USA > Kansas > Anderson County > The history of Anderson County, Kansas, from its first settlement to the Fourth of July, 1876. > Part 1
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محميدى
Gc 978.101 An2 jo 1401619
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01103 1215
THE HISTORY
OF
ANDERSON
COUNTY
KANSAS,
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1876.
BY
W. A. JOHNSON
CHAIRMAN OF HISTORICAL COMMITTEE.
PUBLISHED BY KAUFFMAN & ILER, GARNETT PLAINDEALER,
1877.
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1877, by KAUFFMAN & ILER,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress. Washington, D. 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 the election of Solo- mon Kauffman, chairman, and Charles E. Dewey, secretary, 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
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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 for 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 & Iler, was accepted :
"That if the executive committee will turn over to Kauff- man & Iler a subscription list of 125 books. at $1.25 per copy, that they will publish 500 copies of the history, of the style heretofore agreed upon, cloth binding, and of the manuscript prepared by W. A. Johnson, and supposed to make about 250 pages, and will sell the same at $1.25 per copy, without any further expense to the said committee."
W. A. JOHNSON, Chairman.
SOLOMON KAUFFMAN, Secretary.
ANDERSON COUNTY.
Anderson county is located in the second tier of counties west from Missouri, fifty miles south of the Kansas river, and seventy miles north of the Indian Territory. It is twenty-four miles square, contains five hundred and seventy-six square miles, and is well supplied with water by the following streams : North Pottowatomie, flowing across the northern portion, with the following tributaries in the north and west : Sac creek, Ianthe 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 ; Sugar 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 county ; Deer and Indian creeks, flowing south through Allen county. These are all streams of pure, living water, abounding with fine fish. Along most of these streams abundance of good timber is found, consisting of black walnut, burr oak, red oak, hickory, elm, hackberry, sycamore, hard and soft maple, basswood, cottonwood, wild cherry, locust
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
and mulberry. The alluvium or bottom prairies are found along all of these streams, being as fine quality of land as can be found in the State, the soil be- ing from two to five 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, 10 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.
CHAPTER I. FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Ilistory of the First Settlement by the Pottowatomic Indians in 1837-Their Removal in 1854-First Settle- ment by Whites in 1854, - -
17
CHAPTER II. ORGANIZATION.
Organization of the Territory-The several Elections in 1855-6-Organization of Anderson County. - 22
CHAPTER III.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
Appointment of County .Officers-Locating First County Road-Locating Permanent County Seat- First Term of District Court-Organization of Potto- watomie Rifle Company-They Break up Cato's Court at Shermanville, -
- - 29
CHAPTER IV.
NOTED SETTLERS, ELECTIONS, BORDER RUFFIANS. Noted Settlers of 1855-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 with his Company Marching to the Rescue of Lawrence-United States Troops Sent to Pottowatomie, -
35
S
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
POTTOWATOMIE GUARDS, FIRST CELEBRATION, BATTLES. SUFFERING.
Organization of Pottowatomie Guards-Celebration of Fourth of July, 1856-Struggle between Free State Men and Border Ruffians-Battle of Middle Creek- llow a Rutlian Lost his Nose-Raid on Pottowatomie -Battle of Osawatomie-Great Suffering among Settlers. - - - - - 4;
CHAPTER VI.
NEW SETTLERS. TOWNSITES, STEAM MILL.
Arrival of C. E. Dewey and Party from Ohio-First Settlement on South Pottowatomie-Death of Bear- Survey of Government 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 Garnett in . 1858-9. - - - - -
- - 56
CHAPTER VII. t
POLITICAL MEETINGS, COUNTY OFFICERS. ELECTIONS. CELEBRATION. SICKNESS.
Mass Meeting at Hyatt-First Meeting in Garnett- 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 Greeley-Dividing the County into Municipal Townships-Free State Conventions at Simons' and at Hyatt-First Election for County Officers-Vote of the Precincts, except Shannon, thrown out by Probate Judge-Letter Giving Reasons for Same-Free State Convention at Grass- hopper Falls-Sickness in the Fall of 1857. - - 67
.
9
.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
ELECTIONS, PROBATE COURT, PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Commissioners to Attend Voting Precinets-Election under Lecompton Constitution-Resignation of County Officers-Appointment of Agent to Contest Claim-Election of Delegates to Leavenworth Con- stitutional Convention-Election of County Officers -Election on Leavenworth Constitution-Jurisdic- tion of Probate Courts-Troubles in West Part of the County-Contract to Erect Public Buildings- Vote on Lecompton Constitution, - 83
CHAPTER LA.
CONVENTIONS, ELECTIONS, MAIL ROUTES, BORDER TROUBLES, REPUBLICAN MEETING.
Convention at Ottumwa-Election of Members of Ter- ritorial Legislature-Establishing Mail Routes in Southern Kansas-Free State Men Called on to De- fend Settlers in the Border Counties-Posse from Coffey County Arrests Settlers of Anderson County- Burning of Painter's and Fox's Cabin by a Mob- Marais des Cygne Massacre-John Brown's Parallels -Liberation of Slaves-Squatters' Court Organized in Anderson, Linn and other Counties-First 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- Hler Arrest for Murder-Examination, Escape, Re- turn, Re-arrest and Trial-Murder of James Lowry- Trial of his Murderers-Conviction of Ford-His Par- con by the Governor-Trial and Acquittal of Tuste- son and Knouff-Murder of Mrs. Adaline Duren- Capture and Execution of the Murderer, - - 112
2
" -
IO
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
TAX, VALUATION, ROADS, ELECTIONS, POLITICAL, 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 1855-6 and 1856-7, 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.
CHAPTER XV.
ACCIDENTS AND MISFORTUNES.
Shooting of Tipsword-Drowning of Lester Dart- Christian Feuerborn Killed by Indians-Josiah Kel- lerman, his Wife 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.,
- 152
CHAPTER XVI.
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 XVII. .
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 XVIII.
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-Postoffices and Postmasters, - - 188
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIX.
CATTLE DISEASE, GRASSHOPPERS, THE SEASONS. Spanish Fever among Cattle-Locusts, or Grasshop- pers-Synopsis of the Seasons, - - 194
CHAPTER XX.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS.
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 William Hamilton by Jolin. W. 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 Sacrificed their Lives in the cause of their Country, - 229
CHAPTER XXIV.
FELONIES.
Trials of Felonies, less than Murder, - - 239
CONTENTS. 13
CHAPTER XXV.
WALKER TOWNSILIP.
Organization-Settlement-Prominent Men-Elections -Successive Officers. - -
- 245
CHAPTER XXVI.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
Organization - Settlement - Towns - Elections-Suc- cessive Officers. - -
- - 255
CHAPTER XXVII.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries-Organization-Streams-Soil -Timber- Prominent Settlers from 1855 to 1860-First School-
First Marriage-First Deaths-Successive Officers, 259 -
CHAPTER XXVIII.
REEDER TOWNSHIP.
Early Settlements - Boundaries - Organization-Offi- cers, etc .. - - - - - - 263
CHAPTER XXIX.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Organization-Streams-Timber-Settlement-Succes- sive Officers, - - - -
- - - 274
CHAPTER XXX.
PUTNAM TOWNSHIP.
Organization-Prominent Settlers-First School Dis- trict-First Church Building-Mount Carmel College -Successive Officers, - -
- 279
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXI. LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries-Organization-Prominent Settlers-Elba Town Company-Successive Officers, - - 281
CHAPTER XXXII. OZARK TOWNSHIP.
Organization-Streams-First Election-Town of Col- ony-Ohio and Indiana Colony-Successive Officers, 283
CHAPTER XXXIII. 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 by the histori- cal committee to write out and prepare for publication a history of the county from its first settlement to the pres- ent time. I 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 first 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 first 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
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INTRODUCTION.
and progress, or decline. as the facts required : the loca- tion and settlement of different colonies, with a brief sketch of the more noted settlers prior to 1860; the many elections in Territorial days : mass meetings, political con- ventions, railroad meetings, organization of railroad com- panies, locating roads and postoffices, location of county seats, first term of court, and the manner in which busi- ness was conducted in the courts for several years ; dividing the county into municipal townships and school districts, the building of school houses. church organizations and building church edifices, giving names of the successive state senators, representatives, judges of the district court and county officers, from the organization of the county to the present time, with dates of election or appointment. and the time served by each; a brief statement of the organization of each township, its settlements and su(- cessive township officers; also, a synopsis of seasons. crops, visitation of locusts or grasshoppers, Spanish fever among cattle, and the full particulars of all the murders and murder trials in the county. I have carefully pre- pared a list of the names of the brave men who served in the army for the suppression of the rebellion, giving the company and regiment in which each served; also the names of the heroic dead who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country.
I have endeavored to furnish a true and impartial his- tory of the county from its first settlement to the present. and in as brief a manner as possible to do justice to all. In the preparation of this history, I collected the facts from the imperfeet and partial records of the county. and do- tached papers in the county offices, from files of old news- papers, old letters, and from the recollection of many of the early settlers, as well as my own recollection.
The design of this history is to preserve for the people of Anderson county an imperishable record of its early history, now existing only in the memory of its earliest settlers and in scattered 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. What 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 approval of my fellow citizens who have helped contribute to the transactions that go to make up this history. W. A. JOHNSON.
HISTORY OF
ANDERSON COUNTY, KANSAS.
CHAPTER I.
History of the First Settlement by the Pottowat- omie Indians, in 1837-Their Removal, in 1854- First Settlement by Whites, in 1854.
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 they 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 early 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
I8
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 1838 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 Pottowatomies 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, they 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, the first 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,
19
ANDERSON COUNTY.
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 settled 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 settled 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, Anderson Cassel and Dr. Rufus Gilpatrick.
In the winter of 1854 and 1855 a 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 territory now embraced within the limits of Anderson county was entirely uninhabited ; not a human being resided within any portion of its territory ; it was one vast unoccupied space. Not a single road entered its
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HISTORY OF
territorial domain to guide the lonely 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 EMIGRANTS.
We cross the prairie as of old The pilgrims crossed the sea, To make the West, as they . the East, The homestead of the free!
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
We go to rear a wall of men On Freedom's southern line. And plant beside the cotton tree The rugged Northern pine !
We're flowing from our native hills As our free rivers flow : The blessing of our mother-land Is on us as we go.
We go to plant her common schools On distant prairie swells, And give the Sabbaths of the wild The music of her bells.
Upbearing, like the Ark of old, The Bible in our van, We go to test the truth of God Against the fraud of man.
No pause, nor rest, save where the streams That feed the Kansas run, Save where our Pilgrim gonfalon Shall flout the setting sun!
We'll tread the prairie as of old Our fathers sailed the sea, And make the West, as they the East. The homestead of the free!
CHAPTER II.
Organization of the Territory-The Several Elections in 1855-6-Organization of Anderson County, January 7, 1856.
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