USA > Kansas > Cloud County > Biographical history of Cloud County, Kansas: biographies of representative citizens. Illustrated with portraits of prominent people, cuts of homes, stock, etc > Part 4
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
However, Mr. Rupe explained as best he knew in defense of the bill. Others spoke pro and con, but more for the purpose of creating mirth. Con- spicuous among that number was John R. Goodin, who received the sobriquet of "polished John." but his polish had no forebearance when he saw a chance to spring a joke on some member. He availed himself on this occasion of springing one at Mr. Rupe's expense. Many will remember Mr. Goodin as the Democratic candidate for governor in 1879.
Far the most telling speech made in favor of this bill and which, perhaps. turned the scales in its favor was made by Thomas Lindsay. of Ander- son county, who luckily was acquainted with the details of the whole affair and furnished the house with a full statement of the manner in which the county derived the name of Shirley He was an entire stranger to Mr. Rupe. volunteering his services unsolicited. Mr. Rupe listened to his speech with such profound interest that in substance it became indelibly stamped upon his memory.
He commenced by saying that when these three counties west of the 6th principal meridian were described with their respective boundary lines. names were readily found for Republic and Ottawa counties, but for Shirley they could not so readily agree. One of the committee proposed the name of Sherman, in honor of John Sherman, who that year figured so prominently for speaker of the house of representatives, which finally resulted in the elec- tion of William Pennington, of New Jersey, but the name of Sherman sug- gested to the mischievous brain of one member of that committee the name of Jane Shirley, the names Sherman and Shirley sounding something alike.
Jane Shirley was a noted character at this time in the state. The com- mittee, strange to say, agreed upon this name in full-Jane Shirley. but the chairman, ashamed to report the bill in that shape, struck off the name of "Jane" and reported it as "Shirley." The members who suggested this name objected to this unauthorized erasure and took the chairman to task for it. stating that the committee had agreed on the name Jane Shirley and insisted the name "Jane" should retain its place, which remark brought down the house in a perfect roar of laughter. After that had somewhat subsided it was plain something must be done to suspend this hilarity.
One man taking in the situation arose and said he could not see any- thing so bad in the name of Shirley: he knew of one conspicuous man in Massachusetts by that name who was a judge or held some honorable posi- tion in that state. This had the effect of somewhat sobering the legislature down and they suffered the name of Shirley to pass, leaving off "Jane," despite the protestations of the man who insisted it should retain its place in accord- ance with the action of the committee.
"OPPOSITION IN THIE SENATE.
This bill also met with much opposition in the senate, for that which is generally considered the most dignified part of the legislature frequentl ..
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY. KANSAS.
lacks culture in some of its members. Sam Wood, who was a notable char- acter for levity, belonged to that body and did his best through filibustering and trickery to defeat this change of name.
This man who at first busied himself in unearthing the act of 1860, when hic heard of Mr. Rupe's determination, tried to dissuade him from his purpose by setting up other pretext that caused the act connected with such disgrace or rather that there was nothing out of the way about it, but a purer and nobler sense of honor prompted General Harvey, who despite the evil machinations of Wood, carried his bill through the senate, which ended the fight by Sam Wood to retain his favorite name of Shirley, though mutilated of the equally endearing "Jane."
It has been contended there is a mistake about this affair and that the county was really named for the governor of Massachusetts, but Mr. Chandler, who lent his influence in the wrong direction, does not mention the word governor. Mr. Rupe says that he doubts whether Mr. Chandler or any member of that legislature knew there was ever such a governor of massachusetts, as it was necessary to go back to the history of colonial days of that commonwealth to find the man bearing that cognomen, and then but to discover that he was in no way distinguished, for he was a regular appointee to the crown, and only spoken of as carrying out his master's wishes in oppo- sition to the people; so it would seem that this claim was a conceited farce manufactured for the purpose of palliating a misdeed. Strange to say this act of Mr. Rupe's was unpopular ; some of the people seemed to like the old name best but he is charitable enough to believe they did not understand all the circumstances in the case.
COLONEL WILLIAM F. CLOUD.
Much beautiful sentiment clusters around the name of Colonel William F. Cloud. the distinguished colonel of the Second Kansas, whom Cloud county was named in honor of. He is also the man into whose arms the gallant, beloved and much lamented General Lyons fell, at the battle of Wilson's Creek. Colonel Cloud visited Concordia in September, 1887, in attendance upon an old soldiers' reunion. He made a speech, at the close of which he expressed a desire to be present at the centennial of the naming of Cloud county, which would be in 1967. He is a brave and true man and was much honored at this reunion. During this occasion he was lifted to the shoulders of four or five of his comrades and carried three times around the speaker's stand, amid three loud cheers.
Time has not effaced the feeling and sympathy of the old veterans of the Civil war for each other. Every one of these old soldiers relate with a feeling of pride that he defended this glorious Union and became enthused as he recalls, though time grows remote, how he marched with the gallant 'boys in blue."
Colonel Cloud is a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, and is said to refer
COL. WILLIAM F. CLOUD.
THE NEW YOPA PUBLIC LIP; ARY
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
with pride to his namesake, Cloud county, and has always felt an interest in this great western field.
STAGE COACHES.
Although sometimes ardnous and inconvenient, there was a breezy, tonic effect to the manner of traveling in Kansas in the days of stage coaches, when they plied between Concordia and Waterville, connecting daily with the Central Branch of the Union Pacific railway and a daily line to Junction City, connecting with the Kansas Pacific railway, giving to the settlers rapid transit of mails and passengers to and from the east. Those were halcyon times in Kansas and each succeeding day helped to swell the population of the thriving young commonwealth.
F. P. Benjamin operated a stage line with Concord coaches running out of Concordia to the northwest.
FROM CLYDE TO WATERVILLE.
The mail route from Waterville to Clyde was established October I, 1870, via Cook's crossing, on Pete's creek. and Clifton. The mail was carried semi-weekly. The route was established under a special contract given to S. C. Wheeler, of St. Joseph, Missouri.
In the parlance of this western country, those were the days when there was "something doing" before the advent of railroads, modern travel, bridges, etc. Instead of the latter the old time ferry was brought into use. and a "whoop" more or less brought the assistance of the proprietor whose benign countenance would illumine with smiles at the prospect of the coveted fare for his services.
INDIAN TROUBLES ON THE FRONTIER.
In the early 'sixties the repeated indications and threats of Indian out- breaks retarded the settlement of the country and caused many who had already ventured to the "New West" to retrace their steps and forego their intentions of building homes on the frontier.
Each succeeding year the dangers became more imminent, but the courageous frontiersman who remained proceeded to plant and till the soil of his limited, sod turned acres.
The country was infested with roving bands of savages ; they were often- times lurking in the most unexpected places, and, with the stealth so charac- teristic of their wily natures, would appear as suddenly as if they had been silently and mysteriously precipitated from the clouds. Upon these occasions the'r savage presence-for they were armed "to the teeth"-would strike terror to the stoutest heart.
Among the first ontrages perpetrated in Cloud county ( then Shirley) 3
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY. KANSAS.
was in May, 1862-an inhuman and fiendish attack upon the person of Mrs. Ann Wilson, one of the settlers' wives, who had been visiting a family on Elm creek, where her husband. George Wilson, was working. Their home was on what was later known as the William Cranmer farm. Her husband accompanied the unfortunate woman as far as the old Elm creek ford, and thinking there was no further danger, returned to the place where he was working, leaving his wife to make the rest of the journey alone. Mr. Wilson ihad not been gone from her side but a short time when the woman, who was left alone on the isolated and dangerous frontier, was suddenly confronted by six Indians on horseback. She was subjected to most brutal assault by five of her assailants, while the sixth stood guard to sound the warning note of alarm at the possible approach of a settler. The babe she carried in her armis was seized by the brutal monsters and ruthlessly thrown upon the ground several yards distant from its terrorized and outraged mother. The condition of the poor woman was pitiable in the extreme, as horror-stricken she gathered her infant to her bosom and dragged herself to the nearest settle- ment to relate her wretched and harrowing experiences.
That this fiendish outrage should go unavenged seems almost a sacrilege. but when the condition of the settlers is considered-the little handful in numbers-their incapacity to cope with the overwhelming odds of the savage warriors, their scarcity of horses and what would be of vast importance in those strenuous times-ammunition. Had they pursued the hostiles in this instance, the result might have been a general massacre of the settlement. As the growth of the country assumed greater proportions they sought to avenge the atrocious crimes, but not without bloodshed and loss of life, as the experiences which follow will demonstrate.
HOW LEWIS CASSEL, J. M. HAGAMAN AND OTHERS GOT EVEN WITH A MARAUD- ING BAND OF INDIANS IN OCTOBER. 1865.
This account is given in substance as told by J. M. Hagaman and demon- strates how the Indian, if taken at disadvantage, will show the "white feather."
A party of Wichita Indians were camped on Elm creek, just above the settlements. They begged during the daytime and after having received gen- erously, stole their horses under cover of darkness the following night. Mes- sengers were sent about the community, and as "Old Sol"' sank to rest twenty- four hours later he seemed to smile an approval upon the fourteen men who were armed and ready to begin pursuit. The horses were well selected, the trail easily discerned under the light of a full moon, and as day began to dawn the thieves were overhauled.
As they discovered the hobbled horses, a halt was ordered and Lewis Cassel and J. M. Hagaman were delegated to reconnoiter the camp, which was performed so cautiously that the position and number of hostiles were revealed. Returning without having alarmed the camp, the two spies notified
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
their party of the result. a council was held and it was decided not to kill unless the Indians showed fight. Mr. Hagaman was chosen to lead the attack. He divided the men into three squads, with eight in the first line. four in the second and two in the third. To give the idea they had other men in reserve, it was arranged that the second line was to appear over the intervening hill just as the camp was aroused by the first, and the plan worked well. The first line was discovered by the chief's wife. At the alarm given by her, like a flash of lightning every warrior was on his feet and tightening their bows.
At this exceedingly war-like movement the men appealed to their leader "For God's sake, give orders to shoot." But their command was to "keep cool." "There is an old Indian in the hollow with his rifle cocked and pointed at you," said one of the party, addressing the leader. but still he bade them hold their fire.
In the meantime Mr. Hagaman was parleying with the chief, at the same time holding his cocked revolver pointed directly at the heart of the red skin, whose naked body was not more that two feet from the muzzle of the gun. Perhaps the certain death of their chief withheld the deadly bullet from the settlers' captain.
The chief vehemently denied any knowledge of the stolen horses and called God-the-sun, to witness. The leader, with as much decision. told him "You lie! You stole our horses last night and now have them."
"White man sleep." said the old chief.
"White man no sleep; saw you steal 'em."
He then turned to his band and said something very much in earnest. upon which they flung their weapons to the ground. jumped into the creek, swam over and rapidly disappeared in the shadow of the timber.
All that was left for the elated party of settlers was to gather up the spoils of their bloodless victory and return to their homes. There were thirteen ponies and horses, one mule. one excellent target rifle, a number of blankets. some bows and arrows, powder horn, moccasins and sundry other articles, all of which confiscated goods they agreed to surrender upon the return of their horses within thirty days. They never came to the terms of the treaty and after making whole those who lost their stolen horses, the remainder, of the booty was equally divided among the fourteen men in the party.
MASSACRE OF THE CASSEL PARTY.
In the latter part of May. 1866, a buffalo hunting party consisting of Lewis Cassel. William and John Collins (brothers of Mrs. Oscar Taggart, of Concordia, and to whom the writer is indebted in substance for much of this account). Walter Haynes. John C. Roberts and T. B. Tallman were massacred on the Little Cheyenne, a tributary of Buffalo creek, about twelve miles from where the city of Concordia now stands. As the hunting party
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
did not return home when expected a feeling of uneasiness began to prevail among the settlers, who were always on the alert and fearful when any of their number were away from the settlement. The first party of searchers came upon some Otoe Indians who were hunting on Buffalo creek. about twenty miles west of the salt marsh. The settlers were informed by this tribe that the Chevennes had been lurking around the vicinity and pointed out to them the direction of the abandoned camp. They hastened thither and found upon arriving near the head of Brown creek some harness buckles, which gave evidence of foul play, and the first tangible trace of the fate of their friends. Among other relics of the camp was found the pocketbook identified as belonging to Walter Haynes and the filing papers of Lewis Cassel.
From the conditions surrounding the camping ground they discovered there had been a large number of the band and that it would be worse than reckless folly to pursue them further with so small a party, and they returned home for reinforcements.
The story of their probable murder rapidly circulated throughout that region of country and a party of about fifty armed men equipped for the expedition started on a thorough and extended search. After finding where the hunters had camped, they followed the track of their wagon to Buffalo creek. This was difficult to do, owing to the hardness of the ground and the devious windings made by the hunters, and the trail was lost at various times. On the third day the anxious rescuers were further assured of the fate of their fellow men by coming upon the ox wagon belonging to the Collins brothers, and near lay the dead oxen that had been slain. They were yoked together and their bodies were shot with both bullets and arrows. This seemed to be the point of attack. Indications revealed an Indian had been killed there. The grass had been wallowed fat and blood was on the ground; also the headgear of an Indian lying near. From here the hunters seemed to have appropriated the other wagon, which was drawn by horses and retreated in a southwesterly direction toward Cheyenne creek. Their only remaining chance was to cross that stream ere the Indians could cut them off. the distance being nearly twelve miles in a straight line, but the cunning savages had evidently planned the attack beforehand in a manner to make escape impossible.
They changed their course many times as the track of their wagon indicated, but would come upon an ambuscade of the redskins, forcing another change, only to meet another and similar murderous onslaught. This running fight of blood and death must have been continued for about twenty-five miles. To trace the devious meandering's of the fleeing hunters was a long and laborious task. a day and a half being spent in this way before any success was promised their undertaking. Then they found the body of the dog that had accompanied the party, with two arrows in his br dy.
Just prior to this event the situation seemed hopeless and they were
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
about to abandon the search as fruitless. They were out of rations and well nigh exhausted, but they were stimulated by finding the body of the dog and pushed on. The next day in the afternoon they came upon the scene of the terrible butchery. The massacre of the unfortunate doomed party had occurred near a crossing of Cheyenne creek. The hunters were on the narrow ridge that furnished a road to the creek bottom between two ravines.
The inevitable conclusion was that the Indians charged upon them from these ravines and their destruction was but the work of a moment.
The bodies of the Collins brothers, Roberts and Tallman, were found near the wagon. Lewis Cassel and young Haynes had evidently broken through the Indian lines. The body of the former was found in the bed of the creek and that of the latter lying on the bank. All the ghastly butchering and mutilation practiced by murderous savage warfare had been inflicted upon their bodies, the details of which are too horrible to publish-a scene too revolting for description. The wagon was shot full of holes. The circumstances demanded the immediate burial of the poor victims, the bodies having laid there for two weeks. They were laid to rest temporarily in the lonely spot where they had fallen after making such a desperate attempt for their lives and the late R. P. West, who was one of the most efficient members of the searching party, offered a prayer at the grave. The bodies were removed the following spring and interred near Clifton. The family of Walter Haynes lived at Clifton.
The wife of Lewis Cassell was enroute with her parents to join her husband in the new western country and did not know his awful fate until her arrival there. One of the most pathetic scenes of the tragedy took place in the home of B. P. Morley, where the young wife of J. C. Roberts was staying. She seemingly had a premonition that evil hovered over her hus- band's life and entreated him to remain at home, but he, like most of the old settlers, could not forego a buffalo hunt.
The time for their return had no sooner dawned than the young wife's hopes died within her breast and she declared to Mr. Morley she would never see her husband again ; for she had "dreamed the entire party were massa- cred." It was to satisfy her that the first party started out when they did. While the tedious search was in progress the suspense was maddening to this poor creature, but she was brave, however, and contained herself as only a woman can who clings to one last but fast disappearing hope. When the rescuing party returned and reported the fate of the unfortunate hunters, her grief was heart-rending. She threw her arms around Mrs. Morley, who had been her comforter. counselor and friend, and burying her head on her bosom, sobbed out her bitter grief for one hour, then raised her head and was calm, but her sad heart was broken. She wrote the follow- ing lines to a brother in Iowa: "Dear John is gone. Come quickly," and signed her name. During her grief she sobbed, "To think he served through the war and suffered the torments of a southern prison to come west and
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
be butchered by the Indians." Her brother came and took her to their Iowa home, where the sorrow-stricken woman became hopelessly insane.
The Collins brothers were young men, and the sons of William Collins, who had recently settled in Cloud county. Their mother, Mrs. Reed, is still living and a resident of Concordia. It is impossible to depict the gloom this event cast over the new settlement and many moons came and went ere they emerged from under its shadow.
THE WHITE ROCK MASSACRE.
While the White Rock massacre did not occur in Cloud county, it was in such close proximity and when the settlers for miles around were as one neighborhood, that at least a brief account would be conspicuous by its non- appearance.
Early in April, 1867 a band of Cheyennes came into the settlement and brutally murdered three persons-Nicholas Ward, Mrs. Sutzer and her ten-year-old son. While attempting to make his escape, a young man living in the Ward family was wounded, but not fatally, and made his way to the settlement, where he communicated the dastardly attack. There were nine of the savages and under the guise of being friendly Otoes were admitted into the Ward home. After having been provided with something to eat from the frugal board of the settler, one of their number lifted Mr. Ward's rifle from its position on hooks attached to a beam overhead and shot the unsuspecting man while he was smoking his pipe. The two boys ran for their lives, but the Indians fired, bringing them both down, one fatally. While this was taking place the horror-stricken wife barricaded the door, awaiting, she knew not what. They broke the door down with an ax, pillaged the house of such contents as they desired, seized Mrs. Ward as their captive, tied their confiscated plunder on the two mules belonging to the Wards and with their terror stricken prisoner, whose fate was far worse than that of her murdered husband, tramping on foot by the side of her fiendish captors, they started to join their tribe, traveling over hills, through creeks and on for miles until they reached the Solomon river.
The settlers from Cloud and Clay counties formed two parties provided with rations. They followed the trail by feathers that had been emptied from a feather bed the Indians had taken, and as a few adhered to the tick they would blow off and form a trail as they traveled along. On crossing a stream they found the imprint of a woman's foot in the soft earth, evidently made by the wretched woman that her friend- might discover and aid in her rescue. They followed the trail to Limestone and were forced to abandon it, as there were but twelve men in this, the Cloud county party. The savages had several days the start and it was useless to go farther.
Mrs. Ward's fate was never known and remains as much a mystery to-day as when the foul deed was perpetrated thirty-six years ago. But
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
it is safe to conjecture she was subjected to the most revolting treatment and abject slavery. She was a delicate woman and in all probability was relieved by death ere many months elapsed.
INDIAN RAID ON THE SOLOMON RIVER, NEAR THE PRESENT TOWN SITE OF GLASCO.
Through the courtesy of Mrs. Phoebe Snyder, Mr. John Mann and others of the pioneers who were among the tinfortunate settlers at the time of this event, the author is indebted for a truthful recital of the occurrence. Prior to the date of this massacre the settlers of he Solomon valley had been alarmed at the threatening attitudes of the moving hands of Indians, but not until August II. 1868, was there an outbreak in this locality.
The Indians began their depredations on the claims of John Batchie and Henry Hewitt, who lived near the river. They approached their vic- tims, saying, "Good Cheyennes," and suggested shooting at buffalo heads, soliciting the white men to shoot first. The unsuspecting settlers complied, both emptying their guns at the same time, thus leaving themselves with- out defense, and no sooner were they unarmed, than true to the treacherous nature of the savage, they turned and shot them both down. They also wounded young Hewitt, a son of Ilenry Ilewitt ; shot him through the leg, but he escaped by getting into the timber and dragging himself home after nightfall. The news of this outrage traveled through the settlement and consternation of the wildest sort prevailed. Messengers were started out to get more information regarding the reports and finding the facts con- firmed, they at once began to gather reinforcements, while the women and children were huddled together like frightened deer. The next morning nine armed men rode over to Asher creek, and upon arriving there found three more settlers had been added to the victims of the bloodthirsty savages -Bogardus, Bell and Randall. The settlers were gathering for the pur- pose of moving to the stockade, but while they were preparing to flee to a. place of safety the demons swooped down upon them. Robert Missel (now of Concordia ) and his little brother. Benjamin Missel, were overtaken while making a dash for neighbor's. Both were captured, but Robert Missel was more fortunate than his brother; for, though they fired several shots after him, they were without effect; but his little brother was cruelly killed. John Wear was killed and Mrs. Henry Hewitt seriously wounded. Miss Jennie Paxton, a brave young woman, was teaching school in the little log hut where Glasco now stands. A message of warning was sent to Miss Paxton and her little flock, who hastily repaired to the nearest house, that of H. M. Spaulding. As they fled this heroic young woman held her posi- tion between the frightened and panic stricken pupils and advancing savages, but all reached a place of safety except Lewis, the little eleven-year-old son of Captain and Mrs. Phoebe Snyder.
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