History of Butler County Kansas, Part 22

Author: Mooney, Vol. P
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 946

USA > Kansas > Butler County > History of Butler County Kansas > Part 22

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Early settlers in Towanda township were: 1860-Daniel Cupp and Wright Goodale ; 1865-Andy J. and James W. Ralston (still there and prosperous), Dr. J. O. Bugher, who felt cramped at the encroachments of civilization and went to Wyoming a few years ago and died there; 1868-Gilbert Green (who ran the stage and mail route between El Dorado and Wichita), Harrison Stearns, John Heath, S. S. McFarlane, Richard Jones, Dan Mosier, Robert McGuin, J. W. Tucker, Isaac Mooney, Osburn Mooney, Horace Maynard, Simon Brair and Clark Waite, Willis Priest, William McDowell, Dr. William Snider, David Barnett. Dr. R. S. Miller, John and Joshua Shriver, James and Dr. J. D.

F. W. ROBISON'S RESIDENCE, TOWANDA, KANS.

Godfrey and their sister, Miss Nancy; Robert McClure, Lewis Hart, Duncan McLaughlin and Julius Straw, now all deceased except Joshua Shriver, who came in 1869, 1870 or 1871. There were many who came a year or two later. All these met the usual trials, difficulties and hard- ships incident to frontier life. All were poor. The rich did not care to face the discomforts of new lands. There was many a homesick lieart, many sighs for the old homes amid the comforts and conveniences of the civilization they had left. Pioneering is especially hard and dis- tressing on women. They had little to do with. Their duties were cir- cumscribed by unhappy circumstances and conditions and their enforced idleness often led to repining. Many women who left homes where the comforts and even luxuries were plentiful and entered with their huis- bands into home building upon a raw sod and with limited means have testified that it was a most disheartening effort.

222

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

In the seventies and prior, long tedious trips were made to mill, forty, fifty, seventy-five and even one hundred miles. Household neces- sities and pine lumber were hauled by teams an equal distance. Money was scarce. Interest was high. Labor at first brought good wages. especially that of the carpenter. Log cabins at first were the rule and they were built solid and comfortable. Settlements were along streams almost exclusively prior to 1870. Saw mills were freighted in and worked up native lumber into studding and rough boards. The fare was of the plainest, often consisting of "samp," a hard corn, julled and cracked, and buffalo "jerked" (dried) meat boiled in milk. This was a standard dish, and with corn bread and the sweetness that accom- panies a good digestion and hunger, sustained and grew robust men and women. Of the early "kids" yon don't see any that are stunted from such fare. Clothes were of the plainest and would have condemned many a settler in polite society who is now well-to-do or wealthy. Buggies and other road vehicles were rare. The big lumber wagons carried the family or a horse carried man and wife or lover and sweet- heart.

TOWANDA.

Situated nine miles west and south of El Dorado, on a slightly elevated tract overlooking the Whitewater river, is Towanda, an in- corporated town. It can be truthfully said that it is one of the best trading points, one of the nicest little towns, and has some of the most enterprising citizens to be found in Butler county or in Kansas.

In 1870 Rev. Isaac Mooney had surveyed and laid out in town lots, ten acres of what is now the southwest corner of Towanda and thereby became the father of the present bustling little village. Before this date J. R. Mead had established a trading post in the Whitewater valley about a quarter of a mile west of the present town site. At that time Towanda was what might be called the trade center for the country within twenty miles, and stirring indeed were the doings of the old trading post of long ago. It was at that time the division point for two stage lines running over the western plain with headquarters at Em- poria and Humboldt. It was also the camping ground for government trains and immigrant wagons on account of the beautiful spring bub- bling out of the hill on the west side of town.

The first store building erected on the present town site of Towanda was built by G. W. Baker, in 1871, upon a lot south of the present M. E. church. The lot was given Baker by Isaac Mooney, who was engaged in the same business, as Baker expected to enter in the log house shown elsewhere in this work. The only instance on record where one man fur- nished another with means of entering into competition with the donor.

The next building was by L. Viets, father of C. L. Viets, of Wichita, and Allie Viets, of Augusta. He afterward sold his stock of goods to William McDowell and moved the building to Augusta. Then came

223

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

R. S. Miller and J. H. Dickey, handling hardware and drugs, followed by H. Taylor & Son, general merchandise; J. M. Reed, A. Aikman, G. W. Stewart, blacksmiths and woodworkers, and many others.

Good business buildings have been erected in the past few years. In the residence section wonderful improvement has been made, new houses erected and a general prosperity seems to have taken the town. There is a full two-story building built by the Masons of Towanda. They occupy the upper story for a lodge room, which is nicely fur- nished for the purpose. The lower story is occupied by Shriver & Glass with a large stock of hardware and implmenets, buggies and

PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, TOWANDA, KANS.

wagons, etc. G. W. Moore is the owner and editor of The Towanda News, a newsy home paper. The Knights of Pythias hall is a good brick building, the first floor of which is used for a storeroom and the second for a lodge room. It is owned by the order. The State Bank of Towanda. F. W. Robinson, cashier, and J. C. Kullman, president, is one of the solid institutions of the county and is doing a thriving business. J. C. Kullman, C. B. Sewart and L. C. Hill, general merchandise, and many other lines of business are represented, and all are prosperous.

Towanda township has about ten miles of the Missouri Pacific railway system, a good depot and shipping facilities. More fine draft horses, Holstein cows and other live stock are loaded and unloaded at this station for the Robinsons, Bishops, Girards and others than any other point in the county. Wichita, a town of some note, lies about twenty-five miles south of Towanda. Towanda has always been a good

224

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

trading point. It grew slowly. Once it received votes for the county seat. Its early social life was of that limited sort peculiar to people com- ing together from almost every point of the compass. The first school, the first church organization and other firsts are like unto the beginnings of all new countries. Rev. Isaac Mooney began preaching on his arrival at his new home and kept it up steadily until his death. He bought the splendid valley west of the village from Mead, filed on the one hundred and sixty acres east of it as his homestead, donated the cemetery, platted the town, and gave away lots in encouragement of new comers. He has been fruitful in good works and faithful in every relation

From the camping place of the Indian and from a trading post, Towanda has grown to a tidy little village. In 1892 it was largely razed by a cyclone, but its people built it anew and better than before. It has two substantial churches ; some fine and several substantial resi- dences and many comfortable cottages. It is surrounded by a neat, beautiful and most fertile country. It has a fine brick school building with four departments, is one of the high schools in the county. The Masonic lodge, No. 30, shows it to be one of the very oldest in the State ; the G. A. R. and its auxiliary, the W. R. C., are represented. Towanda citizens have been active and prominent in county affairs. Hon. Isaac Mooney and his son, V. P. Mooney, Andy Swigett, M. D. Ellis and S. C. Fulton and R. B. Ralston and M. A. Wait have been called to official positions and performed their duties with fidelity and zeal.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

This township is in the extreme southeast corner of the county. It is six miles north and south and ten miles east and west, extending into Flint Hills, and contains some of the finest pasture land in the world, as well as some of the best farming lands. Its soil is adapted to and produces abundantly crops of all kinds, including alfalfa and other tame grasses, as well as an abundant supply of the wild or prairie grass.

The records of the county fail to show the date or organization of Union township. They do show, however, that the citizens of Union township voted at the general election held in November, 1871, and that the following township officers were elected at the election held in April, 1872: George Sherar, trustee ; J. A. McGinnis, treasurer ; H. M. Lemon, clerk; Benjamin justice of the peace; George Messick, constable. Among the earliest settlers of the township, in ad- dition to the above, were J. S. McKee, Alvin Proisen, William and D. L. Sherar, T. F. Ferguson, William Van Meter, Milo Nance and many others

The township is noted for its live stock and hay industries. Many cattle are pastured. fed and marketed from this place with an immense amount of prairie hay shipped out each year. Latham is a vigorous

225

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

little town laid out in 1885. It is on a branch of the Frisco railway. There is about ten miles of the railway in the township. Atlanta is a sinall station in the southern part of the county. Latham has a popula- tion of 350 with practically all line of business represented : Bank, J. P. Garnett, president, and Ed Rankin, cashier ; grocery, L. R. Masters & Co .; lumber, E. A. Riley; hotel. James Gibson; garage, livery, creamery, churches, schools, newspaper, "The Mirror," by H. W. Hen- drick, and all other, lines necessary to make a good, pleasant place in which to live or engage in business.

WALNUT TOWNSHIP.

By W. C. Snodgrass.

I purpose to write a short history of Walnut township from the time of the red man and buffalo to the present time. This will cover a period of half a century, from 1866 to 1916. The facts narrated will be those gleaned from the storehouse of memories. personal experiences and observations of those still living who helped to make that history.

And we feel sure that our short record of our little garden spot of thirty-six square miles of God's footstool, with its thorns, thistles and flowers will show that our people have a right to be proud of their achievements. They have developed to a rich fruition in this part of the Master's vineyard. We have made the "two blades of grass grow where only one grew before." We have done this in spite of drought, hot winds, storms, floods, grasshoppers, chintz bugs, elephant bugs, the "rain maker" and his fuse, and the politician.

The chintz bug eats the farmer's grain. The bee moth spoils his honey, The bed bug fills him full of pain, And the humbug gets his money.

Walnut township was formed out of that part of the public domain known as the "Twenty Mile Strip." It was ceded to the general gov- ernment by the Osage Indians on September 19, 1865. This land was known legally as the Osage Trust Lands. It was surveyed and opened up to settlement by the government a year or two later at $1.25 per acre. Each settler could take not to exceed 160 acres. He had to live on his land at least six months and make certain improvements, in the way of breaking of the prairie and buildings.

At first, August 23, 1867, Walnut township, by act of the board of county commissioners, comprised a strip across the south part of the county sixteen miles wide. At the election, November 5, 1867. Peter Harpool was elected justice of the peace. He received seven votes. Benton Kramer was elected constable with seven votes. Harpool was (15)

226

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

club-footed, but much of a man physically. It was currently reported that when he fought he got on his knees. He had for his homestead the northeast 3-29-4. It is now owned by Elroy Warner, who has a fine residence where Peter had his cabin.

This cabin was unusually far from the timber. It was out on the prairie nearly a half mile from the river-Little Walnut. Dave Kramer, a brother of Bent, owned the quarter west of Harpool's and "put on style" by building a two-story box house. The house fell down about five years ago and was moved off by the present owner of the land, M. T. Minor. The yard fence (hedge ) was grubbed up last winter (1915) by M. J. Philips and Vance Glaze. Thus disappeared one of the ancient landmarks. Charlie Durham (deceased ), of Douglass, narrated that it was at this house they held. on Saturday night of each week, one of a series of dances, commencing at Bill Groves', below Rock, Cowley county. He said the "gents" were always fully booted, spurred and armed with the regulation "six-shooters." The ladies were very beautiful and buxom, but not too timid or shy. Many of them afterward became the wives of the pioneers. Some of their offspring live in Wal- nut township today. Benton Kramer "proved up" on a claim at the mouth of Hickory creek and sold it to N. M. A. Withrow, whose widow, Mary A. Withrow, still owns it.

The first township election was held in April, 1868. The township elections were held then in the spring instead of as now at the time of the general elections in November. At this election William H. Edsell was elected trustee ; John Fetterman, clerk; J. W. Crawford, treasurer. Edsell owned the southeast 26-28-4, now owned by Schoeb.

On March II, 1873. a petition to organize Walnut City township, comprising the territory known as town 28. range 4, east, was granted. The election to be held in Walnut City. At this election, April, 1873. William Potter was elected trustee: M. C. Robbins, treasurer ; Thomas Purcell, clerk; W. S. Waters and John C. Riley, justices of the peace, and A. J. Hughes and J. P. Bare, constables. On July 8. 1873. a petition to change the name of Walnut City township to Walnut, striking out the word city, was granted by the board of county commissioners.

Thus the civil, or municipal, township of Walnut as now known and remembered by the oldest residents, became identical with the congressional township legally described as township 28 south, range 4 east. It is of this six miles square of territory I write. From the time of the organization of the township in March, 1873, we have a fairly complete book record of the official business of the township. Part of the old first set of township record books are still in use and show many names of old residents who "did the township business" for Walnut. It is not as big a territory as Europe and its story possibly not as big a theme. But its people have had their trials and tribulations, too. A Kansas township is probably the most striking miniature example of a representative democracy.

227

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

The township is an undulating prairie with a general slope to the south. In the spring, when it is covered with its carpet of green, it is a beautiful sight. Sunshine and shadow flitting over the prairie, before the coming of the unkept and unsightly hedge and barbed wire fences, was a sight to fill one with delight and emotion. It resembled the waves of the ocean. There are three streams crossing the township. The Big Walnut crosses it from north to south, on an average of about a mile west of the center. The valley is probably a mile wide and is very fertile. Little Walnut crosses the southeast corner of the township from northeast to southwest. The valley land will average a half mile in width. Four Mile Creek flows into the Big Walnut. The valley is rich and productive. The streams are all fringed with timber, which was much used by the early settlers for building purposes ; but now only for fire wood and fence posts. Walnut logs are still shipped out to Eastern markets. Between the valleys of these streams and the up- land there is generally an outcropping, or ledge, of limestone. It is good · building material and good railroad ballast. There has been a large rail- road rock crusher operated in the township for several years. There are very few good springs in the township. Probably one should be mentioned. It is on the southeast 35-28-4. The place is now owned by G. W. Brooks, who takes great interest in his spring and his fine garden he raises every year along the spring branch. This garden is becoming almost a neighborhood affair, owing to the great generosity of Mr. Brooks. Mr. Brooks has installed a hydraulic ram for water power for his house.

It is very probable that the buffalo and the Indian left Walnut township about the same time. The buffalo very likely went in 1864 and 1865. The Indian followed in a year or two, 1865 and 1866. Ob- servations made in 1869 and 1870 warrant these conclusions. There were numerous buffalo horns and bones in a good state of preservation to be picked up on the "buffalo wallers," alkali spots where the buffalo would go to salt themselves. There were forks, poles, bark and some cooking utensils to be found where the Indian's wigwam was on the south side of the northeast quarter of section 35-28-4. The large elm trees had the bark peeled as high as a man could reach from one side of the tree, but never clear around. The Indian must have loved trees. The line of cutting was regular and V-shaped. So it must have been cut by cross licks with a tomahawk. Where this wigwam stood was a patch of ground of three or four acres which was cultivated and en- closed by a log fence, something on the style of the old "staked and ridered" fence. The river helped to enclose the patch of low ground, which was entirely surrounded by timber. This little patch of rich low ground is still known as the "Indian field." Straggling Indian trappers were frequently met with in 1868, 1809 and 1870. The pioneers relate many incidents of their experiences in meeting these roving hunters and trappers. Sometimes both Indian and pioneer were surprised.

228

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

The pioneer, "One who goes before to remove obstructions or pre- pare the way for another," came in 1866, 1867. 1868 and 1869, to bid the Indian goodbye. He came from the East North and South. He cut the trees, not the bark, and replaced the wigwam with the log cabin. Like the Indian, he built his hut in or near the timber along the river. often near the little "Indian field." He was not yet ready or prepared to turn the prairie sod. He planted his Indian field to corn and looked after his game. Game, such as deer, antelope, turkey, prairie chicken, quail and other varieties common today, were very plentiful. Fish were fine and plentiful and could be seen in the streams much plainer than now. The streams were clearer because the rains did not carry the soil hen, as now, into them. There are a few, very few, of these pioneers still living in Butler county and still owning their homesteads .. But most of them, like the buffalo and Indians, have wandered away to other fields. Those who are left can tell many rich and interesting ex- periences. I hope many of them will contribute their experiences to the Butler County History.

Probably the two oldest pioneers, in point of settlement, who still own their old homes in Walnut township are George W. Long and Mrs. Lou Kirkpatrick. They both now live in Augusta. Mr. Long settled on the Big Walnut in 1867 and doubtless knew all the pioneers of Wal- nut township. He helped Louis Booth to build his cabin, just south- west of where Gordon now is, in 1867. Mrs. Kirkpatrick is a daughter of "Uncie" Billy Black, who settled with his family of boys and girls on what is now known as the Blood land. It is just west of Gordon on the Big Walnut. "Uncle Billy" ( William Craft Black) came to Walnut township with his family in the spring of 1868. Some of his sons and daughters were then married and had families. His children were Tom, Dave, Mrs. Andy Crawford, Sarah J., Lou, Abe, Willie and Crit. He and two sons and one daughter took four quarters of land on the Big Walnut, just west of Gordon. It was then, and is now, the finest body of land in Walnut township. It is now the most valuable section of land in Butler county, maybe, cities not counted, in Kansas. This "big hearted pioneer" and good man, who was striving for his children, lost his worldly inheritance-land-by that noble virtue of goodness. His friends ( ?) played him false. They became rich. He became poor. He lost all, except his energy and determination to labor and strive on honorably to the end. Surely history does repeat itself: but I am not allowed the space here to repeat the old. old story of Lazarus and Dives.

Louis Booth and George Booth built their cabin on the west, south- east and southwest of 28-28-4. This land is still known as the Booth place by the old settlers. It is also spoken of as the Cox farm. In No- vember. 1870, "Judge Lynch" decided that the Booths, Jim Smith (Gil- pin) and Jack Corbin were undesirable citizens. So they were convicted and executed. Smith was shot at a ford in the middle of Little Walnut, just northeast of Douglass, called the "Slayton ford." Corbin and the

229

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Booths were taken from the Booth cabin, and a little way from the cabin Corbin was hung and the Booths were shot. Some say the four (Smith, Corbin, George Booth and Louis Booth) were all buried on what is now the Hayes farm, about a quarter of a mile southwest of the Gordon depot. Mrs. L. Kirkpatrick, who attended the burial, gives a very interesting narrative of the affair. She says the four bodies were buried in four home-made coffins in two graves-the two Booth brothers in one and Corbin and Smith in the other. Another report is that Louis Booth's wife took his remains to Emporia for interment. There was great excitement and much bitter feeling over this lynching for several years.

George B. Green was one of the pioneers who settled on the north- east quarter 35-28-4 on the Little Walnut. Green settled here in 1867 or 1868. He bought out a Dutchman who had lost three children here and became dissatisfied. The children were buried a little distance east of the cabin under a spreading oak tree, near the center of what is now called the "Cabin Field." The graves were enclosed by a rail pen. Afterward the tree fell down. In the clear up the brush and rail pen were burned, and all traces of the graves were lost. Green was an ex- Confederate soldier, but he never told it in the "John Brown State" until he met some Southern "sympathizers." He considered discretion the better part of valor. He sold his place to W. J. Snodgrass in October, 1869, giving a warranty deed November 17th, acknowledged before C. H. Lamb, justice of the peace. It was recorded by W. A. Sallee, register of deeds. The patent was issued November 1. 1870, by the United States government. U. S. Grant signed the patent as President of the United States. The number of the patent is 189; probably it was the first quarter of land deeded in the township. It has very likely paid more taxes than any other one hundred and sixty acres in the township. Green went to Thirty Mile Strip and got a nicer place than the one he sold. From the appearance of the Broke land and the improvements, the Dutchman must have settled this quarter in 1866 or 1867. W. J. Snodgrass was both pioneer and early settler. In the fall of 1869 he with two companions, James Yowell and Dr. Beauford Averitt, landed at Abilene, Kansas, from Marion county, Kentucky. They bought three ponies, saddles and bridles and struck out to the southeast. The first place they stopped at in Walnut was at Dave Black's, with whom they stayed all night. They met Green the same day they stopped at Black's, who told them he wanted to sell his place. So the next day they went over to see him and stayed all night with him. On account of the fertility of the soil and abundance of timber, one hundred acres, they all liked the place very much, and Snodgrass bought the place for $1,250. Future events proved the wisdom of the purchase. During the hard times of the early seventies, when U. S. Grant was President, Snodgrass at one time sold the saw timber for $1,500 and had the tops or laps left, which were cut into cord wood and

230

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

sold to school districts and prairie settlers for fire wood. And wood posts, fire wood and walnut logs have been sold off this quarter of land from 1870 to 1916. Snodgrass went back to Kentuckq, sold out and moved his family here in the summer of 1870. He came by way of boat from Louisville to Kansas City. From Kansas City he came by teams and wagons. The first man he got acquainted with in Butler county on this move was Uncle John Tecters. Teeters was much at- tracted by a fine horse, and when he learned that Snodgrass was a Kentuckian he would have him go by and camp at his place. Teeters was a Virginian. And the gratitude of the Kentuckian has never for- gotten the unbounded hospitality of the Virginian.

Snodgrass found it hard picking in the early days. With a wife, six small children, two nieces and a nephew, it kept a fellow stirring and thinking. Bacon at thirty-six cents per pound and money at thirty-six per cent. were two hard propositions to face. Shakespeare wrote of Shylock. Snodgrass once, in moments of desperation. after giving up thirty-six per cent., wrote the following epitaph for the early banker :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Butler County Kansas, Part 22

Author: Mooney, Vol. P Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 946

Author: Mooney, Vol. P
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 946