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, Volume II, Part 86

Author: Blackmar, Frank Wilson, 1854-1931, ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Standard publishing company
Number of Pages: 960

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, Volume II > Part 86

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Sons of the American Revolution, perhaps the best known of Amer- ican patriotic societies, has for its object the preservation of the memory and spirit of the men who achieved independence by the war of the Revolution, the encouragement in historical research relating to that historic conflict, the preservation of documents, records and relics, and to foster a spirit of patriotism. Any person descended from a Revo- lutionary soldier, sailor, marine officer, signer of the Declaration of In- dependence, or member of a Colonial Congress or legislature, is eligible to membership.

The official organ of the society for 1902 states that the pioneer society of the Sons of the American Revolution was organized on Oct. 22, 1875, in California, where it was known as the "Society of the Sons of Revo- lutionary Sires." Under its present name it was perfected on July 4, 1876.

The national society was organized in New York, April 30, 1889, the Io0th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as presi- dent of the United States, in the room in Fraunce's Tavern where he delivered his farewell address to the officers of the Revolutionary army.

The Kansas branch of this society was organized at Topeka on March 31, 1892, with Avery Washburn, president; Dr. J. L. Furber, vice- president; Franklin G. Adams, secretary; George D. Hale, treasurer, and T. E. Bowman, registrar.

A similar order-the Sons of the Revolution-was organized in New York in 1875 by John A. Stevens and others. The practical work of this society consists in collecting and preserving manuscripts, records and documents relating to the Revolutionary war. The first Kansas chapter of this society was organized in 1897. Its members are men who trace

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their ancestry back to those who served their country during the war of the Revolution.

Sorghum .- The many varieties of sorghum may be classed under three general heads-saccharine sorghums, non-saccharine sorghums and broom-corns. The first group covers all those varieties which con- tain sufficient sugar to make their culture profitable to the sugar manu- facturer. The second group covers all varieties that contain very little or no sugar. Sorghum is a cereal, cane-like grass, more slender than Indian corn, without ears and of glaucous color. The stalks have a hard, smooth shell with a juicy pulpy interior. There are many varieties of it grown throughout the warmer parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. It is used as a forage or grain product, or for making mo- lasses or sirup. The chief grain yielding sorghums are Kafir corn, durra, milo maize, Egyptian rice corn and Jerusalem corn.

As cultivated in the early '50s, sorghum became a staple crop in Kansas on account of its drought resisting properties. The roots pene- trate deep into the ground where the soil is of uniform moisture, the stalks grow close together on the land, the hard, close exterior of the canes and blades prevent rapid evaporation of the sap, which is so abundantly contained in the pulpy center. This combination of char- acteristics enables sorghum to withstand more drought than almost any of the other crops grown, and a total failure of the sorghum crop in Kan- sas is a rare occurrence even in very dry seasons. As compared with corn, wheat, etc., sorghum takes very little strength from and contains very little of the ingredients of the soil, yet the properties of the soil effect the quality of the sorghum. Mr. Cowgill, sorghum commissioner for the board of agriculture in 1884, says : "As a rule rather light sandy soil, pervaded with the compounds of phosphorous such as are derived from the decay of bones, for example, give the quickest growth, the sweetest, purest juice, for making sugar."

In Kansas sorghum is used for stock feeding and for making sugar and sirup. In the first years of cultivation only the saccharine variety was raised, so the term sorghum by years of usage is used to designate only the sugar-bearing variety, the non-saccharine varieties being called by specific names. While both kinds are used for stock foods, the non- saccharine species have achieved the more prominent distinction in that field. They may be divided into two groups-Kafir corn and the durras. Kafir corn was first recognized in a statistical way by the board of agri- culture in 1893, the area cultivated in that year being 46,911 acres. The whole sorghum area in 1872 was 4,249 acres. Kafir corn is sometimes known as African millet, the name being taken from a native tribe of South Africa. This corn has habits of growth and development similar to those of the common sweet sorghum. It is characterized by its long, erect, slender heads, compact and full of obovate seeds either red or white in color. It will grow very nearly within the same climatic con- ditions as Indian corn, but requires a slightly warmer climate for its best development. Kafir corn in Kansas is excelled in importance only

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by corn, wheat and alfalfa. As a stock food it is used whole, in meal or in combination with milk, alfalfa or soybeans.

The durras, viz: Milo maize, Jerusalem corn and rice corn, are char- acterized by their thick, compact, ovate heads, which frequently turn down, and their large flattened seeds. They were introduced into Kan- sas about the same time as Kafir corn. In growing, harvesting and feed- ing they require practically the same methods. Saccharine sorghum makes good forage and is widely used throughout the state. In 1890 there were 216,714 acres planted to sorghum, and from 56,393 acres were manufactured 3,431,100 gallons of sirup with a valuation of $1.461,- 125. The same year 160,321 acres were used for forage, having a valu- ation of $894,729. The statistics of sorghum for 1910 are as follows : Sorghum for sirup or sugar, 12,879 acres, 1,136,784 gallons, value, $511,072.32 ; sorghum for forage or grain, 512,621 acres, value, $4,167,- 947 ; Kafir corn, 619,808 acres, 1,799,534 tons, value, $8,011,283; milo maize, 100,700 acres, 202,073 tons, value, $1,033,239; Jerusalem corn, 6,918 acres, 17,843 tons, value, $83,975; Broom-corn, 111,308 acres, 39,561,123 pounds, value, $1,604,603.

South Cedar, a hamlet of Jackson county, is located in Cedar township, about 10 miles southeast of Holton, the county seat. It receives mail by rural route from Denison.

South Haven, one of the incorporated towns of Sumner county, is located in South Haven township, at the junction of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Kansas Southwestern railroads, 14 miles south of Wellington, the county seat. It has a milling company, a bank, numerous retail establishments, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The town was founded in 1872, and the postoffice established that year. The first postmaster and also the first store-keeper was F. F. Meister. The rail- road reached South Haven in 1879 and the town company was formed that year.

South Hutchinson is that portion of the city of Hutchinson lying south of the Arkansas river. The population in 1910 was 387. (See Hutch- inson.)

South Mound, a hamlet of Neosho county, is located in Lincoln town- ship on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., II miles south of Erie, the county seat. It has express and telegraph offices and a money order post- office, which was established in the 'zos with Y. T. Lacy as the first postmaster. The population of the town in 1910 was 62.

· Southwestern College, located at Winfield, was founded in 1885. At the third session of the Southwest Kansas conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, held at Eldorado, Kan., in March, 1885, the commit- tee on education made the following report: "We believe the time has fully come when an institution of learning under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church should be established within the bounds of the southwest conference." As a result of this report, 6 members of the conference and 3 laymen were nominated as a board of trustees, and a

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committee of 7 was appointed to select a suitable location. The trustees appointed were Thomas Andos, C. A. King, B. C. Swartz, B. Kelly, M. L. Gates, J. D. Botkin, A. L. Redden, D. J. Chatfield and V. C. Cartwright, and the locating committee was composed of N. S. Buckner, N. Ascher, W. H. Cline, T. C. Miller, A. P. George, D. D. Atkin and H. Waitt. The city of Winfield offered to give 20 acres of land in the college hill addi- tion ; 20 acres in Highland park; donations of stone, lumber and other materials for the buildings ; $20,000 in cash, and $20,000 to be paid in ten

CEECE NIEET

SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE, WINFIELD.

annual installments of $2,000 each. This offer was accepted and the board of trustees began a four-story building to contain assembly room, library, class rooms and laboratory. On May 11, 1886, John E. Harp was elected president and served until 1889. He was followed by Prof. J. A. Wood as acting president. The college building was not ready for occupancy in Sept., 1886, and a rented building was used until the follow- ing spring.

In 1889 the number of trustees was increased to 15, and in 1901, the charter of the college was changed so that the board of trustees was made to consist of 21 members with the privilege of increasing it to 25, of whom 6 were to be elected from the Oklahoma conference. The trus- tees also invited the alumni association to nominate 3 persons from its number each year, one for each class of trustees. In 1902, in conformity with the new charter, the board of trustees was increased to 21.

The first name of the college was the Southwestern Kansas Confer- ence College, which was changed on Nov. 5, 1908, to Southwestern Col- lege. The college now has an endowment fund of $100,000, of which

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$26,000 was provided by the citizens of Winfield. An athletic park was purchased in 1905 and opened in the fall of that year; a temporary gym- nasium was built in 1908; Richardson Hall, a fine building costing $70,- 000, was completed in 1910; the institution is well supplied with all equip- ment for laboratory work; has a fine museum, with collections illustrat- ing natural history, industrial arts, archaeology, ethnology. There are also fine zoological specimens and a well equipped library.

The college provides a four-year college course, a four-year academic course ; an academic normal course, a school of oratory, a school of art, school of business, and a conservatory of music. One of the strongest departments is that of biblical theology, especially designed for young men fitting themselves for the ministry. In 1910 Frank E. Mossman was president and George E. Platts, dean. They were ably assisted by a faculty of 22 members, and the enrollment was over 700.

Spangler, William Cornelius, was born on Aug. 7, 1859, on a farm near the village of Peotone, Will county, Ill. . In 1870 his father moved to Crawford county, Kan. He received his early education at Osage Mis- sion, Kan., and taught in the rural schools in that district before enter- ing the University of Kansas in 1879. He received the degree of Bach- elor of Science from that institution in 1883, and the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1885. Soon after entering the university he became secretary to the chancellor, clerk and bookkeeper of the university, which position he held during his entire university course. In 1885 he entered the practice of law, being associated with James W. Green. On Sept. 2, 1885, he married Miss Caroline Bauman of Neodesha, Kan., a graduate of the university. In the spring of 1886 he spent some time in Europe on legal business, and the summer of 1895 in New Mexico in similar work. He practiced law in 'Lawrence for sixteen years, part of that time acting as professor in the law school of the university, lecturing on the law of real property. In 1887 Mr. Spangler was appointed city attorney of Law- rence, which position he held throughout many changes of administra- tion. In 1889 he was appointed by the governor a regent of the uni- versity and in 1889-90 was acting chancellor after the resignation of Chancellor Lippincott. In 1900 he was again made regent and soon became acting chancellor in the absence of Mr. Snow. He was a mem- ber of the college fraternity Phi Kappa Psi and the honorary society, Phi Beta Kappa. He died on Oct. 22, 1902, at his home in Lawrence. He is survived by a wife, two sons and a daughter.

Spanish-American War .- For four centuries after the discovery of America, the island of Cuba was a dependency of Spain. The first attempt to free Cuba by means of a revolution was the Narcisso Lopez expedition which left New Orleans in April, 1850. One detachment of Lopez's little army was commanded by Maj. Theodore O'Hara, who wrote the well known poem entitled "The Bivouac of the Dead." The expedition resulted in failure, but in 1854 the Cuban junta in New York began preparations for a revolution on a more elaborate scale. News of the movement reached the Spanish government at Madrid, the military

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forces on the island were increased, and the junta abandoned its plans until a more favorable opportunity offered.

An uprising in 1868 resulted in the establishment of a republican form of government, at the head of which were Betancourt, marquis of Santa Lucia, and Eduardo and Ignacio Agramonte. This was followed by a ten years' war, during which time over 100,000 Spanish troops were sent to Cuba to suppress the rebellion. At the close of the conflict, Spain fastened a debt of some $200,000,000 on the people of Cuba-about $125 for every person on the island-and this started preparations for another revolution. In these preparations Gen. Maximo Gomez, who had been commander in chief of the insurgent forces during the latter part of the ten years' war, was a conspicuous figure.

On Feb. 24, 1895, insurrection broke out in the provinces of Santiago, Santa Clara and Matanzas. The other three provinces-Havana, Puerto Principe and Pinar del Rio-did not join in the uprising against Spanish tyranny and oppression. Within 60 days over 50,000 Spanish troops, under command of Gen. Campos, were in Cuba. In Feb., 1896, Campos was superseded by Gen. Weyler, whose cruelties aroused the indigna- tion of the civilized world, and in Oct., 1897, he was succeeded by Gen. Blanco. By that time the war had cost Spain over $200,000,000, and still the insurrection was not suppressed.

In the meantime, legislative bodies and political conventions in the United States passed resolutions urging the recognition of Cuba's bel- ligerent rights, if not of her independence, and the press of the country was almost unanimous in denouncing the methods Spain was pursuing to conquer the islanders. But it was not until Feb. 15, 1898, that an incident occurred that led the United States to declare war against Spain. About 10 o'clock on the evening of that day the United States battleship Maine was blown up while lying at anchor in Havana harbor, and 266 gallant marines met an untimely death.

On March 29 a resolution was introduced in the United States senate recommending the recognition of Cuba's independence, and on April II President Mckinley sent a special message to Congress asking for authority to intervene in behalf of the Cubans. In summing up the situ- ation near the close of his message, he said: "In view of these facts and these considerations, I ask Congress to authorize and empower the president to take measures to secure a termination of hostilities between the government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment of a stable government capable of maintaining order and observing its international obligations, insuring peace and tranquility and the security of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes."

Nine days later the president approved the resolutions "for the recog- nition of the independence of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters,

(II-46)

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and directing the president of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect."

President Mckinley immediately communicated with the Spanish minister. at Washington, acquainting him with the spirit of the resolu- tions, but the minister asked for his passports and withdrew. About the same time the Spanish government sent passports to Minister Woodford, thus closing diplomatic relations between the two countries. On the 22nd the president proclaimed a blockade of certain Cuban ports, and the next day called for 125,000 volunteers to enforce the resolutions of the 20th, though as yet there had been no formal declaration of war. On the 25th the president sent to Congress another special message, in which he recounted the events of the last few days, and concluded by saying : "In view of the measures so taken, and with a view to the adoption of such other measures as may be necessary to enable me to carry out the expressed will of the Congress of the United States in the premises. I now recommend to your honorable body the adoption of a joint resolu- tion declaring that a state of war exists between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain."

Congress was prompt to respond, and the same day an act was passed declaring that a state of war had existed since the 21st, though as a matter of fact the war department had been mobilizing troops for nearly two weeks prior to that date. When the news that war had been declared reached Kansas, enthusiastic demonstrations were made in a number of the leading cities and towns. At Leavenworth salutes were fired at the fort and the National Soldiers' Home, and 2,000 veterans in the home marched up and down the main parade in the rain, singing war songs and cheering. A company of the National Guard at Fort Scott quickly assembled at the armory, ready to move at a moment's notice, and a number of Spanish flags were either burned or rammed into the cannon used in firing a salute, and blown to shreds. The daily papers of Ottawa published a call for a meeting at the skating rink for the pur- pose of organizing a company, and at the meeting about 50 men signed the roll. Similar demonstrations were made at Olathe, Pittsburg, Inde- pendence, Salina and other towns, and at Erie there were patriotic speeches and a salute from "Old Abe," the cannon belonging to the Republican club. The Sunflower State was ready.

In accordance with the action of the war department, Gov. Leedy issued his call on April 26 for three regiments of infantry. As Kansas had furnished nineteen regiments in the Civil and Indian wars, it was decided to number the first regiment raised for the war with Spain the Twentieth, the others to follow in order. The first company to report for duty was one recruited at Kansas City, Kan., by Frederick Funston, who was commissioned colonel of the Twentieth regiment, which was mustered into the United States service at Topeka, from May 9 to 13, with the following officers: Frederick Funston, colonel; Edward C. Little, lieutenant-colonel; Frank H. Whitman and Wilder S. Metcalf, majors; William A. Deford, adjutant; Walter P. Hull, quartermaster;

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Charles A. Hoffman, surgeon ; Henry D. Smith, assistant surgeon; John G. Schlieman, chaplain. At the time of muster in the strength of the regiment was 46 officers and 964 enlisted men.

Of the companies composing the regiment, Company A was recruited at Topeka ; B at Kansas City, Kan .: C at Leavenworth ; D in Crawford county ; E in Anderson and Woodson counties ; F in Bourbon and adjoin- ing counties; G at Independence; H at Lawrence; I at Iola, Topeka, Paola and Osawatomie; K at Ottawa and Pleasanton ; L at Abilene and Junction City ; M at Salina and Minneapolis.

Almost immediately after the regimental organization was completed, the Twentieth was ordered to San Francisco, where it arrived on May 20, 1898. Here it remained until Oct. 27, when the first detachment embarked for the Philippine islands. The remainder of the regiment fol- lowed on Nov. 8, and by the first week in December the entire command was in the Philippines ready for duty. While at San Francisco the time was spent in drilling and maneuvering, so that few volunteer regiments were better disciplined or better drilled than the Twentieth Kansas.

The regiment's first appearance on the firing line was on Feb. 4, 1899, when the outposts were attacked about 10 o'clock in the evening, the firing continuing all night and until noon of the 5th, when an advance was ordered and the enemy was driven back to his trenches about 2 miles from Manila. There was some skirmishing on the 7th, and on the Ioth the regiment took part in the capture of Caloocan. In addition to these engagements, the following list of actions in which the Twentieth participated is taken from the report of the adjutant-general: Marilao, March 27; Malolos, March 30; Bagbag river, April 25; Calumpit, April 26-27; Santo Tomas river, May 4; occupation of San Fernando, May 6; and the defense of San Fernando, May 25. The regiment was also in skirmishes at Tulijan, March 25; Malinta, March 26 ;. Poli, March 27; Bigoa and Guiginto, March 29; Grand river, April 27; Bacolor, May 13; and Santa Rita, May 15.

Col. Funston was promoted brigadier-general on May 4, 1899, and on the 9th Maj. Wilder S. Metcalf was made colonel. On the 25th of the same month Companies D and H, and one platoon of Company I, accom- panied Gen. Funston on a skirmishing and reconnoitering party to Santa Rosa. On June 25 the three battalions of the regiment were united at Manila, but on July 12 the third battalion (Companies C, D, H and I) was ordered to report to Gen. Lawton at Paranaque, to relieve a detach- ment of the Fourteenth U. S. Infantry. This battalion rejoined the regi- ment at Manila on Aug. 9, and on Sept. 3 the "Fighting Twentieth" sailed for Hongkong, China, where it arrived on the 6th. The homeward voyage was begun on the 14th, and on Oct. 10 the regiment again went into camp at the Presidio, San Francisco, where it was mustered out on Oct. 28, with 46 officers and 720 enlisted men. On Nov. 3 "the boys" reached Topeka, where they were given a cordial reception and banquet, after which they returned to their homes.

All together, 92 officers and 1,364 enlisted men were accounted for on

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the muster rolls of the Twentieth infantry. Of these 3 officers and 19 men were killed in action; II men died of wounds; 10 officers and 120 men were wounded, but recovered ; 35 died of disease, and 4 deserted.

Shortly after the regiment was mustered out, the Grand Army posts over the state started a movement to raise a fund for the purpose of giv- ing a medal to every member of it. The fund was raised and some 1,200 medals were deposited with the department commander of the Grand Army for distribution. The Topeka Capital of April 20, 1904, published a list of those who had not yet received their medals, and whose location was unknown. This list contained about 125 names.

The Twenty-first regiment was mustered at Topeka on May 12 and 14, 1898, with the following officers: Thomas G. Fitch, colonel ; Charles McCrum, lieutenant-colonel ; Harry A. Smith and Willis L. Brown, ma- jors; John B. Nicholson, adjutant ; John C. Little, quartermaster ; Frank C. Armstrong, surgeon; Thomas C. Biddle and Fred W. Turner, assist- ant surgeons ; William E. Woodward, chaplain.

Company A was recruited at Great Bend; B, at Garden City; C, at Wichita; D, at Smith Center; E, at Hutchinson ; F, at Winfield; G, at Osage City; H, at Eldorado; I, at Hays City; K, at Kingman; L, at Wellington; M, at Marion and McPherson, the strength at time of mus- ter in being 46 officers and 958 enlisted men.

The regiment left Topeka on May 17 for Lysle, Ga., where it remained in Camp George H. Thomas, drilling and doing camp duty, until Aug. 25. During that time the regiment suffered an epidemic of typhoid fever which carried off 20 of its members. On Aug. 25 the Twenty-first was ordered to Camp Hamilton, Ky., and just a month later left that place for Fort Leavenworth, where it arrived on Sept. 27. The men were given a furlough for 30 days to visit their homes. This furlough was extended to Nov. 10, and on Dec. 10 the regiment was mustered out with 46 officers and 1,184 enlisted men. Concerning the Twenty-first, the adjutant-general's report says: "This regiment was made up of sturdy material, well officered, and it is a source of regret to officers and men that they were not given an opportunity to demonstrate their efficiency in the field."

The Twenty-second infantry was mustered in at Topeka, May II to 17, 1898, with 46 officers and 963 enlisted men. Of this regiment, Henry C. Lindsey was colonel; James Graham, lieutenant-colonel ; Alexander M. Harvey and Chase Doster, majors; Clay Allen, adjutant ; Henry A. Lamb (and later Charles Lindsey), quartermaster ; Josephus P. Stewart, surgeon; Louis C. Duncan, Wladimir F. de Niedman and Frank H. Martin, assistant surgeons ; Valeda H. Biddison, chaplain.

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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, Volume II, Part 86

Author: Blackmar, Frank Wilson, 1854-1931, ed Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Standard publishing company Number of Pages: 960

Author: Blackmar, Frank Wilson, 1854-1931, ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Standard publishing company
Number of Pages: 960