History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens, Part 4

Author: Allison, Nathaniel Thompson, ed
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 646

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move off. Baxter probably wanted the claim for his son-in-law, who is said to have been a nondescript character and a kind of depend- ent. Baxter, accompanied by his son-in-law and another man, whose names I have not been able to get, went across the river and started up toward where Commons lived. for the purpose of driving out the latter. Com- mons, in some way, heard that they were com- ing, and he called in a friend to help him in the defense of his riglits, the possession of the claim. As Baxter and his companions ap- proached the log house in which Commons and his force were fortified, they opened fire on Baxter and his companions. The fire was re- turned. Baxter and his son-in-law were killed, as was the man whom Commons had called in to aid in repelling the invasion. There was not much excitement over the tragedy, chiefly for the reason that there were not many people to become excited. The remaining part of Bax- ter's family, when the war came on, joined their fortunes with the Confederacy, went south and were never heard of any more. Da- vid M. Harlan, Mrs. Willard's father, lived several years after the close of the war; but of John Rogers, the Fields brothers and Dennis Wolf little, if anything, is known as to what be- came of them. Upon the scenes of those early days the curtain has fallen. Later events have come trooping on down through the years, and the perspective of memory, with those who can recall much of that which entered into the for- mer annals of the land, narrows down to a mere point in the distance. Beyond that one has to depend upon tradition, whose weak and often broken threads give but a vague, uncer- tain conception of the incidents of prehistoric times. Here are found the mists and the shad- ows which dim the vision, and which, like the

HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY

mantle of charity, shut out many a grewsome scene. The historian must content himself this side of the line which lies between tradition and the field of known facts.

It is thought best to take up the townships in the order in which they are usualy men- tioned, and give what facts can be obtained of their early settlers. Some of these facts will give to some of the townships a larger men- tion that can be made of others, for the reason that a few persons have done what they can to aid in this work, while others, though equally interested, have given it no attention at all.

Pleasant Ficac .- This township, in the northeast corner of the county, had a few very early settlers : and it was due chiefly to this fact that the town of Pleasant View, if it was ever proper to call it a town, was the first county seat, a distinction which the historian must not overlook. Walter Merrick was about the first settler in the township. He was born in Jasper County, Missouri, in 1841. When he was 20 years old, he enlisted in the 6th Kansas Cav- alry and served to the close of the war. In 1865 he moved to Cherokee County, settling in this township, where he now lives, and where he owns a fine farm. Jolin H. Scott, now liv- ing in Columbus, came to the township in 1866; and about the same time John Rawlings, Henry Stuckey, Lawrence Conklin and Joseph Galpine settled in the township. There were some incidents out of the ordinary run of things, even in frontier life. A man, whose name I have been unable to get, was seined out of Spring River, near Merrick's ford, near Waco, Missouri; and a man by the name of Wyrick was suspected of being his murderer. Both had lived in Pleasant View township. Another man by the name of Estes was sus- pected as being associated with Wyrick in the

foul deed. The few settlers in the township got together and ran them out of the coun- try. They never returned. About that time a man by the name of Gifford was suspected of stealing cattle. He was taken out by the people and hanged to a tree, in broad day light. Nothing was said of the matter ; and there was no effort made to prosecute those engaged in the execution of the spspected man. It was in the manner of frontier life, before there were any courts in the county, and the people would not wait the slow processes of law which would make it necessary to take the case to the court at Fort Scott. As early as 1868 Harry Hem- ming, A. O. Webb, Henry Rice, John H. Dyer, Levi Keithley, A. Lamb, G. Keith, S. B. Crist and James H. Dyer were among the citizens of Pleasant View township. There was also P. Pattyson and D. A. Stephens.

Cherokee .- This township formerly in- cluded what is now known as Mineral town- ship ; and a mentioning of the old settlers will include those who came to both, or the terri- tory now covered by both. Among the early settlers of the township may be mentioned : D. M. Easley, H. A. Markham, William Vin- cent, M. Burns, H. J. Helmick, W. H. Hill, Byron Potter, William H. Baker, W. Ellis, W. C. Davis, James Kennedy, Darius Pattyson, F. V. Henry, A. Louther and James H. Story. The dates of the settlement of these can not now be given ; but it is of record that they were citizens of the township at an early time in the history of the county.

Ross .- This township lies west of the pres- ent township of Mineral, and east of Sheridan. C. C. Hyde, G. M. Edgemond, H. G. May. Isaac Parker, A. Hillard, A. B. Kirk, O. B. Ferris, I. N. Smith, B. F. Wells, M. Allen, J. F. Rice, William Benham, Daniel Edge-

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

mond, William Whitson, J. M. Wills, D. Wick- off. R. M. Elliott, J. M. Jordan. George Mc- Clure. S. Sellers, W. Evans. George W. Hoyt and Walter B. McCormick, came early to the township and were prominently known in its affairs.

Sheridan .- The following names may be taken from among the first settlers of Sheri- dan township: Wesley Howard, W. H. An- gell. Alfred Landstrum, M. B. Clingler, John M. Maher, Alfred Spence. S. B. Matthews, William McGibony, William Westervelt. Stephen McClure, L. C. Branson, Robert Rat- cliff and William Sayers.

Lola .- Jacob Galer, Samuel Megenity, Joseph T. Martin, William Smith, W. W. Warren, H. E. Durkee, William Rogers. C. A. McNeill, William A. Clevenger, John Buck- master, WV. Dunbar, G. Dobbins, Clinton Mc- Mickle, W. C. Pender, Samuel Ollenger, T. S. Cookston, James Pendergrass, and Alvin Gar- rison came early to what is now Lola township.

Salamanca .- This township had its share of the early settlers. John Whitcraft, who is 76 years old, and who now lives in Columbus, came to the township in April, 1866. He kept a little store at Millersburg, the glory of which has long since passed away; and there he sold goods and provisions to the few settlers then there, whose manners and customs were primi- tive and simple, and whose wants were few and easily satisfied. Eugene F. Ware, now United States Commissioner of Pensions, who came to Cherokee County, with his brother, and was taking his place among the early set- tlers, was one of Mr. Whitcraft's best cus- tomers. Mr. Ware was a young man, who had laid a claim on a quarter section up in Ross township, and he was then breaking the virgin soil, with a big plow drawn by four yoke

of oxen. He was a sturdy yeoman among his fellows. all of whom liked him for his sim . plicity of manner, his sterling integrity and his native brilliancy of intellect. Mr. Ware yet owns a large and very valuable tract of land in Ross township. Of the other settlers of Sala- manca township mention must be made of James, George and Hamilton Corbin, three brothers who came in 1865. or early in 1866. They were here before John Whiteraft came. H. A. Scovell, who now lives in Columbus, and his brother, Hannibal Scovell, who lives in Galena, laid claim on the east half of section 13, Salamanca township. in the fall of 1867. H. A. Scovell sold his claim to S. S. Smith, and Hannibal Scovell sold his to George Souder. A part of the city of Columbus stands on this tract of land, and the principal street of the city runs transversely across it, from east to west. Other names of early settlers of this township are: F. Fry, John Appleby, Charles E. Hyde, A. Hudson, Daniel Johnston. Wil- liam Swanson and Merida Allen.

Crawford .- J. P. Hanson, now living in Columbus, came to Crawford township No- vember 9, 1867. He at once took a claim on the southwest quarter of section IS, in that township. John Davis settled on Brush Creek, about two miles east of Columbus, in 1865. William Davis came the next year. James F. Pitzer and Zabrina Williams came in the spring of 1867. W. H. Layne also came at that time. Mr. Layne was afterward elected sheriff. He yet lives in the county. Some of the early settlers are: C. W. Willey, Andrew Hus- ton, J. S. Vincent, William Baker, Milton Douglass, E. W. Hall, William Horner, W. S. Martin, and G. W. Wood.

Shawncc .- The following settlers came to Shawnee township as early as 1866: H. G.

HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY

Clem, Matthew Raulston, J. R. Burrows. A. Lynch, E. C. Wells, G. Hntsell, J. J. Wells, Philip Cogswell, John Bird, John Springer ; and later came R. D. Ellis, Zimri Dixon, F. MI. Beatty, E. D. Lutes, John Robinson, Clem- mons Lisle, Dr. Harrington, Dr. Calvin C. McDowell, Wirt McDowell, Henry Wiggins, Joseph McBride, Jacob Martin, Riley Burris, William Lewis, S. J. Ellis and Basil Wiggins. The first Methodist church organized in the county was organized at the house of Dr. Mc- Dowell, who was a prominent leader in that denomination. Mrs. Gates, who now lives in Columbus, was one of the members. Shaw- nee township was more thickly settled at first. on account of the woodlands along the streams, and on account of the numerous springs of good water.

Lowell .- Originally, the township of Low- ell included what is now known as Garden township. In giving the names of the first settlers it is necessary to speak of the two as one. Elsewhere in this chapter David M. Harlan, George and Richard Fields. John Rog- ers and Dennis Wolf are mentioned as settling in this part of what is now Cherokee County. They came in 1835, when the country was a wilderness, 19 years before the territorial gov- ernment of Kansas was organized. The next settler was Charles D. Merrick, who came from Jasper County, Missouri, and settled near the present site of the town of Lowell, in 1842. He was perhaps the first settler not of Indian blood, except the wives of the first settlers men- tioned in this paragraph. Later yet, among the early settlers of the county, came J. J. Ken- ley, Thomas Miller, J. M. Wilson, William Hayhurst. J. M. Ritchey, H. R. Hubbard, John Fisher, Thomas May, W. H. Peters and J. J. Murray.

Garden .- It has been my good fortune to get from Henry Mitchell, an old settler of this township, a carefully written history of its set- tlement, or the settlement of that part of the original territory of Lowell township which is now known as Garden township. From his ac- count I glean a large amount of interesting matter. He speaks of David M. Harlan, James and Richard Fields, Dennis Wolf, John Bly, William Bly, Ira Goddard and a man by the name of Rogers as having settled in what is now Garden township. He speaks also of Cal- vin James, who built some cabins on the west side of Spring River, above the mouth of Shoal Creek, and broke out some prairie land, which land is now owned by the widow and children of John Pearson. A school was taught there by Penina Lisle, in 1859, which he says must have been the first school taught in what is now Cherokee County. In 1858 the lands west of the James place were improved by Dr. Dowdna, a Quaker from Barnesville, Ohio. Dr. Dowdna planted a nursery containing 20,- 000 grafts, which was the first nursery in the county. Some of the trees from this nursery compose the old orchard on the Cox place : and there is just one left on the site of the nursery. Dr. Dowdna kept the first post office estab- lished in the county. Mr. Mitchell's account of the killing of a man by the name of Baxter varies some from the account given by Mrs. Willard, mentioned elsewhere in this chapter. Mr. Mitchell says that the tragedy grew out of a quarrel between Baxter and a man by the name of Rogers, concerning a payment on a land deal which had taken place some time be- fore. It seems that Baxter had a widowed daughter by the name of Carr. She sold some land to Rogers, and he, in turn, sold it to David B. Commons. The quarrel between

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Baxter and Rogers occurred in 1860. Both were killed, as also a man by the name of Mor- ris. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Commons was compelled to move his family away, on account of the war. He moved to Coffey County, where he died in the fall of 1863. At the close of the war Mrs. Commons and the children returned to the old home, where she died in 1893. George O. Harvey, who now lives in the Quaker Valley, married a daughter of Mrs. Commons. In 1860 Thomas Archer, a son-in- law of David M. Harlan, lived on the place known as the Hinkle farm, just south of Stan- ley mines. The place now owned by George Wallace, on the east side of Lowell prairie, is the place where David M. Harlan settled in 1835. In the year 1858, Benjamin Hiatt, a Mr. Jennings, a Mr. Spurgeon and a Mr. Stiles came from Tennessee and settled on the prairie now bearing the name of that state. At the close of the war Benjamin Meeker, Andrew Wooten and Benjamin Pickett came on a tour of inspection. Meeker purchased the claim of a man by the name of Heep, and moved on it on February 26, 1866. In January of that year George W. Fulkerson, with a son and daugh- ter, came to the township, from Linn County, Kansas; and in March of that year, David Bodly, Alonzo Adams Green, Thomas and Al- bert McDowell came into the community. La- fayette McDowell came later. He improved a place and sold it to C. W. Harvey in 1867. Ephraim Harvey and sons now own the place.

Spring L'alley .- Some of the old settlers of this township came at an early time. Of some of these I shall give an account in the history of Baxter Springs, in this volume. Among those found among the records are the follow- ing: E. J. Trimble, T. D. Lake, J. Sloan, J. S. King, William H. Chew, WV. P. Eddy, O.

P. Farley, Thomas Pennington, Andrew J. Williams, G. Van Winkle, L. P. Johnson, J. M. Raney, H. S. Ross, A. P. Steel, C. M. Tay- lor, J. M. Davis, S. B. Apple, Charles Eddy, A. C. Griffin, M. J. Vance, Thomas Griffith, L. A. Gibbons and E. WV. Leake.

Lyon .- Leander Mulliken, E. Holcomb, S. T. Kennedy. John Peterson, O. O. Potter, C. A. Williamson, A. S. Dennison, C. D. Price, C. T. Cowan, H. Reynolds and C. H. Cornish are some of the first settlers. To these may be added F. M. B. Amos, E. Botsford and J. Cooper. These may not include the very first settlers in Lyon township, but they are among those who took an active part in affairs of the township as early as 1869.

Neosho .- Prominent among the early set- tlers of Neosho township these names may be mentioned : A. J. Eggy, James Norris, S. W. Vanatta, D. P. Bullock, J. C. Kimmons, J. Kelsow, James Songer, L. N. Beaman, D. J. Churchhill, H. H. Abbott, F. J. Jones, N. C. Turner, W. W. Hinton, J. P. Owens, A. Dolby, J. N. Box, J. D. Dunaway, Ira Wilson and L. F. McAleer. Also E. M. McPherson, WV. E. Brooks, Hugh Smith and S. F. Mc- Aleer.

THE OLD SETTLERS' ANNUAL REUNION.

The people of Cherokee County, like those of the other parts of the State of Kansas, are extremely social. With the older settlers, when they have finished their chase after fortune, some now resting at ease in the enjoyment of that which they have accumulated, while others are nervous and restless over what they con- sider to be failure, there is a disposition occa- sionally to get together and talk over the inci- dents of early life in the county, in the doing

HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY

of which memories may be refreshed and many an event recalled which had become obscure through the winding vicissitudes of busy lives. Unlike the Athenians, who, it is said, delighted in relating and hearing things which were new, the people of Cherokee County are fond of dwelling upon things which run back to the old days. The mists of time-dust may hang over the scenes, and the perspective of inter- vening years may narrow down an event to a mere outline, so that none but the sharp partic- ulars can be seen ; but the scenes seem the more interesting because the more removed, as dis- tance lends enchantment to the view.

About the year 1893 the Cherokee County Old Settlers' Reunion was organized, in con- nection with the county fair, then being held annually, on the old fair ground, in the north- west part of Columbus. A. S. Dennison was elected the first president, and E. R. Pattyson was the first secretary. It was the plan to hold it annually : but the county fair for want of interest on the part of the people, was not hield the next year, nor at any following year. The reunion was discontinued with the fair. One or two years afterward, S. O. McDowell, then mayor of the city of Columbus, agitated the matter of reviving the reunion, claiming that it would be sustained, if held apart from any other association. It was reorganized, and the park in the southern part of the city was se- cured for holding it. S. O. McDowell was elected president, and he held the office for two years. The association did not get along very well, and he urged that it be abandoned ; and so it was; but the people the next year reor- ganized it and elected A. S. Dennison its presi- dent, and he was five times reelected. He was succeeded by W. J. Moore, and he by E. R. Pat- tyson, who was president for the year closing

in August, 1904. The officers of the associa- tion, for the year ending August, 1905, are : A. S. Dennison, president ; J. Wilbur Logan, secretary : John E. Tutton, treasurer; and S. P. Salisbury, manager of the grounds.

The primary object of the reunion associa- tion was to provide for an annual meeting of the old settlers of Cherokee County, to be held during four days, beginning on Tuesday after the first Monday in the month of August; and growing out of this purpose, as incidental thereto, it was to afford an opportunity for speeches, historical and biographical sketches, the reading of manuscripts, papers and for such other communications as would pertain to the history of the county, from its first settlement on down to the present. In a sentence, it was for the purpose of keeping alive a correct knowledge of the events which ought to enter into and make up the social history of the county, in a way of such interest as would hold the people in a sufficient fondness of the mat- ter to prompt them to keep the organization alive and active and to continue it through the generations as they in turn take their places as the years go on. Unhappily, the real purpose of the association has not been attained. It re- quired some money, though not much, to get the matter under way, and to keep it going; and, in order to raise such money, a casting about was indulged for the employment of some expedient to that end. The amusement idea was suggested, and it was as readily taken into the plan. Here lies the danger to the life and effectiveness of the association. The amusement feature, being considered essential to the material support of the undertaking, must be nourished and maintained; if nour- ished and maintained, it must grow; if it con- tintes to grow, it will overshadow all other

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

considerations, and as a result the old-settler feature will die out and disappear. Even now, though the organization is young, the books and papers of the association have been lost, and little, if anything, has been done toward preserving a well formulated history of the county.

It is beginning to be felt, on the part of the oldest settlers of the county now living, that the primary purpose of the association must be better guarded and protected, which it is pos- sible to do without making the meetings less attractive to all classes that it is right and proper to be received on the grounds. The best thought will be followed. and whatever wrong or injurious features that have been per- mitted will be quietly left off, while others, looking to better results, will be added.

Among the attractions which have been profitably employed is that of having speeches, essays, addresses, historic descriptions, a pro- gram of vocal and instrumental music and an occasional light play. Among the local speak- ers who along through the years have ad- dressed the association are: Judge W. B. Glasse, E. M. Tracewell, Col. R. W. Blue, Judge A. H. Skidmore, R. M. Cheshire, Judge Edward E. Sapp, W. J. Moore, William F. Sapp. Dr. Martin, G. W. Canfield, C. S. Bow- man, Henry Mitchell, Mrs. Sarah Edgemond, W. R. Cowley, Senator M. A. Housholder and John R. Wright. Speakers from abroad have been Judge H. G. Webb, Editor Price, of Cher- okee, Kansas, Congressman S. S. Kirkpatrick, Congressman A. M. Jackson, Rev. Mr. Bram- hall, Congressman Charles Curtis, Congress- man Phil Campbell, Clarence Lansdon, and Mr. Flannagan, of Charthage, Missouri.

As indicating the interest which the old set- tlers take in the meetings of the association,

and as showing that my criticism of its plan, expressed in one of the foregoing paragraphs, may not be altogether proper, it is thought to be an encouraging matter to give a list of the old settlers, whose names were taken at the last two days of the association's meeting in Att- gust, 1904. They are the names of those who actually attended the meetings at that time. The locations given are the locations of the set- tlements, and not the places where the persons now live. The list begins with those who came first, and the order is followed throughout :

Year 1840; Mrs. A. Willard, formerly Miss Harlan, born in what is now Garden township.

Year 1842; Walter Merrick, then one year old, was brought by his parents to what is now Garden township. The family moved back to Jasper County, Missouri, in 1843.

Year 1865; Walter Merrick, Pleasant View township ; David Treat.

Year 1866; J. H. Galpine, Pleasant View township; S. D. Newton, Lyon township ; Dr. J. W. Jane, Baxter Springs ; W. H. Layne, Crawford township; Mrs. Rose Maxton, Crawford township; Mrs. Mary Ridge, Sheri- dan township; Leslie Patterson, Ross town- ship: H. S. Davis, Baxter Springs ; G. W. Can- field, Lola township; John A. Rawlings, Pleas- ant View township; John Whitcraft, Ross township; W. N. Stowell, Spring Valley town- ship; J. G. Coldiron, Pleasant View township; W. H. Peters, Lowell township; B. Alsenz, Spring Valley.

Year 1867; C. W. Harvey, Lowell town- ship; Fred Bennett, Pleasant View township; William March, Baxter Springs; W. A. El- liott; Benjamin Capron, Crawford township; Ira Easterling, Crawford township; Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Dennison, Baxter Springs ;

HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY

C. H. Scott, Pleasant View township: Hanni- bal Scovell and H. A. Scovell, Columbus ; James Hanson, Crawford township : E. R. Pat- tyson, Pleasant View township; William Ba- ker. Crawford township: Joseph Wallace, Spring Valley township; Mrs. Odell Filler, Columbus; T. J. Wilson, Sheridan township; E. B. Older, Baxter Springs; George Craw- ford. Crawford township: W. P. Eddy, Spring Valley township.

Year 1868; C. N. Wager, Pleasant View township: Matthias Hook. Lola township: G. W. Douglass. Crawford township: J. W. Jacobs, Spring Valley township; C. A. Mid- daugh, Columbus; George Martin, Lola town- ship.

Year 1869 ; C. WV. Thomas, Pleasant View township; C. J. Peterson, Shawnee township; A. D. Watts, Ross township; C. A. McNeill and E. V. McNeill, Lola township: R. D. Ellis and J. H. Ellis, Shawnee township; W. V. York, Shawnee township; John Albertson, Mineral township; H. R. Sadler, Crawford township; Henry Howey, Pleasant View township: Mrs. Anna Lisle, Columbus; Jerry Schock, Columbus; W. A. Brentlinger.

Year 1870; Gus Foster, Columbus ; James Broadley, Neosho township; John Grow, Ross township: Leander Mulliken, Lyon township; H. Kinnaman, Spring Valley township; E. Chase and J. P. Parr, Salamanca township; Theodore Goldsbury, Columbus; A. T. Lea, Columbus; Fred Cowley, Columbus : William Miller, Spring Valley township; S. W. Smith, Lola township.

Year 1871; J. R. Carter, Salamanca town- ship ; B. W. Martin, Columbus.

Year 1872; John Ratcliff. Salamanca town- ship: W. B. Lowry : John Hogg, Columbus ; J. T. Small, Pleasant View township.

Year 1873; A. B. Saunders, Columbus ; J. C. Broadley, Neosho township; John Gray, Mineral township; J. H. Rhea; Lewis Prell, Spring Valley township; P. F. Shackle, Co- lumbus; L. M. Holmes, Salamanca township ; Mrs. Kate Vincent Cool, Columbus; J. A. Miller, Mineral township; M. R. Chrisman, Columbus.

Year 1874; James Skidmore, Columbus : A. J. Jameson, Columbus ; George M. Barrick. Lola township; C. W. Raymer, Lyon town- ship; WV. Fierce, Neosho township: Phil C. Metzler, Mrs. Margaret Metzler and Mrs. Kate Gallagher, Columbus; Mrs. Mary Goes.

Year 1875: Dr. J. O. Houx, Columbus ; L. W. Medlin, Lowell township.

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History of Cherokee County, Kansas and representative citizens, Part 4

Author: Allison, Nathaniel Thompson, ed Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 646

Author: Allison, Nathaniel Thompson, ed
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 646