USA > Kansas > Kansas; a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence, Voilume I > Part 22
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In the report of the committee on miscellaneous business, ex-Gov. Reeder was defended from the charges made against him as the cause of his removal. But probably the most important act of the conven- tion was the nomination for a delegate to Congress. The nomination of the free-state delegate was made in a short, forcible speech by Martin F. Conway, who proposed the name of Andrew H. Reeder and there was no opposing candidate. This action meant the vindication of Reeder and showed the intention to fight the powers that had usurped the ter- ritorial government and removed him from office. He was nominated by acclamation.
A committee of three, consisting of S. C. Pomeroy, Col. J. H. Lane and G. W. Brown, were appointed to wait upon Gov. Shannon and pre- sent him with a copy of the proceedings of the convention. The Big Springs convention gave hope and courage to the free-state people throughout the territory. John Speer, who had been opposed to it
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from the first said, "The Big Springs convention became noted through- out the Union. It was the first consolidated mass of the freemen of Kansas in resistance to the oppressions attempted by the usurping legis- lature, and was as intelligent, earnest and heroic a body of men as ever assembled to resist the tyranny of George III. The people came from all portions of the territory. No hamlet or agricultural community was unrepresented. Men started before daylight from dangerous pro-slav- ery places, like Kickapoo, Delaware, Lecompton and elsewhere, to avoid assassination."
As soon as news of the work of the convention had spread, free-state meetings were held at nearly every town and settlement where people could assemble, resolutions indorsing the Big Springs platform were passed, and delegates chosen for the Topeka constitutional convention.
Big Timbers .- Some distance above old Fort Atkinson on the Arkan- sas river, and about 27 miles from Bent's fort, was a locality known as "Big Timbers." Indians at various times have here met with the repre- sentatives of the United States, for the purpose of negotiating treaties. The locality has always been a favorite winter camping place for the Indians, as an abundance of buffalo, antelope, deer and elk feed, wood and water were always at hand for their use. It was the intention of the United States to establish here a military post and postoffice, but this was never done, owing to an unwillingness to disturb the Indians. Lieut. Abert mentions reaching Big Timbers on Jan. 21, 1847. In Nov., 1849, Thomas Fitzpatrick, the celebrated Indian agent, passed by the place en route to Fort Laramie, stopping long enough to hold some conversations with portions of various tribes of Indians found camping here, regarding a proposed treaty. On his return the following year he found there a party of Indian traders and a portion of nearly all the Indian tribes of that country assembled for the purpose of meeting him again in order to ascertain at what time and place the representatives of their Great Father wished to meet them in council, and for what purpose. He remained there nearly a month. The assembly was com- posed of Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas and Apaches, all of which tribes at that time were very formidable and among the most warlike on the continent. Big Timbers had been the location of some trading house as Fitzgerald makes mention of the ruins of one.
Billings County was originally created as Norton, but on March 6, 1873, an act of the state legislature changed the name to Billings in honor of N. H. Billings, of Norton Center, representative from the 100th district. The change was in the nature of a jest and at the next session of the legislature on Feb. 25, 1874, the name was changed back to Norton. (See Norton County.)
Biological Survey .- Biology, "The Science of Life," treats of organic bodies and includes botany, zoölogy, physiology, embryology, etc. A biological survey of a state, therefore, is an inquiry into the character of the animal and plant life within its 'borders. In Kansas no official survey of this nature has ever been made, but early in the 'Sos Prof. F.
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W. Cragin undertook a biological survey under the direction of the trustees of Washburn College, with which he was at that time con- nected. His first report to the trustees was made on Aug. 18, 1884, and related to fishes, lichens, algæ, mosses, etc. On Jan. 15, 1885, he made a second report, continuing the subjects formerly treated, with some notes on mammals, particularly the panther or cougar, ferret, mink, Mexican badger, buffalo, several species of bats, field mice, etc., giving some account of their characteristics, habits and haunts. This second report also dealt with fresh water bivalves and mollusca, land shells, mosses and fungi.
By this time Prof. Cragin's work had attracted considerable attention in scientific circles, but unfortunately the means were not available for giving his reports a wide circulation. A third report on March 20, 1885, gave many interesting facts concerning Kansas mammals, fresh water bivalves, reptiles and batrachians, with a second series of notes on Kan- sas fishes and "The faunal relations of Kansas." On Oct. 18, 1885, Prof. Cragin filed with the trustees a fourth report in which was continued the discussion of mosses and fresh water mollusca, with extensive notes concerning Kansas spiders. Prof. Cragin continued his work in this di- rection until he severed his connection with Washburn College, and the results of his labors, published in the college bulletins, contain a great deal of useful and valuable information regarding the fauna and flora of Kansas. A later biological survey is now being conducted by the faculty of the state university.
Bird City, a village of Cheyenne county, is located in the township of the same name and is a station on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. 16 miles east of St. Francis, the county seat. It has a bank, a money order postoffice with two rural delivery routes, telegraph and express offices, Adventist and Methodist Episcopal churches, telephone connection with the adjacent towns, a good local trade, and is a ship- ping point of some importance. The population was 190 in 1910.
Birds of Kansas,-Probably the first attempt to make a scientific classification of Kansas birds was in 1871, when the Kansas Educational Journal published a catalogue prepared by Prof. Francis H. Snow of the University of Kansas, which catalogue was "based upon the personal observations of the author during a residence of six years in Kansas."
Prof. Snow's list contained the names of 239 birds, including 20 mem- bers of the vulture species, 9 varieties of owls, 25 varieties of geese, ducks and swans, 34 kinds of finches and sparrows, 4 kinds of crows, II varieties of flycatchers, 12 of blackbirds, 22 of snipes, 17 of warblers, and 8 of woodpeckers. Other species mentioned in his catalogue were the cranes, herons, plovers, swallows, thrushes, shrikes, grouse and mocking birds. He expressed the opinion that the Carolina parrot was once numerous in the woods of eastern Kansas, and stated that it was still to be found in sparsely settled districts. Prof. Snow observed that during their migrations the pelican and cormorant were sometimes found in Kansas, as were the gulls and terns, the loon, the horned grebe
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and the Carolina grebe, the last named sometimes making its nest and hatching its young in the state. A large number of specimens were gathered by Prof. Snow and mounted for the university museum.
In 1872 Prof. J. A. Allen of the museum of comparative zoology at Cambridge, Mass., published a report of an "Ornithological Reconnois- sance" made in May, 1871, by himself and Prof. S. F. Baird of the Smith- sonian Institution, in the vicinity of Leavenworth and Topeka. This report added to the list of Prof. Snow some 40 additional species of birds, including the kite, merlin, whippoorwill, night-hawk, several wrens, the long-spur, the black-headed grosbeak, etc.
A short time before his death in 1891 Nathaniel S. Goss (q. v.) pub- lislied a "History of the Birds of Kansas," a volume of nearly 700 pages in which 529 birds were illustrated. The large collection of birds which Mr. Goss spent several years in gathering together and mounting is now in the state capitol at Topeka. Vernon Kellogg has also written a work on the "Birds of Kansas."
Birkville, a little hamlet of 'Norton county, is situated in the eastern part, 10 miles southeast of Norton, the county seat, from which place the inhabitants receive mail by rural free delivery. Calvert on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. is the nearest railroad station.
Birley, a hamlet of Chase county, with a population of 32 in 1910, is located about 10 miles southwest of Cottonwood Falls, from which place mail is received by the inhabitants by rural free delivery. Bazaar is the nearest railroad station.
Birmingham, a hamlet of Jackson county, is located on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 4 miles southeast of Holton, the county seat. It has a general store, a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and a population in 1910 of 50.
Bismarck Grove, one of the most beautiful natural parks in Kansas, is situated on the north side of the Kansas river at Lawrence, and for many years it was a favorite place for holding gatherings of all kinds. Among the historic meetings that have been held there were the Quarter Centennial celebration of the organization of Kansas Territory in 1879 and the Old Settlers' meeting in Sept., 1884. When the Western Na- tional Fair Association was organized and incorporated in 1879, Bis- marck Grove was selected as the place for holding the annual fair, and for several years the exhibits of the association were given in the grove, which had been fitted up for a fair ground. In later years the park has fallen into disuse to some extent, though much of its natural beauty still remains.
Bison, a village of Lone Star township, Rush county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 6 miles east of La Crosse, the county seat. It has a bank, a weekly newspaper (the Bison Bee), telegraph and ex- press offices, a telephone company, some good general stores, and its money order postoffice has two rural delivery routes which supply the adjacent agricultural districts with daily mail. The population in 1910 was 375.
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Black Jack, Battle of .- Late in May, 1856, Capt. H. C. Pate, in com- mand of a company of Shannon's Sharp-shooters, started for Osawa- tomie for the purpose of capturing John Brown. Near that place he found two of Brown's sons-John and Jason, the former a member of the legislature-working on their farms, arrested them and put them in irons, but the elder Brown was in hiding. A few other free-state men were arrested and some cabins burned. Soon after this Capt. Wood arrived with a company of dragoons and the prisoners were turned over to him, and on May 31 both companies moved together toward the Santa Fe road, Wood going on to Lecompton with his prisoners. On the march the two Browns were treated with great severity, and this, with the stories of murder told on his father, caused John's mind to give way, and at times he was violently insane.
Pate's company continued to the Santa Fe road near Hickory Point, and made camp on the head of a small branch called Black Jack, 5 miles southeast of Palmyra, at the head of a ravine on the edge of the prairie a little north of the Santa Fe road. Phillips in his Conquest of Kansas says, "The bottom of the ravine at Black Jack, besides the growing tim- ber, had some deep water-drains or ruts, round which was a thicket; there were several bogs on the spot where the camp was." That night Pate's company occupied the town of Palmyra and took several pris- oners. In the morning they plundered the place, and in the afternoon six of his men attempted the same thing at Prairie City. Being Sun- day, most of the people were at church, but as they attended services armed the men rushed out when a watchman gave the alarm and two of the men were captured.
As soon as he heard of the capture of his sons John Brown determined to rescue them and watched for the enemy's camp with the design of attacking it and releasing the prisoners. He hunted through the woods of the Marias des Cygnes and Ottawa creeks. On Saturday night, Capt. Shore, a free-state man who commanded the Prairie City company, had been out assisting Brown in reconnoitering for the enemy. On Sunday night Shore and his men accompanied by Capt. Brown continued the search for the camp, but were unsuccessful. They had returned to Prairie City when two scouts brought the news of Pate's camp on the Black Jack, some 5 miles away. Brown had been accompanied from Oswatomie by about 12 men, including three of his sons. Immediately upon learning of the whereabouts of Pate, Brown and Shore, with about 20 men, moved toward the Black Jack. On arriving within a mile of the camp, they dismounted, left the horses in charge of two men and despatched two messengers for help-one to Palmyra and another to Capt. Abbott's company some 8 miles distant on the Wakarusa. The remainder of the party divided, each captain commanding his own men and marched toward the enemy. There were about 50 men under Pate's command. They had formed a kind of breastwork by placing four wagons in a line several rods out on the prairie from the edge of the ravine, and had pitched a tent behind the wagons. This was the con-
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dition of the camp at about 6 o'clock, when the alarm was given that the free-state men were coming. Pate drew up his men behind the temporary breastworks. His position was a strong one, as it afforded shelter for his men, and except by coming up the ravine from the direc- tion of Hickory Point, had to be approached over an open prairie. When they ascertained the enemy's position, Brown directed Shore to go the left and get into the ravine below them, while Brown was to go into the upper part of the ravine, the bottom of which was covered with long grass. Owing to a bend in the ravine, this division of the forces would bring the enemy in range of both forces and under a cross-fire. Shore, however, approached the enemy over the open prairie and poured a volley on the pro-slavery men from the front, while Brown, who had placed his men in the tall grass within the outer banks of the ravine, opened fire upon their left flank. After the firing had lasted about five minutes Pate retreated from the wagon to the ravine, where he found shelter. This left Shore exposed to the fire of the concealed enemy and he was forced to retreat up the slope until out of range. Shore and a few of his men joined Brown in the ravine, where they continued firing from the long grass. The firing had little effect as the free-state party had only four guns of long range and there were only three or four Sharpe's rifles in both companies.
The prisoners held by Pate had been stationed in the tent with a guard and when the firing began they lay flat on the ground so that the bullets whistled over their heads. After the battle had waged some time one of the enemy rushed into the tent with the intention of shoot- ing them but Dr. Graham, at whom he aimed, sprang up, received only a slight flesh wound and rushed off to the men on the hill. The firing lasted for about three hours, during which time 2 free-state and 3 pro- slavery men were wounded. The latter knew that Shore and Brown would soon receive reinforcements and one by one they gradually slipped down the ravine until out of range, secured horses and rode away. Pate's ammunition running low, he finally sent a young man and a prisoner to Brown's camp under a flag of truce, but as Brown would not talk with anyone but the commander of the force, Pate came out. After some parleying, in which Pate claimed he was acting as an officer under the United States marshal, Brown declared he would consider nothing but unconditional surrender. As most of Pate's men had de- serted him, he yielded and thus 21 men, besides the prisoners, provisions, horses, mules and other camp equipage, as well as a quantity of the plunder taken from Palmyra, were turned over to Brown. Soon after the surrender, the free-state forces were augmented by Capt. Abbott and about 50 men from the Wakarusa and later in the day by others. The wounded were taken to Prairie City and cared for and Capt. Brown moved with his prisoners to the thick woods of Middle Ottawa creek back of Prairie City where he intrenched himself.
Black Jack Point .- (See Lone Jack.)
Black Kettle .- The Indian name of this Cheyenne chief was "Mo-ke-
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ta-ve-to," and for many years he was one of the powerful factors to be reckoned with in determining the tribal policy, in the negotiation of treaties, etc. His step-daughter became the wife of George Bent, one of the noted family of trappers and fur traders. Black Kettle was engaged in several predatory expeditions against the white settlers on the frontier, and was connected with the Indian uprising in 1868. This proved to be his last raid. With about 40 ragged, dirty and unkempt braves, he came into the post at Fort Hays claiming that his band was composed of "good Indians," but sorely in need of food. After the usual pow wow he was given a supply of provisions, and immediately he and his followers began running off stock, burning dwellings, killing and capturing the settlers in Russell and Lincoln counties. When pursuit and retribution became imminent he moved rapidly westward with his plunder, finally taking refuge in his village on the Washita river. This village was attacked by the United States soldiers commanded by Gen. George A. Custer on Nov. 29, 1868. Like a whirlwind Custer and his troopers rode through the village, firing right and left, and Black Kettle and most of his warriors were killed before they had time to arm themselves for defense.
Black Laws .- What are known as the "Black Laws" in Kansas his- tory were passed by the first territorial legislature in 1855. Holloway (p. 403) says the author of these laws were Joseph C. Anderson, after- ward the prosecuting attorney that conducted the cases against the free-state men belonging to Maj. Harvey's command who were captured near Hickory Point in Sept., 1856. The objects of these laws were to encourage the introduction of slavery into the Territory of Kansas, and to provide severe penalties for the persons who interfered with slave property. Every one inciting an insurrection or rebellion of slaves in the territory, furnishing arms to slaves or committing "any overt act in furtherance of such rebellion or insurrection," or advising by speech, written or printed matter slaves to rebel, or who would bring into the territory for circulation any book, pamphlet or circular for the purpose of inciting insurrection should suffer the death penalty. Per- sons enticing slaves away from their masters, or who aided in any way in persuading slaves to leave their owners were subject to imprisonment for ten years. Advising a slave to escape or harboring a runaway slave subjected the offender to imprisonment for five years, and there were some lighter penalties for minor offenses, but the above include the principal features of the so-called "Black Laws." Persons opposed to slavery were disqualified from acting as jurors in the trial of those charged with the violation of the laws.
Black Vermillion River, a stream of northeastern Kansas, also called the Black river, consists of two forks. The north fork rises in Marshall county, near the northeast corner, and flows south; the south fork rises in the southern part of Nemaha county and flows northwest, the two forming a junction near the little village of Vliets. From this point the main stream follows a southwesterly course until it empties into the Big Blue river near the southern boundary of Marshall county.
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Black Wolf, a village of Ellsworth county, is located on the Smoky Hill river in the township of the same name, and is a station on the Union Pacific R. R. 7 miles west of Ellsworth, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, telephone connections, a grain elevator, a good local trade, and in 1910 reported a population of 100.
Blackmar, Frank Wilson, educator, author and lecturer, was born at Springfield, Erie county, Pa., Nov. 3, 1854, a son of John S. and Rebecca (Mershon) Blackmar, the former of Scotch and the latter of Huguenot ancestry. He was educated in the public schools, the state normal school at Edinboro, and in 1881 received the degree of A. B. from the University of the Pacific at San Jose, Cal. He was then professor of mathematics in that institution until 1886, when he became a graduate student in Johns Hopkins University, where he was an instructor in history in 1887-88, and a fellow in history and politics in 1888-89. In the last named year he received the degree of Ph. D. and left Johns Hopkins to become professor of history and sociology in the University of Kansas. After occupying that chair for ten years, he was made pro- fessor of sociology and economics in the same institution, which position he still holds. When the graduate school of the University of Kansas was organized in 1896 Prof. Blackmar was elected dean, and is still occupying that office. He is the author of a number of works bearing upon the subjects in which he has so long been an instructor, the prin- cipal ones being as follows: "Spanish Colonization of the Southwest," 1890; "Spanish Institutions in the Southwest," 1891; "The Story of Human Progress," 1896; "History of Higher Education in Kansas," 1900; "Life of Charles Robinson," 1900; "Elements of Sociology; Eco- nomics for Colleges; Economics for High Schools," 1907. Besides these he has contributed to reviews and written a number of pamphlets on historical, sociological and economic topics. In 1885, at San Jose, Cal., Prof. Blackmar married Miss Mary S. Bowman, who died on March 4, 1892, and on July 25, 1900, he married Miss Kate Nicholson of Lawrence, Kan.
Blaine, a village of Pottawatomie county, is located in Clear Creek township at the junction of the Leavenworth, Kansas & Western branch of the Union Pacific R. R. and a branch of the Kansas Southern & Gulf, the latter connecting it with Westmoreland, the county seat, 9 miles south. All the main lines of business are represented, including banking facilities. There is an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The town was laid out in 1879 and was at that time called Butler with Blaine as the name of the postoffice.
Blair, a post-hamlet of Doniphan county, is located in Washington township, on the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad, 4 miles from Wathena and about 7 east of Troy, the county seat. The population in 1910 was 50.
Blakeman, a village of Logan township, Rawlins county, is the first station west of Atwood on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R.
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It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is a shipping and supply point for the neighborhood. The population was 100 in 1910.
Bland, a small hamlet of Reno county, is located about 12 miles east of Hutchinson, the county seat, in the Kisiwa creek valley, and some 4 miles west of Burrton, which is the most convenient railroad station, and from which place the inhabitants of Bland receive mail by rural free delivery.
Blind, State School for .- The state school for the blind, or blind asylum, as it is frequently called, had its origin in an act approved by Gov. Carney on Feb. 27, 1864. By this act Henry McBride of John- son county, Fielding Johnson and Byron Judd of Wyandotte county, were appointed commissioners to select a location for the institution at some point in Wyandotte county. They were also authorized to accept as a donation a tract of land of not less than 10 acres for a site. The city of Wyandotte (now Kansas City, Kan.) agreed to donate 9.6 acres in what was then known as Oakland park. Although this was
STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
slightly less than the amount of land specified in the act, the site was approved, and in 1866 a small appropriation was made by the legis- lature to pay the expenses of the commissioners. In 1867 the legislature appropriated $10,000 for the erection of buildings by a commission to be appointed by the governor. The first buildings were completed on Oct. I, 1867, and on the 7th the school opened with nine pupils in at- tendance.
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The first trustees were F. B. Baker, Frederick Speck and William Larimer. They made a report on Dec. 10, 1867, showing the cost of the buildings, etc., and the legislature of 1868 appropriated a little over $11,600 for additional buildings and maintenance. The first annual report of the board bears the date of Nov. 30, 1868, when the first fiscal year of the institution was closed.
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