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 1st, 1883 > Part 3
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History of Republic County.
be silent. Every one obeyed, as though this strange creature held a magician's wand. All were silent and attentive, when, in clear, firm tones, she thus addressed them : "Ladies, be composed. Why all this demonstration ? Why make such a racket? There is going to be no trouble, nobody hurt, nobody killed, unless through awkward- ness some of them kill themselves. They are under the captain's com- mand, and must obey his orders; and, from a long and intimate acquaintance with him, I know he will not lead them where there is the least indication of danger. Dry your tears, and cease your wails. This is a picnic excursion, 'only this, and nothing more.'"
This memorable campaign was followed by a reign of comparative quiet, which lasted until April, 1867, when the Indians made another hostile incursion into the country. During the summer of 1868, the independent company of Salt Creek militia was organized, composed wholly of settlers of Republic county, and numbering about fifty men, with W. P. Peake as first lieutenant, to rank from August 24th, and captain from September 8th, and W. H. H. Reily as first lieutenant from the latter date.
The members of this company were :
JOHN H. FRINT,
JOSEPH MEYERS,
J. H. SMOCK,
WM. HARDAKER,
CHAS. A. CAMPBELL,
B. F. SAYLER,
HORACE BEERS,
GEO. SHAFER,
JOHN W. SWAN,
WM. BONHAM,
DANIEL MORLAND,
JOHN MCFARLANE,
ROBERT SWAN,
J. W. CORY,
Z. P. ROWE,
JOHN MCINTIRE,
WM. W. NEWLON,
J. E. VAN NATTA,
T. C. REILY,
JOHN G. ISAACS,
CONRAD MEYERS,
HILBERT JOHNSON,
GEO. McCHESNEY,
WEST UNION SPILLMAN,
THos. J. ECKERT,
MICHEL YOUNG,
WM. T. CAMPBELL,
JOHN C. REILY,
JACOB SHAFER,
CHAS. W. BEEBE,
EDMUND POWELL,
DAVID CORY,
GEO. J. TROWBRIDGE,
ADAMS E. COOLY,
WILLIAM SHAFER,
HIRAM JACKSON,
NOAH KUNKEL,
GEO. W. WILCOX,
THOS. HEDGECOKE,
DANIEL MEYERS.
MILTON A. DAUGHERTEE,
HUDSON COOLY,
PHILO P. WAY,
SAMUEL ELDER,
GEO. S. WILLOUGHBY,
LANTY OLIVER,
WILLIAM OLIVER,
AUGUSTUS WILLOUGHBY,
W. H. WILLOUGHBY,
HENRY VINING.
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History of Republic County.
S. J. Crawford was, at this time, Governor of Kansas ; and the fol- lowing characteristic letter from him was received by Capt. Peake, September 1st, 1868 :
STATE OF KANSAS, OFFICE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ) TOPEKA, August 23d, 1868. 1 Capt. W. P. Peake, Salt Marsh, Kansas:
Please say to the settlers of Cloud and Republic counties that I am now using every means in my power to procure 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 Republican valleys for the purpose of protecting the settlers. That the people may rest assured that they will, in the future, 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 haye a place of general rendezvous in case of danger.
S. J. CRAWFORD.
Gov. Crawford served as colonel of a Kansas regiment during the Rebellion, and was Governor of the State for the years 1867-8. He was an earnest and devoted friend of the frontier settlers, very many of whom still hold him in grateful remembrance.
" The Independent Company of Salt Creek Militia" was well officered, tolerably well armed and equipped, and rendered very efficient service iu repelling Indian invasions. The arms and ammunition for this company were furnished by the State, while each møn furnished his own borse, saddle and bridle.
Fearing trouble from the Indians, nearly all the settlers on Salt and Riley Creeks left their claims in May, 1869, and staid away until July, at which time a small body of militia, belonging to Captain Saunders' command, was sent to their aid, with headquarters on the NE } of section 3, Belleville township, on land now owned by E. A. Hallowell, where a log fort had been erected. This force was a God-
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History of Republic County.
send to many of the early settlers, as several of this command were expert marksmen, a dead shot on buffalo ; and it has been reported that Texas cattle were sometimes mistaken for buffalo, as a large herd of them had been stampeded in this neighborhood about this time, and several head of stragglers remained in the vicinity for several days. At any rate, nearly all the settlers had a plenty of buffalo meat as long as any of the Texas cattle could be found.
The only actual settlers of Republic county known to have been killed by the Indians, within the limits of the county, were Gordon Windbigler, in Big Bend township, August 14th, 1868, and Malcolm Granstadt, a Swede boy, at Scandia, in the spring of 1869. The circumstances of the killing of Windbigler are about as follows : As before stated, he was killed on the 14th day of August, 1868, and it occurred on section 36, about three-fourths of a mile southwest of where Republic City now stands. The settlers in this immediate neighborhood at that time consisted of fourteen men, four women, and five or six children - eight families in all. Their fortress, or place of rendezvous in case of danger, was on the NW } of section 1, town 2, range 5, the farm now owned by H. S. Stone, Esq., of Republic City, and consisted of eight log houses built around a square, and was considered secure against any ordinary Indian attack. Among the men were R. T. Stanfield, Daniel and David Davis, W. R. Charles, Chas. Johnson, Lewis Boggs, Alexander Lewis, and Gordon Wind- bigler, several of whom are still living in the same locality. David Davis, Johnson, Lewis, and Windbigler were making hay near the river, three miles above the fort, when they were suddenly surprised and attacked by about 75 Indians, mounted on ponies, and armed with revolvers and spears, or lances. Only one of the hay- making party, Lewis, was armed, he acting as sentry, and carrying a Spencer rifle. They had with them a team and wagon, and one saddle horse. They immediately started for the fort, being hotly pursued by the Indians, Windbigler riding on horseback in advance of the wagon until when, within 80 rods of the fort, losing his hat, he stopped to recover it, which brought him in rear of the wagon. The Indians, having discovered by this time that he was unarmed, rode up within pistol shot, fired on him, brought him to the ground, then speared him with their lances, one of which severed the jugular vein, causing death in a few minutes. Lewis now displays great coolness and bravery. Seeing Windbigler fall, he leaves the wagon, and returns to the assistance of his wounded comrade, with his trusted Spencer driving
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History of Republic County.
the Indians to a respectful distance, and remains by the dead body of his fallen companion until help arrived from the fort.
Soon after this, the settlers all left for the winter, and returned again in the spring of 1869. In May of that year, an attack was made on Stanfield and two others, who were planting corn, but the Indians were repulsed without loss to either party. In the same month, a party of buffalo hunters, encamped on section 15, in the same township, were surprised by the Indians, and six of their number, after making a desperate resistance, were killed. This party was composed of John Winklepleck and son, John McChesney, a man named Berg, and three men from Michigan on a visit to friends in Marshall county. The man who escaped was McChesney, now living near Waterville, and well known to many of the citizens of this county.
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 services then being no longer needed, as was supposed. Two boys, however were put to watch the settlers' horses, grazing on the town site. Presently, two Indians were seen swiftly riding down the rav ne 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, and who is still a citizen of this county. Early in the spring of 1870, an attack was made on the settlement at White Rock, near where the town of White Rock now stands. The attacking party consisted of about 40 Indians, and quite a lively fight ensued. No one was killed, so far as known, but several were wounded, amorg whom was Samuel M. Fisher, who to-day wears an ugly scar on his shoulder, made by the cowardly bullet of the demons whose only prowess consists in assassinating the defenseless and the unwary.
In June, 1869, R. T. Stanfield was commissioned captain of militia
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History of Republic County.
by Governor Harvey. During the summer he recruited a company of 65, which included all the available men for miles around. Of this company, Peter Johnson was first lieutenant, he also being commis- sioned by Gov. Harvey, and was a gallant officer. This company was furnished by the State with Spencer carbines, ammunition and rations, each man furnishing his own horse, saddle and bridle. Served a little more than six months, the Indians soon learning to give this company a wide berth. It is quite probable that the settlements on White Rock would have been abandoned but for the protection afforded by this militia company. 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 abandoned 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 Indians within the limits of what is now Republic county may be briefly summarized as follows: Emigrants killed in Big Bend township in 1857, 5 persons ; wounded, 2 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 ; S. M. Fisher wounded at White Rock in the spring of 1870; - making a total of thirteen killed and three wounded.
CHAPTER III.
FIRST LAW-SUIT IN THE COUNTY-COUNTY ORGANIZED-OFFICERS APPOINT- ED-FIRST ELECTION-RE-LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT-COUNTY AGRI- CULTURAL SOCIETY-HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY-DISTRICT COURT-FIRST JURY IMPANELED-ETC., ETC.
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 Con- rad Meyers, defendant, 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 Man- hattan or Marysville.
The law library of this county consisted of the territorial laws of 1859, the session laws of 1865, the Testament and Psalms in one vol- ume, and the Blue Laws of Connecticut, the latter being kindly fur- nished the court by J. C. Reily, 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 regard to the assessment and collection of taxes, the same being considered burden- some 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 considered too early a date. Accordingly, Mr. J. C. Reily, the first assessor elected in the county, taking the assessment in June, 1868, and at the same time taking the census, with a view of securing a county organization, reported a 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, consisting of W. P. Peake and J. E. VanNatta, who, by careful counting, reported a pop- ulation of between six and seven hundred.
In pursu ance 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, contains the requisite number of
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History of Republic County.
inhabitants to entitle the people of said county to_a county organiza- tion,
Now, therefore, I, Samuel J. Crawford, Governor of the State of Kansas, by virtue of authority vested in me by law (and having com- missioned county officers), do hereby locate the county seat of Repub- lic 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 year above written.
S. J. CRAWFORD.
By the Governor,
R. A. BARKER, Sec'y of State.
The following named persons were commissioned by the Governor, September 8th, 1868 : John Harris, jr., John M. Campbell and Thomas C. Reily, county commissioners, and John McFarlane county elerk; 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 organ- ization, 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 commissioners of Washington county. The officers elected were : J. C. Reily, trustee ; James VanNatta, justice of the peace; Thomas Durant, justice of the peace ; J. H. Frint, constable; Charles Campbell, con- stable. Whole number of votes polled, 13, of which Mr. Reily received 8, I. M. Schooley, his opponent, 5. Mr. VanNatta had no opposition. 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 convention, 15 voters were present, and Capt. I. M. Schooley, before mentioned, was nominated for representative, but was defeated at the polls by R. P. West, independent candidate, by a majority of 9, Brother West receiving 37 votes and Capt. Schooley 28. It must not be forgotten, however, that Brother West was a candidate for rep- resentative 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
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History of Republic County.
election, 1868, the following named persons were elected : R. P. West, representative ; 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; Daniel Meyers, probate judge.
The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners of which we have any record was held at Pleasant Hill, September 29th, 1868, and the first business transacted was the division of the county into three com- missioner districts, 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 town- ship, 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.
And the W 3 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 town- ships 1, 2 and 3, of range 5,-shall be one voting township, and known by the name of Republic township, and the place of voting to be at the school-house at Pleasant Hill, and was called Commissioner Dis- trict No. 2.
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 the residence of Jas. G. Tuthill, and was called Com- missioner District No. 3.
After transacting a little other business, the Board adjourned until dark. Board met at dark, pursuant to adjournment, and ordered that election notices be posted in the several townships, and then adjourned until the 6th day of November.
At the election in November, 1869, the following persons were elected : Representative, R. P. West, over John Manning by a majority of 13, 123 votes being polled ; county clerk, P. P. Way ; county commissioners, Z. P. Rowe, J. H. Frint and G. W. Johnson ; treasurer, G. J. Trowbridge, over John Swan by a majority of 2 votes ; register of deeds, P. P. Way ; probate judge, Daniel Meyers ; county superintendent, Charles Hogin; sheriff, H Willoughby ; surveyor, N. O. Wilkie; coroner, R. T. Harper, the latter receiving only one vote.
The permanent location of the county seat was voted on at this
History of Republic County.
election, with the following result : Belleville, 59; New Scandinavia, 12; SE | of section 17, town 4, range 1, 4; Salt Marsh, 1. Belleville having received a majority over all, was declared the permanent county seat. This election was, without doubt, fairly conducted.
At a meeting of the Commissioners, held at Pleasant Hill, January 3d, 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. Pursul- ant to adjournment, 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, April 8th, the court-house in Belleville not being completed.
The next meeting of the Board at Belleville was July 2d, 1870, at which session a petition was presented praying for a new election on the county seat. The petition containing the requisite number of names to meet the requirements 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,-Belleville, Salt City and New Scandinavia,-and the Commissioners met at Belleville, August 20th, to eanvass the vote. R. A. Hamill kept the minutes of this meeting, he having been appointed deputy county clerk; and the following record of the proceedings of the board of canvassers is given in his chaste and beautiful 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. AAlbion township, no votes cast, the citizens of that township not being able to find the voting place.
4. Rose Creek, for Belleville, 17.
5. Salt Marsh precinct called. Result, for Salt City, 3: Belle- ville. 11 : New Scandinavia, 3.
Returns from White Rock were opened, and, in 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 any order for such voting pre- cinct while in session. (2.) There had been an order signed by two members of the board and sent to White Rock without the knowl- edge of the other member, and without any notification of the fact
3
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History of Republic County.
to the county clerk until five days before the election. (3.) There were no notices of any election posted in the precinet.
These seem to be tolerably fair reasons for rejecting the votes of White Rock. although the vote was heavy, and nearly solid for Belle- ville.
On motion of G. W. Johnson, there was a hearing given to cer- tain 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 unanimously. The board declared . in the acknowledgment of strong evidences of fraud and one case of apparent repeating. 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 result, without regard to the nature of the vote.
6. Scandinavia precinct called. Result, for New Scandinavia, 79.
7. The Republic precinct called. Result, for Belleville. 238 : New Scandinavia, 4: Salt City, 1.
Total number of votes polled, 463, of which Belleville received 305; New Scandinavia, 86: Salt City, 72.
Thus it appears that the Scandinavians were solid for New Scan- dinavia, the Bellevilleians nearly the same for Belleville, while the denizens of the Marsh divided their strength between the three places.
On motion of G. W. Johnson, the board ordered that Mr. Baker. Mr. Blankenship, G. Paulson, H. Wallen and Mr. Blunk. be sworn as to evidences of partiality and fraudulent voting. Ordered that an abstract of the evidence be filed in the clerk's office. Board then adjourned until 7 A. M. of the following day.
Board met pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded to discuss the final acceptance or rejection of the poll books from Republic pre- einet : and, after a tedious attempt at a decision, the board adjourned until one o'clock, at which time Mr. Frint made the fol- lowing proposition : Throw out all the votes of Republic pre- cinet except 100, and declare the decision on the remaining number of polled votes in the county, or throw out the entire vote of the county as incorrect and fraudulent, and immediately order a new election. After much argument and many attempts at a reconcilia- tion of the whole board on one of the points named, Mr. Frint and Mr. Rowe cast their votes for the first proposition, -that is, to count 100 votes from Republic precinct and reject the balance.
I suppose this was considered a compromise: yet it located the
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History of Republic County.
county seat at Belleville just as effectually as though the entire vote had been counted. I here give the concluding portion of the record in Mr. Hamill's own phraseology, spelling, punctuation and all, as a sample of rhetoric, perspienity, and elegant diction, rarely equaled : -
"Mr Rowe requested the minutes of the following causes of action in the case and decision of made Considers the poll book alarmingly fraudulent and evidences of partiality and misdemeanor in the action of the Judges of Election - but thinks his judgement is that certain voters who were legally entitled to the same should be represented and therefore gives his consent to the admission of the 100 votes. Commissioner Johnson declared his desire to record his name against the whole proceedure as destructive to the declaration of the popular vote of the people - and that the people could be defended only by an entire and sweeping rejection of the poll books of evry precinet known to be illegal in any part or parcel of the action of the officers of that election especialy whare such a glareing incon- sisteney stood so open to evry honest Man."
As before stated, the vote of the county in November, 1868, was 65 votes ; in November, 1869, 123 votes; at the county seat election in August, 1870, 463 votes, with Albion and White Rock not counted. This shows a remarkable increase in the voting population, and it is barely possible that this increase may not have been entirely healthy, as we find the vote of the county at the November election, 1870, with Albion's 30 votes and White Rock's 40 counted, to be 322, or 141 less than were polled at the county seat election. Soon after the result of the county seat election was declared, J. S. Tutton, T. A. Eberhard, and T. C. Smith, judges of the election at Belleville, were politely invited to appear before Thomas J. Eckert, a justice of the peace at Salt Marsh, charged with conduet unbecoming officers and gentlemen, and especially as judges of election. In fact, it was charged that gross frands had been committed at the election, that the purity of the ballot-box had been invaded. and these officers were charged with complicity in the same. It must be remembered that, at this time, the office of probate judge was vacant. Judge Meyers having resigned some time before: and, in view of the circumstances, it was thought best by the citizens of Belleville, and especially by the prisoners, we suppose, that this vacancy should be filled. Accordingly, A. B. Tutton, as special messenger, was dispatched to Topeka, bearing a petition to Gov.
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