USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 23
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The result of the first year's work of this county stock show and fair is, in brief, as follows: Several fine permanent buildings on the grounds, a very successful fair held, every obligation paid, a ten per cent. dividend paid on the seven hundred and twenty-five shares of stock sokl, and eight hundred dollars surplus in the treasury for the future work.
FAIR AROUSES INTEREST.
This was a splendid awakening of the county fair spirit, which did so much for the agricultural interests from the time the first fair was held at Marysville in 1873, up to ten years ago, when it died out. During most of those years race horses were kept in training on the tracks of Marysville and Frankfort, practically all the year round. The fair was the one great occa- sion of the year, attended by everybody with his whole family. The stock was worth seeing, as well as the exhibits of grain, but the great attraction was the races between some of the best and fastest horses in the country, some of which were owned at home. Capt. Perry Hutchinson, Doctor Willson, Doctor Scamon, Neil Robinson, H. E. Wiedemeyer and others from Marysville: H. H. Lourey, J. Gano, the Osborn brothers and others from Frankfort, all had good track horses, some with national reputations.
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As the old settler and the old cavalry soldier passed away, the real lover of the horse passed, and the great American game, baseball, took the eye and money of the people. Bicycle and automobile races are much more interesting now than horse races; as the faces change, so do the tastes. However, the live stock and farm product show at Blue Rapids in October, 1916, was a decided success.
LADIES FIGURE FAVORABLY.
The display made by the ladies of the county is worthy of especial com- ment. Pantry stores of all kinds, bread, cake, preserves, pickles, jellies and a great variety of canned fruit, were evidence of the interest taken by the women of the county in the fair. In the fine arts display, Mrs. J. G. Strong took first prize for a landscape in oil, and Mrs. Carrie Hunter, first prize for an animal in oil. The exhibits in water color, china painting, crayon and pastel, photog- raphy and pencil drawing, were very fine.
The exhibit which was of most pleasure to the visiting ladies was the wonderful display of handmade laces, tatting, embroidery, pieced silk quilts, appliqued quilts, knitted bedspreads, point lace, drawn work, and home-made rugs. The drawn work, which was the object of attention by all, was done by Mrs. Moden, of Waterville, who has passed her eightieth birthday. It is quite evident that the deft fingers of Kansas women have not lost their cun- ning in fancy work and sewing.
BLUE VALLEY CREAMERY COMPANY.
The original Blute Valley Creamery Company was organized on May 5, 1894, by Walker Brothers, of Wichita, Kansas, assisted by a number of pub- lic-spirited citizens of Marysville.
A creamery was built and butter making began on September 1, 1894. So successful was the business that the Walkers soon sought larger fields and abandoned the business in Marysville. Today, giant plants of the Blue Valley Creamery Company are established in nearly all the large cities of the United States and in some foreign countries.
Twenty years from the time the Walker Brothers began making butter in Marysville the company had become the largest creamery product manu- factory in the world.
Until 1915 the stone building was used by F. W. Heinke, as a machine shop. Since then it has been left to ruin and decay. In summer, birds nest
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among the wild vines, which clamber over its roof and the sunflowers which grow rank around its walls. In winter it becomes a hiding place for rodents.
Fat, sleek horses once drew wagons to its entrance, from which were unloaded gallons of rich cream that were turned into butter as golden as the dollars that were swelling the bank account of Walker Brothers. Now, abandoned and shunned, it is the very symbol of neglect. The boy on his way to the White Stump swimming hole, pauses long enough to hurl a stone at its shattered windows. It stands in solitude and no one remembers that it placed men on the highway to wealth, save the historian.
CHAPTER XII.
MILITARY HISTORY.
LITTLE GREEN TENTS. From "Walt Mason, His Book," published by Basse & Hopkins, New York. Copyrighted.
The little green tents where the soldiers sleep, And the sunbeams play and the women weep, Are covered with flowers today. And between the tents walk the weary few. Who were young and stalwart in sixty-two, When they went to the war away.
The little green tents are built of sod. They are not long and they are not broad, But the soldiers have lots of room. And the sod is part of the land they saved, When the flag of the enemy darkly waved. The symbol of dole and doom.
The little green tent is a thing divine, The little green tent is a country's shrine, Where patriots kneel and pray. And the brave men left, so old, so few. Were young and stalwart in sixty-two, When they went to the war away.
MARSHALL COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
During the War of the Rebellion. Marysville being on the main overland road between the Missouri river and the mountains, was made a recruiting point at which companies were enlisted, the men coming from all directions.
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The first soldiers to enlist from this county, however, were six boys from the Vermillion: James Smith, Bob Henderson, John D. Wilson, Oliver S. Leslie, John Burke and F. C. Brooks. The first Marshall county man to give his life for the Union in actual war was Bob Henderson.
The following letter by James Smith to his brother, tells a story of the early days of the war much better than anyone else can. It will be remem- bered that after the war "Jim Smith" served this county as representative, county clerk, county treasurer, secretary of state for six years and private secretary to Gov. John A. Martin and Gov. Lyman U. Humphry, and quartermaster-general for four years. He died at Topeka on May 28, 1914. Smith's letter follows:
W. H .- Before answering your letter of long ago I was anxious to have a talk with "Boots", alias Elihu Holcomb, who knew more than I did about the Little Blue fight. I have not been able to get to see him, but the follow- ing are facts that 1 gleaned from Holcomb long ago.
On the evening of November 10, 1861, about 8 o'clock. Companies A, B and H. Seventh Kansas Cavalry, under command of Lieut .- Col. D. R. Anthony marched out of Kansas City. On that march Bob Henderson rode side by side with "Boots" and during the night they became well acquainted and Bob's conversation made a lasting impression on Holcomb. Bob, calm and cool in anticipation of a fight, but at the same time expressed his firm belief that he would be killed in the first fight and in this belief he went into the fight early on the morning of the 11th of November.
Of the engagement I copy the following from the second volume of the adjutant-general's report :
"The first engagement in which the regiment was represented was fought on the rith of November, 1861, by companies A, B and H, under command of Lieut. Col. D. R. Anthony, with a rebel force outnumbering his four to one under command of the notorious Col. Up Hays. The rebels were driven from their camp but occupied a strong position just beyond amongst the rocks and trees on the hills along the Little Blue river. After a desperate fight and being unable to dislodge the enemy from his natural strong position. Colonel .Anthony ordered the camp destroyed and having captured all of the horses of the command Colonel Anthony with his force retired from the field. In this skirmish companies A, B and H had nine killed and thirty-two wounded."
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FIRST SOLDIER KILLED IN FIRST ENGAGEMENT.
I understood (I had not yet recovered from typhoid fever and was not in the fight) that Bob was the first soldier killed in that first engagement of the Seventh Kansas.
His body was brought back in a wagon (we had no ambulance yet) to Kansas City and received a soldier's burial. It was taken up and removed to Pennsylvania. His bloody cavalry jacket, his testament, which, rollicking boy as he was, he read daily, his violin, and other belongings were sent to his mother. For some particulars about these see Uncle Dan Auld.
The village of Barrett was intensely loyal in 1861. The Barretts, the Leavitts, Blackburn, Puntney, Todd, and the Wells, although Kentuckians, honest old Henry Rebb, O. C. Allen, Uncle Tommy Edgar, Dan C. Auld, Soren Jensen, all the Wilsons, Uncle Isaac Clark, Bob Smith, Johnny Burke, Leslie, Brooks, Foster, Ephraim Lewis and scores of others of like loyalty made up the Vermillion Valley. The news of the firing on Sumter was received by us just as it was received by loyal men everywhere, but I think none of us thought for a moment that there would be a four-year war. I know we boys believed that the government would crush treason at one fell blow, and not until the news of the defeat at Bull Run, which reached us through Thedrow S. Vaile, did we have any idea that our services would be needed.
Then I think without meetings or preconcerted plannings, a few of us determined to enlist. There were six of us, to-wit: Bob Henderson, John D. Wilson, Oliver S. Leslie, Jolin Burke, F. C. Brooks and myself. I think the first time we were all together before leaving for Leavenworth was at a camp meeting up East Fork. I remember that one afternoon divine services were dispensed with and Union services substituted. The night before we left we all attended church at the little old school house at Barrett and a Campbellite minister, Giddings by name, discoursed patriotism and at the conclusion of his sermon offered a most fervent prayer for the boys and then requested us to stand up while each one of the audience filed by and bade us farewell. Bob Henderson and I went home with our girls from the meeting and walked back four miles and slept our last sleep together in Mar- shall county. Next morning we met over at the mill where everybody had gathered to bid the first soldiers from Marshall county "God speed." If you see Jennie Love she can tell you all about the parting. We were all liked fairly well but everybody, men, women and children, actually loved Bob Hen- derson and in your address you cannot say too much of the noble qualities of the soldier boy for whom Henderson Post was named.
-
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TRIBUTE TO LOYALTY OF VERMILLION.
It may not have any special bearing, but I cannot forbear to refer again to the loyalty of the Vermillion. In the winter and spring before the com- mencement of hostilities, we all felt outraged at Pete Peters' paper at Marys- ville which was disloyal. We had several meetings to discuss the advisa- bility of going up and demolishing the "shebang." The meetings were held at A. G. Barrett's. The Barretts were there, Puntney, Blackburn, Todd, Bob Smith, Bob Henderson, Brooks, myself and others I do not now think of. We finally concluded that we would take care of the south half and leave the north half to the tender inercies of such patriots as Perry Hutchin- son. Tom Bowen afterwards came to the rescue of the loyal men of Marys- ville and gutted the obnoxious paper.
When we got to Leavenworth we enlisted in Company A, which was officered from top to bottom and needed just our number to fill it to the maximum. I think you can say that we were the first to enlist from Marshall county. And that Bob Henderson was the first Marshall county soldier to be killed and the first one in his regiment to be killed. . As far as patriotic meetings were concerned, they occurred wherever and whenever two or three were gathered together. But the one which left the most vivid impression on my mind was the one at the school house before we left when the gray- haired Campbellite minister preached a farewell sermon to us and for us. You might call the next morning when we marched away a meeting too, with saw logs for seats at the old mill. Since that morning I have had some triumphs and have received honors at the hands of Marshall county people, but never felt as solemnly proud and grateful as on that morning when we bade farewell to the people of Barrett. The warm hand-shake, the tearful eye, and the tremulous "God bless you," told us that we would be always during our career as soldiers, held in affectionate remembrance by these good people. Bob Henderson and I often talked of that good-bye and wondered how in a short year it was possible to become so attached to those people.
But I am getting prolix and away from the subject. Possibly you can sift something out of this which will help you out. I believe, however, you could get more interesting things from A. G. Barrett or Mrs. Barrett or Jennie Love.
As to the battle of Little Blue, if you see Leslie you could get something.
Yours,
JAMES SMITH.
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COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNION CAUSE.
In 1860 the population of the county was two thousand two hundred and seventy-five, the number of men of voting age did not exceed four hun- dred, yet in absence of definite data it is safe to say that the county furnished more soldiers to the "Union" than it had voters, besides a few for the con- federacy.
In addition to several hundred privates and minor officers, the county furnished Col. Thomas E. Bowen, Capt. Perry Hutchinson, Capt. Frank Kister, Capt. Mel. Lewis, Capt. W. S. Blackburn, Capt. James H. McDougal, Capt. Rev. M. D. Tenny, Lieutenants John D. Wells, David E. Ballard, S. B. Todd. James E. Love, Levi Hensel. W. W. Griffin, Dan C. Auld, John N. Cline, Nathan Slosson and others. So far as is known Capt. Mel. Lewis, of the soldiers home in California, is the only survivor of this list.
Colonel E. C. Manning was federal census enumerator in 1860 and gives the population of Marshall county at that time as two thousand two hundred and eighty.
Manning says: "On the last day of July, 1860, a tornado came down the Blue Valley doing much damage and tore the printing office asunder. General Marshall who owned the printing plant said he was glad of it as he would rather see the outfit in the bottom of the Blue river than see Repub- lican sentiments printed on his type.
"After Lincoln's inauguration I was appointed postmaster at Marys- ville, the city then containing but four settlers who did not sympathize with the South. To assure passengers that they were in a loyal region, I pro- posed soon after Sumter was fired upon to erect a pole near the public well in the main street and unfurl our country's flag to the loyal Kansas breeze. Amos Park, Lee Holloway, Cale Hulburt, Tim Conner and Rug Bulis agreed to join me in the enterprise. Several young, hot-blooded Southerners threat- ened with bodily harm any person who should attempt to raise a 'Union flag', as it was called then.
RAISING THE UNION FLAG.
"I sent two of the men to the woods down the river with a team bor- rowed from Peter Gift, a loyal Scotch blacksmith, for the purpose of getting a suitable pole, while two others dug a hole for the pole and I borrowed a flag from Abner G. Barrett who kept a hotel by the roadside opposite the well. We raised the flag before sundown, silently and with as little demon-
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stration as proper, while six of the hostile enemy watched our proceedings. We learned they intended cutting down the flag during the night. To prevent this the halyards were carried to the second story of the hotel win- dow and two armed men, Lee Holloway and Tim Conner, stood guard at the window for a few nights until the enemy became reconciled to the sight. Many a home-bound passenger expressed his pleasure at seeing his country's flag wave a greeting at that frontier town."
ARMED AGAINST INDIANS.
Marshall county during the war was in some measure a border county and was therefore drawn into the national conflict, but the first armed defense made by the citizens of the county was against Indians. Companies were recruited under the command of Capt. Frank Schmidt and Capt. James McClosky. A company from the Vermillion settlement under Capt. James Kelley and one from Irving under Capt. T. S. Vaile. These troops were placed under the command of Col. E. C. Manning and were reinforced by companies from Nemaha, Riley and Washington counties, under command of General Sherry, of Seneca, Kansas. They were furnished arms and ammunition by the government, but were not enlisted in the service of the United States.
Many minor skirmishes took place in Marshall county and the settlers suffered greatly from systematic pilfering and stealing by the Indians. Sev- eral outrageous massacres took place in Cloud, Washington and Republic counties and these troops were organized and equipped for protection to the settlers and for the purpose of convincing the predatory bands of Indians that armed defense would be made in case of attack. The troops' went out twice to render assistance to western counties.
Thousands of Indians hunted, camped and traded in Marshall county but, singularly, few tragedies occurred.
Andreas states in his history that a large proportion of the troops enlisted from Marshall county in the War of the Rebellion, were from Marys- ville and Vermillion townships.
Marysville was made the recruiting station for Marshall and Washing- ton counties. There were abont four hundred and fifty voters in Marshall county at that time, yet the county is credited with having sent four hundred men to the Union army prior to 1865. In that year ( 1865) the county was called upon for thirty-one additional men, who were furnished.
Company K. Ninth Kansas Cavalry, was organized at Marysville in the
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summer of 1862 by Capt. Thomas M. Bowen, later United States senator from Colorado. Under his command as captain and J. D. Wells as first lieutenant, the company consisting of eighty men, was ordered to join the regiment at Leavenworth. This regiment served principally in Missouri and Arkansas and participated in all the important engagements that took place on the Arkansas river.
After serving with distinction Company K was mustered out of service at Duval's Bluff, Arkansas, and discharged at Ft. Leavenworth in July, 1865. This company suffered severely during its service, only about one-third of the soldiers returning.
COMPANY G, THIRTEENTH KANSAS INFANTRY.
This company under command of W. S. Blackburn, captain, Thomas Hensel, first lieutenant, was recruited at Marysville in August, 1862. Ver- million township furnished most of the men for this company. The com- pany joined the regiment at Atchison and their first engagement took place at Cane Hill. Arkansas, and was followed by an engagement at Van Buren, Arkansas.
The company was discharged at Ft. Leavenworth on July 9. 1865. Only about half of the soldiers returned.
COMPANY E, THIRTEENTH KANSAS INFANTRY.
This company was recruited at Marysville during the summer of 1862, under command of Capt. Perry Hutchinson.
Marysville furnished twenty-seven men to this company, the remainder coming from various points in the county. This company was stationed at Marysville until September 8, 1862, when Captain Hutchinson received orders to transport his men to Ft. Scott.
The company of Otoe Indians under command of Capt. D. W. Williams accompanied Company E, and the entire command numbered over three hun- dred men. This company served with distinction in Missouri and Arkansas, and like the other companies suffered great losses in men.
COMPANY H, SECOND KANSAS CAVALRY.
This company was mustered into service at Kickapoo, in Doniphan county in the spring of 1862, under command of Capt. A. Gunther and was composed entirely of recruits from Marshall and Washington counties.
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After serving with distinction throughout the war it was mustered out of service March 18, 1865, at Little Rock, Arkansas.
Large numbers of men from Marshall county enlisted in others Kan- sas regiments. The Second. Seventh. Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Kansas Regiments, had men from Marshall county in their ranks.
Marshall county furnished her full share of troops to the Union army and the regiments in which they were enlisted served with bravery and dis- tinction during the war.
T. L. Holloway is the only surviving member of Company HI. Second Kansas Cavalry, now residing in Marshall county and Lient. William Mercer, of the same company, resides in Washington county. These men, so far as known are the only survivors of the gallant company.
During the days of recruiting and mustering in soldiers for the war. what is now Marysville city park was the rendezvous.
The Old Settlers Reunion was held in the park in September, 1916, and at the same time a reunion of Company K, Ninth Kansas, was held on the same ground where fifty-five years ago as "boys" they enlisted and went away to the front. But five members were present. They were: J. F. Wood. of Boise, Idaho: E. 11. Pralle, of Hollenberg. Kansas: J. M. Harper. of Stockdale. Kansas: G. A. Storms, of Powhattan, Kansas ; C. M. Murdock, of Wymore. Nebraska. J. E. Wood was elected president pro tem and C. M. Murdock, secretary pro tem.
The roll of the surviving members was called and letters were read from many of them. Many old army incidents were related and a good social visit was enjoyed by this little band of survivors. . At the regular business meeting, E. 11. Pralle, of Hollenberg, was elected president : Pollard Carna- han, of Manhattan, vice-president. and C. M. Murdock, secretary-treasurer.
CIVIL WAR VETERANS.
The following is a list of soldiers now residing in Marshall county. who served in the War of the Rebellion :
Axtell .- G. L. Barnes, T. H. Scott, T. C. Casterline, J. R. Livingston, J. F. Sharpe. D. J. O'Connell. S. J. Sharpe, Sidney Sharpe.
Bigelow .- AAndrew M. Colton, Andrew J. Zerbe, John M. Rimhart, Nathan Midcalf. Samuel M. Rucker.
Barrett .- Simon T. Massie.
Beattie .- William H. Brooke, John H. Crabb, James L. Giles, William
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Helvering. Orin Kingman, William Lord. Jacob V. Schleigh. James R. Wil- cox, Milo A. Tucker, Mark Eichelberger, David Heisse, William A. Willis.
Blue Rapids .-- David J. Huffman. James Warriner, Stout Shearer. James O. Wheeler, Isaiah Walker. William Worthington, Hugh Thorman. Francis M. Thomas. John N. Snodgrass, Arthur H. Neal, John McPherson. Henry J. Lane, William Hardin, Abel W. Gibson, William H. Francis. Samuel A. Craft, Andrew Chambers, Isam Burnett. Albert W. Beacham, Peter S. Burnett,
Frankfort .- Jonathan Bishop. James W. Campbell. W. S. Dingman. John L. Davis, E. R. Fairchild, Charles Edinborough, Isaac Gordon, Charley Howc, B. F. Hersh, Augustus P. Hampton, Charles H. Keyes, Samuel McConchie, George N. Morse, Samuel Morehouse. Patrick Montgomery, Jacob North, Caleb Osborne, William Phifer, Henry Reynolds. Thomas J. Snodgrass, Elias Schreiner, William Skillin, M. K. Thomas, L. V. B. Taylor, Luther Whiting, John M. Watson, MI. A. Brawley. J. Bigham, M. A. Barrett, Thomas Bisbirg.
Vermillion .- T. M. Andrews. J. S. Myers, Joel Barkes, John T. Holston, W. H. DeWalt. A. A. Nauman, J. H. Taneir, E. E. Wilkins. J. P. Duck- worth, C. Bergmann.
Vliets .- Henry Bottger. Timothy Gibson. James McKitrick. John W. Rced. A. J. Waxler.
Marysville .- Ice D. Hollaway, Samuel Butler, J. A. Broughton. J. B. Logan, W. H. Smith, Alvin Arand, Elijah Bentley, Adolph Cumro, St. Clair Guthrie, J. O. Ackles. J. L. Bayles, Samuel Johnson, T. C. Randolph, A. J. Travelute. J. H. Crabb, E. B. Scott, Josiah Zellars, Peter Dugdale, Philip Phillippi, Joseph Manning, William Lofinck, D. B. Knight, Michael Barlow. George Winkler. E. B. Gatchell. J. F. Hanna.
Oketo .- Peter Champaign. Valentine Draher, Allen Robinson.
Summerfield .- John M. Graham, Sterling Keck, E. S. Wagner, Henry D. Maitland. Alexander Hart, George Finlayson, Chauncey F. Ream, George W. Small, W. A. Graham.
Waterville .- H. C. Follett, Jos Van Allen, R. Smith, J. Jones, J. Scott, S. Wheeler, M. Scott.
WAR WITH SPAIN.
Though Marshall county had a company of men drilling in every town and village, even before war was declared, ready and willing to join the ranks. it was allowed only a minor part of Company M, of the Twenty- second Regiment, Riley county furnishing all of the commissioned officers and a majority of the men to the Spanish-American War, 1898.
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Governor Leedy ordered the counties of Riley and Marshall to recruit the "one company allowed" at Blue Rapids on May 2nd, 1898. Enough aspirants appeared to make several companies and it has always been the opinion of the Marshall county boys, that the examining surgeon, Doctor Wharton, and recruiting officer and colonel of the Twenty-second Regiment, H. C. Lindsay, had given us unfair treatment. Therefore, some of the boys went to other counties to join and others went home to continue drilling for a possible future call for more troops.
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