  of  the  slave  interests  ;  and 
ever\'  possible  obstacle  was  thrown  in  the  way  to  re- 
tard Northern  immigration.  The  immigrants  were 
driven  back  ;  they  were  tarred  and  feathered  ;  their 
claims  were  seized  ;  their  cabins  were  burned  ;  and 
thev  were  often  ordered  bv  committees  of  Southern 
men,  or  the  Missouri  rabble,  to  leave  the  Territor}' 
immediately,  under  the  penalty  of  death.  These 
ruffians  were  often  urged  to  deeds  of  most  outrage- 
ous barbarity  by  the  fierce  harangues  of  the  leading 
spirits  and  stump-orators  of  the  Slave  States.  As 
an  illustration  of  this  sentiment,  as  proclaimed  by 
the  radical  leaders  of  the  South,  we  give  the  follow- 
ing from  the  speech  of  General  Stringfellow,  deliv- 
ered at  St.  Jo.,  Mo.,  then  a  prominent  citizen  of  that 
State  : 

« 

'•I  tell  vou  to   mark  everv  scoundrel  amon<4'  \()u  who  is 


40  HISTORY  OF 

llic  least  tiiiiitctl  with  Aholitioiiisui.  or  Fi-ct'-soilisiii.  and  cx- 
iciininalc  liiin;  ncitlM'i-  jrivc  nor  take  (|iiai't('r  tVoin  llio 
(1 — (1  rascals.  To  llios(>  who  havo  (Hialiiis  of  conscience 
as  to  xiolalint;-  law.  Stale  oi-  iialional,  say.  1  lie  time  has 
come  when  such  iiiiposil  ion  nitisl  he  disrejiarded.  As  your 
riiihts  and  property  are  endan^'red.  I  advise  one  and  all 
to  enter  every  election  disti'ict  in  Ivansas,  in  (h'tiance  of 
.Ileeder  and  his  niyrnudons,  and  \'o(e  at  the  point  of  the 
howie-knife  and  re\-oiver.  Neither  take  nor  yi ve  (juarter, 
as  the  cause  (h'niands  it.  It  is  enouu'li  that  the  slave  hold- 
in<^'  interest  wills  it.  from  winch  there  is  no  appeal." 

This  sentiment  was  reiterated  by  every  Pi"o-Sla- 
very  paper  on  the  border  ;  and  declared  by  every 
stump  orator  in  the  field  throughout  the  Border 
Ruffian  dominion. 

On  the  2 1st  of  May,  1856,  General  Atchison,  the 
great  Border  Ruffian,  a  U.  S.  Senator,  ex-Vice 
President  of  the  United  States,  together  with  Col. 
Titus,  of  Florida,  Major  Bufoi;d,  of  Georgia,  and 
General  Stringfellow,  of  Missouri,  entered  Lawrence 
and  sacked  the  town,  burned  the  Free  State  hotel,  and 
destroyed  the  "Herald  of  Freedom"  and  "Free 
State"  printing  presses.  They  were  there  from  the 
slave  States,  under  the  pretense  of  enforcing  the 
law   and  making  aiTests. 

The  Ruffians  assumed  to  be  the  masters  of  the 
whole  Territory ;  declared  their  own  lo3'alty  and 
conquest,  and  assutued  to  be  the  protectors  of  the 
Governor  and  the  defenders  of  the  boirus  laws. 
They  extolled  the  greatness  of  their  power,  and  af- 
fected to  deride  the  disloyalty  of  the  handful  of 
Free  State  men  who  appeared  under  the  banners  of 


ANDERSON    COUNTY. 


41 


freedom  to  resist  their  invasion.  The  armies  of  the 
ruffians  seemed,  indeed,  as  numerous  as  a  cloud  of 
summer  locusts,  who  darken  the  day,  flap  their  wings, 
and,  after  a  short  flight,  tumble  weary  and  breath- 
less to  the  ground;  like  them,  sunk  after  a  feeble 
effort,  and  were  vanquished  by  their  own  cowardice, 
and  withdrew  from  the  scene  of  action  to  boast  of 
their  deeds  of  crime  and  infamy. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Pottowatomie 
affair  happened.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Dutch 
Henry  crossing  of  the  Pottowatomie  lived  a  Mr. 
Allen  Wilkerson,  a  member  of  the  bogus  Legisla- 
ture.     He  and  William  Sherman,   Doyle  and  a 

few    other    Pro-Slavery    men    in  the  neighborhood 
had  always  been  violent  and    bad  men.     Immedi- 
ately after  sacking  Lawrence,  these  men  concluded 
that  war  had  begun,  and  the  Free  State  people  must 
be  driven  from  the  country.     Violent  party  men,  of 
violent  disposition  and  reckless  character,  covetous 
of  the  claims  of  the  Free  State  men,  commenced 
the  work  of  persecution.       Several  Free  State  men 
were  ordered  to  leave  by  letter  and  verbally.       One 
man,  named  Morse,  was  seized  and  abused,    and 
threatened  with  death   if  he  did  not  leave.     Morse 
was  a  merchant,  and  had  a  small  store  ;  kept  such 
articles  as  are  usually  kept  in  a  country  store.       On 
the  morning  of  the  21st  of  May  he  had  sold  some 
powder  and  lead  to  John  Brown,  jr's.,  men,  when 
they  were  on  the  road  to  Lawrence.     These  men 

said  thev  would  learn  him  to  sell  ammunition  to  Free 
6 


42 


HISTORY    OF 


State  men.  A  cabin  was  burned  at  the  same  time. 
Five  of  these  Pro- Slavery  men.  Wilkerson,  Sherman, 
Doyle  and  his  two  sons,  were  taken  out  one  night 
and  killed.  This  act  was  never  fully  justified  by 
the  Free  State  men.  The  government  had  refused 
to  give  protection  to  the  Free  State  settlers,  and  it 
seemed  to  be  the  only  wa}'  for  the  Free  State  men 
to  protect  themselves.  Lynch  law  was  the  terrible 
alternative  to  which  the  Free  State  men  were  driven, 
because  of  the  guerrilla  warfare  to  which  they  were 
exposed. 

About  this  time  Francis  Myer,  John  S.  Waitman, 
David  McCammon  and  George  Wilson,  having  been 
aiders  and  abettors  in  the  Pro-Slavery  atrocities, 
fearing  that  they  would  meet  the  same  fate,  fled  the 
country.  Wilson  returned  again  in  the  winter  of 
1857,  but  the  two  commissioners  and  sheriff  never 
returned  ;  so  it  became  necessary  to  select  other 
commissioners  and  another  sheriff. 

At  the  time  the  Border  Ruthans  were  marching 
against  the  Free  State  men  of  Lawrence,  John 
Brown,  jr.,  with  his  Pottowatomie  company,  started 
to  their  assistance,  but  before  he  could  reach  there 
he  learned  that  Lawrence  had  been  sacked  and 
burned,  and  was  notified  that  his  presence  could  do 
no  possible  good.  He  halted  and  went  into  camp 
on  Ottawa  creek,  near  Prairie  City,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  few  da3's.  He  had  in  his  company  about 
20  Anderson  county  men  ;  and  while  he  was  in 
camp   on  Liberty  mound,    near    Prairie    City,    the 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  43 

news  of  the  killing  of  Wilkerson,  Sherman  and 
the  Do3'les  was  received. 

Soon  after  the  Pottowatomie  tragedy  the  govern- 
ment ordered  a  company'  of  dragoons  to  the  neigh- 
borhood. They  camped  for  several  weeks  at  a 
spring  northeast  of  Greeley,  near  the  residence  of 
Samuel  Staley.  They  also  were  stationed  in 
Franklin  county,  near  the  line,  for  some  time.  This 
company  was  recruited  in  South  CaroHna,  and  its 
Captain,  DeSaucer,  was  a  hot-headed  advocate  of 
Southern  institutions.  He  made  frequent  efforts  to 
capture  obnoxious  Free  State  men,  especially  James 
Townsley.  Whenever  one  of  these  night  incursions 
was  to  be  made  by  De  Saucer's  men,  notice  would 
be  given  to  some  of  the  citizens  by  one  or  two  of 
his  men,  who  were  in  S3^mpath3^  with  the  Free  State 
cause,  so  that  they  might  guard  against  approach- 
ing danger,  and  as  a  consequence  thereof  not  a  single 
arrest  was  made  during  the  time  the  company  re- 
mained in  the  neighborhood.  This  same  DeSaucer 
tigured  in  the  first  movement  on  Forts  Moultrie  and 
Sumter,  showing  the  sagacit}'  of  the  administration 
in  sending  him  to  crush  freedom  in  Kansas.  De 
Saucer,  when  talking,  had  the  negro  pronunciation 
of  the  South  so  perfectly  that  you  had  to  see  him  to 
discern  that  it  was  not  a  Southern  negro  talking. 

In  the  spring  of  1856,  a  company  of  Maj.  Bu- 
ford's  Georgians  was  camped  in  the  timber  near  the 
present  residence  of  Mrs.  White,  on  the  line  of 
Franklin  count}^       They  were  taking  all  the  cattle 


44 


HISTORY   OF 


and  horses  tliat  they  could  find  that  belonged  to  the 
Free  State  men.  One  morning  Wilber  D.  West  was 
ridiniT  alonj*'  near  Greeley,  when  he  met  one  of  Bu- 
ford's  men,  who  rode  up  to  him  and  asked  if  he  was 
a  Pro-Slavery  man,  which  he  answered  in  the  nega- 
tive, whereupon  the  Georgian  told  him  to  dismount, 
drawing  his  revolver,  which  order  West  could  but 
obey,  when  the  Pro-Slavery  man  led  his  horse 
quietly  away.  He  had  not  gone  far  before  he  met 
Hardy  Warren  and  I.  P.  Sutton  in  a  two-horse 
wagon,  going  in  the  direction  of  the  Pro-Slavery 
camp.  On  meeting  them  the  first  salutation  was: 
"Are  you  Free  State  men?"  Mr.  Warren  said: 
"I  am  a  Free  State  man."  Then  the  Georgian 
rode  a  short  distance,  to  where  John  Waitman  was, 
and  had  a  short  consultation  with  him  ( a  notorious 
Border  Rufiian ),  came  on,  and  overtaking  Warren 
and  Sutton  demanded  their  horses  and  wagon,  which 
Warren  told  him  he  could  not  have.  Then  the 
Rufiian  drew  his  revolver,  and  at  the  same  time  an- 
other of  his  party  emerged  from  the  brush,  which 
rendered  resistance  vain,  and  the  only  alternative 
was  to  give  up  the  horses,  which  were  driven  to  the 
camp,  when  Warren  informed  him  that  the  mare 
would  be  useless  to  him,  being  heavy  with  foal, 
when  the  Rufiian  turned  to  Sutton,  who  was  a  lad, 
and  said:  "You  may  take  the  d — d  old  mare," 
and  let  him  ride  her  home,  but  kept  the  horse  and 
wagon,  and  detained  Warren  a  prisoner  for  several 
days. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  45 

When  the  Border  Ruffians  carried  Hardy  Warren 

■  and  I.  P.  Sutton  to  their  camp,  Captain  Wood,  who 
was  then  in  command  of  a  compan}-  of  United  States 
soldiers  stationed"  in  the  neighborhood,  was  present. 

h  Warren  asked  him  if  he  was  a  United  States  officer, 
and    Captain    Wood     informed    him  that    he    was. 

jl  Warren  then  appealed  to  him  for  protection  ;  told 
him  that  the  Ruffians  were  robbing  him  and  Sutton, 
and  demanded  protection  as  an  American  citizen 
against  such  outrage.  Captain  Wood  smiled,  turned 
around  and  quietly  walked  away. 

The  troops  were  kept  on  the  Pottowatomie  dur- 
ing most  of  the  summer,  and  saw  such  outrages  as 
these  committed  against  the  Free  State  settlers  daily, 
and  refused  to    give  them   any  protection,  but  if  a 

I  Free  State  man  would  interfere  with  a  Pro-Slavery 
man  the  troops  were  at  once  brought  to  his  assist- 
ance. The  administration  sent  onl}^  such  tools  of 
the  "slave  power"  to  the  Territory  as  sustained  the 

■  Pro-Slavery  party  in  Kansas,  and  intimidated  the 
friends  of  freedom. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Organization  of  Pottowatoniic  Guards — Celebra- 
tion of  Fourth  of  Jidy,  /Sjd — Struggle  betzveen 
Free  State  Men  and  Border  Ruffians — Battle  of 
Middle  Creek — Hozu  a  Ruffian  Lost  his  Nose — Raid 
on  Pottoivatoniie — Robbing  Schutte — Battle  of  Osa- 
xvatoniie — Great  Suffi'ering  among  Settlers. 

In  the  summer  of  1856  the  Free  State  settlers  on 
the  Pottovvatomies,  in  order  to  protect  the  settle- 
ments against  the  invasions  of  the  Border  Ruffians, 
who  were  then  making  frequent  raids  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  Territory,  robbing  the  settlers  and  driv- 
ing their  families  from  their  claims,  met  at  the  house 
of  W.  L.  Frankenberger,  on  the  South  Pottowato- 
mie,  organized  a  military  company,  and  named  it 
the  "Pottowatomie  Guards,"  and  elected  Samuel 
Anderson  captain  of  the  company,  which  had  its 
drill-ground  and  place  of  meeting  at  the  cabin  of  W. 
L.  Frankenberger.  The  Pottowatomie  guards  had 
about  30  men  able  for  action.  The  company  in- 
cluded all  the  able-bodied  men  on  the  Pottowatomie 
above  Greeley. 

This  company  participated  in  many  of  the  expe- 
ditions against  the  Border  Rutlians  in  1856-7-8,  and 
did  valuable  service  in  protecting  the  settlers  against 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  47 

the  depredations  of  raiding  parties  from  the  Slave 
States.  The  invasions  from  Missouri  were  so  frequent 
in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1856,  that  it  was  unsafe 
for  settlers  to  remain  at  home  over  night  with  their 
families  ;  and  for  several  months  the  families  in  the 
settlement  would  collect  together  at  night  time  on 
the  Potto watomie  at  Frankenberger's  claim,  and  the 
women  and  children  would  take  quarters  in  the 
cabin,  while  the  men  would  keep  guard  over  them. 
Such  was  the  state  of  the  country  for  man}-  months, 
that  the  men  would,  part  of  the  time,  work  on  their 
claims  during  the  day  with  their  rifles  and  revolvers 
within  their  reach,  and  stand  guard  at  night  or  be 
on  the  march  to  the  defense  of  some  settlement 
against  the  approach  of  the  Ruffians. 

Notwithstanding  the  man}-  troubles  and  hardships 
the  settlers  encountered  they  did  not  forget  that  the 
early  struggles  of  the  fathers  of  our  country  pur- 
chased our  freedom  and  established  a  free  govern- 
ment ;  and  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1856,  the  few 
settlers  on  the  Pottowatomie  assembled  at  the  cabin 
of  W.  L.  Frankenberger,  about  two  miles  east  of 
Garnett,  and  there  had  a  good  old-fashioned  cele- 
bration. C.  E.  Dewey  read  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, H.  H.Williams,  Capt.  Samuel  Anderson 
and  J.  Y.  Campbell  delivered  orations,  and  the  ladies 
sang  some  patriotic  songs  to  enliven  the  occasion. 
These  patriotic  people  were  conscious  that  justice 
was  on  their  side,  which  made  them  fearless  in  main- 
taining the  right,  and  asserting  that  all  men  are  en- 


48  HISTORY   OF 

dowed  with  the  inalienable  right  to  "life,  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness  ;"  that  the  primary  ob- 
ject and  ulterior  design  of  our  federal  government 
was  to  secure  these  rights  to  all  persons  within  its 
jurisdiction.  This  was  the  first  celebration  of  the 
national  birthday  in  Anderson  county. 

Although  the  country  was  but  sparsely  settled, 
and  the  audience  small,  a  more  enthusiastic  and  pat- 
riotic gathering  never  assembled  in  any  State.  In  a 
new  and  wild  country  these  people  were  like  the 
Pilfjrim  Fathers,  who  came  to  make  for  themselves 
and  children  homes  in  a  free  land,  to  lay  the  found- 
ation for  a  great  and  prosperous  commonwealth, 
and  to  make  this  a  country  of  refuge  for  the  op- 
pressed of  all  nations.  They  performed  the  work 
with  a  christian  fortitude  that  was  commendable, 
and  which  was  finally  crowned  with  the  desired 
success.  I 

In  the  month  of  August,  1856,  the  struggle  be- 
tween the  contending  parties  was  rapidly  approach- 
ing a  crisis.  It  was  evident  that  the  Ruffian  power 
was  fast  encircling  the  friends  of  freedom  in  all  the 
southern  portion  of  the  Territory  ;  it  was  concentra- 
ting all  its  forces  ;  block-houses  were  erected,  and 
well  supplied  with  provisions  ;  and  Gihon,  pri- 
vate secretary  of  Gov.  Geary,  says  in  his  work  on 
'•'  Geary  and  Kansas:" 

"  TIic  Pi'o-Slavcry  iiuiraiiders  south  of  tlie  Kansas  river 
liad  <"slal)lisli('(l  and  fortifii'd.  at  tlic  town  of  Franklin,  a 
fort,  llirown  up  earthworks  near  ( )sa\vatoniie.  and  anotlier 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  49 

at  AVashing'ton  creek,  12  miles  from  LaAvrenco,  and  one  at 
Titus'  house,  near  Lecompton." 

From  these  strongholds  they  made  sallies,  to  cap- 
ture horses  and  cattle,  intercept  mails,  rob  travelers, 
plunder  stores  and  dwellings,  burn  houses  and  de- 
stroy crops. 

The  fort  near  Osawatomie  was  garrisoned  by  Pro- 
Slavery  men  from  Georgia  ;  and  in  consequence  of 
outrages  committed  in  the  neighborhood,  and  at  the 
solicitation  of  the  settlers,  was  attacked  by  a  com- 
pany composed  of  Free  State  men,  who  were  set- 
tlers from  Douglas,  Franklin  and  Anderson  counties, 
on  the  5th  of  August,  1856.  This  attack  on  the 
Georgian  party  was,  by  agreement,  to  have  occurred 
on  the  night  previous,  but  the  Lawrence  party  lost 
their  way  on  the  prairie,  which  caused  delay.  The 
signal  was  to  have  been  given  of  their  approach  by 
the  firing  of  the  prairie  south  of  Stanton,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  to  the  Free  State  men 
who  rendezvoused  on  the  prairie,  on  the  claim 
then  occupied  by  David  Baldwin.  From  this  place 
they  could  see  across  the  valley  and  the  divide  be- 
tween the  Pottowatomie  and  Marais  des  Cygnes 
rivers.  The  Free  State  men  looked  in  vain  for  the 
sign  ;  no  fire  illuminated  the  north  ;  the  Free  State 
men  from  the  Pottowatomie,  who  had  volunteered 
to  rout  this  Georgian  encampment,  returned  home- 
ward, not  knowing  the  cause  of  failure.  A  few 
hours  after,  intelligence  reached  the  Pottowatomie 
company  that  the  attack  would  be  made  that  night ; 
7 


50 


HISTORY  OF 


and  they  again  set  out  for  the  enemy's  camp.  On 
the  approach  of  the  Free  State  men  the  camp  was 
abandoned.  The  Georgians  made  a  precipitate 
flight,  ere  the  Free  State  men  reached  the  place, 
leaving  a  large  amount  of  commissary  stores  and 
other  property.  Several  barrels  of  bacon  and  flour 
were  loaded  into  wagons,  and  then  the  building  was 
burned,  with  its  contents.  The  Georgians  never 
returned  to  this  neighborhood,  but  retreated  to  their 
fort  at  Washington  creek,  where  they  remained  un- 
til the  15th,  when  they  were  again  put  to  flight  by 
Gen.  Lane  and  his  forces  from  Lawrence. 

The  Anderson  county  men  in  this  attack  were 
under  the  command  of  Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick.  Law- 
rence Brady  and  others  of  Anderson  county  were 
in  Osawatomie  during  the  day  preceding  the  attack, 
when  a  Georgian  slapped  Brady  in  the  face.  Such 
and  similar  insults  were  given  to  our  Free  State  men 
w^ienever  they  met  the  Pro-Slavery  men  where  the}' 
had  the  advantage. 

August  25,  1856,  acting  Governor  Woodson  is- 
sued a  proclamation  declaring  the  Territory  in  a 
state  of  insurrection  and  rebellion,  and  calling  out 
the  militia.  This  was  the  darkest  hour,  for  the 
Free  State  men,  that  Kansas  had  ever  known,  and 
hundreds  of  them  left  the  Territory.  The  southern 
division  of  the  Pro-Slavery  militia  was  under  Gen- 
eral Coffey.  About  this  time  a  force  of  Ruffians 
marched  from  Missouri  and  camped  on  Middle 
creek,  near  what  is  known  as  Potato  mound,  then 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  5 1 

known  as  Battle  mound.  They  numbered  about 
200  strong,  remaining  in  camp  several  da\'S,  waiting 
for  reinforcements  from  Missouri,  preparatory  to  a 
general  movement  against  the  Free  State  settlements 
along  the  Pottowatomies. 

On  the  27th  of  August  they  took  Geo.  Partridge 
from  his  bed,  sick,  and  carried  him  a  prisoner  to 
their  camp.  On  the  same  day  thev  burned  the 
houses  of  Kilbourne  and  Cochran,  near  Greeley. 
Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick  was  out  on  Middle  creek  to 
visit  a  patient,  and  discovered  the  encampment  of 
the  Pro-Slavery  forces,  and  reported  the  same  to 
the  Free  State  men  on  the  Pottowatomie.  Then 
Capt.  Stewart,  of  Lawrence,  with  his  company,  and 
Capt.  Samuel  Anderson,  with  the  Pottowatomie 
guards,  and  Capt.  Cline,  with  his  company,  set  out 
for  the  enemv's  camp  on  Middle  creek.  Capt.  John 
Brow^n,  with  his  company,  accompanied  them  until 
near  the  enemy's  camp,  w'here  he  received  the  in- 
telligence that  a  party  of  raiders  was  moving  up  the 
Pottowatomie,  near  Greeley,  and  then  he,  with  his 
company,  w^ent  in  pursuit  of  the  marauding  parties. 
Brown  returned  to  the  main  force  soon  after  the 
rout  of  the  enemv  and  capture  of  their  camp.  The 
forces  of  the  Free  State  men  did  not  number  more 
than  100  men. 

On  the  morning  of  August  28,  1856,  the  Free 
State  men  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  camp,  when 
they  were  put  in  order  for  battle,  and  moved  steadily 
forward  to  the   attack.       The   enemv  were   busily 


52  HISTORY   OF 

engaged  in  preparing  their  breakfast  and  did  not 
discover  the  Free  State  men  until  they  were  within 
a  short  distance  of  the  catnp,  when  a  sudden  rush 
was  made,  taking  them  entirely  by  surprise,  and 
they  became  panic-stricken,  and  man}^  of  them  fled 
in  confusion  ;  some  of  them  so  precipitately  that  they 
left  their  horses  behind.  The  rout  was  complete  ; 
the  men  fled  in  such  confusion  that  their  commanders 
could  not  bring  them  to  a  stand,  nor  even  check 
their  stampede,  until  they  had  reached  the  interior 
of  Missouri.  The}'  reported  that  they  had  been  at- 
tacked by  10,000  Jayhawkers,  armed  with  Sharp's 
rifles,  and  many  cannons.  The  Free  State  forces 
here  rescued  Geo.  Partridge,  who  had  been  taken 
prisoner  by  the  enemy  on  the  preceding  day. 

The  following  amusing  incident  occurred  at  the 
Middle  creek  affair:  A.  Simons,  of  Anderson 
county,  was  in  the  advance  guard.  When  near  the 
enemy's  camp  a  Border  Ruffian  came  dashing  along. 
On  his  near  approach  Simons  brought  his  gun  to 
bear  on  him,  and  cried  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
"Halt!"  But  the  Ruffian  paid  no  attention  to  the 
Pottowatomie  volunteer.  At  that  moment  bang 
went  Simons'  gun,  and  down  fell  the  Ruffian,  crying 
and  hallooing,  and  on  inspection  his  face  was  found 
to  be  covered  with  blood  ;  but  on  closer  examination 
it  was  ascertained  that  his  only  injury  consisted  in 
the  loss  of  his  nose.  It  was  said  of  him  that  he  re- 
turned in  a  few  days  after  to  his  Missouri  home,  a 
wiser  and  better  man,  but  not  quite  so  handsome. 


ANDERSON    COUNTY'.  53 

In  the  battle  of  Middle  creek,  the  Free  State  forces 
captured  about  fifteen  prisoners,  who  were  kept 
over  night,  then  duly  admonished  by  John  Brown  as 
to  their  fate,  and  released.  It  is  believed  that  they 
never  again  visited  Kansas  during  her  troubles.  One 
Pro-Slavery  man,  named  Cline,  was  severely 
wounded  and  soon  after  died.  A  large  amount  of 
commissaries  and  other  property  was  captured,  and 
destroyed  for  want  of  transportation. 

The  raiding  party  that  came  from  the  Pro-Slavery 
camp  on  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Middle  creek, 
near  Greele3^  robbed  Zacharia  Schutte,  and  threat- 
ened to  visit  Dr.  Gilpatrick  and  hang  him,  and  left 
Schutte  with  that  intention,  but  learned  the  fate  of 
the  Middle  creek  camp,  before  they  reached  Gil- 
patrick's,  and  made  rapid  flight  to  reach  their  com- 
rades in  Missouri, 

The  day  after  the  fight  on  Middle  creek,  the  battle 
of  Osawatomie  took  place,  from  which  old  John 
Brown  received  the  name  of  "Osawatomie  Brown." 
Many  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  Middle  creek 
fight  did  not  participate  in  the  battle  of  Osawatomie. 
Not  knowing  that  an  enemy  was  so  near  at  hand, 
many  had  left  for  Lawrence.  This  circumstance 
accounts  for  the  small  numbers  who  were  engaged 
with  Brown,  against  the  forces  of  Gen.  Reid,  whose 
force  was  between  300  and  400  men,  with  one  piece 
of  artillery.  Dr.  Updegraff  had  a  small  force  under 
his  charge,  and  those  who  had  joined  Brown  at 
Middle  creek  composed    his   whole  force,  between 


54 


HISTORY   OF 


thirty  and  forty  men.  The  fight  histed  about  three 
hours.  Brown  retreated  toward  the  timber,  superior 
forces  compelling  him  to  abandon  the  unequal 
conflict.  In  crossing  the  river  Geo.  Partridge,  who 
was  released  as  a  prisoner  from  the  Ruffian  camp 
on  the  day  before,  was  shot  and  killed.  Otljers  re- 
ceived various  wounds,  but  the  Ruffians,  from  the 
best  accounts  that  could  be  gathered,  lost  over  thirty 
men  killed,  and  many  wounded. 

Frederick  Brown,  son  of  John  Brown,  was  killed 
on  the  public  road,  near  the  house  of  the  Rev.  J.  S. 
Adair,  about  one  hour  before  the  battle  commenced, 
in  the  morning.  He  was  shot  dead  by  the  Rev. 
Martin  White,  who  boasted  of  his  exploits  the  next 
winter,  while  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  Mr. 
Cutler,  of  Douglas  county,  was  also  shot  and  left 
for  dead,  at  the  same  time  and  place.  Mr.  Garri- 
son was  also  killed  by  the  Ruffians,  early  in  the 
morning,  before  the  tight  commenced. 

The  remains  of  Geo.  Partridge,  Fred.  Brown  and 
Garrison  were  deposited  in  a  cemetery  which  the 
citizens  pf  Osawatomie  set  apart  for  this  special  pur- 
pose, and  we  are  sony  to  know  that  to  this  day  the 
unwarranted  neglect  and  want  of  an  adequate  pat- 
riotic zeal  for  liberty  has  allowed  the  hallowed  rest- 
ing place  of  these  early  martyrs  for  human  freedom  to 
remain  without  a  proper  and  merited  tablet  to  mark 
the  deposit  of  their  remains  for  the  last  twenty  years. 

In   Judge  Han  way's   reminiscences  of    Pottowat- 
omie  township,  of  Franklin  county,  he  says  : 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  55 

*"'Aft(M-  the  (lifflcultics  passed  throuiili  in  the  months  of 
May  anil  June,  1856,"  to  which  he  had  l)efoi-e  referred,  "  \v(- 
were  much  annoyed  from  tlie  hick  of  almost  every  article 
of  consumption,  for  everything"  had  to  come  through  by 
the  way  of  Westport,  from  Kansas  City.  It  became  at 
limes  a  serious  question  with  the  Free  State  settlers  how 
to  supply  our  wants.  The  roads  to  Missouri  were  block- 
aik'd  l)y  tiie  Pro-Slavery  party  :  Free  State  men  were  fre- 
quently rol)bed  and  their  teams  taken  from  them  on  the 
j)ul)lic  hi<ih  way.  Flour,  bacon  and  other  necessary  articles 
of  consumi)tion  became  scarce,  and  brought  high  tigures. 
Occasionally  a  team  from  Kansas  City,  Avith  these  articles, 
would  i)ay  us  a  visit,  l)ut  this  did  not  supply  our  wants. 

''  Xecessitv.  it  is  said,  knows  no  law  ;  and  it  was  amusinii' 
to  witness  how  tlie  most  tender-hearted  and  conscientious 
among  us  adopted  that  proverb.  Toward  the  close  of  the 
summer  many  of  the  Free  State  men,  in  council  assembled, 
concluded  that  as  the  enemy  would  not  sell  or  permit  us 
to  obtain  provisions,  that,  rather  than  sutfer,  they  would 
live  on  beef,  by  'pressing'  it.  Many  of  the  most  obnox- 
ious Pro-Slavery  men  had  large  herds  grazing  on  the  prai- 
ries, and  therefrom,  under  the  circumstances,  they  had  no 
scruples  of  conscience  in  reference  to  killing  a  beef  Avhen 
needed.  These  cattle  owners  were  not  long  before  they 
advocated  the  opening  of  the  roads  to  Kansas  C-ity ;  at 
least  this  class  of  men  were  permitted  to  trade  in  Kansas 
City  and  haul  provisions  to  the  settlers.  The  tine-spun 
theories  of  ethics  did  not  enter  into  the  programme  of '56  ; 
Free  State  men  were  compelled  to  adapt  themselves  to  sur- 
rounding circumstances^  and  retaliation  is  so  natural  in 
man  that  we  have  often  been  surprised  that  they  Avere  so 
moderate  in  their  proceedings." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Arrival  of  C.  E.  Dewey  and  Party  from  Ohio — 
First  Settlement  on  South  Pottozvatomie — Death  of 
Baer — Survey  of  Government  Land — Location 
Kansas  City  Tozunsite — Selection  of  Garnett  Tozun- 
site  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Cooper  and  Geo.  A.  Dunn — 
Arrival  of  Louisville  Colony.,  with  Steaju  Mill — 
Prominent  Settlers  of  Garnett  in  i8j8-g. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  Charies  E.  Dewey,  with 
several  other  parties,  made  the  first  settlement  on 
the  South  Pottowatomie  above  Greeley.  C.  E. 
Dewey,  with  his  wife  and  little  girl  of  seven  summers, 
Daniel  Baer,  with  his  wife  and  little  boy,  three  years 
of  age,  left  Sandusky  county,  O.,  on  the  13th  day  of 
April,  1855,  for  Kansas  Territory.  They  were  joined 
by  H.  H.  Williams  and  four  other  young  men,  at  Cin- 
cinnati. They  came  by  steamer  down  the  Ohio 
river,  thence  up  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers 
to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  arriving  there  April  31,  1 
1855.  Dewey  with  his  party,  consisting  of  ten  per- 
sons, started  from  Kansas  City  for  the  Pottowatomie 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  and  the  same  day  reached  \ 
Ottawa  Jones',  a  station  named  for  the  Ottawa  tribe 
of  Indians.  On  the  morning  of  May  2,  1855,  the 
partv,  leaving  their  women  and  children  at  Jones', 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  57 

set  out  for  the  "Eldorado,"  across  the  wild  and 
trackless  prairies  to  the  south,  for  the  Partridge  set- 
tlement, on  the  Pottowatomie  river.  In  the  after- 
noon of  the  same  day  thev  reached  the  Pottowato- 
mie,  a  short  distance  above  Dutch  Henry  crossing, 
where  the^-  found  Wilber  D.  West  chopping  timber 
on  a  claim  he  had  taken.  Passing  over  the  bluff  to 
the  south,  they  came  to  the  habitation  of  David 
Baldwin,  who  had  squatted  there  in  1854;  then 
south  about  one  mile  thev  found  Waltman  Partridnfe 
and  his  family,  who  had  settled  in  1854.  '^^^  P^rty 
here  stopped  during  the  night.  The  next  morning 
the  party  engaged  George  Partridge  to  guide  them 
up  the  South  Pottowatomie,  across  the  open  prairie, 
without  any  road  ;  passing  by  the  present  towmsite 
of  Greeley,  where  there  was  one  or  two  cabins. 
Still  pursuing  their  journey,  about  two  miles  further 
up  the  stream  they  passed  the  cabin  of  Charles 
Baecker,  who  had  just  selected  a  claim  and  built  a 
cabin  of  poles  thereon.  The  party  still  traveled  up 
the  south  side  of  the  stream  until  they  came  to  w^hat 
is  now  known  as  the  Judy  neighborhood. 

Dewe}^  selected  his  claim  on  the  land  now  owned 
b}'  William  Neal,  and  drove  his  claim  stake.  H.  H. 
Williams  took  the  claim  on  the  land  that  is  now  the 
Isaac  Hiner  farm.  Daniel  Baer  selected  the  claim 
on  which  P.  x\.  Paul  now^  lives.  None  of  the  other 
parties  located  in  Anderson  county.  They  all  re- 
turned to  Partridge's  that  night,  and  the  next  day  re- 
turned to  Jones'  for  their  families. 
8 


58  HISTORY    OF 

Oil  the  loth  day  of  May  Dewey  and  his  party 
unloaded  their  goods  in  a  pole  cabin,  10  feet  by  14 
feet,  roofless  and  floorless,  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  what  is  now  James  Adams'  farm,  near  the  bank 
of  the  stream.  That  was  the  first  settlement  on  the 
South  Pottowatomie  above  the  Schutte  farm. 

Dewey,  Baer  and  Williams  cleared  off  three  or 
four  acres  of  brush  land  and  planted  it  in  corn, 
which  produced  a  good  crop.  The  corn  was  de- 
stroyed by  a  prairie  fire  in  the  fall  before  it  was 
gathered. 

H.  H.  Williams  was  taken  sick  on  the  5th  of  Jul}-, 
and  was  unable  to  work  until  the  next  winter.  Baer 
was  taken  sick  in  August,  from  which  he  never  re- 
covered. He  died  in  September  and  was  buried  on 
the  high  bluff  on  the  north  side  of  the  Pottowatomie, 
just  above  Dutch  Henry  crossing.  He  had  buried 
his  child  soon  after  their  arrival  on  the  Pottowatomie. 
Mrs.  Baer  and  Mrs.  Dewey  lay  sick  during  the 
month  of  September.  Dewey's  little  girl  died  on 
the  i8th  of  the  same  month.  The  whole  colony 
was  sick  during  the  fall.  Dewey  was  the  only  one 
that  was  able  to  attend  to  the  affairs  about  the  cabin. 
There  were  no  other  settlers  to  care  for  or  to  give 
aid  to  the  sick ;  no  doctor  in  the  country ;  none 
nearer  than  Osawatomie.  Dewey,  having  educated 
himself  for  a  physician,  and  having  been  engaged 
in  the  practice,  and  anticipating  the  necessities  of  a 
new  countr}',  supplied  himself  with  a  small  amount 
of  such  medicines  as  would  be  required,  which  en- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY. 


59 


abled  him  to  administer  to  the  sick  of  his  family  and 
those  who  came  with  him  ;  and  he  was  often  called 
to  attend  the  sick  further  down  the  stream. 

In  the  following  winter  the  government  lands  in 
Anderson  county  were  surveyed,  and  Dewev  found 
his  claim  not  a  desirable  one,  because  of  the  lines 
separating  his  timber  from  the  prairie.  He  jumped 
the  claim  made  by  one  Card,  a  government  surveyor, 
and  built  a  frame  house  on  it,  and  pre-empted  it  in 
the  spring  of  1856,  where  he  lived  until  he  went  into 
the  army  during  the  rebellion,  when  he  traded  it  to 
Henry  Denman,  who  still  lives  upon  it. 

In  the  summer  of  1855  Patrick  Tyler  with  his 
family  squatted  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Judge 
Wm.  Spriggs  ;  and  John  Prior,  in  the  fall  following, 
settled  on  the  claim  now  the  farm  of  Emery  Wilson. 
H.  M.  Rumley  settled  still  further  up  the  creek  in 
the  same  year.  In  the  spring  of  1856  Samuel  Mc- 
Daniel  came  to  the  Pottowatomie,  and  bought  the 
claim  of  Patrick  Tyler,  who  went  further  up  the 
stream  and  located  another  claim. 

In  the  fall  of  1855  and  winter  and  spring  of  1856 
the  government  surv^ey  of  the  public  lands  was  made, 
under  the  supervision  of  John  Calhoun,  surveyor 
general  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1856,  Dr.  G.  W.  Cooper 
arrived  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  He  had  started 
a  few  days  prior  thereto  from  his  home  in  Louis- 
ville, Kentuckv,  to  explore  the  southern  portion  of 
the  Territory  of    Kansas,  for  the  purpose  of  select- 


6o  HISTORY  OF 

ing  a  site  for  a  town  and  locating  a  colony  thereat. 
At  the  time  Cooper  arrived  at  Kansas  City,  Major 
Buford  landed  with  a  large  body  of  men  from  Mis- 
sissippi, Alabama  and  South  Carolina,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  Kansas  a  slave  State.  Kansas  Ter- 
ritory was  then  under  the  rule  of  the  Pro-Slavery 
party,  and  it  was  dangerous  for  a  Free  State  man  to 
enter  the  Territory,  unles^  he  had  a  voucher  from 
some  of  the  leading  Pro-Slavery  men.  So  Cooper, 
to  avoid  trouble,  applied  to  General  McClain,  at 
Wyandotte,  for  a  letter  of  recommendation,  that  i 
would  protect  him  while  among  the  Pro-Slavery 
men,  McClain  being  a  leading  man  in  that  party. 
He  gave  Cooper  the  necessary  recommendation  to 
all  good  and  tnie  men  in  the  Territor}-.  Cooper, 
thus  armed,  set  out  on  his  voyage.  He  traveled  in 
a  southwest  direction  for  a  few  days,  returning 
through  Anderson  county  about  the  last  of  May,  and 
afterwards  selected  and  laid  out  a  town  on  lanthe 
creek,  and  called  it  Kansas  Cit}',  afterwards  known 
as  lanthe.  This  was  the  first  townsite  selected  in  the 
county.  After  selecting  the  townsite  and  platting 
the  same,  he  returned  to  Wyandotte,  to  General 
McClain' s  office.  lanthe,  or  Kansas  City,  was  a 
paper  town,  located  on  the  west  half  of  section  27 
and  east  half  of  section  28,  township  19,  range  18, 
and  was  afterwards  pre-empted  by  John  Murphy, 
John  L.  Clemens,  Stephen  B.  Shotwell  and  Alex- 
ander Casseda3\  The  three  latter  were  from  Louis- 
ville,  Ky.,  and   the  former  from  Virginia.      John 


I 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  6l 

Murphy  made  a  claim  on  lanthe  creek  on  i6o  acres 
of  land,  and  made  some  improvements,  and  moved 
on  the  same.  The  entire  tract  of  land  claimed  as 
the  townsite  of  lanthe  or  Kansas  Citv,  except  the 
claim  of  John  Murph}-,  was  pre-empted  bv  one 
movable  log-cabin,  which  was  moved  from  one  quar- 
ter to  another  until  the  several  claims  were  pre- 
empted. The  cabin  and  proprietors  have  long  since 
"gone  where  the  woodbine  twineth." 

Cooper,  at  Wyandotte,  met  George  A.  Dunn, 
who  had  surveyed  most  of  the  lands  in  Anderson 
county,  and  was  recently  frdVn  that  region  of  coun- 
try. When  Cooper  made  known  to  Dunn  his  mis- 
sion to  Kansas,  he  proposed  to  go  with  him  to  the 
Pottowatomie,  in  Anderson  count}',  and  select 
a  townsite  near  the  center  of  the  county,  for  a 
county  seat,  and,  after  agreeing  upon  a  plan  and  the 
share  each  was  to  have,  they  together  set  out  for  the 
Pottowatomie  country,  and  arrived  in  this  county 
some  time  in  the  summer  or  fall  thereafter.  They 
went  to  the  geographical  center  of  the  county  and 
examined  the  surrounding  country,  but  failing  to 
find  a  desirable  site  for  a  town,  Dunn  suggested  that 
there  was  a  beautiful  site  about  six  miles  from  the 
center,  on  section  30,  township  20,  range  20,  with  a 
fine  spring  of  w^ater.  So  they  came  down  the  Pot- 
towatomie to  Samuel  McDaniel's,  near  the  present 
site  of  Garnett,  stopped  a  few  days  with  him,  ex- 
amined the  proposed  townsite,  and  laid  out  a  town 
on  section  30,  tow^nship  20,  range  20,  and  returned 


62  HISTOKV    OF 

to  Wyandotte  :  and  Cooper,  in  a  few  days,  returned 
to  Louisville,  and  afterwards  organized  a  town  com- 
pany consisting  of  W.  A.  Garnett,  R.  B.  Hall,  G. 
W.  Cooper,  Geo.  A.  Dunn  and  Theodore  Harris. 
The  company,  so  organized,  proceeded  to  the  elec- 
tion of  officers,  as  follows  :  W.  A.  Garnett,  presi- 
dent;  R.  R.  Hall,  vice  president;  and  Theo.  Har- 
ris, secretary.  The  town  was  then  named  Garnett, 
in  honor  of  W.  A.  Garnett,  a  man  of  wealth  and 
influence  in  Louisville,  Ky.  The  company  at  once 
made  arrangements  for  sending  a  colony  from 
Louisville  to  the  new  town,  and  purchased  the 
necessary  machinery  for  a  first-class  flouring  and 
saw  mill  ;  but  not  being  able  to  send  the  colony  that 
summer,  the  mill   was  not  sent  until   the  summer  of 

1857- 

In  March,  1857,  Cooper  again  came  to  Kansas, 

and  on  the  loth  of  May  he  had  the  townsite  again 
surveyed,  staked  out  and  platted,  and  then  returned 
to  Louisville  for  the  colony,  mill  and  machinery. 
On  his  arrival  at  Louisville  he  had  a  lithographed 
plat  of  the  town  made  ;  and  the  town  compan}'  then 
elected  new  offlcers,  as  follows  :  R.  B.  Hall,  presi- 
dent ;  Geo.  A.  Dunn,  vice  president ;  and  Theo. 
Harris,  secretary. 

When  Cooper  was  in  Garnett  in  the  spring  of 
1857  ^^^'  employed  men  and  had  a  double  log  house 
built,  on  Fourth  avenue,  east  of  Main  street,  in 
which  Dr.  Preston  Bowen  opened  a  store  in  the  sum- 
mer of  the  same  year,  which   was  the   first  store   in 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  63 

the  town.  During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1857 
several  emigrants  settled  in  Garnett,  before  the 
Louisville  colony  arrived,  among  whom  were  Dr. 
Thos.  Lindsa}',  John  G.  Lindsa}',  Wm.  Smith,  W. 
S.  Smith  and  Thos.  Owen. 

Cooper  and  Hall,  about  the  middle  of  Jul}',  with  a 
portion  of  the  colony,  started  for  Kansas,  and  ar- 
rived in  Anderson  count}'  about  the  25th  of  the  same 
month. 

On  the  first  day  of  August  Robert  B.  Hall,  as 
president ;  Geo.  A.  Dunn,  G.  W.  Cooper  and  Theo- 
dore Harris,  as  associates,  filed  a  plat  of  the  town  of 
Garnett  in  the  office  of  the  probate  court  of  the 
county,  with  a  petition  setting  forth  that  the  town  of 
Garnett  was  regularly  laid  out  and  surveyed  on  or 
about  the  loth  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1857,  covering 
the  south  half  of  section  30,  township  20,  range  20. 
About  this  time  a  store  house  was  built  and  occupied 
by  a  merchant,  and  the  company  on  this  improve- 
ment claimed  the  right  under  act  of  Congress  to 
pre-empt  the  above  described  lands  for  a  townsite  ; 
and  on  the  8th  day  of  September,  1857,  the  same 
was  pre-empted  by  George  Wilson,  probate  judge 
of  Anderson  county,  in  trust  for  the  occupants  of 
the  town  of  Garnett. 

August  7,  1857,  William  C.  Hall,  Isaac  N.  Locke 
and  Joseph  Barclay,  associates  of  the  town  of  Troy, 
presented  for  filing  in  the  office  of  the  probate  court 
their  petition  and  plat,  showing  the  survey  of  the 
town  of  Troy,  and  claiming  the  north  half  of  section 


64  HISTORY   OF 

30,  township  20,  range  20,  as  a  tovvnsite,  under  the 
pre-emption  act  of  Congress,  which  petition  was 
granted,  and  a  record  made  of  the  same  ;  and  on 
the  8th  day  of  September,  1857,  the  land  above  de- 
scribed was  pre-empted  by  Geo.  Wilson,  probate 
I'udge,  for  the  use  and  benetit  of  the  occupants  of 
the  town  of  Troy. 

In  August,  1857,  the  Louisville  colony  arrived  on 
the  townsite  of  Garnett,  with  the  machinery  for 
a  flouring  and.saw  mill,  and  at  once  commenced  the 
work  of  getting  up  the  mill,  and  preparing  to  build 
themselves  dwellings.  The  following  persons  com- 
posed the  colony  :  Charles  Hidden  and  family,  F. 
G.  Bruns  and  family,  W.  C.  Hall,  R.  B.  Hall, 
Theodore  Harris,  G.  W.  Cooper  and  family,  Mrs. 
Adeline  Duren  and  family,  John  Lambdin  and  fam- 
ily, and  M.  T.  Williams  and  family. 

There  are  but  four  persons  of  the  Louisville  col- 
ony now  living  in  this  county  ;  these  are  F.  G.  Bruns 
and  wife,  and  G.  W.  Cooper  and  Mary  L.  Cooper. 
F.  G.  Bruns  was  a   young  man  ;   had  not  been  mar- 

t 

ried  but  a  few  months  before  coming  to  Kansas. 
He  arrived  here  on  the  loth  of  August ;  his  wife  I 
came  soon  after — as  soon  as  he  could  prepare  a 
house  for  her  accommodation.  He  built  the  first 
frame  house  in  Garnett,  where  he  still  resides.  He 
was  an  active,  energetic  young  man  ;  was  of  valu- 
able service  to  the  town  and  county  ;  has  held  sev- 
eral prominent  positions  in  the  town  since.  On  the 
13th  day  of  March,  1858,   was  born  unto   him  two 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  65 

children,  named,  respectively,  Charles  GarnettBruns 
and  Mary  Bruns.  These  were  the  first  births  in  the 
town.  Charles  Garnett  Bruns  is  now  18  years  old  ; 
a  boy  of  excellent  habits,  and  respected  by  all. 
Mary  Bruns  died  at  the  age  of  nine  weeks,  and  hers 
was  the  first  death  in  Garnett.  Bruns  has  built 
several  buildings  in  the  town,  opened  the  first  cabi- 
net shop,  and  by  industry  and  rigid  economy  has 
from  time  to  time  added  to  his  business  until  he  now, 
in  connection  with  O.  Fabricius,  is  carrying  on  one 
of  the  most  extensive  furniture  factories  and  stores  in 
this  part  of  the  State. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1857,  the  tow^n  com- 
panies of  Garnett  and  Troy  were  consolidated,  un- 
der the  name  and  style  of  the  "Town  Company  of 
Garnett." 

On  the  9th  day  of  February,  1859,  ^^^  Territor- 
ial Legislature  parsed  an  act  to  incorporate  the  town 
company  of  Garnett,  with  the  following  incorpora- 
tors :  R.  B.  Hall,  Theodore  Harris,  J.  Y.  Camp- 
bell, James  Locke,  D.  W.  Houston  and  W.  C.  Hall, 
with  the  usual  powers  of  bodies  corporate.  The 
company  so  incorporated  met  at  Garnett  on  the  9th 
day  of  April,  1859,  '^"^^  elected  its  officers  as  fol- 
lows :  R.  B.  Hall,  president,  and  Theodore  Har- 
ris, secretary.  The  town  so  organized  issued  to  its 
members  certificates  of  stock  in  the  following  form  : 

"Town  of  (raruett.  Kansas  Territory. 

••  Tliis  is  to  cf  rtify   that  — is  entitled  to  one 

sliare,  No.  — ,  in  tlie  town  of  (iarnett,  K.  T.,  transfer- 


66  HISTORY    OF 

able  ])('rs()iia]l\  or  by  altoriK'v.  ujx)!!  tlic  l)()()ks  of  tlio  com- 
pany, upon  tlic  siiiTcndci-  of  this  (•crtilicutc.  It  is  agreed 
hetween  the  stoeklioUlers  and  orijiinal  i)re-eniptors  of  (iar- 
nctl,  thai' tins  eertilieate  does  .not  entith'  the  hohler  to  any 
interest  in  the  grounds  and  h)ts  tliat  have  been  set  ai)ait 
for  ])ublic  puri)oses.  l)uilt  on.  sold  or  given  away  i)revious 
tt)  Deeeniber.  IHA?. 

"  In  witness  whereof  the  said  coiiipau)   have  caused  their 

president  and  secretary  to  attix  their  names,  this  day 

of .  1«5— .  M.  B.  IIai.i..  President. 

"Theodohk  Harris,  J^ecretary." 

At  the  head  of  this  certificate  is  the  motto  of  the 
State  of  Kentucky. 

Several  houses  were  erected   on    tiie  townsite  of 
Garnett  in    1857.     The  flouring    and  saw  mill    was    " 
put  in  operation  during  the  fall  of  that  year. 

In  1858  and  1859  '^  number  of  prominent  settlers 
located  in  Garnett,  among  whom  were  D.  W.  Hous- 
ton, Hiram  Tefft,  Rev.  J.  R.  Slentz,  C.  P.  Alvey, 
Dr.  G.  W.  Walgamott,  S.  J.  Crawford,  W.  A. 
Johnson,  G.  W.  Her,  J.  G.  Smith,  J.  C.  Johns6n,  J 
Hugh  Quinn,  Gifford  McAfee,  James  McLaughlin, 
Jared  Graham,  William  McLaughlin,  Robert  Mc- 
Laughlin, Martin  Setter,  John  B.  Stitt,  J-  T.  Pur- 
cell,  Elias  Norris,  Ephraim  Coy.  Charles  Norris, 
John  Johnson,  N.  A.  Porter,  Wm.  Tefft,  John  Tefft, 
John  S.  Stowe  and  others. 

Dr.  Cooper  selected  and  laid  out  the  town  of 
Valley  City,  near  the  junction  of  the  Pottowatomies, 
in  the  spring  of  1857.  Drs.  Cooper  and  Lind- 
say surveyed  and  staked  it  out,  and  Cooper  had  a 
lithographed    plat     of     it    made  ;     but    there    were 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  67 

never  an}-  town  improvements  made  on  the  town- 
site.  It  had,  like  many  of  the  Kansas  towns  of  that 
day,  existence  only  on  paper.  Townsites  became 
so  numerous  in  the  early  days  of  the  countrv  that  it 
became  necessary  for  the  Legislature  to  prevent  the 
location  of  so  many  townsites,  and  in  1859  ^^  ^^'^^  ^ 
bill  before  it,  providing  that  each  alternate  section 
should  be  reserved  for  agricultural  purposes,  and 
making  it  unlawful  for  more  than  half  of  the  land 
to  be  occupied  for  town  and  city  purposes. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

J/ass  Mectino;  at  Hyatt — First  Mectins;  in  Gar- 
nctt — County  Oj^ccrs  Appointed — Flection  of  Dele- 
gates to  Lecompton  Constitutional  Convention — 
Free  State  Convention  at  Sac  and  Fox  Agency — 
Celebration  of  ph  of  "July  at  Greeley — Dividing 
County  into  Municipal  Tozvnships — Free  State  Con- 
ventions at  Simons'  and  Hyatt — First  Flection  for 
County  Officers —  Vote  of  all  the  Precincts,  except 
Shannon,  thrown  out  by  Probate  fudge — Letter 
Giving  Reason  for  Same — Free  State  Convention 
at  Grasshopper  Falls — Sickness  in  the  fall  ofiSjy. 

In  May,  1857,  a  mass  meeting  was  held  at  H3-att. 


6S  HISTORY    OF 

D.  H.  Jackniim  was  elected  president,  and  C.  J. 
Farley,  secretary.  The  object  of  the  meeting  was 
to  discuss  the  question  of  electing  delegates  to  the 
Lecompton  convention,  to  frame  a  State  constitution. 
W.  F.  M.  Arny,  William  Spriggs,  D.  B.  Jackman 
and  some  others  of  the  more  radical  Free  State  men 
took  strong  ground  against  going  into  an  election  or 
doing  any  act  that  would  recognize  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  county  under  the  bogus  laws.  Dr.  J.  G. 
Blunt,  Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick,  James  Hanway  and 
some  others  took  a  more  conservative  view,  and 
w^ere  in  favor  of  electing  delegates  and  county  offi- 
cers, believing  the  Free  State  men  to  be  in  the  ma- 
jority ;  but  the  majority  of  the  meeting  was  opposed 
to  the  proposition,  and  passed  resolutions  against 
going  into  an  election. 

On  the  i8th  of  May,  1857,  a  mass  meeting  was 
held  on  the  townsite  of  Garnett,  at  the  store  of  Dr. 
P.  Bowen.  The  meeting  had  been  called  by  Capt. 
Samuel  Anderson  and  others,  for  the  purpose  of 
considering  the  subject  of  electing  county  officers 
at  the  following  October  election.  The  meeting 
elected  James  Hanway  as  president,  and  B.  F. 
Ridgew^ay,  secretary.  Speeches  were  made  by  Drs. 
Gilpatrick,  Blunt  and  Lindsay,  and  Capt.  Anderson 
and  James  Hanway,  all  favoring  an  election.  The 
meeting  passed  resolutions  that  it  w^as  advisable  to 
elect  county  officers  at  the  October  election.  This 
was  the  tlrst  meeting  held  on  the  tow^nsite  of   Gar- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  '       69 

nett,  and  perhaps  the  most  harmonious  meeting  e\er 
held  in  the  county. 

In  Ma}-,  1857,  Thomas  Hill  was  commissioned,  by 
the  Governor,  sheriff  of  Anderson  county.  He 
qualified  and  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  and 
continued  so  to  act  until  after  the  October  election 
in  the  same  year.  He  was  appointed  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  removal  of  David  McCammon 
from  the  Territory.  Hill  was  not  a  resident  of  the 
count}',  but  lived  in  Franklin  county  all  the  time 
that  he  acted  as  sheriff.  In  the  early  settlement  of 
the  Territor}'  it  was  the  general  understanding  of  the 
settlers  that  the  northern  boundary  of  the  county  was 
three  miles  further  north  than  it  proved  to  be  when 
surveyed  and  established.  At  the  time  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county  the  government  survey  had 
not  been  made. 

May  25,  1857,  John  McDaniel  and  Darius  Frank- 
enberger  were  appointed  county  commissioners,  to 
fill  the  vacancies  caused  b}^  the  removal  of  Francis 
M3er  and  J.  S.  Waitman  from  the  Territory,  and 
they  qualified  on  the  same  day,  and  on  the  same  day 
Capt.  Samuel  Anderson  was  appointed  as  justice  of 
the  peace. 

The  county  commissioners,  on  the  20th  of  July, 
established  three  voting  precincts,  and  appointed 
judges  of  election  for  each  precinct.  First  precinct, 
Greeley  ;  Samuel  Mack,  W.  C.  McDow  and  J.  H. 
Wolken,  judges  for  the  October  election.  Second 
precinct,  Shannon  ;  Benjamin  Davis,  Wilson  Ander- 


JO  HISTORY  or-' 

son  and  John  Barker,  judges.  Third  precinct,  at 
Beni'aniin  L.  x^dington's,  on  North  Pottovvatomie  ; 
Benj.  L.  Adington,  Rezin  Porter  and  Christian 
Feuerborn,  judges. 

The  election  for  delegates  to  a  convention  to 
frame  a  State  convStitution,  commonly  known  as  the 
Lecompton  constitutional  convention,  was  held  on 
the  15th  day  of  June,  1857  ;  and  at  this  election  Dr. 
Rufus  Gilpatrick  and  J.  V.  Campbell  received  32 
votes  each  in  this  county,  and  both  were  elected  as 
delegates.  This  was  the  tirst  election  held  in  the 
county.  Gilpatrick  and  Campbell  both  went  to  the 
convention  at  Lecompton,  and  on  the  loth  day  of 
August  the  convention  passed  a  resolution  declaring 
both  entitled  to  seats  ;  but  neither  of  them  quahhed 
or  took  a  seat  in  the  convention. 

On  the  20th  of  July  A.  Simons  was  appointed 
county  clerk,  and  Samuel  Anderson,  probate  judge. 

On  the  tirst  day  of  August  Henry  Williams  was 
appointed  justice  of  the  peace. 

On  the  loth  day  of  September,  1857,  a  Free  State 
convention  was  held  at  the  Sac  and  Fox  Agency,  for 
the  nomination  of  candidates  to  the  Territorial  Le^r- 
islature  from  the  nineteen  disfranchised  counties, 
and  it  nominated,  as  such  candidates,  Samuel  J. 
Stewart,  Christopher  Columbia  and  John  Curtis. 

On  the  Fourth  of  Juh',  1857,  a  celebration  was 
held  in  the  grove  north  of  Greeley,  where  C.  E. 
Dewey,  J.  Y.  Campbell  and  others  delivered  ora- 
tions,   and   patriotic  songs   and  toasts  by  the  patri- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  7 1 

Otic  people,  appropriately  commemorated  freedom's 
birth.  It  was  a  season  of  refreshment,  where  all 
the  hardships  of  1776,  as  well  as  those  of  their  own 
days  in  the  Territory,  were  rehearsed.  Manv  of 
them  had  passed  through  trying  scenes  and  strug- 
gles to  pro\'ide  homes  for  themseh'es  and  families. 
A  stream  of  emiijration  from  the  north  had  beijun 
to  flow  into  the  Territory,  which  brightened  their- 
hopes  and  kindled  the  anticipation  that  their  success 
was  near  at  hand. 

June  I.  1857,  George  Wilson  was  commissioned 
notary  public,  and  qualitied  before  Judge  Cato,  at 
Lecompton. 

February  16,  John  Anderson  was  commissioned 
constable. 

September  21,  a  voting  precinct  was  established 
at  Hyatt,  and  Isaac  Pilcher,  B.  D.  Benedict  and 
A.  Mc Arthur  were  appointed  judges  ;  also,  a  pre- 
cinct was  established  at  Cresco,  and  C.  H.  James, 
Daniel  Long  and  John  Eaton  were  appointed  as 
judges  for  the  October  election. 

October  7,  1857,  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners divided  the  county  into  municipal  townships, 
and  established  their  boundaries,  and  named  them 
as  follows :  Walker,  Monroe,  Jackson,  Reeder, 
Madison,  Washington,  Geary,  Harrison,  Clay  and 
Franklin.  The  townships  of  Madison,  Geary,  Clay 
and  Franklin  were  never  organized,  and  the  terri- 
tory embraced  in  their  limits  has  since  been  included 
in  other  townships. 


"J 2  IIISTORV   OP' 

November  25,  1857,  B.  F.  Ridgeway  was  ap- 
pointed county  surveyor,  by  tbe  board  of  county 
commissioners. 

November  16,  M.  T.  Williams  was  appointed 
county  clerk  by  the  board  of  count}^  commissioners. 

A  mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Anderson 
countv  was  held  in  the  timber  near  the  residence  of 
A.  Simons,  on  the  15th  of  August,  1857.  Wm. 
Puett  was  elected  chairman,  and  J.  G.  Reese,  sec- 
retary. The  meeting  was  addressed  by  Dr.  J.  G. 
Blunt,  who  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting  ;  also, 
W.  F.  M.  Arny,  Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick,  D.  B. 
Jackman  and  William  Spriggs  made  addresses. 
A  committee  of  nine  was  appointed  to  report  candi- 
dates for  county  offices  ;  also,  for  representatives  to 
the  Territorial  Legislature,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Gil- 
patrick ;  and  on  the  adoption  of  this  motion.  Judge 
Arny  and  others  withdrew  from  the  meeting  a  short 
distance,  across  a  ravine,  and  organized  another 
meeting.  Arny  and  his  friends  were  opposed  to  the 
meeting  doing  any  act  that  would  recognize  the  bo- 
gus laws,  or  yield  obedience  thereto.  The  commit- 
tee reported  the  names  for  candidates,  as  follows  : 
Samuel  Anderson,  for  probate  judge  ;  G.  K.  Cook, 
for  slieriff  :  James  Fitten,  for  coroner;  A.  Simons, 
for  clerk  ;  Isaac  Hiner,  for  treasurer  ;  William  Puett, 
for  assessor  :  B.  F.  Ridgeway,  for  surveyor  ;  for 
justices  of  the  peace,  James  Sutton,  Samuel  Mack, 
William  Smith  and  Rezin  Porter ;  for  constables, 
John  Anderson,  Oliver  Rand,  William  H.  Ambrose 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  73 

and  Benjamin  Clark.  The  following  persons  were 
chosen  delegates  to  the  district  convention,  to  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Grant :  James  Hanway, 
James  Snodgrass,  W.  O.  Cloud,  Samuel  Anderson, 
Dr.  Thos.  Lindsay,  Isaac  Hiner,  John  B.  Stitt,  Da- 
rius Frankenberger  and  W.  L.  Webster.  John  B. 
Stitt  was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  representa- 
tive to  the  Territorial  Legislature.  The  following 
gentlemen  were  appointed  to  confer  with  other 
county  delegations  of  this  district,  in  regard  to  the 
nomination  of  candidates  for  representatives  :  Sam- 
uel Anderson,  Dr.  Lindsay,  D.  Frankenberger, 
John  Pr3or  and  G.  A.  Cook. 

Arny  and  his  friends  organized  their  meeting  by 
electing  Isaac  Hull,  chairman,  and  S.  P.  Hand,  sec- 
retary, when  speeches  were  made  b}^  Arny,  D. 
B.  Jackman  and  Wm.  Spriggs  against  going  into  an 
election  under  the  bogus  laws.  The  meeting  adop- 
ted a  long  series  of  resolutions,  among  which  were 
the  following : 

••  Hesolvcd.  .  That  we  will  use  all  legal  nieaii8  to  resist 
ever}'  attempt  to  force  upon  us  a  Territorial  government, 
and  taxation  to  sustain  such  government,  Avhicli  is  in  vio- 
lation of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the  or- 
ganic act  ;  therefore, 

•^lesolved.  That  Ave  will  use  all  legal  means  to  resist 
every  attempt  to  force  upon  us  a  Territorial  government, 
and  taxation  to  sustain  such  government.  Mhich  is  in  vio- 
lation both  of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
the  organic  act  of  the  Territory."' 

Then  follow    several    resolutions,    censuring    the 
10 


74  niSTORV    OF 

Territorial  Legislature,  at  its  prcxious  session,  for  lo- 
cating tlie  countv  seat  and  providing  for  llie  erec- 
tion of  county  buildings,  without  first  submitting  the 
matter  to  a  vote  of  the  people  :  and  declaring  that 
the  meeting  repudiated  such  acts,  as  tending  to  the 
disturbance  of  the  peace  of  the  county,  as  follows  : 

''  Whereas.  The  new  appoi-tioiniieiit  iuid  atlenipt  under 
it  to  (listVanchisc  nineteen  counties  (of  wliicli  we  are  one), 
gives  us  just  I'eason  to  Itelieve  the  future  will  he.  as  tlie 
past,  whicli  has  heen  marked  by  injustice,  and  a  (h'ternii- 
nation  on  tlie  jtart  of  those  who  profess  lo  act  under  the 
so-called  Territorial  laws,  to  depri\<'  us  of  a  full  and  fail- 
representation  ;  therefore. 

"Kesolved,  That  a  connuittee  of  ti\  e  persons  he  ajjpoin- 
ted  by  the  chairman,  to  obtain  an  expression  of  the  citi- 
zens of  that  portion  of  Kansas,  and  to  obtain,  if  deemed 
practical,  a  nomination  of  a  person  to  fully  rei)resen1  the 
nineteen  disfranchised  counties  in  the  Territorial  Lejiisla- 
ture."" 

The  chairman  appointed  on  this  committee,  13.  B. 
Jackman,  Richard  Mills,  Solomon  Kauffman,  J.  A. 
Harvev  and  B.  L.  Adin^jton. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1857,  the  following  re- 
quest for  a  Free  State  convention  was  issued  in  An- 
derson county  : 

''At  a  mass  con\('nti(»n  of  the  Free  State  party  of  An- 
derson county,  the  undersig-ned  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  confer  with  the  citizens  of  the  other  counties  compris- 
ing the  Tenth  council  district,  to  take  sncli  steps  as  nun- 
be  necessary  for  the  holding  of  a  convention  for  delibera- 
tion and  council.  The  apixtrtioniuent,  as  made,  is  not  to 
be  changed.  We  are  associ:|,ted  with  Linn.  Lykins  and 
P"'ranklin  counties,  together  Mith  a  large  i)ortion  of  South- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  75 

cm  Kansas.  No  district  cominittee,  rfSifulaiiy  eleftetl.  is 
autliorized  to  call  a  convention.  By  the  express  wish  of 
the  people,  in  convention  assembled,  we  assume  the  re- 
sponsibility. We  ask  you  to  waive  all  seeming  iiu'eifular- 
ity  in  our  call,  and  to  meet  in  Osawatomie  on  Monday, 
September  15.  at  ten  o'clock  a.  m..  for  the  purpose  of  nonii- 
natinji"  a  suitable  person  to  represent  the  Tenth  district  in 
the  next  Territorial  Legislature,  if  the  best  interests  of  the 
party  require  ;  also  to  transact  such  other  business  as  the 
committee  may  (h?em  necessary. 

"David  B.  Jackman, 
••Richard  Mills, 
••J.  A.  TIakvey, 
'•Solomon  Kaukfman, 
*•  B.  L.  Adinuton, 

••  County  Committee." 
On  the  15th  day  of  September,  1857.  a  Free  State 
convention  was  held  at  Hyatt,  for  the  nomination  of 
candidates  for  county  officers.     Isaac  Hull  was  elec- 
ted president,  and  S.  W.  Kilbourne,  secretary,     ^y. 

F.  M.  Arny  addressed  the  meeting,  and  the  follow- 
ing nominations  were  made  :  For  probate  judge, 
Solomon  Kauffman  :  county  commissiohers,  James 
C.  Hauser  and  Ephraim  Coy:  county  clerk,  C.  J. 
Farley  :   sheriff,    C.  E.    Dewey  ;  treasurer,  William 

G.  Nichols  ;  surveyor,  B.  F.  Ridgeway  ;  coroner, 
Dr.  Kerr  ;  assessor,  Jeremiah  Brown  :  justices  of  the 
peace,  D.  B.  Jackman,  Greeley;  Dr.  Thos.  Lind- 
say, Garnett ;  B.  L.  Adington,  North  Pottowatomie, 
and  R.  D.  Chase,  Cresco  :  constables,  Samuel  Kil- 
bourne, Jesse  McDaniel,  A.  D.  Jones,  and  Jacob 
R.  Shields.  The  following  resolutions  were  passed 
by  the  convention  : 


76  HISTORY  OF 

*•  U'lKM-cas,  The  cxanipleof  our  lorcfatliiM-s  has  taiiiilit  iii^ 
t(»  resiist  every  atteinpl  wiiicli  may  bo  made  to  distVancliise 
us  as  citizens  :  and  whereas,  the  system  of  distrietiii<i-  and 
apportionment  lor  mend )ers  to  the  Territorial  Leo-ishitureof 
Kansas  shows  an  iin(|uestional)le  deterndnation  to  dei)ri\ c 
us  of  our  ri.uhts  as  citizens,  in  tliat  it  provides  no  represen- 
tation in  either  brancii  of  tlie  lA-yishiture  for  nineteen 
counties,  includinji-  nearly  half  tlie  poi)ulation  of  the  Ter- 
i-itor\  .  thus  placing- us  in  the  position  of  the  patriots  of  the 
revolution  who  were  taxed  and  refused  representation: 
and  whereas,  the  course  [)ursued  l)y  the  constitutional  con- 
vention at  its  session  at  Lecomi)ton  last  week,  in  regrard  to 
the  members  elect  to  represent  this  county  in  that  conven- 
tion indicates  that  we  are  not  to  i)e  allowed  a  rei)resentative 
in  that  body,  or  a  voicre  in  regard  to  its  action  :  therefore. 

'•  Resolved.  That  we.  the  citizens  of  Anderson  county, 
approve  the  course  pursued  by  the  two  deleg'ates  from  our 
county  in  tlieir  demand  for  tlie  return  of  their  certiticates 
from  the  constitutional  convention,  which  we  consider  to 
be  a  denial  of  our  right  to  be  represented,  and  illeg'al.  on  the 
grounds  that  this  and  other  counties  are  not  represented. 

"Resolved.  That  we  will  nuike  one  more  effort  to  be 
represented  in  the  Territorial  Legislature,  in  proportion 
to  our  poi)ulation. 

"Resolved.  That  John  McDaniel,  of  South  Pottowato- 
mie,  and  J.  B.  Stitt,  of  (ireeley,  be  candidates,  as  regular 
delegates,  in  the  Territorial  Legislatui-e." 

On  the  5th  day  of  October,  1857,  the  first  elec- 
tion was  held  in  the  county  for  county  officers.  Onh' 
four  precincts  made  returns  of  this  election  to  the 
count}'  commissioners.  The  following  is  the  vote 
had  at  this  election  : 


ANDERSON    COUNTY 


77 


Canvass  ok  thk  Elkction  of  Octohkk  5,  18.o7. 


(AN  1)1  DA'I'KS. 


I 


i 


Delegate  to  ('oujiiTss — 
'  M.  J.  I'arrolt. 
E.  Kansoni. 

( 'ouncilniau — 

11.   r>.  Slaiiditurd. 

Ui'prescntativt's — 

John  Curtis.  - 
Sanuu'l  Stewart. 
V.  C'ohnultia, 
Joliii  McDanicl. 
-lohii  15.  Stitt, 

Probate  Jiuljif  — 

Solomon  Kaiitriiiaii. 
S.   Anderson. 

County  ( 'onuuissioners — 
James  11.  Ilauser.  - 
Epliraim  Coy.     - 
D.   Fraid<enl»er<ier, 
John  McDaniel. 

Slieritt— 

C.   E.   l)<'\vev. 
(t.   a.  Cook". 

County  Treasurer — 

\V.  (t.  Nichols,       - 
T.  Fitten.    - 
Isaac  I  liner.    - 

Recorder — 

C.  J.   Farley.       - 
A.  Simons. 

Surveyor — 

*B.  F.   Hi(l<-e\yay. 
Justices  of  the  Peace — 

D.  B.  Jackman. 
T.  Lindsay, 

H.  AVillianis,  - 
15.  L.  Adinjiton, 
R.  D.  Chase,  - 
James  Sutton.     - 
Samuel  ^lack. 
AV.  Smith,  - 


n 

6 


86 
1 

36 

86 
36 
36 
36 
86 

34 
2 

36 
36 


36 
36 

36 
36 


oZ 

32 

32 

32 

3 

3 

23 
2 

22 
20 


21 
10 

19 
10 


21 
10 

21 


.56 

12 

55 

1 

54 

64 

52 

64 

55 

64 

10 

10 

10 

60 

60 

60 
60 
60 
54 
53 

60 
9 

60 
50 
11 
10 

57 
58 


59 


5S 

22 
21 
21 
31 
22 


66 
1 


194 


67  I   195 


66 

65 
13 
11 

14 
51 

14 

18 
57 
54 

12 
54 

10 

56 

12 
54 


194 
194 
193 
106 
103 

131 
64 

132 

119 

68 

64 

126 
64 

123 
10 
56 

128 
64 

121 


90 

77 

139 

147 

141 

55 

65 

54 

64 

64 

74 

78  HISTOKV  OF 

The  ••Herald  ot"  Freedom.'"  speaking  of  the  Oc- 
tober election,  1H57,  in  Anderson  county,  says: 

••A(liii.ul<>ii.;5()  loO:  ('r»'sc().;>r)  to  1  :  Hyatt. 60  to  0:  Sliaii- 
iion.  6H  to  1;  llif  whole  vote  for  llic  Free  Stale  ticket  is 
•.'."i7.  to  '2  for  Itaiisoiii.  or  i;50  to  1.  for  freedom.  ()f  course 
Ilie  wliole  ticket  was  elected.  it  is  i'e})orted  at  Lecouiptou 
that  1  he  entire  vote,  save  such  as  was  cast  at  Shannon,  will 
tie  rejected.'* 

I'll  is  vote  was  not  canvassed  until  the  26th  of 
November,  1857.  On  the  canvass  of  the  vote  the 
probate  judge  threw  out  all  the  returns  except  the 
Shannon  precinct,  and  made  the  following  order  on 
his  record  : 

•'Shannon,  the  County  Seat  of  .Vnderson  County.  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas,  the  •26lli  day  of  November,  A.  I).  1857: 
That  all  the  above  preeinets,  except  Shannon,  have  been 
thrown  out.  by  ordei'  of  tiie  jud<i"e  of  the  probate,  in  and 
foi-  Anderson  county.  Kansas  Territory. 

■•  (Jkoi^oI':   Wilson. 
••  Jud'i'e  of  the  Pi'obate  in  and  for  the  County  of  Anderson. 

Kansas  'i'erritory."" 

And  on  the  28th  day  of  November,  1857.  the  fur- 
ther order  in  the  matter  appears  on  the  record  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  count}'  commissioners  : 

••'['lie  boai-d  of  county  coinniissioners  met  tliis  *28th  day 
of  Xoveniber.  1857,  (ieorge  Wilson  as  president,  and  .John 
McDaniel  as  associate  (a  called  meet inu).  beijiu'  present, 
(jleorj^c  Wilson.  Judoe  of  probate  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Anderson.  K.  T..  decided  that  the  Shannon  precinct  shall 
stand  accordinu'  to  the  jioll  book  of  Octobei"  5,  1857. 

••  M.  'l\  Wti.ma:ms. 

"  (  lerk  of  the  Coni't." 

Judge  Wilson  wrote  Govern<jr  Stanton  the  follow- 


'  ANDERSON     COUNTY.  79 

ing  letter  in  explanation  of  his  action  in  rejecting  the 
votes  cast  at  the  precincts  of  Hyatt,  Adington, 
Cresco  and  Groelev  : 

•■  Shiiinidii.  tlic  (■((Uiily  <i';il  of  Aiulcr^oii  county,  Iv.  T.. 

■•  Dcccinhcr  1.  A.    I).  IS.".?. 

••To  his  lidiiorahlc  cxcrllcncy.  F.  1*.  SiaiUon.  Sccrctarx 
ot  the  Territory  of  Kiinsas.  and  actiiiil"  (iovcrnor:  Hcla- 
tivc  to  all  of  the  pri-chicts.  cxcrptinj:'  Shannon:  First,  in 
Pfizard  to  the  precinct  of  (ireeiey  (or  Blunt ),  is  not  pro]jerly 
authenticated  hy  the  jud<i"es.  nor  tiie  clerks  at  the  foot 
<>fther(dl.  Hei:ard>  tlic  precinct  of  I  lyal  t .  every  species 
of  fraud  was  practiced  at  tlie  poll>.  Also,  in  Adinjiton 
the  same  species  of  frautl  w  as  practiced.  IJoljin^on's  pre- 
cinct, it  is  believed,  a  jireat  nunil)er  of  illciial  votes  were 
sent  there.  These  are  my  reason-  for  throwini:'  these  pre- 
cincts out.  I  sustain  tlie  precinct  of  Shannon,  as  it  i.s  tlie 
only  lejj-al  precinct  in  the  county  :  altlioiiiih  it  is  undecided 
whether  the  election  was  held  on  the  county  seat  or  Sam- 
uel McDanieFs,  as  it  was  held  within  the  yard,  or  t)n  tlu' 
line,  a  few  feet  from  the  section  stone:  and  there  is  i)ut 
one  difference  in  tiie  footiniis  at  this  ijrecinct,  and  that  is 
hut  one  vote  in  the  footin^T.  which  1  ha\'e  corrected,  as  you 
will  see  on  tlie  poll  hooks.  Therefore  I  have  c(_)nie  to  the 
decision  of  allowinii'  hut  one  ]irecini't .  of  Shannon.  a>  the 
<»nly  leoal  one  in  the  county.  Therefore  I  call  u])on  your 
excellency.  a>  judiic  of  the  i)roltate,  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Anderson,  to  issue  the  commissit.ns  for  the  respective  ofH- 
cers  as  was  elected  in  llii-  jirecinct  of  Sliannon.  the  county 
seat  of  Anderson  county,  Kansas  Territory.  That  there 
v.a>  no  division  of  the  county  into  the  different  jirecincts 
properly  authenticated,  until  two  days  after  the  election, 
Tlie  board  of  county  commissioners  laid  it  ofi'into  precincts 
without  sendinji'  any  returns  to  the  secretary,  which  ^\  as 
contrar\'  to  law.  l{es])ectfull\  .  your  ob't.  serv"t..    . 

••(ii:().    Wii-sox.'" 

This  action  of  the  probate  judge  gave  the  election 


8o  HISTORY    Ol- 

to  the  following  persons  :  Probate  judge,  Samuel 
Anderson  ;  sheriff,  G.  A.  Cook  :  recorder,  A.  Si- 
mons ;  treasurer,  Isaac  Miner  ;  county  commission- 
ers, D.  Frankenberger  and  John  McDaniel  ;  sur- 
veyor, B.  F.  Ridgeway.  Acting  Governor  Stanton 
issued  commissions  to  all  the  persons  so  declared 
elected,  bearing  date  November  28,  1857,  and  they 
all  qualified  under  said  commissions.  G.  A.  Cook, 
A.  Simons  and  D.  Frankenberger  refused  to  take 
the  oath  to  support  and  sustain  the  law  of  Congress, 
commonly  known  as  the  "fugitive  slave  law." 
They  took  the  oath  with  this  omission.  The  other 
officers  elect  took  the  oath  as  prescribed  by  the  laws 
of   1855. 

At  the  October  election,  1857,  councilmen  and 
members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the 
Territorial  Legislature  were  elected.  Anderson, 
Franklin,  Lykins  and  Linn  counties  constituted  one 
council  district,  and  elected  one  councilman  from 
the  district.  Anderson  county  was  one  of  the  nine- 
teen counties  that  had  but  three  members  in  the 
House  of  Representatives.  At  this  election  Samuel 
Stewart,  C.  Columbia  and  John  Curtis  were  elec- 
ted to  the  House.  This  was  called  one  of  the  nine- 
teen disfranchised  counties. 

The  members  elected  at  this  election  composed 
the  tirst  Free  State  Legislature  of  the  Territory. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1857,  a  Free  State  con- 
vention was  held  at  Grasshopper  Falls.  G.  W.  Smith, 
of  Lawrence,  was  elected  permanent  president,  and 


F 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  8l 

the  following  delegates  from  Anderson  county  were 
present  and  participated  in  the  convention  :  Solomon 
Kauffman,  C.  E.  Dewey,  D.  B.  Jackman,  W.  F. 
M.  x\rny  and  Rufus  Gilpatrick.  This  conven- 
tion was  called  to  consider  the  question  of  most  vi- 
tal importance  to  the  people  of  the  Territor}' — 
whether  the  government  of  the  Territorv  should  be 
controlled  by  bona  fide  citizens  thereof.  This  con- 
vention passed  resolutions  in  favor  of  going  into  the 
election  in  October  and  electing  officers. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1857,  W.  L.  Webster 
was  ^.ippointed  superintendent  of  public  buildings  in 
Anderson  county :  and  on  the  23d  of  the  same 
month  M.  Puett  was  appointed  by  the  board  of 
county  commissioners  assessor  of  the  count^^  and 
was  the  first  assessor  of  the  county. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  there  was  much  sickness    in 

Kansas.     In  the  "  Herald  of  Freedom"  we  find  the 

following  article  : 

"It  has  been  reported  tliat  iniieli  sickness  has  been  ex- 
perienced on  Pottowatomie  creek  the  past  season.  Mr. 
Arny  informs  us  tliat  at  one  time  he  had  at  his  liouse 
twenty-six  sick  persons,  whom  lie  took  to  his  liome  to 
nurse;  most  of  tlu>m  younji'  )uen,  who  settled  in  the  tim- 
ber and  had  been  usino-  creek  water.  Of  this  number 
three  have  since  died ;  and  the  remainder  have  recovered 
and  o;one  to  their  usual  occupations." 

On   the  5th  of  October,   1857,    D.  B.  Jackman, 

Henry  Williams,  B.  L.  Adington,   Dr.  Thos.  Lind- 

sav,  R.  D.  Chase,  Samuel  Mack  and  James  Sutton 

were  elected  justices  of  the  peace  ;    and  on  the  23d 

11 


82  HISTORY   OF 

of  December,  of  the  same  3'ear,  Daniel  Fraker  was 
appointed  coroner  by  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  in  1857  provided  for 
the  otiice  of  recorder  by  land  districts.  Anderson 
county  was  located  in  what  was  known  as  the  Paw- 
nee land  district ;  and  George  A.  Reynolds  was  ap- 
pointed land  district  recorder  of  the  Pawnee  ( or 
Lecompton )  district.  The  law  provided  for  putting 
on  record  in  the  office  any  deed,  mortgage,  or 
other  instrument  affecting  titles  to  real  estate  ;  that 
the  instruments  would  have  the  same  binding  effect, 
when  tiled  in  said  office,  as  if  recorded  in  the  county 
where  the  land  was  situated.  The  result  of  es- 
tablishing this  office  at  Lecompton  was  that  most  of 
the  instruments  affecting  real  estate,  for  three  or 
four  years,  were  recorded  in  this  office  ;  and  when 
Quantrell  made  his  raid  on  Lawrence,  on  the  21st  of 
August,  1863,  the  records  of  this  office  being  in 
Lawrence,  were  destroyed  ;  and  there  are  many 
pieces  of  land  in  this  county,  the  titles  of  which 
were  recorded  in  this  office,  and  no  record  or 
transcript  of  the  same  can  be  found. 

The  "Herald  of  Freedom"  of  September  19,1857, 
has  the  following  under  the  head  of  "Mail  Routes 
in  Southern  Kansas  :" 

''All  towns  and  localities  that  desire  mail  fat-ilities  are 
reqnested  to  communicate  witli  W.  F.  M.  Arny,  Hyatt, 
Kansas,  previous  to  the  25th  day  of  October,  and  to  fur- 
nish him  all  necessary  information  with  regard  to  routes 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  83 

(le?iired.  and  location  of  offices;.  In  accordance  with  his 
appointment  by  the  railroad  and  mail  route  convention, 
held  at  Hyatt,  Kansas,  and  Butler,  Missouri,  he  expects  to 
start  to  Washington  City  about  the  tirst  of  November,  and 
will  attend  to  any  business  during-  his  sojourn  there  that 
may  be  placed  in  his  hands,  so  that  the  present  irregulari- 
ties in  the  mails  and  routes  may,  if  possible,  be  corrected." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Commissioners  to  Attend  Voting  Precincts — 
Election  Under  the  Lecompton  Constitution — Res- 
ignation of  County  Officers — Appointment  of 
Agent  to  contest  claim — Election  of  Delegates  to 
Leavenvjo rth  Co n stitu tio nal  Co n ventio n — Electio n 
of  County  Officers — Election  on  Leavenworth  Con- 
stitution—  'Jurisdiction  of  Probate  fudge — Troubles 
in  Western  part  of  county — Contract  to  Erect  Pub- 
lie  Buildings — l^ote  on  Lecompton  Constitution. 

There  was  much  dissatisfaction  among  the  peo- 
ple over  the  action  of  the  probate  court  in  throwing 
out  the  votes  of  three  townships,  and  declaring  the 
persons  who  received  the  highest  number  of  votes 
at  Shannon  precinct  elected,  and  there  was  dissatis- 


84  HISTORY    OF 

faction  with  the  acts  of  the  count}'  commissioners, 
who,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1857,  entered  into 
a  contract  with  Dr.  Preston  Bowen  to  build  a  jail 
and  court  house  at  Shannon,  and  made  an  order  ap- 
propriating $1,000  for  that  purpose. 

On  the  i8th  day  of  January,  1858,  the  board  of 
county  commissioners,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  wish 
of  the  people,  submitted  the  matter  to  a  vote,  under 
the  following  order  : 

''  It  ii^  ordered  by  tlie  board  that  a  si)ecial  coinniissioner 
be  appointed  to  at  lend  to  the  (deetion  I0  l)e  behl  on  the 
'2(5tli  inst..  in  eacli  i)recinct,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
tlie  will  of  the  peoi)le  on  the  buildiii"-  i)ropositions :  for  or 
against  the  resignation  of  county  officers;  and  also,  to  as- 
certain tlie  w  ill  of  the  people  as  to  the  proi)riety  of  pro- 
ceeding   with    the    i)resent  proposed  county   building."' 

The  following  named  persons  were  appointed  as 
special  commissioners  to  attend  the  several  voting 
precincts  :  W.  L.  Webster,  Central  City  precinct ; 
D.  D.  Judy,  Pottowatomie  precinct;  Wm.  Bayles, 
Shannon  precinct ;  James  Y.  Campbell,  Hyatt  pre- 
cinct;  Luther  Fitch,  Adington's  precinct. 

January  29,  1858,  the  returns  of  the  election  held 
on  the  26th  of  January  were  canvassed,  and  the 
board  made  the  following  record  of  the  canvass  : 

"  Upon  counting  tlie  returns  made  b\  the  commissioners 
a])i)ointed  to  take  the  vote  on  tlie  resignation  of  the  county 
otticers  and  i)ublic  building,  it  was  found  that  .5H  votes  were 
cast  for  the  resignation  of  otRcers  and  2.')  against  ;  for  the 
erection  of  i)ublic  buildings.  28;  against,  70." 

After  the  canvass  of  the  vote  the  county  officers 
made  out  their  resignation,  as  follows  : 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  85 

"  Wlioreas.  Tlic  officers  of  Aiulerson  i-oimty.  luiv- 
\i\^'  learned  that  tliere  was  dissJatisfaetiou  J!iiioii<i'  tiie 
|)eople  of  said  eouiity  in  regard  to  their  retaining-  the  offi- 
i-es  to  wiiieli  they  were  coinniissioned.  on  aceount 
of  the  disfrancliiseinenl  of  a  majority  of  the  vo- 
ters at  the  October  election:  and  whereas,  the  board  of 
idunty  connnissioners.  al  their  rejiular  term  on  the  18th 
dav  of  Januarv.  I808.  ijassed  an  order  subinittiiiii'  the  mjit- 
ter  to  a  vote  <»f  the  people  al  the  election  for  counciliuen 
on  the  26th  day  of  January.  I808 ;  and  whereas,  a  majority 
<if  the  votes  polled  on  that  day  were  in  favor  of  the  pres- 
ent officers  resiiiiiinii'  their  comniiss;ions  : 

"  IJesolved.  That  we  will  immediately  turn  over  to  the 
(iovernor  of  the  Territory  our  resionations,  (o  tak(!  effect 
from  and  after  the  tliird  Monday  in  March.  1858. 

"Sami'ki.  Anderson. 

••  Darh  s  Frankknbkrxikr. 

••John  McDanikl. 

•Mt.  a,  Cook. 

"•  A.  Simons."" 

On  the  2ist  dav  of  December,  1857,  an  election 
was  held  for  State  otiicers  and  members  of  the  State 
Legislature,  under  the  Lecompton  constitution. 
The  vote  of  Anderson  and  Franklin  counties,  for 
Governor,  was  as  follows :  G.  W.  Smith,  Free 
State,  577  :  F.  Z.  Marshall,  Pro-Slavery,  3  ;  con- 
stitution, with  slavery,  i  ;  constitution,  without  sla- 
very, 10. 

In  the  apportionnient,  under  the  constitution,  the 
counties  of  Anderson,  Franklin  and  Lvkins  consti- 
tuted  the  Ninth  senatorial  district,  and  were  entitled 
to  one  senator,  and  elected  H.  H.  Williams  to  that 
office.       The   counties  of    Anderson   and  Franklin 


86  iiisTOKV  or' 

constituted  the  Fifteenth  representative  district,  en- 
titled to  one  representative,  and  elected  Perry  Ful- 
ler. 

On  the  4th  day  of  January,  1858,  a  second  elec- 
tion was  held  in  the  Territory,  under  the  act  of  Con- 
gress of  the  17th  of  December,  1857,  on  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Lecompton  constitution.  There  were 
177  votes  cast  in  Anderson  county,  against,  and  none 
for. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1858,  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  rescinded  the  order  and  contract  it 
made  on  the  30th  of  November,  1857,  appropriating 
$1,000  for  the  erection  of  county  building. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  a  German 
family  by  the  name  of  Schutte  settled  on  the  south 
branch  of  the  Pottowatomie,  near  Greeley.  They 
made  their  settlement  before  the  public  lands  were 
surveyed  by  the  government,  and  when  the  survey 
was  made  and  the  land  divided  into  sections  it  was 
ascertained  that  Schutte  had  settled  on  section  1,6, 
which,  under  the  organic  act,  was  set  apart  for  com- 
mon schools.  The  countv  commissioners  were  no- 
tified  by  J.  Y.  Campbell  and  others  that  Schutte  w^as 
living  on  a  school  section,  and  requested  to  com- 
mence proceedings  to  recover  the  same.  On  the 
nth  day  of  March,  1858,  the  commissioners  made 
the  follow^ing  order  in  the  premises  : 

'•At  a  spocial  uicetinji'  of  tlic  bo^rd  of  county  coiinnis- 
sioiicrs  of  Anderson  county,  and  Territory  of  Kansas,  for 
tlie  i)urj)ose  of  appointing  an  a<»cnt  for  the  aforesaid  ci)unty 


ANDERSON     COUNTV.  87 

to  pro!<(MMito  the  claiin  of  tlic  county  in  the  land  ofticc 
!\oain><t  Zat'harias  Scliiittc.  sen.,  and  Zai-liarias  Sclmtte,  jr., 
and  to  take  such  other  step.^  as  nuiy  in  Ins  opinion  be  nec- 
essary to  secure  the  county  in  the  lejjcal  possession  of  the 
oast  lialf  of  section  No.  86.  lownshij)  19,  range  20." 

And  the  board  then  appointed  James  Y.  Camp- 
-bell  as  agent  to  represent  the  county  in  the  contest 
for  the  lands  :  and  under  the  appointment  as  such 
agent  a  large  number  of  witnesses  were  taken  to  the 
land  office  at  Lecompton  to  carry  on  the  contest,  but 
to  no  avail,  as  the  county  had  no  interest  in  the  land, 
and  could  claim  no  right  adverse  to  the  settlers,  as 
the  land  was  not  set  apart  for  the  county,  but  for  the 
common  schools.  The  contest  cost  the  count}'  about 
four  hundred  dollars.  It  was  a  mistake  of  the  com- 
missioners that  the  tax  payers  had  to  meet,  and  at  a 
time  when  the  assessment  roll  was  small.  A  few 
such  mistakes  as  this,  made  about  this  time  by  the 
commissioners,  caused  the  orders  of  the  county  for 
nine  or  ten  years  to  be  hawked  about  and  sold 
at  from  40  to  50  cents  on  the  dollar,  and  dull  sale  at 
that  price  ;  and  merchants  were  reluctant  to  take 
them  even  for  goods. 

On  the  9th  da}^  of  March,  1858,  an  elecdon  for 
three  delegates  to  a  constitutional  convention  to 
frame  a  State  consdtution  and  State  government, 
w^as  held.  W.  F.  M.  Arny,  William  Spriggs  and 
W.  L.  Webster  were  elected  as  such  delegates.  The 
convendon  assembled  at  9  o'clock  a.  m.,on  the  13th 
of  March,  1858,  at  Minneola,  and  elected  James  H. 


88  .     HISTORY  OF 

Lane  as  president,  and  then   adjourned  to   Leaven- 
worth to  reassemble  on  the  25th  of  March. 

On  the  reassembHng  ot  the  convention  and  the 
appointment  of  committees.  General  Lane  resigned 
his  position  as  president  of  the  convention,  and  Mar- 
tin F.  Conway  was  elected.  This  was  known  as 
the  Leavenworth  constitutional  convention. 

On  the  1 2th  dav  of  February,  1858,  the  Territo- 
rial Legislature  passed  an  act  relating  to  the  election 
and  duties  of  county  officers.  This  law^  provided 
for  the  election  of  a  township  board  in  each  town- 
ship, composed  of  three  supervisors,  with  a  clerk  and 
treasurer.  The  countv  board  of  countv  commission- 
ers  was  changed  to  a  board  of  supervisors,  and  con- 
sisted of  the  chairmen  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
from  each  township,  a  majority  of  which  constituted 
a  quorum.  The  law  provided  for  an  election  on  the 
fourth  Monday  of  March,  1858,  for  probate  judge, 
sheriff,  county  surveyor,  register  of  deeds,  county 
clerk  and  county  attorney. 

At  this  election  the  following  county  officers  were- 
chosen  :  Probate  judge,  J.  Y.  Campbell ;  sheriff, 
G.  A.  Cook  ;  register  of  deeds,  M.  Puett ;  surveyor, 
B.  F.  Ridgeway  ;  county  attorney,  John  B.  Stitt : 
and  county  clerk,  B.  L.  Adington. 

The  following  persons  constituted  the  first  board 
of  supei'visors :  James  E.  White,  Rezin  Porter, 
John  McDaniel,  A.  McArthur  and  Solomon  Kauff- 
man.  The  first  meeting  was  on  June  2,  1858.  At 
this  meeting  the  board  organized  by  the  election  of 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  89 

James  E.  White  as  chairman,  and  Benjamin  Ading- 
ton  as  clerk.  The  members  of  this  board  of  super- 
visors were  from  Walker,  Monroe,  Jackson,  Reeder 
and  Washington  townships,  being  the  only  organ- 
ized townships  in  the  county. 

On  the  i8th  of  May,  1858,  an  election  was  held 
for  the  adoption  or  rejection  Df  the  Leavenworth 
constitution,  and  for  the  election  of  State  officers 
and  members  of  the  Legislature.  There  were  only 
six  votes  against  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  in 
this  county.  Anderson  county  was  designated  as 
the  Twenty-eighth  representative  district,  and  was 
entitled  to  two  representatives,  and  also  constituted  / 
the  Seventeenth  senatorial  district,  and  was  entitled 
to  one  senator.  At  this  election  John  R.  Eaton  and 
John  T.  Lanter  were  elected  members  of  the  house, 
and  James  G.  Blunt  as  senator.  William  Spriggs 
was  elected  as  judge  of  the  Fourth  judicial  district. 

The  Territorial  Legislature,  in  1855,  attempted  to 
confer  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  on  the  probate 
court,  concurrent  with  the  district  court.  After  this 
the  probate  judges  throughout  the  Territory  held 
reoular  terms  of  court,  with  the  same  officers  and 
juries  as  provided  for  in  the  district  courts.  On  the 
first  Monday  in  September,  1858,  the  probate  court 
of  Anderson  county  held  its  regular  term  at  Shan- 
non. This  term  of  the  court  was  presided  over  by 
Judge  J.  Y.  Campbell,  in  which  he  had  both  grand 
and  petit  juries.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  petit  jurors  :  Wm.  G.  Nichots,  T.  G.  Headly, 
12 


90 


HISTORY    OF 


G.  W.  Vandall,  Wm.  G.  Hill,  James  Fulsom,  EH 
P.  Biiugus,  D.  Frankenberger,  John  H.  Pattie,  Wm. 
Davis,  Jesse  Sutton  and  C.  J.  Auckenvald.  The 
follo\vin<,f  are  the  names  of  the  grand  jurors  :  Paul 
Ross,  Thomas  Maloy,  W.  O.  Cloud,  Preston 
Bowen,  John  Tefft,  A.  D.  Jones,  C.  W.  Ballard,  C. 

Chamberlain,  Taylor,  Benjamin  Griffin,  F.  M. 

Glasscock,  Wm.  Rison,  J.  L.  Bockover,  Wm.  Lam- 
bert, W.  N.  Bradwell,  Hiram  Tefft,  Henry  Alder- 
man, Wilson  AndersQn  and  J.  S.  Robinson.  The 
probate  judge  delivered  a  written  charge  to  the 
jury,  laying  down  the  law  that  should  govern  them 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  and  delivered  an 
address  on  the  state  of  the  country,  which  was 
about  three  hours  in  length  This  term  of  the  court 
continued  for  several  days,  and  several  indictments 
were  found,  yet  we  are  unable  to  tind  any  record  or 
papers  of  the  same. 

The  district  court  sat  in  the  county  a  short  time 
after  this,  and  decided  that  the  act  conferring  civil 
and  criminal  jurisdiction  on  the  probate  court  was 
in  violation  of  the  organic  act,  organizing  the  Ter- 
ritories of  Nebraska  and  Kansas  ;  that  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  probate  court  under  said  act  were  void. 

Before  this  time  man}'  amusing  cases  had  been 
tried  in  the  probate  court,  and  some  ridiculous  de- 
cisions made  ;  but  they  were  all  set  aside  by  the 
federal  judges,  who  held  the  law  under  which  the 
probate  judges  had  made  the  decisions  unorganic. 

The    second    term    of  the    district    court    in    the 


ANDERSON  COUNTY. 


91 


caunty  was  held  by  Joseph  Williams  (one  of  the 
federal  judges  appointed  by  James  Buchanan  ),  about 
the  first  of  October,  1858.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  petit  jurors  :  Isaac  Hull,  W.  D.  West, 
John  Kirkland,  Henry  Feuerborn,  Benj.  McClachey, 
James  Sutton,  James  W.  Culton,  Leander  Putnam, 
Thomas  Bayles,  Charles  Norris  and  B.  P.  Brown. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  persons  who 
served  on  the  grand  jury:  W.  C.  Howard,  D.  B. 
Swallow,  Isaac  Hiner,  O.  P.  Rand,  Samuel  Hayden, 
A.  Cassell,  Benj.  Lawellen,  John  R.  Lambdin,John 
Eaton,  A.  W.  Jones,  George  Simons,  W.  Smith, 
Joseph  Benadum,  Philip  Engle,  S.  W.  Arrant,  W. 
McClure  and  H.  South.  This  term  of  the  court 
lasted  one  week.  The  grand  jury  returned  a 
number  of  indictments,  and  the  records  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, being  very  meager,  showing  only  the 
indictments  and  arrests,  are  the  first  records  of  a 
court  to  be  found  in  the  county. 

A  short  time  before  this  there  had  been  much 
trouble  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Pottowatomie, 
along  the  line  of  Coffe}'  and  Anderson  counties, 
where  some  of  the  better  class  of  citizens  settled, 
and  some  still  live  ;  also,  there  was  a  class  who  re- 
spected no  law  but  their  own  code  ;  and  the  result 
was  a  people's  court,  organized  to  determine  the 
rights  of  men.  They  would  neither  respect  the 
law  nor  its  officers,  hence  the  grand  jury,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1858,  found  indictments  against  most  of  them, 
and  caused  them  to  be  arrested.     They  gave  bail. 


9'- 


HISTORY   OF 


but  were  never  tried,  as  the  indictments  were  nearly 
all  quashed  at  the  April  term  of  the  district  court, 
1859.  ^^^^  federal  judges  seemed  to  be  prejudiced 
against  all  enactments  of  the  Legislature  after  the 
laws  of  1855  had  been  repealed  :  and  it  was  an  im- 
possibiHtv  to  prepare  an  indictment  that  would  be 
sustained  by  these  judges.  There  was  never  a  man 
punished  in  this  part  of  the  Territory  by  the  decis- 
ion of  any  of  the  federal  judges. 

No  civil  cases  were  tried  in  the  district  court  of 
the  county  until  the  spring  term,  1859.  ^^^^  ^^'^^ 
original  case  commenced  in  the  court  was  the  case 
of  Tobias  Lankard  against  Hendrick  Bowton,  David 
P.  Bethurem,  David  B.  Shaner,  David  F.  Tabler, 
L.  L.  Hayden,  George  Lincoln,  Ezekiel  Bull  and  Al- 
bert V.  Poindexter.  The  petition  was  filed  Septem- 
ber 27,  1858.  Lane  and  Christian  w^ere  the  attor- 
neys for  the  plaintiff  ;  Houston,  Williams,  Sims  and 
Lowry  were  the  attorneys  for  the  defendants.  This 
Wc^s  an  action  of  trespass,  to  recover  damages  for 
personal  injuries,  &c.  The  difficulty  grew  out  of 
the  troubles  on  the  western  border  of  the  county, 
where  the  people  undertook  to  redress  their  own 
grievances  without  the  aid  of  the  judicial  branch 
of  the  government.  A  number  of  civil  cases  grew 
out  of  these  troubles,  as  well  as  criminal  prosecu- 
tions, but,  to  the  credit  of  the  county,  the  persons 
who  created  and  promoted  the  troubles  have  left  the 
country,  and  their  places  are  filled  w^ith  industrious 
and  honest  citizens,  and  that  is  now  one  of  the  most 


ANDERSON   COUNTY.  93 

desirable  portions  of  the  county,  containing  some  of 
the  finest  farms  in  the  State,  and  some  of  the  most 
successful  farmers. 
L  On  the  14th  day  of  June,  1858,  the  board  of  su- 
pervisors of  the  countv  entered  into  a  contract  with 
Dr.  Preston  Bowen  for  the  erection  of  a  jail  and 
court  house,  at  his  own  expense,  and  he  obligated 
himself  to  have  the  building  ready  for  occupancy  on 
or  before  the  first  day  of  June,  1859.  "^^  ^^^'^^  time 
Shannon  was  the  county  seat,  and  Dr.  Bowen  was 
the  sole  proprietor  of  the  townsite.  He  soon  after 
commenced  the  construction  of  the  jail,  and  had  it 
about  completed  in  the  fall  of  1858,  and  commenced 
work  on  the  court  house  during  the  same  winter  : 
but  in  the  spring  of  1859  ^^^^  Legislature  provided 
for  the  location  of  the  county  seat  of  Anderson 
county  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  and  upon  a  vote  of 
the  people,  in  the  same  spring,  the  county  seat  was 
moved  from  the  town  of  Shannon  to  Garnett,  and 
the  Doctor's  contract  failed.  The  county  at  on«e 
time  had  possession  of  the  jail  for  the  purpose  of 
confining  its  prisoners.  The  old  jail  still  stands,  a 
short  distance  south  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  Bowen, 

Land  is  used  by  him  for  an  out-house. 
On  the  3d  day  of  June,  1858,  J.  W.  Denver,  Gov- 
ernor of  Kansas  Territory,  issued  his  proclamation, 
calling  an  election  under  the  act  of  Congress  of  May, 
1858,  commonly  known  as  the  English  bill,  for  the 
adoption  or  rejection  of  the  Lecompton  constitution  : 
said  election  to  be  held  on  the  2d  day  of  August. 


94 


irrsTORv  OF 


Solomon  Kauffman,  C.  C.  Hoskins  and  Wm.  H, 
Hamilton  were  appointed  judg-es  for  Cresco  pre- 
cinct; John  n.  Best,  B.  P.  Brown  and  B,  L.  Ad- 
ini^ton,  tor  Ading-ton  precinct;  Isaac  Pilcher,  A. 
McArthur  and  B.  D.  Benedict,  for  Hyatt  precinct ; 
John  T.  Barker,  James  Y.  Campbell  and  Preston 
Bowen,  for  Shannon  precinct;  W.  C.  McDow,  D. 
B.  Jackman  and  J.  W.  Culton,  for  Walker  precinct. 

The  vote  was  as  follows  :  For — Hyatt,  o  :  Shan- 
non, 3  ;  Cresco,  i  ;  Adington,  o;  Walker,  o;  total, 
4.  Against — Hyatt,  55  ;  Shannon,  109  ;  Cresco,  40  : 
Adington.  32  ;  Walker,  70  ;  total,  306. 

In  the  spring  of  1858,  about  the  time  J.  Y.  Camp- 
bell was  elected  probate  judge  of  the  county,  a  dis- 
pute arose  between  him  and  Judge  Anderson  on  the 
question  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  probate  court  in 
criminal  cases.  Aitev  considerable  examination  of 
authorities,  neither  of  the  judges  was  clear  in  the 
premises,  and  agreed  to  submit  the  question  for  de- 
cision to  Dr.  Bowen,  and  to  be  governed  by  his  de- 
cision. The  Doctor  seated  himself  on  a  dr}'  goods 
box,  and  the  question  was  stated  and  argued  by 
Campbell  and  Anderson  :  upon  consideration  of 
which,  and  being  ad\'ised  in  the  premises,  the  Doc- 
tor read  the  statute  of  1855,  conferring  criminal 
jurisdiction  on  probate  courts,  concurrent  with  dis- 
trict courts,  and  decided  that  in  his  judgment  the 
enactment  was  \'alid  ;  that  he  could  see  no  reason 
why  the  probate  court  did  not  have  criminal  as  well 
as  civil  jurisdiction,  as  provided  in  the  law.       This 


ANDERSON  COUNTY, 


95 


opinion  was  satisfactor}'  to  both  old  and  new  judges. 
During  the  time  that  Samuel  x^nderson  was  pn*- 
bate  judge  there  were  several  amusing  trials  in  the 
probate  court,  and  many  ridiculous  decisions  made. 
As  an  illustration  of  the  manner  of  conductinir  busi- 
ness  in  his  court,  we  give  the  following,' wherein  the 
Territory  of  Kansas  was  plaintiff  and  Zacharias 
Schutte,  sen.,  was  defendant.  Schutte  had  been  in- 
dicted for  trespass  on  school  lands,  and  was  arraigned 
on  the  indictment,  and  plead  "  Not  guilty."  His 
case  was  then  submitted  to  a  jur}-,  under  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  judge,  which  returned  a  verdict  of 
"Guilt}' ;"  whereupon  the  judge  proceeded  to  pro- 
nounce sentence  against  Schutte  ;  and  after  deliver- 
ing an  amusing  lecture  to  Schutte,  on  morals  and 
Christianity,  assessed  a  tine  against  him  of  $700. 
and  that  he  be  committed  to  jail  until  the  tine  and 
costs  should  be  paid.  At  this  most  outrageous  line 
Schutte  became  indignant,  and  defied  the  judge  to 
enforce  the  judgment ;  whereupon  the  following 
coloquy  ensued  :  Schutte  rising  to  his  feet  addressed 
the  Judge  :  "Shudge,  you  vants  my  moneys — ■ 
von  old  humbug-maker  ;  I  vant  no  trial  mit  you  ;  I 
vants  to  be  tried  mit  der  Governor.  You  bes  von 
humbug.  Now,  Shudge,  I  vish  you'd  bring  home 
my  log-chain,  vat  you  stole."  At  this  expression 
the  Judge  turned  to  his  clerk  and  ordered  a  fine  to 
be  entered  against  Schutte  of  $200,  for  contempt  of 
court.  At  this  Schutte  became  more  furious,  and 
said:      ''Tish  m}-  moneys  you  vants,  you   d — d  old 


96  irrsTOKVOF 

fool  !       n (U'st    humbug    in   dis    United    States  I 

Bring  home  my  log-chain  vat  you  stole  I"  And  the 
Judge  assessed  another  tine  of  $200,  and  the  same 
was  repeated,  until  the  tines  in  the  aggregate  for  con- 
tempt amounted  to  $1 ,400,  but  wSchutte  finally  walked 
quietlv  away,  defying  the  court  to  enforce  its  orders^ 
threatening  the  Judge  with  an  appeal  to  the  Gover- 
nor in  that  event.  The  Judge,  outwitted  by  Schutte, 
never  tried  to  enforce  his  judgment. 

About  the  same  time  another  interesting  case  was 
tried  in  the  same  court.  Thomas  J.  Owen  was 
plaintiff,  and  Dr.  John  Ramsey  was  defendant,. 
The  action  was  for  damages,  because  of  the  shoot- 
ing of  a  tine  mare  by  Ramsey.  A  jury  was  em- 
panneled,  and  Alex.  Mc Arthur  called  as  witness  for 
plaintiff,  and  the  Judge  proceeded  to  swear  the  wit- 
ness, as  follows  :  '^  Mr.  McArthur,  stand  up.  Mr. 
Mc  Arthur,  you  are  a  man  of  influence,  that  should 
be  an  example  to  those  around  you  ;  you  have  been 
called  as  a  witness  in  this  case.  You  are  to  be 
sworn  to  tell  the  truth,  the  whole  tnith,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth.  And  now,  Mr.  McArthur,  I  desire  to 
sa}'^  that  if  you  don't  swear  to  the  truth  I  will  prose- 
cute 3'ou  for  perjury,  so  help  me  God  I  Mr. 
McArthur,  proceed  and  tell  all  you  know  about  the 
case."  As  the  last  sentence  escaped  his  mouth,  he 
quietly  settled  back  in  his  chair  and  was  soon  sound 
asleep,  while  the  case  proceeded. 

Many  cases  of  about  the  same  st\de  could  be 
given,  to  prove  the   business  of  the  court  was   con- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY. 


97 


ducted  without  order  or  dignity,  some  of  which  may 
be  noticed  hereafter  in  this  work. 


r 


) 


I 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Convcntioi  at  Ottumtva — Election  of  Monbers 
of  Territorial  Legislature — Establishing  Mail 
Routes  in  Southern  Kansas — Free  State  Men  called 
on  to  Defend  Settlers  in  the  Border  Counties — Posse 
f-oni  Coffey  County  arrest  Settlers  of  Anderson 
County — Burning  of  Painter" s  and  Eox's  Cabins 
by  a  Mob — Mara  is  des  Cvgnes  Massacre — John 
Brozvn  s  Parallels — Liberation  of  Slaves — Squat- 
ters" Court  Oro-anized  in  Anderson,  Linn  and  other 
Counties — First  meeting  of  the  Republicans  of  An- 
derson County. 

In  September,  1858,  a  Free  State  convention  was 
held  at  Ottumwa,  in  Coffey  county,  for  the  nomina- 
tion of  candidates  for  members  of  the  Territorial 
Legislature  from  the  counties  of  Richardson, 
Davis,  Wise,  Breckenridge,  Weller,  Madison, 
Butler,  Hunter,  Greenwood,  Bourbon,  Godfrey, 
Allen,  McGee,  Woodson,  Coffey,  Anderson  and 
13 


98  HISTORY    OF 

Franklin,  commonly  known  as  the  nineteen  dis- 
franchised counties,  entitled  to  three  representatives. 
L.  U.  I^ailey,  T.  R.  Roberts  and  William  Springs 
were  nominated  by  the  convention. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1858,  an  election  was 
held  for  members  to  the  Territorial  Legislature.  At 
this  election  L.  D.  Bailey,  T.  R.  Roberts  and  Wm. 
Spriggs  were  elected  to  represent  these  counties. 
William  Spriggs  was  the  tirst  person  from  Anderson 
county  who  held  a  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  the 
Territory. 

On  the  nth  day  of  January,  1858,  a  mail  route  was 
established  from  Leavenworth  to  Humboldt,  and 
service  commenced  on  the  route  on  the  24th  ot 
April  following,  via  Prairie  City,  Ohio  City,  Fair- 
view,  Hyatt,  Carlyle  and  Cofachique.  The  route 
was  staked  out  from  Ohio  City  to  Fairview  by  Wil- 
liam Spriggs  and  others,  in  the  latter  part  of  ^Llrch. 
There  was  at  the  time  a  road  leading  from  Fairview 
to  Hyatt,  via  the  Adington  crossing  of  the  Pottowato- 
mie,  passing  on  the  west  side  of  Cedar  creek  until 
near  Hyatt,  where  Cedar  was  crossed.  A  few  da}s 
before  the  mail  service  commenced  on  the  route. 
Dr.  John  W.  Scott  and  others  staked  out  the  route 
from  Carlyle  to  Hyatt.  The  mail  was  carried  on 
this  route  by  Zach.  Squires  ;  was  at  first  onh*  once 
a  week,  on  a  small  mule,  but  soon  after  tri-weekly, 
in  a  two-horse  hack.  Squires  also  acted  as  express- 
man, there  being  no  express  line  along  the  route, 
and  seldom   charged  the  people   along  the  line  for 


ANDERSON  COUNTY 


99 


small  packages,  and  other  articles,  and  was  accom- 
modating and  of  good  service  to  the  settlers. 

In  1859  ^^^  route  was  changed  from  the  west  side 
of  Cedar,  via  Garnett,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year 
a  postotiice  was  established  at  Garnett,  and  Dr. 
Thomas  Lindsay  was  appointed  postmaster.  The 
first  mail  received  in  the  town  of  Garnett  was  in 
May,  1859 — consisting  of  about  twentv-five  letters 
and  fifty  papers. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1858,  the  following  mail 
routes  were  let  in  Southern  Kansas  :  No.  15007, 
from  Butler,  Missouri,  by  Moneka.  Hyatt,  Hamp- 
den, Burlington,  Ottumwa,  California,  Florence, 
Emporia,  to  Council  Grove  :  150  miles;  No.  15016, 
from  Osawatomie  to  Walker  (  now  Greeley )  ;  No. 
15026,  from  Shermanville,  bv  Cedar  Bluff,  to  Cof- 
achique. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1857,  notice  was  sent 
bv  Capt.  James  Montgomery  to  the  Free  State  men 
of  Anderson  county,  to  raise  all  the  men  with  arms 
they  could  and  proceed  to  the  Free  State  camp  on 
Sugar  creek,  west  of  Mound  City,  for  the  purpose 
of  defending  the  homes  and  property  of  the  Free 
State  men,  which  were  threatened  by  an  army  of 
Border  Ruffians  then  in  Bourbon  county,  near  Fort 
Scott.  That  day  and  night  were  spent  in  gathering 
up  recruits  ;  and  early  next  morning  about  fifteen 
men  started  from  Reeder  township  for  the  Free 
State  camp,  and  among  the  number  were  John  S. 
Robinson,  Solomon  Kauffman,  Samuel  H.  Hill,  Wm. 


lOO  HISTORY    OF 

G.  Hill,  David  S.  Eaton  and  Wm.  G.  Eaton  ( the 
names  of  the  others  we  have  forgotten),  together 
with  a  number  of  Free  State  men  from  Pottowato- 
mie.  They  found  a  hirge  number  of  the  Free  State 
men  in  camp  near  Danford's  mill.  General  James 
TI.  Lane,  Montgomery  and  Wm.  A.  Phillips  (now 
a  member  of  Congress)  were  the  leaders.  They 
then  marched  to  Fort  Scott  and  returned,  and  \^'ere 
disbanded  and  admonished  to  quietl}',  in  small 
squads,  return  to  their  homes,  bearing  the  impres- 
sion that  nearly  tlie  entire  command  was  still  in 
camp,  which  had  the  desired  effect,  as  the  Border 
Ruffians  soon  departed  for  their  homes  in  Missouri. 
The  party  from  Reeder  township  returned  on  Christ- 
mas day. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  1858,  Charles  Edwards,  with 
a  posse  of  men  from  Coffey  county,  came  to  Cresco 
to  arrest  Milan  Grout,  T.  W.  Painter,  Christian  Fox 
and  Robert  Crocker,  on  the  charge  of  being  horse 
thieves.  They  took  Painter  and  Fox  to  Central 
City  where  the  mob,  headed  by  Edwards,  of  Coffey 
county,  and  Peter  Walters,  of  Anderson  county,  un- 
dertook to  give  the  prisoners  a  sham  trial.  The  au- 
thorities at  Garnett  were  notified,  and  on  the  next 
day  (Sunda}')  the  sheriff,  G.  A.  Cook,  went  to 
Central  City  :  and  the  few  law-abiding  citizens  of 
Reeder  who  were  present  succeeded  in  putting  the 
prisoners  into  his  hands,  when  he  started  with  them 
to  Garnett ;  but  before  he  had  gone  far  the  mob  inter- 
fered and  took  the  prisoners  from  him  and  put  them 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  ID  I 

under  guard  in  the  west  part  of  a  building  then  un- 
finished,  and  since  used  as  a  store  and  hotel  by 
Stephen  and  Oliver  Marsh.  That  night  runners  were 
sent  out,  and  by  noon  of  the  next  day  about  200 
men  had  collected  at  Central  Cit3\  A  3'oung  law- 
yer by  the  name  of  Mitchell  was  passing  through 
the  place,  observed  the  excitement,  and  inquired  the 
cause  ;  and  as  the  mob  was  about  to  organize  a  court 
to  condemn  and  hang  the  prisoners,  he  mounted  a 
store  box  and  made  a  short  speech  in  favor  of  law 
and  order,  and  moved  that  the  prisoners  be  turned 
o\er  to  the  ci\'il  authorities,  which  motion  carried  by 
four  majority.  The  prisoners  were  then  put  into  a 
wagon  and  guarded  by  a  number  of  the  law-abiding- 
men,  with  their  muskets,  and  taken  before  Henr}- 
I  Williams,  J.  P.,  for  examination.  No  testimony  was 
offered  against  the  prisoners,  except  a  statement  of 
Edwards,  which  he  claimed  to  have  received  from  a 
horse  thief  whom  they  had  hanged  a  week  previous 
on  the  Neosho  river.  The  circumstances  of  the 
lianging  of  the  horse  thief  in  Coffey  count}'  were 
that  some  horses  had  been  stolen,  and  Edwards' 
mob  had  taken  three  men  and  huno-  two  of  the  num- 
ber  till  dead,  and  the  other  till  nearl}'  dead,  and  then 
let  him  down  with  the  promise  not  to  take  his  life  if 
he  would  p'ive  the  names  of  those  connected  with 
them  ;  and  in  order  to  save  his  life  he  gave  the  names 
of  about  fortv  persons  in  different  parts  of  Kansas 
and  Missouri  ;  then  thev  again  hung  him  till  dead. 
This  was  the  only  testimony  offered  ;  and  the  justice 


I02  HISTORY   OP' 

released  the  prisoners,  it  then  being  after  lo  o'clock 
at  night,  on  the  yth  of  June,  1858. 

On  the  same  night,  a  part  of  the  mob  la}-  near  the 
house  of  Mr.  Grout,  who  was  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  absent  from  home  on  business,  who  returned 
well  armed,  so  that  they  did  not  molest  him.  The 
other  division  of  the  mob  went  and  set  tire  to  the 
cabins  of  Painter  and  Fox,  burning  their  clothing 
and  provisions,  leaving  them  penniless,  and  against 
whom  there  was  not  a  shadow  of  suspicion.  Grout 
had  just  come  to  Cresco  with  a  stock  of  goods. 
Crocker  had  just  come  into  the  neighborhood,  and 
w^as  but  little  known.  Painter  remained  in  the 
neighborhood,  built  him  another  house,  and  contin- 
ued to  improve  his  claim,  and  has  outlived  most  of 
his  accusers  ;  and  still,  with  his  family,  resides  on 
the  same  piece  of  land,  respected  by  his  neighbors 
and  acquaintances. 

On  the  19th  day  of  May,  1858,  Dr.  John  Hamil- 
ton, with  twenty  or  thirty  Pro-Slavery  men  from  the 
neighborhood  of  West  Point,  Missouri,  armed  with 
muskets,  revolvers  and  Bowie-knives,  reached  the 
Trading  Post,  in  Linn  county,  and  began  the  work 
of  arresting  Free  State  settlers.  After  arresting 
several  they  placed  them  in  a  w^agon  and  started 
toward  the  line  of  Missouri.  When  thev  had  ffone 
about  three  miles  from  the  Tradintr  Post  others  of 
their  number  came  up  with  other  Free  State  prison- 
ers. Here  the  prisoners  were  ordered  to  form  in 
line,    a    few   yards    to    the    front,    with    their    faces 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  IO3 

toward  a  ravine,  which  the  prisoners  did,  and  then 
Hamilton  gave  the  order  to  hre  on  the  prisoners,  who 
were  unarmed  and  unwarned  ol  the  butchery  that 
awaited  them.  The  murderous  command  was 
obeyed,  and  ii\-e  tell  dead,  and  five  wounded,  and 
one  slightly  wounded,  who  was  soon  after  shot 
through  the  head  and  killed.  The  others  feigned 
that  they  were  dead.  The  Ruttiajis  robbed  their 
bodies  and  rode  awav,  leaxino"  them  all  for  dead. 
The  names  of  the  murdered  men  were:  Wm.  Still- 
well,  Patrick  Ross,  William  Colpetzer,  Michael 
Robinson  and  John  F.  Campbell.  llie  wounded 
were  Wm.  Hargrave,  Asa  Hargra\'e,  Rev.  B.  L. 
Reed,  Amos  Hall  and  Charles  Snyder.  Col.  Mont- 
gomer}'  and  others,  with  a  part\'  of  men,  pursued 
the  murderers  to  the  border  of  Missouri,  near  West 
Point,  but  returned  without  accomplishing  anything. 
This  was  one  of  the  most  outrageous,  dastardly  mur- 
ders that  e\'er  took  place  on  the  soil  of  Kansas.  This 
butchery  was  not  noticed  by  the  administration. 
Two  of  these  Ruffians  had  been  members  of  the 
Lecompton  constitutional  convention,  to  wit :  Hamil- 
ton and  Brockett.  They  sought  to  attest  their  de- 
votion to  slavery  by  murdering  Free  State  settlers  in 
cold  blood,  in  expectation  that  the  Lecompton  con- 
stitution would  be  passed  by  Congress,  and  enforced 
by  the  hireling  legions  of  the  administration.  These 
men  formed  the  plan  for  renewing  the  disturbances 
in  Southern  Kansas,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  to 
their  Missouri  friends  the  cabins  of  the  Free  State 


ro4 


IIISTORV  OF 


settlers,  thereby  preventing  the  stream  of  emignition 
from  the  North  to  Kansas,  and  facilitating  the  con- 
quest of  the  Territory  to  slavery. 

The    following    poem    was    written    by   John   G. 
Whittier,  in  September,  1858  : 

LK    MAHAIS    DC    CVfJXE. 

A  l)lusli  at;  of  roses 

Where  rose  never  jiTcw  ! 
(ireat  drops  on  tlie  bunch-grass. 

But  not  of  the  dew  ! 
A  taint  in  the  sweet  air 

For  wihl  bees  to  slum! 
A  stain  that  sliall  never 

Hleach  out   in  the  sun  I 

Haek,  steed  of  the  prairies ! 

Sweet  song-bird,  tiy  back  ! 
Wheel  hither,  bahl  vulture  t 

Gray  wolf  call  thy  pack  I 
The  foul  human  vultures 

Have  feasted  and  tied  ; 
The  wolves  of  the  Border 

Have  crept  from  the  dead. 

In  the  homes  of  their  rearing. 

Yet  warm  with  their  lives. 
Ye  Avait  the  dead  onh  . 

I'oor  children  and  wives  I 
I'ut  out  the  red  forge-tire. 

The  smith  shall  not  come: 
Unyoke  the  brown  oxen. 

'IMie  ploughuian  lies  dumb. 

Wind  slow  from  tiie  Swan's  Marsh. 

0  dreary  death-train, 
With  pressed  lips  as  bloodless 

.\s  lips  of  the  slain  I 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  1 05 

Kiss  down  the  youuii'  eyelids. 

Sniootli  down  the  gray  hairs: 
Let  tears  queneli  the  curses 

That  burn  through  your  prayers. 

From  the  hearths  of  their  cabins. 

Tlie  tields  of  their  corn. 
Unwarned  and  unweaponed. 

The  victims  were  torn, — 
By  the  wliirhvind  of  murder 

Swooped  up  and  swej)!  on 
To  the  k)w  reedy  fen-hinds. 

The  Marsli  of  the  Swan. 

Witli  a  vain  plea  for  nun'cy 

No  stout  knee  was  crooked  : 
In  tlie  mouths  of  the  rities 

Right   manly  they  looked. 
How  paled  the  May  sunshine. 

Green  Marais  de  Cygne. 
When  the  death-smoke  blew  over 

Thy  lonely  ravine  ! 

Strong:  man  of  the  prairies, 

Mourn  bitter  and  Avild  ! 
Wail,  desolate  woman  I 

Weep,  fatherless  (iliild ! 
But  the  grain  of  God  spring:s  u]» 

From  ashes  beneath. 
And  the  crown  of  His  harA'est 

Is  life  out  of  death. 

Not  in  vain  on  the  dial 

Tli(^  shade  moves  along 
To  point  the  great  contrasts 

Of  right  and  of  w'rong  ; 


H 


Io6  HISTORY  OP' 

Fr(M'  lioiiH's  aiul  IVi'c  nltars 

And   fi<'l»ls  of  ripe   food  : 
Tlic   reeds  of  tlie  Swan's   Mai-sli. 

Whose   bloom   is  of  Idood. 

( )ii   llie   liiil<'ls  of  Kansas 

'I'liat    hlood  shall  not   dry  ; 
Tleucefoi-th   I  he   I5ad   Anfi'cl 

Shall  liannk'.ss  j^o  by  : 
Ilencefoi-th  to  the  suusel. 

UucluH-ked   on   her  way. 
Shall    liberty    follow 

The  march   of  the  day. 

Soon  after  the  Marais  des  Cvgnes  murder,  John 
Brown  went  to  Missouri  and  forcibly  liberated 
eleven  slaves  and  brought  them  to  Pottowatomie, 
near  Greelev,  where  he  remained  in  a  cabin  for 
about  Qne  month  ;  and  while  camped  near  Greeley 
he  wrote  his  parallels.  Althougli  dated  at  "Trading- 
Post," '  it  was  written  in  this  camp  on  the  Pottowato- 
mie, in  i\nderson  county  : 

.JOHN    BKOWN'S    I'AKALLKLS. 

"  Trai)in<j  Post.   Kansas,  January.  1859. 

'■  Gkntlemen  :  You  will  greatly  oblijic  a  humlde  friend 
by  allowinji'  the  use  of  your  eolunnis.  while  I  brietl\  state 
two  jiarallels,  in  my  poor  wa}'. 

"Xol  one  year  a<i().  eleven  quiet  citizens  of  this  neiji'h- 
boiliood.  viz:  William  Robertson,  William  ('olpetzer, 
Anu)s  Hall,  Austin  Hall.  .John  Ciinipbell.  Asa  Snyder. 
Thos.  Stillwell,  William  Ihu\iirave,  Asa  liargrave.  Patrick 
ivoss  and  15.  L.  Ueed,  were  <<athered  up  from  their  work 
and  their  homes,  by  an  armed  force,  under  one  Hamilton, 
and,  williout  trial  or  opportuiuty  to  speak  in  their  own  ch'- 
fense,  were  formed  in  line,  and  all  but  one  shot — live  killed 
and   live    wounded;  one   fell   unharmed,   ])relendin<i    to  be 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  IO7 

(lead.  The  only  criiiic  cliarji'cd  :i<iiiiust  tlicui  was  tlial  <»f 
Ix'inii"  FrtM'  State  men.  Xow  I  iiujiiire  what  action  lias, 
ever  siuee  the  oetnirrem-e.  in  the  least  been  taken,  by  either 
tiie  President  of  the  United  States,  the  (Tovevnor  of  Mis- 
souri, tlie  (iovernoV  of  Kansas,  oi-  any  of  their  tools,  or  anv 
Pro-Slavery  or  administration  men.  to  ferret  out  and  pnnish 
the  perpetrators  of  this  crime  ?  Xom'  for  tlie  other  paral- 
lel :  On  Sunday.  December  19.  a  ne<i:ro  nian  called  Jim.- 
came  over  to  tlie  Osajfe  settleiiK'nt  jVom  Missouri,  and 
stated  that  he.  together  with  his  wife,  two  children  and 
anotlier  ne<iro  num.  were  to  be  sold  within  a  day  or  two, 
and  begii'ed  foi-  hell)  to<i"etaway.  On  ]\I()nday  (the  follow- 
ing') night  two  small  companies  wei'c  ma(h'  up  to  go  to 
Missouri  and  foi'cibly  liberate  the  tive  slaves,  togetlier 
with  other  slaves.  One  of  these  com])anies  I  assumed  to 
direct.  We  proceeded  to  the  ])lace,  surrounded  the  building, 
liberated  the  slaves,  and  also  took  certain  property  suj)- 
posed  to  belong  to  the  estate  ;  we,  however,  learned,  before 
leaving,  that  a  portion  of  the  articles  we  had  taken  belonged 
to  a  man  living  on  the  plantation  as  a  tenant,  and  Avas  sup- 
l)osed  to  have  no  interest  in  the  estate.  We  ])romptly  re- 
stored to  hiu)  all  we  had  taken.  We  then  \\-ent  to  am)ther 
plantation,  where  we  found  tive  more  slaves,  took  some 
IM'operty  and  two  white  men.  We  moved  all  slowly  aAvay 
into  the  Teri'itory  for  some  distanc»\  and  then  sent  the 
white  men  back,  telling  them  to  follow  us  as  soon  as  they 
chose  to  do  so.  The  other  company  freed  one  slave,  took 
some  ]u'opiM-ty.  and.  as  I  am  inforuu'd.  killed  one  white 
man  (the  master),  who  fought  against  the  liberation. 

••  Xow  for  the  com])arison  :  Eleven  persons  are  forcibly 
restored  to  their  natural,  individual  rights,  with  but  one 
uum  killed,  and  all  "hell  is  stirred  from  beneath."  It  is  cur- 
rently reported  that  the  (Governor  of  Missouri  has  made  a 
rcijuisitionupon  the  (ioveriu)r  of  Kansas  for  the  delivery  of 
alLsuch  as  were  (;onoerued  in  the  last  named  'dreadful  out- 
rage ;"  the  marshal  of  Kansas  is  said  to  be  collecting  a  posse 
of  Missourians  (not  Kansans)  at  West  Point,  in  Missouri,  a 


loS  HISTORY  or 

iittlf  town  jilHiiit  tell  miles  dislaut,  to  enforce  tlie  law.  All 
l'ro-Klav('r\ .  con.sorvativc  I^'ree  State  aiHldousih-faced  men, 
and  administration  tools,  are  tilled  with  holy  horror. 

•'('onsidei-  the  t\V(»  cases,  and  llu'  action  of  tlie  adminis- 
tration party.  Respectfully  yours. 

•'John  Bhown." 

This  bold  transaction  on  the  part  of  Brown  pro- 
duced considerable  excitement  thrbughout  the  Ter- 
ritor^'  and  the  whole  country.  The  Governor  of 
Missouri  offered  a  reward  of  three  thousand  dol- 
lars for  the  arrest  of  all  those  who  had  participated 
in  the  matter.  The  President  of  the  United  States 
also  offered  a  reward  for  the  body  of  John  Brown, 
and  John  Brown,  as  a  compliment  to  Buchanan, 
offered  a  small  reward  for  the  bod}'  of  the  Presi- 
dent. After  remaining  in  camp  about  one  month 
he  proceeded  with  the  eleven  liberated  slaves 
through  Northern  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Iowa,  and 
arrived  safe  with  them  in  Canada  in  the  following 
spring.  This  party  increased  one  by  the  birth  of 
a  child  while  in  camp  near  Greeley.  The  child  was 
named  Capt.  John  Brown.  This  wa^  Brown's  final 
departure  from  the  Territory. 

In  the  first  settlement  of  the  county  came  a  class 
of  men  who  had  been  reared  on  the  frontier,  and 
had  kept  in  advance  of  civilization,  and  had  gener- 
ally made  their  living  by  speculating  in  claims  on 
government  lands.  These  men  would  settle  along 
the  streams  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  finest  bodies 
of  timber  and  finest  bottom  lands  ;  and  the  first  thing 
after  settling  they  would  go  over  the  most  desirable 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  IO9 

tracts  of  land  and  drive  down  a  stake,  and  write  the 
name  of  some  person  as  having  selected  the  land  for 
a  claim,  and  in  this  way  take  all  the  most  desirable 
and  valuable  pieces  of  land,  and  when  a  stranger 
came  in  search  of  a  tract  of  government  land  to  set- 
tle upon,  these  speculators  would  inform  him  that 
all  the  claims  worth  settling  upon  had  been  taken, 
but  that  here  was  the  agent  of  a  man  who  had  selec- 
ted a  claim,  and  that  the  claim  was  for  sale,  as  the 
claimant  had  a  chance  to  get  another  claim  by  going 
to  the  Verdigris  or  Fall  rivers,  as  that  was  the  near- 
est that  claims  could  be  taken.  The  stranger,  sup- 
posing that  the  claim  had  been  honestly  selected, 
and  thinking  it  better  to  purchase  than  to  go  fur- 
ther into  the  Territory,  would  thus  be  compelled  to 
pav  from  one  hundred  to  two  thousand  dollars.  The 
purchaser  would  erect  a  cabin,  and  then  start  for 
his  family,  and  on  his  return  would  often  tind  that  his 
claim  had  been  sold  again,  and  the  second  pur- 
chaser occupying  it  with  his  family  ;  and  that  the 
speculator,  with  his  gold  in  his  pocket,  had  gone  to 
other  fields  of  profit  for  further  speculation.  These 
claims  were  a  source  of  perplexing  contest  in  the 
United  States  land  office,  and  at  the  end  of  the  con- 
test both  parties  would  have  expended  as  costs  more 
money  than  the  claim  was  worth.  Whoever  suc- 
ceeded in  the  suit  had  to  borrow  funds  of  some 
speculator  to  pre-empt  the  land,  giving  a  mortgage 
on  the  land  for  the  same,  paying  an  enormous  in- 
terest for  the  money,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  the 


no  HISTORY    OF 

speculator  j^ot  the  land  tor  the  morti(a<,^e  :  and  the 
land  cost  the  speculator  about  one  dollar  per  acre. 
The  setder  had  the  gratificadon  of  havin<r  been  the 
owner  of  a  quarter-section  of  land  for  one  or  two 
years,  and  of  having  put  two  years"  improvements 
and  hard  labor  on  the  land  to  pay  for  money  to  pre- 
empt the  same,  and  to  pay  costs  in  a  contest  in  the 
United  States  land  office.  Kansas  has  been  no  ex- 
ception to  such  controversies  and  luxuries,  common 
to  most  new  countries. 

In  November,  1858,  a  Free  State  squatters"  court 
was  organized  in  the  counties  of  Linn,  Anderson 
and  Bourbon,  for  the  trial  of  contested  land  claims, 
&c.  In  order  to  inspire  terror,  the  judge  of  this 
court  was  called  "Old  Brown,""  although  Capt.  John 
Brown  was  in  Iowa  at  the  time.  Dr.  Rufus  Gilpat- 
rick  was  elected  judge  of  the  court.  The  witnesses 
in  this  court  were  sworn  on  Dr.  Gunn"s  "Family 
Physician,"'  as  no  Bible  could  be  found  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. None  of  the  cases  tried  by  this  tribunal 
were  ever  appealed,  as  it  was  generally  believed  that 
it  was  a  court  from  which  no  appeal  would  lie.  Ma- 
jor Abbott  and  Rev.  Stewart  (  commonly  known  as 
the  fighting  preacher),  went  around  with  this  court 
to  enforce  the  orders  and  decrees  made  at  its  ses- 
sions. The  action  of  the  court  was  entirely  satis- 
f actor}'  to  most  of  the  settlers. 

On  the  i6th  of  Januar}^  1859,  ex-Governor 
Epaphroditus  Ransom  and  116  citizens  of  Fort  Scott 
petitioned   the   Governor  to   establish   martial  law  in 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  Ill 

Linn.  Bourbon,  Allen  and  Anderson  counties. 
The  tirst  meeting  the  Republicans  of  the  county 
e\-er  held  was  at  Osawatomie,  on  the  i8th  day  of 
May,  1859.  They  met  in  an  old  blacksmith  shop, 
north  of  the  Osage  Valley  House.  Thev  met  for 
tlie  purpose  of  electing  delegates  to  the  Osawatomie 
convention,  for  the.  organization  of  the  Republican 
party.  The  meeting  organized  by  electing  W.  A. 
Johnson,  chairman,  and  Alanson  Simons,  secretary. 
The  following  gentlemen  were  present.  Dr.  Rufus 
Gilpatrick,  Dr.  J.  G.  Blunt,  Henry  Nugent,  D.  G. 
Watt,  John  T.  Lanter.  Jacob  Benjamin,  George  S. 
King,  William  Spriggs,  G.  A.  Cook,  A.  Simons,  S. 
J.  Crawford.  B.  F.  Ridgewa}',  W.  A.  Johnson  and 
W.  F.  M.  Arnv.  This  meeting  appointed  Dr. 
Rufus  Gilpatrick  and  Geo.  S.  King  as  delegates  to 
represent  Anderson  county  in  the  Osawatomie  con- 
vention. Both  Gilpatrick  and  King  were  present 
and  participated  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Osavs'ato- 
mie  convention,  when  the  Republican  party  of  the 
Territory  was  first  organized.  Dr.  Gilpatrick  was 
on  the  committee  on  resolutions,  and  one  ot  the 
most  acti\'e  members  of  "the  convention. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Attempt  to  Poison  Bantu — Trial  of  Theodore 
Rover  for  Horse  Stealing — His  Suspicious  Disap- 
pearance— Marriage  of  Lou.  Phillips  and  Sarah 
Potter — His  Death — Her  Arrest  for  Murder — Ex- 
amination., Escape.,  Return,  Re-arrest  and  Trial — 
Murder  of  "James  Eozvry — Trial  of  his  murder- 
ers—  Conviction  of  Eord — His  Pardon  by  the  Gov- 
ernor—  Trial  and  Acquittal  of  Tusteso)i  and  Knouff 
— Murder  of  Mrs.  Ada  line  Duren — Capture  and 
Execution  of  the  Murderer. 

In  1857  a  family  named  Banta  settled  on  the 
South  Pottowatomie,  about  tliree  miles  northeast  of 
Garnett.  The  members  of  the  family  were  Henry 
H.  Banta,  his  wife  Mar\^  O.  Banta,  and  their  three 
children.  They  came  from  Wisconsin,  and  were 
formerly  from  New  York  to  that  State.  Banta 
was  then  a  young  man,  yigorous  and  athletic.  He 
was  possessed  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  He 
built  a  house  on  his  claim,  and  commenced  opening 
a  farm,  where  he  expected  to  make  a  home  for  him- 
self and  family.  His  wife  was  possessed  of  beauty 
and  personal  attraction.  There  settled  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, about  the  same  time,  a  man  named  Jere- 
miah   Brown,  from    Kentuck}',    possessing    neither 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  II3 

beauty  nor  talent,  money  nor  personal  attraction,  but 
was  a  sort  of  uncouth,  daring  character,  represent- 
ing himself  to  be  a  widower.  The  young  wife  of 
Banta.  from  unaccountable  reasons,  became  attached 
to  Brown,  and  rumors  of  their  undue  familiarity  be- 
.  gan  to  circulate  in  the  neighborhood.  About  that 
time  Banta  was  taken  ill,  and  lingered  for  a  long 
time.  It  was  suspicioned  that  he  was  suffering  from 
the  effects  of  poison,  and.  from  the  conduct  of 
Brown  and  Mrs.  Banta,  it  was  belieyed  that  they 
had  in  this  manner  attempted  to  dispose  of  him. 
The  suspicion  grew  so  strong,  and  the  sentiment  so. 
increased  against  Brown,  that  he  left  the  county  in 
the  nifjht  time  :  and  Mrs.  Banta  soon  after  left  for 
California,  where  she  soon  after  married  another 
man.  She  left  Banta  in  a  helpless  condition.  He 
lingered  for  many  months,  and  partially  recoyered, 
with  his  lower  extremities  partially  paralyzed,  which 
rendered  him  unable  to  perform  manual  labor. 
Banta  afterwards  married  a  widow  lady  named  Po- 
teet,  and  now  resides  in  the  city  of  Garnett,  almost 
a  helpless  inyalid. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  and  the  early  part  of  1858  a 
class  of  men  came  into  the  Territory  for  the  pur- 
pose of  speculating,  haying  no  respect  for  any  one  ; 
and,  in  order  to  procure  stock  in  trade,  commenced 
borrowing  horses  in  the  absence  of  the  owners.  One 
of  this  class,  in  the  winter  of  1858,  made  his  head- 
quarters on  the  North  Pottowatomie,  near  the  claim 
of  Rezin  Porter.  His  name  was  Theodore  Royer. 
15 


114 


HISTORY  OF 


He  was  a  young  man,  about  25  years  of  age,  born 
in  Ohio.  Earlv  in  the  spring  of  1858  he  commenced 
to  gather  in  his  stock  of  horses.  He  went  to 
the  house  of  Samuel  McCush,  near  the  town  of 
Berea,  and  found  ahorse  that  suited  him,  and  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  he  haltered  and  quietly  rode 
him  away.  On  the  next  morning  McCush  discoyered 
that  his  horse  had  been  stolen,  and  soon  learned  that 
Royerhad  been  seen  in  possession  of  him.  McCush 
then  went  before  D.  D.  Judy,  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  procured  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Royer.  G. 
A.  Cook,  sheriff,  pursued  Royer  to  the  town  of  Bur- 
lington, arrested  and  brought  him  back  to  Anderson 
county  for  trial.  Royer  had  a  preliminary  examina- 
tion before  D.  D.  Judy,  J.  P.,  who  held  him  in  a 
recognizance  to  appear  for  trial  at  the  next  term  ol 
the  court  haying  criminal  jurisdiction.  Royer  was 
committed  to  the  jail  of  the  county,  being  unable  to 
giye  bail.  The  sheriff  kept  him  under  guard  for 
some  time  at  his  farm  ;  but  the  county  commission- 
ers ordered  the  sheriff  to  haye  the  prisoner  kept  at 
Shannon,  the  county  seat.  So\  Samuel  McDaniel 
was  made  deputy  sheriff,  and  Royer  was  turned 
oyer  to  him,  at  his  home  near  Shannon,  vyhere  Mc- 
Daniel placed  Royer  in  irons.  A  certain  class  of  men 
had  been  clamorous  for  the  hanging  of  Royer  ;  and 
one  morning  soon  after  the  prisoner  was  put  in  McDan- 
iel's  care  it  was  discoyered  that  Royer  was  missing. 
The  circumstances  were  strong  that  the  clamorous 
persons  were  guilty  of  his  murder.     The  remains  of 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  II5 

Rover  were  never  found,  but  there  was  no  doubt 
that  he  had  been  hung  and  his  remains  sunk  in  the 
river.  The  people  of  the  county  never  justified 
this  outrageous  mobbing  of  a  prisoner,  and  it  was 
regarded  as  a  high-handed  outrage  against  the  law 
of  the  land. 

In  the  trial  of  Rover,  before  Justice  Judy,  quite  a 
lively  and  amusing  discussion  occurred  between  D. 
W.  Houston,  who  had  been  appointed  to  prosecute, 
and  Samuel  Anderson,  counsel  for  defendant,  on  a 
motion  to  set  aside  the  writ,  for  the  reason  that  the 
warrant  commanded  the  bodv  of  Rover  to  be 
brought  before  the  justice,  "  dead  or  alive."  An- 
derson, somewhat  intoxicated,  with  the'  warrant  in 
his  hand,  addressed  the  court,  reading  the  warrant 
to  the  words,  "  bring  him  forthwith,  dead  or  alive  ;" 
then,  in  a  loud  voice,  said:  ''Great  Jewhilikins  I 
who  ever  heard  of  such  a  warrant — to  bring  a  man 
dead  or  alive  I  If  this  man  had  been  dead  and  buried 
three  davs,  the  officer  must  dig  him  up  and  bring  liis 
stinking  carcass  before  this  right  honorable  court,  to 
answer  the  charge  of  horse  stealing.''  Houston  re- 
plied to  the  argument  in  an  amusing  st3'le. 

In  the  years  1859  '"-^^^^  i860  there  lived  a  family 
on  the  North  Pottowatomie  named  Alderman,  con- 
sisting of  Alderman  and  his  wife.  In  the  winter  of 
1859  '^"'^^  i860  a  voung  woman  named  Sarah  Potter 
came  to  live  with  Alderman's  family.  She  was  a 
large,  healthy,  fine-looking  lady.  There  lived,  also, 
in  the   neifdiborhood  a  voung  man,  bv  the  name  of 


Il6  IIISTORV    OF 

Leon  Phillips.      Me  was  an  industrious  young  man, 
of  <»-ood  character,  and  had   considerable    property. 
Durine-  the   winter,  through  the   influence  of  Alder- 
man   and    wife,    a   marriage   was    effected    between 
Phillips  and  Sarah  Potter.       Phillips  and  his  young 
wife  lived   within   a   half  mile  of   Alderman's,  after 
their  marriage,  the   families  visiting  back  and  tortli, 
and   to  all  appearances    the   newly  married   couple 
were  enjoying  a  high  degree   of  marital  happiness. 
Scarcely  six   weeks  had  elapsed  until  Philhps  was 
taken  severely  sick,  and  some  days  afterward  doc- 
tors were   called,   but   Phillips  hngered  only   a   few 
days  and  died,  but  before  his  death  the   conduct  of 
liis  wife  was  such  as  to  create  suspicion  against  her. 
A  few  hours  before  his    death  she   insisted   that  he 
should  make  a  will,  which   he   did,  willing  one-half 
of  his  property  to   his  brother   in   Europe   and    tlie 
other  half  to  his  wife.     The  morning  after  the  death 
of  Phillips,  and  before  he  had  been  deposited  in  his 
irrave,     his    wife    sent    Alderman     to    consult   with 
counsel  to  know  whether  or  not  the   will   could  be 
set  aside.       In   about  three  days  after  his  burial  her 
conduct  had  been  so  suspicious  that  the  entire  neigh- 
borhood believed  that  Phillips  had  come  to  his  death 
by  foul  means  :   and  a   complaint   was   made   before 
M.  G.  Carr,  J.  P.,  who  thereupon  empanneled  a  cor- 
oner's jury,  and   had  the  body  taken  up  and  exam- 
ined b}'  Drs.  Blunt  and  Lindsay,  who  gave  it  as  their 
opinion  that  Phillips  came  to  his  death   by  arsenic 
poison.      The   coroner's  jury  returned  a  verdict  in 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  II7 

accordance  with  the  opinion  of  the  physicians,  and 
that  Sarah  Phillips,  Henry  x\lderman  and  Hannah 
Alderman  were  guilty  of  the  murder  of  Phillips. 
The\'  were  arrested  and  brought  before  Justice  Hid- 
den for  examination  on  the  charge.  The  State  was 
represented  by  W.  A.  Johnson,  county  attorney,  as- 
sisted by  W.  Spriggs  and  D.  W.  Houston,  and  the 
defense  by  J.  B.  Stitt,  S.  J.  Crawford,  T.  A.  Shinn, 
R.  B.  Mitchell  and  Byron  P.  x\yres.  On  the  pre- 
liminary examination  Alderman  and  wife  were  dis- 
charged, but  Sarah  Phillips  was  committed  to  an- 
swer the  charge  of  murder  in  the  tirst  degree. 
There  beinu"  no  iail  in  the  county,  and  none  in  this 
part  of  the  Territory,  she  was  kept  in  charge  of  the 
sheriff,  under  the  orders  of  the  county  commission- 
ers, at  the  Garnett  House.  For  two  or  three  months 
she  was  allowed  to  receiye  and  entertain  her  friends 
at  the  hotel  :  but  one  eyening  after  supper,  when  all 
^yas  quiet,  a  buggy  was  driven  into  town,  and  about 
II  o'clock  at  night  it  was  discovered  that  the  pris- 
oner had  made  her  escape,  and  no  trace  of  her  could 
be  found.  The  grand  jury  that  met  at  the  next  term 
of  court  foimd  an  indictment  against  her  for  the 
murder  of  Phillips. 

In  1862  she  returned  to  Kansas,  but  in  the  mean- 
time she  had  been  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  had  mar- 
ried again.  She  was  again  arrested,  and  made  a 
second  escape,  but  was  retaken  before  she  got  out 
of  the  county.  At  the  September  term  of  the  court 
she    had    employed    Wilson    Shannon    and  G.    W. 


Il8  HISTORV   OF 

Smith  io  (k'fend  her  :  and  at  their  instance  the  case 
was  removed  to  I)oui>ias  county  tor  trial.  She  was 
tried  in  Lawrence  in  the  fall  of  1862.  The  jur}' 
failed  to  agree,  there  being  nine  for  conviction  and 
three  for  acquittal.  She  was  never  again  brought  to 
trial  :  being  admitted  to  bail,  she  fled  tlie  country. 

The  cost  of  this  trial  to  the  county  was  over  three 
thousand  dollars.  There  was  no  doubt  of  the  guilt  of 
the  prisoner,  but  owing  to  many  of  the  witnesses  be- 
ing absent,  in  the  armv,  she  escaped  the  deserved 
punishment  of  the  law. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county,  on  Sugar  creek,  near  where  U.K.  Robin- 
son now  lives,  settled  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
James  Lowry.  He  was  an  industrious  young  man, 
with  a  wife  and  three  children,  and  had  opened  a 
small  farm,  built  a  small  stone  house,  and  made 
other  improvements.  On  the  15th  of  October,  1861, 
Lowr\'  came  in  from  his  work  in  his  field,  went  to 
his  stable  and  took  out  his  horse  to  dri\'e  up  his  cat- 
tle from  the  prairie,  and  just  as  he  attempted  to 
mount  he  received  a  shot  in  the  back,  which  pene- 
trated the  spinal  chord,  causing  death  in  a  few  hours. 
The  shot  was  fired  by  some  cowardly  assassin  from 
behind  a  stone  wall.  He  escaped  through  the  bnish  and 
timber,  and  no  one  saw  who  tired  it.  The  dastardly 
assassination  caused  i^reat  excitement  throuirhout 
the  countr%'.  The  i^rand  iury  that  convened  in  the 
spring  of  1862,  on  investigating  the  matter,  found  an 
indictment  against  Nelson  Tusteson,  William  Ford, 


ANDERSON   COUNTY.  II9 

E.  .\V.  Knouff  and  Luther  Bacon  tor  murder  in  the 
tirst  degree.  The  accused  were  soon  after  arrested 
and  confined  in  the  Paola  jail  until  the  special  term 
of  the  district  court  in  July,  1862.  The  defendants 
employed  D.  P.  Lowe,  W.  Sprig-gs,  J.  G.  Lindsay, 
Judge  Hall  and  Samuel  Stinson.  The  State  was 
represented  hy  S.  A.  Riggs,  Wilson  Shannon  and 
W.  A.  Johnson.  The  case  came  on  for  trial  at  the 
July  term,  1862.  and  defendants  asked  for  separate 
trials.  William  ^ord  was  tirst  put  on  trial,  occupy- 
ing two  weeks,  Avhich  resulted  in  a  verdict  of  "guiltv 
of  murder  in  the  tirst  degree."  He  was  then  sen- 
tenced to  be  executed  bv  hani»^ino'  bv  the  neck  till 
dead,  on  the  5th  of  September,  following.  His 
case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  before  the 
court  passed  upon  the  case  Governor  Robinson  par- 
doned him,  which  was  one  of  his  last  official  acts  ; 
and  there  were  man\-  surmises  as  to  whv  the  Gov- 
ernor pardoned  him.  The  State  entered  a  nolle 
prosequi  as  to  Bacon,  to  use  him  as  a  witness. 
Knouff  was  put  on  trial  at  the  close  of  Ford's  trial, 
but  the  jurv  failed  to  agree.  Knouff  and  Tus- 
teson  asked  for  a  removal  of  the  case  from  Ander- 
son county,  which  was  granted,  and  the  case  re- 
moved to  Franklin  county  for  trial,  and  was  tried 
there  in  1863,  and  Knouff  and  Tusteson  acquitted, 
on  account  of  so  many  of  the  witnesses  being  absent 
in  the  arm  v. 

x\  widow  lady  named    Adaline   Duren  settled  in 
Garnett  in  the  summer  of   1857.  with   her  two  chil- 


120  IIISTOfiV    OF 

(Iren,  Junius  and  Mary  L.  She  uas  one  of  -the 
Louisville  colony,  was  about  forty-tive  years  of  age, 
quiet,  industrious  and  highly  respected.  She  sup- 
ported herself  and  children  by  her  own  industry  and 
econom\'.  She  resided  on  Fifth  avenue,  between 
Oak  and  Walnut  streets,  in  the  house  now  occupied 
and  owned  bv  Mrs.  S.  J.  Hamilton.  One  evening 
in  August,  1864,  Dr.  Derby  was  to  lecture  on  the 
science  of  phrenology,  and  most  of  the  people  of 
the  town  (it  being  a  pleasant  e\ening)  had  gone  to 
hear  the  lecture.  Her  son  Junius  was  absent  in  Illi- 
nois, and  her  daughter,  Mary,  at  the  lecture  :  she  was 
left  alone,  sitting  bv  the  bureau,  reading.  After  the 
conclusion  of  the  lecture  Mary  returned  and  found 
the  lamp  burning,  and  saw  the  book  she  left  her 
mother  readin<i  h'inir  on  the  floor,  and  the  doors 
open  ;  and  on  the  floor  near  by  was  a  pool  of  blood, 
but  saw  not  her  mother.  She  at  once  gave  the 
alarm  :  and  in  a  short  time  search  was  made  and  the 
body  found  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  house. 
She  was  lying  on  her  back,  terribly  mutilated,  her 
skull  broken  on  the  left  side,  also  near  the  top  of 
the  head,  arid  her  head  was  almost  severed  from 
the  body.  On  examination  prints  of  a  bloody  hand 
were  found  in  several  places.  A  coroner's  jury  was 
empanneled  and  medical  witnesses  called,  who  ex- 
amined the  body,  and  found  that  she  had  been  out- 
raged as  well  as  horribly  mutilated.  The  whole 
community  was  startled  at  this  horrible  murder  and 
outrage,  and  every  one  who  could  render  any  assist- 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  121 

ance  turned  out  to  find  who  was  the  perpetrator.  The 
citizens  early  next  morning  met  at  Moler's  Hall  and 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  finding  the  assassin. 
Two  or  three  persons  were  brought  in  and  ques- 
tioned, but  nothing  elicited  that  gave  any  clue  to  the 
murder.  In  the  afternoon  some  bloody  clothing  be- 
longing to  a  negro  named  Warren,  who  was  work- 
ing for  D.  W.  Houston,  was  found.  Warren  was 
brought  before  the  committee  in  Moler's  Hall,  and 
examined  in  regard  to  the  matter.  He  then  told 
many  different  stories  concerning  the  bloody  clothing, 
which  were  unsatisfactory :  and  on  examination 
blood  was  found  on  his  lesfs  and  shoes  :  and  tindin<»' 
no  sufficient  excuse  for  the  same,  he  confessed  the 
crime,  and  gave  a  detailed  account  of  the  affair. 
He  said  he  went  to  Mrs.  Duren's  house,  where  she 
was  sitting"  by  the  bureau  readincr :  that  he  had  an 
ax  in  his  hand,  and  stepped  into  the  door,  before 
she  had  time  to  get  up,  and  struck  her  a  blow  on  the 
head  and  knocked  her  out  of  the  chair,  on  the  floor, 
senseless,  and  then  outraged  her  person  ;  then  he 
got  up  and  stood  there  a  few  moments,  and  she  be- 
came conscious,  and  got  up  and  went  out  at  the  west 
door,  when  he  went  out  at  the  front  door  and  went 
around  and  met  her  at  the  north  end  of  the  house, 
and  struck  her  another  blow  with  the  ax  and 
knocked  her  down,  and  then  with  the  blade  of  the 
ax  struck  her  on  the  neck,  entirely  seyering  the  bone. 
He  outraged  her  twice  after  this,  then  threw  the  ax 
oyer  the  fence,  and  went  to  his  room  and  to  bed. 
i6 


122  IIISTORV  OF 

After  this  confession  the  committee  decided  that  in- 
asmuch as  there  was  no  jail  in  the  count}',  and  no 
probability  of  the  matter  being  heard  by  a  court  soon, 
and  there  being  no  doubt  as  to  his  guilt,  and  the 
countr\-  beinu"  in  a  state  of  war.  that  Warren  should 
be  taken  out  and  hanged  by  the  neck  till  dead.  He 
\vas  kept  under  guard  until  i  o'clock  p.  m.  on  the 
following  day,  when  he  was  taken  to  the  scaffolding 
at  the  jail,  then  in  process  of  construction,  and  pub- 
licly executed  b\-  hanging,  in  the  presence  of  the 
largest  number  of  persons  that  had  ever  assembled 
in  Garnett.  It  was  the  work  of  a  mob,  but  the  state 
of  the  countr}',  the  enormity  of  the  crime,  and  there 
being  no  doubt  as  to  the  guilt,  w^ere  such  that  the 
execution  was  justified  by  the  entire  people. 

This  county  has  been  as  free  from  scenes  of  mob 
violence  as  any  county  of  its  age  ;  but  this  outrage 
was  more  than  the  people  could  bear,  when  in  the 
midst  of  a  struggle  that  threatened  the  liberty  of  a 
nation,  and  an  invadinp"  arm^'  of  rebels,  under  Gen- 
eral  Price,  sixty  thousand  strong,  within  a  few  miles 
of  our  border,  which  soon  after  we  had  to  meet  on 
the  bloody  field  of  carnage  within  twenty-five  miles 
of  the  spot  where  this  crime  was  committed.  Had 
the  country  been  at  peace,  our  citizens  would  not 
have  consented  to  the  hanging  ;  and  it  can  onl\-  be 
justified  on  the  ground  that  three-fourths  of  all  the 
able-bodied  men  were  absent  in  the  service  of  their 
country,  and  their  wives,  mothers  and  dau<diters 
were  at  home,  almost  without  protection,  and  at  the 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I  23 

same  time  many  characters  of  Warren's  kind  were 
roaming  about  the  country.  It  was  a  time  when  we 
could  not  fight  the  enemy  and  protect  our  families 
from  such  assassins,  and  guard  our  mothers,  wives 
and  dauirhters  ao'ainst  their  fiendish  outrai^es.  We 
recoii'nize  the  fact  that  mob  violence  is  terrible  at 
any  time  :  but  this  was  its  sternest  phase,  and  a  part 
of  the  history  of  our  county,  and  we  cannot  now 
avoid  u'ivinsi"  it. 


CHAPTER  XL 

I^irst  Tax  Levy —  J 'aluation  on  First  Assessment 
— Appointment  of  County  Superintendent  of  Publie 
Instruction — Location  of  Territorial  Roads — Elec- 
tion of  Delegates  to  the  Wyandotte  Constitutional 
Convention — Adoption  of  the  Constitution — Organ- 
ization of  Political  Parties — Election  of  State  and 
County  OJicers — Drouth  of  1S60,  etc. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  on  the 
25th  dav  of  September,  1858,  the  following  order 
was  made  and  entered  on  the  journal  : 

"l?\()i-(U'r  i»f  tilt'   l)oar(l.  the  clerk  of  tlu^  coiintv  honrd 


124 


IlISTORV    OF 


of  >iii)('r\  i>ors  oi'  Aiulci'soii  coiiiily  is  licrcby  ant  liorizcd  to 
coiTcct  any  iiiislakcs  that  may  he  discovered  by  said  elei'k 
ill  the  proceediiijis  of  said  board,  and  also  to(bi  all  diitio 
recjuired  of  liini  by  law.  bet  ween  this  and  the  next  iiieetin^' 
of  said  board." 

At  thi.s  meeting  the  first  tax  levy  for  county  pur- 
poses was  made  :  Six  mills  on  the  dollar  on  all  the 
taxable  property,  as  shown  by  tlie  tax  roll  of  1858, 
for  county  purposes  :  two  and  one-hall  mills  for 
school  purposes  :  and  one  and  one-half  mills  for 
road  purposes.  The  aggregate  valuation  of  taxable 
property  in  the  county  in  1858  was  as  follows  :  Mon- 
roe township,  $69,568.50:  Walker  township,  $36,- 
888.00:  Reeder  township,  ^"^26,355.00 :  Jackson 
township,  $24,737.00  ;  Washington  township,  $20,- 
610.00;  total,  $178,158.50. 

This  was  the  tirst  assessment  made  in  the  count\', 
that  is  of  record.  There  had  been  assessments 
made  prior  to  this,  but  were  not  recorded. 

On  the  i6th  of  November,  1858,  the  board  of 
county  supervisors  recommended  John  R.  Slentz  to 
the  Governor  as  a  suitable  person  to  fill  the  othce  of 
county  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  and  re- 
quested his  appointment.  On  the  20th  da}-  of  No- 
vember, 1858,  the  Governor  commissioned  him  as 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  for  Anderson 
county.  He  qualified,  and  was  the  first  county  su- 
perintendent. He  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
a  christian  gentleman,  and  made  an  efficient  super- 
intendent. 

At  the  November  session  of  the  board  of  super- 


ANDERSON   COUNTY.  I25 

Visors  petitions  were  presented  for  the  location  of 
live  Territorial  roads.  One  petition,  signed  bv  W. 
F.  M.  Arny  and  twenty-tive  others,  for  a  road  from 
a  point  on  the  Missouri  line,  east  of  Moneka,  Kan- 
sas :  thence  west  through  the  counties  of  Linn,  An- 
derson, Coffey,  Madison,  Breckenridge  and  Wise, 
on  mail  route  No.  15007.  The  board  appointed 
James  R,  Eaton  as  commissioner  to  meet  with  com- 
missioners of  other  counties  at  Moneka  on  the  third 
Monday  in  January,  1859,  ^'^  locate  the  road.  A 
petition  signed  by  W.  F.  M.  Arny  and  twentv- 
five  others,  for  the  location  of  a  road  from  Law- 
rence to  Humboldt,  through  Prairie  Citv,  Ohio  Citv. 
P'airview  and  Hvatt,  on  mail  route  No.  15034.  The 
hoard  appointed  Leander  Putnam  to  meet  with  com- 
missioners of  other  counties  on  the  third  Monday  in 
January,  1859,  ^^  locate  said  road.  A  petition  of 
W.  F.  M.  Arny  and  twentv-li\e  others,  asking-  for  a 
road  from  Osawatomie,  Lykins  county,  to  Neosho 
CitA',  throu<>"h  Anderson  and  Coffey  counties,  on 
mail  route  No.  15023.  The  board  appointed  Darius 
Frankenberger  as  commissioner  to"  meet  with  com- 
missioners of  other  counties,  on  the  third  Monday 
of  Januar3%  1859,  ^^  Osawatomie,  to  locate  the  road. 
A  petition  signed  by  W.  F.  M.  Arny  and  twenty- 
tive  others,  for  a  road  from  the  Sac  and  Fox  Agency 
to  Cresco,  to  intersect  the  road  from  Jefferson  City 
to  Council  Grove,  on  mail  route  No.  15007,  and  the 
road  from  Osawatomie  to  Neosho  City,  on  mail 
route  No.  15023.      The  board  appointed  as  commis- 


126  irrsTOKV  or 

siotuT  A.  W\C()l"t'.  to  nu'et  with  commissioners  of 
other  counties  at  vSac  ami  Fox  Aoenc}',on  the  third 
Monchiv  in  January.  1859,  ^*^  locate  the  road.  And 
a  ]ietition  ol"  W.  F,  M.  Arny  and  twenty-tive  others, 
tor  a  road  t'rom  the  Osawatomie  road,  at  Hyatt,  to 
Le  Rov.  llie  board  appointed  Charles  Hidden  as 
commissioner  to  meet  uith  commissioners  from  other 
counties  at  Hvatt,  on  the  third  Monday  of  Tanuarv. 
1859,  ^^'  locate  the  road  asked  for-  The  board,  af- 
ter appointing"  the  commissioners,  made  the  follow- 
ini;"  order : 

••  III  rcfci'ciicc  h>  1  lie  above  petitions,  it  \s  or(h'rc'(l  that 
^\  licrr  roads  lia\(' ah'cady  bccji  located  on  any  of  the  above 
specilicd  routes  that  the  coiiiiiiissioners  l)e  directed  to 
a(b)itt  tiieni."' 

All  these  roads  were  asked  for  by  Aniy  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  town  of  Hyatt,  \\'ith  a  \iew  of  taking 
all  the  principal  roads  through  Hyatt  and  around 
Garnett,  as  these  towns  were  rixals  for  the  county 
seat.  The  old  maps  of  the  Territory  show  all  these 
roads  as  centering  at  Hyatt,  and  not  one  as  passing 
through  Garnett  (^r  Shannon, 

xArny  was  an  acti\'e  \yorker,  and  up  to  that  time 
had  succeeded  in  getting  three  mail  routes  through 
Hyatt,  while  Garnett  had  not  eyen  a  postotiice, 
Arny  managed  to  get  the  line  of  trayel  from  Osa- 
watomie to  Hyatt  along  the  meanderings  of  South 
Pottowatomie,  passing  Garnett  about  two  miles  on 
the  south,  and  the  trayel  from  Lawrence  to  Cofa- 
chique   and     Humboldt,   by    Fairvew\   crossing    the 


^ 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I27 

Pottovvatomie  at  Adiiii^totrs  crossing,  near  the  resi-  . 
dence  now  ol  Wm.  Rebstock,   passing  on  the  west 
yide    of  CecUir   and    crossing    that    stream    west    ot 
Hyatt. 

On  the  fourth  Monday  in  March,  1859,  ^I'l  "-'lec- 
tion was  held  in  each  townsliip  for  the  election  of 
township  officers,  at  which  election  a  new  board  of 
supervisors  was  elected,  and  J.  F.  Wadsworth,  John 
L.  Adington,  C.  W.  Fraker,  James  R.  Eaton  and 
Jolin  B.  Dildy  were  elected  chairmen  of  the  township 
boards,  and  constituted  the  supervisors  of  the  county. 
On  the  loth  day  of  May,  1859,  ^1^*^}'  organized  bv 
electing  J.  F.  Wadsworth  chairman  ;  and  on  the 
same  day  Ozark  township  was  organized,  and  G. 
W.  Sands  was  elected  chairman  of  the  township 
board  of  super\'isors,  and  consequently  became  one 
of  the  countv  board  of  supervisors. 

On  the  fourth  Monday'  in  March,  1859,  '^'^  election 
was  held  at  the  voting  precincts  in  the  Territory  on 
the  proposition  of  forming  a  constitution  and  State 
government  for  the  State  of  Kansas.  Of  the  one 
hundred  and  eightv-tive  votes  cast  in  the  county  only 
seven  were  against  the  proposition. 

On  the  first  Tuesday  of  June,  1859,  '^"  election 
was  held  for  the  election  of  a  delegate  to  a  conven- 
tion to  frame  a  State  constitution.  W.  F.  M.  Arny 
and  J.  G.  Blunt  were  the  candidates.  Blunt  received 
98  votes,  and  Arnv  received  93  votes,  and  Blunt  was 
declared  duly  elected. 

On  the  first  Tuesday  of  July,  1859,  the  delegates 


i 


Ii8  HIST()K\'   OF 

elected  assembled  at  Wvandotte  to  frame  the  con- 
stitution, aftei-wards  known  as  the  Wyandotte  con- 
stitution. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  October.  1859,  an  election 
was  held  for  the  ratification  or  rejection  of  this  con- 
stitution. Of  the  three  hundred  and  forty-six  vf)tes 
cast  in  the  count\'  at  this  election  two  hundred  and 
sixtv  were  in  favor  of  the  adoption,  and  eighty-six 
airainst :  and  there  were  two  hundred  and  six  votes 
in  favor  of  the  homestead  exemption  clause  in  the 
constitution,  and  one  hundred  and  nine  against. 

The  struggle  between  the  friends  of  freedom  and 
the  friends  of  slaxervfrom  1855  to  1858  was  conduc- 
ted with  an  utter  disre<fard  of  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Nebraska  and  Kansas  bill,  on 
the  part  of  the  Pro-Sla\'ery  men.  including  the 
national  administration.  The  friends  of  freedom. 
b\'  uniting  their  efforts  with  ail  classes  of  persons 
opposed  to  sla\ery,  had  now  a  complete  victory  over 
their  opposers  in  the  l\"rritor\' :  and  it  had  now  be- 
come necessary  to  organize  the  political  parties, 
preparatory  to  the  national  election  that  would  take 
place  in  i860 — the  great  struggle  that  was  to  deter- 
mine the  'Mrrepressible  conflict"  between  freedoni 
and  slavery - 

On  the  2  2(1  of  August,  1859,  '^  Republican  mass 
convention  was  held  at  Garnett,  at  which  con\'en- 
tion  the  Republican  party  of  the  county  was  organ- 
ized, by  the  election  of  S,  S.  Tipton  as  temporar\' 
chairman,  and  B.  F.  Ridgewa\-.  secretarw       James 


I 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  I 29 

G.  Blunt  was  elected  permanent  president,  and  C. 
J.  Farley,  secretary.  This  convention  passed  reso- 
lutions indorsing  the  Osawatomie  platform  of  May 
18,  1859,  ^""^  nominated  candidates  for  county  offi- 
cers and  members  to  the  Territorial  Legislature,  as 
follows  :  For  representative  to  the  Legislature.  Dr. 
Thomas  Lindsay  :  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion, Rufus  Gilpatrick  :  probate  judge,  J.  Y.  Camp- 
bell :  register  of  deeds,  C.  J.  Farley  ;  county  attor- 
ney, W.  A.  Johnson  ;  sheriff,  G.  A.  Cook;  county 
clerk,  A.  Simons  :  county  treasurer,  H.  Cavender  : 
coroner,  Stephen  Marsh  ;  surveyor,  B.  F.  Ridge- 
wa}'.  A  central  committee  of  nine  was  appointed, 
as  follows  :  Wm.  Spriggs,  D.  W.  Houston,  J.  G. 
Blunt,  W.  A.  Johnson,  W.  F.  M.  Arny,  J.  B. 
Lowry,  S.  S.  Tipton,  Henry  Williams  and  J.  B. 
Stitt. 

On  the  —  day  of  August,  1859,  ^  Democratic 
mass  convention  was  held  in  Garnett.  This  conven- 
tion passed  resolutions  indorsing  the  national  Dem- 
ocratic platform,  and  nominated  candidates  for 
county  officers  and  members  to  the  Territorial  Leff- 
islature  :  For  representative  to  the  Legislature,  Sam- 
uel Anderson  :  no  nomination  for  superintendent  of 
public  instruction,  but  resolved  to  support  Rev.  J. 
R.  Slentz  :  probate  judge,  J.  R.  Shields  ;  register  of 
deeds,  M,  Puett :  county  attorney,  B.  D.  Benedict; 
county  clerk,  M.  G.  Carr ;  sheriff,  L.  A.  Jones  ; 
treasurer,  W.  Smith  ;  surveyor,  G.  W.  Cooper  ; 
coroner,  J.  R.  Means. 
17 


I30 


HISTORY    OF 


It  was  not  known  which  of  tlie  parties  had  the 
greater  strength  in  the  county.  Both  parties  entered 
the  campaign  sanguine  of  success  in  the  election. 

The  elecdon  was  held  on  the  8th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, and  resulted  in  the  success  of  the  entire  Re- 
publican ticket. 

On  the  first  Tuesday  of  December,  1859,  '^"  t?^'-'^- 
tion  was  held  for  State  officers,  members  of  the 
Legislature,  judges  and  other  officers,  under  the 
Wyandotte  constitution.  There  were  two  hundred 
and  forty-nine  votes  cast  in  the  county  at  this  elec- 
tion, and  the  following  persons  were  elected  :  So- 
lon ().  Thacher,  judge  of  the  district  court  of  the 
Fourth  judicial  district ;  William  Spriggs  and  P.  P. 
Elder,  senators  of  the  Tenth  senatorial  district,  com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  Franklin,  Anderson  and 
Allen  :  W.  W.  H.  Lawrence,  Jacob  A.  Marcells,  W. 
F.  M.  Arny,  S.  J.  Crawford,  B.  L.  G.  Stone  and 
N.  B.  Blanton,  representatives  from  the  district 
composed  of  Franklin,  Anderson  and  Allen  coun- 
ties ;  Rufus  Gilpatrick,  superintendent  of  public  in- 
struction ;  James  Y.  Campbell,  probate  judge  : 
Alanson  Simons,  clerk  of  the  district  court. 

S.  O.  Thacher  was  the  first  judge  of  the  Fourth 
judicial  district.  His  rulings  were  clear,  and  gener- 
ally satisfactory.  He  was  judge  until  1864,  when 
he  resigned  and  Hon.  David  P.  Lowe  was  appoin- 
ted to  fill  the  vacancy. 

B.  L.  G.  Stone,  one  of  the  persons  elected  to  the 
House   from  this   district,   removed  from  the  Terri- 


I 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  I3I 

tory  in  the  summer  of  i860,  and  Dr.  John  W.  Scott 
was  elected  to  till  the  vacancy. 

The  year  of  1859  ^^''"^^  ^  remarkably  prosperous 
one.  The  immigration  was  heavier  that  year  than 
it  had  ever  been  before,  the  population  being  almost 
as  large  in  the  county  in  the  fall  of  that  year  as  it 
has  ever  been  since.  There  were  heavy  rains  dur- 
ing the  spring,  so  that  travel  was  often  impeded  for 
several  days  at  a  time.  On  the  lirst  of  June  the 
rain  had  been  so  heavy  that  the  North  Pottowato- 
mic  overflowed  its  banks  and  bottoms,  so  that  the 
settlers  in  many  places  had  to  remove  to  the  hills  for 
safety  :  some  places  the  overflow  being  so  sudden 
the}"  had  to  climb  upon  the  tops  of  their  cabins  and 
remain  until  the  waters  subsided.  The  rainy  season 
closed  about  the  last  of  July,  and  a  dry  fall  followed 
it.  There  was  no  rain  or  snow  during  the  winter 
following. 

The  next  spring  was  dry,  and  then  came  the  ter- 
rible drouth  of  i860.  We  had  no  rain  of  any  con- 
sequence until  the  following  October.  This  was  the 
most  oppressive  and  discouraging  3'ear  in  the  history 
of  Kansas.  In  July  strong  winds  blew  from  the 
southwest,  dry,  and  of  scorching  heat,  so  that  vege- 
tation dried  up  before  their  breath  :  the  earth  became 
so  dry  and  hot  that  the  surface  cracked  open  in 
many  places  for  rods,  so  that  the  feet  of  horses  or 
cattle  would  go  to  the  depth  of  several  inches  into 
the  cracked  earth.  For  several  months  the  Potto- 
watomie  and  other  streams  did  not  flow.      About  the 


I 


13- 


HISTORY  OF 


first  ol"  June  of  that  year  a  regular  panic  seized  the 
people,  and  more  than  half  of  the  population  of  the 
county  left  the  Territory — nearly  all  that  could  get 
away  did  so,  many  of  them  to  return  no  more. 

The  census  vyas  taken  in  i860,  by  L.  A.  Jones,  which 
shows  466  families  residing  in  the  county,  with  an 
aggregate  population  of  2,398,  or  an  ayerage  of 
about  tiye  persons  to  the  family.  Jones  reported 
great  suffering  and  distress  on  account  of  the  drouth  ; 
that  one  family  of  ten  children  subsisted  for  ty^o 
weeks  on  wild  plums  and  the  milk  from  one  cow, 
haying  nothing  else  to  eat. 

The  Legislature  in  i860  passed  an  act  abolishing 
the  board  of  superyisors,  and  proyiding  for  a  board 
of  county  commissioners,  and  for  dividing  the 
county  into  three  districts,  one  commissioner,  who 
should  reside  therein,  to  be  elected  by  the  yoters  of 
the  county.  On  the  12th  of  March,  i860,  the  board 
of  supervisors  divided  the  county  into  commission- 
ers" districts  :  and  on  the  fourth  Monday  in  March 
an  election  was  held  for  county  commissioners  and 
county  assessor ;  and  Richard  Robinson,  Preston 
Bowen  and  Mathew  Porter  were  elected  commis- 
sioners, and  John  T.  Lanter,  county  assessor.  The 
commissioners  met  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  and  or- 
ganized by  electing  Preston  Bowen  chairman.  This 
board  did  its  dut}-  faithfully  and  efficiently. 

November  6,  i860,  an  election  was  held  for  mem- 
bers to  the  Territorial  Lemslature,  county  commis- 
sioners,    superintendent    of    public    instruction    and 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I 33 

county  assessor.  Rufus  Gilpatrick  was  cliosen  rep- 
resentative ;  Ricliard  Robinson,  T.  G.  Headlev  and 
Mathew  Porter,  commissioners  ;  Samuel  Anderson, 
superintendent  ot  public  instruction  ;  and  Solomon 
Kauttman,  countv  assessor.  Kaultman  received 
192  VDtes  and  John  T.  Hall  received  172  votes  ;  and 
Hall  claimed  the  election,  because  of  42  votes  cast 
at  Hvatt  precinct  lor  Samuel  Hall,  and  contested 
the  election  before  the  probate  court,  which  deci- 
ded that  John  T.  Hall  was  duly  elected,  and  granted 
him  a  certificate  of  election  to  the  otfice. 

The  act  of  Conj^ress  admittina"  Kansas  into  the 
Union  became  a  law  on  tlie  31st  day  of  January, 
1861,  and  the  judges  and  county  otficers  elected  in 
1859,  '-i"*^*-'!'  the  Wvandotte  constitution,  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices.  For  the 
first  time,  then,  in  the  history  of  Kansas,  was  the 
judiciary  selected  by  the  people. 

The  Territorial  Legislature  that  was  in  session  at 
the  date  of  the  admission  of  the  State,  adjourned  on 
the  2d  day  of  February,  1861,  and  the  Legislature 
elected  under  the  constitution  convened  at  Topeka 
on  the  26th  of  March,  1861. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1861,  an  act  was  passed  pro- 
viding for  a  district  attorney  in  each  judicial  district. 
S.  A.  Riggs  was  elected  attorney  for  the  Fourth  ju- 
dicial district,  in  June,  1861. 

William  Spriggs  was  the  first  State  senator  froni 
the  county.      W.   F.    M.    Arny  and   S.J.  Crawford 


^34 


IHSTfJRV   OF 


were   the   tirst   representatives    from    tlie   county    tf) 
the  wState  Le^ishiture. 

Hon.  S.  J.  Craw  torcl  returned  from  the  Legishi- 
ture  on  Mav  lo.  and  proceeded  to  enhst  a  company 
of  \()lunteers  for  the  Second  Kansas  regiment.  He 
raised  a  company  of  ninety  men  in  one  day,  and 
within  three  days  thereafter  Iiis  company  was  on  the 
march  to  the  front.  Crawford  was  selected  as  cap- 
tain of  the  company,  and  after  ti\'e  months'  service 
it  was  mustered  out  and  reorganized.  The  com- 
pany did  good  service,  and  was  in  several  engage- 
ments. The  principal  one  was  the  battle  of  Wil- 
son's Creek,  on  the  loth  of  August.  1861,  where 
several  of  its  members  were  killed  and  wounded. 
It  was  the  first  company  that  went  from  Anderson 
count\-  to  take  part  in  the  great  struggle  for  the 
Union. 

Hon.  W.  F.  M.  Arny  returned  at  the  close  of  the 
session  of  the  Legislature,  having*  irained  some  no- 
torietv  while  there.  Sol.  Miller,  in  publishin<>;  a 
sketch  of  the  Legislature  in  the  "White  Cloud 
Chief,""  says  : 

••Ml".  Arny  is  one  of  the  ri'prcsciUat  i\  rs  from  tlic  An- 
derson district,  lie  \v;is  l)orn  on  tlic  peak  of  IV'inu'ritl'c. 
in  a  \('ry  dry  season,  and  1  lie  sootlisaycrs  who  were  ])r('S(>iu 
npon  llii'  uiclanclioly  occ^nsion  predicted  tliat  wlierever  he 
weiU  drouth  wonld  folh>w.  Snch  iias  l)een  his  ex])erience 
in  Kansas.  His  name  ori<i'iiially  was  '  \ai-y."  and  il  issiiji- 
)iose(l  to  have  siiiiiitied  that  •nary*  thinji'  would  ui'ow 
wliere  lie  cast  his  lot.  Thus  Kansas  lias  recently  experi- 
enced   tlie   calaniit\    of  'narv'   corn,    •narv'    bean.  •nar\" 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I35 

■\vlioal.  •  nary  '  urass  >c(m1.  •  iiar\  "  clotliiiii:'  tor  \  ()luutcci'>. 
rtc.  IJy  some  lueaiis  tlic  letters  eoiiiposiuji- his  name  liave 
heroine  transposed,  and  he  i>  now  caUed  "Arny."  Hi>  pa- 
rents found  t»reat  dirticiilly  in  decidin<i-  upon  a  name  for 
him:  tliey  liad  so  many  froiu  whicli  to  choose,  and  there 
A\ ere  so  numy  letters  in  the  ali)liahet  that  h)oked  well  in  a 
name.  The\  tinally  liit  ujion  a  phin  to  set  lie  the  (piestion  : 
the  old  man  resolvt-d  to  fashion  all  tin-  letters  of  the  alpha- 
het  of  ])otter"s  clay,  then  to  throw  them  anainst  the  side 
of  the  house,  and  as  many  as  stuck  to  the  wall.  tho>e  let- 
ters >hould  form  the  initials  of  his  name  ;  l)Ut  those  that 
fell  otf  >hould  he  di>car(h'd.  lie  carrieil  out  his  desij^n.  it 
was  a  <i"ood  <hiy  for  the  hu^iness.  and  nearly  all  of  the  let- 
ters stuck.*" 

Arnv    hiU'iiii'"  i>'ainecl    such    iiotorietv    while  in  the 

Legishiture.    soon    feceived  an    appointment  under 

Lincohi's  administration,  as  an  Indian  a^ent  in  New 

Mexico.      He  left  Kansas  in  the  summer  of  1861  for 

'  his  held  of  labor,  where  he  has  since  remained,  ha\- 

ing-  been  appointed  Secretary  of  New  Mexico.      He 

has  received  the  title  of  Governor,  ha\ing-   acted  as 

Go\'ernor  in  the  absence  of   the  Governor  for  many 

vears. 


I 


CHAPTER  Xir. 

Srvcr//Y  i>t  the  \V/ liters  of  iS$$-6  and  1856-7, 
and  M/ldiic^s  0/ those  0/  iS^'/-HaiJ(/  1858-9 — Prai- 
ric  Fires — Sac  and  Fox  /iid/aiis. 

Thk  winters  of  1855-6  and  1856-7  were  sea- 
sons of  almost  unparalleled  severity,  which  caused 
man^'  to  suppose  that  it  was  a  characteristic  ol  this 
country  :  which,  however,  was  a  mistaken  idea,  as 
shown  bv  the  winters  of  1857-8  and  1858-9,  which 
were  mild  and  pleasant.  The  "Leavenworth  Jour- 
nal"" of  January  15,  1858,  says: 

••  I'jissiiia-  lliroiiiili  the  country  a  few  (hiys  .since,  we  ^\<'l■l■ 
plcascil  to  sec  tlic  roads  tilled  with  sunimer  birds,  whose 
iiiiy  piiiuia^'e  and  >\veet  notes  indicated  anything'  1mi(  win- 
ter."" 

No  countr\'  could  exceed  the  beauty  and  mildness 
of  the  winters  of  1858  and  1859  :  the  brilliancy  by 
dav,  bright  moonlio-ht  nights,  and  prairie  fires  had 
the  appearance  of  September  in  Illinois  or  Wiscon- 
sin .  The  streams  were  not  frozen  over  during  either  of 
the  latter  winters,  nor  was  the  ground  covered  with 
snow.  Reference  is  made  to  these  four  winters,  to 
show  the  o-reat  difference  of  seasons  in  this  climate. 
Since  that  time  the  seasons  have  been  tnore  uniform, 
none  being  so  extreme  as  those  referred  to. 

In  the  earh'  da\s  of   Kansas  there  were  some  ter- 


I 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I 37 

rible  prairie  tires,  caused  by  burning  the  heavy  coats 
of  dry  grass,  and  high  winds,  carrying  the  tire  with 
great  rapidity,  often  blowing  the  tire  across  any 
stream  in  its  wav.  When  the  wind  was  blowin<r 
heavily  the  rapidity  was  frightful,  outstripping  the 
fleetest  horse,  doing  great  damage.  Yet  the  ap- 
pearance of  these  tires  on  a  calm  night  was  most 
gorgeous,  as  they  lighted  up  the  country  for  miles 
around.  No  grander  and  more  beautiful  scene 
could  be  presented.  x\  painter  that  could  transfer 
to  canvas  the  enchanting  panorama  of  a  prairie  on 
tire  would  be  entitled  to  have  his  name  registered  in 
the  roll  of  fame  for  above  our  most  gifted  mortals. 

When  the  white  settlers  came  to  this  county  the 
Sac  and  Fox  tribes  of  Indians  were  located  on  a  res- 
ervation in  Franklin  and  Osage  counties,  where 
they  remained  for  about  ten  or  twelve  years.  Rov- 
inir  bands  of  these  Indians  often  wandered  into  dif- 
ferent  parts  of  this  count3^  hunting  and  tishing  ;  and 
some  times  two  to  three  hundred  of  them,  wnth  their 
squaws  and  ponies,  would  winter  in  this  count}', 
along  the  streams,  and  often  became  very  annoying 
in  setting  tire  to  prairies  to  drive  game  out,  and  in 
that  way  often  burning  the  fences  and  crops  of  the 
settlers.  And  at  times  they  would  engage  in  steal- 
ing and  driving  away  the  stock  of  the  settlers,  and 
keep  it  hidden  until  a  reward  was  offered  for  its  re- 
turn. They  would  go  begging  from  house  to  house, 
and  if  one  was  fed  by  the  settler  the  whole  party 
must  be  fed  or  there  would  be  trouble.  These 
18 


138  HISTORY    OK 

Indians  obtained  wliisky  when  tliey  could  iind  it. 
Rezin  Porter,  on  North  Pottowatomie,  kept 
whiskv  to  sell  in  1857  and  1858,  and  the  Indians,  in 
passing  through,  made  it  a  point  to  camp  near  his 
house.  In  the  fall  of  1857  a  party  of  them  went 
into  camp  near  Porter's,  went  to  his  house  and  de- 
manded whiskv,  which  Mrs.  Porter,  in  the  absence 
of  her  husband,  refused.  So  they  attempted  to 
break  into  the  house,  and,  failing  at  the  door,  which 
she  had  fastened,  one  attempted  to  enter  through  a 
window,  when  she  filled  his  face  and  bosom  with  a 
shovel  full  of  live  coals  from  the  tire  place,  which 
caused  him  to  retreat,  veiling,  with  his  shirt  on  tire, 
and  the  others  followed  him. 

In  the  winter  of  i860  these  Indians  gave  a  "war 
dance"  in  Garnett,  which  was  novel  to  our  people, 
who  came  in  large  numbers  from  the  country  to 
watness  it.  It  took  place  at  the  crossing  of  Pine 
street  and  Sixth  avenue.  Four  of  the  braves  had  each 
nail  kegs,  covered  with  opossum  skins.  Seated  on  the 
ground,  with  sticks  thev  commenced  beating  their 
nail  kegs,  and  sung  their  songs,  which  furnished  the 
music  for  the  occasion.  The  squaws  seated  them- 
selves in  a  circle,  and  the  braves  entered  the  circle 
and  proceeded  to  perform  the  most  amusing  e\'olu- 
tions,  interspersed  by  short  speeches  in  their  dialect, 
and,  with  sticks,  bludgeons  and  tomahawks,  thev 
showed  how  they  killed  and  scalped  their  victims, 
and  drank  their  blood.       It  was  a  fair  illustration  of 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  1 39 

their  savage  cruelty-     The}-  also  danced  the  "green 
corn"'  dance,  and  the  "snake"  dance. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Bright  Prospects  iu  iS^S-g — Organization  of 
Railroad  Couipanx — Gloom x  Forebodings  of  iS6o 
— Relief  Coniuiittees — Organization  of  Volunteer 
Companies — Hardships  Endured  hv  the  Women  of 
the  Coiintv — Organization  of  Nexv  Party^  Called 
"  Farmers'  a)id  jMechanics'  Union  Assoeiation^ — 
Election  of  iS6i. 

In  the  din  of  politics,  mind  struggling  with  mind, 
one  to  establish  on  Kansas  soil  the  best  institutions 
known  to  the  civilized  world,  and  the  other  endeav- 
oring to  establish  and  perpetuate  a  curse  the  most 
oppressive  known  to  man,  we  had  given  but  little  at- 
tention to  the  industrial  resources  of  the  country  un- 
til the  spring  of  1858.  when  there  was  a  lull  in  the 
storm,  and  hope  inspired  in  the  minds  of  watching 
millions.  Then  immigration  in  great  numbers  from 
the  free  States  set  in.  The  Pro-Slavery  men  of  the 
slave  States  gave   up  their  cherished   idea  of  estab- 


140 


HISTORY    OF 


lishing  slavery  in  Kansas,  and  became  so  disgusted 
with  their  ill-success  that  they  did  not  spend  any 
more  money  or  blood  for  the  cause  of  the  South. 
The  result  of  the  election  for  county  officers  and 
members  to  the  Legislature,  and  the  vote  on  the 
Lecompton  constitution,  satisfied  them  that  the 
friends  of  freedom  could  not  be  thwarted  in  their 
desiirns  bv  force  or  fraud.  The  result  was  a  health v 
immigration  and  great  increase  in  the  population  of 
the  country.  The  filHng  up  of  Kansas  with  the 
champions  of  freedom  w^as  the  most  glorious  achieve- 
ment which  the  historian  of  the  country  is  able  to  re- 
cord ;  a  new  exhibition  of  popular  power,  and  a 
guaranty  to  free  institutions  :  it  was  the  power  of 
freedom  crushing;  the  wicked  institution  of  slaverv. 
It  was  the  first  throe  in  that  great  struggle  that  made 
every  American  citizen  a  freeman. 

After  the  elections  of  1857  and  1858  the  Free 
State  Legislature  convened,  and  passed  some  whole- 
some laws,  and  repealed  the  laws  of  1855,  known 
as  tlie  "bogus  laws."  Business  began  to  prosper: 
the  settlers  commenced  improving  their  claims  and 
the  country  presented  a  livelier  appearance  ;  all 
doubts  as  to  success  were  removed,  and  a  new  era 
for  Kansas  set  in. 

About  this  time  tw^o  railroad  enterprises  were  or- 
ganized :  The  Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Fort 
Gibson  railroad  companv,  now  Leavenworth,  Law- 
rence &  Galveston  railroad  company  ;  and  the  Jef- 
ferson City  &  Neosho  Valley  railroad  compan}-.  The 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  I4I 

former  was  organized  on  the  8th  dav  of  December, 
1857.     John  B.  Chapman  was  elected   president:  J. 

C.  Green,  Adam  Fisher,  F.  P.  Witcher,  M.  H. 
Mann,  James  Darrah,  Hudson  Burris  and  H.  C. 
Justice,  directors  ;  H.  Allen,  secretary  :  L.  L.  Todd, 
treasurer,  and  John  C.  McCartv,  chief  engineer. 
The  charter  of  the  company  was  granted  on  the 
1 2th  of  February,  1858,  with  John  B.  Chapman, 
Hudson  Burris,  H.  C.  Justice,  F.  P.  Witcher,  Mil- 
ton H.  Hann,  Henry  J.  Adams,  G.  A.  Reynolds,  E. 

D.  Ladd,  John  Speer,  L.  F.  Hollingsvyorth,  S.  B. 
Prentiss,  G.  W.  Deitzler,  H.  G.  Blake,  Robert  B. 
Mitchell.  John  Mathias,  Darius  Rogers,  J.  M.  Black. 
R.  B.  Jourdan  and  W.  Douran  as  charter  members, 
\yith  a  capital  stock  of  two  million  dollars.  The 
charter  authorized  the  company  to  locate  its  road 
from  the  city  of  Leayenworth,  on  the  Missouri 
riyer,  on  the  most  conyenient  route,  yia  Lawrence, 
Minneola,  Osaije  City,  and  dovyn  the  Neosho  riyer, 
through  the  Osage  nation,  to  Fort  Gibson,  on  the 
Arkansas  riyer.  In  the  summer  of  1858  the  com- 
pany made  a  preliminary  suryey  to  the  fourth  stan- 
dard parallel,  one  mile  south  of  Garnett  :  in  1859  it 
made  a  preliminary  suryey  for  its  road  to  Osage 
City,  ten  miles  south  of  Humboldt.  John  B.  Chap- 
man was  re-elected  president,  for  several  terms.  In 
1863  this  road  received  a  land  grant  from  Congress 
for  tYtvy  alternate  section,  designated  by  odd  num- 
bers, for  ten  sections  on  each  side  of  the  road  ;  but 
where  any  of  the  land  had  been  sold  prior  to  the 


142 


HISTORY   OF 


fixing  of  the  line  of  the  road,  then  in  h'eu  of  the 
amount  so  sold  the  company  was  to  receive  from 
the  public  lands  of  the  United  States  an  equal 
amount  from  the  nearest  tiers  of  sections,  in  alter- 
nate sections,  provided  such  lands  should  not  be  lo- 
cated more  tlian  twenty  miles  from  the  road.  The 
lands  so  granted  were  to  be  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
construction  of  the  road.  And  in  1866  the  Legisla- 
ture appropriated  one  hundred  and  twenty-tive  thou- 
sand acres  of  the  tive  hundred  thousand  acres  given 
the  State  under  the  law  of  Congress  of  1841,  for 
internal  improvements,  to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
this  road.  The  counties  along  the  line  of  the  road 
voted  municipal  bonds  to  aid  in  its  construction,  as 
follows :  Douglas  county,  ip 300.000 ;  Franklin 
countv,  $200,000:  Anderson  county,  $200,000:  Al- 
len county,  $150,000:  Montgomery  county,  $200,- 
000. 

The  work  of  construction  on  this  road  commenced 
in  1867,  and  the  road  was  built  and  in  operation  to 
Ottawa  the  following  winter,  and  completed  to  Gar- 
nett  in  March,  1870.  and  to  Coffevville  in  1871.  It 
is  a  hrst-class  road,  furnished  with  excellent  engines 
and  rolling  stock.  For  the  first  five  years  the  road 
paid  but  little  more  than  running  expenses  :  but  the 
business  of  the  country  has  so  improved  that  the 
road  is  now  doing  a  good  and   pa\'ing  business. 

A  railroad  convention  was  held  at  Hvatt  on  the 
27th  day  of  July,  1858,  to  take  preliminary  meas- 
ures   to  organize  a  railroad  companv,  to  be  stvled 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I 43 

tiie  Jefferson  City  &  Neosho  Valley  railroad  com- 
pany :  and  it  was  organized  at  Hyatt  on  the  —  day 
of  October,  1858,  with  A.  Wattles,  J.  O.  Wattles, 
G.  W.  Deitzler,  W.  F.  M.  Arny,  G.  W.  Brown, 
W.  H.  Ela,  B.  F.  Allen,  R.  Gilpatrick,  J.  L.  Coy, 
P.  B.  Plumb  and  John  T.  Cox  as  directors.  The 
board  of  directors  elected  W.  F.  M.  Arny  president. 
The  company  went  to  work  in  October,  soon  after 
the  organization,  to  make  a  preliminary  survey  from 
tlie  State  line  to  the  Neosho  river,  and  had  the  plat 
and  profile  all  made.  The  company  spent  much 
time  and  money  in  trying  to  get  land  grants  to  aid 
in  the  construction  of  the  road,  but  failure  to  secure 
the  same  proved  fatal  to  the  enterprise. 

During  the  tirst  live  years  of  the  early  settlement 
of  the  Territory  it  required  the  greater  portion  of 
the  time  of  the  settlers  to  defend  the  border  against 
the  frequent  raids  made  by  Pro-Slavery  men  from 
the  slave  States,  consequently  but  little  improvements 
had  been  made  ;  so  when  the  drouth  of  i860  came 
it  was  like  a  blight,  the  people  being  without  money, 
and  depending  on  the  productions  of  the  soil  for 
sustenance.  They  had  no  surplus  of  grain  or  other 
necessaries  of  life  to  tide  them  over  the  season.  As 
soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  the  crops  were  a 
failure,  steps  were  taken  to  secure  aid  from 
the  States  to  supply  the  necessities  of  the  people. 
Committees  for  this  purpose  were  appointed  in  al- 
most ever}-  county  in  the  Territory,  and  the  citizens 
of  our  sister  States  responded  nobly  to  the   cry  for 


144 


iriSTORV  OF 


assistance,  bv  donations  of  such  articles  as  would 
keep  the  people  froni  starvation.  But  although  a 
lar<ije  amount  of  provisions  was  sent  to  the  Terri- 
torv,  but  little  was  received  in  Anderson  count}-. 
The  struij^i^les  and  drouth  of  i860  reduced  the  pop- 
ulation to  about  one  thousand  in  Anderson  county  : 
and  those  who  remained  were  reduced  almost  to 
a  state  of  pauperism. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  our  people  were 
in  this  destitute  condition  :  our  men  were  accustomed 
to  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life,  but  to  go  to  the 
defense  of  the  country  and  leave  their  families  in 
such  circumstances  was  distressing  :  but  when  the 
call  came  for  volunteers  they  responded  nobly  ;  a 
whole  company  volunteered  in  one  day,  and  was  on 
the  march  to  the  front  in  three  days  thereafter.  An- 
derson county  was  represented  in  almost  every  regi- 
ment of  Kansas  troops  ;  about  three-fourths  of  her 
able-bodied  men  entered  the  army  for  the  cause  of 
the  Union. 

The  year  1861  was  a  fruitful  one  for  Kansas. 
Fine  crops  were  raised,  and  in  many  instances  the 
crops  were  planted.  culti\ated  and  harvested  bv  our 
brave  and  patriotic  women,  while  their  husbands 
and  fathers  were  fighting  the  battles  of  their  country-. 
Most  nobly  did  our  women  till  the  soil  and  support 
their  families,  and  'gave  up  their  husbands  to  the 
service  of  the  country,  many  of  them  to  fill  bloodv 
graxes  in"  Southern  climes.       The  names  of  the  he- 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  1^5 

roic  dead  who  lell  in  the  defense  of  the  country  will 
be  given  in  another  portion  of  this  book. 

In  October,  1861,  a  new  political  organization  was 
made  in  Anderson  county,  known  as  the  "  Farmers' 
and  Mechanics'  Union  Association."  headed  by  J. 
Y.  Campbell,  Samuel  Anderson,  J.  B.  Lowry,  W. 
H.  McClure,  W.  G.  Nichols  and  some  others.  The 
object  of  this  organization  was  set  forth  in  their 
platform. 

This  party  was  clamorous  for  reform.  Their  con- 
\ention  assembled  on  the  17th  day  of  October  and 
made  the  following  nominations  :  For  State  sena- 
tor, Alexander  Stewart  (then  of  Tola,  now  of  Le- 
Roy  )  :  for  rjpresentatiyes,  J.  B.  Lowry  and  W.  H. 
McClure  :  for  probate  judge,  Samuel  Anderson  ;  for 
treasurer.  J.  Y.  Campbell  :  for  sheriff,  John  Ander- 
son ;  for  register  of  deeds,  M.  Puett ;  for  county 
clerk,  N.  A.  Porter;  for  clerk  of  district  court,  N. 
A.  Porter. 

The  Republicans  held  their  conyention  on  the 
loth  of  the  same  month,  and  nominated  for  repre- 
sentatiyes,  John  T.  Lanter  and  Mathew  Porter  ;  pro- 
bate judge,  B.  F.  Ridgewa}' :  treasurer,  H.  Cayen- 
der  :  sheriff,  Zach.  Norris  ;  register  of  deeds,  Wes- 
ley Spindler  :  county  clerk,  A.  Mc Arthur  ;  and  clerk 
of  the  district  court,  A.  Simons. 

The   canyass  was   conducted  on  the    part  of  the 

new  organization    by   J.    Y.    Campbell    and    Alex. 

Stewart :  on  the  part  of  the  Republicans  the  can\-ass 

was  made  by  G.  W.  Her,   B.  F.  Ridgeway  and  W. 

19  ' 


146 


HISTORY    OF 


A.  Johnson.  The  campaign  was  one  oi  the  most 
bitter  e\'er  had  in  the  county.  The  Repubhcans 
elected  their  senator,  J.  G.  Reese,  treasurer,  county 
clerk  and  clerk  of  the  district  court.  The  opposi- 
tion elected  two  representatives,  probate  judo-e,  sher- 
it'l'  and  reifister  of  deeds. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Successive  State  Senators — Members  of  the 
House  of  Representatives — yndges  of  the  District 
Court —  County  Officers . 

SKXA'roKS, 

lHt>l.  Williinii  Si)ri<i<is  :  IH^f),  I).  \\ .  Houston  :  ISHJ).  K.  S. 
Niccolls:  ISTo.  AV.  A.  .loliiison. 

MKJtinOKS    OK    THK    JIOISK    OK    1!  Kl' K  KSKNT  ATI  V  KS. 

Under  Territorial  ji'overnnienl  —  IHoy.  William  S])n<i;:s  : 
1M60,  Thomas  Lindsay  :  1S61.  IJiifus  (iilpatrick. 

I'ndei-  State  government — 1861.  S.  J.  Crawford  and  W. 
i''.  M.  Arn\  :   1S(>2.  .1.  B.  Lowry  and  W .  11.  McCliii-e." 

In  1862  the  Legislature  made  a  reapportionment, 
into  representative  and  senatorial  districts,  dividing- 
Anderson  county  into  two  representative  districts, 
numbers  Fifty-six  and  FiftN-seven.      The  townships 


ANDERSON   COUNTY. 


47 


at  Walker  and  Monroe  constituted  the  Fiftv-sixth. 
and  the  remainder  of  the  count\-  the  Fifty-seventh 
representative  district. 

1863.  Isaac  lliiicr,  Fift\ -sixtli  :  .lacksoii  Means.  Fifty- 
scvt'iitli  :  1S(U.  Henderson  ("avender.  Fifty-sixtli :  IJ.  M. 
LinjiO.  Filt\ -seventh  :  18fi.o.  Henderson  (avender.  Fiftv- 
sixth:  A.  (i.  West.  Fifty-seventh:  18(ifi.  Henderson  ('av- 
ender. FiftA-sixth  :  ,1.  \V.  Stew  art.  Fifty-seventli  :  l«fi7. 
Tliomas  Lindsay.  Fifty-sixtli ;  Wni.  X.  Hanby.  Fiftv- 
Ncventh  :  1M8S.  Tlionias  (i.  Headh-y.  Fifty-sixth  ;  \Vni.  X. 
Hanl)y.  Fifty-seventh:  DStjy.  Jolm  liuterl)aiijih.  Fift>- 
sixtli :  (  luirles  (irejij:-.  Fifty-seventli :  1870.  John  (i.  Lind- 
say. Fifty-sixtli  :. I.  H.  Whitford.  Fifty-seventh  :  l«71. -loliii 
(i.  Lindsay.  Fifty-sixth  ;  Thomas  Tlionipson.  Fifty-seventh. 

The  Legislature  of  187 1  made  a  new  apportion- 
ment of  the  State  into  representative  districts,  hv 
which  .Vnderson  county  only  formed  one  district, 
and  had  but  one  representative. 

1872,  J.  }L  Whitford:  1S78.  .lolm  T.  Lanter  :  lS7-t.  James 
K.  Wliite:  187.0.  H.  C.  Ifeppert  :  is7ti,  L.  K.  Kirk. 

JCIKJKS    OK    THK    DISTKICT    COCKT. 

The  Legislatui'c  in  1855  di^■ided  the  Territory  into 
judicial  districts,  placing  Anderson  county  in  the 
Second  district,  and  in  1856  Sterling  G.  Cato  was 
judge. 

In  1858  the  Legislature  redistricted  the  Territory, 
and  Anderson  county  was  made  part  of  the  Third 
district,  and  Joseph  Williams  was  the  judge. 

Under  the  Wyandotte  constitution  Anderson 
county  was  made  part  of  the  Fourth  district. 

1861.  S.  ().  Tliaeher  :  186f.  Tliaclier  resigned,  and  I).  P. 
Lowe  was  ap])ointed  To  till  the  vacancy:  1865.  I).  >L  N  al- 
entine. 


1^.8  IIISTOKV    OF 

The  Legislature  in  1867  created  the  Seventh  ju- 
dicial district,  and  made  Anderson  county  a  part  of 
it. 

1SB7.  William   Sijriii-o-s  :  ls;i-<.  .Idlm   l*.(i()()ilin. 

In  1869  this  county  was  again  changed  bick  to 
the  Fourth  district. 

ISfilt.  ().  A.  Bjis»*t'tl  :   1H72.  ().  A.  UasscU. 

CLKHKS    OK    THK    DISTKICT    COfUT. 

1S6H.  A.  Simons:  iHiiO,  A.  Simon.-:  lS(ii.  A.Simons;  \>>i].]. 
Cliiirles  Hidden  :  lS(v).  ('.  K.  Dewey  :  lSf57.  G.  M.  Evcriine  : 
isfiy,  Solomon  Kautfuian:  1«71.  (i.  M.  Evcriine:  1S73,,J.  A. 

r.eil  :    1S7.J.  .1.   A.   I'.eli. 

COl'NTY     (O.^IAIISSIONKKS. 

IS.of),  Francis  Myer  and  .1.  S.  Waitman:  r">.')7,  Darius 
Frankenheriz'er  and  .loini  ^IcDaniel. 

The  Legislature  in  1858  changed  the  count^•  board 

to  a  board  of  super\'isors,  of  one  member  from  each 

township. 

Supervisors — ISoS.  J.  K.  While,  chairman:  Solomon 
Kaun'man.  IJe/in  Porter,  .folin  ^NIcDaniel  and  Alexander 
M<-Art]iur:  is.".!».  ,1.  l\  Wadswortii.  chairman:  ('.  W.  Fra- 
ker.  -lohn  L.  Adiniilon,  .1.  K.  Faton.  .1.  15.  Dilday  iUid  (i. 
VV.  Sands. 

The  Legislature  in  i860  changed  the  board  from 
a  board  of  supervisors  to  a  board  of  count v  commis- 
sioners, consisting  of  three  members. 

1H()0.  Preston  IJowen,  chairman  ;  IJichard  Hohinson  and 
J\latlie\v  Porter:  1«()1.  Matliew  Poiter.  chairman:  IJichard 
Uobinson  and  T.  (t.  Headley  :  1862.  T.  (i.  Headley.  chair- 
man :  .lohn  Moler  and  A.  (  assel  :  VHiV,].  T.  (i.  Ileadlex. 
chairman:  D.  L.  Dull"  and  Anderson  Cassel  ;  IStU.  Dr. 
William  Snnth.  chairman:  II.   P.   Ilalland  (Jeoriic   Holt: 


A  N 1)  E  R  S  O  N    CO  U  N  T  V . 


149 


H;ill  rc.^iaiKMl,  und  S.  W.  Arriiiil  iippoiiitcd  to  lill  v;ic;iiic\  : 
iSii!).  William  Siiiitli,  cluiii-iiiaii :  Matlicw  roiicr  and  IJicli- 
•Avd  IJ()l)iiis(»u  :  lSti«.  II.  Cavciulcr.  rhaiiiiiau  :  .1.  W.  Low  r\ 
and  Iiciibcu  Low  r\  :  1«70.  (i.  W .  Her,  chairnian  :  .L  15. 
Lowrv  and  d.  \V.  N'aiiylin  :  d.  15.  Low  ry  died  in  1S71.  and 
('.  11.  Lowrv  appointed  to  till  \acancy  :  Isy-J.  ,hdin  Mac-k- 
iin.  cliainiiani  11.  (axcndcr  and  15.  >L  Liniio:  1H74.  ('.  IL 
Lowrv.  cliairnian  :  <;.  W.  Snnlli  and  II.  (  a  vcndci- ;  (i.  \V. 
Smith  resigned  and  M.  K.  ( )sl)orn  w  as  ap])oint('d  to  lill  \  a- 
cancy  :  XovtMuhi'i'.  ls7o.  M.  .1.  Tni-rt'll  elected  to  lill  iinex- 
pifed  term  of  Snnlli:  II.  ('aveiider  resij^ned.  an<l  W.S. 
\  reoland  was  ai)pointed  to  till  \  acancy  :  lS7ti.  ( ".  11.  Low  fv. 
rliHirnian  :  W.  S.  \'reeland  and  M.  .1.  'rinrell. 

coiNTV  <'i,i;i:ks. 
1S,')H.  Tliomas  Totton.  apjxiinted  :  1S.">7.  A.  Simons;  re- 
signed, and  ('.  'i\  Williams  ai)pointe(l :  1K.")S.  15.  L.  Adin<i- 
lon:  l.S(50.  A.  Simons;  lKt5-_\  A.  McArtlinr:  INC.-I.  d.  F. 
Walker  :  ISlirt.  d.  II.  William-;  IxtvS.  d.  II.  Williams:  1S70. 
K.  A.  Ldwards;  l«7-\  K.  A.  I'ldwai-ds;  IS74.  K.  A.  I':d- 
wards  ;   is7t!.  d.  W.  dollra. 

iM;<ti:.\Ti':  .hixmos. 

IS."),"),  (ieorii'e  Wilson,  elected  Ity  Leu'islal  lire  :  1S,')S.  Sam- 
uel Anderson,  from  daniiary  1  to  dune  I.  and  wa>  >uc- 
(■e<'ded  by  d.  Y.  ('am]d)ell.  w  lio  served  until  llie  7tii  day  of 
(  )ctol)er.  ISfil,  w  lien  lie  was  ousted  from  the  ottice  hy 
procoedinii's  had  before  S.  ().  'Idiaclier.  jud^c,  on  ai»|»lica- 
tionof  ('has.  Hidden,  who  served  until -laniiary.  IStiJ  ;  ISii'J. 
Samuel  Anderson:  1S();t.  Samiiid  A)i(lerson  :  ISti.').  d.  Y. 
Campi.eii:    1K71.  M.   A.  Pa.i;-e  ;  1S7."..  d.  M.  Craiu'. 

( '(>  r  XT  ^■  'r  u  !■;  .\  s  i  ■  i{  i-:  n  s . 
l«ati.  V.  H.  Trice.  ai)pointed  :  ISnK.  Isaac  Iliner:  I«i"i9.  W. 
L.  W(d)ster  :  \H>]0.  Henderson  ( 'avendei- :  ISti'J.  Henderson 
Cavender:  l^<6f,  T.  (L  Ileadley;  ISHH.  T.  ( L  Headley  :  IstJH, 
A.  (i.  West.  a])pointe(l  to  lill  short  term  from  daniiary  1 
to  duly  1  :  IStis.  A.  Simons:  1K70.  A.  Simons;  l,s7-_'.  L.  S. 
Hunt  :  1«74.  K.  S.  Hunt. 


ISO 


HISTORY   OF 


Hi;(iISTi;i{S    »)l"    DKKDS. 

1S')7.  A.  Simons.  :i|)i)<>inlc(l  :  IHoS.  Niadisoii  I'uoii  : 
IKtiO.  ('.  .1.  l'';iflt>y,  wlio  (lied  in  l-SBl.  and  M.  I'lictt  clfctcd 
t(.  till  viicancy:  lHf>4.  d.  F.  Walker:  l.Srtti.  d,  II.  William^- : 
lSf)S.  d.  II.  Williams:  1«70.  Samuel  ( "rum  :  lH7-_'.  Samuel 
{'rum:   1S74.  W.  H.  Mclleii  :   1S7().  W.  I.  Sutton. 

SllKHIKKS. 

1S5H.  David  McCammon  ;  l«o7.  Thos.  Hill  :  resiiiiied.  and 
(i.  A.  ("ooU.  ai)i)ointed  :  1S;>S.  (i.  A.  ("ook:  IKBO.  (..  A. 
("ook  :  lSf52.  dolm  Anderson,  who  resiuiied  in  IfStio.  and  A. 
Simons  api)oinled  :  lH(>ti,  EliasNorris:  IStW,  Klias  Xorris  : 
1870.  (i.  A.  ('(»ok  :  l.S7'2.  Kdward  I{a\  n  :  1S74.  Kdward  i{a\  ii  : 
lS7(i.  d.  n.  Shields. 

COIN  T  \     A  1  ■('( » i:  N  K  V  S, 

ISnS.  d.  i?.  Slitt  :  l«tiO.  W.  A.  dohnson. 

The  Legislature   in    i86i    abolished  the  office    of 

count}'  attorney,  and  provided  tor  a  district  attornex' 

for  each  judicial  district,  and  in  June,  iS6i,    S.  A. 

Riggs  was  elected  attorney  for  this  district.     In  1861. 

th'e  Legislature  abolished  the  office  of  district  attor- 

ne}',  and  provided  for  county  attorneys. 

ISfU.  M.  A.  Page  :  l«(i.5,  W.  A.  dohnson  was  elected,  hut 
V(!fnsed  to  (|nality,  and  M.  A.  Pajre  appointed  :  18(iti.  M.  A. 
Page  ;  18t57.  dolui  ii.  Lindsay  :  1871.  dolin  S.  Wilson  :  1S7;1 
dolm  d.  Hotl'man  :  187ii,  Abram  Herijcn. 

COUNTY    SUKVKVOUS. 

18f)7.  H.  F.  Ilidgeway.  appointed  :  1858.  P,.  F.  IJidp'way  : 
1862.  daekson  Means:  1864.  lluiiii  Smith  :  18(>ti.  .liimes  N. 
Smith  :  1870,  II.  W.  Gailey.  1872.  H.  W.  (iailex  :  1874.  IJ.  W. 
(i alley  :  187ti.  W.  W.  (Jailey. 

SUPERINTKNDENTS    OF    ITBLU'    IN.STK  IlTION . 

1858,  J.  It.  Slentz.  ai)pointed  :  18e;i.  Hufus  (.ilpatrick  : 
18ti:5.  ('.  H.  Snnth:  ]8(i.5,  (".  T.  ( "hapin  :  18(?7.  ('.  T.  Chapin: 


ANDii:RS{)x   c()u:xTV.  151 

isiJ!).  ^V.  A.  Walker,  w  lio  dii-d  in  ISfit).  :iii(i  1'.  \V.  I'.alil  was 
appdintcd  :  1S71.  'riioina-  I'xtw  Ics  :  Ih7o.  Ainos  Ifici-:  IsTa, 
L.  n.  Osl.orii. 

< •( » t " N T ^  ASS i :ss< > ns. 
In  1857  William  Put-tt  was  appointed  In'  the  board 
of  county  commissioners.  In  the  winter  of  1858  the 
Legislature  made  a  change  in  the  law,  bv  which  the 
otiice  of  county  assessor  was  abolished,  and  in  i860 
the  Legislature  again  proxided  for  the  office  of 
county  assessor.  John  T.  Lanter  was  elected  in 
March,  i860.  John  T.  Hall  was  elected  in  Novem- 
ber, i860,  and  resigned  in  Mav,  1861.  Tulv8,  1861, 
I>.  P.  Brown  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  bv  the  resignation  of  John  T.  Hall. 

IKtil.  .lolni  Honi  :  ISIW.  (;c(.i--c  \V.  Arrcll  :  istu.  A.  W. 
lMiiHij)s:  isti").  (Irovixr  W .  Arrcll:  iscti.  W.  15.  Kdwarifs; 
1«(>7.   ('.  15.  Smith. 

In    1868   the   Legislature,  by    a   change  in  the  tax 

laws,   abolished  the   office  of    county  assessor    and 

provided  that  the   assessments  should  be   made  by 

the  township  trustees. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Arr/(ini/s  atid  Misfortunes — Shooting  of  Tips- 
icord — DroivningofLi'sterDart —  C  liristimi  Fciivr- 
born  Killed  h\  Indians — yosid/i  Kel/ennan,  /lis 
Wife  and  txvo  ( 'Jiildren  Burned  to  J)eath  in  a 
Prairie  Fire — fames  A.  Toivn  and  Son  Droxvned 
in  Pottoivaloniie  Creek — Levi  L.  Hayden  Frozeii 
to  Death,  ete. 

A  SAD  affair  (occurred  on  the  North  Pottowatoniit'. 
north  of  Garnett.  on  the  loth  da}^  of  May,  1858. 
Two  neighbors,  WilHam  Lambert  and  W.  A.  Tips- 
word,  were  hunting  turkeys  in  the  timber  on  the  creek 
in  the  earl\-  morning,  neither  knowing  that  the  other 
was  near  him,  each  calhng  turkeys  and  ci-awhng 
through  the  brush,  expecting  to  see  his  game,  when 
in  an  instant  Lambert,  through  the  underbrush,  dis- 
covered a  dark  object  near  the  creek  bank,  and, 
supposing  it  to  be  a  turkey,  at  once  drew  up  his  gun 
and  hred.  He  lieard  the  noise  of  the  object,  and 
supposed  it  to  be  the  fall  of  the  turkey.  He  reloaded 
his  rifle  and  proceeded  to  the  spot  for  his  game,  but 
the  lifeless  form  of  Tipsword,  lying  on  his  face,  met 
his  bewildered  view.  The  ball  had  penetrated  his 
body  in  a  vital  part,  causing  instant  death.  They 
were  both  quiet,  hard-working  men,,  near  neighbors 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I53 

and  good  friends.  The  affair  cast  a  gloom  of  mel- 
ancholy upon  Lambert,  from  which  he  never  recov- 
ered. He  left  Anderson  county  in  a  few  vears  there- 
after, for  Colorado,  but  has  since  returned  to  Kan- 
sas, and  now  resides  in  Atchison  county.  He  origi- 
nally settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  b}-  Henrv 
Gardner. 

In  August,  1858,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Lester 
Dart,  living  on  the  north  side  of  Pottowatomie,  while 
going  to  Greeley  to  attend  the  election  on  the  Le- 
compton  constitution,  as  submitted  under  the  En<>-- 
lish  bill,  attempted  to  cross  the  Pottowatomie,  and 
was  drowned.  Dart  left  a  wife  and  one  child  to 
mourn  his  sad  and  premature  demise. 

In  i860  a  man  by  the  name  of  George  Enoch,  li\'- 
ing  on  the  north  branch  of  Sugar  creek,  came  to 
Garnett  in  company  with  his  wife  and  child.  Thev 
came  in  a  wagon,  drawn  b}-  a  pair  of  oxen.  In  the 
evening,  when  he  was  on  his  way  home,  near  the 
Simons  crossing  of  the  Pottowatomie,  the  oxen  be- 
came ungovernable,  run  over  a  bank,  and  threw 
him  out  of  the  wagon,  breaking  his  neck,  producing 
instant  death.  His  wife  and  child  escaped  with  but 
little  injurv. 

Christian  Feuerborn,  one  of  the  earlv  settlers 
of  the  North  Pottowatomie,  as  hereinbefore  men- 
tioned, left  the  Territory  in  1858.  He  took  his  wife 
and  children  back  to  Illinois  and  left  them,  while  he 
went  to  Nevada  Territory  in  search  of  a  jrolden  for- 

tune,  expecting,  when  he  had  accumulated  the    ex- 
20 


154 


HISTORY   OF 


pecteil  fortune,  to  return  with  his  family  to  Kansas 
and  make  his  future  home  on  the  valuable  tract  of 
land  that  he  left  on  the  Pottowatomie,  there  to  enjo}' 
the  accumulations  of  his  labors,  and  enjoy  the  so- 
ciety and  pleasures  of  his  interesting  family  ;  but  in 
the  spring  of  1862,  after  he  had  secured  a  large 
amount  of  propert\'  and  money  in  his  Eldorado 
abode,  a  partv  of  Indians  made  a  raid  on  his  house 
and  he  was  massacred  by  them  in  a  most  cruel  and 
barbarous  manner.  His  family  was  never  able  to 
recover  any  of  his  Ne\ada  property.  His  widow 
afterwards  married  Julius  Fisher,  an  industrious 
German,  and  returned  with  her  husband  and  chil- 
dren to  Kansas,  and  now  resides  on  the  same  tract 
of  land  selected  b^■  her  former  husband  in  1856. 

In  1857  a  man  by  the  name  of  Josiah  Kellerman 
settled  on  Pottowatomie  creek,  in  the  western  por- 
tion of  the  count\'.  He  was  a  farmer  hv  occupa- 
tion, and  an  industrious  man.  He  resided  tliere  un- 
til the  fall  of  1862,  and  had  in  the  meantime  im- 
proved a  good  farm.  His  famih-  at  that  time  con- 
sisted of  himself,  a  wife  and  li\e  children.  In  Oc- 
tober he  started  to  move  with  his  family  and  effects 
to  Douolas  county,  Kansas.  He  loaded  his  house- 
hold  goods  into  a  two-horse  wagon,  in  which  his' 
wife  and  two  youngest  children  were  to  ride,  while 
Kellerman  and  the  three  older  children  were  to  drive 
the  loose  stock.  The  weather  was  dr^',  and  the 
wind  was  blovvino-  a  furious  oale.  The\'  started 
about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,   and  traveled  about 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I55 

six  miles,  when  they  discovered  a  prairie  fire  coming 
from  tlie  southwest.  When  first  discovered  it  was 
some  distance  away,  and  several  streams  intervened 
between  them  and  the  fire.  The  wind  blew  with 
such  violence  that  it  drove  the  tire  across  the  streams 
that  were  in  its  course,  without  checking  its  progress 
the  least.  When  Kellerman  discovered  that  the  fire 
was  going  to  overtake  them,  he  and  the  children  at 
once  drove  the  stock  on  to  a  strip  of  plowed  ground 
near  by,  and  called  to  his  wife  to  drive  the  wagon 
on.  She  turned  off  the  road  to  drive  on  the  plowed 
ground,  but  had  not  gone  but  a  few  rods  before  the 
wagon  wheels  got  fast  in  some  old  ruts,  and  the 
team  stopped.  Kellerman,  observing  the  condition 
of  the  wagon  and  team,  and  the  rapid  approach  of 
the  fire,  at  once  started  to  the  relief  of  his  wife  and 
children,  but  before  he  could  reach  them  the  fire 
had  overtaken  them  and  the  wagon  and  contents 
were  enveloped  in  flames.  He  made  every  effort 
possible  to  save  his  wife  and  children,  but  he  could 
not  relieve  them  from  the  devourinij  element.  His 
wife,  two  children  and  himself  all  perished  in  the 
flames.  The  bodies  of  the  children  were  entirel}* 
burnt  up.  The  body  of  Mrs.  Kellerman  was  so 
burned  that  but  a  small  portion  of  the  charred  and 
blackened  remains  was  ever  found.  Kellerman 
was  so  badly  burned  that  he  died  about  two  hours 
afterwards.  The  horses  were  also  burned  to  death. 
The  three  older  children  had  got  (m  the  plowed 
ground  just  as  the  fire  overtook  the  wagon.  .    The}- 


1^6  HISTORY    OF 

were  compelled  to  stand  there  and  see  father,  mother 
and  brothers  perish,  without  being  able  to  render 
them  any  assistance.  This  was  one  of  the  saddest 
and  most  heart-rendini:^  affairs  that  has  ever  occurred 
in  the  county. 

A  very  sad  accident  occurred  in  April,  1871.  R. 
T.  Stokes  was  constructing  a  wind  mill  in  Garnett, 
and  in  the  rear  of  the  building  a  large  derrick  had 
been  set  up,  for  the.  purpose  of  hoisting  heavy  tim- 
bers on  the  top  of  the  building.  One  evening  after 
the  workmen  had  gone  home,  and  it  had  become 
quite  dark,  a  number  of  the  boys  of  the  town  v\'ere 
climbing  up  the  ropes  on  the  derrick.  When  some 
four  or  live  of  the  boys  were  on  the  ropes,  the  fast- 
ening at  the  top  of  the  derrick  gave  way,  and  let  it 
fall.  The  main  timber  of  the  derrick  fell  on  a  boy 
In'  tlie  name  of  Peter  Tefft,  a  lad  about  fifteen  years 
of  ao'e.  The  fall  of  timber  crushed  his  skull,  from 
which  he  died  in  a  few  hours.  He  was  the  youngest 
child  of  John  Tefft,  an  old  and  respected  citizen. 

On  the  27th  day  of  March,  187 1,  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Town,  living  east  of  Garnett,  consisting  of 
James  A.  Town,  his  wife  and  an  adopted  son,  about 
ten  years  of  a^e,  left  their  home  about  noon  to  ijo 
to  Middle  creek,  in  Franklin  county.  They  were 
traveling  in  a  two-horse  wagon.  When  they  came 
to  the  Pottowatomie,  the  stream  had  taken  a  rise,  and 
being  unacquainted  with  it  they  did  not  suppose  that 
it  was  unsafe  to  attempt  to  cross.  They  drove  in, 
but  before  they  got  far  into  the  water  the  wagon  be- 


AXDER.'^OX  COUNTY.  JZ'J 

oMii  to  float,  and  the  wagon  body  became  detached 
and  floated  down  stream.  Mr.  Town  and  son  were 
thrown  into  the  water,  and  soon  disappeared  from 
view.  The  wife  remained  in  the  wagon  body,  and 
was  rescued,  while  Mr.  Town  and  her  adopted  son 
were  drowned. 

The  next  day  after  Mr.  Town  and  his  son  were 
drowned  a  man,  whose  name  is  unknown,  who  had 
been  working  on  the  raih'oad,  while  in  a  state  of  in- 
toxication went  down  along  the  railroad,  and  fell 
into  Lake  Joy  and  was  drowned.  He  had  been 
drowned  several  days  before  his  bodv  was  disco\- 
ered. 

In  the  summer  of  1872  a  boy  bv  the  name  of  Hi- 
ram Dart,  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  with 
«^)ther  boys  in  the  Pottowatomie,  above  the  Farrah 
mill  dam,  bathing.  He  became  strangled,  and 
drowned  before  help  could  reach  him. 

John  Hall,  an  old  and  respected  citizen,  li\ing  on 
the  Osage,  in  the  southeast  portion  of  the  county,  in 
1874  ^^  '^^  <^iS&i"^^'  'I  \y<-'\\  on  his  farm  :  was  down  in 
the  well,  and  while  a  tub  was  being  hoisted  from  the 
well  a  pick  fell  from  the  tub,  striking  him  on  the 
head,  killing  him  instantly. 

Coleman  Payne,  living  near  the  head  of  the  South 
Pottowatomie,  in  Rich  township,  in  1874  ^^'^"^  '"  '^^ 
coal  bank,  digging  coal,  when  the  bank  slid  in,  bury- 
ing him  beneath  the  earth,  killing  him. 

Henry  Feuerborn,  an  old  citizen  of  Putnam  town- 
ship,  and  one   of  the   early  settlers  of  the    county. 


158  HISTORY   OF 

while  hauling  hav,  in  the  fall  of  1875,  '^"^^  driving 
over  a  piece  of  stony  ground,  the  wagon  struck 
a  stone,  upsetting  it,  precipitating  him  among  the 
stones  with  such  violence  that  he  was  seriously  in- 
jured, from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  in  a  few 
days. 

Levi  L.  Havden,  oae  of  the  early  settlers  of  Reeder 
township,  living  on  the  western  border  of  the  county, 
in  the  autumn  of  i860,  with  several  other  persons, 
left  his  home  to  i;o  w^est  on  a  buffalo  and  wolf  hunt. 
They  went  to  the  Arkansas  river,  near  where  the 
town  of  Wichita  is  now  situated,  and  there  arranged 
their  camp  for  the  winter.  In  the  latter  part  of  No- 
vember he  went  out  from  camp  to  set  bait  for  wolves. 
It  was  a  snowy,  stormy  day,  and  he  soon  became 
bewildered  and  wandered  around  over  the  prairies 
for  a  long  time.  Not  returning  to  the  camp,  his 
party  became  alarmed  as  to  his  safety,  and  went  in 
search  of  him.  He  was  found  on  the  third  day  af- 
terwards, sitting  on  a  log,  with  his  feet  frozen  to  the 
ice.  His  comrades  took  him  to  camp,  but  he  was 
so  badly  frozen  that  his  feet  and  hands  sloughed  off, 
and,  after  suffering  the  most  terrible  pain,  he  died. 

In  November,  187 1,  A.  J.  Walker,  living  on  the 
head  of  Deer  creek,  in  Rich  township,  bought  an 
Indian  cow  and  calf.  He  took  them  home  in  the 
morning.  After  dark  that  evening  he  went  to  the 
stable  to  feed  and  take  care  of  his  stock.  He  re- 
mained absent  for  some  time,  until  his  wife  became 
alarmed,    when  she   went  in  search   of  him.       She 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  I59 

found  him  lying  in  the  yard,  dead.  He  had  been 
hooked  by  the  cow  on  the  inside  of  the  thigh,  sever- 
ing the  femoral  artery,  producing  instant  death. 

IiT  the  spring  of  1876  a  boy  12  or  13  vears  of  age, 
hv  the  name  of  Follice,  livinjr  on  the  Osaii'e,  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  county,  fell  from  a  wagon 
load  of  corn.  The  force  of  the  fall  cru.shed  his 
skull,  causing  death  in  a  few  moments. 

Several  families  by  the  name  of  Lankard  settled 
on  Pottowatomie  creek,  in  the  west  part  of  the  count}', 
in  the  spring  of  1857.  Daniel  Lankard  with  his. 
familv  still  resides  there.  In  September,  1864,  Mrs. 
Lankard,  with  a  span  of  young  horses,  drove  to  a 
well  some  distance  from  the  house  for  a  barrel  of 
water,  taking  three  of  the  children  with  her.  The 
neck  voke  became  detached,  the  pole  dropped  to 
the  ground,  and  the  horses  became  frightened.  Mrs. 
Lankard  was  thrown  forward,  and  kicked  by  the 
liorses,  and  otherwise  bruised,  from  the  effects  of 
which  she  died. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Various  /h)iid  Propositions  to  aid  Railroad  Com- 
panies to  Build  Railroads — The  Orders  for  Snh- 
nn'ssioii,  and  the  Results  of  the  Elections   Thereon. 

In  the  development  and  y'rowth  of  this  county  the 
people  were  animated  by  a  desire  to  have  all  the  fa- 
cilities for  commerce  and  easy  and  speedy  means  of 
travel  and  transportation  that  are  enjoyed  by  older 
and  more  wealthy  communities,  and  in  order  to  se- 
cure such  facilities  have  adopted  the  system  of  aid- 
ing railroad  companies  in  the  construction  of  their 
roads  by  voting  and  issuing  municipal  bonds  of  the 
county.  The  question  of  voting  and  issuing  bonds 
to  aid  in  the  building  of  railroads  has  been  a  source 
of  grave  consideration,  and  .much  discussion,  strife 
and  ill  feeling  has  grown  out  of  the  various  railroad 
schemes  that  have  been  presented  to  the  people  of 
the  county  from  time  to  time,  for  their  approval  or 
rejection. 

The  first  proposition  was  submitted  to  a  vote  on 
the  15th  day  of  August,  1865,  to  subscribe  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-tive  thousand  dollars  to  the  capital 
stock  of  the  Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Fort  Gib- 
son railroad  company,  and  issue  the  bonds  of  the 
county  in  payment  therof .  with  the  following  result : 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  l6l 

Monroe  township — 162  for,  i  against ;  Walker 
township — 55  for,  23  against ;  Washington  township 
— 15  for,  6  against:  Jackson  township — 24  for,  5 
against :  Reader  township — 3  for,  43  against ;  Ozark 
township — 9  for,  i  against :  total — 268  for,  79 
against :  majority  for  the  bonds,  189. 

On  the  2d  day  of  December,  1867,  the  county 
commissioners  made  an  order  for  the  submission  of 
the  following  proposition  : 

'•  Shall  the  county  of  Anderson  subscribe  one  hundred 
and  twenty-tive  thousand  dolhars  additional,  in  full  paid- 
up  stock,  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Leavenworth,  Law- 
I'ence  &  Galveston  railroad  company,  and  issue  the  bonds 
(if  the  county  in  jjayment  thereof?" 

With  a  proviso  that  said  railroad  company  should 
have  its  road  completed  to  the  southern  line  of  the - 
county  by  the  15th  of  October,  1868  ;  and  in  case 
the  road  was  not  completed  by  that  time  the  bonds 
should  not  be  issued.  The  proposition  was  submit- 
ted at  a  special  election  on  the  23d  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1867,  with  the  following  result: 

Monroe  township — 247  for,  14  against ;  Walker 
township — 47  for,  39 against ;  Vess  precinct — 28  for, 
I  against :  Jackson  township — 48  for,  8  against : 
Reeder  township — o  for,  117  against;  Ozark  town- 
ship— 8  for,  23  against ;  Washington  township — 43 
for,  2  against ;  total — 421  for,  204  against ;  majority 
for  the  bonds,  217. 

On  the  canvass  of  the  vote  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners made  the  following  order : 

••  There  being  421  votes  for  the  bonds,  and  204  votes  against 
21 


/• 


1 62  HISTORY   OP' 

the  builds,  it  is  lici-fliy  declared  tliat  Anderson  county 
.subscribe  one  hundred  and  twenty-tive  tliousand  dollars  ad- 
ditional to  the  cai)ital  slock  ofthe  Leavenworth,  Lawrence 
&  (ralveston  railroad  company,  and  issue  the  bonds  of  the 
county  therefor.  111)011  completion  of  said  road  to  (ilarnett. 
in  said  county  :  Provided.  Said  road  is  completed  and  in 
ji'ood  runninji"  order  on  or  before  the  15th  dav  of  October. 
1868.*" 

On  the  30th   day  of  Janu'ir}',    1869,  the  board  of 

county  commissioners  made  the  following  order  in 

relation  to  voting-  aid  to  the  railroad  : 

'•  Be  it  ordered.  l)y  the  board  of  county  commissioners 
of  Anderson  county.  Kansas,  that  a  sjjecial  election  be 
licld  in  said  county  of  Anderson  on -the  6th  day  of  April. 
1869,  and  that  at  said  election  tlie  qualitied  voters  of  said 
county  shall  tlien  and  there  vote  'for'  or  *  ajiainst '  the 
proposition  for  said  county  to  subscribe  one  hundred  and 
seventy-tive  thousand  dollars  to  the  cajiital  stock  of  the 
following'  railroad  companies,  and  on  the  conditions  fol- 
lowing, to  wit  :  That  said  county  of  Anderson  shall 
subscribe  seventy-tive  thousand  dolhars  to  the  capital  stock 
ofthe  Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Galveston  railroad  corn- 
pan}'  ;  said  stock  to  be  subscribed  and  tlie  bonds  of  said 
c  mnty  issued  in  payment  therefor,  on  condition  that  said 
railroad  comi)any  shall  tirst  construct  a  continuous  line 
of  railway  from  tiu-  city  of  Lawrence  to  tlie  town  of  Gar- 
nett.  and  have  ^aid  road  fully  equipjied  with  all  necessary 
rolling'  stock  for  the  accommodation  of  the  business  of  said 
road  :  Provided.  That  said  company  shall  have  its  road 
(umstriicted  and  in  oiieration  to  the  town  of  Garnett  by 
the  fourth  of  July.  1869,  and  shall  erect  and  maintain  their 
depot  within  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods  of  the  public 
square  of  the  town  of  Garnett  :  And  provided  further. 
That  said  railroad  (romi)any  shall  release  said  county  from 
any  claim  that  said  company  may  have  against  said  county 
by   reason   of  an  election  held  in  said  county  on  the  28d 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I 63 

of  December.  1867  :  and  the  said  railroad  company  shall 
receive  the  said  seveuty-tive  thousand  dollars  in  honds  in 
lien  of  the  bonds  voted  on  said  2;3d  day  of  December, 
1867. 

•'And  further,  that  the  said  county  of  Anderson  shall 
subscribe  the  remainder  of  said  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
live  thousand  dollars  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Missouri 
Itiver,  Ft.  Scott  &  (rulf  railroad  com])any,  or  any  other 
railroad  company  that  will  build  said  road;  said  stock  to 
be  subscribed  on  condition  that  said  railroad  company 
shall  tirst  construct  a  continuous  line  of  railway  from 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  via  (Jlatha,  Paola  and  Greeley,  to 
the  town  of  Gai-nett,  and  have  said  road  fully  eqiripped 
with  all  necessary  railway  stock  to  accommodate  the  busi- 
ness of  sai<l  road  :  And  i)rovided  further.  That  said 
railroad  company  shall  erect  and  maintain  their  depot 
within  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods  of  the  public  sqitare  in 
the  town  of  (rarnett :  and  further,  that  said  railroad  eom- 
l)any  shall  have  their  road  built  and  in  operation  to  the 
town  of  Garnett  on  or  before  the  tirst  day  of  January,  1870. 

"  Said  stock  not  to  be  subscribed  to  either  of  said  rail- 
road companies  or  the  bonds  to  issue  in  payment  therefor 
until  the  company  has  constructed  its  road  as  aforesaid, 
and  in  the  time  specitied  herein :  the  bonds  to  be  issued  in 
payment  of  said  stock  to  run  thirty  years  from  the  date 
thereof,  bearing  interest  thereon  at  the  rate  of  seven  per 
cent,  per  annum,  payable  annually,  on  the  tirst  day  of 
.July.' 

April  13,  1869,  the  board  of  count}-  commission- 
ers canvassed  the  vote  of  said  special  election*  with 
the  following  result : 

Monroe  township — 298  for,  43  against ;  Walker 
township — 87  for,  50  against ;  Washington  town- 
ship— 35  for,  14  against ;  Reeder  township — i  for, 
115   against:   Ozark  township — 13  for,   35  against; 


164  HISTORY    OF 

Jackson  township — 48  for,  30  against ;  total — 479  for, 
287  against;  majority  for  the  bonds,  192. 

'•  Tlicrtnipou  it  is  lu'rcby  ordered  that  the  bouds  as  afore- 
said be  issued  to  said  railroad  companies,  aceordiiiji"  to 
tlie  conditions  upon  whicli  said  propositions  were  sub- 
mitted."* 

August    II,   1869,  the  board  of    county  commis- 
sioners in  special  session  made  the  following  order  : 

"  Ordered,  by  the  board,  that  a  special  election  be  held 
in  the  several  votinji'  precincts  in  the  county  of  Anilerson. 
on  Monday.  September  13.  1869,  whereat  shall  be  submit- 
ted to  the  (lualitied  electors  of  said  county  for  adoption  or 
rejection:  Shall  the  county  of  Anderst)n  subscribe  twi> 
hundred  thousand  dollars  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Leav- 
enworth, Lawrence  &  Galveston  railroad  company,  and 
issue  the  bonds  of  the  county  in  payment  therefor?  Said 
bonds  payable  thirty  years  after  their  date,  bearino;  in- 
terest at  the  rate  of  seven  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable 
annually.  Said  bonds  to  bear  date  of  January  the  1st. 
1870.  and  to  be  issued  and  delivered  to  said  railroad  com- 
pan\-  on  the  1st  day  of  -January.  A.  D.  1870.  and  before 
that  tiuie  if  the  railroad  com[)any  shall  on  or  before  that 
Jime  have  its  line  of  railway  completed  to  the  town  of 
Garnett.  in  said  count v  ;  and  if  said  line  of  railway  shall 
not  be  completed  thus  far  l)y  that  time,  then  said  bonds  to 
be  issued  and  delivered  when  said  line  of  railway  is  com- 
l)leted  to  the  town  of  (rarnett,  in  said  county  :  Provided. 
The  county  of  Anderson  be  released  from  all  propositions 
or  votes  taken  to  subscribe  stock  or  issue  bonds  to  said 
railway  company.  Electors  desiring  to  vote  on  the  above 
])roposition  shall  have  their  tickets  written  or  printed  as 
above,  and  shall  add  thereto  for  or  against  the  subscription 
of  stock  to  the  Leavenworth.  Lawrence  &  Galveston  rail- 
road company,  as  the  elector  may  desire  to  vote. 

"SKCOXD    PROPOSITION. 

"Shall  the  countv  of  Anderson  subscribe  one  hundred 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  I65 

and  twcnty-tivc  tliousaiul  dollai-s  to  the  fapital  stock  of 
rlic  I'aola  &  Fall  Uivcv  i-ailroad  coinpaiiy.  the  Ixnids  oftiic 
rouiity  to  be  issued  iu  payiiit'iit  thci-cof:'  Said  honds  to 
Ix'  iiayabk'  thirty  yoai's  after  date,  and  to  ])ear  interest  at 
the  rate  of  seven  per  rent.  ]>er  aunuiii.  payable  aiinualiy. 
and  to  be  issued  and  delivered  to  said  railroad  eoni])any 
oil  or  befV>re  the  first  day  of  January.  1S71  :  l*rovi«hMl.  Said 
railroad  eonipany  shall,  on  or  before  that  tiute,  construct  a 
line  of  ralhvay  from  Paola,  in  Miami  county.  Kansas,  via 
<rreeley.  iu  x\nderson  county,  to  the  town  of  (^arnett.  in 
Anderson  (-(mnty.  and  the  county  of  Anderson  be  released 
from  all  obligations  on  acc(tunt  of  a  vote  takeii  April  6. 
]S()i).  to  subscribe  stock  to  said  railroad  com]Ktny.""    *     * 

On  the  17th  day  of  September,  1869,  the  boai'd 
of  county  commissioners  met  and  canvassed  the 
vote  of  the  special  election  of  September  13,  with 
the  followino'  result : 

On  the  proposition  to  subscribe  stock  to  the  Lea\  - 
enworth,  Lawrence  &  Galveston  railroad  company: 
Jackson  township — 23  for,  40  against ;  Ozark  town- 
ship— 7  for,  ^2  against :  Walker  township — -104  for, 
j;2  against ;  Washington  township — 28  for,  6  against : 
Monroe  township — 389  for,  16  against :  Reeder 
township — o  for,  246  against :  whole  number  of 
votes,  923  ;  for  the  bonds,  551  ;  against,  372  :  major- 
ity for  the  bonds,  149. 

On  the  proposition  for  the  bonds  to  the  Paola  & 
Fall  River  railroad  :  Jackson  township — 28  for,  35 
against ;  Ozark  township — 9  for,  30  against ;  Walker 
township — no  for,  22  against:  Washington  town- 
ship— 28  for,  6  against ;  Monroe  township — 388  for, 
16   against ;  Reeder  township — 3    for,  243   against ; 


I 


1 66  nrsTORV  of 

whole  number  of  votes  cast,  918  :  for  the  proposi- 
tion, 566:  against  the  proposition,  352  :  majority  for 
the  bonds,  214. 

■'The  above  ])r()i>()siti(>ns  liuvhi^  eucli  received  a  ma- 
jority of  all  the  vote,s  cast,  we  hereby  declare  that  the 
count V  coinniissioners  of  said  couuty  are  authorized  to 
:«iu1)scvil>e  stock  to  said  railroad  comi)anies  aceordiiiji'  to 
the  ])roi>ositioiis  hereinbefore  vecoiuh'd  oil  the  journal  of 
».aid  board." 

The  bonds  of  Anderson  county,  to  the  amount  of 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  were  issued  to  the 
Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Galveston  railroad  com- 
pany on  the  5th  day  of  November,  1869,  and  de- 
livered to  James  F.  Joy,  to  be  delivered  to  the  rail- 
road companv  when  the  road  should  be  completed 
to  Garnett.  On  the  8th  day  of  July,  1870,  M.  R. 
I^aldwin,  superintendent  of  the  L.,  L.  &  G.  railroad 
company,  certified  that  the  road  was  completed  to 
Garnett  on  the  first  day  of  March,  1870  ;  and  there- 
upon the  board  made  an  order  on  James  F.  Joy  to 
deliver  said  bonds  to  the  railroad  company. 

August  II,  187 1,  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners, at  a  special  meeting,  made  the  following 
order : 

"  Shall  till"  county  couunisyioners  of  Anderson  count \. 
Kansas,  subscribe  one  hunch-ed  and  sixty  t]u)usand  dollar- 
To  the  capital  stock  of  tlu^  Paola  &  Fall  lliver  rail\va> 
(•onii)any.  and  issue  the  bonds  of  the  county  in  payment 
1  hrrefor  ?  Said  bonds  to  be  due  and  payable  in  thirty  year,-~ 
tVoin  the  date  thereof,  .with  interest  coupons  attached, 
drawing-  interest  at  the  rate  of  seven  ])er  cent,  per  annum. 
Said  interest  t(»  be  paid  semi-annually,  on  the  tirst  da>  s  of 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  167 

-l;uui:\r_v  aiul  Jul\  of  each  year.  <  )iic  luiii(lr<nl  tlioiisaiul 
■Idilai's  of  tin'  said  bonds  to  he  (lelivcrcd  wlicn  the 
I'aola  it  Fall  River  railway  coinpaiiy  shall  construct  and 
•  •oni]»l('t('  the  liradinii'  and  masonry  work  upon  tlicir  line 
from  the  city  of  Paola,  in  Miami  c(ninty.  to  the  city  of 
(runiett,  in  Andei-son  county;  and  sixty  tliousand  dolhirs 
of  said  boiuls  to  he  delivered  when  the  Paola  «\:  Fall  lJi\-er 
i-ailway  shall  have  completed  the  "'radinii'  and  masonry 
work  to  tlie  western  line  of  Anderson  county  :  Provided. 
Iiowever,  Tliat  no  bonds  shall  be  deli\-ered  until  the  Paola 
jVc  Fall  liiver  railway  com[)any  shall  <iive  jiood  and  sutti- 
•ient  jiuarantees  for  the  immediate  and  entire  completion 
of  the  work  by  resp(»nsible  parties,  for  ituttinu'  thereon  the 
iron  and  the  necessary  rollinji'  stock,  without  any  ad- 
ditional franciiise  from  the  county,  and  makiny  the  Paola 
it  Fall  River  railway  in  all  i-es](ects  a  tirst-class  railroad, 
with  full  e(iuii)ments  for  the  transportation  of  freif^ht  and 
j)asspn*fers  :  And  jtrovided  further.  That  sufficient  jiiiar- 
autees  shall  be  iiiven  for  the  establislnuent  and  mainten- 
ance of  depots  at  n(tt  less  than  three  places  in  Anderson 
(•ouuty — one  of  which  shall  be  in  the  town  of  (ireeley,  and 
line  in  the  city  of  (iarnett.  and  one  between  (iarnett  and 
where  the  said  railway  shall  intersect  the  western  liin-  of 
Anderson  county,  and  to  be  nut  less  than  eiii'ht  uiiles  from 
the  city  of  (iarnett." 

On  the  15th  dav  of  September,  187 1,  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  met  and  canvassed  the 
vote  of  the  special  election,  with  the  following  re- 
sult : 

Rich  township — 21  for,  53  against;  Ozark  town- 
ship— 15  for,  25  against ;  Washington  township — 27 
for,  20  against ;  Monroe  township — 453  for,  30 
against ;  Lincoln  township — 24  for,  6  against ; 
Reeder  township — i   for,  73  against ;  Walker  town- 


l6S  ANDERSON  COUNT V. 

ship — 96  for,  29  against ;  Jackson  township — .33  for. 
21  against:  Putnam  township — 15  for,  26  against: 
whole  number  of  votes  cast,  968 ;  for  the  proposi- 
tion, 685  :  against  the  proposition,  283  ;  majority  for 
the  subscription  of  stock  and  issue  of  bonds,  402. 

The  raih'oad  indebtedness  of  the  count}^  to  aid 
railroad  companies  in  the  construction  of  their  roads 
is  as  follows  :  Two  hundred  thousand  dollars  issued 
to  the  Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Galveston  railroad 
company:  dated  Januar}^  i,  1870,  payable  thirty 
vears  after  the  date  thereof,  bearing  interest  at  the 
rate  of  seven  per  cent,  per  annum  ;  interest  payable 
annually. 

There  is  now  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
dollars  of  the  bonds  of  Anderson  count}^  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Treasurer  of  State,  issued  to  the  Paola 
&  Fall  River  railway  company,  dated  April  i,  1874, 
payable  thirt}"  years  after  the  date  of  issue  thereof, 
bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  seven  per  cent,  per 
annum  :  interest  payable  semi-annually  from  their 
delivery.  These  bonds  are  in  escrow,  to  be  deliv- 
ered when  all  the  conditions  on  which  they  were 
\oted  have  been  complied  with.  The  legality  of 
the  issue  of  these  bonds  has  been  questioned,  and  a 
suit  is  now  pending  in  court  for  the  return  of  the 
bonds  to  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  and 
tor  their  cancellation. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Garnctt — Contest  Over  the  Tozvnstte — Removal 
of  y.  T.  Cainfhell,  Probate  Judge — Appointment 
of  Charles  Hidden — Pre-emption  of  the  Townsite — 
Ptiblic  Buildings — Business  Houses — Business  Men 
— Successive  City  Officers  and  Postmasters. 

In  the  fall  of  1859  ^^^^  Commissioner  of  the  Gen- 
eral Land  Office  made  an  order  cancelling  the  entry 
of  the  towns  of  Garnett  and  Troy.  As  soon  as  the 
papers  were  forwarded  from  the  Lecompton  land 
office  to  the  General  Land  Office  at  Washington, 
the  commissioner  discovered  that  a  whole  section 
had  been  pre-empted  for  town  purposes,  and  was 
in  violation  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  1844.  The 
cancellation  of  these  pre-emptions  left  the  occupants 
of  the  two  townsites  residing  on  government  land, 
with  town  improvements.  Dr.  John  B.  Chapman 
entered  upon  the  south  half  of  the  old  Garnett  town- 
site,  and  claimed  it  under  the  pre-emption  law  of 
1841  ;  and  W.  A.  Johnson  settled  the  north  half  of 
the  old  townsite  of  Troy,  and  claimed  it  under 
the  same  act ;  and  both  Chapman  and  John- 
son established  their  right  to  pre-empt  the  land 
claimed  b}^  them. 

On  the  4th  day  of  April,  i860,  the  persons  resid- 
22 


lyo  HISTORY   OF 

ing  on  the  north  half  of  the  south  half  and  the  south 
half  of  the  north  half  of  section  30,  township  20, 
range  20  (that  being  the  north  half  of  the  former 
townsite  of  Garnett  and  the  south  half  of  the  former 
tovvnsite  of  Troy),  associated  themselves  together 
as  a  town  company,  under  the  name  of  "The  Town 
Company  of  Garnett,"  with  a  capital  stock  of  $8,000, 
divided  into  two  hundred  shares  of  forty  dollars 
each,  for  the  purpose  of  o*btaining  a  title  to  the  lands 
included  in  the  townsite. 

On  the  9th  day  of  April,  i860,  a  certiticate  of  in- 
corporation was  made  and  filed  with  the  Secretary 
of  the  Territory,  as  follows  : 

''  This  i.s  to  ccrtily  tliut  we,  the  uiidersiii-iit'd  persons. 
have  this  day  associated  ourselves  tociether  and  or<ianized 
ourselves  into  a  town  coini)any.  under  the  iieneral  incor- 
poration act  of  the  Territory,  to  be  styled  'The  Town 
Coui])an\-  of  (larnett,'  Avith  a  (•ai)ital  stock  of  eiiilit  thou- 
sand dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  ()l)taining'.  hy  pre-enqjlion 
or  otherwise,  the  title  to  the  north  half  of  the  south  half 
and  the  south  half  of  the  north  ludf  of  section  .SO.  town- 
shij)  20,  of  range  20.  and  to  improve  the  same. 

••1).   ^V.   HOUSTOX. 
''B.  T).  B?:nedict. 
"J.  G.  Smith. 
"C.  P.  At.vkv. 
"G.    W.    Il>EK. 
'MV.    A.    JOHXSOX. 

"M.  J.  Alkike. 

"B.    F.    KiDGEWAY." 

This  was  acknowledged  before  Charles  Hidden,  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  the  certificate  was  duly  filed 
in  the  oftice  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Territor}"  on 
the  14th  day  of  May,  i860. 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  I71 

The  compan}^  so  organized,  opened  books  for 
the  subscription  of  stock.  The  following  are  the 
stockholders  of  the  company,  and  the  number  of 
shares  held  b}'  each  :  H.  Cavender,  C.J.  Farley, 
J.  B.  Stitt,  C.  Hidden,  A.  Simons,  J.  L.  Kercheval, 
G.  A.  Cook,  J.  C.  Johnson,  William  Lampman,  J. 
G.  Smith,  A.W.  Ross,W.  A.  Johnson,  H.  Tefft,  L.  F. 
Busenbark,  M.  J.  Alkire,  Chris.  Bowman,  J.  H. 
Howard,  D.  W.  Houston,  B.  D.  Benedict,  Martin 
Setter,  George  W.  Her,  J.  Q..  Tefft,  John  Johnston, 
Henry  Neal,  T.  Lindsay,  C.  P.  Alvey,  B.  F.  Ridge- 
wa}',  John  Tefft,  John  S.  Stowe,  Harvey  Springer, 
H^ugh  Quinn,  four  shares  each  ;  D.  Frankenberger, 
J.  R.  Slentz,  R.  McLaughhn,  Wm.  McLaughhn, 
Robert  Beck,  J.  Graham,  F.  G.  Bruns,  Joseph 
Wilhite,  D.  Bowman,  George  Tefft,  John  Parson, 
J.  M.  Alvey,  S.  J.  Crawford,  Junius  Duran,  Gifxord 
McAfee,  James  McLaughlin,  S.  B.  Miller,  Joseph 
Embry,  A.  McAfee,  William  Tefft,  A.  Rudd, 
Miram  Pennock,  N.  Porter,  Samuel  Isaac,  John 
Parker,  three  shares  each  :  and  G.  W.  Arrell,  one 
share. 

The  stockholders  proceeded  to  elect  the  following 
persons  as  directors  :  D.  W.  Houston,  J.  G.  Smith, 
C.  P.  Alvey,  G.  W.  Her,  B.  D.  Benedict,  G.  A. 
Cook,  W.  A.  Johnson  and  Thomas  Lindsay  ;  and 
the  directors  so  chosen  elected  D.  W.  Houston, 
president:  B.  D.  Benedict,  vice  president;  J.  G. 
Smith,  secretary;  and  C.   P.  Alvey,  treasurer. 

The  company  proceeded  to  have  the  townsite  sur- 


172  HISTORY   OF 

veyed  and  laid  off  in  streets,  alleys,  blocks  and  lots  ; 
and  caused  a  plat  to  be  made,  duly  signed  and  ac- 
knowledged by  the  president,  and  filed  for  record 
in  the  office  of  the  register  of  deeds  of  the  county. 
The  company  then  made  application  to  J.  Y.  Camp- 
bell, probate  judge  of  the  county,  requesting  him  to 
pre-empt  the  townsite  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
occuJDants  thereof,  for  their  several  use  and  benefit, 
according  to  their  respective  interests. 

Judge  Campbell,  being  the  agent  and  attorney  of 
the  old  Louisville  Town  Company,  refused  to  do  so. 

On  the  refusal  of  the  probate  judge  to  pre-empt 
the  townsite  as  requested  b}'  the  company,  theA' 
petitioned  him  to  grant  an  order  declaring  them  a 
municipal  corporation. 

Although  the  petition  was  signed  bv  more  than 
two-thirds  of  the  legal  electors  of  the  town,  the 
Judge  refused  to  make  the  order.  The  citizens  held 
a  mass  meeting  and  appointed  a  committee,  consis- 
ting of  G.  A.  Cook,  A.  Simons  and  B.  F.  Ridge- 
way,  to  confer  with  the  Judge,  and  ask  him  to  grant 
the  incorporation,  but  he  still  refused.  The  meet- 
ing then  appointed  a  committee  of  fifteen  to  consult 
with  him  on  the  matter,  but  he  still  was  obstinate 
and  refused  to  grant  the  incorporation.  Then  the 
citizens  applied  to  the  Territorial  Legislature,  at  its 
session  in  1861,  for  a  charter  of  incorporation  ;  and 
the  House  passed  a  bill  in  the  early  part  of  the  ses- 
sion incorporating  the  town  of  Garnett.  As  soon 
as  Judge  Campbell  learned  that  the  effort  was  being 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I 73 

made  to  have  the  town  incorporated  by  the  Legis- 
lature, he  went  before  the  Council  and  succeeded  in 
defeating  the  measure  before  that  body.  So,  at  the 
close  of  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  the  winter 
of  1861,  the  citizens  on  the  townsite  were  left  in  un- 
certaint}'  as  to  the  title  of  their  possessions. 

Judge  Campbell  having  been  elected  under  the 
Wyandotte  constitution,  was  to  enter  upon  the  duties 
of  the  office,  under  the  State  organization,  for  a 
term  of  two  ve^irs. 

Matters  began  to  assume  a  serious  aspect ;  there 
were  about  tive  hundred  inhabitants  residing  on  land 
to  which  thev  were  justly  and  equitably  entitled  to 
have  a  clear  title,  but  were  kept  out  of  it  by  the  ac- 
tion of  the  probate  judge.  Thus  matters  remained 
until  September,  1861,  when  the  citizens  requested 
1).  W.  Houston  and  W.  A.  Johnson  to  investigate 
the  matter  and  see  what  steps  could  be  legally  taken 
to  secure  the  rights  of  the  citizens  to  their  homes  ; 
and  on  examination  of  the  county  records  it  was 
discovered  that  Campbell  had  not  qualified  as  pro- 
bate judge  in  all  respects  according  to  law,  so  they 
procured  certificates  and  affidavits  of  that  fact  and 
presented  the  matter  to  Governor  Robinson,  with  a 
request  for  the  appointment  of  Charles  Hidden  to 
the  office  of  probate  judge.  The  Governor,  after 
examining  the  whole  case,  was  satisfied  that  a  \a- 
cancy  existed,  and  commissioned  Charles  Hidden  as 
probate  judge  for  the  county. 

The   commission  came  late  in   the  evening,    and 


174  HISTORY  OF 

Hidden  qualified  that  night,  and  next  morning  called 
on  Campbell  for  the  books  and  papers  belonging  to 
the  office,  which  he  refused  to  deliver  up,  so  that 
it  became  necessary  to  get  them  by  legal  proceed- 
ings. Application  was  made  to  Judge  S.  O.  Thacher 
for  an  order  for  the  recovery  of  the  books  and  rec- 
ords of  the  office.  Campbell  was  duly  notified  of 
the  application,  and  appeared  at  Lawrence  and 
strenuously  resisted  the  application  :  but,  on  a  full 
hearing.  Judge  Thacher  granted  the  order,  and  ad- 
dressed it  to  G.  A.  Cook,  sheriff  of  Anderson 
county,  directing  him  to  seize  the  property  and 
books  belonging  to  the  office  and  deliver  the  same 
to  Charles  Hidden,  probate  judge.  From  the  judg- 
ment and  order  of  Thacher,  Campbell  appealed  to 
Thomas  Ewing,  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court, 

On  receiving  the  order  Sheriff  Cook  proceeded  to 
execute  the  same  ;  but  on  entering  the  office  found 
nothing  but  the  seal  of  the  court  and  an  empt}^  desk. 
The  seal  had  been  left  on  the  table  by  mistake. 
Cook  notihed  Campbell  of  his  business,  and  seized 
the  seal ;  Campbell  forbade  him  taking  it,  claiming 
it  to  be  private  property,  whereupon  Cook  made  an 
impression  with  the  seal,  which  showed  it  to  be  the 
seal  of  the  probate  court,  and  took  the  seal,  together 
with  the  desk,  and  delivered  them  to  Hidden. 

On  the  yth  day  of  October,  1861,  Charles  Hid- 
den, probate  judge  of  Anderson  county,  by  an  or- 
der duly  made,  declared  the  town  of  Garnett  a 
municipal  corporation,  in  pursuance  of  the  provis- 


ANDERSON  COUNT V.  I75 

ions  of  a  law  of  Kansas,  entitled,  "-An  act  for  the 
incorporation  of  towns  and  villages,""  approved 
Februarv  i,  18 SO.  in  the  name  and  stvle  of  the  "In- 
habitants  of  the  Town  of  Garnett,"  and  at  the  same 
time  appointed  as  trustees  of  the  town,  G.  W.  Her, 
Thomas  Lindsay,  G.  A.  Cook,  B.  F.  Ridgewav 
and  William  McLaughlin.  The  trustees  thus  ap- 
pointed met  and  qualified  on  the  same  evening,  and 
organized  by  selecting  G.  W.  Her  chairman,  and  G. 
W.  Arrell  as  secretary.  On  the  17th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1861,  the  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees 
pre-empted  the  townsite,  in  trust  for  the  several  use 
and  benetit'  of  the  occupants  thereof. 

At  the  January  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  1862. 
the  appeal  taken  by  Judge  Campbell  was  argued 
before  Chief  Justice  Ev^ing,  by  Nelson  Cobb  for 
Campbell,  and  W.  A.  Johnson  for  Hidden.  The 
Chief  Justice  took  the  case  under  consideration  for 
about  two  weeks,  and  finally  affirmed  the  order 
made  bv  Judge  Thacher,  which  put  at  rest  the  pro- 
bate judgeship  of  Anderson  county,  and  the  title  to 
the  townsite. 

Durincf  the  two  years  that  the  title  of  the  townsite 
was  kept  in  a  state  of  uncertainty  by  the  obstinacy 
of  the  probate  judge,  very  little  improvement  was 
made  and  but  few  setders  located  in  the  town.  Then 
came  the  rebelHon,  that  kept  all  improvements  from 
progressing  for  several  years,  until  the  close  of  the 
w^ar. 

In    1858   the  old  Garnett  town  company  built    a 


ryb  HISTORY  of 

school  house  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Seventh 
avenue  and  Oak  street,  and  donated  it  to  school 
district  No.  2.  This  was  the  first  public  building  in 
the  town.  It  was  used  for  all  public  meetings  and 
for  court  pui'j^oses  for  three  or  four  years.  In  1862 
the  district  sold  the  building  to  H.  Cavender  for 
$300,  and  built  a  two-story  frame  building  on  the 
corner  of  Third  avenue  and  Cedar  street,  at  a  cost 
of  $3,500.  In  1874  t^^  district  built  a  brick  school 
house,  with  stone  basement,  on  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  Third  avenue  and  Pine  street,  at  a  cost  of 
$30,000.  This  is  one  of  the  best  school  houses  in 
this  part  of  the  State. 

In  1864  a  stone  building  was  built  on  the  public 
square,  two  stories  high,  for  a  jail  and  jailer's  resi- 
dence, at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 

F.  G.  Bruns  opened  a  furniture  store  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Sixth  avenue  and  Cedar  street  in  1857,  and 
has  continued  in  the  business  to  the  present  time, 
now  in  partnership  -  with  O.  FabriciuS;,  on  Fifth 
avenue. 

Martin  Setter  established  a  boot  and  shoe  shop  on 
Sixth  avenue  in  1858,  and  has  remained  in  the  busi- 
ness since,  and  is  now  on  Fifth  avenue. 

Thos.  J.  Owen  opened  a  saloon  on  Pine  street  in 
the  spring  of  1859. 

J.  T.  Purcell  started  a  harness  and  saddle  shop 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Pine 
street  in   1858,  and  is  now  carrying  on  his  business 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I 77 

on  Fifth  avenue,  on  the  south  side  of  the  pubhc 
square. 

G.  W.  Her  and  J.  G.  Smith  opened  a  dry  goods 
store  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and 
Pine  street  in  the  summer  of  1859,  '^"^  continued 
till  1861,  and  sold  to  W.  O.  Cloud,  who  continued 
the  business  until  1866,  when  he  removed  the  build- 
ing to  Fifth  avenue,  on  the  south  side  of  the  public 
square,  where  he  continued  his  business  for  a  few 
years,  until  declining  health  compelled  him  to  retire 
to  private  life.      He  died  in  1868. 

C.  P.  Alvey  opened  a  dry  goods  store  in  May, 
1859,  ^^  Sixth  avenue,  in  the  house  now  occupied 
by  L.  Kolb  as  a  residence.  In  i860  he  removed 
into  a  two-story  frame  building  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Pine  street,  which  he 
used  as  a  dwelling  and  store  until  1867,  when  he 
moved  his  store  into  his  new  stone  building  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Oak  street, 
where  he  continued  his  business  until  1869. 

G.  W.  Her  and  W.  J.  Bayles  formed  a  partner- 
ship in  1866,  and  opened  a  store  as  general  mer- 
chants on  Fifth  avenue,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
public  square,  which  was  the  hrst  store  building 
erected  on  the  pubHc  square,  where  they  continued 
their  business  for  several  years. 

The  Garnett  House,  on  the  southwest  corner  of 

Fourth  avenue  and  Walnut  street,  was  built  in  1858 

by  D.  W.  Houston,  and  opened  as  a  hotel  by  Hiram 

Tefft  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.       It  was  the  first 

23 


lyS  HISTORY   OF 

hotel  in  the  town.     There  have  been  several  addi- 
tions built  to  the  building  since. 

Bruns'  Hall,  a  two-story  frame  building  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and  Cedar  street, 
was  the  first  hall  in  the  town.  It  was  built  in  i860, 
and  was  used  for  public  purposes  and  for  a  court 
room  ;  and  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows  occupied 
it  for  several  years,  where  both  societies  were  or- 
ganized. It  is  now  partitioned  into  small  rooms, 
and  occupied  by  George  Vines  as  a  dwelling. 

John  S.  Stowe  opened  the  first  meat  market,  in 
i860. 

John  Porter  built  a  two-story  frame  dwelling  on 
Fourth  avenue,  north  side  of  the  public  square,  in 
1859  ;  the  house  now  owned  by  E.  S.  Niccolls. 

Wilham  Lambert  started  a  blacksmith  shop  in  the 
spring  of  1859. 

Harvey  Springer  opened  a  wagon  shop  in  1859, 
and  is  still  engaged  in  the  same  business. 

H.  C.  Moler  built  a  two-story  frame  building  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and  Pine 
street,  in  1863,  and  opened  a  dry  goods  and  grocery 
store,  and  continued  to  do  business  there  until  1867, 
when  he  removed  his  building  to  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Fifth  avenue  and  Oak  street ;  but  soon  after 
sold  it,  and  it  is  now  owned  by  W.  H.  Lott. 

C.  P.  Alvey  built  a  two-story  stone  building  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Oak 
street  in  1866.  This  was  the  first  stone  business 
house  erected  in  the  town.       The  second  story  was 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  1 79 

used  for  several  years  for  a  court  room  and  public 
meetings  ;  but  has  been  partitioned  into  rooms  and 
occupied  as  offices. 

C.  E.  Dewey  built  a  two-story  frame  house  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and  Main  street 
in  1866,  and  opened  a  boarding  house  the  same  fall, 
which  he  has  occupied  until  the  present. 

L.  Kolb  opened  a  saloon  on  Sixth  avenue  in  i860, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  that  business  and  in  keep- 
ing restaurant  ever  since. 

John  Dunn  opened  a  drug  store  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Pine  street  in  1865, 
and  sold  it  to  C.  P.  Alve}',  who  sold  it  to  B.  F. 
Pattee  and  D.  R.  Pattee  in  1866,  who  remained  in 
that  business  for  four  or  live  years. 

L.  F.  Busenbark  opened  a  stove  and  tin  shop  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and  Pine 
street  in  i860. 

Isaac  Morley  started  a  blacksmith  shop  on  Fourth 
avenue  in  1859,  ^^^  continued  it  until  1861. 

A.  L.  Osborn  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  in  1863. 

The  Eagle  mill  was  built  by  C.  E.  Wolfley  andW. 
S.  Vreeland  in  1867,  on  Sixth  avenue.  It  was  a 
saw  and  flouring  mill  combined,  and  one  of  the  best 
mills  in  Southern  Kansas.  It  is  now  owned  and 
operated  by  J.  M.  Stevenson  &  Co. 

M.  B.  Taylor  built  a  two-story  frame  building  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Oak 
street  in   1867,  and    opened    a  drug  store    therein. 


l80  HISTORY    OF 

known  as  the  "City  Drug  Store."       The  postoffice 
was  kept  in  this  building  for  several  years. 

Isco  Sutton  opened  a  dr}' goods  and  grocer}-  store 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Main 
street  in  1867. 

The  count V  built  a  two-sto^y  stone  and  brick 
buildinir  for  a  court  house  on  Oak  street  in  1868, 
where  the  count}'  offices  and  records  have  been 
kept  ever  since  the  spring  of  1869. 

E.  I.  Meeker  opened  a  grocery  store  on  Fifth 
avenue  in  1868  :  and  afterwards  removed  his  store 
to  Oak  street,  and  entered  into  partnership  with  M. 
L.  White,  and  added  dry  goods  to  their  stock.  . 

L.  Kolb  built  a  one-story  stone  house  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and  Main  street  in 
1868,  and  opened  a  saloon  therein.  The  house  is 
now  occupied  for  the  same  purpose  by  Jacob  Askins. 

G.  W.  Osborn  built  a  livery  stable  on  Fifth  av- 
enue in  1868,  which  is  now  operated  by  J.  J.  War- 
dell. 

The  Galveston  House,  on  Seventh  avenue,  a  two- 
story  frame,  w^as  built  by  Riley  Spriggs  in  1868,  and 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1871. 

John  Ricketts  opened  the  first  lumber  yard  in  the 
town  in  1868. 

William  Groll  opened  a  grocery  store  on  Fifth 
avenue,  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square,  in 
1868,  and  still  continues  the  business,  having  added 
dry  goods  to  his  stock. 

Bruns   &  Fabricius  built  a  one-story  brick  house 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  l8l 

for  a  furniture  store  and  factory  in  1868,  and  opened 
a  store  in  it  the  same  fall. 

H.  C.  Moler  built  a  one-story  brick  house  on 
Fifth  avenue  in  1868,  and  opened  a  grocery  store 
therein. 

Mrs.  S.J.  HamHton  built  a  two-story  stone  house 
on  Fifth  avenue,  on  the  south  side  of  the  public 
square,  in  1869,  and  Mrs.  S.  J.  Ross  opened  a  gro- 
cery store  in  it  the  same  year. 

J.  W.  Rice  built  a  two-story  brick  house  on 
Fourth  avenue,  west  of  the  cit\'  drug  store,  in  1869, 
and  the  postoffice  was  kept  in  this  building  for  four 
or  live  vears. 

W.  Huff  built  a  two-story  frame  house  on  Fourth 
avenue,  north  of  the  public  square,  in  1869,  and 
opened  a  jewelry,  store  in  it  the  same  year. 

W.  H.  Carson  opened  a  dry  goods  store  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and  Oak  street, 
in  the  Alvey  building,  in  1869,  and  afterwards 
formed  a  copartnership  with  Elias  Norris. 

The  Barber  block,  a  two-story  brick,  on  Fifth 
avenue,  south  of  the  public  square,  was  built  in  1869 
by  F.  G.  and  A.  G.  Barber.  The  Barber  brothers 
opened  a  large  dry  goods  store  in  the  block  the  same 
year.  In  August,  1872,  A.  G.  Barber  withdrew, 
and  F.  G.  Barber  has  carried  on  the  business  suc- 
cessfully ever  since,  in  the  same  place. 

A.  F.  Royer  &  Co.  opened  a  hardware  store  on 
Fifth  avenue  in  1869,  and   afterward   sold  to  Elmer 


l82  HISTORY   OF 

Golden  and  P.  G.  Noel,  and  they  sold  to  Chas.  W. 
De  Wolf,  who  still  continues  the  business. 

Knouff ,  Wittich  &  Grouse  opened  a  grocery  store 
on  Fifth  avenue  and  Main  street,  in  the  year  1869,  and 
dealt  in  grain.  This  was  the  first  grain  store  in  the 
town,  Knouff  afterwards  withdrew  from  the  firm, 
and  the  business  has  since  that  time  been  carried 
on  in  the  name  of  Wittich  &  Grouse.  They  added 
dry  goods  to  their  stock  on  the  withdrawal  of 
Knouff. 

William  Hamilton  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store 
on  Fifth  avenue  in  1869,  and  continued  in  that  line 
of  business  until  his  death  in  December,  1875,  and 
the  business  has  been  continued  since  his  death  by 
his  widow,  Mrs.  S.J.  Hamilton. 

Mrs.  A.  Lafert}^  opened  a  milliner}'  store  on  Fifth 
avenue,  south  of  the  public  square,  in  1869. 

Brunswick  Hall,  on  Fifth  avenue,  a  two-story 
frame  building,  was  built  by  John  D.  Gill  in  1869, 
where  he  opened  a  saloon  in  1870. 

J.  P.  Crane  started  a  lumber  yard  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and  Oak  street  in 
November,  1869. 

A.  S.  Meriam  &  Co.  opened  a  lumber  yard  on 
Oak  street  in  1869. 

Edwards  &  Son  opened  a  lumber  yard  on  Main 
street  in  1870. 

P.  G.  Noel  opened  a  dry  goods  store  on  Oak 
street  in  1869,  and  sold  to  Edgar  Barnes. 

Elmer  Golden  opened  a  hardware   store  on  Oak 


ANDERSON'  COUNTY.  .    1 83 

Street  in  1869,  and  afterward  formed  a  partnership 
with  P.  G.  Noel  in  the  store  room  now' occupied  by 
C.  W.  De  Wolf. 

The  St.  James  Hotel,  a  three-story  frame  build- 
ing on  Oak  street,  was  built  by  G.  A.  Smith  and  L. 
H.  Gordon  in  1870,  and  opened  in  the  same  year, 
and  is  still  occupied  as  such  bv  the  same  parties. 

A  two-story  brick  and  stone  block  was  built  on 
Oak  street,  extending  from  the  southwest  corner  of 
Fifth  avenue  to  the  St.  James  Hotel,  in  1870,  bv 
John  R.  Foster  &  Co.,  E.  I.  Meeker,  D.  A.  Perrin 
and  Stouch  &  Vreeland.  This  block  contains  live 
business  rooms  below,  and  four  halls  above.  The 
Stouch  &  Vreeland  hall  is  the  largest  and  finest  in 
the  city. 

John  R.  Foster  &  Co.  started  a  bank  on  Fifth 
avenue,  south  of  the  public  square,  in  x\pril,  1870. 
In  1872  "The  Anderson  County  Savings  Bank"  was 
organized,  with  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  The  tirst  board  of  directors  of  the  bank 
were  W.  H.  Conover,  E.  I.  Meeker,  Thomas  W. 
Foster,  William  Spriggs,  Isaac  Knouff,  John  R. 
Foster,  A.  Bergen,  J.  P.  Crane  and  W.  F.  Smith. 
W.  H.  Conover  was  elected  president,  and  John  R. 
Foster,  cashier. 

Joseph  Coe  and  R.  C.  Marsh  opened  a  grocery 
store  on  Fifth  avenue  in  1870. 

A.  Kunkler  opened  a  hardware  store  on  Fifth 
avenue,  south  of  the  public  square.  May  10,  187 1, 
and  remains  in  that  business  at  the  same  place. 


184  HISTORY  OF 

]^.  Kolb  built  a  stone  building,  two-stories  high, 
on  Fifth  avenue,  south  of  the  public  square,  in  1872, 
and  opened  a  saloon  therein. 

"The  Citizens  Bank  of  Garnett"  was  incorpora- 
ted on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1872,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  A.  G. 
Barber,  J.  T.  Lanter,  Milton  Mills,  A.  Simons,  W. 
H.Lott,  J.  Q.  Hutchinson  and  Joseph  Slutz  composed 
the  hrst  board  of  directors.  John  T.  Lanter  was 
elected  president,  and  A.  G.  Barber,  cashier.  The 
bank  is  situated  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Fifth 
avenue  and  Oak  street. 

O.  E.  Skinner  opened  a  drug  store  on  Fifth 
avenue  in  1872,  and  sold  it  to  W.  R.  Judson,  jr.,  the 
same  year,  who  continued  in  the  business  until  1876, 
when  he  sold  it  to  Dr.  G.J.  Rogers  and  Jonathan 
White. 

The  Novelty  mill  was  built  by  W.  S.  Vreeland  in 
1873.  It  was  a  first-class  mill.  In  1875  Vreeland 
sold  the  mill  to  D.  W.  Houston,  who  removed  it  to 
Leavenworth. 

J.  A.  Gailey  built  a  two-story  stone  house  on 
Fourth  avenue  in  1870,  and  opened  a  drug  store  in 
it  in  1872. 

George  Patton  and  O.  W.  Wyatt  opened  a  gro- 
cery store  on  Oak  street  on  the  15th  of  February, 
1873. 

J.  H.  Stewart  opened  a  grocery  store  on  Oak 
street  in  1874,  '^^^^  continued  there  until  1876  ;  then 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  I 85 

removed  to  the  south  side  of  the  pubhc  square,  where 
he  continues  his  business. 

The  Garnett  cheese  factory  was  put  in  operation 
by  M.  M.  Minkler  and  J.  C.  Wooster  in  1874. 

The  above  are  some  of  the  business  men  of  Gar- 
nett :  but  various  other  business  men  and  houses  in 
the  town,  for  want  of  space  and  time,  are  omitted. 

The  following  are  the  attorne3's  that  have  had 
offices  in  the  town  :  Sam'l  Anderson,  D.  W.  Hous- 
ton, W.  A.  Johnson,  J.  B.  Stitt,  Wm.  Spriggs,  J.  G. 
Lindsay,  B.  D.  Benedict,  S.  J.  Crawford,  A.  W. 
Hazelrigg,  Thornton  A.  Shinn,  B.  F.  Ridgeway,  A. 
Simons,  M.  A.  Page,  James  F.  Walker,  J.  J.  Hoff- 
man, W.  L.  Pierce,  H.  W.  Masters, Ellsworth, 

L.  K.  Kirk,  R.  E.  Heller,  A.  Bergen,  B.  S.  Wil- 
kins,  H.  L.  Poplin  and  Milton  Mills. 

Physicians  :  Thomas  Lindsav,  G.  W.  Cooper, 
Preston  Bowen,  J.  Fitzgerald,  John  Buterbaugh,  W. 
A.  Walker,  J.  H.  Whitford,  O.  E.  French,  J.  W. 
Mackey,  N.  C.  McMorris,  G.  J.  Rogers,  W.  S. 
Lindsa}-,  H.  G.  Wilcox. 

Successive  city  officers  :  On  the  7th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1861,  G.  W.  Her,  Thos.  Lindsay,  B.  F. 
Ridgeway,  G.  A.  Cook  and  William  McLaughlin 
were  appointed  trustees,  and  they  elected  G.  W. 
Her,  chairman,  and  G.  W.  Arrell,  clerk.  February 
4,  1862,  G.  W.  Arrell  was  appointed  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy' caused  by  the  absence  of  G.  A.  Cook  from 
the  city.  October  23,  1863,  C.  Hidden,  G.  A. 
Cook  and  'SI.  Puett  were  elected  to  fill  vacancies 
24 


1 86  HISTORY  OF 

occasioned  by  the  enlistment  of  Thomas  Lindsay 
and  William  McLaughlin  in  the  army,  and  the  re- 
moval of  B.  F.  Ridgeway  from  the  city. 

April  6,  1863,  at  the  regular  election  for  trustees, 
G.  W.  Her,  G.W.  Arrell.  J.  Graham,  A.  L.  Osborn 
and  C.  Hidden  were  elected. 

April  3,  1865,  at  the  annual  election  of  city  offi- 
cers, D.  W.  Houston,  J.  F.  Walker,  H.  Cavender, 
H.  Capper  and  J.  T.  Lanter  were  elected  trustees. 

April,  1866,  D.  W.  Houston,  J.  T.  Lanter,  T.  G. 
Headlev,  H.  Cavender  and  G.  W.  Her  were 
elected  trustees. 

April  I,  1867,  D.  W.  Houston,  T.  G.  Headley, 
G.  W.  Her,  M.  A.  Page  and  J.  T.  Lanter  were  elec- 
ted trustees. 

April  6,  1868,  as  trustees,  G.  W.  Her,  J.  T.  Lan- 
ter, G.  M.  Everhne,  W.  S.  Vreeland  and  J.  G. 
Lindsay  were  elected. 

In  1869  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  for  the  in- 
corporation of  cities  of  the  third  class,  which  provided 
that  all  towns  in  the  State  of  Kansas  could  become 
incorporated  as  cities  of  the  third  class,  provided 
a  majority  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  voted  to 
accept  the  provisions  of  the  law.  On  the  26th  of 
Februar}',  1870,  at  a  special  election  for  the  purpose 
of  changing  the  municipal  government  to  that  of  a 
city  of  the  third  class,  there  were  81  votes  in  favor 
of  the  proposition  and  one  vote  against  it. 

April  4,  1870,  at  the  annual  election  for  city  offi- 
cers,  L.  K.   Kirk  was  elected  mayor  ;  Joseph  Coe, 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  187 

E.  S.  Hunt,  John  Cox,  C.  T.  Chapin  and  C.  P.  Al- 
vey,  councilmen.  J.  Q.  Hutchinson  was  chosen 
clerk,  and  resigned,  and  F.  G.  Barber  was  selected 
for  the  remainder  of  the  term. 

April  3,  1 87 1,  John  R.  Foster  was  elected  mayor  ; 
A.  F.  Royer,  A.  Simons,  J.  S.  Wilson,  J.  E.  Tay- 
lor and  F.  G.  Bruns,  councilmen  ;  and  John  R. 
Whitney  was  chosen  clerk. 

April  I,  1872,  J.  P.  Crane  was  elected  mayor; 
A.  F.  Royer,  Otto  Fabricius,  Solomon  Kauffman, 
John  Ricketts  and  J.  C.  W.  Pearce,  councilmen  ;  J. 
J.  Hoffman,  police  judge.  S.  N.  Williams  was 
chosen  clerk. 

April  7,  1873,  J.  P.  Crane  was  re-elected  mayor; 
John  Ricketts,  M.  A.  Crouse,  Wm.  BailHe,  R.  C. 
Marsh  and  J.  Lamson,  councilmen;  B.  S.  Wilkins, 
police  judge.     G.  M.  Everline  was  chosen  clerk. 

April  6,  1874,  John  T.  Lanter  was  elected  mayor  ; 
Wesley  Huff,  Samuel  Crum,  James  Watson,  Solo- 
mon Kauffman  and  A.  B.  White,  councilmen  ;  and 
M.  A.  Page,  police  judge.  Thomas  Bowles  was  se- 
lected clerk. 

April  I,  1875,  E.  I.  Meeker  was  elected  mayor; 
W.  §.  Vreeland,  J.  M.  Stevenson,  J.  P.  Crane,  L. 
PI.  Gordon  and  W.  H.  Lott,  councilmen  ;  J.  M. 
Craig,  police  judge.  J.  Q.  Whitford  was  chosen 
clerk. 

April  3,  1876,  L.  H.  Gordon  was  elected  mayor; 
W.  H.  Lott,  J.  M.  Stevenson,  W.  S.  Vreeland,  O. 
W.  Wyatt  and  F.   G.  Bruns,  councilmen  ;  George 


l88  HISTORY   OF 

L.  Will,  police  judge.     J.  Q.  Whitford  was  chosen 
clerk. 

Successive  postmasters  :  1858,  Thomas  Lindsay  ; 
i860,  C.  P.  Alve}' ;  1866,  Isco  Sutton  :  1867,  M.  B. 
Taylor;  1869,  J.  W.  Rice. 


CHAPTER  XVni. 

"  The  Garnett  Plaindealc?-,''  the  J^irst  Pafei' 
711  the  County — ^'■Garnett  Couraiit,"''  Established  in 
1868 — '■''Garnett  'Journal^''  Established  in  j8*]j — 
Organization  of  Anderson  County  Fair  Assoeia- 
tion — Organization  of  the  Paola  &  Fall  River 
Raihuay  Company — Charitable  Soeicties — Post- 
offices  and  Postmasters. 

» 

The  "Garnett  Plaindealer"  was  established  by 
I.  E.  Olney  in  January,  1865.  It  was  a  seven- 
column  weekly  paper,  and  the  first  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  the  county.  It  ^vas  edited  and  pubhshed 
by  Mr.  Olney  until  his  death,  in  the  fall  of  1866, 
after  which  it  was  conducted  b}-  Mrs.  Olney,  and 
edited  at  short  intervals  by  William  Duncan,  Geo. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  189 

W.  Cooper  and  Adrian  Reynolds,  until  the  spring 
of  1870,  when  it  was  purchased  by  L.  J.  Perry, 
who  sold  the  old  press  and  material,  and  put  in  a 
new  Washington  hand  press  and  a  Liberty  job  press, 
with  new  type,  etc.  Mr.  Perry  subsequently  sold 
out  to  John  S.  Wilson,  who  published  it  for  about 
two  years,  and  sold  it  to  W.  R.  Spooner,  who  added 
new  material,  enlarged  the  paper  to  eight  columns, 
and  conducted  it  in  an  able  manner  until  the  latter 
part  of  September,  1874,  ^^'hen  he  sold  to  Kauffman 
&  Her,  who  have  since  owned  the  paper.  S.  H. 
Dodge  has  edited  it  since  that  time.  The  "Plain- 
dealer,"  eince  1869,  has  been  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  continually  labored  for  the  improvement  of 
the  county  and  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  its 
citizens. 

The  "Garnett  Courant"  was  established  by  W. 
H.  Johnson  in  1868.  It  was  a  seven-column  weekly 
paper,  and  was  published  only  a  short  time,  when. 
its  proprietor  removed  to  Council  Grove,  in  Morris 
county,  Kansas. 

"The  Garnett  Journal''  was  established  in  Janu- 
ary, 1873,  by  G.  W.  Cooper.  It  is  a  weekly, 
seven-column  paper,  an  advocate  of  no  political 
principles. 

The  Anderson  County  Fair  Association  was  or- 
ganiz^ed  on  the  15th  day  of  November,  1873,  as  a 
joint  stock  company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  live 
thousand  dollars.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the     charter    members:      Thomas     Gowdy,    J.   E. 


igo 


HISTORY   OF 


White,  John  Moler,  W.  W.  Kirkpatrick,  J.  S.  Kirk- 
patrick  and  H-  C.  Reppert.  The  following  named 
gentlemen  constituted  the  first  board  of  directors  : 
J.  Q.  Bowdell,  J.  M.  Jones,  John  Moler,  G.  W. 
Flint,  R.  T.  Stokes,  J.  E.  White,  A.  E.  Rogers,  C, 
S.  Elder,  R.  H.  Cunningham,  W,  A.  Johnson,  D. 
D.  Judv,  J.  S-  Kirkpatrick  and  M,  E.  Osborn. 
The  association  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  one 
mile  southwest  of  Garnett,  and  have  commenced 
improving  the  grounds  and  erecting  permanent 
buildings  for  the  exhibition  of  all  kinds  of  products, 
stock,  &c.  The  association  has  held  two  fairs  on 
the  new  fair  grounds.  The  present  officers  of  the 
association  are  J.  E.  White,  president ;  W.  W.  Kirk- 
patrick, secretary ;  John  R.  Foster,  treasurer ; 
Thomas  Gowdy,  A.  T.  Cook,  Edward  Rayn,  W. 
H.  Conover,  A.  C.  Messenger,  Robert  Mundell,  G. 
W.  Her  and  L  P.  Sutton,  directors. 

The  first  fair  held  in  the  county  was  in  1863. 

On  the  15th  day  of  March,  1870,  a  meeting  was 
held  in  Garnett,  at  which  the  Paola  &  Fall  River 
railway  company  was  organized,  with  the  following 
gentlemen  as  directors  :  Wm.  Crowell,  H.  S.  Camp- 
bell, H.  H.  WiUiams  and  S.  R.  Smith,  of  Miami 
county  ;  James  Han  way,  of  Franklin  county  :  W.  H. 
McClure,  WilHam  Spriggs,  G.  W.  Her,  E.  S.  Nic- 
colls  and  E.  S.  Hunt,  of  Anderson  county;  and  N. 
S.  Goss,  of  Woodson  county.  A  certificate  of  in- 
corporation was  prepared  and  filed  with  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  incorporating  the  company. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I9I 

This  charter  was  signed  by  H.  H.  WilHams,  S. 
R.  Smith,  William  Spriggs,  E.  S.  Niccolls  and  G. 
AV.  Her, 

The  board  of  directors,  on  the  21st  of  March, 
1870,  qualified,  and  organized  by  electing  William 
Spriggs,  president:  H.  H.  Williams,  vice  president: 
E.  S.  Niccolls,  secretary,  and  G.  W.  Her,  treasurer. 

The  directors  opened  a  book  immediateh'  for 
the  subscription  of  stock,  and  soon  procured  the 
necessary  amount  of  stock  to  be  subscribed  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  business  of  the  corporation. 

On  the  14th  day  of  September,  1871,  a  proposi- 
tion was  submitted  to  the  voters  of  Anderson  county, 
to  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  road  by  issuing  one 
hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  of  countv  bonds. 
Six  hundred  and  fifty-five  votes  were  cast  in  favor 
of,  and  two  hundred  and  eighty-three  against,  the 
proposition.  The  city  of  Garnett  also  voted  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  of  the  bonds  of  the  city  to  aid  in 
construction  of  the  road.  Osawatomie  township, 
in  Miami  county,  voted  twenty  thousand  dollars 
bonds,  and  Pottowatomie  township,  Frankhn  county, 
voted  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  the  enterprise. 
The  company  had  the  line  of  road  surveyed  and 
located  from  Paola  to  Garnett  in  the  fall  of  1870. 

On  the  25th  day  of  August,  1873.  the  executive 
committee  of  the  company  met  at  Garnett  and  en- 
tered into  a  contract  with  M.  S.  Hall,  an  old  rail- 
road contractor,  to  complete  the  road  along  its 
entire    fine.       Hall     commenced     the    grading    and 


192 


HISTORY   OF 


masonry  Avork  at  Paola  in  the  latter  part  of  187J, 
and  had  the  principal  part  of  the  grading  and  ma- 
sonry work,  done  to  Garnett  by  the  first  of  Decem- 
ber of  that  year ;  but  failing  to  raise  the  necessary 
money  to  pay  his  hands,  he  had  to  suspend  opera- 
tions, after  creating  a  debt  of  about  tifty  thousand 
dollars. 

The  company  then  sought  other  contractors,  and 
in  March,  1874,  tittered  into  a  contract  with  C.  H. 
Dillingham  &  Co.,  of  N.  Y.,  to  complete  the  road. 
Dillingham  &  Co.  put  men  on  the  work  of  construc- 
tion, but  about  the  first  of  June  of  that  year  failed 
tinancially,  and  suspended  work. 

In  October,  1874,  ^^^  company  contracted  with 
Cutler  &  Davis  to  complete  the  grading  and  masonry 
from  Garnett  to  Le  Roy,  which  they  completed  on 
the  i8th  day  of  December,  following,  which  tinished 
the  grading  and  masonry  on  the  line  from  Paola  to 
]^e  Roy,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles. 

The  road  still  remains  in  this  untinished  condition. 

The  company  has  labored  earnestly  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  road,  but  the  panic  in  money  matters 
in  1873,  and  the  active  opposition  of  some  leading 
men  along  the  line,  who  are  believed  to  be  in  the 
interest  of  other  and  rival  roads  and  towns,  have 
prevented  its  success. 

SECRET    ORDERS. 

Delphian  Lodge,  No.  44,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Gar- 
nett, was  instituted  in  1864,  under  a  dispensation 
from  the   Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Kansas,  to 


ANDERSON    COUNTY 


193 


W.  C.  McDow,  J.  T.  Lanter,  C.  T.  Chapin,  M.  A. 
Page,  J.  W.  Stewart,  I.  E.  Halloway,  E.  W.  Robert- 
son and  Benjamin  Lawellin.  The  first  officers  of 
the  lodge  were  :  W.  C.  McDow,  W.  I\I.  ;  M.  A. 
Page,  S.  W.  ;   E.  W.  Robertson,  J.  W. 

Zion  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  No.  24,  was  chartered 
in  1872,  with  the  following  members :  W.  H. 
Makeaney,  J.  T.  Lanter,  B.  Pritchard,  W.  A.  Gil- 
ham,  J.  f.  B.  Routh,  E.  L.  Hawk,  E.  S.  Niccolls, 
J.  Falls,  E.  S.  Doll.  Officers:  W.  H.  Makeaney, 
H.  P.  ;  J.  T.  Lanter,  K.  ;  B.  Pritchard,  S. 

Faith  Chapter,  No.  55,  Eastern  Star,  was  institu- 
ted May  25,  1876,  with  fort3'-three  members.  Offi- 
cers :  Mrs.  Ally  Osborn,  W.  M.  :  Benjamin  Pritch- 
ard, W.  P.  ;  Mrs.  Delia  Hubbard,  x\ssociate  M.  : 
E.  S.  Hunt,  treasurer;  G.  A.  Cook,  secretary. 

Garnett  Lodge,  No.  16,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted 
December  27,  1865,  with  the  following  charter  mem- 
bers :  L  E.  Olney,  D.  D.  Judy,  J.  W., Stewart,  A. 
M.  MuHin,  P.  T.  Mathews  and  G.  W.  Her.  First 
officers:  L  E.  Olney,  N.  G.  ;  C.  P.  Alvey,  V.  G.  ; 
G.  W.  Arrell,  secretary;  G.  W.  Cooper,  treasurer. 

Wildey  Encampment,  No.  11,  was  organized  in 
1869,  with  a  membership  of  19,  with  the  following 
officers:  J.  L.  Kercheval,  C.  P.;  G.  W.  Her,  H. 
P.  ;  M.  B.  Taylor,  S.  W.  ;  Jacob  Schull,  J.  W.  ;  E. 
S.  Niccolls,  Scribe;  F.  G.  Bruns,  treasurer. 

Rebekah  Degree  Lodge,  No.  11,  was  instituted 
July  II,  1874,  with  sixteen  charter  members.  Offi- 
cers :  M.  A.  Page,  N.  G.  ;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Kauffman, 
25 


194  HISTORY   OF 

V.  G.  ;  C.  E.  Dewey,  secretary  ;  Mrs.  E.  G.  Mc- 
Donald, treasurer. 

POSTOFFICES    AND    POSTMASTERS. 

Greeley,  D.  W.  Smith  ;  Garnett,  J.  W.  Rice  ; 
Central  City,  J.  M.  Aldridge  ;  Ozark,  Mrs.  J.  Hall ; 
Mineral  Point,  T.  L.  Harford  ;  Emerald,  Terrance 
McGrath  ;  Rich,  B.  F.  Reiber  :  Colony,  J.  M.  Ford  ; 
Welda,  J.  M.  Kauble  ;  Sugar  Valley,  J.  T.  Weeden  ; 
Cherry  Mound,  J.  M.  Hill;  Elizabethtown,  J.  B. 
Rhodes. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Spanish  Fever  Among  the  Cattle — Locusts,  or 
Grasshoppers — Synopsis  oj" the  Seasons. 

During  the  early  settlement  of  the  count}',  Texas 
cattle  were  driven  annually  through  the  country  ; 
and,  after  the}'  had  passed,  a  terrible  disease  would 
break  out  among  the  native  cattle,  in  most  cases 
proving  fatal.  It  was  called  Spanish  fever.  Its  cause 
was  made  a  matter  of  investigation  by  cattle  raisers 
and  scientific  men,  but  no  satisfactory  conclusion 
was  attained.     The  disease  was  the  cause  of  much 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I95 

legislation,  and  vexatious  law-suits.  The  county 
suffered  severely  from  its  destruction  of  native  cat- 
tle. Committees  were  organized  by  the  people  to 
prevent  Texas  cattle  from  being  driven  through  the 
county,  but  often  the  cattle  would  be  driven  through 
before  the  committees  would  have  knowledge  of 
their  being  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  disease  made  its  first  appearance  in  the 
county  in  1857,  and  continued  annually  until  1861, 
when  Texas  cattle  were  not  driven  through  the  coun- 
try, because  of  the  war,  until  1866,  when  they  were 
acj'ain  driven  through  and  the  disease  as  before 
appeared.  Since  the  building  of  railroads,  and  cattle 
are  shipped  over  them,  but  little  trouble  has  resulted 
to  the  native  cattle  by  the  disease. 

The  locusts,  commonly  called  grasshoppers,  have 
for  some  years  past,  in  the  frontier  States,  been,  in 
localities,  very  destructive  to  crops  and  vegetation. 
Having  visited  Kansas  several  times,  it  is  just  that 
some  account  of  their  visitations  be  given,  in  brief, 
in  this  volume. 

The  first  account  we  have  of  their  appearance  in 
Kansas,  is  from  Father  John  Shoemaker,  of  Osage 
Mission.  He  says  :  "  They  came  down  in  August, 
1854,  ^^^'^  ^  ^^^^  °^  snow.''  The}^  deposited  their 
eggs  in  the  earth,  which  hatched  out  in  the  spring 
of  1855,  destroyed  all  the  crops  and  grass  in  the 
vicinity  of  Osage  Mission,  and  in  their  flight  north- 
ward in  July  the}'  came  down  in  the  northeast  part 
of  Anderson   county,   stopped   two  or    three    days. 


196  HISTORY    OF 

destro3'ed  all  the  young  crops  in  that  vicinity,  and 
again  took  their  flight.  Their  next  appearance  was 
in  September,  i860.  The  "  Conservative"  of  Ma}- 
21,  1861,  says  : 

"  Jiulye  Lanibdin,  who  is  just  from  Butler  county,  states 
that  the  reports  of  damage  done  by  grasshoppers  are  not 
exaggerated.  The  insects  have  traveled  a  belt  of  country 
about  six  miles  wide,  devouring  every  g-reen  thing  ;  young- 
tields  of  wheat  have  been  completely  destroyed  by  their 
ravages — not  one  blade  remaining.  Early  corn  and  vege- 
tables, and  the  foliage  of  trees,  have  suffered  with  equal 
severity.  The  evil  seems  to  be  on  the  increase,  with  no 
nieans  of  prevention." 

They  departed  for  the  northwest  about  the  middle 
of  June. 

Again  they  came  in  September,  1866,  reaching 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  State  about  the  first  of 
the  month.  The  "Wyandotte  Gazette"  of  the  5th 
of  that  month  says  : 

"Between  Topeka  and  AVamego  they  till  the  air  like 
snow-flakes  in  a  winter  storm." 

They  reached  Anderson  count}'  on  the  loth  day 
of  September,  in  vast  swarms,  destroying  every  ves- 
tige of  vegetation  in  their  course.  They  deposited 
their  eggs  all  over  the  face  of  the  earth.  The  w^in- 
ter  following  was  wet  and  cold,  with  frequent  thaws, 
which  damaged  their  eggs  so  that  but  comparatively 
few  hatched  out  in  the  following  spring.  They  did 
but  little  damage  in  the  spring  of  1867.  They  took 
their  flight  to  the  northwest  about  the  middle  of 
June,  to  visit  the  place  of  their  ancestors,  to  propa- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  I97 

gate  their  species  and  increase  their  numbers  for  a 
future  invasion. 

In  1874  the}'  made  their  appearance  in  this  county 
on  the  22d  day  of  August,  in  numbers  innumerable. 
They  came  from  the  northwest,  at  first  Hke  flakes 
of  snow  in  the  winter  time,  and  then  in  clouds, 
destroying  all  vegetation,  remaining  and  depositing 
their  eggs  in  vast  numbers.  By  reason  of  the  dry 
summer  season,  much  of  the  crops  matured  early. 
The  secretar}^  of  the  Anderson  County  Fair  Asso- 
ciation, in  his  report  to  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture, says  : 

"More  than  half  tlie  corn  had  been  cut  and  saved,  but 
the  balance  standing  has  been  materially  injured.  The 
fruit  is  reported  as  being  entirely  safe  from  their  depre- 
dations. They  are  diminishing,  and  have  deposited  but 
few  eggs  ;   in  some  portions  of  the  county,  none."' 

In  October  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  ad- 
dressed a  circular  letter  to  the  di*fferent  county 
societies,  asking  for  a  statement  of  estimated  desti- 
tution of  the  counties  in  consequence  of  the  ravages 
of  grasshoppers.  The  secretary  of  the  Anderson 
County  Fair  Association,  in  answer  to  the  question 
whether  there  would  be  a  surplus  of  breadstuff  and 
meat,  says  : 

"  We  think  there  is  enough  provision  for  the  people  of 
the  county.  No  person  need  suffer  except  through  care- 
lessness or  want  of  work." 

Under  the  head  of  remarks,  he  adds  : 

"  Corn,  and  feed  of  that  kind,  is  high,  but  hay  plenty, 
and  the  fall  favorable  for  stock.     Our  stock  of  cattle  and 


igS  HISTORY  OF 

hogs  is  light.  Some  work  can  be  liad,  though  at  not  very 
higl>  i)rioo.s.  We  tliink  tliere  will  not  be  much  scarcity, 
and  probably  no  suffering  this  winter  for  want  of  provis- 
ions." 

The  winter  was  dr}'  and  remarkably  favorable  to 
the  preservation  of  the  eggs  of  the  grasshoppers. 
They  commenced  hatching  about  the  first  of 
April,  in  vast  numbers,  along  the  timber  and  low 
lands,  emerging  in  such  numbers  as  to  devour  every 
irreen  thing  in  about  two-thirds  of  the  county-  In 
some  places  they  drifted  up  two  or  three  inches 
deep,  and  remained  for  weeks,  in  many  places  pro- 
ducing a  sickening  odor,  and  the  people  in  many 
places,  because  of  them,  had  to  keep  the  doors  of 
the  houses  closed  all  the  time.  The  tame  grasses, 
as  well  as  the  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  garden  vege- 
tables, were  destroyed  by  them,  and  fruit  trees'were 
in  many  cases  badly  damaged.  They  commenced 
their  departure' on  the  loth  day  of  June,  and  by  the 
1 6th  of  the  month  had  principall}^  disappeared  to  the 
northwest,  to  again  visit  the  land  of  their  fathers  to 
recruit  a  large  army. 

Each  time  they  appear  with  greater  numbers  than 
on  the  preceding  one.  Their  first  invasions  were 
in  small,  detached  divisions,  in  different  portions  of 
the  country  :  but  the  latter  inroads  have  covered  hun- 
dreds of  miles  in  breadth.  Should  they  continue  to 
return,  increasing  in  the  same  proportion,  for  a  few 
years,  with  that  of  the  last  twenty  3'ears,  it  will  be 
difficult  to  subsist  them  west  of  the  Mississippi  river, 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  I99 

and  they  will  probably  visit  the  fertile  helds  of  Illi- 
nois, Michigan  and  other  States  further  east. 

SYNOPSIS    OF    THE    SEASONS. 

1854  •  Beautiful  spring  and  mild  summer,  but 
rather  dry  ;  fair  crop  of  corn  raised  for  the  amount 
planted. 

1855  :  Severe  and  cold  winter  ;  pleasant  spring  : 
warm  summer ;  good  crops  of  all  kinds :  prairie 
grass  luxuriant. 

1856:  Cold  winter :  early  spring:  dry  summer; 
short  crops  ;  fine  growth  of  prairie  grass. 

1857  :  Mild  winter;  early  spring;  warm  summer, 
with  but  little  rain  :  fair  crops. 

1858  :  Warni,  wet  winter  ;  spring  early  ;  good  crops 
of  all  kinds  ;  extraordinary  growth  of  prairie  grass  ; 
heavy  rains. 

1859  •  Winter  warm  and  dry  ;  early  spring  ;  rainy 
summer ;  heavy  rains  in  June  ;  high  rise  of  water, 
the  streams  being'  the  hicrhest  since  the  settlement  of 
the  countr}* ;  great  damage  done  by  the  overflow  of 
the  bottoms  along  the  streams  ;  fine  crop  of  corn 
raised  ;  luxuriant  growth  of  prairie  grass. 

i860  :  Cold  winter  ;  early  spring  ;  dry  summer  ; 
but  htde  rain  from  August,  1859,  ^o  October,  i860  ; 
streams  dry  ;  crops  almost  an  entire  failure  ;  grass 
too  short  to  mow  for  hay. 

1 86 1  :  Mild  winter  ;  pleasant  spring  and  summer, 
and  abundance  of  rain  ;  good  crops  of  all  kinds. 

1862  :   Cold  winter  ;  early  spring  :    summer  dry  ; 


200  AXDERSOX    COUSTY. 

crops  poor  ;  chinch  bugs  made  first  appearance,  do- 
ing great  damage  to  corn  and  spring  wheat. 

1863  r  Mild  winter  ;  wet  spring  and  summer  ;  good 
crops  ;  a  frost  in  August  did  some  damage. 

1864:  Severe  winter;  pleasant  spring  and  sum- 
mer ;  fair  average  crops. 

1865  :  Mild  winter  ;  earh'  spring  :  rainy  season  ; 
high  water  ;  good  crops. 

1866 :  Warm  and  wet  winter  and  spring  ;  summer 
wet ;  average  crops. 

1867  :  Cold  winter  ;  pleasant  spring  :  warm  sum- 
mer ;  good  crops. 

1868 :  Mild  winter ;  dr}'  spring  and  summer : 
short  crop,  being  seriouslv  injured  by  chinch  bugs. 

1869  :  Mild  winter  ;  wet  spring  and  summer  :  high 
waters  ;  good  crops. 

1870  :  Cold  winter  ;  early  spring.;  mild  summer  ; 
poor  crops. 

1871  :  Cold  winter  ;  early  spring  ;  mild  summer  ; 
average  crops. 

1872  :  Mild  winter  and  spring  :  wet  summer  ;  high 
water;  good  crops. 

1873  :  Cold  winter  :  heavy  snow  ;  early  spring  ; 
warm  summer  ;    average  crops. 

1874  •  Mild  winter :  dry  spring  and  summer ; 
crops  seriously  injured  by  chinch  bugs  and  dr}^ 
weather. 

1875  •  Cold  winter  ;  early  spring ;  wet  summer 
and  fall ;  finest  crops  that  had  been  produced  for 
several  years. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Religions  Zeal  of  the  Early  Settlers — Churches 
— Educational  Interests — Eormation  of  School  Dis- 
tricts— Building  School  Houses —  Value  of  School 
Buildings,  etc. 

The  earlv  settlers  of  Anderson  county,  like  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers,  were  imbued  with  a  religious  zeal ; 
for  no  sooner  was  a  small  settlement  made  in  any 
locality  than  a  religious  society  was  organized  and 
preparations  made  for  religious  services,  notwith- 
standing the  Territory  was  overrun  by  ruffians  and 
semi-barbarians,  intent  on  establishing  slavery  in 
Kansas.  The  settlers  would,  each  Sabbath,  meet 
for  divine  worship  in  their  rude  cabins,  or  in  the 
beautiful  groves,  "God's  first  temples,"  in  the  sum- 
mer time.  The  many  church  edifices  in  the  county 
attest  their  steadfast  devotion  to  the  cardinal  prin- 
ciples of  true  faith  handed  down  to  them  from  the 
primitive  days  of  the  church. 

"Saint  Boniface"  Catholic  church,  in  Putnam 
township,  on  the  North  Pottowatomie,  was  the  first 
church  building  erected  in  the  county,  in  1858.  Un- 
der the  charge  of  Father  Albert  Heinmann,  in  1871 
this  society  built  a  college  building  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  and  called  it  "Mount  Carmel,"  and 
26 


202  HISTORY   OF 

has  maintained  a  fine  school  therein  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  youth. 

The  United  Brethren  denomination  have  an  or- 
ganization and  church  building  in  the  town  of  Gree- 
ley.     The  building  was  commenced  in  1859. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  has  a  good  sub- 
stantial church  building  at  Garnett ;  also  a  large 
membership. 

The  United  Presbyterians,  in  i860,  erected  a  good 
and  substantial  church  edifice  in  Garnett.  The 
membership  of  this  church,  at  Garnett,  is  the 
strongest  in  the  county,  and  also  the  largest  in  the 
State. 

The  First  Baptist  churcii  in  Garnett  was  organ- 
ized in  i860,  and  has  a  new  church  edifice,  with  a 
good  membership. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  in  Garnett  was  or- 
ganized in  1868,  and  in  1870  built  a  neat,  substan- 
tial building,  and  has  a  good  living  membership. 

In  187 1  the  Catholics  of  Garnett  erected  a  neat 
stone  church  building,  and  have  a  respectable  mem- 
bership in  their  organization. 

The  Catholics  have  a  large  membership  and  good 
church  building  at  Emerald.  Also,  on  the  North 
Pottowatomie,  near  the  west  line  of  the  county,  they 
have  a  small  church. 

The  Christian  church  of  Garnett  have  a  neat  lit- 
tle church  building,  and  a  small  membership.  The 
building  was  erected  in  1872. 

The  African  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Gar- 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  203 

nett  have  a  small  stone  church  building,  called 
Quinn  Chapel,  erected  in  1874.  The  membership 
is  small. 

The  Second  Baptist  church  of  Garnett  (colored) 
have  a  small  church  building  and  small  membership. 

The  Presbyterians  have  a  good  church  and  build- 
ing at  Central  City. 

The  Free  Methodists  have  a  church  orefanization 
in  the  county,  but  no  church  building ;  and  there 
are  other  church  denominations  in  the  county  that 
have  no  buildings  for  worship.  They  usually  hold 
their  services  in  the  school  houses  in  their  vicinit}^ 
or  in  private  dwellings  of  their  people. 

The  education  of  the  youth  received  the  early  at- 
tention of  the  settlers  in  the  county.  The  formation 
of  school  districts  and  the  erection  of  school  houses 
were  first  attended  to,  after  necessaries  for  susten- 
ance were  procured.  As  soon  as  children  enough 
in  number  could  be  collected  in  the  neighborhood 
to  commence  a  school,  a  school  house  was  built  and 
a  teacher  employed  to  instruct  them.  The  people 
regarded  the  common  schools  as  the  palladium  of 
liberty,  which  the  schools  and  school  houses  of  the 
county  attest.  The  facilities  for  an  education  are 
far  greater  in  the  county  than  in  many  of  the  States 
who  have  the  age  of  half  a  century.  Eighteen 
years  ago  not  a  school  house  in  the  county,  which 
now  can  boast  of  sixt3'-two  good  substantial  school 
houses,  of  the  value  of  sixty-two  thousand  dollars, 
with  furniture  of  the  value  of  forty  thousand  dollars. 


204  HISTORY  OF 

as  shown  by  the  report  of  the  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  for  1875,  with  sixty-five  school 
districts  organized. 

John  R.  Slentz  was  the  first  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  of  Anderson  county,  appointed  b}- 
Hugh  S.  Walsh,  Secretar}^  and  acting  Governor, 
on  the  i6th  day  of  December,  1858. 

The  first  school  district  was  organized  soon  after, 
in  Putnam  township,  and  Alexander  Garrett,  James 
Farrah  and  Wm.  Puett  were  elected  the  first  school 
board. 

The  following-  districts  were  also  formed  the  same 
year:  No.  2.  Officers:  Wm.  Smith,  Chas.  Hid- 
den and  D.  W.  Houston.  No.  3.  Officers  :  C.  W. 
Fraker,  Wm.  L.  Webster  and  D.  D.  Judy.  No.  4. 
Officers:  James  E.  White,  Richard  Robinson  and 
Isaac  Hiner.  No.  5.  Otficers  :  Wm.  Rison,  Wm. 
Lampman  and  Geo.  W.  Simons.  No.  6.  Officers  : 
Rufus  Gilpatrick,  J.  T.  Lanter  and  B.  F.  Smith. 
No.  7.  Officers:  Francis  A.  Hart,  A.  W.Jones  and 
John  B.  Dilday.  No.  8.  Officers:  Henry  Williams, 
Anson  Rudd  and  Wm.  Agnew.  No.  9.  Officers  : 
James  Farrah,  Benoni  Brown  and  Thos.  G.  Head- 
ley.  No.  10.  Officers:  Stephen  Marsh,  C.  C. 
Haskins  and  Oliver  Marsh.  No.  11.  Officers:  Wm. 
Dennis,  Wm.  R.  Vanscoyoc  and  Jeptha  Lawellin. 

Six  districts  were  organized  in  1859,  ^^^'^  ^^  i860, 
two  in  1861,  one  in  1862,  one  in  1863,  four  in  1864, 
one  in  1865,  three  in  1866,  one  in  1867,  one  in  1868, 
two  in    1869,  eight  in    1870,   eight  in   187 1,  two   in 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  205 

1872,  seven  in  1873,  four  in  1874,  ^"^  O"^  i"  1875, 
making  65  in  all. 

The  number  of  children  of  school  age  in  1858 
was  435  ;  in  1876,   2,096. 

The  amount  of  State  and  county  school  funds  dis- 
bursed among  the  several  districts  in  1858  was 
$297.55:  in  1876.  $3,379.82. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Prominent  Men  of  Anderson  Conniy. 

Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick  came  to  the  Territory  of 
Kansas  in  the  spring  of  1855,  and  settled  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  active  and  energetic  men  of  the  Territory.  He 
was  a  physician  by  profession,  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, an  active  leader  in  the  Free  State  cause  ;  a  man 
of  sound  judgment,  large  experience,  and  well-in- 
formed in  political  tactics  ;  was  often  consulted  as 
to  the  best  means  of  securing  the  rights  of  Free  State 
men  against  the  Pro-Slavery  party.  He  was  always 
ready  when  needed  to  defend  the  cause  of  free- 
dom,  and    did    \'aluable    service    in    behalf    of    his 


lo6  HISTORY  OF 

country.  He  was  an  object  of  hatred  to  the  Pro- 
Slavery  party  :  and  when  a  marauding  party  of  the 
Rutfians  visited  Kansas,  in  this  portion  of  the  coun- 
try, it  would  make  an  effort  to  capture  him,  but  he 
always  succeeded  in  evading  them.  He  tilled  prom- 
inent positions  in  the  county  and  Territory,  He 
was  one  of  the  delegates  from  the  county  to  the 
convention  that  assembled  at  Osawatomie  on  the 
i8th  day  of  May,  1859,  that  organized  the  Republi- 
can party  in  the  Territory  ;  was  on  the  committee  on 
platform,  and  took  an  active  part  in  preparing  the 
same,  and  in  the  debates  of  that  body.  He  was 
elected  superintendent  of  public  instruction  of  the 
county  in  1859  •  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  i860,  and  was  in  the  Legislature  at  the 
time  Kansas  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  He  was 
as  earnest  a  worker  in  the  Legislature  as  this  county 
has  ever  had.  He  was  the  author  of  the  resolution 
for  the  appointment  of  a  ''committee  to  investigate 
the  claims  issued  under  'A.n  act  to  provide  for  the 
adjustment  and  payment  of  claims,'  and  supplemen- 
tal thereto,  passed  February  7,  1859,  '^"'^^  to  inquire 
what  attempts,  if  any,  have  been  made  to  foist  a 
portion  of  said  claims  as  a  debt  on  the  Territory, 
and  to  inquire  what  attempt  has  been  made  to-  es- 
tablish banking  institutions  upon  said  claims,  so 
attempted  to  be  foisted  upon  the  Territory,  and  to 
inquire  into  all  matters  connected  with  or  growing 
out  of  said  claims  under  said  act,  with  full  power  to 
send  for  persons  and  papers,"  &c.       He  was  made 


ANDERSON    COUNT"Si.  207 

chairman  of  the  committee,  and  the  report  that  he 
made  on  the  matter  to  the  House  proves  that  he  was 
able  to  cope  witli  the  most  difficult  questions.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  complete  investigations  and  reports 
that  could  be  made,  which  developed  one  of  the 
most  stupendous  frauds  that  was  ever  attempted  to  be 
put  into  operation  against  the  public,  and  to  force 
upon  the  Territory  and  new  State  to  pay,  which  was 
refuted  by  the  sagacity  of  such  men  as  Gilpatrick. 
He  returned  from  the  Legislature,  after  the  admis- 
sion of  Kansas  as  a  State,  and  resumed  his  duties  as 
superintendent  of  public  instruction.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  rebellion  he  entered  the  service  as  a 
secret  detective  on  the  border  (a  most  difficult  and 
hazardous  service),  and  continued  in  this  service 
until  the  25th  dav  of  April,  1863,  when,  at  the 
battle  of  Webber's  Falls,  in  the  Indian  Territory,  he 
went  outside  the  lines  to  attend  some  wounded  rebel 
soldiers,  and,  while  dressing  their  wounds,  a  squad 
of  rebel§  rode  up  and  called  him  out  and  shot  him 
dead.  His  bod}'  fell,  pierced  by  a  dozen  bullets. 
He  was  buried  at  Fort  Gibson.  In  his  death  the 
army  lost  a  brave  soldier,  and  the  country  a  true 
patriot. 

Among  the  noted  settlers  in  the  northeastern  por- 
tion of  the  county,  of  1855,  was  W.  C.  McDow,  of 
Mississippi.  He  settled  near  Greeley,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  bv  Reuben  Lowa-v-  He  was  anti-slaver^• 
in  pohtics.  He  was,  in  1856,  appointed  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  elected  to  that  office  for  a  number  of 


2o8  •       HISTORY   OF 

years  thereafter.  He  was  a  preacher,  and  held  the 
lirst  quarterl}'  meeting  in  the  county,  in  the  fall  of 
1856.  He  has  lived  a  consistent  christian  life,  re- 
spected in  his  neighborhood. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county  Alanson 
Simons  is  worthy  of  notice.  He  came  from  the  State 
of  Ohio,  and  settled  on  the  Pottowatomie,  two  miles 
east  of  Garnett,  in  May,  1856,  and  was  a  reliable 
Free  State  man.  He  took  an  active  part  in  that 
cause  in  the  early  struggles  in  the  Territory.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Pottowatomie  guards,  and  did 
valuable  service  therein.  He  selected  a  claim,  im- 
proved and  pre-empted  it,  and  has  made  of  it  a  fine 
and  valuable  farm.  No  man  in  the  county  has  been 
more  highly  and  repeatedly  honored  than  he,  which 
is  shown  by  the  number  of  positions  of  trust  which 
he  has  held.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  these 
offices  with  satisfaction  to  the  people  and  credit  to 
himself.  He  went  into  the  army  in  1862,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  now  resides  on  his 
farm,  deservedly  enjo3^ing  the  fruits  of  his  labors. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1857,  a  colony  of  about 
fifty  persons  left  Scipio,  Jennings  county,  Indiana, 
for  Southern  Kansas.  William  Spriggs,  George  S. 
King,  Sarah  Spriggs,  J.  M.  Johnson,  Benjamin 
Spriggs,  Tobias  May,  Morgan  Heflin,  James  Spriggs, 
Riley  Spriggs  and  B.  P.  Brown,  and  each  of  their 
families,  and  J.  C.  Johnson,  Hiram  Spriggs  and  A. 
Heflin  belonged  to  the  colony.  On  the  20th  day  of 
April    following  the     colony    arrived  in    Anderson 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  209 

count}^  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Scipio. 
They  at  once  selected  claims  and  commenced  erec- 
ting cabins,  breaking  prairie  and  opening  farms. 
By  the  first  of  September  they  had  some  ten  houses 
built,  and  families  liying  in  them.  William  Spriggs 
and  Morgan  Heflin  opened  a  store  at  a  little  town 
selected  by  them,  called  Fairvie\v,  where  they  kept 
such  articles  as  were  most  needed  by  the  colonists. 

During  that  spring  a  number  of  settlers  located  in 
the  neighborhood,  among  whom  were  Leander  Put- 
nam, Cornelius  Anderson,  H.  Cavender,  John  H. 
Best,  Jackson  Reed,  Nathaniel  Cottle,  B.  F.  King, 
Thomas  G.  Headley,  Rev.  Hugh  Reed,  Chester 
Cummings,  G.  W.  FHnt,  A.  D.  Jones,  B.  L.  Ad- 
ington  and  John  S.  Jones.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
colony  they  found  Rezin  Porter,  James  Black,  Jack- 
son Black,  Mrs.  Totton,  E.  P.  Bangus,  G.  W.  Yan- 
dall,  WiUiam  Tull,  William  Puett,John  H.  Wolken, 
Henry  Feuerborn  and  Christian  Feuerborn.  The 
colony  settled  in  what  is  now  Putnam  township.  In 
the  summer  of  1858  the  colony  laid  out  a  town  and 
called  it  Scipio,  which  never  had  any  existence  ex- 
cept on  paper.  The  neighborhood  where  the  col- 
ony settled  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  well- 
improved  portions  of  the  county. 

William  Spriggs  was  the  leading  man  of  the  col- 
ony. He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  had  been  an 
Old  Line  Whig,  was  a  radical  Republican  when  he 
came  to  the  Territory,  and  has  held  many  responsi- 
ble positions  and  offices.  He  was  elected  delegate 
27 


2IO  HISTORY   OF 

to  the  constitutional  convention,  known  as  the  Leav- 
enworth convention,  and  served  with  distinction  in 
that  body.  He  was  elected  judge  of  the  Fourth 
judicial  district  in  October,  1858.  He  was  elected 
to  the  Territorial  Legislature,  where  he  did  good 
service  on  the  judiciary  corrimittee. 

The  White  Cloud  Chief ,  pubHshed  by  Sol.  Miller, 
in  its  issue  of  March  4,  1859,  ^"  speaking  of  the 
Legislature  that  had  just  adjourned,  speaks  in  the 
following  complimentary  terms  of  the  Hon.  W. 
Spriggs,  of  Anderson  county  : 

"  Among  the  members  Avortli}"  of  thanks  from  their  con- 
stituents, and  from  the  citizens  of  the  Territory  generally, 
r  would  mention  Lewis  and  Larzelere,  of  Donii>han 
county  ;  A^ail,  of  Marshall  county,  and  Spriggs,  of  Anderson 
county.  *  *  *  *  Lewis  and  Spriggs,  of  the 
judiciary  committee,  worked  faitlifully  and  earnestly  in 
committee  room  and  in  the  House,  and  no  two  others  of 
that  body  did  half  so  much  to  perfect  the  business  in  a 
manner  satisfactorially  to  all.         *  *  *  a  few 

more  such  men  as  I  have  mentioned,  and  Kansas  would 
have  a  Legislature  not  far  in  the  rear  of  the  Eastern  States." 

In  December,  1859,  he  was  elected  senator  from 
this  district,  under  the  Wyandotte  constitution,  and 
was  in  the  first  Legislature  of  the  State  ;  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  court  of  impeachinent  that  tried  Gov. 
Charles  Robinson  for  high  crimes  and  misdemean- 
ors in  office.  In  1862  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of 
State,  and  re-elected  in  1864,  which  ofiice  he  filled 
with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  people,  and  credit  to 
himself  and  the  State.  In  March,  1867,  he  was  ap- 
pointed judge   of  the  Seventh  judicial  district,  and 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  211 

served  in  that  capacity  until  January,  1868.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  most  active  men  that  ever  came  to 
the  State.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  the 
Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Galveston  railroad  ; 
spent  more  money  and  time  that  was  never  repaid 
in  procuring  it  than  any  other  man.  He  paid  for 
the  surv^ey  of  the  road  from  Lawrence  to  Garnett 
out  of  his  own  money,  and  has  never  received  any- 
thing for  his  time  and  money.  He  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  Paola  &  Fall  River  railroad,  and 
has  given  his  time  and  money  to  secure  its  construc- 
tion, with  some  prospect  of  success.  While  he 
is  entitled  to  more  credit  for  the  improvements  in 
the  county  than  any  other  man,  he  has  received 
more  abuse  and  condemnation  than  all  other  men  in 
the  county  ;  but,  to  his  credit,  the  abuse  came  from 
a  class  of  persons  always  opposed  to  public  enter- 
prise and  improvement :  a  class  of  chronic  grum- 
blers and  defunct  politicians.  His  labors  will  re- 
dound to  the  benetit  of  the  country,  and  his  name 
be  honored  long  after  his  traducers  have  been  for- 
gotten. 

Henderson  Cavender,  another  prominent  settler 
near  Scipio,  came  to  the  county  in  1857.  He  has 
held  several  prominent  positions.  He  was  twice 
elected  county  treasurer  ;  three  times  to  the  Legis- 
lature :  and  three  times  as  county  commissioner. 
He  has  held  other  positions.  He  was  an  active, 
energetic  man,  and  entitled  to  great  credit  for  his 
labors  in  behalf  of    the    county.       He,    like    many 


212  HISTORY    OF 

Others,  made  somii  mistakes  in  judgment,  which 
embarrassed  him  financially.  He  sold  his  property 
and  removed  to  Johnson  county,  Kansas,  and  now 
resides  at  Shawnee  Mission. 

Thomas  G.  Headley  was  a  noted  settler,  near 
Scipio,  of  1857.  He  was  twice  elected  county 
treasurer,  twice  county  commissioner,  and  once  a 
member  of  the  Legislature.  He  never  acquired 
much  property,  his  liberality  and  charitv  being  too 
great  for  him  to  become  wealth}-.  He  died,  in  Gar- 
nett,  in  1870,  a  good  citizen,  highl}'  respected,  a 
member  of  both  fraternities,  the  Masons  and  Odd 
Fellows. 

Leander  Putnam  is  among  the  noted  settlers  in  the 
Scipio  neighborhood  of  1857.  He  has  been  elected 
to  many  offices  of  his  township.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1859,  ^"^  held  that  ofiice  for 
several  years.  He  has  been  elected  trustee  and  as- 
sessor several  times.  Is  a  good,  quiet,  respectable 
citizen. 

Dr.  Thomas  Lindsay  located  in  Garnett  in  1857. 
He  came  from  Iowa,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  had  been 
engaged  in  his  profession  several  years  prior  to  his 
coming  to  Kansas.  He  was  a  prominent  Free  State 
man,  participated  in  most  of  the  political  discussions 
during  the  early  settlement,  and  has  since  held  sev- 
eral prominent  positions.  In  1859  ^^  ^'^^  elected  to 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  was  an  earnest 
worker  in  that  body.  In  1862  he  was  commissioned 
surgeon  in  the  Twelfth  regiment  of  Kansas  volun- 


ANDERSON    COUNT V.  213 

teers,  and  served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  returned  and  was  again  elected  to  the  Leg- 
islature in  1866.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture when  Pomeroy  and  Ross  were  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  He  is  now  enjoying  a  large 
practice  in  his  profession,  having  principall}'  retired 
from  political  life. 

G.  A.  Cook,  of  Sandusk}'  county,  Ohio,  in  March, 
1857.  settled  three  miles  northeast  of  Garnett,  took 
a  claim  and  opened  a  tine  farm.  In  1857  he  was 
appointed  sheriff,  and  subsequently  was  elected  and 
held  the  office  until  January,  1861.  In  1862  he 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  that  office 
until  January,  1870,  w^hen  he  again  resumed  the 
duties  of  sheriff,  having  been  elected  to  that  office 
in  November,  1869.  He  was  again  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  in  1873,  which  position  he  still  occu- 
pies. He  has  been  a  faithful  officer.  He  was  a  re- 
liable Free  State  man  of  public  spirit,  and  ready  at 
all  times  to  assist  public  enterprises. 

Samuel  S.  Tipton  came  to  the  county  in  1857  : 
settled  in  the  west  part  of  the  county,  at  the  place 
known  as  Mineral  Point.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  Free  State  men  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county.  He  took  an  active  part  in  most  of  the  po- 
litical meetings  in  the  county.  He  was  the  president 
of  the  convention  that  organized  the  Republican 
party  in  the  count}-.  He  brought  with  him  to  Kan- 
sas a  lot  of  forty-live  thoroughbred  cattle,  and  was 
considered   for  a   number    of  years  the   first    cattle 


I 


214  HISTORY  OF 

man  in  the  State.   He  has  dealt  extensively  in  blooded 
cattle,  and  remains  in  that  lucrative  business. 

William  Dennis  came  to  the  county  in  1857,  from 
Indiana.  He  has  been  a  prominent  man  in  his  town- 
ship, a  radical  Republican,  and  leader  in  his  party. 
He  has  been  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  trustee 
several  times,  tilling  the  offices  with  satisfaction  to 
all. 

James  G.  Blunt  settled  on  a  claim  northwest  of 
Greeley,  in  the  forks  of  Pottowatomie,  in  the  winter 
of  1856.  He  came  from  Ohio  ;  was  a  doctor  by 
profession  :  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  practiced 
his  profession  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebel- 
lion. In  1859  ^^  ^^^^  ^  member  of  the  Wyandotte 
constitutional  convention,  and  participated  in  most 
of  the  debates  in  that  body.  In  1861  he  entered 
the  army  as  lieutenant  colonel,  was  soon  thereafter 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier  general,  and  for 
meritorious  sei-vice,  in  1863,  was  promoted  to  major 
general.  He  was  the  only  officer  of  that  rank  from 
Kansas.  He  distinguished  himself  as  a  soldier  in  many 
important  battles  during  the  rebellion.  He  was  a 
good  officer.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Leavenworth,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. His  name  is  familiar  in  national  history  as 
General  Blunt,  and  will  live  as  long  as  our  nation's 
history  of  the  rebellion  exists. 

D.  W.  Houston,  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Kan- 
sas in  1858  ;  a  lawyer,  a  Republican,  an  active  man 
in    politics.      He  succeeded  in    his  practice  of  the 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.       •  21^ 

law,  had  a  good  practice  in  this  and  other  counties, 
and  did  much  to  develop  the  county.  He  entered 
the  army  in  1861  as  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  Seventh 
Kansas  cavalry  volunteers  :  was  soon  promoted  to 
captain,  and  then  to  Heutenant  colonel;  but  faihng 
liealth  compelled  him  to  resign  in  1864,  when  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1869  he  was 
appointed  United  States  marshal  for  the  district  of 
Kansas,  and  soon  thereafter  his  familv  remo\ed  to 
Leavenworth,  where  he  now  resides. 

Preston  Bowen  came  to  Garnett  in  1857,  from  the 
State  of  Illinois.  He  was  a  ph^-sician,  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  has  been  a  prominent  man  in  the 
county.  He  opened  the  first  dry  goods  store  in  the 
county,  in  May,  1857,  in  a  log  cabin  in  Garnett. 
He  soon  thereafter  removed  his  store  to  Shannon, 
where  the  count}'  seat  then  was  located.  He  has 
been  elected  county  commissioner  twice,  and  made 
an  efficient  officer.  He  still  resides  on  his  farm,  on 
the  old  townsite  of  Shannon. 

A.  G.  West  settled  on  the  Osage,  a  small  stream 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  in  1857.  He 
was  from  Ohio,  a  Free  State  man,  a  Republican, 
and  participated  in  the  many  difficulties  of  the  early 
settlement  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  Mont- 
gomery's men.  Has  held  several  prominent  posi- 
tions. He  was  once  treasurer  of  the  county,  and 
brouirht  order  out  of  chaos.  He  served  as  an 
efficient  member,  one  term,  in  the  Legislature.    He 


2l6  .    •  HISTORY  OF 

is  a  successful  farmer,  and  owns  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  county. 

Joseph  Price,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  came 
from  Illinois  to  the  southern  part  of  the  county  in 
1858.  He  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  a  prominent  man,  and  held  several  township 
offices. 

Thomas  J.  Day  was  the  first  settler  on  Deer 
creek.  He  came  there  in  1855.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  commissioners  of  Allen  county  ;  and  was 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  Elizabeth  town.  He  is  a 
practical  farmer,  a  good  citizen,  and  owns  a  good 
farm  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  where  he 
resides. 

Among  the  earh'  settlers  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  county  none  deserv-es  mention  more  than 
Solomon  Kauffman,  who  came  to  the  county  in 
May,  1856,  and  settled  on  a  quarter-section  of  land, 
built  a  cabin  and  made  other  improvements,  and 
finally  pre-empted  it.  He  came  from  Iowa  to  Kan- 
sas, when  a  young  man,  full  of  energy  and  resolute 
in  purpose.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs 
and  difficulties  in  the  county  and  Territory.  When 
serious  troubles  arose  in  the  summer  of  1856,  he 
enlisted  in  the  Free  State  volunteer  service,  under 
Gen.  J.  H.  Lane,  and  afterwards  joined  the  Free 
State  militia,  under  Captain  Samuel  Walker,  of  Law^- 
rence,  and  served  in  his  company  until  the  close  of 
the  troubles,  in  December,  1856.  He  was  present 
at  Topeka  at  the  meeting  of  the  Free  State  Legisla- 


< 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  217 


ture,  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1856,  when  that  body 
was  dispersed  by  United  States  soldiers.  He  was 
there  to  aid  the  Free  State  men  in  whatever  reso- 
lutions the  wisdom  of  that  body  should  decide  upon. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Free  State  convention  at 
Grasshopper  Falls,  in  1857,  and  participated  in  its 
deliberations.  He  was  nominated  for  probate  judge 
of  Anderson  county,  in  1857,  and  received  a  major- 
ity of  all  the  votes  cast  in  the  county.  In  1858  he 
was  elected  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
Reeder  township,  and  was  the  first  chairman  of  the 
board  after  the  organization  of  the  township.  In 
1861  he  was  elected  county  assessor.  When  the 
news  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  reached 
Kansas,  the  loyal  men  began  to  prepare  for  the  con- 
flict. The  settlers  in  the  vincinity  of  Cresco  and 
Central  City  met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Kauffman,  and 
at  once  organized  a  company  of  militia.  Kauffman 
was  elected  captain,  and  was  commissioned  by  the 
Governor.  J.  R.  Eaton  was  elected  first  lieutenant, 
and  H.  N.  F.  Reed  second  lieutenant.  The  com- 
pany numbered  forty-five  rank  and  file,  and  met 
ever}'^  Saturday  for  company  drill.  In  August,  1861 , 
when  it  was  apparent  that  troops  were  needed  in 
active  service,  he  bade  farewell  to  his  company  of 
militia  and  volunteered  as  a  private  soldier  in  the 
Third  regiment  of  Kansas  volunteers,  commanded 
by  Col.  James  Montgomery.  He  served  as  a  private 
soldier  until  the  nth  day  of  September,  1862,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant, 
28 


2l8  HISTORY   OF 

and  assigned  to  L  compan}-.  Third  regiment,  In- 
dian brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  Wm.  A.  Phillips, 
and  on  the  28th  of  Ma}-,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  captain,  and  placed  in  command  of  a 
battery  at  Fort  Gibson,  in  the  Indian  Territory-,  in 
which  capacity  he  serv^ed  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  \^'ith  his  com- 
pany on  the  31st  of  May,  1865.  Soon  after  his  re- 
turn he  married  Miss  M.  J.  Patton  and  returned  to 
his  farm,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1868, 
when  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  district  court,  and 
made  a  first-class  officer  in  that  position  for  two 
years,  and  then  went  into  the  real  estate  business,, 
which  he  continues  to  this  date.  He  was  a  brave 
soldier,  a  good  officer,  and  is  an  active  and  respec- 
ted citizen. 

John  T.  Lanter  came  to  Kansas  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  and  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  county, 
tw^o  miles  from  the  town  of  Greeley.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana.  He  came  to  Kansas  a  young  man, 
about  twenty-one  3'ears  old.  Pie  settled  on  govern- 
ment land,  made  impro\'ements  and  pre-empted  a 
quarter-section.  He  married  Elizabeth  Baldwin,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  David  Baldwin.  Lanter  was  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  took  an  active  part  in  all 
the  earl}'  political  controversies  of  the  county  and 
the  Territory.  In  1858  he  was  elected  clerk  of 
Walker  township,  and  was  the  first  clerk  of  the 
tow^nship.  In  May,  1858,  he  was  elected  to  the 
House  of  Representatives,  under  the  Leavenworth 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  219 

constitution.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Ottumwa 
convention,  in  September,  1858.  This  convention 
represented  what  were  known  as  the  nineteen  dis- 
franchised counties.  He  was  the  author  of  the  cele- 
brated Ottumwa  resolutions.  Was  elected  coynty 
assessor  in  i860,  and  was  elected  engrossing  clerk 
of  the  Territorial  Legislature  in  the  winter  of  1861 
— the  last  Territorial  Legislature.  Was  appointed 
deputy  United  States  assessor  in  1862,  which  posi- 
tion he  lilled  until  his  district  was  abolished  in  1867. 
Was  commissioned  as  assistant  provost  marshal  in 
1863,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  was  on  duty 
along  the  border  of  Kansas  for  about  eighteen 
months.  This  was  a  most  difficult  and  dan^rerous 
service.  Was  in  the  battle  of  Westport,  Missouri, 
on  the  23d  of  October,  1864,  and  in  the  heat  of  the 
battle,  where  the  tight  was  the  hottest.  In  1872  he 
was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  which 
body  he  made  an  efficient  member,  and  was  one  of  the 
number  that  assisted  to  defeat  Pomeroy  in  his  corrupt 
attempt  to  buy  his  way  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
In  1873  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  insane  asylum,  and  in  1876  was 
appointed  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  charitable  insti- 
tutions of  the  State,  which  position  he  yet  holds.  He 
has  tilled  all  the  several  public  positions  in  which  he 
has  been  called  to  act  with  fidelity  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  public.  He  is  now  the  president 
of  the  Citizens  Bank  of  Garnett,  and  is  one  of  the 
principal  stockholders. 


220  HISTORY   OF 

Rev.  David  Baldwin  settled  on  the  Pottowatomie, 
north  of  Greeley,  in  1854  •  '^'^'^^  ^  Methodist  minister 
of  the  gospel,  and  a  radical  Free  State  man.  In 
1856  he  and  his  son  David  Baldwin,  then  a  mere 
boy,  were  taken  prisoners  by  Major  Buford  and  his 
Ruffian  party.  They  were  taken  to  Paola,  and 
there  detained  as  prisoners  for  several  da3S,  without 
any  charge  against  them,  only  that  of  being  Free 
Stale  men.  After  keeping  them  under  guard  and 
subjecting  them  to  all  kinds  of  abuse  and  insult 
familiar  to  Border  Ruffian  characters,  they  were  re- 
leased to  return  to  their  home  on  the  Pottowatomie. 
Mr.  Baldwin's  family  consisted  of  himself,  his  son 
David,  and  his  daughter  Elizabeth.  During  the  time 
that  Mr.  Baldwin  and  his  son  were  prisoners  in  the 
camp  of  the  Ruffians,  Miss  Elizabeth,  then  a  girl  of 
about  tw^enty  years  of  age,  was  left  at  home  alone  to 
care  for  the  household  affairs,  and  most  bravely  and 
heroically  did  she  guard  her  father's  house 
and  property  in  his  absence.  She  remained  there 
all  alone,  and  took  care  of  his  affairs.  She  is  de- 
serving of  as  much  credit  for  her  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  freedom  as  any  other  woman  in  the  State, 
and  she  knows  full  w^ell  the  hardships  and  suffering- 
encountered  by  the  women  of  Kansas  in  its  earl}- 
struggles. 

H.  H.  Williams  came  to  the  countv  in  the 
spring  of  1855,  ^"^  settled  on  what  is  now  the 
Isaac  Hiner  farm.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  a 
young  man,   zealous  in  the  Free  State  cause,  and 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  221 

participated  in  most  of  the  early  political  conven- 
tions in  the  Territory.  He  removed  to  Osawato- 
mie,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  major  in  the 
Third  and  Tenth  Kansas  regiments  during  the  re- 
bellion, and  made  a  good  and  brave  officer.  He  is 
now  a  prominent  business  man  in  the  town  where  he 
resides. 

To  mention  all  the  names  and  services  of  the 
worthy  and  distinguished  men  that  settled  in  the 
country  prior  to  i860  would  require  more  space 
than  could  be  expected  in  a  work  of  this  kind  ;  but 
in  addition  to  those  alread}-  mentioned  reference  is 
made  to  the  following  gentlemen,  who  are  worth}' 
of  special  notice  :  Isaac  Hiner,  James  E.  White,  D. 
D.  Judy,  W.  L.  Webster,  Jonathan  Masterson, 
Richard  Robinson,  James  Sutton,  Isco  Sutton,  J.  B. 
Stitt,  Jacob  Benjamin,  D.  W.  Smith,  William  Tull, 
W.  H.  McClure,  J.  F.  Wads  worth,  Geo.  S.  Holt, 
John  H.  Wolken,  Brockholt  Tyler,  H.  K.  Robinson, 
Wesley  Spindler,  J.  L.  Bockover,  Wm.  Beeler, 
Wm.  Reynolds,  Harve}-  Springer,  Wm.  Smith,  W. 
S.  Smith,  James  Smith,  Zarr  Bennett,  W.  F.  M. 
Arn}',  Benjamin  Griffin,  A.  Rudd,  Henry  W^illiams, 
J.  T.  B.  Routh,  John  R.  Kirkland,  Richard  Sand- 
Hn,  B.  M.  Lingo,  J.  R.  Eaton,  J.  R.  Means,  David 
Shields,  Stephen  Marsh,  Mathew  Porter,  R.  H. 
Hall,  S.  W.  Arrant,  John  L.  Hill,  J.  S.  Robinson, 
Wm.  C.  Howard,  Wm.  H.  Hamilton,  Jackson 
Means,  Dr.  David  B.  Swallow,  Samuel  S.  Patton, 
John  Stigenwalt,  A.  P.  Clark,  F.  P.  Whicher,  John 


222  HISTORY  OF' 

Horn,  Samuel  McDaniel,  Darius  Frankenberger, 
W.  L.  Frankenberger,  Samuel  Anderson,  J.  B.  Dil- 
dav,  James  Black,  Jackson  Black,  John  Tefft,  Wil- 
liam Tefft,  Hiram  Tefft,  J.  W.  Lawellin,  Thomas 
Newton,  E.  D.  Lampman,  A.  O.  Cooper  and  M.  E. 
Osborn. 

The  most  of  the  above-named  gentlemen  have 
been  noticed  in  other  portions  of  this  volume,  giving 
their  official  positions  held  in  former  years,  and  lo- 
calities of  their  settlements,  and  are  referred  to  here 
as  being  worthy  of  further  notice,  which  is  omitted 
for  want  of  space.  There  are  many  other  names 
that  should  have  a  place  in  this  volume,  but  it  is  im- 
possible to  do  justice  fully  to  all  in  the  histor}'  of 
county.  State  or  nation. 


CHAPTER  XXIK 


Murder  of  Allen  G.  Potcct — Escape  of  his  mur- 
derer— Murder  of  yaiiies  Jackson  by  D.  R.  Pattee 
— -Murder  of  fames  Day  by  David  Stezvart — 
Murder  of  William  Hamiltoii  by  fohn  W.  C/i am- 
ber lain —  Trial  of  Dr.  Aledlieott  for  the  murder 
of  I.  M.  Ruth. 

In  October,  1866,  Allen  G.  Poteet  left  his  home 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  2  23 

in  Garnett  for  Kansas  City,  in  company  with  Henry 
W.  Grayson,  to  bring  a  load  of  g'oods  in  a  two-horse 
wagon.  Grayson  reported  that  he  intended  to  re- 
turn to  his  home  in  Indiana.  Poteet  failed  to  re- 
turn ;  two  weeks  elapsed,  and  grave  suspicions 
arose  that  he  had  been  murdered.  Parties  went  in 
search  of  him,  and  the  last  trace  that  could  be  found 
was  that  he  and  Grayson  were  seen  six  miles  beyond 
Paola,  on  the  Kansas  City  road.  After  the  search 
had  been  abandoned,  it  was  supposed  that  Poteet 
had  fled  the  country,  for  some  cause  to  them  un- 
known. On  the  day  of  the  election,  in  November, 
a  letter  was  received  stating  that  a  man  had  been 
found,  dead,  by  an  Indian,  while  hunting,  supposed 
to  be  Poteet,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Johnson  county. 
Parties  were  sent  hither  at  once,  and  recognized  it 
to  be  the  body  of  Poteet,  though  mutilated  and  con- 
siderabl}'  decomposed.  The  body  had  been  drag- 
ijed  about  bv  hog's,  and  one  arm  was  missino-.  The 
bodv  had  been  hidden  away  in  a  hollow.  Poteet 
had  been  shot  in  the  back  of  the  head,  and  it  was 
believed  that  Gravscni  had  killed  him  and  thus  hid- 
den the  bodv  away,  and  taken  the  wagon  and  team 
beloncjiniT  to  Poteet,  robbing"  him  of  what  mone\'  he 
had  in  his  pants  pocket,  not  searching  his  vest 
pocket,  which  had  a  part  of  Poteet's  money  in  it, 
beincj  found  with  the  bodv.  No  trace  of  the  waj^on 
or  team  could  be  found.  Rewards  were  offered  by 
the  count^'  for  Grayson,  or  any  information  that 
would  lead  to  his  capture,  but  nothing  has  ever  been 


2  24  '  HISTORY  OF 

heard  of  him  since.  It  is  supposed  that  Grayson 
took  the  wagon  and  team  and  departed  over  some 
isolated  road  in  Missouri,  and  escaped  the  vigilance 
of  the  law,  after  perpetrating  the  diabolical  murder. 

In  March,  1870,  a  difficulty  arose  between  a  man 
named  James  Jackson  and  William  Cardy,  in  Pattee's 
saloon,  in  Garnett.  when  D.  R.  Pattee  ordered  them 
out  of  the  house,  and  closed  the  door  after  them. 
Jackson  turned  and  threw  a  stone  against  the  door, 
knocking  one  of  the  panels  out,  upon  which  D.  R. 
Pattee  fired  at  him,  through  the  opening,  with  a  pis- 
tol, the  ball  striking  Jackson  in  the  back.  He  fell, 
and  was  carried  awa3%  and  skillful  medical  aid  called. 
Jackson  lingered  until  about  the  middle  of  May,  and 
died  from  the  effects  of  the  wound.  Pattee  was 
tried  for  the  killing  of  Jackson,  found  guilty  of  man- 
slaughter in  the  second  degree,  and  sentenced  to  the 
State  penitentiary  for  a  term  of  five  years.  He  was 
pardoned  by  the  Governor,  after  remaining  in  the 
penitentiary  for  about  two  years. 

About  the  first  of  March,  1874,  ^  party  of  men 
from  Middle  creek,  in  Linn  county,  Kansas,  came 
over  to  Greeley,  in  this  county,  and  after  becoming 
considerably  intoxicated  started  for  their  homes. 
They  had  not  gone  far  on  their  way  until  a  quarrel 
ensued  between  James  Day  and  David  Stewart,  two 
of  the  party,  being  in  the  same  wagon.  Stewart 
jumped  out  of  the  wagon  and  started  away,  and 
Day  jumped  out  and  followed  him,  running  about 
two  hundred    yards.     Day    caught    Stewart.     Day 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  225 

being  a  man  of  great  physical  strength,  and  Stew- 
art being  of  less  than  ordinary  physical  ability,  there- 
upon drew  a  pocket  knife  and  stabbed  him  several 
times,  killing  him  instantly.  Stewart  was  at  once 
arrested,  and  put  upon  trial  for  murder  in  a  few  days, 
before  the  popular  mind  had  calmed  from  the  shock  ■ 
of  the  spilling  of  human  blood,  and  was  convicted 
of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  and  sentenced  to 
the  State  penitentiar}^  for  the  period  of  twelve  years. 
It  was  one  of  the  unfortunate  difficulties  which  arise 
from  intemperance.  Doubtless  had  the  trial  been 
postponed  until  the  minds  of  the  people  had  become 
quiet,  and  reason  and  justice  enthroned,  Stewart 
would  not  have  been  convicted,  as  he  was  evidently 
fleeing  for  the  safety  of  his  life.  Stewart  and  Day, 
up  to  that  time,  had  been  on  intimate  terms,  no  ill 
feeling  between  them  existing. 

In  1868  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  William 
Hamilton,  of  Ohio,  located  in  Garnett.  He  was 
affable  and  energetic,  and  soon  became  a  popular 
citizen,  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  shop,  being  a  boot 
maker,  and  soon  thereafter  opened  a  boot  and  shoe 
store,  and  was  doing  a  good  business.  In  1870  he 
married  Miss  Susan  J.  Chamberlain,  a  young  lady 
highly  respected  and  possessed  of  considerable 
property,  with  whom  he  lived  happily  until  his 
death.  In  1875  Jo^"  W.  Chamberlain,  a  brother  of 
Mrs.  Hamilton,  visited  them  and  shared  their  hos- 
pitalities, remaining  about  two  weeks  ;  then  went  to 

Texas,  and  while  there  wrote  several  letters  to  Ham- 
29 


2  26  HISTORY  OF 

ilton,  requesting  the  loan  of  money,  to  which  Ham- 
ilton replied  that  he  could  not  spare  it  from  his  busi- 
ness. About  the  last  of  November  Chamberlain  re- 
turned, and  visited  them  again,  and  Hamilton  let 
him  have  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Chamber- 
lain left,  telling  him  that  he  was  going  to  his  home  in 
Ohio  ;  but  on  the  afternoon  of  December  i6,  1875, 
he  returned,  met  Hamilton  at  the  postoffice,  and 
conversed  in  a  friendly  manner,  walking  along  with 
him  to  the  Citizens  Bank,  where  Hamilton  made  his 
daily  deposits.  Chamberlain  followed  him  into  the 
bank.  As  Hamilton  approached  the  counter.  Cham- 
berlain drew  a  revolver  and  shot  him  in  the  back  of 
the  head,  at  the  base  of  the  brain,  killing  him  in- 
stantlv.  Chamberlain  was  arrested  and  held  for 
trial  at  the  March  term  of  court  thereafter.  He  ob- 
tained a  change  of  venue  to  Douglas  county,  where 
he  was  tried  at  the  June  term  of  tiiat  court,  1876, 
found  guilty  of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  and 
was  sentenced  to  hard  labor  in  the  State  penitentiary 
for  twenty-one  years. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  1871,  Isaac  M.  Ruth,  of 
Lawrence,  died  ver}-  suddenly,  and  under  ver}-  sus- 
picious circumstances.  A  post  mortem  examination 
of  his  body  developed  the  fact  that  he  had  come  to 
his  death  by  means  of  poison.  The  coroner's  jury 
returned  a-verdict  that  he  died  from  the  effects  of 
poison,  administered  to  him  by  one  John  J.  Medli- 
cott.  Medlicott  was  arrested  on  a  charge  of  murder, 
and  committed  to  jail  to  await  a  trial  on  such  charge, 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  227 

at  the  next  term  of  the  district  court  of  Doughis 
county.  An  information  was  tiled  against  him  for  the 
murder  of  Ruth.  The  defendant  (Medlicott)  tiled 
a  petition  for  a  change  of  venue  from  the  county  of 
Douglas,  on  account  of  the  bias  and  prejudice  of 
the  citizens  of  Douglas  county  against  him.  The 
court  granted  a  change  of  venue,  and  ordered  that 
the  cause  be  removed  to  Anderson  county  for  trial, 
at  a  special  term  of  the  district  court  of  said  county, 
begun  on  the  9th  day  of  October,  1871.  Present: 
O.  A.  Bassett,  judge;  G.  A.  Cook,  sheriff:  G.  M. 
Everline,  clerk.  On  the  opening  of  the  court  the 
Judge  announced  that  this  term  of  the  court  had 
been  called  for  the  trial  of  the  case  of  the  State  of 
Kansas  vs.  John  J.  Medlicott.  The  following  gen- 
tlemen appeared  as  counsel  for  the  State  :  Thomas 
Fenlon,  Esq.,  of  Leavenworth  ;  John  Hutchings, 
Esq.,  count}'  attorney  of  Douglas  county  ;  Col.  C.  B. 
Mason,  county  attorney  of  Franklin  county ;  and 
John  S.  Wilson,  county  attorney  of  Anderson 
county.  The  defendant  was  represented  b}'  his 
counsel.  Judge  S.  O.  Thacher  and  W.  W.  Nevison, 
Esq.,  of  Lawrence,  and  W.  A.  Johnson,  of  Garnett. 
Two  days  were  consumed  in  the  selection  of  a  jury. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  jurors  iinally  selected 
and  sworn  to  try  the  cause  :  iV.  Stevens,  J.  E. 
White,  C.  G.  Ellis,  Sewell  Kidder,  H.  Bevington, 
John  Aldridge,  J.  J.  Douglass,  Melvin  Cottle,  John 
Forbes,  Robert  Burke,  Michael  Glennen  and  J.  Q. 


2  28  HISTORY    OF 

Hutchinson.     Col.  C.  B.  Mason  delivered  the  open- 
ing address    on    behalf    of    the   prosecution. 

This  case  occupied  some  eighteen  days  in  its  trial. 
The  jury  were  kept  together  in  charge  of  the  sheriff 
for  twenty-two  days.  It  was  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant criminal  trials  that  has  been  tried  in  the 
State.  Most  of  the  leading  papers  of  the  country 
had  representatives  here  reporting  the  proceedings 
of  the  trial,  which  were  pubHshed  each  da}'  as  the 
case  progressed.  Many  eminent  scientific  witnesses 
were  brought  here  to  testify  on  the  trial  of  the  case. 
Prominent  among  them  was  Prof.  Wormley,  profes- 
sor of  chemistry  and  toxicology  in  the  Sterling  Med- 
ical College,  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  author  of  "Worm- 
ley  on  the  Micro-Chemistry  of  Poisons." 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  October  the  jury, 
after  being  out  over  night,  returned  into  court  with 
a  verdict  of  guiltv  of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  and 
the  court  thereupon  sentenced  the  defendant  to  be 
executed  by  hanging  by  the  neck  until  dead.  The 
defendant's  counsel  filed  exceptions  to  the  ruling 
and  judgment  of  the  court,  and  appealed  the  case 
to  the  Supreme  Court.  On  the  hearing  of  the  case 
in  the  Supreme  Court  it  reversed  the  judgment  of  the 
district  court  and  a  new  trial  was  granted.  The 
Supreme  Court  held  that  the  Ruth  letter  was  improp- 
erly admitted  in  evidence,  there  being  no  evidence 
going  to  prove  that  it  was  written  at  a  time  and  un- 
der such  circumstances  as  to  entitle  it  to  be  received 
as  the  dying  declarations  of  Ruth. 


ANDERSON     COUNTY.  229 

At  the  March  term.  1872,  of  the  district  court  in 
Anderson  county,  the  count\'  attorney  of  Doualas 
county  appeared  and  entered  a  nolle  prosequi  in  the 
case.  The  Ruth  letter  hayino-  been  held  not  to  be 
proper  eyidence  against  the  defendant,  and  it  being 
all  the  eyidence  that  tended  to  connect  Medlicott 
^yith  Ruth's  death,  Medlicott  \yas  discharged  from 
jail  and  immediately  left  the  State. 

There  were  many  theories  and  diyisions  among 
the  people  as  to  the  cause  of  Ruth's  death  and  the 
ijuilt  of  Medlicott.  The  matter  is  still  a  mystery, 
and  will  probably  so  remain. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Naiues  of  the  Soldiers  of  Anderson  County  zvho 
Served  in  the  War  for  the  Suppression  of  the  Re- 
fiellion — Names  of  the  Heroic  Dead,  zvho  Sacrifieed 
their  Lives  in  the  Cause  of  their  Country. 

On  the  14th  day  of  April,  1861,  the  whole  nation 
was  startled  by  the  announcement  that  the  proud 
ension  of  the  nation  was  lowered  from  the  flag  staff 
of    Fort    Sumter,    and     tiie     gallant    defenders    of 


2T,0  HISTORY   OF" 

that  garrison  had  been  overpowered  and  com- 
pelled to  surrender,  after  two  days'  fearful  cannon- 
ading, and  a  rebellious  ensign  flaunted  as  the  em- 
blem of  a  new  nationality  over  a  national  fortress, 
from  whence  the  American  flag  had  been  lowered. 
The  news,  borne  by  the  electric  flash  throughout 
the  land,  was  astounding  and  instantaneous,  and 
men  throughout  the  loyal  States  were  soon  clad  in 
full  panoply  of  war.  The  nation,  one  day  pursuing 
the  usual  avocations  of  peace,  is  the  next  in  full  ar- 
mor of  war.  The  citizen  retired  at  night  a  civilian  ; 
he  arose  in  the  morn  a  soldier. 

The  first  call  for  volunteers  was  made  on  the  15th 
of  April,  the  next  day  after  Fort  Sumter  had  surren- 
dered, and  on  the  30th  of  May  following  the  first 
Kansas  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  and 
on  the  march  to  the  front,  and  thus  in  quick  succes- 
sion regiment  after  regiment  was  recruited  and  mus- 
tered into  the  service,  until,  in  1863,  Kansas  had 
sixteen  regiments  and  two  batteries  of  artillery  in  the 
field.  Anderson  county  was  represented  by  her 
brave  and  heroic  men  in  each  of  these  regiments 
and  batteries.  They  went  forth  at  the  call  of  the 
country  to  help  suppress  the  most  wicked  and  stu- 
pendous rebellion  that  had  ever  characterized  the 
history  of  a  nation,  and  the  gallant  sons  of  Anderson 
county,  in  whatever  conflict  they  have  been  engaged, 
have  permitted  none  to  eclipse  their  personal  bravery. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  State,  in  his  report 
of  the  Kansas  regiments,  says : 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  23I 

*'  The  luiiiiht'r  of  Kansas  hci'dcs,  dead  14)011  a  liKiidrcd 
hattle  fields,  attests  at  once  the  pei-soual  coiirajie  of. the 
^sokliel•.  aiidliis  devotion  to  tlie  State  and  his  loyalty  to  the 
federal  I'nioii,  who  in  peace  jn-oves  his  faith  by  the  sweat 
of  his  l)row.  and  in  war  hy  the  blood  of  his  breast. "" 

The  noble  and  heroic  boyy  of  Anderson  county 
who  left  home  and  friends  and  volunteered  at  their 
country's  call,  and  went  forth  to  lielp  suppress  the 
rebellion,  and  imperiled  their  lives  on  the  many  bat- 
tle fields,  or  in  the  prison  pens  of  the  South,  deserve 
to  be  kindlv  remembered  bv  their  survivinjif  com- 
rades  and  the  public  generally,  and  their  names  should 
be  perpetuated  in  the  history  of  the  country,  and 
their  services  and  sacrifices  dul}-  and  highl}^  appre- 
ciated. 

We  here  append  the  names  of  the  brave  boys  of 
the  county  who  served  in  the  arm}-  during  the  rebel- 
lion : 

James  (J.  IJlunt.  lieutenant  cdIoiu'I.  Third  regiment  Kan- 
sas volunteers  ;  promoted  t(»  briuadiei-yeneral,  April,  lH<i2, 
and  afterwards  to  major  jjeiieral. 

SECOND    KANSAS    INFANTRY — THHKK    MONTHS*   SERVICE. 

Company  E — Samuel  J.  Crawford,  captain;  John  (J. 
Lindsay,  tirst  lienteuant;  Samuel  K.  Cross,  second  lieu- 
tenant ;  Henry  Niioent.  ensign;  John  -Johnston,  orderly 
serjicant ;  David  Wright,  IJ.  II.  1*.  Siiodurass,  Zach.  Xor- 
ris,  Ilugh  (^uinn,  sergeants;  James  F.  Walker,  James  L. 
Kercheval,  James  L.  Wilson,  corporals ;  Henry  Neal,  Rob- 
ert Beck,  George  Bacon,  musicians;  Charles  Ballanee. 
Thomas  H.  liallard,  John  Campbell,  Thomas  Dykes,  David 
S.  Eaton,  Edward  Farrah.  Jacob  Fields,  James  K.  Herd, 
Albert  fJohnson,  (ieorge  Johnson,  K/A-a  Kirkland,  William 
Kline,   John    Xorris,  Charles  Paul,    James    Paul,  Albert 


HISTORY   OF 


Williams,  Samuel  Winkleplcck.  privates. 

SECOND    KANSAS   CAVALRY — THRKK    YEARS'    SERVICE. 

C()mi)aiiy  A — Sainiiel  J.  Crawford  (i)r()m<>te(l  to  colonel 
of  Second  Kansas  colored).  .Joim  -Johnston  (promoted  to 
major),  captains;  Samuel  K.  Cross,  tirst  lieutenant  ;  Henry 
Nugent,  orderly  ser^^^eant  :  Henry  S.  Shannon,  (piartei-- 
master  sergeant ;  Hugh  (^uinn  (promoted  to  captain  in 
Second  Arkansas  cavalry).  James  L.  Wilson,  Ezra  Homine, 
John  P.  Hiner.  sergeants;  Abisha  Stowell,  Charles  T. 
Williams,  James  A.  (ioocli,  Kdward  Wilson,  corporals: 
Barnett  Ashburn,  Thomas  IJallard,  John  W.  Ballard. 
Stephen  M.  Bockover,  John  A.  Bockover.  Jacob  L.  Bock- 
over,    Abram  S.    Burch,    John    Campbell,    Jacob    Fields. 


Albert  ^auisoery,  i  iieopnoiis  MniTii^:Marnn  v.ii.Maiiey 
William  H.  H.  Stanwood,  James  B.  Tenbrook,  William  B 
V^ess, Valentine  Weinheimer,  Samuel  Winklepleck,  William 
Blizzard.   (i(M)rge   A.  Cami)bell.  William  H.  Channell.  pri- 
vates. 

Company  C — Leaventine  Blummer.  John  Plumiiier.  ^tri- 
vates. 

FIFTH    KANSAS    CAVAI.KY. 

Company  K^ — Jeremiah  C.  Johnson,  tirst  lieutenant: 
Alexander  KiKsli,  secoiul  lieutenant:  August  Bondi,  ser- 
geant; John  W.  Pattee,  William  »!.  Wade,  George  Lewis, 
corporals  ;  Freeman  F.  Austin.  Jacob  F.  M.  Frank.  James 
B.  Frank,  John  (ieith.  William  B.  Lewis.  Hobert  Mc- 
Laughlin, Thomas  Wade.  John  P..  Maness.  John  B.  Stitt. 
Kdward  Wade,  privates. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  233 

SEVENTH    KANSAS    CAVALRY. 

Coiupaiiy  G — D.  W.  Houston,  first  lieutenant  (in-oiuoted 
to  captain  of  company  H,  and  aftevAvard  to  lieutenant  col- 
onel); Zacli.  Xoi-ris,  first  lieutenant ;  William  Tett't,  quar- 
termaster sergeant;  Joseph  Y.  Alexander,  William  B. 
Springer,  Miles  Morris,  Ephraim  Reynolds,  George  W. 
Arrell.  sergeants  ;  James  M.  Tefft,  Xoah  V.  Ness,  James  F. 
JIamby,  corporals;  William  X.  Flamby,  jr.,  musician; 
Isaac  Morley,  farrier;  Bernard  Setter,  saddler;  Hiram 
Driggs,  Jesse  Hari)er,  William  N.  Hamby,  sen.,  William 
Lampman,  John  W.  Minton,  Thomas  Newton,  George  H. 
T.  Spring(>r.  Plia  Teft't,  Marcus  L.  Underwood,  AVilliam 
Williams,  John  W.  Young.  Alfred  W.  Jones,  John  Norris, 
David  Ruckel,  James  W.  Springer,  Joseph  Wilhite,  Daniel 
().  Kief,  Martin  Ueda,  Elijah  Pruett,  William  F.  R.  Paul, 
Abner  B.  (ilover,  Dorsey  McAfee,  John  Pangborn,  Henry 
Poteet,  Joseph  ().  Smith,  Jesse  Stephenson,  Martin  Setter, 
John  t^J.  Tefl^"!,  Melvin  Cottle,  privates. 

EIGHTH    KANSAS    INFANTRY. 

Jolm  Buterbaugh,  assistant  surgeon. 

Company  F — George  G.  Price,  sergeant;  George  W. 
Mathews,  corporal ;  James  M.  Day,  John  H.  Day,  Abram 
liosa,  xVndrew  llichards.  Squire  Rosa,  David  AVitt,  i)ri- 
vates. 

NINTH    KANSAS    CAVALRY. 

( Miarles  T.  Cooper,  regimental  commissary. 

Company  C — Thomas  McKniglit,  sergeant;  Benjamin 
F.  Ayres  (promoted  to  first  lieutenant),  Josejih  Mundell, 
Samuel  Mundell,  privates. 

Company  D — Henry  M.  Anderson,  Virgil  M.  Hollomou, 
Charles  S.  McCoon,  James  Rumley,  Thomas  J.  Rumley, 
Henry  Wiggins,  privates. 

Company  F — Conrad  B.  Alder,  private. 

Company  H — H.  N.  F.  Reed,  second  lieutenant  (after- 
wards promoted  to  captain  of  company  I)  ;  David  Hester, 
orderly  sergeant  (afterwards  promoted  to  first  lieutenant 
30 


234  HISTORY  OF 

of  (•(>in]>any  (') ;  Jacob  H.  Shiolds.  William  H.  Nicliolf!. 
E(l\\  anl  liiilson,  Henry  Strickland,  Cyrus  H.  Lowry.  Al- 
fred Brown,  William  P,  Aldrid^c,  Cliarlcs  A.  Hankin, 
Jame.s  K.  Eaton,  sergoants ;  Daniel  Harmon,  William  U. 
Hill,  Thos.  Means,  Jesse  Sutton,  John  Aldridjie,  corporals  ; 
James  M.  Aldridjii'.  William  Cooper,  Ottawa  Sutton,  Ked- 
inyton  J.  Shields,  Travis  Farmer,  William  Starr.  Julian  S. 
White,  Herbert  Brown,  AVilliam  (t.  Eaton,  John  J.Martin, 
Patrick  B.  Redinjiton.  William  Skinner.  Eliliue  Wilson, 
privates. 

TENTH    KANSAS    INFANTRY. 

Company  C — Charles  Brown,  serjicant  ([)rom(ited  to 
lirst  lieutenant.  April  1,1863);  Thomas  Spencer,  Joim  E. 
Blunt  (promoted  to  lirst  lieutenant  in  1862),  corporals  ; 
Perry  Kirkland,  musician;  Christian  Barham,  Henry  Bar- 
liam,  Abner  Heflin,  Samuel  Stronji',  Eli  Barham,  Marcus 
M.  ^'inton,  P^dward  C  lioss.  James  H.  Farraii,  THoiuas  R. 
Ea<j;g',  A.  R.  (xarrett,  Solomon  Kauft'man  (promoted  to 
lirst  lieutenant,  September  11, 1862,  and  to  captain,  May  28, 
1863),  Joseph  Kiesler,  John  A.  Kirkland.  Joseph  Kinji-, 
A.  Reynolds.  Nathaniel  Sprijijrs.  Malichi  Tyler.  [)rivates. 

Company  H — Thomas  R.  Morris,  James  L.  Morris,  Hi- 
ram Vess.  privates. 

Company  I — Harry  AV.  Stubblelield,  sergeant  ;  John  Jil- 
lison.  Thomas  D.  Masterson.  John  Martin.  John  ^Ic  I). 
Martin.  Mark  Perkins,  (reorge  H.  Sater,  privates. 

ELEVENTH    KANSAS. 

David  H.  ,[ohnson,  hospital  steward. 

Company  F — J,  G.  Reese,  John  (x.  Lindsay,  captains; 
George  W.  Sinions,  lirst  lieutenant ;  Marvin  H.  Payne, 
second  lieutenant ;  John  Horn,  orderly  sergeant ;  David  C. 
Lowe.  Francis  McShane,  William  L.  Frankenberger.  quar- 
termaster sergeants;  Samuel  H.  Furgeson.  P^ber  L.  Hay- 
wood, David  A.  AV'hipp.  Thomas  S.  Kelley,  David  D.  Judy, 
Lloyd  Sparr,  sergeants  ;  James  L.  Kercheval,  George  Bar- 
ker, William  R,  Borrer,  Frank  Fenhouse,  AVilliam  F.  Hiatt. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  235 

(Miri^ftian  Rcbstock,  P'rank  Minor,  Allen  G.  Poteet,  Wil- 
liam K.  Ingram,  Bcnjaniin  F.  AV'ebb.  Hiram  Sprijiys,  ^yil- 
liam  MfCrrew.  James  Rogers.  Wilbei"  I).  West,  corporals  ; 
.Fonathan  Bigelow,  farrier;  Win.  Bendall,  John  Sullivan, 
buglers;  William  Ayass,  Henry  Ayass,  Charles  Ashburn, 
Enoch  W.  Barker,  John  Burns,  John  Bingamon, 
Nathan  W.  Barker,  Charles  W.  Backer,  Jackson 
Black,  Allen  W.  Bingamon,  Chester  Cummings,  John 
Campbell.  Robert  W.  Corker,  (ieorge  W.  Carlyle,  Charles 
E.  Dewey,  Hewitt  Dixon,  Henry  V.  Dart,  Charles  Drake, 
John  B.  Dilday,  Levi  Daniel,  John  H.  Feuerborn.  Joshua 
(h-itiith,  Jolm  Hall,  Ishum  C.  Hudnall,  Robert  Hart,  Ira  E. 
Hollomon,  John  H.  Hydorn,  Thomas  Hunt,  Isaac  Hull, 
Joseph  M.  Hiner,  Homer  Johnson,  Cyrus  K.  Johnson, 
Richard  A.  Jones,  Frederick  Tochterman.  Robert  H. 
^£oore,  John  R.  Montgomery,  Abram  R.  Munuiw,  Archi- 
bald McCxrew,  William  A.  Majors,  Georg-e  Manlove,  Ad- 
dison Morris,  Manly  M.  Minkler,  James  J.  Mason,  Ad- 
donijah  Maness.  John  P.  Oswold,  Elisha  J.  Peters,  David 
S.  Peters,  Charles  Pritchard,  Henry  Paul,  John  Pickett, 
Alexander  Rush  (promoted  to  captain  in  the  Second  Kan- 
sas colored),  AV^illiam  Rebstock,  John  H.  Smith,  John  H. 
Sliultz,  John  Zeitzler,  Samuel  S.  Stailey,  James  E.  Tanks- 
ley,  William  \"ess,  John  Winklepleck,  Henry  A\^estmier, 
J)auiel  W.  Wright.  Charles  W.  Young-,  Isaac  N,  Beeler, 
Ernestes  P.  (rilpatrick  (promoted  to  tirst  lieutenant),  Wil- 
liam D.  Hamilton,  Chester  C.  Johnson,  Isaac  Norton, 
Henry  Putnam,  James  Paul,  James  Rogers,  Thomas  J. 
Shultz,  Thomas  Severns,  John  Severns,  John  Sutton,  John 
Taylor,  Martin  McGrew,  privates. 

TWKT.FTH    KANSAS    INFAXTKV. 

Thomas  Lindsay,  assistant  surgeon. 

Company  G — Alexander  McArthur,  tirst  lieutenant ; 
Frank  H.  Crum,  orderly  sergeant;  William  McLaughlin, 
sergeant  ;  William  M.  Agiiew,  V^.  M.  Hollomon,  William 
Q.  Wickersham,  Robert  AYhitson,  corj^orals  ;  AVilson  An- 


236  HISTORY    OF  * 

d('i"8on.  William  Biiuillc.  .loscpli  L.  p]!it()n,  James  ('.  Kelso, 
Ezra  Kesselring'.  Julius  ^[atliews.  Samuel  T.  Niehols. 
David  n.  Pattee,  IJeiijaniin  F.  Pattee,  Francis  M.  Pettit. 
Louis  (i.  Pajiain.  (ieoi'tJfe  A.  Shields.  William  I).  Whitsoii. 
Williaiu  J.  Williams,  privates. 

FIFTEENTH    KANSAS    CAVALKV. 

f'ompaiiy  ^1 — AV.  A.  Joliiisoii.  (•a])taiii  :  .lereiuiah  ('. 
Johnson,  commissary  serjicant ;  Charles  I'aul,  sergeant  ; 
Calvin  (t.  Chaftee,  Thomas  Dykes,  Ellas  U,  Johnson,  James 
Moore,  Hugh  McNulty,  William  E.  South,  Thomas  S.  Ty- 
ler, privates ;   Charles  W.  Warren,  musician. 

SIXTEENTH    KANSAS    CAVALRY. 

Company  II — II.  W.  Stubbletield,  captain. 

Company  L — Jesse  Baker.  Henry  C.  Dennison,  Heniy 
Gadbery,  Jackson  Gadbery.  Daniel  W.  Hc>over,  Isaac 
Johnson,  Martin  V.  Kimmel.  William  T.  Kimmel,  Hanson 
Mundell.  William  F.  Priest.  II.  L.  Poplin.  Charles  Sump- 
tion, John  T.  Smith.  Jaines  South.  I.  P.  Sutton,  flacob  C. 
Sutton.  Andrew  South,  Nathan  White,  William  A.  Ward, 
privates. 

W.  G.  Nichols,  John  G.  McCiue,  John  Pangborn.  James 
Townsley,  John  R.  Sutton.  Thomas  Tovtiisley.  [)rivates. 

SECOND    KANSAS    COLORED. 

G.  W.  Walg'amott.  surgeon;  J.  II.  Montgomery,  adju- 
tant :  George  W.  Sands,   captain  company   E. 

ET;EVENTH    U.    S.    CODOREI). 

Ernestes  P.  Crilpatrick  and  Alanson  Simons,  tirst  lieuten- 
ants. 

FIRST    KANSAS    BATTERY. 

B.  P.  Brown,  private. 

SECOND    KANSAS    BATTERY. 

William  C.  C-askey.  David  Moyer,  Thomas  Salkeld,  J. 
M.  Stigenwalt,  A.  J.  Stigenwalt.  |)rivates. 

When  the  wicked  rebelHon  had  been  suppressed, 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  237 

and  the  brave  men  had  been  in  the  service,  man}-  of 
them  for  more  than  three  3-ears,  and  encountered  all 
the  hardships  incident  to  a  soldier's  life  on  the 
march,  in  camp  or  in  the  din  of  battle,  in 
the  prison  pen  or  the  hospital,  the  survivors  of  these 
hardships  returned  to  their  homes  and  families  to  en- 
jo^•  the  blessings  of  peace.  But  on  their  return 
manv  sad  hearts  ached  for  the  loss  of  a  dear  hus- 
band, father,  brother  or  son  that  had  gone  away  in 
the  full  strength  and  \'igor  of  manhood,  but  had 
fallen  in  the  cause  of  his  country  and  is  now  sleeping 
in  a  bloody  and  unknown  grave,  leaving  his  deeds  of 
valor  and  his  sufferings  to  be  told  by  surviving 
comrades,  and  his  memory  to  be  perpetuated  in  his- 
tory, and  his  service  and  sufferings  to  be  apprecia- 
ted by  all  loyal  and  liberty-loving  people  of  the  na- 
tion. 

The  followino-  are  the  names  of  the  heroic  dead 
who  sacrificed  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  their 
country  : 

Albert  Saiilf^bery,  private  coiiipany  A,  Second  Kansas. 

Sergeant  If.  FI.  P.  Snodjirass  and  corporal  Albert  John- 
son, company  E,  Second  Kansas. 

Corporals  William  J.  Wade  and  (ieorge  Lewis,  and  ])ri- 
vates  Freenian  V.  Austin,  .lacob  F.  Frank.  James  1>. 
Frank.  John  Gerth.  William  IJ.  Lewis  and  Robert McLauu'h- 
lin,  company  K,  Fifth  Kansas. 

Sergeant  F]phraim  Reynolds,  corporals  Xcndi  \'.  Vess  and 
James  F.  Ihunby,  Isaac  Morley,  farrier,  and  JohnC^.  Teft"t. 
])rivate.  company  Ct,  Seventh  Kansas. 

Sergeant  (Tcorge  G.  Frice,  and  David  Witt,  i)rivate. 
company  F.  P^ighth  Kansas. 


238  ANDERSON    COUNTY. 

Sei'jicantrt  Jacob  R.  81iiekls,  William  II.  Nichols  and 
llcnrv  Strickland,  and  pi-ivates  Rcdinjiton  .1.  Shields,  Wil- 
liam Starr,  Julian  S.  White,  William  Skinner.  Samuel 
Mundell  and  David  V.  Bethurem,  (-ompany  II,  Ninth  Kan- 
sas, 

Corporal  Thomas  S])encer,  and  i)rivates  Nathaniel 
Sprijij^s,  Edward  ('.  lloss,  Malichi  Tyler  and  James  H. 
Karrali,  (company  (',  Tenth  Kansas. 

Corporal  Benjamin  F.  Webb,  and  privates  Nathan  W, 
Barker,  Charles  W.  Backer,  Robert  W.  Crocker,  Charles 
Drake,  Frederick  Tochterman,  Isaac  Hull.  James  J.  Mason. 
.Vthlonijah  Maness,  John  II.  Smith,  John  Winklei)leck. 
Henry  Westmier,  David  W.  Wrijiht,  Charles  W.  Youni>- 
and  Isaac  N.  Beeler,  comi)any  F,  Eleventh  Kansas. 

()r(h'rly  Serjeant  Frank  II.  Crum,  and  privates  Francis 
-M.  Pettit  and  William  I),  Whitson,  company  (i,  Twelfth 
Kansas. 

James  Moore,  i)rivate,  company  M,  Fifteenth  Kansas. 

Alexander  Rush,  captain  of  company  II,  Second  Kansas 
coloi'ed. 

Ilujih  Quinn,  captain.  Second  Arkansas  cavalry. 

B.  P.  Brown,  private.  First  Kansas  battery. 

William  (t.  Nichols  and  Thomas  Townsley,  privales. 
Sixteenth  Kansas. 

Anderson  county  had  four  hundred  and  twenty 
volunteers  in  the  service  during  the  rebelHon,  and 
out  of  that  number  tifty-six  were  killed  and  died  of 
disease  while  in  the  service. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Triah  of  Felonies^  etc. 

Brockholt  Tyi.er's  store  in  Canton  was  broken 
open  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  a  lot  of  goods  were 
stolen.  In  January,  1862,  a  search  was  made  for 
the  stolen  goods  at  the  house  of  a  man  by  the  name 
of  J.  G.  Smythe,  living  on  the  Pottowatomie,  two 
miles  north  of  Central  City,  and  about  twelve  miles 
distant  from  Tyler's  store.  Smythe  was  a  man  who 
had  never  been  suspected  of  the  commission  of 
crime  ;  had  always  been  regarded  as  an  honest  man 
and  a  worthy  christian  :  but  in  the  search  the  stolen 
goods  were  found  in  his  house.  He  had  on  his  per- 
son some  of  the  goods  at  the  time.  The  announce- 
ment was  astoundingto  every  person  within  Smythe's 
acquaintance.  He  was  arrested  and  had  a  prelimi- 
nary examination  before  Wm.  Dennis,  J.  P.  The 
justice  found  him  guilty  on  the  examination,  and 
bound  him  over  for  his  appearance  at  the  next  term  of 
the  district  court  to  answer  for  the  larceny.  At  the 
March  term  of  the  court,  1862,  the  grand  jury  found 
an  indictment  against  him.  He  was  put  on  trial  and 
found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiar}'  for 
a  term  of  one  year.  It  was  always  a  question  of 
grave  doubt  whether  he  was  guilty  of  the  theft,  but 


240 


HISTORY   OF* 


the  goods  were  found  in  his  possession  and  he  wa.s 
never  able  to  give  a  satisfactory  account  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  got  thetn.  He  chiimed  to  have 
purchased  them  from  a  man  who  was  traveling  in 
a  two-horse  wagon.  It  is  believed  by  many  persons 
that  the  store  was  robbed  by  a  man  named  Baggs, 
who  was  formerly  in  Tyler's  emplo^^ment.  Smythe 
only  remained  in  prison  about  two  months,  when  he 
was  pardoned  by  the  Governor.  The  case  being 
surrounded  by  such  grave  doubts,  and  Smythe' s  gen- 
eral character  being  so  good,  m(;st  of  the  citizens 
signed  a  petition  for  his  pardon.  Smythe  was  the 
tirst  person  ever  convicted  of  a  felony  in  the  county. 

In  the  winter  of  1863  a  man  by  the  name  of  Louis 
Perrier,  a  half-breed  Indian,  living  on  the  Neosho 
river  near  the  present  town  of  Erie,  stole  a  fine  mare 
from  W.  J.  Bayles.  He  was  pursued  to  his  home 
and  arrested,  brought  back  to  Garnett,  and  put  on 
trial  at  the  March  term  of  court,  in  1864,  found 
guilty,  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  a  term  of  five 
years. 

George  S.  Holt's  store,  in  Mount  Gilead,  was 
broken  open  in  the  spring  of  1863.  After  consider- 
able investigation  it  was  ascertained  that  a  lot  of 
goods  such  as  Holt  had  lost  were  in  the  possession 
of  a  colored  man  by  the  name  of  Douglas,  at  Osa- 
watomie.  A  search  warrant  was  issued,  and  when 
the  officer  searched  his  house  a  large  amount  of 
the  goods  were  found  in  his  possession.  He  was 
arrested  and  brought    to    Mount  Gilead  for   exam- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  24I 

ination.  He  had  his  trial  before  D.  W.  Smith,  J.  P., 
admitted  his  guilt,  and  implicated  other  parties  with 
being  participants  in  the  crime.  They  were  arrested 
and  tried,  but  there  being  no  other  evidence  against 
them  they  were  discharged.  Douglass  was  commit- 
ted to  jail  to  answer  the  crime  of  larceny  and  bur- 
glary, but  was  permitted  to  volunteer  in  the  army, 
and  went  into  the  service,  and  consequently  was 
never  tried  or  punished  for  the  crime. 

In  the  summer  of  1867,  when  Van  Amburgh's 
show  was  in  Garnett,  a  difficulty  arose  between  some 
showmen  and  Manuel  Denny,  when  a  young  man  by 
the  name  of  Peter  Sells,  one  of  the  employes  of  the 
show,  rushed  upon  Denny  with  a  large  tent  pin, 
with  an  iron  band  around  the  top,  and  struck  Denny 
over  the  head,  knocking  him  insensible.  Sells  was 
arrested  on  a  charge  of  an  assault  with  intent  to 
kill,  and  committed  to  jail  to  await  his  trial.  He 
was  tried  at  the  September  term  of  the  court  in  1867, 
and  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary 
for  a  term  of  one  year.  Sells  was  a  young  man, 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  a  stranger  here. 

A  most  unfortunate  occurrence  took  place  in  the 
spring  of  1868.  Isaac  Bulson  and  H.  M.  Anderson 
were  near  neighbors,  Anderson  living  on  Bulson's 
farm.  Bulson's  horse  got  into  Anderson's  corn, 
when  Anderson  tied  the  horse  up.  Bulson  sent  his 
little  boys  over  to  Anderson's  for  the  horse,  and 
Anderson  sent  the  boys  away  without  it,  and 
told  them  to  tell  their  father  to  come  over  himself. 
31 


242  HISTORY  OF 

Bulson  went  over  to  get  the  horse,  and  when  he 
was  untying  it  Anderson  came  out,  when  a 
fight  took  place  between  them,  and  in  the  fight  Bul- 
son took  out  his  knife  and  stabbed  Anderson  in  two 
or  three  places.  Bulson  was  arrested  on  a  charge 
of  an  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  was  bound  over  to 
court,  was  tried,  convicted  and  sent  to  the  peniten- 
tiary for  one  year.  He  was  pardoned  before  the 
expiration  of  his  term.  At  the  time  of  the  trial  of 
this  case  there  was  strong  prejudice  against  Bulson, 
on  account  of  some  suits  that  he  had  been  engaged 
in  in  the  courts  of  this  county,  just  previous  to  this 
matter. 

In  the  summer  of  1869  John  Martin  stole  a  horse 
from  C.  E.  Dewey,  and  took  it  to  Ottawa  and  sold  it. 
He  was  arrested  for  the  larcen}-,  bound  over  to 
court,  and  in  the  September  following  he  was  tried 
in  the  district  court,  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to 
the  penitentiary  for  a  term  of  five  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1872  Henry  Knox  broke  into 
the  dwelling  house  of  J.  P.  Crane,  in  the  night  time. 
Crane  woke  up  and  heard  foot-steps  in  his  kitchen, 
got  up  and  went  into  the  kitchen,  when  he  met  the 
burglar.  Knox  at  once  attacked  Crane,  but  the  lat- 
ter proved  of  too  great  strength  for  him,  so  he  beat 
a  hasty  retreat  through  one  of  the  back  windows  and 
fled.  In  the  scuffle  he  lost  his  hat,  and  in  getting 
through  the  window  got  considerably  cut  by  the 
broken  glass.  It  was  so  dark  that  Crane  was  un- 
able   to  recognize  the  man.     In   the  scuffle  he  bit 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  243 

Crane  on  the  arm  so  as  lo  leave  visible  prints  of  his 
teeth  for  several  da3's.  The  next  day  the  officers  got 
track  of  him,  and  followed  him  to  La  Cygne  ;  ar- 
rested him  on  a  charge  of  burglary,  and  brought  him 
back.  He  was  tried  and  convicted,  and  sent  to  the 
penitentiary  for  a  term  of  seven  years.  Knox  was 
a  stranger  in  this  county  ;  he  lived  at  Paola. 

In  1874  ^  young  man  by  the  name  of  William  Ma- 
lone  was  arrested  for  the  larceny  of  some  cattle  be- 
longing to  Alexander  Seber.  Malone  was  tried  at  the 
September  term  of  the  district  court,  1874,  found 
guilty,  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  a  term  of  four 
years. 

At  the  March  term  of  the  district  court,  1876, 
Michael  Amy  was  tried  for  an  assault  with  intent  to 
commit  a  rape  on  the  person  of  Myra  Hull.  Amy 
was  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary 
for  a  period  of  four  years.  Amy  is  a  man  about 
fifty  3'ears  of  age  ;  the  girl  alleged  to  have  been  as- 
saulted was  about  twelve  or  thirteen  years  old. 

In  the  year  1874  William  Dennj'^'s  house  was  en- 
tered and  a  lot  of  clothing  stolen.  The  burglars 
fled  south.  The}'  were  pursued  down  the  Neosho 
river  to  near  lola,  and  were  overtaken,  arrested  and 
brought  to  Garnett,  under  the  charge  of  burglary 
and  larceny.  The  men's  names  were  William  Flem- 
ing and Paul.     Fleming  was  tried  at  the  March 

term,  1875,  found  guilty  of  burglary  in  the  third  de- 
gree and  larceny,  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  a 
term  of  three  years.     The  Governor  afterward,  on 


244  HISTORY   OF 

petition,  commuted  his  sentence  to  two  3'ears.  Paul 
was  taken  from  the  officers  b}'  the  United  States 
marshal,  before  his  trial,  and  taken  before  the  U. 
S.  courts. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  Washington  Waterman 
stole  a  horse  from  George  A.  Smith  and  took  it  to 
Wichita,  and  sold  it.  Waterman  was  afterwards  ar- 
rested at  Humboldt,  and  committed  to  jail.  At  the 
September  term  of  the  court  he  plead  guilty  to  the 
charge  of  larcen}',  and  was  sentenced  to  the  peni- 
tentiary for  two  years.  He  is  an  old  man  and  a 
hardened  criminal. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  county,  twenty 
years  ago,  there  has  been  one  conviction  of  mur- 
der in  the  first  degree,  and  the  convict  sentenced  to 
death  :  but  the  execution  was  prevented  by  a  pardon 
from  the  Governor.  Two  convictions  of  murder  in 
the  second  degree,  and  the  convicts  sentenced  to  the 
penitentiar}',  one  for  twelve  years  and  the  other 
twenty-one  years.  One  conviction  for  manslaugh- 
ter in  the  second  degree,  and  the  convict  sentenced 
to  the  penitentiary  for  five  years.  There  have  been 
ten  convictions  for  various  other  felonies  of  a  lower 
grade.  There  have  been  fourteen  convictions  for 
felonies  in  the  aggregate,  thirteen  of  whom  have 
served  a  term  in  the  State's  prison  at  hard  labor. 
A  great  number  of  others  have  been  charged,  and 
some  trials  had,  but  these  are  the  only  convictions. 
Several  cases  of  misdemeanors  have  been  tried  and 
convictions  had,   principally  growing    out  of  viola- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  245 

tions  of  the  dram  shop  laws,  petit  hirceny,  assaults 
and  batteries,  disturbing-  the  peace,  &c.  After  a 
careful  examination  of  the  calendar  of  criminal  cases 
in  the  courts  of  the  county,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  be 
able  to  say  that  the  county  has  had  fewer  criminal 
cases  on  its  docket  than  an}-  other  county  in  the 
State  that  has  been  organized  as  long,  while  the 
law  has  been  as  rigjdh'  enforced  in  this  as  in  any 
other  county. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Walker  Tozvns/iip — Its  Organization — Settlt'- 
ment —  Tozuns — Prominent  Men — Elections — Suc- 
cessive Tozvnship    Officers. 

Wai.ker  township  was  established  by  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  on  the  7th  day  of  October. 
1857,  with  the  following  boundaries  :  Beginning  at 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  county,  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  22,  in  township  19,  of  range  21  : 
thence  west  along  the  north  line  of  the  county  five 
miles,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  24,  in  town- 
ship 19,  of  range  20  ;  thence  south  nine  miles,  to  the 


246  HISTORY   OF 

fourth  standard  parallel,  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  36,  in  township  20,  of  range  20  ;  thence  east 
on  said  parallel  five  miles,  to  the  east  line  of  the 
county,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  34,  in 
township  20,  of  range  21  ;  thence  north  along  said 
county  line  nine  miles,  to  the  place  of  beginning  ;  con- 
taining an  area  of  45  square  miles.  The  township 
was  named  in  honor  of  Robert  J.  Walker,  Gover- 
nor of  Kansas  Territor}'.  The  first  settlement  of 
whites  in  the  county  was  made  in  this  township,  at 
the  present  town  of  Greeley,  in  May,  1854.  ^^^ 
settlers  were  Valentine  Gerth,  Francis  Myer,  Henry 
Harmon,  Oliver  P.  Rand,  Samuel  Mack,  J.  S.  Wait- 
man  and  Henderson  Rice  ;  and,  of  these  persons, 
Valentine  Gerth  and  O.  P.  Rand,  Mrs.Wm.  Tull  and 
Mrs.  W.  F.  Priest,  daughters  of  Henry  Harmon,  are 
still  residents  of  the  county  ;  and  they  are  the  only 
persons  who  came  to  the  count}'  as  earl}'  as  1854 
who  still  reside  in  it.  About  the  first  of  May,  1854, 
V.  Gerth  and  F.  Myer  came  to  Kansas  Territory 
with  an  ox  team  and  a  few  horses  and  cattle.  Thev 
were  both  unmarried  at  the  time.  They  came  from 
Missouri,  and  pitched  their  tent  on  the  present  town- 
site  of  Greeley,  it  being  then  an  old  Indian  field,  the 
Indians  having  left  during  the  same  spring.  Gerth 
and  Myer  planted  about  five  acres  of  corn,  and  in 
October  following  built  them  a  log  cabin  on  the 
bank  of  Potto watomie  creek,  near  where  the  bridge 
now  spans  the  stream.  At  the  time  the}'  came  they 
found   Dr.   Lykins  three   miles  east  of  Paola,    and 


ANDERSON     COUNTV.  247 

Henrv  Sherman,  who  had  settled  among  the  Potto- 
watomie  Indians,  at  Dutch  Henry  crossing  of  Potto- 
watomie  creek.  These  were  the  only  white  settlers 
west  of  Missouri  on  the  line  of  travel  of  these  bold 
immigrants. 

Gerth  afterwards  selected  a  claim  about  one  mile 
south  of  Greeley,  and  improved  and  pre-empted  it, 
and  resided  thereon  until  1868,  when  he  sold  it  to 
Rev.  Joseph  Welsh,  and  bought  unimproved  land 
two  miles  northeast  of  Greeley,  where  he  has  made 
him  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county.  He  is  a 
native  of  Saxon}',  Germany,  and  has  resided  in  the 
township  ever  since  its  organization,  and  is  doubt- 
less the  first  white  settler  in  the  county.  He  is  a 
worthy  citizen,  an  industrious  farmer,  and  has 
passed  manfully  through  the  "time  that  tried  men's 
souls"  in  this  part  of  the  countr}'. 

Francis  Myer  took  a  claim  north  of  Greeley,  and 
built  a  log  cabin  thereon,  but,  belonging  to  the  Pro- 
Slavery  part}',  he  fled  the  country  in  the  summer  of 
1856,  having  taken  part  on  the  Border  Rutflan  side. 

Henry  Harmon  came  with  his  family  in  1854,  a 
short  time  after  Gerth  and  Myer,  and  settled  north 
of  Greeley,  near  the  junction  of  the  Pottowatomies, 
where  he  lived  with  his  family  until  the  20th  of  Au- 
gust following,  when  his  wife,  Eliza  Harmon,  died, 
which  was  the  first  death  in  the  county.  She  was 
buried  near  the  present  residence  of  Jacob  Reese. 
Her  funeral  was  preached  by  Rev.  W.  C.  McDow. 
After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Harmon,  Mr.  Harmon  sold 


248  HISTORY   OF 

his  claim  to  C.  H.  Price,  and  moved  about  ten  miles 
west,  on  North  Pottowatomie,  and  took  and  pre- 
empted another  chiim,  built  him  a  house,  and  re- 
sided there  until  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  when 
he  and  his  only  son  went  into  the  army,  served 
through  the  war  and  returned,  but  soon  thereafter 
he  died. 

His  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  married  William  Tull, 
an  old  and  respectable  citizen,  and  now  resides 
with  her  familv  near  Greeley.  The  other  daughter, 
Eliza,  married  Giles  Sandlin,  with  whom  she  lived 
for  several  years  on  North  Pottowatomie,  until  he 
died ;  and  she  afterwards  married  W.  F.  Priest, 
with  whom  she  lives  in  Greeley. 

Oliver  P.  Rand  came  to  the  Territory  in  May, 
1854,  a  single  man,  and  in  1856  married  Patsy  Sut- 
ton, daughter  of  James  Sutton.  This  was  the  first 
marriage  in  the  county.  Rand  is  an  industrious 
farmer  and  worthy  citizen,  now  residing  in  Reeder 
township,  in  the  western  part  of  the  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  a  large  immigration  came 
from  the  border  counties  of  Missouri,  and  the  strug- 
gle soon  commenced  between  the  Free  State  men 
and  Border  Ruffians.  Prominent  among  the  Free 
State  men  that  settled  in  Walker  township  that 
spring  were  Rufus  Gilpatrick,  W.  C.  McDow,  James 
Sutton,  Hardy  Warren,  Richard  Robinson,  Jacob 
Benjamin,  P.  D.  Maness,  Frederick  Weimer,  A. 
Bondi,  J.  F.  Wadsworth  and  many  others.  Among 
the  most  active  of  the  Pro-Slavery  men  were  John 


ANDERSON  COUNTY. 


H9 


S.  Waitman,  C.  H.  Price,  David  McCammon,  Hen- 
derson Rice  and  J.  P.  Barnaby.  When  the  Pro- 
Slavery  men  found  they  were  out-numbered  and 
that  Kansas  was  to  be  free,  many  of  them  took  an 
early  departure  for  Missouri  and  other  slave  States. 

W.  C.  McDow  was  commissioned  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1856,  and  was  afterward  elected  by  the 
people  and  served  as  such  for  several  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  a  postoffice  was  established 
at  Greeley,  and  named  Walker,  and  was  the  first 
postoffice  in  the  county.  Jacob  Benjamin  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster.  A  mail  route  was  established 
in  1857  from  Osawatomie,  via  Walker  and  Hyatt,  to 
Neosho  City.  In  1858  the  postoffice  was  removed 
to  Mount  Gilead,  one  mile  west  of  Greeley,  and 
George  S.  Holt  appointed  postmaster.  The  office 
remained  there  for  several  years,  but  has  since  been 
removed  to  Greele}^  and  the  name  changed  to 
"  Greeley"  postoffice. 

The  townsite  of  Greeley  was  selected  in  the 
spring  of  1856  ;  surveyed  and  laid  out  April  7,  1857. 
On  the  2ist  day  of  November,  1857,  Jacob  Benja- 
min, August  Bondi  and  Fred.  Weimer,  associates  of 
the  town  company  of  Greeley,  filed  their  plat  of 
said  town  and  a  petition  in  the  probate  court  claim- 
ing the  right  to  pre-empt  the  townsite  ;  and  on  the 
14th  day  of  October  following  it  was  pre-empted 
by  George  Wilson,  probate  judge,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  occupants  of  the  townsite.  In  the  spring  of 
1857  building  and  business  commenced  lively ;  but 
32 


250  HISTORY  OF 

for  want  of  better  material,  most  of  the  houses  were 
constructed  of  logs.  In  1857  saw  mills  were  erec- 
ted and  good  lumber  could  be  obtained  for  more 
substantial  buildings.  The  first  store  opened  in 
Greeley  was  by  B.  F.  Smith,  in  1857.  He  kept 
such  articles  as  were  generally  needed  b}'  the  set- 
tlers. They  were  sold  at  high  prices,  because  of 
the  freight  and  risk  in  getting  them  by  wagons  and 
teams  from  the  Missouri  river. 

In  the  3"ears  1857-8-9  a  heavy  immigration  settled 
on  the  Pottowatomie,  and  in  1859  ^'^^^  population  of 
the  township  was  as  large  as  it  has  ever  been  since. 

During  the  war  improvements  were  almost  entire- 
1}'  suspended  ;  but  with  the  return  of  peace  the  pat- 
riotic soldiers  that  survived  the  war  returned  to  en- 
jo}'  the  blessings  of  a  free  country,  which  in  its  full- 
ness could  onl}'  be  appreciated  b}-  them.  Then 
prosperity  blessed  the  country,  and  Greeley  shared 
its  growth,  until  it  now  contains  three  wagon  shops, 
three  blacksmith  shops,  one  cabinet  shop,  one  hotel, 
one  general  store,  one  dry  goods  store,  one  tin  shop, 
one  saw  mill,  one  flouring  mill,  a  commodious 
school  house,  and  a  good  church  edifice,  belonging 
to  the  United  Brethren  denomination. 

The  general  desire  for  making  money  and  specu- 
lation caused  the  early  settlers  to  lay  out  townsites 
in  various  portions  of  the  Territor}'  ;  and  many  town- 
sites  failed  to  become  the  cities  anticipated,  and  are 
now  known  only  in  the  history  of  the  country.  One 
of  these  towns  was  organized  about  the  first  of  Sep- 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  25 1 

tember,  1857,  and  was  known  by  the  name  of  "  Pot- 
towatomie,"  afterwards  called  "Mount  Gilead." 
The  town  compan}'  was  composed  of  Rufus  Gilpat- 
rick,  J.  G.  Blunt,  Henry  Nugent,  Willis  Ayres,  J. 
F.  Wadsworth  and  others.  September  11,  1857, 
Dr.  Rufus  Gilpatrick,  president  of  the  Pottowatomie 
town  company,  presented  a  plat  of  the  town  of  Pot- 
towatomie to  John  Shannon,  a  notar}^  public,  who 
made  a  certificate  to  the  same,  setting  forth  that  the 
lands  covered  b}''  the  plat  were  claimed  as  a  town- 
site.  On  the  2ist  day  of  July,  i860,  J.  G.  Blunt, 
secretar}'  of  the  Pottowatomie  town  company,  pre- 
sented for  filing  in  the  recorder's  office  of  the  county 
a  plat  and  a  surve}^  made  by  N.  J.  Roscoe,  sur- 
veyor, of  the  townsite.  It  was  laid  out  as  a  rival 
town  to  Greeley,  being  only  one-half  mile  west  of 
that  town.  The  proprietors  of  Mount  Gilead  were 
men  of  energy,  and  soon  succeeded  in  getting  the 
postotfice  and  most  of  the  business  removed  from 
Greeley  to  Mount  Gilead  ;  but  time  proved  that  the 
new  town  was  not  well  located  for  a  prosperous  cit}', 
on  account  of  the  great  depth  to  water ;  so  the  en- 
terprise was  abandoned,  and  the  townsite  has  since 
been  inclosed,  in  connection  with  several  other  ad- 
jacent tracts,  by  Gen.  Blunt,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  county. 

The  first  saw  mill  erected  in  the  township  was 
located  b}'  the  Mount  Gilead  town  company,  on  the 
townsite,  in  the  fall  of  1857.  The  Greeley  town 
company  erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on  their  town- 


252  HISTORY    OF 

site  in  the  spring  of  1858,  which  did  a  good  business 
for  six  or  eight  years,  and  then  gave  place  to  a  bet- 
ter and  larger  one.  John  Robinson  and  Mc- 
Laughlin in  1867  built  a  mill  in  Greeley  that  is  still 
in  successful  operation.  In  the  spring  of  1874 
Chris.  Bouck,  of  Newel,  Iowa,  a  practical  miller  and 
mill-wright,  who  had  been  engaged  in  that  business 
in  Iowa  for  several  years,  being  desirous  of  locating 
in  a  better  wheat  country,  came  to  Greeley,  where 
the  leading  business  men  gave  him  some  induce- 
ments, which  he  accepted,  and  immediately  com- 
menced the  construction  of  a  lirst-class  merchant 
mill  ;  but  meeting  unexpected  reverses  in  financial 
matters,  was  delayed  in  the  completion  of  the  same 
until  in  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  enlisted  J.  K.  Gardner 
and  John  Weaver,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  men  of  capi- 
tal, to  assist  him  in  the  enterprise,  as  partners,  and 
Greeley  can  now  boast  of  a  fine  merchant  mill  in 
full  operation. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  by  T. 
Wadsvvorth,  in  a  cabin  on  the  claim  of  M.  E.  Mitch- 
ell, for  three  months,  commencing  November,  1856. 
His  wages  were  $30  per  month,  and  board  among 
the  pupils,  twelve  in  number,  some  of  them  living  a 
distance  of  five  miles  from  the  school  house.  This 
was  the  first  school  in  the  county.  The  next  fall 
and  winter  Allen  Jaqua  taught  a  term  of  four  months 
in  the  same  cabin,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
twenty  pupils. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  a  Methodist  Sabbath  school 


t 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  253 

was  organized  by  W.  C.  McDow,  near  his  claim, 
where  he  acted  as  superintendent  of  the  school, 
which  was  well  attended.  This  was  the  first  Sab- 
bath school  in  the  county. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  another  Sabbath 
school  was  org'anized,  with  Richard  Robinson  as 
superintendent,  in  Sutton  valley. 

In  1859  W.  H.  McClure,  Bishop  D.  Edwards, 
Henr}'  Hamler  and  others  commenced  solici- 
tations for  means  to  build  a  house  of  worship  at 
Greele}',  for  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  The 
building  was  commenced  and  inclosed  during  the 
summer  of  i860,  but  was  not  finished  for  several 
3'ears.  This  was  the  tirst  church  building  in  the 
count}'.  A  union  Sabbath  school  was  organized  at 
the  same  place  during  the  same  spring,  with  W.  H. 
McClure  as  superintendent.  The  number  of  pupils 
in  this  school  was  about  thirty ;  and  the  school  thus 
organized,  with  some  degree  of  success,  was  kept 
up  for  fourteen  years,  when  a  denominational  school 
took  its  place,  under  the  auspices  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  with  L.  Champe  as  its  superin- 
tendent. 

TOWNSHIP    OFFICERS. 

At  tlie  March  election,  185S,  for  supervisors,  J.  E.  Wliite 
was  elected  chairman,  and  Wesley  Spindler  and  C.  W.  C al- 
ien, members  of  the  board  ;  John  T.  Lanter,  clerk,  and  J. 
F.  Wadsworth.  treasurer. 

In  March,  1869,  J.  V.  AV'adsworth  was  elected  chairman, 
and  C.  W.  Culten  and  Isco  Sutton,  members  of  the  board. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 

In  March,  1859,  the  justices  of  the   peace  elected  were 


254  andp:rsox  coirxTr. 

}?aniuel  Mack.  ^y.  i\  McDon  .  Jaiiips  Siittuii  and  .fames  D, 
Rid<i<'\vay. 

At  tlR'  t'lcrtiuu  in  J)(.M('iul)cr.  ISoS).  under  tiie  Wyaudotto 
constitution,  Jacol)  Ik'njamin  and  James  Sutton  were  elec- 
ted justices  of  the  peace;  and  their   term   of  office  com- 
menced in  1861.     1863.   1).  W.  Smith  and   Jolin  Macklin 
were  elected  :  1865.   W.   H.  H.  Lowry  and   James  Sutton 
were  elected.     Lowry  resigned  in  June,  1836,  and   A.  U. 
Mumaw  was  appointed  to  till  the  vacancy.     1867,  A.   K. 
Mumaw  and  John  Wilson   <'l(Mted ;  1869,  J.  W.  Lyon  and 
Henry  AVilson  elected :  1871.  J.  W.  Lyon  and  Henry   Wil- 
son elected.     Lyon   left  the  county   in   1872,   and  D.    W. 
Smith  was  appointed  to  till  the  vacancy:    1873,  William 
Tull  and  J.  T.  Weeden  elected :   1875.  D.  AV.  Smith  and 
Henry  Wilson  elected. 

,  TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1860-1-2.  Tsco  Sutt(m:  1863.  William  Beeler  ;  1864,  Web- 
ster Brown  ;  1865-6,  Isco  Sutton  ;  1867-8.  Jesse  N.  Sutton  ; 
1869.  John  ^ox  ;  1870-1-2,  D.  W.  Smith ;  1873,  S.  A.  Spring- 
ston  :  1874.  J.  W.  Vaughn  ;  1875,  John  Poplin. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

1868-9-70,  M.  A.  Mitchell;  1871-2-3.  W.  F.  Priest  :  1874. 
W.  H.  McPlure  :  1875.  John  Fox. 

TOWNSHIP    CT.ERKS. 

1868-9-70-1.  M.  W.  Latham;  1872.  J.  J.  Montgomery; 
1873.  J.  W.  Lvon  ;  1874,  E.  VV^  White  ;  1875.  J.  AV.  Vaughn. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Organization  of  Monroe  Tozanship — Settlements 
—  Towns — Elections — Snccessize   Officers. 

Monroe  township  is  situated  in  the  central  and 
northern  portions  of  the  county.  Its  boundaries 
Avere  first  estabHshed  in  October,  1857,  containing 
an  area  of  forty-tive  square  miles,  and  the  first  town- 
ship officers  were  elected  in  the  spring  of  185S.  The 
North  and  South  Pottowatomie  creeks  run  across 
the  township,  supplying  it  with  plenty  of  water  and 
timber.  The  territory  north  of  North  Pottowatomie 
was  cut  off  and  included  in  Putnam  township,  which 
greatly  reduces  the  limits  of  Monroe.  It  contains 
some  of  the  finest  valley  lands  in  the  county,  and 
has  some  of  the  first  settled  farms  in  the  county. 

The  first  white  settler  in  the  township  was  Patrick 
Tyler,  in  the  spring  of  1855,  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Judge  William  Spriggs. 

A  number  of  persons  settled  in  the  township  in 
the  year  1855,  among  whom  were  C.  E.  Dewey,  H. 
H.  Williams,  Darius  Frankenberger,  W.  L.  Frank- 
enberger,  M.  M.  Minkler,  Frank  Winkley,John  H. 
Rockers,  Frederick  Rockers,  James  McGue,  Eli  P. 
Bawgus,  Samuel  Anderson,  Wilson  Anderson,  John 
Anderson,  John  McDaniel.  John  Rogers,  Henry  Al- 
derman and  Henry  Feuerborn. 


256  HISTORV   OF 

This  township  was  celebrated  for  its  to wnsites.  In 
the  earlv  part  of  1856  Garnett  was  laid  out.  The 
history  of  its  location  and  progress  has  been  given 
in  another  chapter  in  this  volume,  and  will  only  re- 
ceive a  partial  notice  here.  The  town  of  Canton 
was  located  and  laid  out  in  1857,  b}^  B.  T\der,  on 
section  23,  township  20,  range  20.  It  was  laid  out 
as  a  rival  to  Garnett.  Some  improvements  were 
made  on  its  site  in  1858-9:  but,  when  the  question 
of  the  county  seat  was  settled  in  favor  of  Garnett, 
Canton  was  soon  abandoned  and  left  to  the  roaminar 
herds,  but  has  since  been  reduced  to  tine  farms  by 
the  husbandman.  Such  was  the  fate  of  the  once 
noted  rendezvous  of  intemperance  and  wickedness. 

The  town  of  Shannon  was  laid  out  in  1857,  by 
Dr.  Preston  Bo  wen.  It  was  named  in  honor  of 
Wilson  Shannon,  second  Governor  of  Kansas  Ter- 
ritory. Some  improvements  were  made  on  the  town- 
site  in  1857-8  ;  but  when  the  county  seat  was  re- 
moved from  Shannon  to  Garnett,  in  1859,  ^^  went 
the  way  of  all  sublunary  things  :  and  the  public  parks 
and  squares  are  now  part  of  the  line  farm  owned  by 
Dr.  Bowen. 

Another  town  of  some  historical  notoriety  was 
laid  out  in  1858,  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Cooper,  adjoining 
the  townsite  of  Garnett  on  the  south,  named  Man- 
dovi,  and  covered  as  much  paper  as  any  town  in 
Kansas,  and  it  took  as  much  paper  to  make  a  deed 
for  one  of  its  lots.  While  this  town  had  no  im- 
provements as  a  town,  it  had  the  finest  lithographed 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  257 

map  of  any  in  Kansas,  which  was  equivalent  to  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  of  buildings  for  selling 
purposes.  In  those  days  all  that  was  necessary  to 
sell  town  lots  was  to  stake  out  the  townsite,  get  a 
fine  lithographic«map,  and  go  into  the  Eastern  States 
with  a  fine  historical  sketch  of  the  excellent  advan- 
tages of  the  future  city,  its  proximity  to  large 
streams  and  bodies  of  timber ;  beautiful  valleys  of 
rich  soil  surrounding  it ;  and  great  abundance  of 
building  stone,  for  a  town  of  one  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants,  with  positive  assurance  of  a  railroad, 
within  a  few  months,  through  its  limits.  These  pa- 
per towns  have  failed  to  bring  forth  the  future  profit 
so  beautifully  set  forth  by  the  oily  tongues  of  the 
speculators  in  this  species  of  property. 

In  1856  a  number  of  settlers  came  into  Monroe 
township.  Among  the  more  prominent  of  these  are 
Alanson  Simons,  B.  F.  Simons,  George  Simons, 
Charles  Simons,  Samuel  McDaniel,  Wm.  J.  Bayles, 
Thos.  Bayles,  Marion  Fraker,  James  Y.  Campbell, 
Jacob  Troy,  W.  A.  Tipsword,  Leon  Phillips,  F.  L. 
Majors,  W.  Beddoes,  B.  Tyler,  John  H.  Pattie, 
Wm.  Tull,  G.  W.  Yandall  and  Wm.  Puett. 

The  following  are  the  more  prominent  among  the 
settlers  of  1857  :  C.  W.  Fraker,  Isaac  Hiner,  D.  D. 
Judy,  W.  L.  Webster,  J,  L.  Bockover,  WilHam 
Spriggs,  Geo.  S.  King,  Wm.  Smith,  W.  S.  Smith, 
G.  A.  Cook,  Jonathan  Masterson,  Thomas  Lind- 
say, C.  B.  Smith,  J.  N,  Chambers,  Nathaniel  Cot- 
33 


258  .  HISTORY  OF 

tie,  D.  D.  Lampman,  Harvey  Springer  and  J.  M. 
Johnson. 

Of  the  settlers  of  1858  the  following  are  the  more 
prominent:  D.  W.  Houston,  Charles  Norris,  EHas 
Norris,  Wm.  McLaughlin,  John  R.  Slentz,  E.  E. 
Moore,  John  Parker,  Christian  Bowman,  Norman 
A.  Porter,  J.  G.  Smith,  H.  Tefft,  John  S.  Stowe, 
William  Tefft  and  John  Johnston. 

The  prominent  settlers  of  1859  were  James  Mc- 
Laughhn,  Robert  McLaughhn,  C.  P.  Alvey,  S.  J. 
Crawford,  Hugh  Quinn,  J.  Graham,  Samuel  Boyd, 
G.  W.  Her  and  Wm.  Lampman. 

TOWNSHIP    SUPERVISORS. 

1858,  John  McDaniel.  chairman;  Charles  Hidden  and 
William  Piiett ;  1859,  C.  W.  Fraker,  chairman;  John  H. 
Pattie  and  Wm.  Smith. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1860-1,  Clark  B.  Smith  ;  1863,  G.  W.  Arrell.  [There  was 
a  tie  vote  between  C.  B.  Smith  and  G.  W.  Arrell,  which 
was  decided  by  the  board  in  favor  of  Arrell.]  1864-5,  C.  B. 
Smith;  1866,  J.  T.  Lanter ;  1867,  J.  L.  Kercheval ;  1868, 
John  Pticketts ;  1869-70-1-2,  L.  M.  Earnest ;  1873-4-5-6, 
R.  W.  Gailey. 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 

1858^9,  C.  E.  Dewey ;  1869-70-1-2-3,  G.  M.  Everline  ;  1874, 
J.  M.  Craig;  1875-6,  George  Patton. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

1858,  Enoch  Barker  ;  1859,  Thomas  Lindsay  ;  1868,  M.  B. 
Taylor  ;  1869-70-1-2-3-4-5-6,  John  liicketts. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE   PEACE. 

1858,  Henry  Feuerborn,  M.  G.  Carr,  D.  D.  Judy  and 
Wm.  J.  Bayles';  1859,  Wm.  J.  Bayles,  Charles  Hidden,  D. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  259 

D.  Judy  and  M.  G.  Carr ;  1860-1,  Isaac  Hiuer  and  Harvey 
.Si)riug-er ;  1863,  G.  W.  Her  and  G.  A.  Cook  ;  186-4,  Joseph 
Williams,  to  till  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Iler  ; 
1865,  G.  A.  Cook  and  James  McLaughlin  ;  1867,  G.  A. 
Cook  and  Harvey  Syring-er  ;  1889,  G.  A,  Cook  and  J.  W. 
Rice,  both  of  whom  resigned  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year. 
1870,  Milton  Mills  and  James  Reber  were  elected  to  till  va- 
cancies ;  1871,  Milton  Mills  and  A.  M.  Thorne  ;  1873,  G.  A. 
Cook  and  A.  M.  Thorne:  1875.  G.  A.  Cook  and  L.H.  Gor- 
don. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

'Jackson  Tozvnship — Its  Boundaries — Organiza- 
tion— Streams  — Soil —  Timber — Prominent  Set- 
tlers from  18 j^  to  i860 — First  School — First  Mar- 
riage— First  Death — Successive  Township  Officers. 

Jackson  township  was  established  in  October, 
1857,  with  the  following  boundaries  :  Commencing 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  19,  township  20, 
range  20 ;  running  thence  west  six  miles  ;  thence 
north  nine  miles  :  thence  east  six  miles  ;  thence 
south  nine  miles  ;  containing  fifty-foursquare  miles, 
consisting   of  high,  undulating  prairie,  bottom  and 


26o  HISTORY   OF 

woodland,  the  latter  bordering  on  Cedar  and  North 
Potto watomie  creeks,  and  their  tributaries.  The 
streams  furnish  an  abundant  supply  of  water  to 
every  portion  of  the  township.  Plenty  of  good  tim- 
ber, and  sand  and  limestone  of  superior  quality  are 
found  skirtintj  the  streams.  The  soil  is  not  sur- 
passed  in  fertilit}'  in  the  State.  The  assessor's  re- 
turns show  that  it  surpasses  any  other  portion  of  the 
county  in  its  productiveness. 

The  board  of  county  commissioners,  on  the  yth 
day  of  April,  1870,  formed  the  township  of  Putnam, 
and  made  the  North  Pottowatomie  the  north  line  of 
Jackson  township,  which  reduced  the  township 
about  one-third  in  area. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  the  territory  now  in 
the  township  was  on  the  North  Pottowatomie,  in 
1855.  The  following  are  some  of  the  more  noted 
settlers  of  that  year:  Granville  Fagg,  B.  L.  Ading- 
ton,  Christian  Feuerborn,  Rezin  Porter,  Thomas 
Maloy,  James  Maloy,  John  Kirkland,  Richard  Sand- 
lin,  Henry  Harmon,  Daniel  Harmon,  Wm.  Bundy, 
Geo.  Thompson  and  John  Falls. 

In  1856-7,  Riley  Watkins,  John  Ramsey,  Anson 
Rudd,  James  Black,  Jackson  Black,  James  A.  Dor- 
sey,  C.  W.  Ballard,  John  Tefft,  Benjamin  Lawel- 
lin,  A.  Lawellin,  Henry  Duncan,  Wm.  Dennis,  John 
Hegetschweler,  W.  R.  Vancoyoc,  H.  Cavender,  J. 
H.  Best,  Tillman  Dennis  and  Leander  Putnam. 

The  following  are  the  first  officers  elected  in  the 
township :       Rezin    Porter,  chairman  of    board  of 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  26 1 

supervisors  ;  John  R.  Kirkland  and  W.  E.  Beddoes, 
supervisors;  J.  H.  Best,  assessor;  J.  W.  Lawellin, 
ckrk ;  Henderson  Cavender,  treasurer ;  William 
Dennis,  Hiram  Tefft,  John  L.  Adington,  justices  of 
the  peace ;  W.  Tefft  and  Tillman  Dennis,  con- 
stables. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Jackson  township  was 
in  a  cabin  on  the  claim  of  Benjamin  Lawellin,  in  the 
fall  of  1858,  by  Miss  Josephine  Ramsey. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  the  town- 
ship at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Lawellin,  in  1857  ; 
and  the  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  at  the 
same  place  in  1858. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  a 
son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  SandHn,  in  the  year  1856. 
The  first  two  marriages  in  the  township  were  solemn- 
ized on  the  same  day.  The  persons  married  were 
Giles  Sandlin  and  Eliza  Harmon,  and  Daniel  Har- 
mon and  Mary  Sandlin.  There  was  considerable 
talk  as  to  the  legality  of  the  marriages,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, on  the  ground  that  the  justice  of  the 
peace  who  solemnized  them  had  not  received  a 
commission  from  the  Governor.  Legal  gentlemen 
were  consulted,  who  pronounced  the  marriages  le- 
gal under  the  laws  of  Kansas. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  more  than 
ordinarily  sad.  It  was  the  accidental  killing  of 
Tipsword,  an  account  of  which  has  been  given  in 
the  foregoing  pages. 

From   1857  to   i860  a  number  of    prominent  men 


262  HISTORY   OF 

settled  in  the  township,  among  whom  were  G.  W. 
FHnt,  Thomas  Flint,  A.  D.  Jones,  James  W.  Jun- 
kins,  Thomas  G.  Headley,  Morgan  Heflin,  B.  F. 
King,  B-  M.  Lingo,  B.  P.  Brown,  Dr.  Wm.  Smith. 
Wm.  Hopkins,  Robert  McLaughlin,  Wm.  Severns 
and  John  Hurd. 

TOWNSHIP    SUPERVISORS. 

1858,  Rezhi  Porter,  chairman  of  the  boartl  ;  Jolui  Kh'k- 
land  and  W,  E.  Beddoes ;  1859.  John  L.  Adington.  chair- 
man ;  T.  (i.  Headley  and  Reziu  Porter. 

•lUSTICES    OF    THE   PEACE. 

18.58.  AVilliam  Dennis,  Hiram  Tefft,  John  L.  Adiugtou 
and  Leander  Putnam  ;  1860-1.  William  Dennis  and  Leander 
Putnam ;  1863,  John  R.  Kirkland  and  G.  AV.  Flint ;  1864. 
William  Dennis,  to  till  vacancy  caused  by  the  removal  of 
.John  R.  Kirkland  from  the  township  ;  1865,  William  Den- 
nis and  G.  W.  Flint :  1867,  William  Dennis  and  G.  A. 
Marshall ;  1868,  W'illiam  Morton,  to  till  vacancy :  1869,  J. 
T.  B.  Routh  and  William  Horton  ;  1871,  VV^illiam  Dennis 
and  William  Horton;  1873,  William  Dennis  and  AV'illiam 
Hester:  1875,  G.  A.  Marshall  and  Thomas  (xowdy. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1860,  J.  T.  B.  Routh:  1861.  J,  W.  Junkins  :  1862,  William 
Smith :  1863.  T.  G.  Flint ;  1864,  W.  R.  Vanscoyoc  ;  1865, 
B.  M.  Lingo  ;  1866,  AVilliam  Dennis  ;  1867,  Samuel  Crum  : 
1868-9-70-1,  AAllliam  Dennis  ;  1872,  J.  F.  Hunt ;  1873,  L.  D. 
Baruett:  1874,  S.  A.  Herriman  ;  1875.  J.  W.  Lawellin. 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 

1858-9,  J.  AV.  T.awellin :  1868.  J.  J.  Osborn  ;  1869,  AVil- 
liam Horton  :  1870,  J.  W.  Lawellin  :  1871-2,  J.  AI.  Axtell ; 
1S73.  D.  AV.  Hodgin;  1874-5,  J.  F.  Hunt. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

18.58,  Henderson  Cavender  :  1868.  AVilliam  Severns  ;  1869, 


ANDERSON.  COUNTY.  263 

Thomas  Severns  ;  1870-1.  O.  B.  Brown  :  1H72.  Jt)liu  Shelley  ; 
1873,  J.  M.  Hen-iiiiau:  1874.  J.  F.  Doiiylas^s  :  1875,  C.  Mar- 
sliall. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Reeder  Township — Its  Early  Settlement— ^Boun- 
daries—  Organization — Tozvnshi-p  Officers^  etc. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  of  Anderson  county  on  the  7th  day 
of  October,  1857,  the  county  was  divided  into  mu- 
nicipal townships,  and  that  portion  of  the  county 
commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  24, 
township  19,  range  18  ;  running  thence  west  on  the 
county  hne  eight  miles  to  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  county  ;  thence  south  on  the  count}'  line  sixteen 
miles  ;  thence  east  eight  miles  ;  thence  north  on  the 
range  line  between  ranges  18  and  19,  sixteen  miles, 
to  the  place  of  beginning,  constituted  the  townships 
of  Reeder  and  Geary,  being  each  eight  miles  square, 
and  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners in  March,  1858,  the  township  of  Geary  was 
added  to  that  of  Reeder.      Reeder  township    was 


264  HISTORY  OF 

named  in  honor  of  Andrew  H.  Reeder,  the  first 
Governor  of  the  Territory  ;  contains  an  area  of  128 
square  miles,  and  is  watered  by  North  Pottowatomie 
creek  and  its  numerous  branches,  the  largest  of 
which  are  Sac,  lanthe,  Pomtma,  Elm,  Cherry  and 
Thomas  creeks. 

The  first  white  settlers  in  Reeder  township  were 
John  H.  Wolken  and  family,  who  came  to  the 
county  in  July,  1855,  and  settled  on  a  claim  near 
where  Central  City  was  aftei-wards  located.  He 
built  a  cabin  and  made  some  other  improvements, 
but  there  being  no  settlement  nearer  than  ten  miles, 
and  the  Indians  passing,  and  frequently  stopping  at 
their  cabin,  his  family  became  alarmed,  and  in  Sep- 
tember following  he  removed  with  his  family  some 
twelve  miles  farther  down  the  creek,  and  took  a 
claim  where  he  still  resides. 

About  the  first  of  April,  1856,  James  Carl,  Wil- 
liam Dukes  and  George  Hamilton  located  in  the 
township,  on  one  of  the  central  branches  of  Pottowato- 
mie creek,  and  soon  thereafter  were  followed  by  Allen 
Dukes,  Casey  Dukes,  John  Bobier  and  Otis  Dagget 
and  their  families.  Mr.  Carl  and  family  were  for- 
merly from  the  State  of  New  York.  They  settled 
and  improved  the  farm  now  owned  b}^  Samuel  Earn- 
est. They  sold  their  claim  in  the  spring  of  1857  to 
James  R.  Means,  and  moved  to  Middle  creek,  in 
Franklin  county,  where  they  still  reside.  The  Dukes 
and  Hamilton  came  from  Missouri,  and  were  Pro- 
Slavery  men  in  sentiment.     Mr.  Bobier  and  his  son- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  265 

in-law,  Mr.  Dagget,  came  from  Canada  ;  were  first- 
class  citizens,  and  possessed  of  considerable  prop- 
erty and  means.  Mr.  Bobier  settled  and  improved 
the  farm  since  owned  by  Jackson  Means,  while  Mr. 
Dagget  made  some  improvements  on  the  farm  af- 
terwards owned  by  Robert  S.  Peny.  About 
this  time  Thomas  J.  Owens,  with  his  family,  took 
possession  of  the  cabin  built  and  abandoned  the  pre- 
vious summer  by  John  H.  Wolken,  where  he  resided 
until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  sold  his  claim  for 
$800  to  Messrs.  Marsh  and  Hoskins,  and  took  a 
claim  near  where  Garnett  is  now  located. 

On  the  last  day  of  April,  1856,  a  few  days 
after  Col.  Buford  landed  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
with  300  men,  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State,  Solo- 
mon Kauffman  and  Joseph  J.  Ingliss,  formerly  of 
Pennsylvania,  landed  at  the  same  place,  and  on  the 
day  following  passed  through  Buford's  camp  at 
Westport,  Missouri,  and  on  the  3d  day  of  May  ar- 
rived at  Lawrence,  Kansas.  After  spending  two 
weeks  in  looking  over  the  Territory,  they  arrived  at 
Mineral  Point,  on  the  17th  day  of  May,  where  they 
had  a  fair  view  of  the  western  half  of  the  county. 
Here  they  determined  to  stop,  and,  after  visiting 
some  of  the  settlers,  they  on  the  19th  of  the  same 
month  selected  their  claims  clnd  commenced  im- 
proving them,  under  very  unfavorable  circumstances, 
having  nothing  but  their  axes  and  hoes  to  work  with. 
After  getting  the  logs  ready  for  their  cabins,  Kauff- 
man drove  Allen  Dukes'  breaking  team  during  the 
34 


266  HISTORY  OF 

working  days  of  the  week,  for  the  use  of  his  team 
to  draw  the  logs  to  the  place  for  his  cabin  on  Sun- 
day, that  being  the  onl}-  da}'  that  he  could  get  the 
use  of  the  team. 

This  little  settlement  was  isolated  on  the  Pottowat- 
omie,  being  fifteen  miles  from  it  to  the  nearest  house, 
and  the  nearest  postofiice  or  store  was  at  the  Sac 
and  Fox  Indian  agency,  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles, 
where  either  Kauffman  or  Ingliss  would  make  an  oc- 
casional trip  for  their  mail,  and  to  learn  what  was 
going  on  in  the  outside  world.  The  news  of  the 
sacking  of  Lawrence,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1856,  was 
not  received  in  this  settlement  until  the  week  follow- 
ing. It  was  brought  by  a  Pro-Slavery  man  named 
Ivey,  and  was  very  much  exaggerated.  He  stated 
that  all  of  the  houses  in  Lawrence  except  three  were 
in  ashes,  when  in  fact  but  three  houses  were 
burned.  The  killing  of  Sherman,  Doyle  and  sons 
at  Dutch  Henr}'  crossing  of  the  Pottowatomie  was 
not  known  for  many  days,  and  as  soon  as  received 
the  Dukes  and  their  connections,  all  being  Pro-Sla- 
very, sold  their  claims  and  left  for  Missouri.  , 

In  August  following  Otis  Dagget  and  family  left 
the  Territory,  and  Kauffman  and  Ingliss  went  to 
Lawrence  and  enlisted  in  the  Free  State  cause, 
leaving  but  two  families,  Bobier's  and  Carl's,  in  the 
neighborhood,  with  Thomas  J.  Owens  and  family 
residing  some  eight  miles  to  the  southeast,  on  the 
main  Pottowatomie  creek,  isolated  and  alone,  ex- 
cept when  visited  by  the  Indians,  with  whom    he 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  267 

trafficked,  exchanging  "firewater"  for  ponies  and 
pelts. 

About  the  15th  of  December,  1856,  Kauffman  re- 
turned to  his  claim,  and  with  him  came  John  S. 
Robinson,  Charles  W.  Peckham  and  William  G. 
Hill,  who  took  claims  in  the  same  neighborhood, 
and  were  followed  soon  after  by  Robert  D.  Chase, 
Caveness  and  their  families. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  there  was  a  large  immigra- 
tion into  this  neighborhood,  prominent  among  which 
were  David  Buffon,  Cyrus  H.  James,  James  R.. 
Means,  Jackson  Means,  William  C.  Howard,  David 
L.  Duff,  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton,  John  Eaton,  Dr.  Jacob 
Messic,  Dr.  D.  B.  Swallow,  S.  S.  Tipton,  James 
Donaldson  and  their  families. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1857,  the  people  in  the 
western  part  of  the  township  celebrated  the  nation's 
birth  at  Mineral  Point,  which  was  the  first  celebra- 
tion in  the  township,  and  on  that  day  those  present 
gave  the  name  "Mineral  Point"  to  the  mound  where 
S.  S.  Tipton  had  located. 

A  military  company  was  organized  for  mutual 
protection,  the  same  day.  The  following  is  a  com- 
plete roll  of  the  company  : 

Captahi,  J.  Alift";  first  lieutenaut,  Levi  L.  Ilayden ;  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  James  H.  Hadley  ;  first  sergeant,  S.  S. 
Patton  ;  second  sergeant,  David  P.  Bethureni ;  first  cor- 
l)oral,  Edward  Drum  ;  second  corporal,  W.  W.  AVhitaker  ; 
<;ommissary,  Q.  A.  Jordou  ;  quartermaster,  S.  S.  Tipton  ; 
privates,  Nelson  F.  Tipton,  George  Plinde,  Isaac  Bethu- 
rem,  David  Sheener,   James  CaflVey,  John  Hayes,   E.  F. 


268  HISTORY   OF 

Boughton,  Ezekicl  Bull,  Benj.  Folk,  John  Folk,  Isaac  Van 
Camp,  John  Owen,  II.  II.  Stone,  George  Linken,  Francis 
Keeny,  David  F.  Tabler,  Chas.  Boggus,  E.  A7.  Parniley, 
Thomas  Eunyan,  John  Groves,  Peter  Catner,  James  Hood. 

Among  the  prominent  settlers  of  this  year,  south 
and  west  of  Mineral  Point,  were  Levi  L.  Hayden,- 
David  P.  Bethurem,  D.  F.  Tabler,  A.  V.  Poindex- 
ter,  Daniel  Lankard,  Tobias  Lankard,  James  H. 
Hadley,  Samuel  S.  Patton,  Samuel  W.  Arrant,  T. 
W.  Painter,  Christopher  Fox,  Christian  Bowman, 
Ezekiel  Bull,  John  Groves,  John  T.  Martin,  Asa  J. 
Yoder,  John  C.  Kelso  and  Thomas  McElroy. 

In  the  summer  the  settlement  was  thrown  into 
great  excitement  over  the  disappearance  of  a  noted 
ox.  After  considerable  search  the  head  and  hide 
w^ere  found  in  a  hollow  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
the  flesh  in  a  well.  The  settlers  met  and  organized 
a  people's  court — A..V.  Poindexter,  judge;  Asa  J. 
Yoder,  clerk  ;  and  John  Eaton,  prosecuting  attorney  ; 
and  the  parties  suspicioned  were  placed  on  trial  for 
stealing  the  ox.  The  farce  of  a  trial  was  continued 
several  days,  nearly  all  the  settlers  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  being  present.  The  court  decided 
that  the  accused  should  pay  for  the  ox  and  leave  the 
Territor}^  The  finding  of  the  court  was  followed 
by  forcibl}^  compelling  the  accused  and  their  fam- 
ilies to  leave  the  neighborhood,  leaving  good  tim- 
bered claims.  The  parties  who  were  clamorous  for 
them  to  leave  soon  commenced  cutting  and  hauling 
away    the    timber,    to   improve    their    own  claims. 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  269 

In  after  years  the  accused  returned  and  commenced 
suits  against  the  trespassers  ;  also  a  number  of  crim- 
inal prosecutions,  which  kept  the  settlement  in  con- 
fusion for  several  3'^ears,  until  many  of  the  partici- 
pants left  the  township,  and  their  places  were  filled 
with  industrious  farmers. 

The  first  death  that  occurred  in  the  township  was 
the  wife  of  John  Bobier,  who  died  of  consumption, 
contracted  before  she  came  to  the  Territory.  She 
was  buried  July  19,  1857,  south  of  the  creek,  on  the 
farm  afterwards  owned  by  Robt.  S.  Perry. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  S. 
S.  Patton  and  Rebecca  Tipton,  in  the  winter  of 
1857.     The}'  still  reside  in  the  township. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  George 
Means,  son  of  Jackson  Means,  in   1858. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  James  B.  Lowry,  D.  H. 
Shields,  James  S.  Duncan  and  their  families  located 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township.  Lowry  was  a 
lawyer,  had  been  practicing  his  profession  prior  to 
leaving  Ohio,  and  continued  to  practice  in  this  State 
for  three  or  four  years.  He  was  a  man  of  sound 
judgment,  a  fine  lawyer,  and  was  elected  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  in  1861. 

In  June,  Stephen  Marsh,  Mrs.  Hoskins,  C.  C.  Hos- 
kins,  Simpson  Lake  and  others  from  Iowa  settled 
near  Central  City,  in  this  township.  In  the  follow- 
ing winter  John  B.  Lambdin  and  his  sons  put  up  a 
good  saw  mill  near  Central  City,  and  about  the  same 
time  the  Cresco  town  company  set  up  a  steam  saw 


270  HISTORV  OF 

mill  on  a  branch  of  the  Pottowatomie,  near  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Joel  T.  Walker,  which  did  good 
service. 

On  the  i6th  day  of  May,  1857,  the  Cresco  town 
company  was  formed,  with  John  S.  Robinson,  presi- 
dent ;  Wm.  C.  Howard,  treasurer ;  and  Solomon 
Kauffman,  secretary ;  and  was  incorporated  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  of  February  11,  1858.  The 
company  claimed,  under  the  pre-emption  act,  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  21,  and  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  28,  township  20,  range  18,  as  a 
townsite.  The  compan}^  filed  a  plat  of  the  same  in 
the  district  land  office. 

Several  buildings  were  erected  the  following  sum- 
mer. A  blacksmith  shop  was  established  by  Wm. 
C.  Howard,  and  a  wagon  shop  by  James  C.  Kelso  ; 
also  a  postoffice,  with  Wm.  C.  Howard  as  postmas- 
ter, which  was  the  second  postoffice  established  in 
the  county.  Not  being  on  a  regular  mail  route  it 
was  supplied  by  mail  from  Hyatt,  by  private  con- 
veyance. James  C.  Kelso  succeeded  Mr.  Howard 
as  postmaster  in  the  spring  of  1859,  ^"^  resigned  in 
the  autumn  following.  James  R.  Means  was  then 
appointed,  and  the  office  was  moved  to  his  house, 
some  three  miles  north  of  Cresco. 

The  voting  precinct  for  this  part  of  the  county 
was  at  Cresco,  it  being  centrally  located.  In  the 
spring  of  1859  ^^^  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and 
many  of  the  settlers  in  the  neighborhood,  caught 
the  "  Pike's  Peak"  gold  fever,  and   the  town  was 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  27I 

abandoned.     The    voting  precinct   was    moved    to 
Central  City  the  same  fall,  where  it  still  remains. 

The* first  store  in  Central  City  was  established  by 
W.  S.  Eastwood  and  H.  N.  F.  Reed,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1858.  Stephen  Marsh  and  his  son  Oliver 
erected  a  large  two-story  frame  building  at  Central 
City,  the  same  year,  and  established  a  good  store, 
consisting  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  hardware,  boots 
and  shoes,  etc.,  and  it  was  for  several  years  the  best 
mercantile  estabHshment  in  the  county.  The 
Marshes  opened  a  store  in  Humboldt  in  i860,  and 
J.  S.  Johnson  succeeded  them  in  Central  City. 

The  first  school  district  in  the  township  was  or- 
ganized in  1859,  with  James  R.  Eaton,  director: 
James  R.  Means,  treasurer,  and  Solomon  Kauffman, 
clerk.  A  school  was  taught  the  same  year,  with 
Jackson  Means  as  teacher,  using  an  abandoned  log 
cabin,  near  where  Samuel  Earnest  now  resides,  for 
a  school  house.  This  was  the  first  school  taught  in 
the  township,  and  was  well  attended.  A  school 
was  taught  in  the  same  cabin  the  following  winter 
by  the  same  teacher,  and  in  the  spring  of  1861  a 
permanent  school  house  site  for  this  district  (No. 
16)  was  selected  one  mile  farther  west,  and  a  better 
t)uilding  erected,  which  was  soon  after  followed  by 
a  good  substantial  stone  building,  since  known  as 
the  Moler  school  house,  and,  besides  being  used  for 
school  purposes,  it  has  been  used  ior  religious  ser- 
vices. Sabbath  school  and  public  meetings.  The 
Reeder  township  fair,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  was  held 


272  HISTORY   OF 

at  this  place,  and  was  equal  to  our  county  fairs  in 
former  years. 

Among  the  prominent  men  who  settled  in  this 
township  during  1859  were  John  L.  Hill,  Mathew 
Porter,  H.  Facklam,  A.  O.  Cooper,  H.  R.  Hall, 
Robert  Burk,  James  R.  Wood,  John  S.  Wood  and 
A.  L.  Osborn,  who  took  claims  and  made  valuable 
improvements.  A.  L.  Osborn  established  a  black- 
smith shop  on  the  Humboldt  road,  south  of  where 
Cyrus  H.  Lowry  now  resides,  and  afterwards  moved 
to  Garnett,  where  he  still  carries  on  the  same  busi- 
ness. 

John  L.  Hill  took  a  claim  on  Cherr}'  creek,  and 
commenced  improving  it,  with  little  or  no  means. 
Being  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  he  worked  at  the 
bench  evenings,  on  w^et  days,  and  when  he  could 
spare  the  time  from  his  plow.  He  now  owns  one  of 
the  best  improved  farms  in  the  county,  and  has  lo- 
cated several  members  of  his  family  on  good  farms 
near  him.  Mathew  Porter  has  improved  a  fine  farm 
near  Central  Cit}',  and  has  been  a  very  successful 
farmer.  A.  O.  Cooper  and  his  sons,  William  H. 
and  Charles  T.  Cooper,  improved  fine  farms  in  the 
same  neighborhood. 

Prominent  among  the  settlers  in  i860  were  John 
Moler,  Peter  S.  Patton,  A.  S.  Blackstone,  Michael 
Williams,  Terance  McGrath  and  A.  V.  Saunders. 
John  Moler  purchased  the  claim  of  160  acres  taken 
and  improved  by  Dr.  Messic,  and  has  since  pur- 
chased other  land,  and  added  to  it,  and  has  now  one 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  273 

of  the  largest  and  best  improved  farms  in  the  county, 
which  he  has  stocked  with  a  tine  lot  of  thorough- 
bred and  graded  Durham  cattle. 

In  1857  a  settlement  was  commenced  on  lanthe 
creek,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township.  Prom- 
inent among  the  earl}^  settlers  were  Dr.  D.  B.  Swal- 
low, Joseph  Benedum,  Daniel  Doolin,  William  Fitz- 
gerald and  Michael  Glennen. 

This  is  known  as  the  Emerald  (or  Irish)  settle- 
ment ;  it  has  a  postoffice,  and  a  tine  church  building, 
erected  on  an  elevated  point,  where  it  can  be  seen 
for  many  miles.  The  congregation  is  Catholic,  of 
good  membership. 

In  1865  C.  H.  Lowry  established  a  steam  saw 
mill  on  Pottowatomie  creek,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  continued  to  operate  it  for  several  years.  S.  W. 
Arrant  built  a  small  mill,  run  by  water  power,  on 
his  farm,  west  of  Central  City,  but  it  never  proved 
successful.  A  good  steam  saw  mill  was  established 
in  the  spring  of  1871,  on  the  farm  owned  by  Michael 
WilHams  ;  was  afterwards  sold  to  Smith  P.  Cornell, 
who  subsequent!}'  moved  it  to  Cherry  creek,  where 
it  is  still  operated. 

TOWNSHIP    SUPERVISORS. 

1858,  Solomou  Kauftman,  cliairmaii ;  T,  W.  Painter  and 
Joseph  Benedum  ;  1859,  J.  R.  Eaton,  chairman. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1860,  II.  X.  F.  Reed  ;  1861.  Jackson  Means;  1862-3-4,  S. 
^y.  Arrant ;  1865-6-7,  John  S.  Johnson  ;  1868,  John  Moler  ; 
1869,  Jackson  Means;  1870,  Robert  Burk ;  1871,  Jackson 
Means ;  1872-3.  James  Legg  ;  1874,  H.  C.  Reppert ;  1875, 
Henrv  Facklam. 
35 


274  HISTORY  OF 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 

1858,  Asa  J.  Yoder  ;  1859. ;  1868-9-70,  Daniel 

Hitchcock;  1871-2-3,  John   Aldridge  ;  1874.  S.  A.  Baird; 
1875.  James  McGahey. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

From  1868  to  1875.  inclnsive,  M.  Porter. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 

1858,  S.  W.  Arrant.  J.  R.  Eaton,  Milan  Grout  and  Ste- 
phen Marsh  ;  1860,  S.  W.  Arrant  and  J.  11.  Eaton  ;  1861,  J. 
E.  Eaton  and  M.  Porter ;  1863,  H.  R.  Hall  and  A.  V.  Saun- 
ders ;  1865,  M.  Porter  and  Daniel  Doolin  ;  1867,  M.  Por- 
ter and  Jas.  McGahey  ;  1869.  M.  Porter  and  Robert  Burk  ; 
1871,  M.  Porter  and  John  H.  Reiser  ;  1873,  J.  H.  Reiser  and 
Benj.  Bacon  ;  1871,  John  Aldridge,  to  till  a  vacancy  ;  1875, 
Thomas  McGrath  and  S.  A.  Baird. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


Washington  Township — Its  Organization — 
Streams —  Timber — Settlement — Successive  Town- 
ship Officers. 

Washington  township  is  situated  in  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  county,  and  contains  fift}'- 
six  square  miles.  It  is  supplied  with  plenty  of  tim- 
ber on  Cedar  and  South  Potto watomie  creeks,  which 
furnish  abundance  of  stock  water.  The  township 
was  organized  in  October,  1857.  Ilenr}-  Williams 
and  Francis  A.  Hart  were  appointed  justices  of  the 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  275 

peace  in  November,  and  were  the  first  officers  in 
the  township.  H.  M.  Rumley  and  John  B.  Dilday 
were  the  first  white  settlers  in  the  township  :  they 
located  on  South  Pottowatomie  in  July,  1855.  Eph- 
raim  Reynolds  came  to  the  settlement  in  the  fall  of 
1855.  None  of  these  now  live  in  the  county.  Rum- 
ley  and  Dilday  removed  to  Missouri,  and  Reynolds 
died  in  the  army,  a  brave  and  good  soldier,  in  de- 
fense of  his  country.  In  the  summer  of  1856  a  num- 
ber of  settlers  located  in  the  township,  among  whom 
were  Miles  Morris  and  Patrick  T^der. 

A  colonv  was  formed  at  Lawrence  about  the  first 
of  December,  1856,  consisting  principally  of  men 
who  enlisted  in  the  Free  State  cause  in  1856.  Thad- 
deus  Hyatt,  of  New  York,  and  W.  F,  M.  Arny,  of 
Bloomington,  Ills.,  took  an  active  part  in  organizing 
the  colony,  Hyatt  furnishing  the  necessary  provis- 
ions for  the  colony,  numbering  more  than  eighty 
persons,  for  the  Avinter  of  1856-7,  which  was  unusu- 
ally severe,  to  induce  them  to  settle  in  Anderson 
count}^  After  John  W.  Geary,  Governor,  had  es- 
tablished a  more  peaceable  state  of  affairs,  com- 
panies of  militia  were  organized,  by  order  of  the 
War  Department,  to  maintain  the  peace  in  the  Ter- 
ritory. Two  companies  of  militia,  all  Pro-Slavery 
men,  were  stationed  at  Lecompton  ;  and  one  com- 
pany, all  Free  State  men,  was  to  remain  at  Law- 
rence. These  companies  were  armed  with  muskets 
and  accoutrements,  clothed  and  fed  by  the  United 
States  government.     The  company  recruited  at  Law- 


276  HISTORY   OF 

rence  was  organized  about  the  first  of  October,  1856, 
with  Samuel  Walker,  captain,  James  A.  Harve}', 
first  lieutenant,  and  J.  W.  Walker,  second  lieutenant, 
each  of  whom  had  seen  some  service  in  our  border 
troubles  ;  and  James  A.  Harvey  had  served  through 
the  war  with  Mexico.  He  was  colonel  of  the  Third 
Free  State  regiment  during  the  troubles  of  1856. 
This  company  numbered  eighty-seven  men.  After 
camping  out  three  weeks,  and  drilling  every  day,  it 
was  supplied  with  United  States  uniforms  and  Sibley 
tents,  and  went  into  camp  in  the  timber  west  of 
Lawrence,  near  the  camp  of  Maj.  Wood's  battahon 
of  United  States  infantry,  where  they  performed 
guard  duty  until  the  30th  day  of  November,  1856, 
when  they  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  by  Maj. 
Wood,  U.S.  A.  These  eighty  men,  mostl}' unmar- 
ried, discharged  at  the  beginning  of  winter,  with  no 
employment,  and  no  means  to  support  themselves, 
nor  to  return  to  their  homes  in  the  Slates,  were  or- 
ganized into  a  colony  by  Thaddeus  Hyatt,  as  hereto- 
fore stated,  and  on  the  15th  day  of  December,  1856, 
proceeded  to  Anderson  county ;  and  on  the 
i8th  of  December  selected  the  north  half 
of  the  southeast  quarter  and  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  10,  and  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  3,  township  21,  range  19; 
and  in  a  few  days  thereafter  moved  their  camp 
on  to  Cedar  creek,  just  west  of  the  townsite 
of  Hyatt.  The  colony  spent  some  ten  days  in  se- 
lecting claims,  there  being  no  settlements  on  Cedar, 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  277 

and  but  three  families  in  the  west  part  of  the  county 
at  that  time.  The  most  of  the  colonists  selected 
claims  on  Cedar  and  South  Pottowatomie  creeks. 
The  colon^'  lived  in  tents,  enduring  many  hardships, 
until  April,  1857,  when  a  majority  of  them  went  on 
their  claims  and  commenced  improvements.  They 
prepared  timbers  for  a  hotel,  store  and  blacksmith 
shop,  which  were  erected  during  the  winter  on  the 
townsite  of  Hyatt,  In  the  spring  of  1857  a  saw  mill 
was  built — the  first  erected  in  the  county — and  in 
the  fall  a  grist  mill  was  attached,  which  did  good 
work  for  the  settlers  of  the  count}'. 

The  Hyatt  town  company-  was  organized  in  Feb- 
ruar3%  1857,  by  electing  W.  F.  M.  Arny,  president, 
and  Cyrus  J.  Farley,  secretary.  A  plat  and  survey 
of  the  townsite  was  duly  filed  in  the  district  land 
office  at  Lecompton,  April  21,  1858,  claiming  the 
land  described  for  a  townsite  under  the  pre-emption 
law  ;  a  plat  was  also  filed  in  the  office  of  the  pro- 
bate judge  of  the  county.  This  town  was  laid  out 
with  the  view  of  making  it  the  county  seat. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  township  were 
had  at  the  house  of  H.  M.  Rumley,  in  the  fall  of 
1856,  Rev.  Terrell  officiating.  The  first  birth  was 
a  son  of  Jackson  Mason,  in  1856  ;  the  next  was  a 
daughter  of  J.  B.  Dilday,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  A  cemetery  was  established  near  Hyatt  in 
the  summer  of  1857. 

A  store  was  opened  by  B.  F.  Allen,  at  Hyatt,  in 
the  summer  of  1857  ;  he  kept  a   general  assortment 


IjS  HISTORY   OF 

of  dry  goods  and  groceries.  In  June  a  postoffice 
was  established,. and  W.  F.  M.  Arny  was  appointed 
postmaster. 

School  district  No.  8  was  organized  in  1858,  and 
Miss  Josephine  Ramsey  taught  the  first  school 
therein  the  next  fall. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Overholts  located  at  Hyatt  in  the  spring 
of  1857.  In  July  of  that  year  there  was  much  sick- 
ness on  Cedar  and  South  Pottowatomie  creeks,  and 
manv  deaths  ensued,  among  whom  was  Col.  James 
A.  Harvey,  the  president  of  the  town  company  of 
Hyatt,  an  honorable  member  of  the  colony.  Soon 
thereafter  the  prospects  of  the  town  began  to  wane. 
Many  left  the  Territory  the  same  fall ;  and  when 
the  gold  excitement  of  Pike's  Peak  came,  in  1859, 
many  of  the  colony  left  for  the  new  Eldorado  ;  and 
soon  thereafter  the  town  was  abandoned,  Garnett 
having  become  the  county  seat.  All  that  remains  ot 
Hyatt  now  is  the  story  of  its  rise  and  fall. 

A  postotfice  was  established  at  Springfield  in  Oc- 
tober, 1858,  and  A.  W.  Jones  appointed  postmaster. 

Among  the  noted  settlers  that  settled  on  the  east 
side  of  South  Pottowatomie  in  1857,  in  the  Spring- 
field neighborhood,  were  A.  W.  Jones,  Richard 
Mills,  W.  M.  Manlove,  Wm.  Whipps  and  John 
Horn. 

Some  of  the  more  prominent  men  w^ho  still  reside 
in  the  township  are  Zar  Bennett,  John  Horn,  R.  H. 
Cunningham,  J.  Reynolds,  J.  M.  Johnson,  Thomas 
Thompson,  J.  W.  One3^  John  W.  Paul,  Dr.  Broom- 
hall,  A.  W.  Phillips,  Thos.  Warden,  J.  Y.  Alexan- 
der, Robert  Moore,  James  S.  Smith,  T.  J.  Owens 
and  Emery  W.  Wilson. 

TOWNSHIP    SUPERVISORS. 

18.58,  A.  McArtliur,  chairman  ;  Jolm  B.  Dildav  and  Rob- 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  279 

ert  H.  Moore  ;    1859.  John  B.  Dilday,  cliairniaii  :  Robert 
H.  Moore  and . 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1860,  A.  W.  Phillips;  1861,  Alexander  McArthuv ;  1862, 
William  Ajiuew ;  l)s63-4.  John  W.  Paul;  1866,  (no  record 
of  election)  ;  1867-8-9-70,  John  Horn;  1871,  A.  AV^  Phil- 
lips ;  1872,  \V.  B.  Hamilton ;  1873-4,  Thoinas  Thompson ; 
1875,  A.  W.  Phillips. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

1858-9,  John  Horn :  1868,  R.  H.  Cunningham  ;  1869-70, 
Miles  Morris;  1871-2-3-4-5,  J.  Y.  Alexander. 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 

1868,  Abner  B.  Glover;  1869-70-1-2-3-4-5,  Junius  Reyn- 
old.s. 

JUSTICES    OK    THE    PEACE. 

1858,  Henry  Williams,  F'rancis  A.  Hart,  William  Reyn- 
olds and  A.  W.  Jones  ;  1860,  John  Campbell  and  Henry 
Williams;  1861,  Henrv  Williams  and  William  Reynolds: 
1863-5,  A.  W.  Phillips  and  Miles  Morris;  1867,  Zach.  Nor- 
ris  and  A.  W.  Phillips;  1869-71,  Zach.  Xorris  and  R.  H. 
Cunningham;  1873,  R.  H.  Cunningham  and  H.J.  Morgan; 
1874,  John  Campbell,  to  till  vacancy. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Putnam  Toivnshi-p —  Organization — Prominent 
Settlers — First  School  District — First  Church 
Bziilding — Mozint  Carmel  College — Successive 
To2V7ishif    Officers. 

Putnam  township  was  formed  by  the  county 
commissioners,  April  7,  1870,  and  named  in  honor 
of  Leander  Putnam.      The  township  is  bounded  as 


iSo  HISTORY   OF 

follows  :  Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Walker  township,  on  the  north  line  of  the  county  ; 
thence  west  to  the  line  between  ranges  i8  and  19 : 
thence  south  to  the  southwest  corner  of  township 
19  ;  thence  east  to  lanthe  creek  :  thence  following 
the  main  channel  of  said  creek  to  Pottowatomie 
creek  ;  thence  down  the  main  channel  of  Pottowat- 
omie creek  to  a  point  where  it  crosses  the  line  of 
Walker  township  ;  thence  north  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning ;  containing  30  square  miles. 

The  principal  part  of  the  lands  of  Putnam  town- 
ship are  high,  rolling  prairie.  It  has,  however,  good 
valley  lands,  and  timber  along  the  streams  forming 
its  southern  boundary.  It  contains  some  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  county. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  portion  of  the  county 
was  made  by  the  Rocker  famil3%  in  1855,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Pottowatomie,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1856  several  others  came,  among  whom  were 
Henry  Feuerborn,  Rezin  Porter,  Henry  Ritter,  Eli 
P.  Bawgus,  William  Tull,  Geo.  W.  Yandall,  James 
McGue  and  Mrs.  Totton. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  there  was  a  large  immigra- 
tion to  the  township.  The  Scipio  colon3^  spoken  of 
in  another  chapter,  came  in  this  year  ;  as  well  as 
many  others,  who  are  mentioned  elsewhere.  The 
Saint  Boniface  church  is  situated  in  this  township  : 
also  Mount  Carmel  college.  The  first  school  dis- 
trict in  the  county  was  organized  in  this  township  in 
December,  1858,  with  A.  Garrett,  James  Farrah  and 
M.  Puett  as  a  school  board,  who  erected  the  first 
school  house  in  the  county.  The  Saint  Boniface 
Catholic  church  was  erected  in  1858,  and  was 
the  first  church  building  in  the  county.  In  187 1 
the  Catholic  church  organized  a  college,  known  as 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  28 1 

"Mount  Carmel,'"  and  erected  a  fine  building,  and 
have  since  maintained  a  good  school  therein. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1870,  J.  J.  Speucer  :  1871-2-3-i-o,  Leander  Putnam. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 

1870,  G.  W.  Flint  and  J.  M.  Perrine  ;  1872,   G.  W.  Flint 
and  J.  J.  Spencer  ;  1874,  G.  W.  Flint  and  F.  Lichteig. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASUREKS. 

1870.  Leander   Putnam ;  1871-2-3— 1,   A.   C.  Messenger ; 
1875,   A.  R.  Smith. 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 

1870-1-2,  Melvin  Cottle  ;  1873-4,  J.  F.  Ricketts  ;  1875,  J. 
Tavlor. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


Z,  in  CO  In  Townsh  i'j> — Bo  iin  daries —  Organ  izatio  n 
— Prominent  Settlers — Elba  Tozvn  Company — 6*/^^- 
cessive  Tozvn  skip  Officers. 

Lincoln  TO^VNSHIP  was  formed  and  its  bound- 
aries established  October  3,  1870,  as  follows  :  Com- 
mencing on  the  east  line  of  Anderson  county,  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  3,  township  21,  range 
21  ;  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
4,  township  21,  range  20;  thence  south  to  the  line 
dividing  ranges  21  and  22  :  thence  east  to  the  county 
line  ;  thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  con- 
taining 48  square  miles. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  was  in  May, 
1857,  by  Daniel  Elsbury,  on  North  Sugar  creek,  and 


282  HISTORY  OF 

during  the  year  the  following  persons  also  settled  in 
the  township  :  John  Lawrence,  Charles  Vanguilder, 
Wm.  Taylor,  H.  K.  Robinson,  Wesley  Spindler, 
Mrs.  Fry,  Dr.  J.  W.  Swank,  M.  E.  Osborn,  Ben- 
jamin Peoples,  James  D.  Ridgeway,  B.  F.  Ridgewa^^ 
S.  B.  Miller,  Mrs.  Ashbm-n.  Among  those  of  1858 
were  R.  H.  P.  Snodgrass,  Riley  Lawrence,  Geo. 
Enoch,  James  Lowr}-,  David  Wright,  A.  W.  Ross, 
Wm.  Vess,  Blaine  A.  Vess,  Cyrus  Morris,  PresleN' 
Morris,  Adison  Morris,  Samuel  Morris,  Anthony 
Holloman  and  Virgil  Hollomon.  Prominent  settlers 
of  1859  were  C.  T.  Chapin,  Samuel  McCollum, 
Daniel  McCollum,  Nelson  Tusteson,  James  Houri- 
gan,  Wm.  Rebstock  and  Christian  Rebstock. 

The  township  is  watered  by .  several  streams, 
which  suppl}'  an  abundance  of  good  water.  Tim- 
ber is  rather  scarce.  It  contains  numerous  beauti- 
ful round  mounds,  and  a  great  variety  of  valley 
land  :  and  the  soil  of  the  township  is  about  an  aver- 
age with  other  parts  of  the  county. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  Mrs.  Snod- 
grass, in  July,  1858. 

Elba  town  compan}'  was  organized  January  23, 
1858,  composed  of  Harvey  Springer,  B.  F.  Ridge- 
way, A.  G.  Poteet  and  William  Springer.  The 
company  surveyed  and  laid  out  a  town  on  the  west 
half  of  section  8,  township  21,  range  21,  and  filed  a 
plat  thereof  with  the  probate  judge  of  the  county, 
and  asked  that  the  land  so  platted  be  pre-empted  as 
a  townsite  ;  but  this  town  never  had  any  existence 
except  on  paper,  and  was  never  pre-empted,  the 
company  wisely  concluding  that  it  was  useless  to 
spend  time  and  money  in  attempting  to  build  a  town 
on  the  site. 

The  first  election  in  the  township  was  held  on  the 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  283 

day   of    the    general    election    in    November,  1870. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1870-1-2,  M.  E.  Osborn  :  1873,  A.  E.  Rogers  :  1874,  Ed. 
Stein;  187.5,  D.  M.  Osboru. 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

1870-1-2-3-4,  B.  A.  Vess  ;  1875,  M.  E.  Osborn. 

TOWNSHIP    CI^ERKS. 

1870-1-2-3,  Ed.  Stein  ;  1874,  James  Knioht ;  187.5,  D.  Mc- 
CoUum. 

JUSTICES    OF   THE    PEACE. 

1870,  David  Wright  and  M.   Osborn;   1871-3,  D.  M.  Os- 
born and  J.  Brown  ;  1875,  E.  L.  Peavey  and  G.  W.  Smith. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


Ozark  Tozvnshi^  —  Organization  —  Streams  — 
First  Election — Tozun  of  Colony — Ohio  and  In- 
diana Colony — Successive  Tozvnship  Officers. 

On  the  loth  day  of  May,  1859,  Ozark  township 
was  established  by  the  board  of  county  supervisors, 
bounded  as  follows  :  All  that  portion  of  the  county 
lying  south  of  township  21,  being  nine  miles  wide 
and  twenty-four  miles  long.  There  is  a  high  eleva- 
tion of  land  running  across  the  township,  known  as 
the  Ozark  ridge,  which  divides  the  waters  of  the 
Arkansas  and  Missouri  rivers.  Cedar  and  South 
Potto watomie  creeks  head  in  this  township,  and 
flow  toward  the  Missouri  river,  and  Indian  and  Deer 
creeks  rise  in  the  same  township,  and  flow  toward 
the  Arkansas   river.       The  lands  of  this  township 


284  HISTORY   OF 

are  principally  high,   undulating  prairie,  but  it  has 
some  beautiful  valley  lands  along  the  streams. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  township  on 
Deer  creek,  by  Giles  Sater,  in  the  fall  of  1855.  He 
brought  two  slaves  with  him,  and  kept  them  until 
i860.  Thos.  J.  Day  settled  on  Deer  creek  in  the 
same  year.  He  was  one  of  the  first  commissioners 
of  Allen  county.  In  1857  he  moved  into  Anderson 
county.  Deer  creek  was  thus  named  by  Day,  on 
account  of  the  great  number  of  deer  on  that  stream. 
He  also  gave  Indian  creek  its  name,  because  of  find- 
ing a  new-made  Indian  grave  on  its  banks,  the  grave 
being  marked  by  a  stone  with  a  buck  carved  upon  it. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1856-7,  on  Deer  creek, 
were  Alexander  Martin,  Hiram  Cable,  David  Mar- 
tin, W.  Stubblefield,  J.  P.  Pitsford,  James  Buford, 
H.  P.  Lawrence,  Henr}^  Sater,  John  Williams,  Mrs. 
Doroth}'  Jones.  Among  those  who  settled  on  In- 
dian creek  about  the  same  time  were  :  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Wiggins,  John  Stiginwalt,  J.  P.  Whicher,  Wil- 
liam Denny  and  A.  P.  Clark.  On  the  Osage,  in 
this  township,  were  A.  G.  West,  John  Hall  and 
Joseph  C.  Mills. 

In  1859  Joseph  Price,  Thos.  J.  Day  and  James  A. 
Dorsey  associated  themselves  together  as  a  town 
compan}^  and  located  and  laid  out  Elizabethtown, 
on  section  15,  township  23,  range  19.  Soon  there- 
after a  little  store  was  opened  there  by  W.  Stubble- 
field  &  Co.  They  procured  a  postoftice  at  that 
place  in  the  same  vear. 

The  first  election  was  held  in  the  township  June 

The  territory  originall}'  included  in  Ozark  town- 
ship has  been  divided  into  Ozark,  Rich  and  Indian 
Creek  townships. 


ANDERSON  COUNTY.  285 

Among  the  settlers  on  Deer  creek  from  1859  ^o 
1862  are  John  Jones,  John  McD.  Martin,  B.  B.  Rock- 
wood,  Joseph  Price,  Dr.  P.  T.  Mathews,  S.  L.  Ful- 
lenwider,  S.  M.  McCoon  and  G.  W.  Sands. 

In  1870  the  Leavenworth,  Lawrence  &  Galveston 
railroad  was  completed  to  the  south  line  of  the 
county,  and  a  station  was  located  near  the  north  line, 
of  the  township,  called  Welda  :  another  station  was 
located  on  section  6,  township  22,  range  19,  called 
Divide  ;  at  which  there  has  since  been  a  town  laid 
out,  and  the  name  changed  to  Colony.  In  the 
spring  and  summer  of  187 1  a  colon^^  was  organized 
in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  under  the  leadership  of  some 
energetic  men,  such  as  Col.  Henry  Wilson,  of  Sid- 
ney, Ohio,  Col.  N.  Bostwick,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio, 
J.  J.  Fairbanks,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and  J.  G. 
Norton,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and,  after  examining 
the  State  of  Kansas  and  Colorado  Territor3^  they 
selected  the  present  site  in  this  township,  and  in 
March,  1872,  the  colonists  began  to  arrive,  and  by 
the  middle  of  May  about  one  hundred  persons  had 
come.  After  their  arrival  the  colonists  elected  Col. 
Henry  Wilson,  president ;  J.  J.  Fairbanks,  vice 
president;  J.  P.  Ewing,  secretary;  and  D.  W. 
Ream,  treasurer.  The  colonists  have  improved 
some  good  farms  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Col- 
ony. The  town  now  numbers  about  eight3'-five  in- 
habitants, has  one  hotel,  one  store,  one  blacksmith 
shop,  wagon  shop,  a  real  estate  office  andpostoffice. 
It  is  a  healthful  and  beautiful  place,'  and  has  a  class 
of  good,  energetic  citizens.  J.  J.  Fairbanks  built  the 
first  dwelling  house  in  the  towm  in  the  winter  of 
1872.  Dr.  J.  M.  Ford  has  a  first-class  dr3'-goods 
and  grocer}'  store  in  the  town,  and  does  a  good 
business,  being  also  a  good  physician. 


286  HISTORY   OF 

TOWNSHIP    SUPERVISORS. 

1S59.  a.  W.  Sands,  chainnan :  John  Pitcliford  and 
llcurv  Satev. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1860.  (i.  W.  Sands  ;  1861-2,  Jolin  Volk ;  1863-4-5-6-7,  A, 
<T.  West  ;  1868,  Josepli  Price  ;  1869,  B.  B.  llockwood  ;  1870, 
Joseph  Price  ;  1871,  William  Denny:  1872-3,  Joseph  Price  ; 

1874.  J.  H.  (^anipbell;  1875,  S.  B.  Gamble, 

TOWNSHIP    OI>ERKS. 

1859,  H.  p.  Lawrence;  1868,  Sylvester  Durall ;  1870,  S. 
\V.  Borinji,-;  1871,  A.  B.  VVandall :  1872,  E.  W,  Poineroy  : 
1873,  E.  F.  Ewino  :  1874.  Geo.  Mathews ;  1875.  F.  ('.  Ewing-. 

TOWNSHIP    TRPiASURERS. 

1859.  Hiram  Cable;  1868,  P.  T.  Mathews;  1869.  T.  A, 
Wetherman;  1870,  Joseph  Walker:  1871.  S.  W.  Boring-; 
1872.  (xeorge  West ;  1873.  Alfred  Cook  ;  1874-5,  Thomas  J. 
Day. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE   PEACE. 

1859.  John  Williams;  1860,  Joseph  Price  and  J.  D.  Hos- 
ley  ;  1863,  Joseph  Price  and  F.  R.  Marsh  ;  1864,  A.  G.  West^ 
to' till  yacancy  :  1865-6-7-8-9,  A.  G.  West  and  Joseph  Price  ; 
1871,  J.  B.  Rhodes  and  E.  W.  Pomeroy  ;  1873,  J.  B.  Rhodes  ; 

1875.  J.  B.  Rhodes  and  J.  J.  Fairbanks. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

J^/c/i  Tozvnship — Boundaries — Soil — Streams — 
Timber — Coal — Early  Settlers — First  Election — 
Successive  Tozvnship  Officers. 

Rich  township  was  formed  by  the  county  com- 
missioners Julv  29,  1870,  bounded  as  follows : 
Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner  of  township 
22,  range  20  ;  running  south  nine  miles,  to  the  south 


ANDERSON    COUNTY.  287 

line  of  the  county  ;  thence  east  ten  miles,  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  county  ;  thence  north  nine 
miles  :  thence  west  ten  miles,  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning ;  containing  ninety  square  miles.  The  sur- 
face of  the  township  is  generally  undulating  prairie  : 
soil,  fertile.  There  is  some  good  valley  land  along 
the  streams.  The  township  is  furnished  with  abun- 
dance of  stock  water  hv  the  Osage  river.  Sugar 
creek.  Deer  creek  and  their  tributaries.  There  is 
but  little  timber,  but  an  abundance  of  coal  in  the 
tow^nship.  These  coal  beds  furnish  fuel  for  the  sur- 
rounding country.  The  people  have  adopted  the 
herd  law,  and  man}'  farms  are  cultivated  without 
fences  until  hedges  can  be  grown.  The  greater 
number  of  the  settlers  in  the  township  were  soldiers 
during  the  rebellion,  and  have  settled  here  since  the 
war,  on  homestead  land.  It  contains  many  good 
farms  and  enterprising  men. 

The  first  settlement  was  on  the  Osage,  in  1857, 
bv  A.  G.  West,  John  Hall,  Joseph  C.  Mills,  F.  R. 
Marsh,  J.  D.  Hosley,  E.  D.  Hosley,  S.  F.  West, 
and  C.  G.  Ellis.  The  followincf  are  some  of  those 
who  settled  in  the  township  in  later  years  :  Joseph 
Walker,  Charles  Revnolds,  Morgan  Ferguson, 
Alex.  McNutt,  R.  C.  Ploughe,  D.  C.  Richner,  S. 
DaralLJ.  Q.  Bowdell,  David  Barton,  Samuel  Miller, 
Vincent  Sisson,  J.  A.  Bell,  S.  D.  Anderson,  John 
H.  Shawver,  Robt.  Grav,  Pha  Tefft,  Caleb  Frazer 
and  Adam  Frazer. 

The  first  election  in  the  township  was  held  at  Mc- 
Nutt's  school  house,  August  27,  1870. 

TOWNSHIP    TRUSTEES. 

1870,  R.  C.  Ploughe  ;  1871.  Svlvester  Durall ;  1872.  James 
A.Bell;  1873.  J.  M.  81ireves  :' 1874.  J.  B.  Ferguson:  1875, 
J.  R.  McCov. 


288  HISTORV   OF 

TOWNSHIP    TREASURERS. 

IK70-1-2.  I).  ('.  Richuer:  1873-4.  W.  C.  Routzong':  1875, 
J.  B.  Ferguson. 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 

1870,  Sylvester  Diirall :  1871,  P.  McXall ;  1872.  J.  C^.  Bow- 
dell  :  1873,  J.  B,  Fer-iusou  ;  1874,  J.  S.  nainilton  ;  1875,  B, 
F.  Rib.er. 

.rUSTICES  OK  THE  PEACE. 

1870,  J.  Q.  Bowdell  and  James  Rasbough;  1871,  Morg-au 
Ferguson  and  John  Hall ;  1873-5.  Samuel  Miller  and  John 
n.  Shawvev. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Indian  Creek  Township — Organization — First 
Settleuient — Streams — Successive  Township  Offi- 
cers . 

Indian  Creek  township  was  established  by  the 
board  of  county  commissioners  July  lo,  1873,  and  its 
boundaries  fixed  as  follows  :  Beginning  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  county  ;  running  thence  east  along 
the  south  line  of  the  county  six  miles,  to  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  15,  township  23,  range  18  ; 
thence  north  nine  miles,  to  the  north  line  of  Ozark 
township,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  3,  town- 
ship 22,  range  18  ;  thence  west  along  the  south  line  of 
Reeder  township,  to  the  west  line  of  the  county,  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  2,  township  22,  range 
17  ;  thence  south  along  the  west  line  of  the  county, 
to  the  place  of  beginning ;  containing  fifty-four 
square  miles. 


ANDERSON'  COUNTY.  289 

The  tirst  election  for  township  otiicers  was  at  the 
general  election  in  November,  1873. 

The  township  is  composed  of  high,  undulating 
prairie  land,  of  average  soil.  Cedar  creek  rises  in 
this  township  and  flows  northward.  Indian  creek 
runs  across  the  township,  furnishing  pleptv  of  stock 
water.  Martin's  creek  rises  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  the  township  and  flows  southward.  This 
township  has  but  little  timber.  It  lies  near  the  Ne- 
osho river,  from  which  it  gets  most  of  its  timber. 
The  township  includes  some  of  the  finest  grazing 
country  in  the  county. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  was  made 
on  Indian  creek,  in  1857,  b}-  Mrs.  Margaret  Wig- 
gins and  familv.  Soon  after  her  come,  John  Stigin- 
walt,  F.  P.  Whicher,  A.  P.  Clark,  Thomas  Stigin- 
walt,  and  William  Dennv. 

Since  the  war  the  followino"  gentlemen  ha\'e  set- 
tied  in  the  township  :  Squire  Worrell,  E.  W.  Pome- 
roy*  G.  O.  Howard,  Allen  W.  Fox,  C.  C.  Leach, 
Milton  J.  Boyd,  Geo.  W.  McDaniel,  M.  N.  Sinnott, 
A.  L.  Rogers,  Richard  Cave,  Benj.  Sharp,  D.  Morti- 
mer and  C.  W.  Spencer. 

TOWNSHIl'    THl'STKES. 

1873-4-.0,  :M.  X.  Siunott. 

TOWXSHU'    CT.KKKS. 

lS7o,    Joliii  xV.   Houso;    1S74.    A.    Halx-ock  :    ISTo.  A.  L. 
1  lowers. 

TOWXSHIl'    TRKASUKKK.S. 

1878-4,  Ku-hard  Cave  ;  187.5.  A.  W.  Fox. 

.irSTICKS    OF    THK    I'KACE. 

1873.   R.  G.  Ellsworth:  1874.  Ik'ujainin  Sliarp  :    is7.i.  ('. 
('.  I.eacli  and  (>.  W.  Spencer. 

37 


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