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 3
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THE EXCELSIOR COLONTANTLAVES.
Mrs. Frazier had two sons-Frank and William-who had been employed to go up to the "Excelsior Colony" and move one of the families out of the country. Contrary to advice the boys started up the creek that morning and arrived safe enough at the colony fort; got the family-husband and wife and their effects into the wagon, making a big load. They were city bred and in fair circumstances, having several trunks of fine clothing, rich dresses and millinery. On their return they had reached John's Creek, when lo! a hundred Indians made their appear- ance on the bluffs above them. Sec- ing no chance of escape the Frazier boys cut the horses loose from the wagon, and mounting them started back for the fort, pursued by the In- dians. After a short run, seeing that they were about to be overtaken they jumped from their horses and taking to the timber on foot, made their es- cape. The husband and wife at the the wagon, with two Englishmen who belonged to the Colony, ran down John's Creek, and assisting the wo- man, crossed the swollen White Rock, and escaped, reaching Lovewell's at 3 A. M., the next morning. In their
At this time, Mrs. Frazier, a widow woman who now lives in Jewell county, was living on a rented place about a mile east of the county line. While the Indians were skirmishing with Lovewell and the Swedes, a num- ber of them paid her a visit. A man by the name of Robert Watson, was out in the field plowing with a span of horses, and the Indians had entirely eut him off from the house and was | flight they" followed every tortuous
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bend of the stream, not daring to cross the open spaces for fear of being seen and butchered by the Indians. The woman was a sad sight to look upon when she arrived. Having had to cross the stream several times, in or- der to facilitate her flight, she had taken off all her clothing but one dress, her peticoats being.so heavy with water that she could not walk with them on.
The Indians broke open all the trunks and boxes at the wagon and rigged themselves out in gorgeous array with the contents. As the party appeared at the fort later in the day one old Indian had on a silk dress and a fancy trimmed lady's hat. They gathered on the bluffs about half a mile south of the fort and treated the terrified inmates to some original dramatic attitudes, which, however, it must be admitted, were not appre- ciated at the time.
The President of the colony, Mr. Walker, being down at Junction City at the time, heard of this raid on his way back, hired a lot of men and teams, came up and took the colony away, leaving about the first of June. It will be remembered that nearly all the Swedes had left only a few days previous, and when the Colony left these few went also, leaving not a white man or woman in Jewell county. From this time, (June 1st, 1869.) the Indians held undisputed possession of Jewell county until August following, but few whites re- maining even in Republic county. But among them was Mrs. Frazier, who did not leave for a month or more. She came back with her two sons in 1870 and still remains a permanent resident of the county.
ANOTHER NEW SETTLER.
In August 1869 Peter Kearns ven- tured into the county and took the Nicholas Ward claim and remained working on it all the following win- ter, the sole occupant of Je' county. However, in December of that year Robert Clellan picked out a «laim, but did not settle on it until the spring of 1870. So to Peter Kearns alone belongs the honor of spending the winter of 1869-70 in Jewell
county. He has spent several win- ters since, but with each succeeding winter the number of his fellow citi- zens has increased until now he can count them by the thousands. The Indians have entirely disappeared, not only from Jewell county, but from the entire State, not a hostile red man being nearer our borders than five hundred miles.
From the preceding pages it would appear that nearly all the blood shed in Jewell county was on the part of the Indians. But such is not the case, in evidence of which we here give an account of a
DESPERATE BATTLE WITH INDIANS.
In the fall of 1861, a desperate battle took place between a scouting party of soldiers and citizens from Fort Kearney, and a band of Indians, at the forks of East Buffalo creek, on the farm now owned by Joseph Collar. Thirty Indians were killed and one white man-John Collins. The re- mainder of the Indians were taken prisoners. The Indians were buried in two trenches, and Collins was buried in a grave on the bank of the creek, with head and foot stones to mark the spot. This incident was re- lated to us by William R. Whitney, to whom it was told by one of the par- ticipants, who now resides at Fair- bury, Nebraska.
Final Settlement.
The Great Influx of 1870 .- The Permanent Settlement of the County .- Its Organization, First Election and Some Interesting In- cidents Connected Therewith .- Also a few More Indian Raids.
Before detailing the great influx of immigration, which came in in 1870, we will go back to 1869, and give a list of the few claims taken that year that were finally proved up on, and the settlers became permanent resi- dents.
May 22, 1869, James A. Highland homesteaded the s } ne ¿ and n } se { Section 8, Township 6 south, Range 6 west. Proved up April 9, 1876. Still lives in the county.
May 24, 1869, Nels. S. Cederberg homesteaded the s ¿ se } Section 5 and n & ne # Section 8. Township 2, south, Range 7, west. Commuted July 16, 1870.
May 26, 1869, William D. Street homesteaded the ned Section 8, Town- ship 5 south, Range 7 west. . Com- muted July 9, 1871. Farm now owned by Hon. Benj. F. Ransford, Chairman Board of County Commissioners.
November 6, 1869, Peter Kearns homesteaded the set Section 2, Town- ship 2 south, Range 7 west. Com- muted July 21, 1873.
November 13, 1869, James McCraith homesteaded the sw} Section 1, Town- ship 2 south, Range 6 west. Proved up August 16, 1876. McCraith came back in January 1870, and has remain- ed a permanent resident ever since.
THE TIDAL WAVE
of 1870 commenced ir February. In that month John O'Roak, William Scott, Samuel Sweet, Wils. McBride, Chris. Erns, John W. McRoberts, Sam. Bowles, T. Bowles, Phil. Baker, Adams and Gregory came in, all tak- ing claims on White Rock. In the same month, A. J. Davis, Jerry Bur- nett, L. M. Stults, Benjamin Lewis and Charles Lewis came in and set- tlod on Buffalo creek.
TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION.
From this time, (February, 1870) the settlers came in so thick and fast that we find it impossible to keep track of them with any kind of accuracy. Con- sequently we are under the necessity in this place of omitting the names of many, and only giving those of a few of the most prominent in each sec- tion of the county. The names of the first settlers of each Township will appear in our description of Town- ships.
THE BUFFALO PIONEERS.
The first permanent settlers of the Buffalo Valley were Henry Sorick, Geo. A. Sorick, John A. Sorick, Geo. W. Waters, R. F. Hudsonpeller, Thomas B. Hart and William Cox, who took claims in the immediate vi- oinity of Jewell City, April 8, 1870.
The next arrivals were S. R. Wor- ick, John H. Worick, John Hoffer, Joseph W. Fogle, Cyrus Bichart,
Chris. Bender, David J. Rockey, William H. Cameron, Samuel Krape, C. A. Belknap and A. J. Wise, known as the "Illinois Colony," who arrived at the forks of Buffalo creek, April 12, 1870. They all took claims in the vi- cinity of Jewell City, and all, with the exception of Mr. Cameron, re- mained until "the war was over" and very materially assisted in "holding the creek" during the somewhat troubleous season of 1870.
The next arrivals on this side of the county were James A. Scar- brough and William Queen, who took claims four miles north west of Jewell City, April 24, 1870. Mr. Queen went back to Clyde, where he had left his family and remained until the first of the following October, when he re- turned, and has lived here ever since. Scarbrough remained with "the boys" and took an active part in the stirring events of the succeeding summer and fall.
During the month of April, 1870, quite a number of other settlers ar- rived and took claims in the southern part of the county. Prominent among them were Charles L. Seeley, Isaac A. Sawin, Allen Lightner, Wm. M. Jones, James W. Hall, Richard D. Fardy, L. J. Calvin, F. A. May. and John R. Wilson. The majority of them remained, and are among our most enterprising and respectable citizens.
BIG INDIAN SCABE .- THREE MEN KILLED AT THE MOUTH OF THE LIMESTONE.
The settlers all went to work with a will, breaking prairie, building cabins, digging "dug outs" and other- wise improving their claims, with scarcely a thought of danger, until the night of May 12, 1870, when they were all aroused from their peaecful slumbers by a couple of couriers from the mouth of the Limestone, who brought the unpleasant news that the noble Cheyennes were
AGAIN ON THE WAR PATH,
i had only the day before killed three white men who were working on a mill dam on the Solomon, the present site of the fine flouring mill at Glen Elder. The couriers advised all the settlers to repair at onco to
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"Hoffer's shanty," near the forks of Buffalo creek, and take some steps toward an organization for self pro- tection, as in their scattered condi- tion they would fall an easy prey to the blood-thirsty savages, in case they should take a notion to pay them a visit. It is almost needless to say that this advice was taken and acted upon in the promptest manner imaginable.
By daybreak the next morning, together at the designated place of rendezvous, and to draw it mild, while the excitement was not intense, the cause of their coming together was the all absorbing topic of conversa- tion. After a hasty breakfast, the meeting was called to order by Will- rema k :, explained the object of the same, and strongly urged the immedi- ate organization of a company of militia with regularly elected officers for the protection of the lives and pro- perty of the
SCATTERED SETTLERS.
He also recommended the erection of a fort, and a fraternal banding together for the purpose of "holding the creek." He was followed by several others with remarks of similar import, all agreeing that if the Indians were al- lowed to run riot all over this valley the present season, the settlement, at least of this portion of the county, would perhaps be deferred for years. All had come here with the avowed intention of remaining and securing homes for themselves and "the loved ones to come," and they did not pro- pose to be run out of the country, simply by a little Indian scare, or, at least, until they had had a sample interview with Mr. Lo. The conse- quence was, a resolution was adopted to the effect that they organize a com- pany, and
BUILD A FORT
at once. On the organization of the company, the following volunteers stepped to the front and placed their names on the roll of the "Buffalo Militia." We give their names in the exact order in which they appear on the original roll, which was a com-
mon buff envelope, now in our pos- session :
L. J. Calvin, F. A. May, W. M. Jones, Samuel Krape, Louis A. Dapron, C. L. Seeley, J. A. Scarbrough, Cyrus Rich- art, Chris. Bender, J. H. Worick, David J. Rockey, James W. Hall, Richard D. Fardy, Charles J. Lewis, C. A. Belknap, A. J. Wise, John Hoffer, William Cox, S. R. Worick, AHen Lightner, James F. Queen, J. W. Fogel, J. A. Sorick, R. F. Hudson-
(May 13, 1870) 28 settlers had gathered | peller, I. A. Sawin, Henry Sorick, Wm. D. Street and John R. Wilson.
These names (28 in number), com- prised all the settlers on Buffalo creek at that time, west of "Davis' Ranch." On the election of officers, William D. Street was elected Captain; Charles J. Lewis, First Lieutenant; Louis A. iam D. Street, who, in a few brief Dapron, Second Lieutenant, and James A. Scarbrough, Orderly Ser- geant. Having their teams and break- ing plows with them, this spartan band at once repaired to the present town site of Jewell City, and com- menced the erection of
FORT JEWELL,
by selecting a spot of ground 50 yards square, around which they immedi- ately commenced breaking the sod, cutting it into squares of the desired size, and laying up a wall. In two days their work was complete, show- ing a good substantial wall, four feet thick and seven feet high. As soon as the fort was completed, the com- pany turned their attention to digging and walling a well in the northwest heorner of the inclosure, which was soon finished, affording an abundance of the best of cold water. This was
THE FIRST WELL DUG
in the county that we have any ac- count of. It is 29 feet deep, and is still in good condition. It is now the property of the Jewell City Town Company, being situated in the edge of Delaware street.
MOUNTING GUARD.
The settlers remained in the fort, off and on, until the 28th of June, 1870, mounting guard a part of the time,. during the night, and keeping scouts. out during the day. During this time, the men would work on their claims in the day time, but at night they
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generally returned to the fort, feeling a little safer under the protection of its friendly walls than on their claims. However they were never attacked, and the Indians, although often seen in the immediate vicinity of the fort, never gave the settlers any trouble. At this time, (June 28, 1870,) after the Indian scare was all over, Col. Weir, of the 3rd U. S. Mounted Artillery, sent a company of soldiers to our re- lief, who took up their quarters in the fort, and gallantly remained with and' protected us until late in the fall. But as soon as the soldiers came, the set- tlers deserted the fort almost entirely, only returning occasionally to beg tobacco of each other, and laugh over the funny incidents of the ever mem- orable 12th and 13th of May.
OUR LIMITED SPACE
forbids as extensive an account of the early settlement of the Buffalo Valley as we would like to give, and those of our friends among the pioneers, who fail to find their names and date. of settlement in this little volume, will please attribute the fact to the proper cause.
MORE NEW SETTLERS.
During the months of May and June, our numbers were increased by the arrival of Col. E. Barker, O. L. Me- Clung, W. C. McClung, R. R. McClung, Z. F. Dodge, J. K. Dodge, F. T. Gandy, H. P. Gandy, L. C: Gandy, Gabe. B. Wade, P. R. Deal, Samuel Cameron, C. E. Plowman, Jonathan Street, Geo. F. Lewis, James Carpenter, Jacob S. Jackson, W. R. Phillips, and many others, whose names we have forgot- ten. The name of Jesse N .. Carpenter does not appear in either of the above lists, from the fact that we copy from the old muster roll, and as Mr. Car- pentor was not a member of the or- ganization, his name fails to appear. He was a resident of the county, how- ever, from: early in the spring of 1870, and still remains, one of our most in- fluential and. worthy citizens.
THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN
year old sister, Miss Jennie Jones, who is now married and lives on Wolf' ereck, in Cloud county.
THE SECOND INVOICE
of white women who came to cheor the bachelor pioneers with their re- fining and moralizing presence were: Mrs. Adaline Sorick, Mrs. Jennie Hai- stead, Mrs. Annie Waters and Mrs. Mariah Dodge, all of whom arrived at Fort Jewell on the evening of July 3, 1870.
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
The Indians having taken their de- parture to more inviting fields of blood and plunder, and the country being comparatively safe, the pioneers resolved to celebrate the anniversary of the Nation's birth-day on rather a novel plan. To this end, a committee was appointed to build an arbor near the fort: another to go out on the buffalo grounds and kill a load of fresh beef, and still another to bar- becue the buffalo meat after it was brought in. Col. E. Barker was ap- pointed. President, and W. R. Phillips Orator of the day .. The various com- mittees discharged the duties assign- ed them with fidelity, and when the day dawned, all was in readiness. The ladies of Clyde and Lake Sibley kind- ly furnished the light bread, pies, cakes, butter and preserves, and many of them favored the occasion with their fair presence. The attend- ance was good, all the settlers in the southern part of the county being present, with the exception of a small settlement on Brown's creek, con- sisting of B. G. Williams and wife, Al. Williams, Wesley Harberson and wife, Jacob Presler wife and daughter, James Presler and James Williams. They had settled there only a short time previous, and were unaware of any settlement but their own in the county. Besides the settlers there were very respectable delegations from Clyde, Lake. Sibley and Man- hattan. Among the latter was our present respected fellow citizen, J. C. Postlethwaite, who aeted in the cap- acity of Chaplain and invoked, the Divine favor. The programme was carried out to the letter. Col. Barker
who became a resident of the southern part of Jewell county, was Mrs. Annie Billings, wife of N. H. Billings, who arrived at Fort Jewell, May 22, 1870, She was accompanied by her little 10 |presided with his usual dignity, and.
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Mr. Phillips "soared the eagle." The ·dinner was all that could be desired. There was an abundance for all, and plenty left. The "Buffalo Militia" fired a National salute, and the "day's doings" closed with three rousing cheers for our country and the Buffalo Pioneers. At night there was a platform dance under the arbor, of the most primitive character, in which nearly the entire company participated.
PIONEER FRIENDSHIP.
We have enjoyed seven rocurrences of "the day we celebrate" in Jewell City since that time, in which there was more display, but you can not make one of those old pioneers be- leive but what he had a better time at the "Fourth" in 1870 than he has ever had since. We will not shock our eastern readers with the intimation that the absence of the "jerkod buffalo meat" from these latter occasions muy be the cause of all this. No, it was the associations of the time; the hardships, trials, dangers and priva- tions of these early days, mutually shared together, that causes the heart of the early pioneer to beat with a quicker throb as he grasps with alac- rity the hand of one of those old time- tried friends. They love to live those days over again. They never tire of the buffalo hunts they have taken together; of the bivouac by that little creek "over yonder," or on the silent prairie, with nothing but a buffalo robe and the broad, blue canopy of Heaven for a shelter. Their hearts are indelibly intertwined, and no changes of time or place can effect any permanent change in their feel- ings towards eachother. But we will spare our readers any further elabora- tion of the subject. Space forbids, and even if we made the attempt, no onie would understand it but the old pioneers themselves. Deep down in the secret recesses of their hearts they feel and know how it is, but language is inadequate to the task of expressing it. They are friends in the deepest, broadest, fullest accepta- tion of the term, and pioneering has made them so. Pioneers, are we cor- reet or not? We know your kind, sympathetic bearts. "Yes!"
JEWELL CITY.
The beautiful town site of Jewell City was selected and filed on under the Town Site Act, May 6, 1870. On Fri- day, May 28, 1870, the Jewell City Town Company was organized with the fol- lowing members: Henry Sorick, Geo. A. Sorick, Geo. W. Waters, R. F. Hud- sonpeller, William D. Street, James A. Scarbrough, S. R. Worick, Dennis Taylor, and N. H. Billings. The com- pany met at the house of Esquire Collins, near the mouth of Buffalo creek, in Cloud county, on Friday, June 11, 1870, and acknowledged the signing of the charter, which was sent to :Col. Thomas Moonlight, Secretary of State, at Topeka, and by him re- corded and a certified copy returned to them. The town site comprised the sw ¿ Section 30, Township 4 south, Range 7 west. The south west quar- ter of the town site was at once sur- veyed and laid off into town lots, the remainder being left "until further orders." No improvements were made, however, until the 30th dav of June 1870, when
THE FIRST BUILDING
was erected by James A. Scarbrough, for an office and store. This was one of the most primitive buildings ever erected in any country. It was 16 feet square and was constructed by set- ting a lot of posts in the ground and boarding them up with box lumber. The roof was composed of the same material. The building was com- menced in the morning, and by the middle of the afternoon was complet- ed. That evening Scarbrough's goods arrived, and
THE FIRST STORE
was opened in Jewell City, being also the first one ever opened in Jewell county. The stock consisted of gro- ceries, provisions, cigars, chewing and smoking tobacco, baking powders and Hostetter's bitters, and invoiced just $130.65. Mrs. Mariah Dodge and David H. Halstead soon after erected a dwelling house each, and Scarbrough soon followed with a more substantial building, known then and now as THE PIONEER DRUG STORE.
These were the only buildings in the town when the county was organized.
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THE LAST INDIAN RAID
made in Jewell county, was on the 10th day of May 1870, when a band of Indians, supposed to be Cheyennes, made a descent on Bowles' settle- ment on White Rock, and stole two Jpans of horses-one from Sam. C. Bowles and the other from Peter Tan- ner. Bowles made a gallant fight for his, firing thirteen shots at the In- dians, who in turn fired six gun shots and seven arrows at Mr. Bowles. None of the shots, however, took cf- fect, as Sam. escaped with his scalp lock in its accustomed place, and no dead Indians were found lying around loose. They got his team, however, which he never recovered. Peter Tanner was more lucky. Towards night of the same day, while out look- ing for them, Peter found his horses in a ravine, on the north side of White Rock, where they had been hid by the Indians.
A FUNNY INCIDENT
connected with the Indian visit to Bowles, goes to prove that their ob- ject was more for plunder than blood. One old Indian who appeared to be the leader, stepping up close to Mr. Bowles fired his pistol in the di- rection of Bowles, the shot striking the ground a few feet from him. Bowles is accused of making the re- mark: "You d-d old scoundrel; give me that pistol, and I'll make a better shot than that." The Indian, however, did not comply with Bowles' request, whereupon Sam made for the house, met his wife who was com- ing to him with his weapons, and fired the ineffectual shots above noted.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
was designated as the county seat. July 20, 1870, Col. Barker returned to Jewell City, and presented the newly appointed officers with their commis- sions. Col. Barker was commissioned Notary Public of Jewell county on the 16th day of June, 1870, being the first officer, either elected or appoint- ed, in the county.
SWEARING THEM IN.
On the 4th day of August, 1870, the newly appointed county officers called on Col. Barker at his shanty on Mid- die Buffalo, one mile and a half north of Jewell City, and there and then, standing out in the open air, on the bank of the historic Buffalo, they were duly sworn into office by Col. Elden Barker, the first Notary Public of Jewell county. Returning to town they effected a temporary organiza- tion of the Board, and instructed the County Clerk to give public notice of their first formal meeting, which was set for August 22, 1870. In accordance with said notice
THE FIRST MEETING
of the Board of County Commission- ers, in and for Jewell county, Kansas, was held at the office of the County Clerk, in Jewell City, on Monday, August 22, 1870. At this meeting, C. L. Seeley was elected Chairman . of the Board, and the county was divided into three Commissioners' Districts, of equal size, and five municipal Townships, as follows: Vicksburg, comprising Townships 3, 4 and 5 south, Range 6 west; Buffalo, comprising Townships 3, 4 and 5 south, Ranges 7 and 8 west; Limestone, comprising Townships 3, 4 and 5 south, Ranges 9 and 10 west; White Rock, compris- ing Townships 1 and 2 south, and Ranges 9 and 10 and west half of Range 8 west, and Big Timber, comprising Townships 1 and 2 south, Ranges 6 and 7,and east half of Range 8 west, with the voting precinct designated in cach. At this first meeting, an order was made for an election for the purpose of electing County and Township of- ficers and
Early in July a petition was circula- ted by Col. E. Barker and Orville L. McClung for an organization of the county, which after being numerously signed was presented to Gov. James M. Harvey at Topeka by Col. Barker, who carried the same there in person. The prayer of the petitioners was granted July 14, 1870, on which day C. L. Seeley, F. T. Gandy and A. J. Davis were commissioned County LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT, to come off on the 27th day of Sep- tember 1870. Notice of the approach- Commissioners of Jewell county; James A. Scarbrough was commis- sioned County Clerk, and Jewell City | ing election was given by written
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