USA > Kansas > Jewell County > History of Jewell County, Kansas : with a full account of its early settlements and the Indian atrocities committed within its borders. > Part 2
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"WHITE INDIANS."
Lovewell and Dart, after leaving the other party, went across Oak Creek and finding no game finally reached the Republican river in Ne- braska, where they killed a load of elk. Here Al. Dart was also hunting, and seeing Lovewell, took him for an Indian. Running into the timber for his team of cattle, he drove into the settlement in Jewell county that day and night, a distance of fifty miles. When Lovewell got back, three days after, the whole settlement was in a fever of excitement, and preparing to. leave, but were persuaded to remain, which they did, until after the massa- cre in April following, (heretofore de- scribed) when the survivors all left, thoroughly disheartened. Thus ended the "Second Settlement" of Jewell County.
Third Settlement,
And Some Incidents Connected Therewith .- Another Victim to Savage Hate.
undisputed possession of the county for about one year:
February 20, 1868, Richard Stanfield! homesteaded the sw} Section 9, Town -. ship 2 south, Range 6 west. Commut- ed June 30, 1869. March 18, 1868, Carl G. Smith homesteaded the st net and wy set Section 7, Township 2 south, Range 6 west. Commuted' July 16, 1870. June 26, 1868, Allen D. Woodruff homesteaded så set Section 12, and nå net Section 13, Township 2 sonth, Range 6 west. This is the same claim that William Harshberger settled ou in 1862, being the first claim taken in the county.
In the spring of 1868, Gordon Win- bigler and Adam Rosenberg took claims on White Rock creek, the for- mier taking the claim now owned by Thomas E. West, near Rubens, and the latter taking a claim a short dis- tance west of Rubens. Winbigler was
KILLED BY AN INDIAN
on the 12th day of the following All- gust, on the east side of the Republi- can river, opposite the mouth of White Rock creek, whither all the settlers in that section of country had congregated for the purpose of forti- fying a camp, and preparing for win - ter. A number of men were out cut- ting hay, when they were suddenly attacked by a body of mounted In- dians. All ran for the camp and es- caped except Winbigler, who stopped to piek up his hat which fell off on the way. . His anxiety to save his head gear cost him his life, for in stopping to pick up his hat, he was overtaken by an Indian, and was kill- ed by a thrust of his lance, which struck him in the neck, severing the. jugular vein. This took place in plain view of all assembled at the camp,. including quite a number of women and children.
INDIAN SUPERSTITION.
Winbigler had a little dog, that, after the death of its master, set up a terrible howl. Now the Indians have a superstition that the spirits of those who are killed take the form of animals, and when this little dog set up its mournful howl, they, after sev-
After the bloody incidents recorded in the preceding chapter, which enl- minated in the breaking up of the settlement, the Indians were left in feral ineffectual attempts to kill, it,
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came to the conclusion that it was Winbigler's spirit, and was there to torment them for his death; to escape which the entire band suddenly with- drew, leaving this whole section free of their presence. This attack on the White Rock settlers was made on the same day that White was killed and his daughter taken prisoner on Granite creek in Cloud county. On this day the Indians made a simultaneous at- tack on all the settlers along the fron- tier, from the Saline to the Republican river, murdering about forty men, women and children, indiscrimin- ately.
Adam Rosenberg is still living in the county, though in 1869 he enlisted at Manhattan, in the 19th Kansas Vol- unteers, and was with Gen. Custer pn his famous expedition to the Canadian river, in the Indian Territory, where Mrs. Morgan and Miss White were rescued from the Indians. As his name would imply, Adam Rosenberg is a Dutchman, and is something of an odd genius, commonly called "Old Adam." Adam was present at the death of Winbigler, and afterwards got his hat, and it is thought, got an Indian about the same time, he hav- ing fired several shots at them, one appearing to have taken effect. After the killing of Winbigler, Thomas Lovewell and Adam were the only two settlers who remained on the creek that winter, from its head to its mouth, and they employed their time in numerous
HUNTING EXPEDITIONS,
some of which we will briefly notice, on account of the part taken in them by the Indians. In September, 1868, one of these hunts was taken on the Republican river, near the present town of Superior, Nebraska. They were accompanied by James Reed, his son and Robert Watson, from Lake Sibley, in Cloud county. They had just killed their first buffalo, when they discovered a band of 35 Indians making directly for them. The team was sent down a ravine out of sight, while Lovewell and Reed went in another direction to mislead the In- dians. This ruse was successful. Af- ter getting the Indians far enough
away to insure the safety of the team, they suddenly disappeared down a ravine, and after several miles of pret- ty fast traveling, again rejoined their friends with the wagon. The last seen of the Indians, they were on the north side of White Rock, near the mouth of John's creek, which was in the direction that Lovewell and Reed first started.
The next day they tried hunting in another direction, going southwest to the forks of Marsh creek. Here the team was left in the thick timber, while Lovewell and Reed started for a herd of buffalo, which could be seen about five miles distant, Adam and the rest of the party remaining on guard near the team. After the hunt- ers had proceeded a part of the way ¡in the direction of the supposed game, they discovered, that instead of buf- falo, they were after a party of In- dians, who immediately proceeded to hunt them. The hunters took to thelr heels, and ran about two, miles in a southeasterly direction, avoiding the camp, and secreted themselves in the tall grass. The Indians hunted faith- fully for them for several hours, some- times coming rather uncomfortably near them, but failing to find them, withdrew before night. The maneuv- ers of the Indians were in plain view of the guard left with the team, who supposed that they had killed Love- well and Reed, and were hunting about for their companions. After dark the hiding hunters returned to camp and rejoined their friends. They remained there all night, and the next morning, having come to the conclu- sion that there was no chance to kill buffalo, where, as Adam expressed it, they all turned to "Inchins," the party broke up, Adam and Lovewell return- ing to White Rock, and Reed and his party starting for Lake Sibley, which they finally reached in safety, after again encountering Indians, and be- ing corralled in a ravine for nearly a whole day.
ADAM KILLS AN INDIAN.
A short time after the hunt above. noted Lovewell and Adam took one alone. When near the present town of Holmwood Lovewell left the wagon.
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for the purpose of killing some buf- A FRIENDLY VISIT (?) falo, a herd of which he had seen a short distance off, leaving Adam with team. He had proceeded but a little ways when he discovered three Indi- ans on horseback, riding at a furious. speed, directly towards the wagon .. He immediately turned and ran to the assistance of his friend. But before coming within gun shot, what was his surprise, without seeing the smoke .or hearing the report of a gun, to see one of the Indians suddenly fall from his pony, shot through the heart, the other two Indians only stopping long enough to recover their dead com- rade's fire-arms, and then dashing away across the prairie. Lovewell, on coming up to the wagon, said : "Adam, FIGHTING FOR HIS TEAM. did you see any Indians around here, just now ?" Adam replied: "You yoost petter pet I did, sonny." "Did you kill any?" He replied: "I Don't know sonny; I dit my pest; I took goot aim." "Well," said Lovewell, "there's a dead Indian lying up here in the ravine, who tumbled off of his pony a little while ago." This was the first intimation that Adam had that his shot had taken effect, the In- dians having passed out of his sight directly after he fired. They then went up to where the dead Indian lay .. On approaching him Adam's joy knew no bounds. He fairly danced around his fallen foe with the livliest mani- festations of delight. In the wagon were two guns-one a Spencer car- bine, that fired eight times, and the other a Star, that only fired once, without re-loading. In his hurry to [ parleyed with them. Presently one fire on the Indians Adam had picked up the Star instead of the Spencer. On discovering his mistake Adam was furious with rage, and thus relieved himself: "If I had only not been one tam fool, and had took the Spencer, instead of tat tam Star, I coot haf got two, in place of this tam one."
Lovewell thought it best to leave this vicinity, but Adam insisted on re- maining and killing a load of buffalo, remarking: "Who's afraid of two tam Inchins?" Lovewell, however, car- ried his point, and they. returned home, much to Adam's disgust, but it was no doubt for the best.
On the 12th of July 1868, a large. party of Indians came down White. Rock and camped near White Rock City. They appeared extremely friendly, and manifested no disposi- 'tion to harm any one. They were no. doubt taking in the "situation" pre- paratory to the general massacre which took place all along the fron- tier just one month later, already de- scribed. Although they showed no. disposition for blood, it was impossi- ble for them to entirely resist their ruling passion-horse stealing. Con- sequently they picked up all the loose horses that they could lay their hands on, without resorting to violence.
In the month of June 1868, a short time before the "friendly visit" above narrated, two brothers by the name of Catlin, and another man from Man- hattan, Kansas, came up to contest the claims of some of those who had been killed in 1867, and took posses- sion of the house in which Mrs. Sutzer and Bartlett were living at the time. they were killed. This house stood on the identical spot where Peter Tanner's house now stands, and in which he now lives. The party gener- ally stayed further down the creek, but made occasional trips up to their claims to work. One day George Catlin went with his team up to the cabin after some things. While there a party of "friendly Indians" came up and began to talk "swap." He stood in the door, somewhat dubious, and
of the Indians commenced to unhitch the team, and Catlin commenced to shoot. The Indians returned the fire, filling the door jamb full of bullet holes .. Catlin would shoot and then dodge back out of the way. The In- dians finally retired, leaving plenty of blood on the ground, where they had stood, showing the accuracy of Catlin's aim. Catlin was unhurt, but one bullet struck his watch, smashing it all to pieces. These young men, however, concluded Not to farm in Jewell county, and packing up their "traps," they changed their place of residence without delay.
Six Hunters Killed.
No One Left to Tell the Sad Story of Their Tragic End.
About the middle of May, 1868, a party of buffalo hunters, six in num- ber, named Lewis Castle, Walter Haines and two Roberts brothers, of Clifton, Kansas, and two brothers by the name of Collins, from near Lake Sibley, Cloud county, Kansas, went on a hunting expedition in the south- ern part of Jewell county. As they did not return within the expected time, their friends becoming solicit- ous of their fate, organized a party to go in search of them. The searching party, after two days' hunt, finally struck their trail and followed it to its fatal end, where their sad fate was only too vividly and horrifyingly ap- parent. There, in a heap, in the bed .of the Little Cheyenne, lay their pu- trefying bodies, a most melancholy and siekening sight to behold. The trail leading to this "Valley of Death" was still painfully visible and, though silent, was a true witness to the par- ticulars of this horrible Indian butch- ery. The first four hunters named had a horse team and were hunting on Brown's creek, four miles west of where Jewell City now stands. When attacked, they started east, and after going about two miles, were joined by the Collins boys, who had an ox team, which the Indians killed near where the two trails came together. The running fight was continued east to near the crossing of West Buffalo, where the Indians supposing the hun- ters would cross, had laid an ambush. The hunters, evidently becoming aware of this, suddenly changed their course due south, thereby gaining ground and safely crossing Dry creek, one mile and a half south, and reach- ing the divide south of Buffalo creck. Here their trail again turned east, giv- ing every evidence, along its entire course, of a desperate conflict. One of the hunters had evidently been shot before reaching the fatal crossing on Little Cheyenne, and had been carried along in the wagon. When found, the bodies were so far decayed and em-
mitted such a sickening odor that the most that could be done for the dead was to throw a few shovelfulls of dirt and lay some stones over them, until the following spring, when their bones were carefully gathered up and properly interred. Whether any In- dians were killed will never be known. Thomas Lovewell, wife, and Dan Davis, (Mrs. Lovewell's brother) and wife were camped, on the day this occurred, three miles northwest of Jewell City, on what is now Oliver Smith's farm, also on a hunting ex- pedition, and distinctly heard the sound of voices calling, probably the first party calling the Collins brothers to apprise them of danger.
AN INSCRIPTION.
A FEW WORDS THAT TELL A WHOLE STORY.
In connection with the foregoing tragedy, there is evidence that leaves little or no doubt but that on the same day, a still greater scene of blood was enacted. While searching for the missing hunters, an inscription in pencil was found on a small black walnut tree on Buffalo creek, just above the mouth of Dry creek, which read as follows:
"Had a fight with Indians; 6 of us killed, and 4 taken prisoners."
The tree had been blazed in order to receive the inscription, and attract attention, and if not a most wicked and foolish device to deceive, it told a sad tale in a few words. Now for the corroborating circumstances. On the day previous to the killing of the hunters, a party of six young men, in a spring wagon, crossed the Republi- can river just above the mouth of Buffalo creek, at the same time the Lovewell party crossed. These young men were from the East, and were in gay spirits, and appeared quite con- tented with their own company. Af- ter crossing the river, these two par- ties took slightly different courses, Lovewell bearing farther north than the others, but keeping them in view until nearly dark. About 4 P. M. another wagon was seen to join the
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spring wagon party. Nothing was ever seen or heard of these two wagons, or the men who were with them, except that the irons of a spring wagon were afterwards found near the forks of the Buffalo. If the sec- ond wagon contained four men, mak- ing ten, the number named in the in- scription, four of whom were taken alive, it is reasonable to suppose the prisoners were taken west to the In- dian villages in their own wagon, and there suffered death, probably at the stake. Another link in this chain of evidence, is the fact that, several years after this time, the frame of a violin was found near the bluffs, west of Jewell City, where it had apparently lain for years. How came this violin there? It must have been either dropped in flight by the whites, or thrown away as useless, by an Indian, after he had taken.it from the whites. What more natural than that this gay party, who seemed bent on having a good time, should have had a violin along to while away the hours? In all human probability, the soil of Jewell county drank on this day, the blood of twelve white men, four more being reserved for torture.
Fourth Settlement.
Another Innocent Life Sacrificed to the Savage Moloch .- "The Ex- celsior Colony."- Hunters Attack- ed .- A Gallant Resistance, With Another Bloody Sequel .- Indian Troubles all Along the Line.
Late in October, 1868, a large colony of Scandinavians located on the Re- publican river, and laid out the town of Scandia, in Republic county, which was the headquarters of the colony. This settlement reached far up the river, and also up White Rock creek, into Jewell county. Several members of this colony contested claims that had been previously taken by parties heretofore mentioned. At this time there was a lively rivalry for these claims, and a number were home- steaded by Swedes, who lived in Junction City, and who would be first notified of their cancellation through
the medium of a Swede clerk in the Land Office. Some of the Swedes who took claims at this time, con- tinue to hold them, though none re- mained permanently in the county until the spring of 1870, and by far the largest number entirely deserted them. The names of those who took land this year, and held it, besides those heretofore mentioned, are Martin Dahl, G. R. Nelson, John John- son and Peter Tanner. John Dahl settled with the rest, but was killed by Indians in the following spring, an account of which will follow.
In May, 1869, what was known as the "Excelsior," or New York Colony, under the lead of one Walker, came into the county and took claims along White Rock creek, as high up as Burr Oak, and as far down as John's creek. About 2 miles east of the present site of Holmwood, a block house was erected for protection, and surround- ed by two lines of earth-works. Here the whole colory resided during its short stay in the county. Immedi- ately after their arrival, they gave public notice that all claimants of land on the ereek must be on their claims by a certain date, or they would be contested. The had the effect to bring to the creek a number of Swedes and Norwegians, who laid claim to nearly all the most valuable land. At this time, the latter part of May, 1869, there were over 100 people in the county, all on White Rock creek.
THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.
On the 20th day of May, three men came to White Rock and stated that they had started on a hunt from Rose creek, Neb., with a party of seven, but had been attacked by Indians and four of their number killed, and they asked for help to go back and bury their dead companions and recover their wagons. A force of 30 men were raised, and under the lead of Lovewell, pro- ceeded to the scene of the massacre, which occurred partly in the North- west corner of Jewell county, and partly on the Republican river in Ne- braska, where the wagons were found, and two of the dead men, with every evidence of a desperate resistance. The two dead men at the wagons were
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buried, but the others were not found for some time after. They had fallen in this county, adding the blood of two more victims to its soil. During the return of the burial party, Indians were visible at a distance, they judg- ing the whites too strong to be safely attacked. On the 23d, they got back as far as the "Excelsior Colony" forti- fications, and on the morning of the 24th, those who did not belong to this colony, proceeded down the creek, dropping out as fast as they came to their claims. Upon arriving at Peter Tanner's place, that individual came out of the brush and informed them that on the previous day, the Indians had made a raid at this point, and shot Johnny Dahl, and burnt several cabins, destroying a large amount of property, and run off much stock. The smoking ruins of Pete's house attested the truth of his statement. At this moment, a party of horsemen were seen csming, and the little army, now numbering only 16, prepared for battle, but the horsemen proved to be whites, from Salt creek, out after some wagons that had been left hid in Upper Elm Grove, on the Republican river, now MeCraken's Grove, while two hunters were run home by In- dians. It was afterwards learned that these wagons and teams were found all right, the Indians not happening to go that way. As Lovewell and his party proceeded down the creek, they were continually seeing the heads of men peeping at them over some hill, or from some ravine in the distance, appearing for a moment, then disap- pearing, only to be seen again at some other point. Finally chase was made, and two of these mysterious persons caught, and the mystery was solved. Nearly the whole Swede settlement had taken flight, and in their fright saw Indians in this band of horsemen. It is not strange they were frightened, all unused as they were to scenes of blood. Johnny Dahl had been carried six miles down the creek, on a door, mortally wounded, and left at Al. Woodruff's house, where he died at 11 o'clock at night, the day previous to Lovewell's return. That night nearly all the Swedes and Norwegians
left the creck and went back to Scandia.
SIX MORE HUNTERS KILLED .- ONE ESCAPES TO TELL THE STORY.
On the 26th, only two days subse- quent to the attack on the Swede settlement, a party of seven hunters from Irving, Kansas, were attacked just south of Wilson's Grove, on the Republican river, in the north part of the county, and slowly fought their way back to a block house, just in the edge of Republic county, and about 2 miles north of White Rock creek. The firing was distinctly heard on the creek during nearly the whole of the afternoon. This party remained safe- ly at the block house during the night, and in the morning, no enemy being visible, started for home. Upon reach- ing the Republican river, the Indians again attacked them, and having ex- pended all their amunition in the fight of the previous day, the whole party broke for the water, and six were overtaken and shot in the stream, one only escaping, John McChesney, an uncle of the John W. McChesney,so well known in newspaper circles in Northwestern Kansas.
The firing was distinctly heard on White Rock, and a party would have went to the assistance of the hunters, but were prevented by a big rise in the creek, making a crossing impos- sible.
MORE MISCHIEF.
On the following day, (the 27th) about 80 Indians swam across the creek, about half a mile east of the county line, and skulking up a ravine, attempted to surprise three Swedes- Munson, Burchlam and Hageman- whose claims were in Jewell county, but who were then helping a friend to put in corn just over the line. They had become tired and had sat down to rest, unconcious of danger. Love- well, who was at work close by, saw the Indians, and ran down to save the Swedes. Arriving within about 60 yards of them, he saw an Indian's head and gun cautiously raised up out of the head of the ravine, evi- dently bent on mischief. He instantly leveled his rifle at the Indian, who, as suddenly ducked down again. The
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next instant the 80 savages sprang from their cover in a body, and be- gan to circle, as is their mode. Love- well held his rifle to his face, first bearing on one and then on another, and slowly backing until the Swedes had reached the other end of the field, where they had left their carbines and revolvers. After this the Indians kept a safer distance for both parties. When he first discovered the Indians, Lovewell ordered Burchlam to secure the horses he was driving. But he was so stupefied that when the other men had secured their weapons, he still stood looking on in a dazed way, not having made a move towards se- curing the team. He was again or- dered to save the team, and striking them with the lines, they became frightened and ran away with the plow. In a few minutes the plow struck something and became de- tached, and the horses ran and mixed with the circling ponies of the In- dians-just what the latter most de- sired. The raid was made about 3 p. m., and the Indians withdrew about dusk. But two or three shots were fired by the whites, the Indians, after the first rush, keeping at too great a distance. Lovewell, who at first was close enough, wisely held his fire, in strict accordance with the only true tactics in such trying emergences. Had he fired, instead of simply cover- Ing the Indians with his rifle, in all human probability not a man of the whole party would have escaped. As it was, the 'only loss sustained was that of the team. In this place we will add that on the day Johnny Dahl was killed, the Indians took Al. Wood- ruff's team, leaving him afoot and without the means to buy another.
A PLUCKY WOMAN.
about to take him in, when Mrs. Frazier ran out with a double-bar- reled shot gun and fired several shots at them, and drove them back until Watson gained time to unhitch, and come in with the horses. The In- dians gave her no further trouble, and soon took their departure.
BUCKSKIN TAKES A BATH.
Just as the Indians crossed the creek an Irishman, who went by the name of "Buckskin," and who had come out with Mrs. Frazier, had been up to Lovewell's, and had started home, but had proceeded but a short distance when he discovered the Indians. When he saw them he ran down to the creek, and plunging into the water he got under a large drift, where ho remained all night in the water, only venturing out at daylight, nearly chilled to death. The joke was on "Buckskin," for the Indians had not seen him at all.
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