USA > Kansas > Wabaunsee County > Early history of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, with stories of pioneer days and glimpses of our western border.. > Part 2
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April 24, 1866, John Adolph Hankammer and Mrs. Margaretha Michel, Rev. C. Berner, officiating.
June 3, 1866, Adolph Hankammer and Wilhelmina Schwanke, by Rev. C. Berner.
May 20, 1366, Edwin M. Hewins and Julia E. Ross, S. F. Ross, J. P.
May 13, 1866, Bernard Schutter and Mary Kraszons, Phillips Call- ton, O. S.
Jan. 1, 1867, Frederick Schepp and Margaritha Muehlenbacher, Ph. F. Johnson, J. P.
April 8. 1867, Henry Loehr and Elizabeth Teford, Joseph Thoes, J. P. April 8, 1867, Isaac H. Isbell and Hattie D. Lines, Rev. . Chas. L. Guild.
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
May 30, 1867, James Goff and Mettie V. Russell, Rev. Chas. L. Guild.
Nov. 13, 1867, J. M. Bisbey and Mary E. Earl, Rev. Chas. L. Guild. Nov. 19, 1867, Louis Liebrock and Christine Hankammer, by Ph. F. Johnson, J. P.
Dec. 31, 1868, Jequam Calico and Waweed Moquah, M. Gaillard, S I. May 1, 1868, John B. Cotton and Eunice M. Allen, Rev. C. S. Guild.
May 11, 1868, August Gerloch and Catherine Engelhardt, G. Zwan- ziger, J. P.
Aug. 20, 1868, Charles Grunewald and Henrietta Moege, G. Zwan- ziger, J. P.
Dec 24, 1868, Arthur M. Read and Anna Isbell, Rev. R. M. Tun- nell officiating.
Jan. 2, 1869, Peter Coktah and Coach No Quah, Rev. M. Gaillard. Jan 29, 1869, Wm. Strasen and Emily Kietzmann, by G. Zwanzi- ger, J. P.
April 8, 1869, John Boettcher and Sarah Sharp, P. F. Johnson, J. P. April 18, 1869, Adolph Zeckser and Caroline Leffler, by P. F. John- son, J. P.
June 27, 1869, Moritz Kraus and Wilhelmine Welk, Carl Lang, J.P. Nov. 25, 1869, Henry Klein and Mary Hensel, Carl Lang, J. P.
Jan. 5, 1870, B. C. Benedict and Sarah Dunbar, by Rev. James G. Merrill.
Feb. 3, 1870, A. C. Cutler and Ellen F. Weaver, Rev. R M. Tunnell. March 3, 1870, Wm Carter and Margaret A. Shaw, Rev. Philetus Beverly.
March 6, 1870 Lardner J. McCrumb and Jane A. Barker, J. W. Mossman, J. P.
March 17, 1870, David F. Carter and Margaret A. Harris, by Rev. Philetus Beverly.
April 14, 1870, F. M. Meredith and S. D. Carter, H. M. Reese, J. P. May 5, 1870, Ludwig Kaeckel and Henrietta Meyer, H. M. Reese, J. P.
May 15, 1870, Apitec Kijek and Teresa Massowa, by A. Sweere.
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FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN DIST. NO. 10-TEMPLIN: BUILT IN 1865.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
The Alma Salt Works-that in 1877 promised much and resulted in little to the sturdy farmers of the Mill creek valley who furnished the means to put the scheme on its feet-at one time sent to market from thirty to fifty barrels of pure, white salt every day. The industry wasn't all a myth and had the promoters been honest in their efforts our county might today be proud of her big salt plant. But ready rash seemed more desired than salt and the leading farmers in the vicinity of Alma generously donated the needful. The tall brick chimney, the huge iron kettles and the piles of cord-wood gave evi- dence of energy that would probably have been well expended in a good cause but for the tendency to divert other people's money out of legitimate channels and into the pockets of the manipulators. It required years of toil to counteract the baleful effects entailed on the generous farmers who were victimized by those in whom they had reposed their confidence.
Mr. Hiram Ward, in his address before the old settlers' meeting at Harveyville. Oct. 10, 1895, said: "On my arrival in Kansas in 1862 I found a string of settlers along the streams and a few along the roads to catch the traveler's dimes and quarters but no orchards, though a few sprouts of trees were seen, well trimmed by cattle. The fruit was the wild grape and crab apple We were told that we were out on the borders of the Great American desert and could not raise fruit so far west. Perhaps in the bottoms as far west as Lawrence some fruit might grow but no further. But Mr. J. M. Bisbey, of Pavilion had planted an orchard in 1555-seven years before-proving by actual test that Kansas is a fruit country."
At the October session of the board of commissioners, 1856, The Wabaunsee Ferry Company was granted a license to run a ferry across Kansas river at Wabaunsce, the following to be rates of toll:
50 cents for one pair of horses or cattle and wagon.
25 cents for every additional pair of horses or cattle.
25 cents for one horse and buggy.
20 cents for one horse and man.
10 cents per head for cattle.
5 cents per head for swine and sheep.
At the January session, 1571. H. James was granted a license to maintain a ferry across Kansas river with rates as follows:
For four horse team or two yoke of oxen, 75 cents.
For two-horse team, 50 cents.
For one-horse team. 25 cents.
Footman, 10 cents.
Loose stock, per head, 5 cents.
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
JOHN THOMAS, WITH AN ALIAS.
One dead and three wounded-that was the result of a wholesale shooting at Maple Hill on Wednesday night, May 4, 1898. Until a few days before the shooting "Missouri John" had been employed at the Fowler ranch. John was best man in the affections of Nellie Brand, a pretty Scotch girl, until the bookkeeper, a Swede, crossed his path. Other employes, also Swedes, twitted the discharged employe about his luck, or misfortune, in the little love affair, until, in a rage, he swore he would kill every Swede on the ranch.
Wednesday night, May 4th, Thomas hired a horse at Romick's barn and went to the West ranch to see Miss Brand. Edwin Fransen and others advised him to leave, when he said: "All right, I will," and began shooting at everyone in sight-inflicting a mortal wound on Fransen and shooting Carl Kinstrom through the wrist. Another bullet plonghed through Miss Brand's hair but three or four shots fired at Smith, the bookkeeper went wild.
Thomas then rode five miles to the East ranch and calling Gus Carlson, the farm foreman, to the door, said: "Gus, you are a pretty good fellow, but you gave me away in this thing, now take that," accompanying the words by a shot from his revolver. Carlson closed the door, catching Thomas' forearm, holding him fast. In this posi- tion Thomas emptied his revolver into the room-one ball cutting several holes in the covering over young Anderson, lying in bed.
After being released from the closed door Thomas fired several bullets through a window into the bed where Tom Gristy slept, but Tom had just returned from Kansas City, and on account of the rain had stopped for the night at the hotel kept by Mrs. Beaubien at Maple Hill. Fransen died at 8 o'clock Thursday evening.
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABA UNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
Thomas went westward, turning his horse loose in Nathan Matthews' pasture, and secreting his saddle in a clump of bushes, went to Halifax, staying all night and taking breakfast Friday morn- ing with Mr. J. B. Crumb. Going eastward on the railroad Sheriff Treu lost track of the fugitive -he next appearing at Ernest Wend- land's, where he stayed Sunday night. Thomas slept two nights at John Olson's, near Alta Vista, cutting off his mustache while here. At Olson's he slept with a son of H. J. J. Wege, who was unaware of the $500 reward offered for his bedfellow.
May 16th Thomas passed Volland, Alta Vista, and Dwight, on foot arriving at White City in the afternoon. Here he played tramp, accepting hand-outs of the good people of White City. Thomas took the blind baggage for Herington but dropped off at Latimer, walked to Herington and returned to Templin on the local next morning. When last seen was at Lumb's place, where he took breakfast Tuesday morning, May 17th-thirteen days after the shooting at Maple Hill.
J. M. Wilkerson, ex-Chief of Police of Topeka, is still looking for Thomas. He describes him as 5 ft. 10 in high, weight. 160, sandy com- plexion, very freckled, and has a scar or birthmark the size of half- dollar near small of back. John plays old-fashioned tunes on the banjo and is probably going under any other name than Thomas.
The Smallpox in 1871.
Mr. Herman Fink had come over from Germany and was boarding with Mr. Carl Falk, of Templin. Smallpox broke out on the ship on which Mr. Fink came across the ocean but he escaped the disease. But the germs evidently secreted themselves in his clothes-chest, for several weeks after his arrival he gave his clothes an airing and then the smallpox germs began making trouble. Mr. Falk's family was the first to be taken down.
The disease spread until nearly every family in the Templin set- Ilement had the smallpox, though in some families but one or two were taken down with the complaint, the others miraculously escap- ing. Though Mr. Ferdinand Zimmerman. Mr. Henry Grimm and others were in daily contact with the sick, administering to their wants no symptoms of smallpox appeared. Several deaths occurred: the marks of the dread disease left behind indicate that the malady was of a malignant type.
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
The disease spread to Alma and the settlement on the East branch -Mr. Edward Krapp having the malady in its most aggravated form and his daughter, Gertrude, dying of the same ailment. Mr. N. H. Whittemore, the county attorney died at Mr. Adolph Zeckser's, in Alma, where he was boarding, and, in all, quite a number of deaths resulted from the pestilential malady.
Remarkable and Eccentric.
Two more fitting adjectives could not be chosen to express the characteristics of the one man, who, more than any other, delights in regaling his Alma auditors with the varied experiences of a strenuous life.
John Allen-if his calendar can be relied on-has seen 95 years and he is as hale and hearty as men of strong physique usually are at 60. But the would be skeptic as to John's age is no longer in a doubtful mood when his repertoire of adventures is unfolded.
It wasn't long after the civil war that John pulled into Alma with a team of Kentucky thoroughbreds and even now he claims the owner- ship of several racers of his own raising that can beat a 2:20 clip any day. Having rode Lexington in some of his greatest races, John feels that he is entitled to more than usual credit in matters pertaining to the race course. John also brought with him a water Spaniel that he bought in Australia, on one of his trips around the world.
When John came to Alma he was suffering from an open wound that he said was inflicted in a personal encounter with Colonel Dick Taylor. The blow stunned John, and that accounts for his being the sole survivor of the Fort Pillow massacre. Had the blow fallen with less force it is probable that he wouldn't have been left for dead and thereby have escaped further injury. But under the soothing influ- ences of our salubrious atmosphere an ugly scar was soon the only reminder of one of the terrible scenes enacted during the war.
In John's boyhood days he was the guardian and protector of the boys of the first families of the blue grass region. He tells with delight of the days when the Clays and the Breckenridges sent him in charge of their boys to school-boys who in after years occupied prominent places in our country's history. He refers with special pride to one occasion, when, in passing through a dense forest on the way to school the boys were attacked by panthers. John gives the
20 EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
number of panthers killed in going a mile as 19, and we have his word for It that nary a panther got away.
John says he remembers distinctly the massacre of the people of Fort Dearborn, on the present site of Chicago. He was on the ground when Black Hawk's house and another belonging to the agent of the Pottawatomie Indians was all there was of Chicago. Of course John availed himself of the opportunity to get in on the ground floor and as his rents come in from the block of lots he had the foresight to take in he realizes that it is better to be born lucky than rich.
We have it direct from John that he was with Fremont in 1849 when he passed through this county on the way to the Pacific coast. He remembers distinctly the ringing speech made by Henry Clay from the crest of Buffalo mound and says he planted a tree near the top of the mound to commemorate the occasion and that while Mr. George Clothier was county superintendent he told him the tree was still alive and in a thriving condition.
John claims to have been present when Henry Clay fought a duel with Humphrey Marshall and that he still has the cane given him by Mr. Clay for holding his hat. He says that when Chicago and St. Charles, Mo. were contesting for the honor of being the center of the world St. Charles would have got it but for Henry Clay, who, during a recess of the Senate bought the deciding vote that made Chicago the winner.
When acting in the role of Assistant Veterinary Surgeon in a Gov- ernment Expedition sent out to the Staked Plains an epidemic carried off a large number of the horses used by the cavalry, but John came to the rescue. He used heroic measures He would cut open the horses and remove the canse-a large worm, four or five inches in length and larger than your finger. Then he would sew up the wound, thus fitting the horse for the hard service exacted of him on this perilous trip in the wilds of Texas
One of John's most highly prized pictures is of a woman detective, with a colored boy as an attendant. He regrets that by his going under an assumed name he has been deprived of a niche in the temple of fame-won while on detached service, as a detective carrying dis- pitches between Washington and Richmond.
While driving from Alma to bis farm, three miles out, John says that more than once he has been delayed on his trip by a big snake that he alleges reached clear across the road and for several feet on either side. As the snake seemed about two feet in diameter it was of course necessary to await his snakeship's pleasure before continuing his journey home
But John's wanderings have not been confined to the land, he hav- Ing passed many years of his life on the ocean. Besides being in Cuba
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. J. P. GLEICH (dec'd ), Farmer Township.
MRS. J. P. GLEICH, (dec'd ), Farmer Township.
MR. AUGUST BRASCHE (dec'd ), M. D. Former Coroner, West Branch.
MRS. AUGUST BRASCHE, Alma.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. MICHAEL FIX (dec'd), Volland.
MRS. MICHAEL FIX (dec'd ), Volland.
MR. AUGUST MEYER (dec'd ,, Alma. Alma's First Postmaster.
MR. LORENZ PAULY (dec'd), Alma. Former Representative, and Commissioner.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. GEO. W. THOMPSON (dec'd), Wabaunsee Township.
MR. HARVEY P. THOMPSON, Wabaunsee Township.
MR. JOHN COPP (dec'd ), Paxico.
MR. CHRISTIAN KUENZLI (dec'd ), Kuenzli Creek.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. ANDREW BELL, Kaw Township. County Commissioner.
MR. WM. PRINGLE, Eskridge. County Commissioner.
MR. HENRY SCHMITZ (dec'd), Alma. Former County Commissioner.
MR. JOSEPH TREU (dec'd), Halifax. Former Representative and County Commissioner.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MRS. FRED. PALENSKE, Alma.
MRS. L. PALENSEE, Alma.
MR. FRANZ SCHMIDT, Alma.
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MR. G. ZWANZIGER (deceased ), Alma.
. EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. FRANZ MEIER, Halifax.
MR. JOHN HESS, (deceased ) Halifax.
REVEREND SILBERMANN, Alma.
REVEREND ABELE, Wells Creek.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. F. L. RAYMOND, Vera. Former Representative.
MR. S. A. BALDWIN, Wabaunsee. Former Representative.
MR. ALBERT F. THAYER, Vera.
MR. M. W. JANES, Willard.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. JAMES M. JOHNSON, Harveyville. Former Representative.
MR. W. M. RINEHART, Eskridge. Former Representative.
MR. E. H. SANFORD (Dec'd), Eskridge.
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MR. N. H. WHITTEMORE, Former County Attorney.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. ALLEN PHILLIPS (dec'd), Vera.
MRS. ALLEN PHILLIPS (dec'd) Vera.
MR. F. M. JONES, Willard.
MR. PATRICK MAGUIRE (dec'd), Maple Hill.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, [KAN.
MR. GUS DROEGE, Farmer Township.
MR. ANTON SCHEWE. Farmer Township.
MR. PETER THOES (dec'd), Farmer Township.
MR. RUDOLPH ARNDT, Templin.
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
and the Philippines long before the Spanish war was thought of he went in an early day on a voyage to the South seas in search of the South pole, but after diligent and persevering effort he concludes the South pole is a myth.
In fact it is John's firm conviction that the earth isn't round, but square-a theory he urges as tenable on the hypothesis that otherwise the Biblical reference to the four corners of the earth would be mis- leading. We may as well state here that John has been induced to keep quiet relative to the shape of the earth in consideration of that spirit of friendship he feels towards Mr. Palenske, who has on sale several globes showing the earth to be round. But it cannot be ex- pected that after a reasonable length of time has elapsed-whether the globes are disposed of or not-John will longer withhold forcible expression of his convictions as to the earth's alleged spherical form.
While John was a sailor before the mast he was often detailed to take soundings and to those long used to the familiar calls of "Mark Twain," "Quarter-less twain" "No bottom" the responses made by John sound unique. Sometimes it would be "Two thousand feet" then "five thousand feet," fifteen thousand feet," twenty-live thous- and feet"-then the Captain would feel safe and give John a rest.
Ships with masts 700 or 800 feet high, from the tops of which voices of sailors ten or twelve miles away can be heard; Mermaids, who carry ship-wrecked sailors to their homes and treat them so kindly that the Mermen fly off the handle in jealous rage; of the Island of Matanzas, with men but three feet high with beards reaching to their knees and of John's perilous trip around the Horn, after three months buffeting the waves in the vain endeavor to accomplish what was more than easy on his next trip-when the sea-captains had dug a canal, so wide you couldn't see the shore on either side-these are a few of the many things John delights to tell the land-lubbers, who gather about him and talk to him about such nonsensical things as a world round like a ball.
John doesn't speak boastingly of his book-learning but as a relator of thrilling adventures by land and sea he is a world beater-well de- serving the name of Alma's most remarkable and eccentric character.
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FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN DIST. NO. 5-NEAR DOVER.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
Pem-Go-Wye Repays a Kindness.
Pem-Co-Wye was a very sick Indian and when Mr. and Mrs. Fred Palenske called at his wigwam one hot Sunday in August, 1864, he was glad to see his pale-faced visitors.
Pem-Co-Wye's wigwam was located on Mill creek just below where Mr. Moritz Hund now lives. All the other Indians had gone fishing, leaving the sick Pottawatomie to keep house.
The Indian had many times eaten a hearty meal at the Palenske home and he felt that the time had come to repay their many acts of kindness. The absence of the other Indians prompted Pem-Co-Wye to unburden his mind of a weight that had caused the good Indian to pass many sleepless nights-that his people thought due to the dread disease, by reason of which his once robust form was fast being reduced to a shadow.
The Pottawatomies had sent out many war parties against the Pawnees but the young warriors of the tribe reasoned that it was use- less to go so far from home for ponies when their white neighbors, thinly settled as they were, on the several branches of Mill creek, had plenty of good horses and cattle they could get more easily.
The young warriors had heard that the whites were fighting among themselves and they reasoned that now was their golden oppor- tunity to wreak terrible revenge on their pale-faced brothers who were fast encroaching on their lands.
The good Indian's warning set Palenske to thinking and the feel- ing of uneasiness rendered the homeward journey anything but pleas- ant. But next day came Pem-Shah, another frequent Indian visitor at the Palenske home, and when he left for his tepee on lower Mill creek there was a consultation that ended with a resolve to leave the Mill creek settlement till the storm should blow over. Pem-Shah's words that had so deeply impressed Mr. Palenske but corroborated the Statement made by Pem-Co-Wye the day before. Ile had said but a few words but they were ominous and portended coming evil. "Byme- bye full moon come. Then Indians have heap cattle and horses."
With these words Pem-Shah left. His pale-faced brother could unravel any seeming mystery his words might imply.
In a few days the young warriors rode by in their war paint going
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
South. But they didn't go far. Up at Henry Schroeder's they pitched their camp and the nightly din of the tom-tom aroused the few settlers along the branches of Mill creek to a sense of danger. Their nightly war dances meant something more than a raid against the Pawnees.
Mr. E. G. Ross, their agent, was appealed to; and he, accompanied by Mr. Ed. Krapp, visited their camp and induced their war chiefs to return to the reservation.
Though the settlers felt relieved many of them slept in their corn fields for several weeks and Mr. Palenske, with others went to Topeka, where they remained five weeks. The young warriors threatened ven- geance against Pem-Co-Wye, having heard that he had given them away. But before the frosts came the spirit of the good Indian had departed for the other shore. Pem-Co-Wye had gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds.
Me Killee Palenske.
One day in August, 1863, while Mrs. Palenske was alone in their little log cabin home on the banks of Mill creek a drunken Pottawat- omie Indian, accompanied by his squaw, rode up to the house and, waving a Colt's navy revolver in a threatening manner, said: "Me Killee Palenske."
And the Indian's manner indicated that he meant just what he said. Though frightened, Mrs. Palenske was assured by the squaw that she needn't be afraid-that she would see that her spouse didn't carry out his threat. She would prevent his getting off his horse. Of course this assurance on the part of the squaw was appreciated but not until the Indian rode away did the feeling of fear pass off.
But the Pottawatomie was on murder bent and down below the mouth of Hendricks creek the Indian's spree culminated in a brutal murder-he wantonly shooting down one of five brothers of an Indian family living in a wigwam near where Mr. Henry Schmitz afterwards built his residence.
The brothers of the young Indian had been eye-witnesses to the terrible tragedy, and, true to the proverbial attributes of their race, wreaked quick retribution on the murderer, who, without the least provocation had taken the life of an unarmed boy.
The drunken Indian who would "killee Palenske" was a quarrel-
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABA UNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
some specimen of the Lo family upon whom the educational advan- tages of a college training had had no perceptible influence for good. On returning to his people he had discarded the garb of civilization and donned, again, the blanket of his tribe. He had left the chris- tianizing influences of his surroundings behind him but had brought with him from the Eastern school and its environs, the vices that were responsible for his undoing.
proffigate career had been summarily closed and the threat to "killer Palenske" was never carried out.
Was it Murder?
On August 15, 1868. Marshall Ray, Emery Fowler, J. C. Hill, Isaac Dean, E. F. Arthur and Henry Deibert drove into the Dragoon settle- ment looking for claims. Night overtaking them at my father's farm they requested the privilege of camping near the house and the further privilege of picketing their horses in a small pasture close at hand.
A colored man named George Woods lived on what is now the J. M. Lee place, tending part of the plow land on the farm that summer. But the corn had been laid by and George was working by the day for such farmers as might be in need of his services, going to, and return- ing from. his work on horseback.
On that day he had gone to Burlingame and it was late before he reached home. Knowing nothing of the presence of campers on the place he had let down the bars to the pasture and was in the act of turning his pony into the lot when the sharp report of a pistol rang out the first intimation to George of the presence of strangers on the premises.
George died from the effects of the wound and Ray and Fowler were arrested. The other men were detained as witnesses and all romanded to the Riley county jail after a preliminary examination bofore J. M. Johnson, J. P., Morris Walton being the prosecuting wit- ness and Sam Easter, constable.
The accused were released on a writ of habeas corpus and a second time arrested, but for lack of sufficient evidence to convict were allowed to resume their search for a home. But the prejudice that had been aroused against them by reason of what seemed a wanton disregard of human life if not wilful murder convinced the homeseek- ers that Wabaunsee county was a good place to stay away from.
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