USA > Kansas > Osage County > Patriotic Lyndon : a history of several organizations at the county seat of Osage County, Kansas, the last seventeen years, which have made it a "patriotic Lyndon" : containing the roster of ex-union soldiers and sailors. > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Wh n Mr Danhauer sold out his brick f ont store to Claren e Martin he moved back on to his farm, where he stayed until Fel ruary, 1889, or about two years. Then from increasing in- filmities he feit that he must give up farming, so the form was rented out and he returned to Lyndon. This t me they lived in the Whenrey house, which Mr. R. R. Vail now owns aud occu- pies, one year, and hen tought out Mr. S mmons' residence in block 40, where th-y have : in e resided.
It was 1890, the second year in town, that he se. ved as Commander, and per- formed such other duties as his fellow citizens laid upon lim. It was their intentions, as s oi as out of debt to once m re go back and visit their old Ohio home. Mr Danhauer said to h s wie that the m rtgages were paid last year and this year (1837) was to have been the year for their con emplated trip, but the Lord w lied otherwise.
March 14, 1896 Mr. Danhauer died and the widow does not care to go back new
Iltmy Dan' auer married Ida F. Lillie Lefler, Woodall in 1:80 and has five children. Ne:lie Fleming, They live on the farm.
Lew Danhauer, with his boy II. Wal- Celia Black,
lace Danhauer, lives in San Francis: o, Luna Gardner, C liforuja.
Aunie Da h uer married Willur Flo Madaris,
This was a red letter day for the old soldiers around Lyndon. This is not to be a review of the day; full accounts c n be read in the Lyndon papers of that date. The Post turned out in full force, well uniformed. The procession from the city to the cemetery was about a mile long of teams. After the decoration services were over, Hal - ry Ford took four pictures, that at this late day have a historic interest.
1st. A picture of the Flow. r Girls, Band, old soldiers and others out in the · cemetery. And second a picture of the Flower Girls in their convey ance.
NAMES OF THE FLOWER GIRLS,
Lucy Williams, Cora Woodall,
Carrie Hedges,
Winnie Green,
Elva Buck, Emma } ennedy,
Anna Kennedy, Ida Mc Whinney,
Alice Hawkins, Emma Hintor,
Etlie Courtney, Myrtle Wolf, Mary Williamson, May West, Mamie Ayers, Vesta Geyer,
Lucy Underwood, Nora Danbauer,
Addie Drew, Mamie Keenan,
Edith Hollingsw'th
Lulu Bordes,
Grace Cottrel', Ada Glass, Lula Prairs,
Emma Heaton,
Dollie Whittemore,
Ettie Gardner,
May Trumbull,
Cora Fleming,
Flera Sk naker.
121
SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF J. M WHINREY AND JOHN H. HOWE, FIRST AND THIRD COMMANDERS OF LYNDON not being re-elected. The death of his POST. wife, and depreciation of Lyndon pro- perty broke him up, and he went out to J. Milton Whinrey was the first Commander of the Post. Ke arney Co., Kansas and homesteaded. Some time afterward he married Miss He was born in Clinton Co., Ohio Livonia Pryer of Lyndon, who had a July 23, 1840. Lived in Cass Co., Mich., claim near him. His childrens' names and Joliet, Ill .; here he enlisted April, are-Norah E. Whinrey, married to Eugene Bailey of Lyndon; Estelle I. W --. , who died at the age of 11 at Lyn- don; Olive P. W -. , who is about 18; she, together with the youngest child, Myrtle Ethel W -. , born 1882 on the Capper farm, live at their home in Pas- saic, Kearney Co., Kan. 21, 1861 in the 3 months service, after the firing on Fort Sumpter. They did not leave the state. June 21, 1861, they were mustered into the U. S. service. He went as a private in Co. F, 20, Ill. Inft. In 1864 he veteraned with the Regt, and while home then on a fur- lough in Ohio, he married Miss Emily Comrade Whinrey and wife visited the Osage Co. friends the fall of '96 and they were made to feel that this is yet a good section of country to live in; and when fortune permits, we will welcome them back to Lyndon. Lieurance, April 14, 1864. He was in 36 battles commenceing with Forts Henry and Donelson, and Shiloh. He was in the 17th Corps, Army of Tenn- esee. He saw over four years service and came out Capt. of his Company.
After the war, in the fall of 1873, he moved into Osage Co., Kansas, buying the 80 from the same quarter in which Rev. Green of Junction twp., lives. He only farmed there one year, after which he returned to Ohio, and stayed two years.
In the spring of 1876, he moved back sold his 80 for stock and lived on rented farms until the year of 1882, when he bought the Capper farm one mile east of Lyndon, paying $2,800 for it. Two years later, being elected to the office of County Sheriff, he sold his farm to H C. Cates for $5,500, and moved into town.
In these years of 1876 and '82, Milt Wbinrey was known all over the coun- try as a very successful Auctioneer at public sales.
The next several years were very disas- trous ones to him. As he had used con- siderable of his means in building him-
self a home, and also expended some- what for his re-election, he was hardly prepared for the defeat he received in
DECORATION DAY-1884. Floral Committee.
Mrs. Etta Howe, Mrs. J. H. Keenan,
Mrs John Hinton, Mrs. P. Lefler,
Misses, Flora Keenan, Cora Shoemaker,
Misses,
Ella Lefier, Gusta Kercher,
Dora Waddell, Belle Uber,
Clara Beaver, Ida Smell,
Ella Carey, Anna Brown,
Mary Green,
Maggie Kennedy,
Grace Morris.
"Bring all the flowers you can and deliver at the office of Dr. Chittenden
-
122
J. H. HOWE,
Commander 1883-87.
John Hale Howe was born in Berlin Miss., May 13. 1838. He removed to Marlborough at the age of 18 and worked at the shoemaker's trade until Le enlisted and went to the war.
June 29, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F 13, Co., May, 1868 Sam Holyokes were Mass. In one month their Regt. was on its way to the Potomac. Their first service was in the Upper Potomac army around Harper's Ferry, Sharps burg, Darastown, and Williamsburg.
II, was on provost guard duty seven weeks at Hagerstown, Md. Dec. '61 and Jan. '62. March 1, 1862 they crossed the Potomac into Martinsburg. Va. They formed part of Geo. Banks and Gen. Shields army to occupy Winches- ter and Bunker H.Il, Va. Some skir- mishing was had with the rebels under Jackson; after this movement, in March, 1862 they werr ordered down to j in Gen. McDowel at Centerville.
One of the singular freaks of war is that they broke camp and left it three (! fferent, days and each night found tiem back in the same vicinity so that they camped on the same ground three nights in succession.
'They moved to Bull Run, to Mauasses Junction, and the 12th of May 1862, to Falmouth, under Gen. Ilartsworth. The marching and coun ti-marching was so fatigning that Comrade Howe got detailed to drive a team, but as the army fell back on Washingtou he gave out entirely and went to a hospital in Washington. July 4th he joined his Regt. at Warren- ton Centre,' C. H., but being unable for duty, was given an honorable dis- charge July 18, 1862 and sent home to Mass.
Here, May 3, 1863 he married Miss Etta Dole at Berlin, Mass .; but
July, 1864, feeling his country's call for more help, he enl sted in Co. I 5th Mass He served one-hundred and six ten days as a guard at Baltimore; re- ceiving an honorable discharge Nov. 16, 1864, he again returned home; this t me for good
J. H. Howe and wife came to Osage
fellow townsmen of theirs in Mass. and they stopped here with them until the fall of 1868, when they were able to occupy, peaceably, a claim on the Salt Creek bottoms. one half mile south of where Lyndon was established in 1869
In Mrs. Etta Howe's narrative, which is given in another place, some of the early day trials of these pioneers is given along with others.
From the first organizition of the G. A. R. in Kansas. he was interested; and, although absent in Mass with hia wife, for a peiod of five years during the '70's, he retained his farm. When he returned, he engaged in the sale of agaicultural tools; hauling them down to his farm from Burlingame, where the settlers came and dealt liberally with him.
On the organization of the Lyndon Post No. 19, in 1880, we find him on hand; and in 1883 he was elected Post Commander. December 1881 he re- moved from his farm to town, where he opened an agricultural tool store, buy- ing for that purpose the old H. Gilbert property in block 27. This made him a good residence anb store combined.
Mrs. Etta Howe personally assisted him in his business and became ac- quainted with his customers. They were both very enthusiastic in the Grand Army work, and, during the six years from 1882, helped to increase the Post from thirty six to over one hun- dred members, and in 1887 Mrs. Howe and other Lyndon ladies instituted the
123
Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. Howe's They afterwards had the satisfaction business having increased, in 1884 he of knowing that it was a social success bought a large building (Deaver's car- Comrade Howe's large acquaintance riage shop) aud moved it onto his prem- with the old soldiers and others in the ises. It was in the second story of this county, was, I think, the means of building that be finished off the nice some of them abusing his confidence large hall, which the Grand Army and in succeed ng years, to the extent of Woman's Relief Corps occupied so many hundred dollars. Because of so
many years.
Space will not admit of further men- gies, etc., Comrade Howe was obliged to make an assignment.
tion of his care and devotion to the old so'dler's interest in Lyndon "The old
He held city offices and filled places boys" will always carry his love for of trust, and when from long continued them, in pleasant remembrance. In his dying hours he sent his last message to them.
August 31. 1882, when they were April 1893, passed resolutions of regret, building the new Methodist church, and' expreessd many hearty wishes as there was a mass meeting in its yard to his future health, happiness, and of old soldiers and citizens of Osage prosperity. Many kind letters passed County to lis'en to a speech from Sena- back and forth from the Post and Corps tor Prest n 'B. Plumb. This was ad- hore, to Mr. aud Mrs. Howe in their dress d par icul uly to the o'd so'diers; and, at the close of the day there was a re-organization and re- election of he officers of the Osage County Battalion.
This was an organization composed largely of the Grand Army Posts of Osage County: and, probably not a half dozen other counties in the state them here in the West.
were as well organized as this county. Comrade J. H. Burke was elected Col- onel of our Battal on on this occasion. I do not remember who was elected Colonel in 1883, but Comrade Howe was elected Lieut. Colonel, and in 1884 he was elected Colonel; likewise in '85 and '88. One of these years D. H. Dan- hauer was his Adjutant.
In the fall of 1584, a very successful reunion was held in the eastern part of the city of Lyndon. Some three or four hundred old soldiers being present and plenty of tents set up to make a large camp. Commander Howe and Lyndon Post had plenty of work to do.
many not paying for their tools, bug-
ill health, he went East to live and die, one of the largest orders in Lyndon, The Modern Woodman of America,
home at Marlboro, Mass., prior to Mr. Howe's death, which took place June 24. 1894. As our Lyndon papers contained full account of his passing away at the time of it, the task of the historian will close with a prayer that the widow may find as warm friends in the East as they left behind
-
124
GEORGE WEBER.
the extreme right within four miles of Richmond, where from behind breast-
Comrade George Weber, the seventh Commander of Lyndon Post No. 19, works we repulsed the Rebel Gen. Hill was born near Harmony, Butler coun- and Longstreet's divisions with terri- ty, Pensylvania, January 7, 1839.
ble loss to them. This was called the '1h s was always his home until he battle of Mechanicsville. On the morn- removed to Kansas in 1867. WAR HISTORY. (Given in his language.) ing of the 27th our corps formed a line on Gaines Hill to oppose the the three rebel divisions of Hill, Longstreet and "I enlisted April 23, 1861, in Co. D. Jackson. In this, the second of the 11 Pa. Reserves. We did not leave the seven days' battle before Richmond, state at once. Gov. Curtin raised 13 Mcclellan had 20,000 to the enemy regiments of Inft., 1 of Cav., and one 70,000 men, and he got badly defeated, of Art., cal'ed the Pennsylvania Re- all the wounded falling into the enemy's s-rves, numbering 15,000 men. The hands. I was shot in the left arm and first battle of Bull Run occurred July right side and left to the care of the 21, 1861 and our Pa. Reserves were or- enemy. Our regiment suffered the dle, ed at once to Washington to rein- worst it ever had; we had eleven men force Gen. McDowell's defeated army. killed out of our company alone. I We were the first organized forces to was carried a prisoner of war to Rich- reach Washington after the batt'e. mond next day, and confined in Libby liere, July 23rd, we were sworn info prison and also about four weeks on the United States service for three Belle Isle, without any surgical care years. We remained around Washing- more than what fellow prisoners gave ton until March, 1862. We were then me; so that after about 40 days when I in the second division under Gen. Geo. was exchanged, August 6 or 7, 1862, I McCall; afterwards it was Gen. Geo. C. was able for duty and immediately Meade's division. I was always under joined my command in McDowell's Meade. We first smelled powder Dec. corps at Harrison's Landing. We were 20, 1861, at the engagement at Dranes- soon after transferred to Gen Pope's ville, Va., where most of our Pa. Re- army out on the Rappahannock, acting serves took a hand and gained a victo- as a rear guard to his army from Cedar ry at slight loss to ourselves.
Mt, August 16th, and were the first We were very healthy and well this troops to be engaged at the second bat- winter; we only lost one man out of a tle of Bull Run, August 28, 29 and 30th. ‹ o mpany of 101 men. As our Pa. Re- In this engagement our division was serves had gone out together, we kept a'most annihilated. The month of together and fought together the whole March before, our regiment had 1,040 war.
officers and men, and our company a this fatal field the regiment could only muster 43 officers and men; my com-
About June, 1862, being now in the full hundred. When we retired from 3rd D.v. of the 1st Corps, we went with McC.ellan's army on the Peninsular campaign in front of Richmond. The pany only had myself and two others. fight ng commenced May 31st at Fair On September 1st occurred the battle O. ks, but we did not get into any se- of Chantilla, Va., where we lost two vere engagement until June 26th, when generals-Genls. Kearney and Stephens our division took the post of honor on and 1,300 killed and wounded, but did
125
not get into the engagement very much sylvania; but we moved very rapidly ourselves. Lieutenant Jas. Kennedy, when we found out their plans. Our who lives here in Lyndon, belonged to force was 32 miles away when the first our company and had been in the rear day's battle of Gettysburg came off, sick with wounds, now rejoined the reg- but we got in in time to have a hand iment and took charge of Co. D, and the next morning. Our duty was to we had nine men for service." Septem- hold Little Round Top, which we did ber 14th occurred the battle of South faithfully through the battle. We only Mountain, where 'Lee was repulsed. lost a 2nd Lieut. here, who was shot. We had a hand in this engagement. Lee was driven back across the Poto- September 17, '1862 was fought the mac and soon turned up on the Rapi- bloody battle of Antietam, Md. This daun again, which was about 60 miles was the end of Lee's raid on Washing- from Richmond towards Washington. ton. Our regiment which had 125 men, It was a great battle ground in Vir- was on the extreme right and after this ginia during the whole war.
affair Co D consisted of five privates
I was in engagements with my com- and no officers. But the Captain, who mand that fall as follows: Bristoe had been wounded, came up bringing Station, Oct. 14th; Rappahannock Sta- 9 convalescents with hind; and promot ed me to the office of 3re Corporal.
tion, Nov. 7th; Mine Run. Nov. 26th, and New Hope Church. 28th. That . The next battle of importance was ended our fighting until Genl. Grant fought on Fredericksburg Heights, Va. started out on his Wilderness cam- Dec. 13th, under Genl. Burnside, who paign. That winter of 1863-'64 we crossed the Rappahannock on pontoon were guards on the railroad at Bristoe bridges with an army of 90,000 and station.
Here, while fighting over the second charged the Heights, meeting with a terrible repulse and loss of 12,000 or
May 5, 1864 Gen. Grant commenced his contest with Gen. Lee in the battle more men killed, wounded and missing. of the Wilderness. This was a country of deuse thickets, and in three days' line of works, I was struck by a bullet time the union losses were 5,000 or in my left side, which disabled me for more killed, 21,000 or more wounded, any further service for six months. and over 10,000 missing. We were Our brigade made a "forlorn hope" now in the 3rd division, Gen. S. W. charge, 2,200 men going in and only 310 Crawford; 5th corps, Gen. Warren; Po- coming out alive and whole. Our com- tomac Army, Gen. Meade. My term pany had 32 men, but four only were of service was about out, but I went left unhurt.
into the first day's battle and was cap-
I got back to my command the next tured and carried a prisoner of war to summer in time to have a hand in the Andersonville. I was in that horrib'e Gettysburg campaign. Our regiment death hole from May 23rd : o September had recruited up to 250 men, and the 12, 1864, when Sherman's operations in - company had about 26 men. I was Georgia necessitated our removal to made a second sergeant. The union safer quarters. We were transported , army laid at Fredericksburg until the then to Florence, S C. Here, in addi- rebels under Genl. Lee had marched tion to starvation we had to suffer ter-
: . around into the Shenandoah valley and ribly from the want of any fire or pro- thence across the Potomac into Penn- tect.on.in cold weather.
126
December 17, 1864 I was paroled. war sketch, we were both in the same When I arrived at Camp Parole, An- company in the war. napolis, Md., I was so gaunt and poor That winter or spring All Roth sold that I was accused by the surgeon in his claim out to Wm. Allison. Sr., charge of desertion. This startled me who had come on from Canada. very much until he explained that I I gradually improved my place and got my home ready, and March 17, 1874 I married Miss Maggie Daugherty of the neighborhood. was 'a deserter from some graveyard.' My health was ruined by the terrible prison experiences. I do not like to revert to those days, and will pass by with the remark that about all I have to show of anything that I had in the war is a wooden spoon whittled out for use there in Andersonville prison.
After I had got well enough and able to travel, I was discharged, Feb. 22, 1865, returning to my Pennsylvania home.
I came to Kansas in the spring of 1867, to Black Jack, Douglas county, making my home at Capt. Bell's. I farmed and taught school around there two years; then in company with Jim Kennedy, All Roth and others I came down to the Sac and Fox Reserve, and Feb. 28, (24) 1869 fi'ed on our claims, which were on the mile strip 'Trust Lands.' I laid claim on the southwest 14 section 18, townshp 17 range 16 and put up a tent there. Jim Kennedy took the next one north of me. These were all fractional quarters, containing about 130 to 137 acres each. Dave Stonebraker cime down several months
The children born to us from that union are all alive and all that I have -Wm. H. Weber, Estelle V. Weber, and Ollie Weber. The two oldest are graduates of our Lyndon High School, Stelle being one of the public teachers now. My wife Maggie died Dec. 24, 1884. I was a widower four years with little children, during which time my niece, Miss Anna Weber, kept the house and cared for the children .most of the time. She is now Mrs. Archie Ingersoll of Lyndon.
I was elected Clerk of the District Court in the fall of 1888. I then re- moved to Lyndon, and Feb. 27, 1889. was married in Topeks to Miss Millie Grine, of Pennsylvania.
Owing to the change in politics in the county and state in 1890, I failed to get elected my second term, the Alli- ance party sweeping a goud share of the offices into their care ever since.
I still live in town on my own prem- Jater and took h's claim beside Kenne- Ises, retaining my farm upon which dy's. We lived in a tent at first, on Will Bodenhamer has lived for several Kennedy's, and clubbed our forces to- years. The income from the farm, my g. ther, doing some breaking; each of pension and the fees of my office. of us had a horse, Roth, Kennedy and I. Jus'ice of the Peace, which I have held Kennedy got his house built about as it many years, more or less continuously, is now there on the farm, without the all make me satisfied to live and die kitchen. He had money, and built, for right here in Lyndon, Kansas.
those times, an unusually good house.
I have always been connected with Ile had married Capt. Bell's daughter the Grand Army boys here and was a. d moved his family in January, 1870, elected Commander of the Post in 1889. and I stopped with them for nearly In 1894 I was elected one of the dele- four years. As you remember in the gates from Kansas to the National En-
197
campment at Pittsburg, which trip I enjoyed very much.
GEORGE WEBER.
Lyndon, Kansas, February, 1897.
-0-
THE OSAGE COUNTY BATTALION. 1881.
The expressed desire of the Topeka Grand Army Post d.d not seem to be comrades, that Osage Co. send its sol- in harmony that year with the old diers in some kind of an organized body boys, so Capt. Whinrey went ahead and organized this company of 60 or more old veterans, as will be seen on
to attend its old soldier's reunion, Sept. 15, 1881, im pelled the comrades holding office at the county seat, to hold a meet- page 113.
ing in Aug. to see the best plan to get the soldiers together.
August 6, 1881, Warren W. Morris as a mass meeting at Lyndon September President, and H. K. McConnell as Sect., 3, 1881. The Osage City comrades in- J. S. Kennedy, J. H. Howe, and J. H. s sted on a change and we got their Sowell, as a conference committee, hearty support. The place of meeting agreed on a plan and issued a call to was changed to Osage City for the date the old so'diers of Osage Co.
Committees were appointed in five townships around Lyndon as follows,
Valley Brook Twp.
J. R. Hinton F. A. Downs. F. Ringhisen.
Junction Twp.
I. N. Morris.
Amos Cook.
Geo. McCullough.
Agency Twp.
Daniel Hare.
Joe Marshall. Robert Neil.
Melvern Twp.
Maj. Jumper. Capt. Opdycke. O. S Starr.
Fairfax Twp.
B. G. Wilson.
James Newton.
Amos Worrel !.
These committees were requested to work up enthusiasm among the o'd soldiers and turn out September 3rd at Lyndon for a mass meeting, and try and effect an organization among them as a regim nt.
Lyndon immediate'y set to work to organize a company of veterans. The
After the comrades at the county seat had issued their notices and called
agreed upon above. Capt. Admire, T. L. Marsha l and others threw their in- fluenre in and s cured the attendance there, Sept. 3rd, of Maj. Tom Anderson and Captain Joe Waters. It was a rousing big meeting of old soldiers from all round the county. Lew Finch of Burlingame, was chairman; J. V. Admire, Secretary and committee on publ cation. After the speaking was through a committee reported the fol- lowing names as suitable persons to of- ficer the proposed
OSAGE COUNTY BATTALION:
H. K. McConnell . Colonel,
Harrison Dubois
Lieut. Col,
Geo. W. Morris
Major,
Chas. Cochran
Adjt,
W. C. Sweezey
Surg.
Chas. Foulks
Q. M.
128
I find the Lyndon Leader of Septem- Post at 10:30 o'clock A. M., where the tember Sth full of military notices. procession will immediately form and
Superintendent McConnell, as Col., marca through the principal streets to issues notices to the old boys about the the M. E. church under the direction of time of starting up to the Topeka Re- the officers of the day, headed by the union and about the Battalion falling Cornet and Military Bands. in at the Topeka depot for march to the ORDER OF EXERCISES. Reunion grounds. A special early Prayer. morning train from Emporia Septem- Song by the Choir, ber 15th landing the boys there at 8:30 Address 'Welcome,'. P. C. Lyndon Post. A. M.
The Lyndon Cornet Band in good organization and one of the best out of a half dozen leading bands of the State, headed our Lyndon Veteran Company, which at Topeka all merged into the one Battalion. Not being present that year of 1881, I cannot sp ak further but the old boys came home fairly en- thused with the good times touching elbows with each other once more.
That December Andy Cotterman was elected Commander of the Poit to serve in 1882. Capt. Whinrey's veteran company disbanded and thereafter the several Grand Army Posts in Osage. County went to make up the Osage County Battalion.
The next mass meeting of old soldiers was held in Lyndon August 31, 1882. A preliminary meeting was held Aug. 11th at Osage City, at which Sim Brad- ford p,esided. There were five Gra' d Army Post in the county then and they resolved to bave Senator Plumb invi ed to speak to the old soldiers at Lyndon the 31st, if agreeable all round.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.