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 6
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From here we were in the part of the army sent to garrison Nashville under Genl. Negley, where we remained from July, 1862 to June, 1863. We were on duty there during the battle of Stone River, and went out toward Mur- freesboro, but only as support to Rose- cran's army.
The company was slow in reporting; and was the last of the ten companies to join the regimental organization at Cairo August 28, 1861. We remained here until fall, when we moved to June 24, 1863 when the campaign for Mound City, Ill., opposite Kentucky. Chattanooga commenced. as Rosecran's Thence, in February, we took a scout army advanced and took possession of of two weeks into Kentucky, about the the country, our regiment garrisoned
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several places along the railroad lead- evacuate Charleston We had a hard ing 10 Chattanooga, Stevenson, the fight at Bentonville; the rebels came Sequatchee Valley, and up and down down on us unexpectedly, in force, and the Tennessee river, and wherever the our brigad- in particular with fighting line of communication was in danger at frout a id rear both by day and night of raids from rebel cavalry, there we had all it could do until reinforced to tried to protect. We had no hand in save itself from capture.
the Chickamauga battle, but when Mis- regiment was sent with Genl. Sherman
Next afterwards we fought the reb-
sionary Ridge was fought our whole els at Goldsboro, N. C., then we moved to Raleigh and soon after this we heard to the relief ;of Genl. Burnside and his of Lee's surrender and President Lin- besieged army at Knoxville. When we coln's assassination. We were here returned from that expedition, which when the rebel Genl. Johnson surren- we did immediately, we did garrison dered to Genl. Sherman. We marched duty no longer, but went into the main to Washington, where we took part in the Grand Review. Then to Louis-
army. We camped at Rossville, a few miles out from Chattanooga, and in ville, Ky. on the cars, where, July 4, December, 1863, our regiment having 1865, we were mustered out of the U. nearly all veteraned, we went home to S. service; then to Chicago where, July Illinois on furlough. We went to 12th, we got our discharges and pay. Quincy as a regiment, leaving our guns I was a private all the way through, and saw about four years' service. I returned to Oquaka, Ill. This meant did not re-enlist of our regiment, some in Indian 'Yellow Banks,' and during the Black Hawk war was where Elisha Olcott, Sr. did service in an Illinois and equipments there, and having one month's leave of absence. Those who 40 or 50, kept the camp and baggage wagons at Rossville, so that were- turned there and took our place in regiment for his country.
Genl. Jeff C. Davis' division of the 14th corp :.
I stayed here a couple of years help- ing to run the grist mill for father.
When Genl. Sherman commenced the Atlanta campaign we were on hand I was married December 25, 1866 to Martha Titherington. In the spring and took a part in the first fighting of of 1870 I moved to Cedar county, Iowa that 100-days battle. Our regiment where I stayed two years, farming; was commanded by Col. John Tillson. then, having a brother, Enoch Hol-
After the battle of Atlanta, July 22, lingsworth, in Osage county, Kansas, when Genl. McPherson was killed, we I moved down there. He lived in Junc- were transferred to Genl. Mowers' di- tion township. I landed there October vision of the 17th Army Corps.
We marched with Sherman to the sea dren. gaged in the coal business. I lived 19, 1872 with my wife and three chil - Not finding very much to do and had a hand in the taking of Sa- there, I went over to Peterton and en- vannah. When the campaign against the Carolinas commenced our corps near there and followed farming a lit- was transferred by ocean transports tle, and hauling coal to Lyndon for four years. Then I moved to Lyndon, up the coast to Beauford, South Caro- lina, and our operations with others in buying a house and several lots over conjunction soon obliged the rebels to near Mrs. Varner's place. There I
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lived until April, 1884, when I built and ed their abode, are lost from their or- moved to the west side of town where ganizations, but who, with their past I have lived ever since.
experience and their horns are of great Eight children have been born to us, assistance in towns that regularly seven of which are alive and five of maintain a band. I cannot begin to which live at home.
tell the number of such persons who
Effie Jane Hollingsworth' the eldest, have played here with our Lyndon married Lee Smell, who abandoned her bands in the last 16 years; very often and since which time she and her child helping us all out of bad predicaments. have lived at home with me.
Harry D. died, aged 4, at Peterton
John Clinton, who has recently mar- churches; $500 is a low estimate for the ried and set up for himself, lives here in Lyndon.
Edith May, who married Olla Flem- ing, lives here in Lyndon.
Barton Leslie, at home.
Rachel Vestal, at home.
Myrtle Ivey, at home.
Murray Blaine, the baby, age 13, at home.
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THE LYNDON BANDS.
Of the original band formed in July or August, 1880, four members only their own in Lyndon was made mani- seem to be left at Lyndon :- Hod Whit- fest about July 6, 1880, when the man, Will Olcott, Tony Richardson and Knights of Honor laid to rest the first Oll Deaver.
member who died out of their organi-
Hod Whitman had most of the pa- zation, viz: Elias A. Barrett. The com- pers and records of this organization in mittee managing the funeral obsequies a drawer in their drug store and they hired the Quenemo band of probably a were all burned up in the big fire of dozen members, to come up and help. January 31, 1895, but by a month's Thereby hangs a tale: Mr. Barrett was searching among old papers and sever- laid to rest and long before the close of al talks with various members of the that summer day the Quenemo band different bands in the 17 years that went on their way home by C. R. Green's have elapsed since the history com- place down on the Quenemo road. At menced, I glean the following, and if I Henry Johnson's the boys found it nec- am in error I desire to be corrected:
essary to stop and have a drink-of
Nothing adds to patriotism more water. Having lately moved on from than good bands which are willing to Ohio with a car load of traps, I had put turn out and play upon the occasions in a few barrels of four year old cider that draw our citizens together.
to see if I couldn't work up a market
A great many individual musicians here for my car load that I had left be- are found in places, who, having chang- hind. I lived opposite Johnson's, and
I can say truly that this town bas sup- ported bands as faithfully as it has cost of the instruments, uniforms, wag- on, year's instruction and other outlay before a good body of players can feel satisfied to go before the public and play on a big occasion. $50 or $75 taken in by festivals or stand privil- eges three or four times a year is the full extent of public help. The burden falls mainly on their own purses, and the many hours spent in practice would almost fit an individual for teaching.
.I expect that the want of a band of
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when they stopped, knowing the driver the country, so that afterwards when I aud desiring to transact some business, drove up to a man's house to sell my I went out to the wagon while the rest stuff he could tell me at once whether were in Henry's yard. At the close of they wanted it or not, and in two years my business I told Mr. Wilson, the dri- I sold and traded away over one thous- er, who was also a member of the band, and dollars' worth of that shipment of that if the boys wished to sample my Ohio cider vinegar.
sour cider to invite them down, and I Asking the reader's pardon for this returned to the house. Directly, while long digression from Lyndon band his- I was at supper, hearing a noise of ap- tory, I will go back to July, 1880. proaching footsteps I looked up the
Bob Miller, Hod Whitman, Tony path and bt tell the band in single file Richardson, Will Olcott, Oll Deaver bearing down upon me. So I got a and a lot of others, consulting with the gallon measure and a glass and went to Lyndon merchants and prominent cit- a barrel of my best cider vinegar and izens, concluded that a band could be drew for them to drink. Knowing the organized, and a subscription paper one Wilson-although there were other was passed around, the citizens giving Wilson brothers in the band about as $50 or $60. The band boys pledged the numerous as the Swisher brothers in rest. W. C. Chatfield, leader of the the present Lyndon Sons of Veterans Burlingame band, negotiated with Band-I handed it to him and he down- Julius Bauer, Musical Instrument deal- ed the tumbler full at about two gulps. er of Chicago, for eleven instruments- Some of the others gagged upon tasting brass horns and a snare drum, for which it, but not to be bluffed off with two Lyndon paid $162.CO. The services of dozen eyes watching them, downed Harry Dunn were procured for the theirs, and with the exception of Dr. first instructor. After a month or two Ashby, who was then a member, every Frank Holmes was hired as an instruc- last one took their whole tumbler full tor, followed by James W. Bain, all of sour cider. When it came to the that fall of 1880. second round Wilson touk his by hard The names of the members of the Band in 1880 were about as follows: work; the rest declined.
The boys had left their horns up in the wagon, and not having to use much wind to get back to their conveyance, carried away straight faces, but I was told by some of them and others that they gagged and "heaved jonah" all the way home to Quenemo.
Tom Dempster, Will Miller,
Rob. A. Miller, E. D. Atwell,
Oll C. Deaver, Horace Whitman,
H. H. Richardson, Will S. Olcott.
Geo. Stanfield,
Will West,
Fred Jenness,
Ed Atwell, Jr.
Perhaps a few extracts from the Lyn- don Leader of those days of 1880-'81-82
After that whenever they passed my of which a member of the band was place, be it night or day, I was always one of the proprietors, may give us a
treated to a series of toots and cat wailings that let me know that they ed a form as any way.
glimpse of past history in as condens-
were still alive and holding "Vinegar "Christmas eve, 1880, the Lyndon Green's" treat in lively remembrance. Cornet Band attends the Presbyterian
The joke thus unceremoniously per- Church festivities and discourses sweet petrated advertised my goods all over music."
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January 1, 1881 .- "The L. C. B. is So b'ow away boys, blow with all your making rapid advancement under the leadership of J. W. Bain." His servic- es are reingaged about this time for an- other term.
Feb. 51h .- "A citizen complains about the county sheriff, Harry Smith, shut- ting the band out of the court house, although Tom Dempster, a county dep. uty assures him that the coal is of his own furnishing."
February 12th number contains a piece of poetry written by the editor, Ed Vail, which is too good to languish in the old newspaper files "when the band blows."
OUR BOYS.
Who will say they're not proud of "our boys ?"
Be they boys in blue or boys who blow, But the "boys that blow" not the boys in blue,
Are the boys I wish to talk of, to you.
Now Lyndon could not boast, you know Of a man or boy six months ago,
Who could pick up a hern aud run the sca'e,
And run it correctly and never fail.
Now who can say they're not proud of "our boys ?"
When in six months' time they have learned from a noise
To make music either loud or soft, and sweet to hear
As the gentle zephyr wafts it back to our ear.
Then stand firm by our "boys who blow,"
As you did by the boys in blue.
For our "boys who blow" have to bat- tle you know,
As well as the boys in blue in that long long ago.
Our band it is an honor, our band it is all right.
migl.t. But don't lose courage or faint by the way, For the Lord will provide you some- where to play. ·
Jan. 15th -"The band played on the Three cheers for "our boys!" Hurrah for the right ! streets in honor of the Knights of Hon- or the evening of the 10th when it was It will always conquer wrong, no matter so cold that their instrumen's froze up." how Lard the fight.
So stand firm by "our boys," as firm as you can,
And say in one voice, we are proud of our band.
Mar. 12, '81-The L. C. B. held an en- tertainment in Prof. Whitman's new building, which was used several months thereafter for an opera house, until he got his stock of drugs. The band entertainment netted them $60.50. A contest was gotten up by which the prettiest lady present was to be awarded on vote a handsome pair of vases. Miss Lou Munger, of Carbondale, escorted thither by F. Bowman, was the success- ful contestant.
June 30, '81-The band elects their officers: Pres., E. D. Atwell; Vice Pres., G. L. Wales; Secy., R. A. Miller; Treas., H. S. Whitman; Leader, Jas. W. Bain.
This summer the Osage County Bat- talion is organized and as Col. H. K. McConnell and W. W. Mori-, two of its chief promoters held office at the county seat, the L. C. B. becomes en- thused with the military spirit in Lyn- don and vote to attend the State Fair and Old Soldiers' Reunion at Topeka, September 15th. They buy themselves uniform caps, and after the doings at Topeka go to Lawrence and play for Gen. Weaver, the Greenback orator from Iowa. Also after their return home turning out to escort Weaver into Lyndon, where he spoke.
Thanksgiving time, 1881 .- Will S. Olcott, who has just got home from his
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wedding tour aud is a member of the played among the best and that instead band, gets a good serenade and in turn of the bands at Waterville and Wil- sets out a fine supper for the band. J. liamsburg carrying away the first and W. Bain, who for 13 months has been second prizes respectively, it should instructor of the band, having accepted have been the Burlingame and Lyndon a position down at Ossawatomie, re- bands. signs. He has been a good teacher and. all regret his approaching departure.
The Lyndon paper of that time re- marks that so many are gone away at- NOTE BY AUTHOR .- He goes away tending the doings at Topeka that the only for a short time, when, not liking streets look deserted. The days prior it, he returns and takes a cornet in the to this had been ones of hot winds, the band again.
The Thansgiving festival netted the and dust; 13th, ditto; 14th, ditto, ther- band $50.
record reading, Sept. 12th, hot winds mometer 114 in the shade. These hot
January, '82, L. M. Roth, a dentist winds cut the corn crop very short, the and a good musician, comes to Lyndon price being from 50' cents to 75 cents and in time joins the band. here, and 75 cents to $1 in St. Louis.
May 18, '82 another band festival, $60.
The fall of 1882, one time the band June 22nd, the band boys beginning was out over to Osage City with four to buy new horns-better ones, made horses making a good show, when the out of silver. H. H. Richardson buys Osage City photographer called them a fine cornet; a fine snare drum bought. to halt and took their pictures just as June 23. They attend in a body the they were in the wagon. Hod Whit- closing day school picnic down at the man says that he has one of the pic- Knouff district, Miss Ella Gibson, tures and the following persons show teacher.
up in it: Tom Dempster, Lew Dan-
July 4, '82. Band goes to Reading, hauer, Frank Whitman, Horace Whit- get $60 for their services, and all ex- man, Rob Miller, L. M. Roth, Jim Ay- penses.
ers, Fred Jenness and J. H. Smith.
I cannot follow the band thus closely
Aug. 31-The L. C. B. and Osage City Martial bands furnish the music any longer. July 4, 1883 Osage City for the mass meeting in Lyndon when had a big county celebration, among Senator P. B. Plumb addressed the old other things inviting the several bands soldiers, and the Osage County Battal- of the county to play for a prize there, ion beld election of officers and arrang- ed to go to Topeka.
but when the L. C. B. desired to enter the contest the judges ruled them out
Sept. 15th to 20th, the L. C. B. attends because they had Jesse Cowan and the Topeka Old Soldiers' Reunion with James Smith in their ranks, who, the the Osage County Battalion, and the Osage City, folks claimed were mem- 16th enters the ring to contest for the bers of other bands. Jesse Cowan had 2nd musical prize, some six bands com- moved to Lyndon the fall of 1882. He peting, which they failed to secure. had been a member of the Williams-
After the boys all got home the Bur- burg band at the Topeka contest. lingame paper of the 21st in comment- These two players had taken the place ing on the band playing at Topeka said of either two sick members or some that the Lyndon and Burlingame bands who had moved away, and when the
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Osage City folks objected, our band got of late years Tom Dempster adds an- so hot they offered to stake $100 upon other grave to their list. their being the best players in the coun-
Some time at the beginning of 1884 £ ty, then and there putting up $25, and the band reorganized and took the to have the contest come off in 30 days. name of the Post, calling themselves But no one took them up.
Here is a list of our band members .Band."
present on that occasion:
J. W. Bain 1st E b,
Jas. Smith
2nd E b,
H. H. Richardson
1st Bb,
Frank Whitman. 2nd B b,
L. M. Roth, leader Alto B b,
Fred Jenness
Solo alto,
Will West
1st Alto,
R. A. Miller
2nd Alto,
Geo. Miller
1st Tenor,
Jesse Cowan
2nd Tenor,
Lew Danhauer
Baritone,
H. S. Whitmar . Tuba,
Ed Atwell
Bass drum,
Ed Barrett.
Tenor drum.
They were nicely uniformed, and I remember it was with feelings of pride that I saw them at this Osage City cel- ebration. Lyndon turned out a great throng to accompany them there and join by invitation in the doings. We got treated miserably, all of us, and af- ter that Lyndon and Osage City ex- changed no more celebrations, and
The band did not go up to Topeka that fall, for some reason.
Nov. 8, 1883, the band was called on the leadership of M. L. Laybourn, to follow the remains of ore of their known as the "Bald-Head Band," is the old Lyndon Post Band of 1884, with members to the grave. Will West died nothing more than a continuation of on the 6th from the effects of being burned in an explosion of gasoline. This some old and some new members.
They were organized about May 1,
was the first death of any of their num- ber, and there is always a sadness ev- 1896, about as follows:
W. S. Olcott,
ery decoration day as the band in each H. S. Whitman, succeeding year has gathered around H. H. Richardson, C. S. Alexander, Will's grave to play their dirge. Now W. A. Greene, J. M. Cowan,
the "Lyndon Post No. 19 G. A. R.,
There was a good deal going on this year of 1884-The Fourth, Decoration Day, Soldiers' Reunion at Leavenworth and late in the fall a county soldiers' reunion at Lyndon, the soldiers and the band all working in harmony.
Decoration Day, 1884, Harry Ford having that year set up a gallery in Lyndon, took 4 pictures. Two of the flower girls, one of the Post and one of the Band.
The band stood in a circle in front of Richardson's hotel, and the following members show in that picture:
F. H. Coney, H. H. Richardson,
Frank Whitman, Fred Jenness,
James H. Ayers, Robt. A. Miller,
George Miller, Jesse Cowan,
James H. Smith, Horace Whitman,
Walter Kirby, Tom Dempster,
Ed Barrett.
BALD HEAD BAND.
Space will admit of no further histo- thereafter Lyndon planned go d rous- ry. . The band went down by removals, ing celebrations at home and gave the but the members remaining here have band the benefit of the proceeds.
always managed to get out a band, small or great, for Decoration days and the band at present in Lyndon under
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J. II. Buckman, L. T. Hussey,
Wm. Rock, Dick Miles,
J. H. Newell, R. C. Buckman,
Kit Wilson, Floyd Pleasant,
M. L. Laybourn, Leader.
THE SONS OF VETERANS BAND.
The want of, a good strong; band among;the young men was made mani- fest in the summer of_1894, and not de- siring to reorganize any old band, but to build up a new one entirely, a party Sons of Veterans Band, Lyndon: of young men organized August 9, '94, and hired M. L. Laybourn for their in- structor for one year.
Decoration Day, 1895 the Sons of Vet- erans Band, as they styled' themselves, acquitted themselves so well that the old soldiers went to them and offered to help get up a big "Fourth of July," and let the band furnish the program and have all the receipts from sale of stand rights, etc. The day came, and everything was carried out to perfec- tion until about 3 p. m., when a sudden rain storm came up and dispersed the crowd, but as it was, quite a snug sum was realized to help along the band ex- penses.
August 9, '95 the band found it not best to longer hire Mr. Laybourn's ser- vices as instructor, and since that time they have got along very well under the leadership of Sam'l J. Jones, and when out on public occasions make as good a showing as ever any band has here in Lyndon.
The following names are about a cor- rect list of those who were in the band July 4, 1895:
J. D. Swisher, Charles Daugherty,
E. A. Wm. Rock,
F. C. L. T. Hussey,
F. T. W. A. Greene,
B. H. Clint Hillings worth
John Capper, Bart
Dewey Gardner, O. A. Fleming,
Chas. Wilson, Roy Wright,
Gene
Stewart Gill,
Milt Rogers.
There have been several who were in the band a short time whose names I have not been able to get. Upon re- quest the present leader of the band, S. J. Jones, gave me a list of the mem- bers as they were New Years day, 1897.
List of the present members of the
Stewart Gill Picalo,
Roy Wright.
. Picalo,
A. B. Thurman
E b Cornet,
Fred Swisher
Solo B b Cornet,
S. J. Jones Solo B b Cornet,
Bert Swisher .1st B b,
John Widney
2nd B b,
Chas. Wilson
Solo Alto,
Ollie Fleming
1st Alto,
Millard Rogers.
2nd Alto,
Eugene Wilson ... Slide Trombone,
A. H. Gardner
1st Tenor,
Clint Hollingsworth
2dd Tenor,
H. P. Corothers
.3rd Tenor,
Frank Swisher
Baritone,
Chas. Dougherty
1st Eb Bass,
Ed Swisher
2nd Eb Bass,
Sigel Gill
Snare Drum,
Bart Hollingsworth ... Bass Drum. Officers of the S. of V. Band.
Board of directors, Charles Wilson, Fred Swisher and Clint Hollingsworth; President, A. H. Gardner; Secretary, Frank Swisher; Treasurer, Bart Hol- lingsworth; Leader, S. J. Jones.
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JOEL H. BUCKMAN.
8th Commander of Lyndon Post No. 19.
Joel H. Buckman was born Octo- ber 1, 1844 in Sangamon county, Ill. At the age of 6 his parents moved to Tazwell county, where their home was ever after. Joel was the oldest in a family of eight children, seven of which are alive to-day. He lived and worked at home on a farm near Green Valley until he enlisted. He only had such educational advantages as the common district schools of those early days afforded, and was just about go- ing away to school when Lincoln's call for 300,000 volunteers in July, 1862 was sounded over the northern land.
The 71st, 72nd and 73rd Illinois were early organized, and in the race as to which should first be ready for the mustering officer, the 73rd was ahead.
over here, the regiment with many oth- ers was hurried back, Sept. 28th, to Louisville, and went right on to Mul- draugh's Hill to head off the rebel Gen. Bragg and help the old troops get into Louisville. In the race northward the rebels would have captured Louisville had it not been for the new levies ral- lying promptly to its rescue.
Here at Louisville their regiment was assigned to Col. F. Schaeffer's Brigade, Genl. Phil. H. Sheridan's Di- vision, Gilbert's Corps, but later on commanded by Alex McCook.
October 1st, his 18th birthday, they marched out to meet the rebels in bat- tle but did not corner Old Bragg until the 8th, when at Perryville the 73rd Ill. got into the engagement good and strong, and received its first baptism in blood.
From there they marched and coun- ter marched with Rosecran's army on
J. H. Buckman enlisted July 21, '62 at Delavan, Ill., in Capt. Wilder B. M. down to Edgefield Junction, where the Colts' company-Co. B, 73rd Ill., and Division stopped, Nov. 7th, while most gathered immediately at Camp Butler of the army went on beyond Nashville near Springfield, where their regiment and camped. · was organized, and August 21, '62 mus- When the railroad and tunnel at tered into the U. S. service, the 71st Gallatin were repaired, Sheridan mov- and 72nd coming in behind them one ed his division to Camp Mill Creek, 7 or two days.
miles southeast of Nashville in readi ness for Rosecrans' advance to give
The 73rd was known as the "preacher regiment," a good many preachers be- battle at Murfreesboro. But here we ing both officers and members; and on- have to stop and follow Comrade Buck- ly March 4, 1897 I saw a mention of the man's story another way, for measles death of Capt. Peter Wallace, age 84, at claimed him now from his command, Chicago, member of the 73rd Ill., the and Ho pital No. 14, Nashville and "preacher regiment."
Sheridan's convalescent camp two or
Within a week of their muster into three miles from the city, was his the service they left for Dixie-August home several months. After measles 27th-landing at Louisville, Ky., where came the dreaded army disease, chron- they stayed until Sept. 11th, when the ic diarrhea, which so reduced him that rebel Genl. Kirby Smith made his raid he was given a discharge May 4, 1863. toward Cincinnati, O, they were im- But unable to travel alone, he would mediately sent to Covington to assist have died right there at Nashville, had in the defense. After the danger was not his father, Mr. C. F. Buckman, come
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