USA > Kansas > Anderson County > The history of Anderson County, Kansas, from its first settlement to the Fourth of July, 1876. > Part 9
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This party was clamorous for reform. Their con- vention assembled on the 17th day of October and made the following nominations : For State sena- tor, Alexander Stewart (then of Iola, now of Le- Roy ) : for representatives, J. B. Lowry and W. H. McClure : for probate judge, Samuel Anderson ; for treasurer, J. Y. Campbell : for sheriff, John Ander- son ; for register of ยท deeds, M. Puett : for county clerk, N. A. Porter : for clerk of district court, N. A. Porter.
The Republicans held their convention on the Ioth of the same month, and nominated for repre- sentatives, John T: Lanter and Mathew Porter ; pro- bate judge. B. F. Ridgeway : treasurer, H. Caven- der : sheriff, Zach. Norris ; register of deeds, Wes- ley Spindler : county clerk. A. McArthur ; and clerk of the district court. A. Simons.
The canvass was conducted on the part of the new organization by J. Y. Campbell and' Alex. Stewart : on the part of the Republicans the canvass was made by G. W. Iler, B. F. Ridgeway and W.
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A. Johnson. The campaign was one of the most bitter ever had in the county. The Republicans elected their senator. J. G. Reese, treasurer, county .
clerk and clerk of the district court. The opposi- tion elected two representatives, probate judge, sher- iff and register of deeds.
CHAPTER XIV.
Successive State Senators-Members of the House of Representatives-fudges of the District Court-County Officers.
SENATORS.
1861. William Spriggs : 1865. D. W. Houston : 1869. E. S. Niccolls : 1873. W. A. Johnson.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Under Territorial government-1859. William Spriggs : 1860, Thomas Lindsay : 1861, Rufus Gilpatrick.
Under State government-1861, S. J. Crawford and W. F. M. Arny : 1862. JJ. B. Lowry and W. H. MeClure."
In 1862 the Legislature made a reapportionment, into representative and senatorial districts, dividing Anderson county into two representative districts. numbers Fifty-six and Fifty-seven. The townships
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
of Walker and Monroe constituted the Fifty-sixth. and the remainder of the county the Fifty-seventh representative district.
1863. Isaac Hiner. Fifty-sixth : Jackson Means. Fifty- seventh : 1864. Henderson Cavender. Fifty-sixth: B. M. Lingo. Fifty-seventh : 1865. Henderson Cavender. Fifty- sixth : A. G. West. Fifty-seventh : 1866, Henderson C'av- ender. Fifty-sixth: J. W. Stewart. Fifty-seventh : 1867. Thomas Lindsay. Fifty-sixth: Wm. N. Hanby. Fifty- seventh : 1868. Thomas G. Headley. Fifty-sixth : Wm. N. Hanby. Fifty-seventh : 1869. John Buterbaugh. Fifty- sixth: Charles Gregg. Fifty-seventh : 1870. John G. Lind- say. Fifty-sixth : JJ. H. Whitford. Fifty-seventh : 1871. John G. Lindsay. Fifty-sixth : Thomas Thompson. Fifty-seventh.
The Legislature of 1871 made a new apportion- ment of the State into representative districts, by which Anderson county only formed one district. and had but one representative.
1872. J. 11. Whitford : 1873. John T. Lanter : 1874. James E. White: 1875, 11. C. Roppert : 1876. L. K. Kirk.
JUDGES OF THE DISTRICT COURT.
The Legislature in 1855 divided the Territory into judicial districts. placing Anderson county in the Second district, and in 1856 Sterling G. Cato was judge.
In 1858 the Legislature redistricted the Territory. and Anderson county was made part of the Third district, and Joseph Williams was the judge.
Under the Wyandotte constitution Anderson county was made part of the Fourth district.
1861. S. O. Thacher : 1864. Thacher resigned. and D. P. Lowe was appointed to fill the vacaney : 1865. D. M. Val- entine.
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The Legislature in 1857 created the Seventh ju- clicial district, and made Anderson county a part of it.
1867. William Spriggs : 1883. John R. Goodin.
In 1869 this county was again changed back to the Fourth district.
1869. O. A. Bassett : 1872. O. A. Bassett. CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT.
1858. A. Simons : 1860. A. Simons : 1861. A. Simons : 1863. Charles Hidden : 1865. C. E. Dewey : 1867. G. M. Everline : 1869. Solomon Kanffman: 1871. G. M. Everline: 1873. J. A. Bell : 1875. J. A. Bell.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. ..
1856. Francis Myer and JJ. S. Waitman : 1357. Darius Frankenberger and John McDaniel.
The Legislature in 1858 changed the county board to a board of supervisors, of one member from each township.
Supervisors-1858. J. E. White. chairman : Solomon Kauffman. Rezin Porter, John MeDaniel and Alexander Mc Arthur : 1859. J. F. Wadsworth. chairman: C. W. Fra- kor. John L. Adington. J. R. Eaton. J. B. Dilday and G. W. Sands.
The Legislature in 1860 changed the board from a board of supervisors to a board of county commis- sioners, consisting of three members.
1860. Preston Bowen, chairman : Richard Robinson and Mathew Porter : 1861. Mathew Porter, chairman: Richard Robinson and T. G. Headley : 1862. T. G. Headley. chair- man : John Moler and A. Cassel: 1868. T. G. Headley. chairman: D. L. Duff and Anderson Cassel : 1864. Dr. William Smith, chairman : H. R. Hall and George Holt :
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
Hall resigned, and S. W. Arrant appointed to fill vacancy : 1866. William Smith, chairman : Mathew Porter and Rich- ard Robinson : 1868. Il. Cavender, chairman : J. B. Lowry and Rouben Lowry: 1870. G. W. Her. chairman : J. B. Lowry and J. W. Vaughn : J. B. Lowry died in 1871. and 6. Il. Lowry appointed to fill vacancy : 1872. John Mack- lin. chairman: II. Cavender and B. M. Lingo : 1874. 6. 11. Lowry, chairman : G. W. Smith and II. Cavender: G. W. Smith resigned and M. E. Osborn was appointed to fill va- caney : November. 1875. M. J. Turrell elected to fill unex- pired form of Smith: Il. Cavender resigned, and W. S. Vreeland was appointed to fill vacancy : 1876. C. Il. Lowry. chairman : W. S. Vreeland and M. J. Turrell.
COUNTY CLERKS.
1856. Thomas Totton. appointed : 1857. A. Simons : l'e- signed, and C. T. Williams appointed : 1858. B. L. Ading- ton: 1860. A. Simons: 1862. A. McArthur : 1864. J. F. Walker : 1866. J. H. Williams : 1868. J. H. Williams : 1870. E. A. Edwards: 1872. E. A. Edwards: 1874. E. A. Ed- . wards : 1876. J. W. Goltra.
PROBATE JUDGES.
1555. George Wilson, elected by Legislature : 1858. Sam- uel Anderson. from January 1 to June 1. and was sie- ceeded by J. Y. Campbell. who served until the 7th day of October. 1861. when he was ousted from the office by proceedings had before S. O. Thacher, judge, on applica- tion of Chas. Hidden, who served until January, 1862; 1862. Samuel Anderson : 1863. Samuel Anderson : 1865. J. Y. Campbell : 1871. M. A. Page : 1875. J. M. Craig.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
1856. (. 11. Price. appointed : 1858. Isaac liner : 1859. W. L. Webster: 1860. Henderson Cavender : 1862. Henderson C'avender : 1864, T. G. Headley ; 1866. T. G. Headley : 1868. A. G. West. appointed to fill short term from January 1 io JJuly 1 : 1868. A. Simons: 1870. A. Simons: 1872. E. S. Hunt : 1874. E. S. Hunt.
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REGISTERS OF DEEDS.
1857. A. Simons, appointed : 1858. Madison Puett : 1860. (. J. Farley, who died in 1861, and M. Puett elected to fill vacancy : 1864. J. F. Walker: 1866. J. H. Williams: 1868. J. H. Williams: 1870. Samuel Crum : 1872. Samuel Crum : 1874. W. H. Mellen : 1876. W. I. Sutton.
SHERIFF'S.
1856. David MeCammon : 1857. Thos. Hill : resigned, and G. A. Cook. appointed : 1858. G. A. Cook : 1860. G. A. Cook : 1862. John Anderson, who resigned in 1865. and A. Simons appointed : 1866, Elias Norris : 1868. Elias Norris : 1870. G. A. Cook : 1872. Edward Rayn : 1874. Edward Rayn : 1876. J. 11. Shields.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
1858. J. B. Stitt : 1860. W. A. Johnson.
The Legislature in 1861 abolished the office of county attorney, and provided for a district attorney for each judicial district, and in June, 1861, S. A. Riggs was elected attorney for this district. In 1864 the Legislature abolished the office of district attor- ney, and provided for county attorneys.
1864. M. A. Page : 1865, W. A. Johnson was elected. but refused to qualify, and M. A. Page appointed : 1866. M. A. Page : 1867, John G. Lindsay : 1871, John S. Wilson : 1873. John J. Hoffman : 1875, Abram Bergen.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
1857. B. F. Ridgeway. appointed : 1858. B. F. Ridgeway : 1862. Jackson Means : 1864. Hugh Smith : 1866. James N. Smith : 1870, R. W. Gailey. 1872. R. W. Gailey : 1874. R. W. Gailey : 1876. R. W. Gailey.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
1858. J. R. Slentz, appointed ; 1861. Rufus Gilpatrick : 1863. (. B. Smith : 1865, (. T. Chapin : 1867. C. T. Chapin :
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
1869. W. A. Walker, who died in 1869. and P. W. Bahl was appointed : 1871. Thomas Bowles : 1873. Amos Rice : 1875. L. H. Osborn.
COUNTY ASSESSORS.
In 1857 William Puett was appointed by the board of county commissioners. In the winter of 1858 the Legislature made a change in the law, by which the office of county assessor was abolished, and in 1860 the Legislature again provided for the office of county assessor. John T. Lanter was elected in March. 1860. John T. Hall was elected in Novem- ber. 1860. and resigned in May. 1861. July 8. 1861, B. P. Brown was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John T. Hall.
1861. JJohn Horn : 1863. George W. Arrell : 1864. A. W. Phillips : 1865. George W. Arroll : 1866. W. B. Edwards ; 1867. C. B. Smith.
In 1868 the Legislature, by a change in the tax laws, abolished the office of county assessor and provided that the assessments should be made by the township trustees.
CHAPTER XV.
Accidents and Misfortunes-Shooting of Tips- word-Drowning of Lester Dart-Christian Feuer- born Killed by Indians-Josiah Kellerman, his Wife and two Children Burned to Death in a Prairie Firc-fames A. Town and Son Drowned in Pottowatomic Creek-Levi L. Hayden Frozen to Death, ctc.
A SAD affair occurred on the North Pottowatomic. north of Garnett, on the Ioth day of May, 1858. Two neighbors, William Lambert and W. A. Tips- word, were hunting turkeys in the timber on the creek in the early morning, neither knowing that the other was near him, each calling turkeys and crawling through the brush, expecting to see his game, when in an instant Lambert, through the underbrush, dis- covered a dark object near the creek bank, and. supposing it to be a turkey. at once drew up his gun and fired. He heard the noise of the object, and supposed it to be the fall of the turkey. He reloaded his rifle and proceeded to the spot for his game, but the lifeless form of Tipsword, lying on his face, met his bewildered view. The ball had penetrated his body in a vital part, causing instant death. They were both quiet, hard-working men, near neighbors
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and good friends. The affair cast a gloom of mel- ancholy upon Lambert, from which he never recov- ered. He left Anderson county in a few years there- after, for Colorado, but has since returned to Kan- sas, and now resides in Atchison county. He origi- nally settled on the farm now owned by Henry Gardner.
In August, 1858. a man by the name of Lester Dart, living on the north side of Pottowatomie, while going to Greeley to attend the election on the Le- compton constitution, as submitted under the Eng- lish bill, attempted to cross the Pottowatomie, and was drowned. Dart left a wife and one child to mourn his sad and premature demise.
In 1860 a man by the name of George Enoch, liv- ing on the north branch of Sugar creek, came to Garnett in company with his wife and child. They came in a wagon, drawn by a pair of oxen. In the evening, when he was on his way home. near the Simons crossing of the Pottowatomie, the oxen be- came ungovernable, run over a bank, and threw him out of the wagon, breaking his neck, producing instant death. His wife and child escaped with but little injury.
Christian Feuerborn, one of the early settlers of the North Pottowatomie, as hereinbefore men- tioned, left the Territory in 1858. He took his wife and children back to Illinois and left them, while he went to Nevada Territory in search of a golden for- tune, expecting, when he had accumulated the ex-
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pected fortune, to return with his family to Kansas and make his future home on the valuable tract of land that he left on the Pottowatomie. there to enjoy the accumulations of his labors, and enjoy the so- ciety and pleasures of his interesting family ; but in the spring of 1862, after he had secured a large amount of property and money in his Eldorado abode, a party of Indians made a raid on his house and he was massacred by them in a most cruel and barbarous manner. His family was never able to
recover any of his Nevada property. His widow afterwards married Julius Fisher, an industrious German, and returned with her husband and chil- dren to Kansas, and now resides on the same tract of land selected by her former husband in 1856.
In 1857 a man by the name of Josiah Kellerman settled on Pottowatomie creek, in the western por- tion of the county. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and an industrious man. He resided there un- til the fall of 1862, and had in the meantime im- proved a good farm. His family at that time con- sisted of himself, a wife and five children. In Oc- tober he started to move with his family and effects to Douglas county, Kansas. He loaded his house- hold goods into a two-horse wagon, in which his wife and two youngest children were to ride, while Kellerman and the three older children were to drive the loose stock. The weather was dry, and the wind was blowing a furious gale. They started about 8 o'clock in the morning, and traveled about
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six miles, when they discovered a prairie fire coming from the southwest. When first discovered it was some distance away, and several streams intervened between them and the fire. The wind blew with such violence that it drove the fire across the streams that were in its course, without checking its progress the least. When Kellerman discovered that the fire was going to overtake them, he and the children at once drove the stock on to a strip of plowed ground near by, and called to his wife to drive the wagon on. She turned off the road to drive on the plowed ground, but had not gone but a few rods before the wagon wheels got fast in some old ruts, and the team stopped. Kellerman, observing the condition of the wagon and team, and the rapid approach of the fire, at once started to the relief of his wife and children, but before he could reach them the fire had overtaken them and the wagon and contents were enveloped in flames. He made every effort possible to save his wife and children, but he could not relieve them from the devouring element. His wife, two children and himself all perished in the flames. The bodies of the children were entirely burnt up. The body of Mrs. Kellerman was so burned that but a small portion of the charred and blackened remains was ever found. Kellerman was so badly burned that he died about two hours afterwards. The horses were also burned to death. The three older children had got on the plowed ground just as the fire overtook the wagon. . They
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were compelled to stand there and see father, mother and brothers perish, without being able to render them any assistance. This was one of the saddest and most heart-rending affairs that has ever occurred in the county.
A very sad accident occurred in April, 1871. R. T. Stokes was constructing a wind mill in Garnett, and in the rear of the building a large derrick had been set up. for the purpose of hoisting heavy tim- bers on the top of the building. One evening after the workmen had gone home, and it had become quite dark, a number of the boys of the town were climbing up the ropes on the derrick. When some four or five of the boys were on the ropes, the fast- ening at the top of the derrick gave way, and let it fall. The main timber of the derrick fell on a boy by the name of Peter Tefft, a lad about fifteen years of age. The fall of timber crushed his skull, from which he died in a few hours. He was the youngest child of John Tefft, an old and respected citizen.
On the 27th day of March, 1871, a family by the name of Town, living east of Garnett, consisting of James A. Town, his wife and an adopted son, about ten years of age, left their home about noon to go to Middle creek, in Franklin county. They were traveling in a two-horse wagon. When they came to the Pottowatomie, the stream had taken a rise, and being unacquainted with it they did not suppose that it was unsafe to attempt to cross. They drove in. but before they got far into the water the wagon be-
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gan to float. and the wagon body became detached and floated down stream. Mr. Town and son were thrown into the water, and soon disappeared from view. The wife remained in the wagon body, and was rescued, while Mr. Town and her adopted son were drowned.
The next day after Mr. Town and his son were drowned a man, whose name is unknown, who had been working on the railroad, while in a state of in- toxication went down along the railroad, and fell into Lake Joy and was drowned. He had been drowned several days before his body was discov- ered.
In the summer of 1872 a boy by the name of Hi- ram Dart, about eighteen years of age, was with other boys in the Pottowatomie, above the Farrah mill dam, bathing. He became strangled, and drowned before help could reach him.
John Hall, an old and respected citizen, living on the Osage. in the southeast portion of the county, in 1874 was digging a well on his farm : was down in the well, and while a tub was being hoisted from the well a pick fell from the tub, striking him on the head, killing him instantly.
Coleman Payne, living near the head of the South Pottowatomie, in Rich township, in 1874 was in a coal bank, digging coal, when the bank slid in, bury- ing him beneath the earth, killing him.
Henry Feuerborn, an old citizen of Putnam town- ship, and one of the early settlers of the county.
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while hauling hay, in the fall of 1875, and driving over a piece of stony ground, the wagon struck a stone, upsetting it, precipitating him among the stones with such violence that he was seriously in- jured, from the effects of which he died in a few days.
Levi L. Hayden, one of the carly settlers of Reeder township, living on the western border of the county. in the autumn of 1860, with several other persons. left his home to go west on a buffalo and wolf hunt. They went to the Arkansas river, near where the town of Wichita is now situated, and there arranged their camp for the winter. In the latter part of No- vember he went out from camp to set bait for wolves. It was a snowy, stormy day, and he soon became bewildered and wandered around over the prairies for a long time. Not returning to the camp, his party became alarmed as to his safety, and went in search of him. He was found on the third day af- terwards, sitting on a log, with his feet frozen to the ice. His comrades took him to camp, but he was so badly frozen that his feet and hands sloughed off. and, after suffering the most terrible pain. he died.
In November, 1871, A. J. Walker, living on the head of Deer creek, in Rich township, bought an Indian cow and calf. He took them home in the morning. After dark that evening he went to the stable to feed and take care of his stock. He re- mained absent for some time, until his wife became alarmed, when she went in search of him. She
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found him lying in the yard, dead. He had been hooked by the cow on the inside of the thigh, sever- ing the femoral artery, producing instant death.
In the spring of 1876 a boy 12 or 13 years of age, by the name of Follice, living on the Osage, in the southeast corner of the county, fell from a wagon load of corn. The force of the fall crushed his skull, causing death in a few moments.
Several families by the name of Lankard settled on Pottowatomie creek, in the west part of the county, in the spring of 1857. Daniel Lankard with his
family still resides there. In September, 1864, Mrs. Lankard, with a span of young horses, drove to a well some distance from the house for a barrel of water, taking three of the children with her. The neck yoke became detached, the pole dropped to the ground, and the horses became frightened. Mrs. Lankard was thrown forward, and kicked by the horses, and otherwise bruised, from the effects of which she died.
CHAPTER XVI.
Various Bond Propositions to aid Railroad Com- panics to Build Railroads-The Orders for Sub- mission, and the Results of the Elections Thercon.
IN the development and growth of this county the people were animated by a desire to have all the fa- cilities for commerce and easy and speedy means of travel and transportation that are enjoyed by older and more wealthy communities, and in order to se- cure such facilities have adopted the system of aid- ing railroad companies in the construction of their roads by voting and issuing municipal bonds of the
county. The question of voting and issuing bonds to aid in the building of railroads has been a source of grave consideration, and .much discussion, strife and ill feeling has grown out of the various railroad schemes that have been presented to the people of the county from time to time, for their approval or rejection.
The first proposition was submitted to a vote on the 15th day of August, 1865, to subscribe one hun- dred and twenty-five thousand dollars to the capital stock of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Fort Gib- son railroad company, and issue the bonds of the county in payment therof, with the following result :
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
Monroe township-162 for, I against ; Walker township-55 for, 23 against ; Washington township -15 for, 6 against ; Jackson township-24 for, 5 against : Reeder township-3 for, 43 against ; Ozark township-9 for, I against ; total-268 for, 79 against : majority for the bonds, 189.
On the 2d day of December, 1867, the county commissioners made an order for the submission of the following proposition :
" Shall the county of Anderson subscribe one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars additional, in full paid- up stock, to the capital stock of the Leavenworth. Law- rence & Galveston railroad company, and issue the bonds of the county in payment thereof?"
With a proviso that said railroad company should have its road completed to the southern line of the county by the 15th of October, 1868; and in case the road was not completed by that time the bonds should not be issued: The proposition was submit- ted at a special election on the 23d day of Decem- ber, 1867. with the following result :
Monroe township-247 for, 14 against ; Walker township-47 for, 39 against ; Vess precinct-28 for, I against : Jackson township-48 for, 8 against ; Reeder township-o for, 117 against ; Ozark town- ship-8 for, 23 against ; Washington township-43 for, 2 against ; total-421 for, 204 against ; majority for the bonds, 217.
On the canvass of the vote the board of commis- sioners made the following order :
" There being 421 votes for the bonds, and 204 votes against 2I
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the bonds. it is hereby declared that Anderson county subscribe one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ad- dlitional to the capital stock of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railroad company, and issue the bonds of the county therefor. upon completion of said road to Garnett. in said county: Provided. Said road is completed and in good running order on or before the 15th day of October. 1868 .**
On the 30th day of January, 1869, the board of county commissioners made the following order in relation to voting aid to the railroad :
" Be it ordered, by the board of county commissioners of Anderson county, Kansas, that a special election be held in said county of Anderson on the 6th day of April. 1869, and that at said election the qualified voters of said county shall then and there vote 'for' or .against . the proposition for said county to subscribe one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars to the capital stock of the following railroad companies, and on the conditions fol- lowing, to wit : That said county of Anderson shall subscribe seventy-five thousand dollars to the capital stock of the Leavenworth. Lawrence & Galveston railroad com- pany : said stock to be subscribed and the bonds of said county issued in payment therefor, on condition that said railroad company shall first construet a continuous line of railway from the city of Lawrence to the town of Gar- nett, and have said road fully equipped with all necessary rolling stock for the accommodation of the business of said road : Provided. That said company shall have its road constructed and in operation to the town of Garnett by the fourth of July, 1869, and shall ereet and maintain their depot within one hundred and sixty rods of the public square of the town of Garnett : And provided further, That said railroad company shall release said county from any claim that said company may have against said county by reason of an election held in said county on the 23d
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ANDERSON COUNTY.
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