USA > Kansas > Republic County > A history of Republic County, Kansas, embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01 > Part 5
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One afternoon in May, 1869, an attack was made on Stanfield and Phillips, who were planting corn on Stan- field's claim, a man named Teneyck acting as sentry and O. C. Davis, another settler, guarding the house, all very narrowly escaping capture. At this time Davis lost his team of mules and Stanfield saved his horses by taking them into his log house, 12x14 feet, where they remained all night in Stanfield's best room. The house was occu- pied that night by two horses, four armed men and all of Stanfield's parlor and kitchen furniture. Next morning firing was plainly heard up the river, the cause of which was at that time unknown to the settlers. Fearing the re- turn of the Indians and a renewal of the attack, a dispatch asking for assistance was started by a special courier to Lake Sibley, where some soldiers were stationed.
The dispatch bearer was a cow, which had been brought by Dan Davis from Sibley some two weeks previous, and believing that if she was turned loose, would return to that place, the dispatch was written and securely fastened
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History of Republic County.
to the cow's head with a piece of red flannel cloth to attract attention upon her arrival there. This being done, she was turned loose with the best wishes of all for a safe journey and prompt delivery of the dispatch. After wait- ing three long and wearisome days for an answer, the set- tlers decided to visit Lake Sibley and learn why their ap- peal for assistance had been unheeded. On reaching Scan- dia they found that their dispatch bearer had been inter- cepted there and milked regularly ever since her arrival, presumably by Squire Lembke, as he informed the party that he had milk in his coffee that very morning. They also found John McChesney there, the only survivor of a hunting party of seven, who were surprised by the In- dians, and after making a desperate resistence, six of their number were killed. This party was composed of John Winkelpleck and son, John McChesney, a man named Berg and three men from Michigan on a visit to friends in Mar- shall county. The McChesney who narrowly escaped by hiding in the brush until the Indians left is now a resident of Osborne county and uncle to the jovial, whole-souled John McChesney, the traveling man from Red Wing, Min- nesota, who for several years has made regular visits to Belleville and other points in this county. The cause of the firing heard by Stanfield and his party the morning after the eventful night just described was now fully ex- plained. They then decided to abandon their visit to Lake Sibley, and accompanied by McChesney go up the river to the scene of the massacre of the hunting party and bury the dead bodies as best they could. The bodies were all found and buried on the east bank of the Republican, on section 15, town 1, range 5.
Other outrages of a similar character occurred in the Solomon and Saline valleys on the same day, and the people of the entire state became thoroughly aroused, those of the lower Republican valley being especially agitated, as these atrocities had been committed but a comparatively short distance from their own homes, and they promptly re-
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History of Republic County.
sponded to the call for assistance, as they had done many times before. Dispatches having reached Gov. Crawford, notifying him of these troubles, he at once wrote the fol- lowing characteristic letter to W. P. Peake, captain of the Salt Creek Militia, which was received by him September 1st, 1868:
STATE OF KANSAS, OFFICE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, TOPEKA, August 23, 1868.
Capt. W. P. Peake, Salt Marsh, Kansas:
Please say to the settlers of Cloud and Republic coun- ties. that I am now using every means in my power to pro- cure cavalry arms, with ammunition, from the government, and that I have notified the President that the Indians must and shall be driven at once out of the state, and not permitted to return. Also, that Gen. Sheridan has agreed to send troops immediately to the Saline, Solomon and Re- publican valleys for the purpose of protecting the settlers; that the people may rest assured that they will, in the fu- ture, be protected. If the government fails, the state will not, although I am seriously embarrassed on account of the present Indian policy.
I hope the people will remain at their homes and not abandon the country. No possible effort will be spared to secure protection, and to relieve the wants of those who are in a destitute and suffering condition. I shall not rest until the Indians are driven out of the state; and if they return within reach of the settlements, I trust the people will dispose of them in the most summary manner. I shall endeavor to do my duty. We have submitted to these atrocities until forbearance has ceased to be a virtue.
Yours Respectfully, S. J. CRAWFORD, Governor.
P. S .- Please perfect the organization of one company of militia, and have a place of general rendezvous in case of danger. S. J. CRAWFORD.
Governor Crawford served with distinction as captain in the 2nd Kansas Infantry, as captain in the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, and colonel of the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry
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History of Republic County.
during the war of the rebellion; was elected Governor in 1864, re-elected in 1866, resigned as Governor Novem- ber 4th, 1868, to take command of the 19th Kansas Cavalry, a regiment raised to fight the Indians. He was an earnest, active and devoted friend of the frontier settlers, very many of whom still hold him in grateful remembrance.
The Indians of the plains were loath to give up their ancestral hunting grounds, and every summer camped and hunted in the Republican valley. In the spring of 1869, a party of Cheyennes and Arrapahoes came, as usual, and camped a few miles below the town of Scandia, where a small settlement had been made the previous summer. They killed buffalo, and skulked as near the settlers as safety would permit: One day in May, they raised their camp, and went off, apparently leaving the valley. The next morning the sentry on the hill left his post, his ser- vices then being no longor needed, as was supposed. Two boys, however were put to watch the settlers' horses, grazing on the townsite. Presently two Indians were seen swiftly riding down the ravine east of town. One of the boys saw their approach in time to run towards the house. The other boy, Malcolm Granstadt by name, was still at his post, till with a clubbed pistol, he was first knocked down, and then shot and killed. The horses, five in number, were driven away, and never recovered. Two of the horses taken on this occasion belonged to Robert Watson, of White Rock township.
The Indians claimed that, by treaty, they had a right to perpetual occupancy of this country; and this claim they kept up until 1870, when they very reluctantly aban- doned all the country east of the Republican river, but continued their depredations for a year or two longer in the newer counties farther west.
The number of persons killed and wounded by In- dians within the limits of what is now Republic county may be briefly summarized as follows: Emigrants killed in Big Bend township in 1857, five persons; wounded, two
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History of Republic County.
persons: Windbigler, killed in August, 1868; Granstadt, the Swede boy, killed in the spring of 1869; six buffalo hunters killed in Big Bend township in 1869, making a total of thirteen killed and two wounded.
CHAPTER IV.
FIRST LAW-SUIT IN THE COUNTY COUNTY ORGANIZED-OFFICERS APPOINTED FIRST ELECTIONS.
James E. VanNatta, the first justice of the peace in Republic county, was appointed by Gov. Crawford in 1867, holding the office four years, the first law-suit in the county being tried before him in 1869. The parties to this suit were Henry Mead, plaintiff, and Conrad Meyers, de- fendant, the suit being for damages on contract on the sale of a yoke of cattle by Meyers to Mead. In this suit each party was his own lawyer, the nearest attorneys at that time being at Manhattan or Marysville.
The law library of this county at that time consisted of the territorial laws of 1859, the session laws of 1865, the Testament and Psalms in one volume, and the Blue Laws of Connecticut, the latter being kindly furnished the court by J. C. Reiley, the first trustee of Republic precinct, then attached to Washington county.
This suit was decided in accordance with the law and evidence, and no appeal taken.
On account of trouble with Washington county in re- gard to the assessment and collection of taxes, the same being considered burdensome and oppressive, and having to be paid at a remote distance, led the settlers to take steps to organize the county at what has since been con- sidered too early a date. Accordingly, Mr. J. C. Reiley, the first assessor elected in the county, taking the assess- ment in June, 1868, and at the same time taking the census, with a view of securing a county organization, reported a
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History of Republic County.
population of three hundred and fifty actual residents, too small a number, the law requiring six hundred. But in August of the same year a special committee for taking the enumeration was appointed by Gov. Crawford, consist- ing of W. P. Peake and J. E. VanNatta, who, by careful counting reported a population of between six and seven hundred.
The last report shows a gain of three hundred inhabi- tants in two months. Had the same percent of increase been maintained until the present time we would have been overpopulated, as there would not have been standing room in the county for all its people. I have not compu- ted the number and if any of the readers of this history are curious to know how many, they are at liberty to make the computation from the data given above. I do not say this with a view of being understood as criticising the re- port of the committee, but I still believe it took very care- ful counting to find so many people in the county at that time.
In pursuance of said report, Gov. Crawford issued the following order :-
STATE OF KANSAS, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Topeka, September 7th, 1868.
WHEREAS, In due form of law, it has been made to appear that the county of Republic, State of Kansas, con- tains the requisite number of inhabitants to entitle the people of said county to a county organization.
Now, therefore, I, Samuel J. Crawford, Governor of the State of Kansas, by virtue of authority vested in me by law (and having commissioned county officers), do here- by locate the county seat of Republic county at Pleasant Hill, in School District No. 2 in said county.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State. Done at Topeka the day and date above written.
By the Governor, S. J. CRAWFORD.
R. A. BARKER, Sec'y of State.
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History of Republic County.
The following named persons were commissioned by the Governor, September 8th, 1868: John Harris, jr., John M. Campbell and Thomas C. Reily, county commis- sioners, and John McFarlane county clerk; and from this date Republic county takes its place among the organized counties of Kansas.
The first election held in the county was prior to the county organization, and was held at J. G. Tuthill's house, at Salt Marsh, and was for township officers only, the whole county being one voting precinct and attached to Washington county. This election was held on the fourth Monday in March, 1868. This was the wrong day, but the officers chosen were subsequently appointed by the com- missioners of Washington county. The officers elected were: J. C. Reiley, trustee, James VanNatta, justice of the peace; Thomas Durant, justice of the peace; J. H. Frint, constable; Charles Campbell, constable. Whole number of votes polled, 13, of which Mr. Reily received 8, I. M. Schooley, his opponent, 5. Mr. VanNatta had no opposi- tion. Mr. Frint received 6 votes, his opponent 6, which was decided by casting lots, the office falling to Frint.
A mass convention was held at Pleasant Hill, October 20th, 1868, and the first in the county, for the purpose of placing in nomination a candidate for representative in the State Legislature, and also to nominate county officers, to be supported at the November election. At this con- vention, 15 voters were present, and Capt. I. M. Schooley, be- fore mentioned, was nominated for representative, but was defeated at the polls by R. P. West, independent can- didate, by a majority of 9, Brother West receiving 37 votes and Capt. Schooley 28. It must not be forgotten, how. ever, that Brother West was a candidate for representa- tive in 1867, while we were yet attached to Washington county. There were three candidates in the field and 172 votes cast, of which S. F. Snyder received 91, R. P. West 41, and Vernon Parker, 40, Mr. Snyder being elected by a plurality of 50 votes. At the November election, 1868, the
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History of Republic. County.
following named persons were elected: R. P. West, rep- resentative; W. W. Newlon, Z. P. Rowe and John M. Campbell, county commissioners; John McFarlane, county clerk; James G. Tuthill, county treasurer; R. H. Vining, sheriff; Wm. Hardaker, surveyor; B. F. Sayler, county superintendent; John McFarlane, register of deeds; Dan- iel Meyers, probate judge.
The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners of which we have any record was held at Pleasant Hill, Sep- tember 29th, 1868, and the first business transacted was the division of the county into three commissioner dis- tricts as follows :-
Ordered, that townships, 1, 2 and 3, of range 1, and the E & of townships 1, 2 and 3, of range 2, shall be one voting township, and known by the name of Farmington township; and the place of election shall be at the house of John Harris, jr., on section 3, town 3, range 1; and it was called Commissioner District No. 1.
This township embraced what is now Farmington, Al- bion, Richland, and the east half of what is now Rose Creek, Fairview and Jefferson.
And the W } of townships 1, 2 and 3, range 2; and townships 1, 2 and 3, of range 3; and townships 1, 2 and 3, of range 4; and townships 1, 2 and 3, of range 5,-shall be one voting township, and be known by the name of Repub- lic township, and the place of voting to be at the school house at Pleasant Hill, and was called Commissioner Dis- trict No. 2.
This township embraced what is now the west half of Rose Creek, Fairview and Jefferson, all of Liberty, Free- dom, Belleville, Washington, Union, Scandia, Big Bend, White Rock and Courtland.
And township 4, of range 1; township 4, of range 2; township 4, of range 3; township 4, of range 4; township 4, of range 5,-shall be one voting township, and known by the name of Grant township, the place of voting to be at
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History of Republic County.
the residence of Jas. G. Tuthill, and was called Commis- sioner District No. 3.
Grant township embraced what is now Grant, Elk Creek, Lincoln, Norway and Beaver.
After transacting a little other business, the Board adjourned until dark. Board met at dark, pursuant to ad- journment, and ordered that election notices be posted in the several townships, and then adjourned until the 6th day of November.
Time pieces were probably somewhat scarce in Re- public county at that time, but it is safe to conclude that no mistake would be made as to the time of meeting if the adjournment was till dark.
PLEASANT HILL, November 6th, 1868.
Board met in pursuance of adjournment, T. C. Reiley in the chair. At this meeting it was ordered that notices be posted for an election for permanent location of county seat. After allowing a few bills and transacting a little other unimportant business the Board adjourned.
CLERK'S OFFICE, January 4th, 1869.
Board of County Commissioners met, W. W. Newlon in the chair. At this meeting it was ordered that the county clerk procure blank books, stationery and a seal, necessary for the use of the county. Up to this time all the county records had been kept on legal cap paper, and the State had not yet furnished the county with the gen- eral statutes.
The Board adjourned until the Statutes shall have been received.
The next meeting was held March 13th, 1869, at which time the county surveyor was ordered to procure the Plats and field notes from the General Land Office, provided they do not cost the county to exceed one hundred dollars. At this meeting two additional election precincts were created as follows: Scandia, four miles on the west side of range 4 and all of range in 5 townships 1, 2 and 3.
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History of Republic County.
Elk Creek, township 4, range 1, the south } of township 3 range 1 and a strip one mile wide, the whole length of the townships west of range 1.
At the elections held in the above named precincts in April, the following township officers were elected: Farm- ington township-Edwin Enoch, trustee; John Swan, clerk; Francis McNulty, treasurer; Edwin Enoch, justice of the peace; D. S. Oliver, justice of the peace; Z. P. Rowe, constable; R. Swan, constable; E. Enoch, road commissioner. Grant township-P. P. Way, trustee; John W. Cory, treasurer; W. Hardaker, clerk; Thomas Eckert, justice of the peace; R. Hodges, justice of the peace; H. Smock, constable; J. G. Tuthill, constable. Republic township-G. H. Jack- son, trustee; J. H. Frint, clerk; John Robins, treasurer; James E. VanNatta, justice of the peace; Joseph Myers, justice of the peace: H. A. Meade, constable; G. W. Wilcox, constable. Elk Creek township-John Manning, trustee; W. H. Willoughby, clerk; G. S. Willoughby, treasurer; Reuben James, justice of the peace; John Jarrett, con- stable; Marion Harper, road commissioner. Scandia precinct held no election. This was the first election for township officers after the organization of the county.
At a meeting of the Board held April 9th, 1869, Wil- liam Milburn and H. A. Cheney were appointed as assistant school examiners, being the first appointments of the kind in the county, B. F. Sayler being at the time County Sup- erintendent.
PLEASANT HILL, July 5th, 1869.
Board of commissioners met; quorum present. At this meeting a tax of ten mills on the dollar was levied on the taxable property of the county for a general fund. This was the first tax levy made in the county. The total valuation for that year was:
Real Estate. $ 5590 00.
Personal Property 25620 10.
Total
31210 10.
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History of Republic County.
And the amount of taxes thereon for state, county and school purposes was $801.61. The largest individual tax- payer on personal property for that year was C. M. Way, of Grant township, who paid $63.38 on a valuation of $1950.
August 22nd, 1870, the county officers, with the ex- ception of probate judge were ordered to remove all books, papers and records pertaining to their respective offices, to Belleville within twenty days of the order. This order was rescinded September 6th, and the time extended until the first Monday in October, 1870, when for the first time the county records were to be found at the present county seat. These records were very meager and con- sisted of the minutes of the Board of Commissioners and the tax rolls of 1868 and 1869.
The county clerk's office was on the second floor of a small wooden building on the southwest corner of the pub- lic square, the lower floor being occupied by Dr. J. C. Griffith as a drug store. The county treasurer's office was in a general store kept by Dixon & Bowling on the present site of the Hardy block, Captain A. Shaw, being deputy county treasurer.
In the spring of 1871, the county clerk's office was moved into a small wooden building about 14x16 feet, on the south side of the square, about where J. M. Doyle's furniture store now stands. This building was occupied jointly by the county clerk and the clerk of the district court. The register of deed's office was in the store of Vantrump & Hallowell, the present site of the State bank, Vantrump being deputy register of deeds. The sheriff's office, county attorney's office and the office of the probate judge were anywhere these officers could be found, some- times in town, but more frequently in the country. The old stone school house was built in the summer and fall of 1871, and soon after its completion, the second story, all in one room, was rented by the county for county offices at $200 per annum, the right of holding church services therein being reserved by the school board.
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History of Republic County.
The county officers remained here until the comple- tion of the first court house, which is described in another chapter.
CHAPTER V.
PERMANENT LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT AND THE TROUBLES ATTENDING IT.
As stated in a previous chapter, Gov. Crawford named Pleasant Hill, in school Dist. No. 2, as the temporary county seat. This location was on the N } of SE 4, section 18, in Jefferson township, the land now being owned by W. P. Peake.
At the election in 1869, the permanent location of the county seat was voted on with the following result:
Belleville
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New Scandinavia. 42
SE { section 17, town 4, range 1. 4
Salt Marsh 1
Belleville having received a majority over all, was de- clared the permanent county seat. This election was, without doubt, honestly conducted and fairly expressed the wishes of the voters of the county.
At a meeting of the Commissioners, held at Pleasant Hill, January 3rd, 1870, after transacting some business, on motion, the Board adjourned to meet at Belleville in case the court house was finished; if not, to meet at the residence of P. P. Way, county clerk. Pursuant to ad- journment, the Board met at Belleville, April 4th, 1870, being the first time they met here in an official capacity. After appointing J. H. Frint chairman pro tem, adjourned to meet at the residence of P. P. Way, in Grant township, April 8th, the court house in Belleville not being completed.
The court house here alluded to, was the little log school house built on the east side of the public square, in
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History of Republic County.
the summer of 1870. There is no record of any business being transacted at the meeting held April 8th.
The next meeting of the Board at Belleville was July 2nd, 1870, at which session a petition was presented pray- ing for a new election on the county seat. The petition containing the requisite number of names to meet the re- quirements of the law, it was ordered that an election be held on the third Tuesday in August; in accordance with the prayer of the petitioners. The election was held as ordered, there being three candidates in the field,-Belle- ville, Salt City and New Scandinavia,-and the Commis- sioners met at Belleville, August 20th, to canvass the vote.
The county commissioners at this time were John H. Frint, of Jefferson township, chairman, and a steadfast friend of Belleville; George W. Johnson, of Elk Creek, and Z. P. Rowe, of Farmington. One R. A. Hamill, of Belle- ville township, kept the minutes of this meeting, he hav- ing been appointed deputy county clerk some time pre- vious. Mr. Hamill was an eccentric genius, dividing his time between farming, politics, school teaching and preach- ing, also being quite partial to Himoe's and Red Jacket bitters. A fairly well educated man, a little careless about his spelling at times, and as a preacher ranked above the average, but his conduct not always harmonizing with his profession, his most ardent admirers never claiming that his religion, at its best ever reached eighteen carats fine.
The following record of the proceedings are given in Mr. Hamill's original and peculiar style:
1. Canvass of Farmington township was called and result declared, for Belleville, 33 votes; Salt City, 7.
2. Elk Creek township called and result declared, for Salt City, 29; Belleville, 6.
3. Albion township, no votes cast, the citizens of that township not being able to find a voting place.
4. Rose Creek, for Belleville, 17.
5. Salt Marsh precinct called. Result, for Salt City, 3; Belleville, 11; New Scandinavia, 3.
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History of Republic County.
Returns from White Rock were opened, and on motion of G. W. Johnson, the board refused to count the vote of the precinct for two causes: (1.) The voting precinct was declared illegally formed in that the board had not granted an or- der for such voting precinct while in session. (2.) There had been an order signed by two members of the board and sent to White Rock without the knowledge of the other member, and without any notification of the fact to the county clerk until five days before the election. (3.) There were no notices of any election posted in the precinct.
These seem to be tolerably fair reasons for rejecting the votes of White Rock, although the vote was heavy and nearly solid for Belleville.
On motion of G. W.Johnson, there was a hearing given to certain parties from White Rock who were legal voters, and an abstract of their evidence of "Frauds Perpetrated" was ordered to be filed in the clerk's office; voted unanim- ously. The board declared in the acknowledgment of strong evidences of fraud and one case of apparent repeat- ing. On motion for the entire rejection, G. W. Johnson and Z. P. Rowe voted for the motion. J. H. Frint entered his protest against the second clause, declaring his opinion to be that the board had no jurisdiction over the matter, but must simply count out the ballots, and declare the re- sult without regard to the nature of the vote.
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