History of Butler County Kansas, Part 38

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 38


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Events transpired rapidly during these passing years. The Santa Fe R. R. built its road from Florence down through the county to Dong- lass. The Frisco R. R. built through Augusta to Wichita and the Mo. Pac. built through El Dorado to Wichita, both from the east, thereby giving the county competing as well as connecting lines. All things moved rapidly now. Enterprises seemed to spring up in a night. New people appeared on the streets of our cities every day, and how proud the "Old Guard" felt who had borne the burden and struggle of the strife. Among them I can see Gen'l Ellet, Senator Murdock, Dr. White, Dr. Gordon, Dr. Mckenzie, C. N. James, Betts. Frazier, Brown, and oh, so many more in town and country who had helped fight and win the battle. But now a new feature confronted us : the new blood of the age was coming to the front. taking up their share of the burdens, infusing new life and new methods into the strife. Among them appeared Strat- ford. Gardner, Kramer, Mooney, Leydig. Alger and many more.


But now I hear that old Butler county has fully come to its own and it fair surface is dotted over with oil and gas wells, and that the children


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of the "new blood" are grasping the reins of State. It is time, for as I look about for the "Old Guard" I see none. They have all passed over the river and I am left alone. But Butler county has come through the trial triumphant, the banner county of the banner State of this great Union, the dominant nation of the world.


A PIONEER OF 1868.


Forty-eight years ago John S. Friend bought 160 acres of land on the Walnut river one mile east of town. John Jones was the pioneer that sold it to Mr. Friend. The log cabin built in 1851 in which Mr. Jones lived, and in which Mr. Friend lived for twenty-one years after- wards, is still standing and could be fixed up comfortably yet with a lit- tle work. It is of hewn logs and was much better constructed than most of the early cabins. It has a window in the loft upstairs. Some style for that day. It stands just north of his present residence. Mr. Friend had just come from Travis county, Texas, where he went in 1851 from Ohio, his native State. He had followed the cattle business there.


Mr. Friend married Tennessee Dancer in 1856. They had two chil- dren, Lee Temple, a son, and Florence, now Mrs. Florence Fisher, liv- ing in California. Mrs. Friend died in 1860 and in 1866 he married Ma- tilda Jones, of Llano, Texas. Two years later when he was away from home the Kiowa and Comanche Indians made a raid on the Friend home and killed and scalped three of the women and two children. Mrs. Friend was also shot and scalped but survived the tragedy. Lee Tem- ple, aged 8, and a little girl belonging to one of the neighbors were car- ried into captivity. The girl was rescued a year later and Lee Temple, Mr. Friend's son, five years afterwards. He lived but a year and a half after returning home.


Mr. Friend has had a claim of $7,500.00 against the Government for the past forty-four years but has never received his money.


March 1, 1889, Mr. Friend was appointed manager of the county farm, a position to be held for five years. He went to California in 1907, remaining for over six years, and in 1914 returned to El Dorado. Now he is back on the farm where he started in 1868. His wife died several years ago and his two daughters, Alice and Carrie, are with him. He will be eighty years old March 19 and he says he is going to fix things up around the place as the buildings are in bad repair. He has fitted up a carpenter shop in the cabin and started at his job. His present residence was built in 1894. The farm is one of the richest along the Walnut Valley.


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RECOLLECTIONS OF JERRY CONNOR.


In the summer of 1859, says Jerry Connor, there was to be a Republi- can convention held at Emporia in which all these southwestern coun- ties were entitled to representation. It was deemed advisable that the Walnut valley be represented there, but the question was, who would be a suitable person who could be induced to make the trip, as the journey was a tedious one. It had to be made either horse-back or with oxen as there was not a horse team at that time in the valley: Finally Judge J. C. Lambdin solved the problem. I was alone in my cabin, had retired for the night to my buffalo robe on the floor, when I heard the sound of horses' feet and a loud knocking. On reaching the door, which was open. there in the summer moonlight, sitting on their horses, were Judge Lambdin and Dr. J. C. Weibley. The judge apologized for the dis- turbance and stated that the doctor was going to start for Emporia for provisions in the morning and would act as delegate to the convention and it was important that he go properly accredited. Now the doctor was from Virginia and the most rabid pro-slavery man in the whole settlement, and I said in a mild way that the doctor was no Republican. "We've fixed that." said the judge, "they don't know him up there and he agrees to be a Republican for this trip!" So the meeting was organ- ized, Connor (rather scantily clad), chairman, Weibley, secretary, and Lambdin the body of the convention. The doctor was unanimously elected and received his credentials, and made a ringing Republican speech in the Emporia convention-in fact, was the hero of the occa- sion-but he spoiled it all before he left.


CHAPTER XXXII.


REMINISCENCES, CONTINUED.


MEAD'S RANCH-RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY TIMES-AN INDIAN SCARE- EARLY SCHOOLS IN EL DORADO-A TORNADO-WING IN THE SEVEN- TIES.


MEAD'S RANCH.


By J. R. Mead, Wichita, Kansas.


My acquaintance with Butler county dates only from the spring of 1863-a short time when I consider that people of some intelligence re- sided along your rivers hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years ago, as I have evidence, but who unfortunately left no history-no one told their history.


I found a few white people when I came-perhaps 150, but of those Early settlers how few remain! The first I met were typical of the frontier. They were encamped in the timber at Sycamore Springs; Dave Ballou, a Cherokee, with his three wives and followers, also Dick Pratt and some companions, rigged out in all the splendors of an Indian- made buckskin suit, broad brimmed hat decorated with gay ribbons, a pair of revolvers in fringed and elaborate scabbards, and the usual com- plement of spurs, quirt, etc. Dick was a merry free lance, handsome, picturesque, gay, cheeks as rosy as a girl's, his glossy black hair hang- ing in ringlets on his shoulders, in appearance a modern Dick Turpin and Lothario combined. Further down the Walnut we met another type and kind in the persons of Judge J. C. Lambdin and George I. Donald- son and their refined and hospitable families, who had brought to the wilderness the culture and refinement of the East. Near by two or three buildings were called Chelsea, which was the county seat. Here I met Mart Vaught, Dr. Lewellen, Henry Martin, the Bemis family, the politics talker-Judge Wm. Harrison-T. W. Satchell, Mr. Jones. "Whiskey" Stewart and D. L. McCabe, whose hospitality was only limited by their means, which was true of all the people I met in the county. The African was much in evidence also-the Gaskins family just above El Dorado.


Still following the trail south, I made camp at old El Dorado. The present city was then an unclaimed prairie. Here on the Walnut river


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was the crossing of the great "California Trail;" also the Osage trail. to their hunting grounds on the Arkansas. And here Stine & Dunlap, famous Indian traders, kept a small store. Some rented buildings showed attempt at town building, but were deserted on account of the war of the rebellion to the South, and savage tribes to the West. One or two families lived at the crossing near by. Jerry Connor had a house and claim ; also Harvey Young, and some others I have forgotten. Lieu- tenant Matthew Cowley and Mr. Johnson were living on the West Branch.


As my object was to hunt big game and engage in the fur trade for sport and profit, I followed the Osage trail west to the Whitewater, the last settlement this side of New Mexico. Finding a lovely spot by a big spring with abundant timber near, I pitched my camp to stay. I bought out J. C. Chandler's buildings and improvements, put up other buildings, brought my wife and baby boy, put in a stock of goods for my neighbors, my hunters, and the Indians, who soon came about in hun- dreds. There were a few settlers on Whitewater at that time. William Vann, Martin Huller, Dan Cupp, who helped build my house; Anthony Davis. "Old Man Gillian ;" and at Plum Grove, like an oasis in the desert, lived Joseph Adams and his excellent family. Soon came Samuel C. Ful- ton, Mrs. Lawton and her son, Jack, and others. As soon as I was settled I made a hunt on the Arkansas to show the rather discouraged settlers what could be done in that line. I took two inexperienced men with two teams and in three weeks was back with 330 buffalo hides. 3500 pounds of buffalo tallow, and some elk, antelope, etc., and fooled away several days with an alleged hunter named Buckner, who went in the com- pany to get a load of meat and show me how to kill buffalo. I loaded him up and sent him home. Soon I had half the men in the county hunting or trading. These I outfitted and supplied their families while they were gone. None of them failed to make returns ; people were hon- est in those days, including our Red Brother. Of the Indians, one win- ter I obtained 3.000 Buffalo robes.


The Government sent Agent Major Milo Gookins to look after the various Indian bands, and he established his agency at my place. We had a school in a long building on the hill where Towanda is built, and Father Stansbury preached once a month at' my house, simon pure gos- pel without price or creed.


Life had its tragedies then, as now. Of those employed by mne, George Adams died from exposure in the icy waters of the Arkansas Jack Lawton was shot by an outlaw at the mouth of the Arkansas. Sam Carter died of cholera at my house.


At my home and trading post, widely known as "Mead's Ranch," were born to me two daughters and a son, and there, passed to her long rest, my beloved wife, whose life was full of love and kindness.


The seven years I lived in Butler county, from 1863 to 1869, were full of activity and success with much of joy and sorrow. Butler coun-


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ty in those years was as nature made it, beautiful to the eye, green prairies, gushing springs, stately timber, clear flowing streams; birds and fish abounded and nearby were elk, deer, antelope and buffalo in- numerable, free to all for the taking.


RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY TIMES. By D. M. Elder.


I have been asked to give my recollections of early life in Butler county.


Be it remembered that Butler county as a farming community dates from 1870. Previous to that year the population was sparse. The fron- tiersmen, hunters, trappers, Indian traders, etc., date back to 1860 and a very few a few years beyond, but the bulk of the homesteaders came in 1870.


Uncle Joe Adams, who came before 1860, lived in 1870 on section 6, in what is now Plum Grove township; Daniel Stine, at the junction of Walnut and Whitewater rivers; an Indian trader, J. R. Mead, at To- wanda; J. C. Lambdin at Chelsea ; James Gillian and Kige Bemis, who should be classed as frontiersmen. Then came the hunters, adventur- ers, and men who were dodging the sheriffs in other States. Part of these men came in 1860 and some before.


The bulk of the farmers and homemakers came in 1870. It must be remembered that the homesteaders settled on the two western tiers of townships and north of the Osage diminished reserve, the north line of which is about four miles south of El Dorado. This was given up by the Osage tribe in 1870. That winter witnessed their breaking camp from their village north of Douglass. In the summer of 1870 North- east Butler, east of the west line of Lincoln and El Dorado townships. and North Osage lands had been opened for public entry and was known and deeded as Speculators' Land, including what was known as Peck. and afterwards Potwin Land, also Lawrence Land, both of which were known as Railroad Land. This was given by the United States to the State for educational purposes but in reality the dishonest legislators gave it to the railroad promoters. This shows why the southern part of the county was more thickly settled. The Osage land was sold to settlers for $1.25 per acre.


The first town in Kansas at which I stopped to look was Abilene. then a Texas cow town. I was told by the cattlemen that the White- water country was the best in Kansas, which so impressed me as to cause me to come to see. The first person I became acquainted with after arriving was C. V. Cain, our Charley, who was building the best house in Northwest Butler on section 16 in Plum Grove township, and boarding with Bob Dearman in the house so long occupied by William I. Joseph. I boarded there until I located land and I never regretted my first acquaintance.


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Homesteads were plenty and easy to get for the first year. I recol- lect I could have located a homestead on the town site of either Wichita, Newton or McPherson. I remember of picketing my pony on Main street of Wichita and I thought it too sandy. Emporia was the nearest railroad town-sixty miles distant. My first trip after moving in was for mower and rake and lumber for a shack.


Horace Wilcox, who lived with his family in a log cabin about eighteen by twenty feet, with one small window and one door and na- ture's floor, was the principal cattle man. He had perhaps 200 Texas cattle. Henry Cornstock was next in importance with perhaps thirty head. Stark Spence had about twenty head. He lived in a cabin which also had nature's floor but it was very fashionable with the earliest set- tlers. Dugouts and sod houses were not so common here as farther west. Cattle wintered largely on open range, which was then thirty miles west. Buffalo were found 'occasionally as they would stray into the herds of cattle. Hunters went out in the winter and filled their wagons with buf- falo meat and a few hides. John and Andy Smith and Sam Crow often found deer and antelope to supply the larder south of Burns.


It was a common saying for years that the best house in any school district was the school house, which was largely true. A large per cent. of the population were ex-soldiers, a small number of whom were "Confeds." I don't recall any serious disagreements. We treated the "Johnnies" cordially. They were here from almost every State in the Union and many European nations. A big influx of Russian Menonites came in the early seventies. They brought their farming tools and equipment with them. Their thrashing machines didn't look much like ours and I never saw one in use after being shipped so far. They learned their lessons and became good citizens. Here the "Johnnie" forgot he was a southerner and became a real American. We all imbibed the ideas of the others and became possessed of the knowledge of all. hence the great progress. The early settlers were temperate as a class, which placed Kansas in the lead. The other States are following her example. The Prohibition amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1880.


In recalling those early days we think the teachers are worthy of notice, a few of whom are still with us. John Austin, our late city en- gineer, taught several terms before taking up his work as treasurer, sur- veyor, etc. Charles Page, now deceased, also taught school grasshop- per year. Molly Burris, George Dafron (now deceased ) ; Lou Shriver. now Mrs. S. R. Clifford ; Fanny Hull Wilson; Alice Stevenson Gray ; Florence Stearns, now wife of Dare Wait: Ada Newburry, later Mrs. Frank Ewing, deceased; Esther Newburry, now Mrs. George Tolle ; Emma Lambing, now Mrs. James Wilson; Miss Hattie Weeks; John Shelden ; Jos. Morton, William Price, deceased; Nell Hawley ; Miss Lamb, and Nettie Maynard were all teachers in those early days. The writer taught the "Brown school" in Clifford township in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Shelden also taught school, as did Mrs. John Riley .Riley


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was later a newspaper man and went to Arkansas. Old Aunt Jane Wentworth, who died in a fire caused by herself, is said to have taught school. Mrs. Hunt taught the Sutton Branch school and often walked out from El Dorado in the mornings and returned in the evenings. Prof. Shively and John Blevins taught and were county superintendents. Al- vah Shelden was also superintendent. The Brown sisters, Mrs. J. K. Nelson, Mrs. Austin Brumback. Miss Lillie Brown, and Ida Brown; W. H. Litson, J. C. Elliot, Mrs. Clara Brumback ; Emma Harvey. Pri- cilla McGuinn : Lavella Recton .. Alfred Synder, Flora Donaldson, O. E. Olin and Celia Boessma were all successful teachers. A report of the teachers institute clipped from the Walnut "Times" of 1877 gave the at- tendance as eighty-two. The teacher's certificate issued in those early days gives subjects taught similiar to those now required. Some of the embryo lawyers of the late 1870's taught school, among whom were Ed. Stratford, V. P. Mooney, Austin and Ed Brumback, Freemont Leidy and others.


Bachelors constituted nearly a third of the homesteaders, among whom were the Neiman boys. E. B. Brainard, Bert Magill. James Shoots, D. M. Elder, James Morton, Mart Ashenfelter. John and Sam Austin, and numerous others. Marriageable girls and widows were few in the early seventies.


Preaching and preachers were scarce but Sabbath schools were soon organized and many of them would compare favorably with the present schools. Such a school was organized in the school house near John Wentworth's and continued for five years without missing a Sabbath. Jacob Holderman was the first active worker, but he soon died and I have no doubt went to Abraham's bosom, for he was a worthy man. D. M. Elder and Joseph Morton took up the work he started. Lizzie Ran- dall (Mrs. Will Randall). a sister of Charles and William Cain, fur- nished the music for public meetings and Sunday school in the North- west part of the county, and occasionally went as far as Augusta.


The early settlers were generally law-abiding and many God-fear ing people. The first year. 1870, we heard of horse and cattle theives. but after the Regulators near Douglass took action the business became unpopular and has since remained so.


Butler county was without railroad facilities until 1877-although the A. T. & S. F. Railway was built as far west as Newton in 1871. It was a cattle town with dance halls and saloons. A graveyard was soon established for the burial of fellows who "died with their boots on." Wichita soon took its place as a cattle point and Dodge City also be- came prominent. This part of the country was then freed of that class of citizens, which included the "quick on trigger marshal" and Wild Bill and others of that kind.


Preachers were scarce. Occasionlly a "God-made preacher" came forward. I remember one in particular whom I shall call "Old Yank." Old Yank felt called upon to deliver his message to the sinner and after


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some talk he sent word that he would preach at Lone Star. As a result about fifteen came to hear him. He arose very meekly and announced his text but became stage-struck and after stammering awhile he said : "I am no preacher of the Gospel" (accent on the last syllable), and aft- er repeating that remark three times we out of symapthy for him told him we understood and the old fellow sat down in some agony. This ended his ministerial career.


Another middle-aged man who thought himself well-gifted used to hold forth when asked. He had a well-prepared sermon in three heads, which was like the song "Our Old Cow-She Crossed the Road" that had three verses which were all alike. The opening paragraph was: "Oh, yes, my beloved brethren." He would give his entire sermon in a very high key and for variation would repeat in a lower key and again in a still lower key and so continue until he had his subject driven home. I was present one night at a protracted meeting when he was asked to preach. I wouldn't have been there if I had know he was to talk. I had said in the presence of Mrs. Thomas Wallace that his re- petitions made me think of a little dog chasing his tail. While I was enduring it with all fortitude possible my eyes met Mrs. Wallace's. She was looking at me with an expression that indicated what she was think- ing and laughed aloud-the first time I ever laughed out in meeting, which mortified me to such an extent that I left immediately. I never knew of his preaching again and it may have been that my rudeness wrecked his career.


Another old gentleman who had raised a good crop of potatoes in 1874 was at a sale in the early spring of 1875, and was asked by a man who knew he had them and wanted some to plant, if he would sell some. The old gentleman, fearing that if he sold them he would be prevented from receiving aid, replied : "No, sir. I haven't nary tater to spare." and this fear of spoiling his chances of drawing aid caused him to put them in the loft, which not being strong, gave way one night and came near killing him and an old maid daughter.


Another story used to be told of a preacher who went East to so- licit aid. He succeeded in getting $10 to aid some struggling church. and when he got back he reported the gift and then announced that as they were needy he would preach it out to them in the school house, wich was judicious and well considered.


AN INDIAN SCARE. By Mrs. M. A. Avery.


Thinking perhaps I could contribute a few reminisences of the early pioneer days in northwest Butler. I will relate a few incidents in connec- tion with the Indian scare:


My husband and myself and our three-year-old boy, Ulysses Sher-


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man, settled in Clifford township in April, 1868. Unloading our goods in the timber near the creek until four posts were driven into the ground, a few thin boards that we had brought in the bottom of the wagon were laid over the top as a protection from rain. Carpets and quilts were hung around three sides, while the wagon box with bows and cover on filled the fourth side and provided us with a sleeping apart- ment. Our stove, chairs, table, etc., were put inside and we were "at home" to any who called.


In a month's time we had a garden planted and a little stone cabin erected on the hill where the present dwelling stands. Although the stone building was small and rudely built it was home and we were monarchs of all we surveyed. Our nearest neighbor was Dr. I. V. Davis and his brother, William, (both bachelors), three and one-half miles northwest of us. Thomas H. Ferrier and family lived directly. west about the same distance. John Wentworth and his father-in-law, Jos- eph Adams, lived five miles south; while to the north and east it was eighteen miles to the nearest house.


Imagine what our feelings were when one afternoon in the last of May or the first of June (I have forgotten the exact date) a boy came riding up in great haste, crying out, "Everybody is going to El Dorado to try and protect their families. The Indians are expected every min- ute to kill settlers and drive off stock." Although feeling that it could not be true we thought "discretion the better part of valor" and hurriedly throwing into the wagon what eatables were handy, some bedding,,, a gun and our saddles in case we should be pressed and have to abandon our wagon and escape on horse-back, we drove rapidly down the stream until we joined the familes of T. L. Ferrier, J. Carns, Jacob Green and James Jones, who had all been warned in the same way of the danger. As we formed in a procession with pale-faced women and frightened children our thought went back to when, as children, we had read of the Indian raids in eastern states in their early settlements and we imagined that the massacre would soon begin and every eye was busy watching for the approach of the dusky foe. Arriving at El Dorado we were all welcomed to a long, low new building occupied by William Show and family and located somewhere near where the postoffice now stands. All the old guns brought in by the settlers were stacked in the middle of the room and looked very war-like as they ranged from the old-fashioned squirrel gun to the Springfield rifle.


At night the beds weer spread all over the floor and were occupied by the women and children, while some of the men stood guard and tried to devise ways and means for killing the Indians if they did put in an appearance. As we women learned afterwards there were only about a dozen loads of ammunition in the town, but morning dawned at last and we began to breathe freer, and as the day wore on and we were still unmolested we could begin to see the humorous side of the big scare. One old lady in the hurry of getting ready to leave home had been so (25)




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