History of Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS

By Vol. P. Mooney

1916

DEDICATED

TO THE MEMORY OF MY WIFE,

FRANCES E. MOONEY,

WHO FELL ASLEEP - CROSSING THE GREAT DIVIDE - FEBRUARY TWENTY - FIRST, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN. FOR FORTY YEARS MY COMPANION AND FRIEND; ALWAYS ASSISTING, NEVER HINDERING; LIVING ON THE SUNNY SIDE, REFUSING THE CLOUDS; WHOSE COMING BROUGHT DELIGHT AND GLADNESS; WHOSE DEPARTURE TOOK AWAY THE MOTIVE, THE INCENTIVE, THE INSPIRATION OF LIFE, LEAVING AN EXISTENCE OF CHAOS, DESOLATION AND GLOOM. HER HOUSEHOLD WAS HER JOY; HER HOME HER TREASURE; HER FRIENDS HER PRIDE; HER FAITH IN ALMIGHTY GOD, AND THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, HER COMFORT. "HER CHILDREN RISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED; HER HUSBAND ALSO, AND HE PRAISETH HER."

VOL. P. MOONEY.

FOREWORD

"Histories are as perfect as the historian is wise and is gifted with an eye and a soul." Carlyle.

The contributors to this work, the historians, are men and women, writing from personal knowledge, personal observation, and personal experience; those that have made, created, and assisted in making and creating that of which they write. That they are wise and gifted and endowed with, and possessed of both eye and soul, is a self - evident fact; and the reader will be convinced that they speak that which they do know. This history being based upon such evidence, which becomes the best evidence attainable, its reliability, its perfection, and its authenticity, are assured.

The history of Butler county is the history of an empire. While many of those pioneers of early days have taken their chamber in the silent halls of death, have gone to that country from whose bourne no traveler hath ever yet returned, yet a goodly number remain among us; ripe in years, experience and information. From them we learn of those whose brain and brawrn laid, and assisted in laying the foundation of what is today a county. "Magnificent in its greatness and great in its magnificence" a county with a diversity of interests and resources practically unlimited; a county where school houses and church spires are always in sight; a county whose people are happy, contented and prosperous, possessed of refinement and culture, attained unto an intellectual level; and equipped to meet the broader view and higher purpose of the civilized world.

As,we contemplate the results of the efforts of these hardy, earnest early settlers, and realize the wonderful transformation by reason thereof, and as we enjoy the fruits and benefits of their labors, their toil, their hardships, their sacrifices, our hearts go out in thankfulness to Almighty God for that American spirit possessed by our ancestry, which battles, builds, creates, and makes two blades of grass grow where but one grew before.

The reminiscences of these pioneers form a most essential, valuable and interesting portion of this work. There is nothing mythical or legendary contained in them. They are not dream stories, but reliable and authentic stories of the men and women, boys, and girls of early days. Their romances, their trials, tribulations and triumphs. They who stayed, who endured, who conquered, who are entitled to, and who will receive greater things in the days to come.

Grateful acknowledgment is hereby made to the press of Butler county, and to those whose kindness of heart and whose ready pen have rendered material assistance in the preparation of this work; and to those pioneer men and women whose, lives and experiences make this history possible, a great many of whom are no longer here, but whose memory remains like unto a benediction; and to my daughter, Corah Adelaide Mooney, for her efficient help.

Recognition is made of the following bibliography used in the preparation of this book: Kansas State Historial Collection; Wilder's Annals of Kansas; Kansas in American Commonwealths, by Leverett W. Spring; History of Kansas, William C. Cutler; Cyclopedia of State, F. W. Blackmar; Kansas Session Laws, Bulletins, Pamplets, Records, etc.

VOL. P. MOONEY.

El Dorado, Kans., September, 1916.

CHAPTER I.

ORGANIZATION

Named in Honor of Andrew P. Butler - Early Influence Indicated in Name - One of the Original Thirty - three Counties - First and Later Boundaries - First County Seat - Township Bound aries - Organization of Townships - Districts - Topography - Products - Herd Law - Fences ; Pages 33 - 40

CHAPTER II.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Pre - Historic Red Man - Coronado's Visit in 1541 - Native Indian Tribes - Indian Character - Early Trails - Evidences of PreHistoric Occupation of Butler County - Indian Relics - Village and Camp Sites - Indian Traditions - Indian Implements Pages 41 - 46

CHAPTER III.

FIRST EVENTS

First Settler - Births - Marriages - Postoffices - Stores - Schools - Churches - Court Records and Procedure - Official Acts - Elections - Assessment and First Valuation - Present Valuation Pages 47 - 53

CHAPTER IV.

COUNTY SEAT AND COURT HOUSE

First County Seat - County Seat Elections - First Court House - Bond Issue Defeated - Citizens' Subscription - Further County Seat Contention - Court House Enlarged - New Court House - Location - Building - Cost - Extinct Towns. Pages 54 - 62

CHAPTER V.

INDIAN HISTORY AND EARLY TIMES

The Plains - Dawn of Era - Primitive Times - First Settlement - Indian Perils and Scares - Cherokees Come - Indian Trading Posts - Camps - Settlement Prior to 1870 - Settlement in1857 - Drouth of 1860 - Home Defense Company Organized - Butler County in the Civil War - First Settler in El Dorado - Cholera - Early Settlers - Postoffice - First Fourth of July Celebration - Homesteading Pages 63 - 74

CHAPTER VI.

PERMANENT SETTLEMENT

Real Settlement - Pioneer Women - Erection of Saw Mills - Pioneer Life - Amusements - Grasshopper Year - Devastation - Reaction - Brighter Hopes - "Sleep, Old Pioneer" - Afterwards - Public Enterprises - Prosperity - Now Pages 75 - 85

CHAPTER VII.

TRANSPORTATION

Highways in Early Days - Freighting - Government Trains - Mathewson - Stage Coaches - Experiences of Stage Coach Days - Stage Drivers - Passing of the Stage Coach Days - Railroads - First Railroad Bonds Voted - Another Bond - Election - Santa Fe - Missouri Pacific - Frisco - Communication - Pioneer Mail Carrier - Star Route - Automobiles. Pages 86 - 94

CHAPTER VIII.