USA > Kansas > Anderson County > The history of Anderson County, Kansas, from its first settlement to the Fourth of July, 1876. > Part 13
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ture, on the Fourth of July, 1856, when that body was dispersed by United States soldiers. He was there to aid the Free State men in whatever reso- lutions the wisdom of that body should decide upon. He was a delegate to the Free State convention at Grasshopper Falls, in 1857, and participated in its deliberations. He was nominated for probate judge of Anderson county, in 1857, and received a major- ity of all the votes cast in the county. In 1858 he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors of Reeder township, and was the first chairman of the board after the organization of the township. In 1861 he was elected county assessor. When the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter reached Kansas, the loyal men began to prepare for the con- flict. The settlers in the vincinity of Cresco and Central City met at the house of Mr. Kauffman, and at once organized a company of militia. Kauffman was elected captain, and was commissioned by the Governor. J. R. Eaton was elected first lieutenant, and H. N. F. Reed second lieutenant. The com- pany numbered forty-five rank and file, and met every Saturday for company drill. In August, 1861, when it was apparent that troops were needed in active service, he bade farewell to his company of militia and volunteered as a private soldier in the Third regiment of Kansas volunteers, commanded by Col. James Montgomery. He served as a private soldier until the 11th day of September, 1862, when he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, 28
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and assigned to L company, Third regiment, In- dian brigade, commanded by Col. Wm. A. Phillips. and on the 28th of May, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and placed in command of a battery at Fort Gibson, in the Indian Territory, in which capacity he served to the close of the war. and was mustered out of the service with his com- pany on the 31st of May, 1865. Soon after his re- turn he married Miss M. J. Patton and returned to his farm, where he remained until the fall of 1868, when he was elected clerk of the district court, and made a first-class officer in that position for two years, and then went into the real estate business,. which he continues to this date. He was a brave soldier, a good officer, and is an active and respec- ted citizen.
John T. Lanter came to Kansas in the spring of 1857, and settled in the northeast part of the county. two miles from the town of Greeley. He was a na- tive of Indiana. He came to Kansas a young man. about twenty-one years old. He settled on govern- ment land, made improvements and pre-empted a quarter-section. He married Elizabeth Baldwin, a daughter of Rev. David Baldwin. Lanter was a Republican in politics, and took an active part in all the early political controversies of the county and the Territory. In 1858 he was elected clerk of Walker township, and was the first clerk of the township. In May, 1858, he was elected to the House of Representatives, under the Leavenworth
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constitution. He was a delegate to the Ottumwa convention, in September, 1858. This convention represented what were known as the nineteen dis- franchised counties. He was the author of the cele- brated Ottumwa resolutions. Was elected county assessor in 1860, and was elected engrossing clerk of the Territorial Legislature in the winter of 1861 -the last Territorial Legislature. Was appointed deputy United States assessor in 1862, which posi- tion he filled until his district was abolished in 1867. Was commissioned as assistant provost marshal in 1863, with the rank of lieutenant, and was on duty along the border of Kansas for about eighteen months. This was a most difficult and dangerous service. Was in the battle of Westport, Missouri, on the 23d of October, 1864, and in the heat of the battle, where the fight was the hottest. In 1872 he was elected to the House of Representatives, in which body he made an efficient member, and was one of the number that assisted to defeat Pomeroy in his corrupt attempt to buy his way to the United States Senate. In 1873 he was appointed by the Governor one of the trustees of the insane asylum, and in 1876 was appointed one of the trustees of the charitable insti- tutions of the State, which position he yet holds. He has filled all the several public positions in which he has been called to act with fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of the public. He is now the president of the Citizens Bank of Garnett, and is one of the principal stockholders.
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Rev. David Baldwin settled on the Pottowatomie, north of Greeley, in 1854 ; was a Methodist minister of the gospel, and a radical Free State man. In 1856 he and his son David Baldwin, then a mere boy, were taken prisoners by Major Buford and his Ruffian party. They were taken to Paola, and there detained as prisoners for several days, without any charge against them, only that of being Free State men. After keeping them under guard and subjecting them to all kinds of abuse and insult familiar to Border Ruffian characters, they were re- leased to return to their home on the Pottowatomie. Mr. Baldwin's family consisted of himself, his son David, and his daughter Elizabeth. During the time that Mr. Baldwin and his son were prisoners in the camp of the Ruffians, Miss Elizabeth, then a girl of about twenty years of age, was left at home alone to care for the household affairs, and most bravely and heroically did she guard her father's house and property in his absence. She remained there all alone, and took care of his affairs. She is de- serving of as much credit for her devotion to the cause of freedom as any other woman in the State, and she knows full well the hardships and suffering encountered by the women of Kansas in its early struggles.
H. H. Williams came to the county in the spring of 1855, and settled on what is now the Isaac Hiner farm. He was a native of Ohio, a young man, zealous in the Free State cause, and
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participated in most of the early political conven- tions in the Territory. He removed to Osawato- mie, where he now resides. He was major in the Third and Tenth Kansas regiments during the re- bellion, and made a good and brave officer. He is now a prominent business man in the town where he resides.
To mention all the names and services of the worthy and distinguished men that settled in the country prior to 1860 would require more space than could be expected in a work of this kind ; but in addition to those already mentioned reference is made to the following gentlemen, who are worthy of special notice : Isaac Hiner, James E. White, D. D. Judy, W. L. Webster, Jonathan Masterson, Richard Robinson, James Sutton, Isco Sutton, J. B. Stitt, Jacob Benjamin, D. W. Smith, William Tull, W. H. McClure, J. F. Wadsworth, Geo. S. Holt, John H. Wolken, Brockholt Tyler, H. K. Robinson, Wesley Spindler, J. L. Bockover, Wm. Beeler, Wm. Reynolds, Harvey Springer, Wm. Smith, W. S. Smith, James Smith, Zarr Bennett, W. F. M. Arny, Benjamin Griffin, A. Rudd, Henry Williams, J. T. B. Routh, John R. Kirkland, Richard Sand- lin, B. M. Lingo, J. R. Eaton, J. R. Means, David Shields, Stephen Marsh, Mathew Porter, R. H. Hall, S. W. Arrant, John L. Hill, J. S. Robinson, Wm. C. Howard, Wm. H. Hamilton, Jackson Means, Dr. David B. Swallow, Samuel S. Patton, John Stigenwalt, A. P. Clark, F. P. Whicher, John
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Horn, Samuel McDaniel, Darius Frankenberger. W. L. Frankenberger. Samuel Anderson, J. B. Dil- day. James Black, Jackson Black, John Tefft, Wil- liam Tefft, Hiram Tefft, J. W. Lawellin, Thomas Newton, E. D. Lampman, A. O. Cooper and M. E. Osborn.
The most of the above-named gentlemen have been noticed in other portions of this volume, giving their official positions held in former years, and lo- calities of their settlements, and are referred to here as being worthy of further notice, which is omitted for want of space. There are many other names that should have a place in this volume, but it is im- possible to do justice fully to all in the history of county. State or nation.
CHAPTER XXII
Murder of Allen G. Potcet-Escape of his mur- derer-Murder of fames Jackson by D. R. Pattec -Murder of fames Day by David Stewart- Murder of William Hamilton by John W. Cham- berlain-Trial of Dr. Medlicott for the murder of I. M. Ruth.
IN October, 1866, Allen G. Poteet left his home
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in Garnett for Kansas City, in company with Henry W. Grayson, to bring a load of goods in a two-horse wagon. Grayson reported that he intended to re- turn to his home in Indiana. Poteet failed to re- turn; two weeks elapsed, and grave suspicions arose that he had been murdered. Parties went in search of him, and the last trace that could be found was that he and Grayson were seen six miles beyond Paola, on the Kansas City road. After the search had been abandoned, it was supposed that Poteet had fled the country, for some cause to them un- known. On the day of the election, in November. a letter was received stating that a man had been found, dead, by an Indian, while hunting, supposed to be Poteet, in the eastern part of Johnson county. Parties were sent hither at once, and recognized it to be the body of Poteet, though mutilated and con- siderably decomposed. The body had been drag- ged about by hogs, and one arm was missing. The
body had been hidden away in a hollow. Poteet had been shot in the back of the head, and it was believed that Grayson had killed him and thus hid- den the body away, and taken the wagon and team belonging to Poteet, robbing him of what money he had in his pants pocket, not searching his vest pocket, which had a part of Poteet's money in it. being found with the body. No trace of the wagon or team could be found. Rewards were offered by the county for Grayson, or any information that would lead to his capture, but nothing has ever been
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heard of him since. It is supposed that Grayson took the wagon and team and departed over some isolated road in Missouri, and escaped the vigilance of the law, after perpetrating the diabolical murder.
In March, 1870, a difficulty arose between a man named James Jackson and William Cardy, in Pattee's saloon, in Garnett. when D. R. Pattee ordered them out of the house, and closed the door after them. Jackson turned and threw a stone against the door, knocking one of the panels out, upon which D. R. Pattee fired at him, through the opening, with a pis- tol, the ball striking Jackson in the back. He fell, and was carried away, and skillful medical aid called. Jackson lingered until about the middle of May, and died from the effects of the wound. Pattee was tried for the killing of Jackson, found guilty of man- slaughter in the second degree, and sentenced to the State penitentiary for a term of five years. He was pardoned by the Governor, after remaining in the penitentiary for about two years.
About the first of March, 1874, a party of men from Middle creek, in Linn county, Kansas, came over to Greeley, in this county, and after becoming considerably intoxicated started for their homes. They had not gone far on their way until a quarrel ensued between James Day and David Stewart, two of the party, being in the same wagon. Stewart jumped out of the wagon and started away, and Day jumped out and followed him, running about two hundred yards. Day caught Stewart. Day
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being a man of great physical strength, and Stew- art being of less than ordinary physical ability, there- upon drew a pocket knife and stabbed him several times, killing him instantly. Stewart was at once arrested, and put upon trial for murder in a few days, before the popular mind had calmed from the shock . of the spilling of human blood, and was convicted of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the State penitentiary for the period of twelve years. It was one of the unfortunate difficulties which arise from intemperance. Doubtless had the trial been postponed until the minds of the people had become quiet, and reason and justice enthroned, Stewart would not have been convicted, as he was evidently fleeing for the safety of his life. Stewart and Day, up to that time, had been on intimate terms, no ill feeling between them existing.
In 1868 a young man by the name of William Hamilton, of Ohio, located in Garnett. He was affable and energetic, and soon became a popular citizen, opened a boot and shoe shop, being a boot maker, and soon thereafter opened a boot and shoe store, and was doing a good business. In 1870 he married Miss Susan J. Chamberlain, a young lady highly respected and possessed of considerable property, with whom he lived happily until his death. In 1875 John W. Chamberlain, a brother of Mrs. Hamilton, visited them and shared their hos- pitalities, remaining about two weeks ; then went to Texas, and while there wrote several letters to Ham-
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ilton, requesting the loan of money, to which Ham- ilton replied that he could not spare it from his busi- ness. About the last of November Chamberlain re- turned, and visited them again, and Hamilton let him have one hundred and fifty dollars. Chamber- lain left, telling him that he was going to his home in Ohio ; but on the afternoon of December 16, 1875, he returned, met Hamilton at the postoffice, and conversed in a friendly manner, walking along with him to the Citizens Bank, where Hamilton made his daily deposits. Chamberlain followed him into the bank. As Hamilton approached the counter, Cham- berlain drew a revolver and shot him in the back of the head, at the base of the brain, killing him in- stantly. Chamberlain was arrested and held for trial at the March term of court thereafter. He ob- tained a change of venue to Douglas county, where he was tried at the June term of that court, 1876, found guilty of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced to hard labor in the State penitentiary for twenty-one years.
On the 26th of April, 1871, Isaac M. Ruth, of Lawrence, died very suddenly, and under very sus- picious circumstances. A post mortem examination of his body developed the fact that he had come to his death by means of poison. The coroner's jury returned a-verdict that he died from the effects of poison, administered to him by one John J. Medli- cott. Medlicott was arrested on a charge of murder, and committed to jail to await a trial on such charge,
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at the next term of the district court of Douglas county. An information was filed against him for the murder of Ruth. The defendant ( Medlicott ) filed a petition for a change of venue from the county of Douglas, on account of the bias and prejudice of the citizens of Douglas county against him. The court granted a change of venue, and ordered that the cause be removed to Anderson county for trial, at a special term of the district court of said county, begun on the 9th day of October, 1871. Present : O. A. Bassett, judge ; G. A. Cook, sheriff ; G. M. Everline, clerk. On the opening of the court the Judge announced that this term of the court had been called for the trial of the case of the State of Kansas vs. John J. Medlicott. The following gen- tlemen appeared as counsel for the State : Thomas Fenlon, Esq., of Leavenworth ; John Hutchings, Esq., county attorney of Douglas county ; Col. C. B. Mason, county attorney of Franklin county ; and John S. Wilson, county attorney of Anderson county. The defendant was represented by his counsel, Judge S. O. Thacher and W. W. Nevison, Esq., of Lawrence, and W. A. Johnson, of Garnett. Two days were consumed in the selection of a jury. The following is a list of the jurors finally selected and sworn to try the cause: A. Stevens, J. E. . White, C. G. Ellis, Sewell Kidder, H. Bevington, John Aldridge, J. J. Douglass, Melvin Cottle, John Forbes, Robert Burke, Michael Glennen and J. Q.
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Hutchinson. Col. C. B. Mason delivered the open- ing address on behalf of the prosecution.
This case occupied some eighteen days in its trial. The jury were kept together in charge of the sheriff for twenty-two days. It was one of the most im- portant criminal trials that has been tried in the State. Most of the leading papers of the country had representatives here reporting the proceedings of the trial, which were published each day as the case progressed. Many eminent scientific witnesses were brought here to testify on the trial of the case. Prominent among them was Prof. Wormley, profes- sor of chemistry and toxicology in the Sterling Med- ical College, Columbus, Ohio, and author of "Worm- ley on the Micro-Chemistry of Poisons."
On the morning of the 27th of October the jury, after being out over night, returned into court with a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and the court thereupon sentenced the defendant to be executed by hanging by the neck until dead. The defendant's counsel filed exceptions to the ruling and judgment of the court, and appealed the case to the Supreme Court. On the hearing of the case in the Supreme Court it reversed the judgment of the district court and a new trial was granted. The Supreme Court held that the Ruth letter was improp- erly admitted in evidence, there being no evidence . going to prove that it was written at a time and un- der such circumstances as to entitle it to be received as the dying declarations of Ruth.
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At the March .term, 1872, of the district court in Anderson county, the county attorney of Douglas county appeared and entered a nolle prosequi in the case. The Ruth letter having been held not to be proper evidence against the defendant. and it being all the evidence that tended to connect Medlicott with Ruth's death. Medlicott was discharged from jail and immediately left the State.
There were many theories and divisions among the people as to the cause of Ruth's death and the guilt of Medlicott. The matter is still a mystery. and will probably so remain.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Names of the Soldiers of Anderson County who Served in the War for the Suppression of the Re- bellion-Names of the Heroic Dead, who Sacrificed their Lives in the Cause of their Country.
ON the 14th day of April, 1861, the whole nation was startled by the announcement that the proud ensign of the nation was lowered from the flag staff of Fort Sumter, and the gallant defenders of
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that garrison had been overpowered and com- pelled to surrender, after two days' fearful cannon- ading, and a rebellious ensign flaunted as the . em- blem of a new nationality over a national fortress, from whence the American flag had been lowered. The news, borne by the electric flash throughout the land, was astounding and instantaneous, and men throughout the loyal States were soon clad in full panoply of war. The nation, one day pursuing the usual avocations of peace, is the next in full ar- mor of war. The citizen retired at night a civilian ; he arose in the morn a soldier.
The first call for volunteers was made on the 15th of April, the next day after Fort Sumter had surren- dered, and on the 30th of May following the first Kansas regiment was mustered into the service and on the march to the front, and thus in quick succes- sion regiment after regiment was recruited and mus- tered into the service, until, in 1863, Kansas had sixteen regiments and two batteries of artillery in the field. Anderson county was represented by her brave and heroic men in each of these regiments and batteries. They went forth at the call of the country to help suppress the most wicked and stu- pendous rebellion that had ever characterized the history of a nation, and the gallant sons of Anderson county, in whatever conflict they have been engaged, have permitted none to eclipse their personal bravery.
The Adjutant General of the State, in his report of the Kansas regiments, says :
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". The number of Kansas heroes. dead upon a hundred battle fields, attests at once the personal courage of the soldier, and his devotion to the State and his loyalty to the federal Union, who in peace proves his faith by the sweat of his brow, and in war by the blood of his breast."
The noble and heroic boys of Anderson county who left home and friends and volunteered at their country's call, and went forth to help suppress the rebellion, and imperiled their lives on the many bat- tle fields, or in the prison pens of the South, deserve to be kindly remembered by their surviving com- rades and the public generally, and their names should be perpetuated in the history of the country, and their services and sacrifices duly and highly appre- ciated.
We here append the names of the brave boys of the county who served in the army during the rebel- lion :
James G. Blunt, lieutenant colonel. Third regiment Kan- sas volunteers : promoted to brigadier general, April, 1862, and afterwards to major general.
SECOND KANSAS INFANTRY-THREE MONTHS' SERVICE.
Company E-Samuel J. Crawford, captain : John G. Lindsay, first lieutenant ; Samuel K. Cross, second lieu- tenant ; Henry Nugent, ensign ; John Johnston, orderly sergeant ; David Wright, R. H. P. Snodgrass, Zach. Nor- ris, Hugh Quinn, sergeants ; James F. Walker, James L. Kercheval. James L. Wilson, corporals ; Henry Neal, Rob- ert Beck. George Bacon, musicians ; Charles Ballance. Thomas H. Ballard, John Campbell, Thomas Dykes, David S. Eaton, Edward Farrah. Jacob Fields, James E. Herd, Albert Johnson, George Johnson, Ezra Kirkland, William Kline. John Norris. Charles Paul, James Paul. Albert
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Payne. Alfred Peak. Franklin Royal. Ephraim Reynolds. John W. Ramsey, Ezra Romine. David Ruckel. Albert Saulsbery, David Slater, Theopholis Smith, John Stanton. Abisha Stowell, Henry S. Shannon, James B. Tenbrook, Vardemus Viles, Herman Wilcox. Joseph H. Williams. Samuel Winklepleck. privates.
SECOND KANSAS CAVALRY-THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
Company A-Samuel J. Crawford (promoted to colonel of Second Kansas colored). John JJohnston (promoted to major), captains ; Samuel K. Cross. first lieutenant ; Henry Nugent. orderly sergeant : Henry S. Shannon, quarter- master sergeant : Hugh Quinn (promoted to captain in Second Arkansas cavalry), James L. Wilson, Ezra Romine. John P. Hiner. sergeants: Abisha Stowell, Charles T. Williams, James A. Gooch. Edward Wilson, corporals : Barnett Ashburn, Thomas Ballard, John W. Ballard. Stephen M. Bockover. John A. Bockover. Jacob L. Bock- over. Abram S. Burch. John Campbell. Jacob Fields, Alexander Graham, Larkin E. Hensley, Jonathan G. Hiatt. Stewart T. Hiatt, Harbert IL. Hiner. James E. Herd. John Q. MeLaughlin, Newton M. Morris, Preston Morris, Sam- uel Morris, Albert Payne, William Paul, John W. Ramsey. Albert Saulsbery. Theopholis Smith. Martin V. B. Stailey. William II. IL. Stanwood. James B. Tenbrook, William B. Vess. Valentine Weinheimer. Samuel Winklepleck. William Blizzard. George A. Campbell. William H. Channell. pri- vatos.
Company C-Leaventine Plummer. John Plummer. pri- vates.
FIFTH KANSAS CAVALRY.
Company K-Jeremiah (. Johnson. first lieutenant : Alexander Rush, second lieutenant : August Bondi. ser- geant : John W. Pattce, William JJ. Wade, George Lewis. corporals : Freeman F. Austin, Jacob F. M. Frank. James B. Frank, John Gerth. William B. Lewis. Robert Mc- Laughlin, Thomas Wade. John B. Maness. John B. Stitt. Edward Wade, privates.
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SEVENTH KANSAS CAVALRY.
Company G-D. W. Houston, first lieutenant (promoted to captain of company H, and afterward to lieutenant col- onel) : Zach. Norris, first lieutenant ; William Tefft, quar- termaster sergeant; JJoseph Y. Alexander, William B. Springer, Miles Morris, Ephraim Reynolds, George W. Arrell, sergeants ; JJames M. Tefft. Noah V. Ness. James F. Hamby, corporals; William N. Hamby, jr., musician ; Isaac Morley, farrier; Bernard Setter, saddler; Hiram Driggs, Jesse Harper, William N. Ilamby, sen .. William Lampman, JJohn W. Minton, Thomas Newton, George II. T. Springer, Pha Tetft, Marens L. Underwood, William Williams, John W. Young, Alfred W. Jones, John Norris, David Ruckel, James W. Springer. Joseph Wilhite. Daniel (). Kiet, Martin Reda, Elijah Pruett, William F. R. Paul, Abner B. Glover, Dorsey McAfee, John Pangborn, Henry Poteet, Joseph (). Smith, Jesse Stephenson, Martin Setter, John Q. Tefft, Melvin Cottle, privates.
EIGHTH KANSAS INFANTRY.
John Buterbaugh, assistant surgeon.
Company F-George G. Price, sergeant ; George W. Mathews, corporal : James M. Day. John II. Day, Abram Rosa, Andrew Richards, Squire Rosa, David Witt, pri- vates.
NINTH KANSAS CAVALRY.
Charles T. Cooper, regimental commissary.
Company . C-Thomas McKnight, sergeant ; Benjamin F. Ayres (promoted to first lieutenant), Joseph Mundell, Samuel Mundell, privates.
Company D-Henry M. Anderson, Virgil M. Hollomon, Charles S. McCoon, James Rumley, Thomas J. Rumley, Henry Wiggins, privates.
Company F-Conrad B. Alder, private.
Company II-II. N. F. Reed, second lieutenant (after- wards promoted to captain of company I) ; David Hester, orderly sergeant (afterwards promoted to first lieutenant 30
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