History of Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS

By Vol. P. Mooney

1916

CHAPTER VIII

TOWNSHIPS, CITIES AND TOWNS

AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP-BENTON TOWNSHIP-BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP- BRUNO TOWNSHIP-CHELSEA TOWNSHIP-CLAY TOWNSHIP-CLIFFORD TOWNSHIP-DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP
By N. A. Yeager.

Augusta township was organized April 4, 1870, by the board of county commissioners, on petition of C. N. James and others. It included the present territory of Augusta, Bruno, Spring and the north halves of Pleasant; Walnut and Bloomington townships. The following township officers were appointed until the regular election: Daniel Stine, trustee; A. Palmer, treasurer, and C. N. James, clerk. The first election was held at Augusta. May 14, 1870, which was a special election called to vote on the proposition to move the county seat from El Dorado to Chelsea. The vote was 119 for and 9 against. The next election was a special election on June 27, 1870, to vote $25,000 bonds for county buildings at El Dorado. The vote was 253 against and none for the proposition.

At the first general election the following officers were elected: Daniel Stine, trustee; E. R. Powell, treasurer; H. M. Winger, clerk; William Treweeke and W. D. Mead, justices of the peace. At this election the county herd law was also voted upon. The present boundaries of Augusta township were established by the county commissioners April 4, 1870. The town of Augusta was incorporated February 8, 1871, upon the petition of C. N. James and eighty other taxpayers of the town. C. N. James, Thomas H. Baker, W. A. Shannon, G. W. Brown and J. R. Nixon were appointed board of trustees. At the first regular election C. N. James was elected mayor. In 1868, Shamleffer and James opened the first store near the corner of Third and State streets, in a log building, which has since been weather-boarded and is now used as a residence. It is now known as No. 309 State street.

On January 2, 1869, the post office was established with Mr. James as postmaster, and the post office and the town were given the name of Augusta, in honor of his wife, Augusta James. Immediately across the

Page 96

street from the post office the first hotel was built and operated by Mr. Mitchell, and is now known as No. 308 State street.

Prior to this time the adventurers and. explorers of this region recognized the commercial importance of this location for a city, and two town companies were formed and platted this location in 1857 and 1858, and its natural advantages were advertised and exploited by the respective promoters in the east. One of these towns was named Arizonia and the other Fontanelle. They were both located on the present townsite. About this time an investigation was had by some of the purchasers of lots, and a survey was made which started from a known boundary line stone on the Neosho river, near Humboldt, and was run due west through this county. It was discovered that the townsites were on the Osage Indian tract and were not subject to sale, and these towns died, as did also the hopes of their founders and the eastern investors to make fortunes. It is said that C. N. James, in 1868, purchased the relinquishment on which the original townsite is located for $40. Daniel Stine is recognized as being the oldest permanent white settler of this township. He came to Butler county in 1858. A man named Hilderbrand had preceded him to this county and took a claim east of El Dorado on what is now the county farm. A few years afterward it is said that Hilderbrand was suspected of conducting some dealings in horses at night which made him unpopular, and he received an urgent invitation to emigrate. There is no record of how or when he departed.

Page 97

In 1868, the government concluded a treaty with the Indians whereby they relinquished their claim to a strip twenty miles wide on the north side of their reservation. This is known as the Osage Indian trust land, the northern boundary of which is about six miles north of Augusta. In 1869 A. Palmer brought in a saw mill which was located on the west banks of the Walnut river, immediately north of the present residence of Mrs. M. J. Loy. The first residence of the town was erected in 1869, on the corner of State street and Fourth avenue. This building is now occupied and owned by G. W. Ohmart, and was built almost entirely of native lumber from the Palmer mill. October 1, 1870, the United States land office was located at Augusta. This was largely due to the influence and energy of Thomas H. Baker, who afterward served in the State legislature. Andrew Akin was registrar and W. A. Shannon, receiver. The land office brought with it a large influx of immigration to this county, and Augusta experienced its first boom. The county settled rapidly, and the flood of immigrants pouring down the valley were enraptured by the broad fertile valleys, the beautiful streams and abundance of walnut and other valuable timber fringing them.

Augusta was especially favored by being in the center from which these fertile valleys radiated. The Whitewater river from the north, the Walnut from the northeast, Indianola creek from the northwest, centered at this point; and Four-Mile creek, a few miles to the southwest, and the Little Walnut river and Hickory creek, to the southeast, made an ideal location for the central point of a rich agricultural community. About this time the Santa Fe Railroad Company, recognizing the commercial importance of this point, made a survey from Emporia, with a view to extending its line from that place, but either from lack or grasp of the importance and advantage of this move by the citizens of Augusta, or from some reasons which are not now definitely ascertainable, the railroad company abandoned the project and extended its line west to Newton, and afterward to Wichita, and the land office was moved to the latter place. It is generally conceded by the old-time residents that Augusta failed to avail itself of an opportunity which might have changed the map of this part of the state, and in which they were assisted by some of the old-time residents of El Dorado.

In September, 1870, The Augusta "Crescent," the first newspaper," was established by A. A. Putnam and L. J. Perry. These editors were succeeded by J. B. Davis, who changed its name to The Augusta "Republican." He was succeeded by U. A. Albin, who in 1874 discontinued the publication with this short valedictory: "The patronage we have received will not justify us in risking a continuance. "Since self-preservation is the first law of nature," we will endeavor to locate where we can do best."Afterward The Southern Kansas "Gazette" was established by the late Charles H. Kurtz, and in 1880 Mr. Albin repented, returned and established the "Republican."

Page 98

In 1872 a county seat election was held, in which Augusta received a majority of 206 over El Dorado. The removal of the county seat was contested by El Dorado and the matter was taken into the courts and decided against Augusta on a techincality. This county seat agitation continued for a number of years, to the detriment of both places, and greatly retarded the development of the county. The same year the land office was moved to Wichita. With the loss of the land office and the county seat, the population of Augusta decreased and the speculators, who are the mainsprings in townsite promotion, lost heart and abandoned Augusta for more promising fields. In 1880 the Frisco railroad was completed and Augusta took on new life. In 1881, the Santa Fe extended its line through Augusta to Douglass. Within six months the population doubled and continued to increase steadily for several years. Stone quarries were opened up in this vicinity and good building stone was quarried for local use and for shipment. From 1888 to 1898 the financial stringency over the entire country retarded the progress of Augusta, as well as all the towns in the State, but Augusta still maintained its reputation of being one of the best towns of its size in Kansas because of its favored natural resources.

In 1906, the city (largely upon the advice and earnest solicitation of Mr. Yeager, the writer of this article-Editor), took up the development of gas for municipal purposes and commenced to furnish its citizens with gas at a low rate, and now has a gas plant which is estimated to be worth $100,000, paid for out of the proceeds of the gas. In 1908, the city put in a water system. In 1913, an electric light system was in-

Page 99

stalled, largely paid for out of the gas receipts. In 1916 the city completed a sanitary sewer system. From, the development of the oil field, the growth of Augusta has been very rapid; the census shows for 1915 a population of 1,400, and for 1916, 3,575, and is still increasing in the same ratio. Its future growth and importance will be determined largely by circumstances and the wisdom and energy of its citizens.

To the archaeologist Augusta presents an interesting field. across the Walnut river from the present city are to be found ruins of an ancient city covering many times the territory now covered by Augusta. Here is to be found the evidences of very ancient races of people, and fragments of pottery as ancient as the pyramids of Egypt. Fragments of rock used in the manufacture of tools, which are not found this side of Lake Superior or the Rocky Mountains; hand mills for the grinding of grain, manufactured from stone not found in this vicinity; small mounds extending from section 4 in Walnut township to section 26, Augusta township, representing the accumulations, perhaps, of centuries. In these are the fragmentary evidence that delights the antiquarian and appeals to our imagination and fancy. Here is represented an age in which all implements and cutlery were manufactured of stone. The process of the manufacture of implements and knives and weapons is unknown today, and must have represented the highest skill, evidencing a civilization far above the American Indian.

This location was selected, doubtless, for its commercial advantages

Page 100

as well as from strategic reasons. The three sides of this to the east, north and west, defines a wall almost perpendicular, ranging from twenty-five to fifty feet high, at the foot of which runs the deep channel of the Walnut, making an attack from this direction, with ancient weapons, almost impossible. Here large springs furnish ample water supply of the best character. The Inidan has it that many bloody battles were fought to gain and hold this important point. Doubtless this was the best hunting ground in the mid-continent. Here we find the first timbered protection and the first permanent water for the game and animal life which necessarily must have sought shelter from the blizzards and winter storms which swept the plains, and the drought which parched the great American desert. Here the rich valleys afforded game for the primeval inhabitants.

According to Indian tradition, the last great battle was fought in the low grounds between the present site of Augusta and the Whitewater and Walnut rivers. If Indian tradition can be relied upon, many thousand braves in hand encounter battled and perished in this last great struggle for this stronghold, and that several thousands of braves perished in this battle. Whatever may have transpired before the present civilization conquered this territory is largely a matter of conjecture. One civilization succeeding another of different type, one race of people succeeding another different in character, has been the history of all time, doubtless true of this locality. And the importance of this location was recognized and built upon in the histories of all these tribes and races.

BENTON TOWNSHIP
By J. C. Henrie and Elmer Dickerson

Benton township was named after or for the late Thomas Benton Murdock, using his middle name. It was organized in February, 1872, out of the territory comprising Congressional township 26, range 3, and an election ordered held at the general election in April for the election of township officers, at or near the residence of M. T. Wallace. The officers elected at that time were as follows: John Mendenhall, trustee; L. A. Harper, clerk; W. H. Litson, treasurer; W. J. Estes and Charles Hazelhurst, justices of the peace. The assessed valuation of the township for 1872 was $20,296, and for 1915, $1,311,059. The township is adapted to agriculture and stock raising. All kinds of cereals and grasses, tame and native, grow and flourish. There are five school districts in the township, and about seven miles of the Missouri Pacific railway.

The town of Benton was platted in 1883 and now contains a high school, two churches, one grain elevator, five general stores, two hardware stores, one drug store, one bank, one hotel, two garages, two physicians, two blacksmith shops, the orders of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F.,

Page 101

each having their own halls, and are in a flourishing condition; one lumber yard, coal yard and numerous other lines of business are represented. The town is lighted by electricity. Benton has also one newspaper, The Benton "Bulletin," published by John W. Milsap, and enjoys a good circulation and liberal patronage of its advertising columns.

Among the early settlers were J. P. J. Nelson, J. Edmiston, W. H. Litson, E. E. Armstrong, Noah Siders, William Coverdale, R. C. Spaulding, R. F. Moore, W. A. Aikman, John H. Clark, S. H. Dickerson, Robert Dodge, M. T. Wallace, J. C. Henrie, Ed. Harding, M. Gidly, E. H. Stod-dard, S. Shafer, I. W. Maple, E. W. Rollings, M. W. Priest, John Imman, Andrew Duffey, L. A. Harper, H. W. Beck, E. Durley, Eli Lytle, A. Melrose, D. Barnett, George Medworth, W. M. Mathers, W. M. McCune, J. L. McCune, Charles Hazelhurst and many others. Practically every quarter section was occupied by the claimant or owner at the time the township was organized, a majority of whom have gone from among us never more to return; others moved away and a few still own their original homesteads, while others are occupied by the descendants of the homesteader.

Page 102

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP

On April 1, 1872, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners asking that a new township, described as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of section 4, in township 28, south of range 6, east; thence running west nine miles; thence south six miles; thence east nine miles; thence north six miles to the place of beginning, to be called Bloomington township, and Fields' shop was recommended as the voting place. The petition was granted and an election of township officers ordered held on April 20, 1872. The election resulted as follows: I. N. Crawford, trustee; H. H. Fowler, treasurer; Samuel Major, clerk.

The first settler or squatter in what is now Bloomington township was Samuel Rankin, who attempted to locate on a quarter section of land in 1867. What became of him is among the things that are not known. Among the early settlers of the township as now described are D. S. Yates, Daniel Franklin, Fred and W. A. Ward, W. H. Allen, Alex Covert, Richard Padgham, J. B. Seaman, N. M. A. Whitrow, H. H. Fowler, Chris Wirth, William Schoeb, John Riffe, J. P. Bogle, T. C. Crowley, Sam Major, Gid Stevens and many others. Very few, if any, now own their original claim, and as nearly as can be ascertained, none are now living thereon. This is a well watered township, and had at one time a good grist mill for grinding wheat, etc., by water power. Much live stock is raised, handled and fed from the products of the farms.

BRUNO TOWNSHIP
By A. M. Wolf

Application for a new township in Congressional township 27, range 3, east of the sixth principal meridian, to be called Highland township, and to include all of township 27 and the north half of township 28, the election to be held at the school house in district 61. The application was presented to the board of county commissioners and granted, and the election was to be held on April 20, 1872. On April 9, 1872, a petition was presented, and granted, for changing the name of Highland township to Bruno township. The election on April 20, 1872, the first officers elected were as follows: N. B. Daniels, trustee; Jacob Brown, treasurer; D. J. Reber, clerk; Isaac Newland and Samuel Reed, justices of the peace; William Riser and Isaac Stroup, constables.

The first settlement of Bruno township was commenced in February, 1869 by Vincent Smith, being the first settler arriving on section 3 on Dry Creek. Upon his arrival, and to his surprise, he found about 500 Indians, and he traveled on horseback up this creek from Augusta to its beginning in Sedgwick county. He then went south across the prairie on to what is called Four-Mile creek. Traveling down this creek he

Page 103

came to a large spring of water now known as Seltzer Springs, just over the line in Sedgwick county. He continued to follow this creek, and as he came within about three miles of the Walnut River, he saw what looked to him to be a dugout, and upon examining it found it inhabited by a white man, and interrogating the old gentleman, found that he had been a sailor on the high seas and that his name was Franklin. Smith then proceeded down the creek to the Walnut river and on down to where Winfield now stands.. His intentions were on starting a town site for a county seat, and upon his arrival the first night, he again found himself among Indians, and they, stealing his horse, told him that "white man was too fresh." Finding that the land had not been surveyed, he then traveled on foot to Cottonwood Falls and then came back in the early spring, about the tenth of May, 1869 and filed on the southwest quarter of section 3, the land office at that time being at Humboldt, Kan.. Nothing much was done during the year 1869 until the early spring of 1870, when the early settlers began to arrive, a man by the name of Champion, a blacksmith; Harry and Frank Kelley, C. A. Glancey and Mr. Graham taking up claims along Dry creek. About October 1, 1870, a few more settlers began to arrive, of whom some are still remembered, being Mr. Wolf, F. A. James and James Collison; and then no further settlement until the spring of 1871, when settlers began to arrive from the East, settling up the township, and, in fact, every quarter section was taken and improvements began at once and have continued to improve until this spring. The citizens of Bruno township can proudly say that we rank among the foremost in Butler county, having a fine high school, elevators, churches and well improved farms; also able business men and an excellent set of farmers. In the early spring of 1870, a few settlers that were here got together and names were suggested for the township, and it was finally agreed to delegate Mr. Graham to name it, and he suggested the name and called it Bruno. The first railroad through Bruno township was built in 1880. Bonds to the amount of $18,000 for the extension of the Frisco railway were voted and the road was completed through the township in May, 1880.

Andover, the county seat of Bruno township, was platted by Charley A. Glancey in 1880. It is a thriving little village on the Frisco railroad. It has one general store, owned by W. E. Peacock; bank, Earl J. Fanner, cashier; lumber yard, S. B. McClaren; millinery, barber and blacksmith shops, postoffice and other lines represented and all doing a good business.

CHELSEA TOWNSHIP
By Martin Vaught.

In August, 1857, George T. Donaldson, J. C. Lambdin, his son Ralph, and myself, camped at Emporia, at that time a village of less than a dozen houses. We were looking for homes arid others joined us, among

Page 104

whom were William Woodruff and wife, James Leander, Horace Cole, Stephen White, Israel, Tom and Dave Scott and their mother, Mrs. DeRacken and her sons, Bob, John and Ruben; William Rice, and last, but not least, Prince Gorum Davis Morton, who, having a wooden limb, was vulgarly dubbed pegleg. There came to our camp, too, with a long swinging stride, a long rifle on his shoulder, a large pack on his back, carrying his boots, while his feet were unshod, his hat rimless and clothing in tatters, a man who had been on an extended tramp. His hair was light, his eyes blue and bright and contrasted strikingly with his sun-tanned skin. His name was I. N. Barton, college professor and civil engineer from Maine. He had come to Kansas for health and had found it, having explored every stream south of Neosho and as far west as Cow creek, west of Wichita. His description of the Walnut and Whitewater valleys and prediction that in and near them was the garden spot of Kansas won us, and we unanimously decided to go with him and see them. We crossed the Cottonwood where now is Soden's mill and proceeded across the trackless prairie southwest, up the south fork of the Cottonwood, over the divide to Sycamore Springs and down the Walnut to the hill where J. K. Nelson's house stands, northeast of Chelsea. We halted and took in the beautiful expanse, over the valley to the south, to Cole creek on one hand and DeRacken on the other. Surprised and pleased, we went into camp on what is now the Phineas Osborn farm, a half mile east of Chelsea.

We quickly took our claims. We went to building log cabins- homes with a will. The three Cole brothers settled on the stream- on section 16, now the Shelden farm that bears their name. The DeRackens took claims on the stream to which they gave their name, now incorrectly spelled Durachen. We found Doctor Lewellyn settled on the land which is his home today, and Charles Jefferson, father of Henry, the first white boy born in Butler county-thirty-six years ago, or 1859-was his neighbor on the north. Henry Martin, afterward so prominent in Butler county affairs, was farther down the stream. All the land about us was unsurveyed and none could tell where to run lines that would encompass all he desired, but it was in October, 1857, when I took my claim (because of the abundant timber on it) at the junction of DeRacken with the main stream, now the C. H. Dawson farm.

"Pegleg" Morton was from Boston, which was to him the hub of the solar and other systems. He was a good singer and enlivened our camp with songs whenever not engaged in relating his adventures, the like of which never were on land or sea. He had sung to the elite of earth, even the crowned heads of Europe as far back as Mary Queen of Scots. We kept tab on him and figured up by his romancing that he was not under 400 years old. He claimed to be only 35. Morton named Chelsea. He wanted to call it Boston or New Boston, because he was from Boston. We compromised on Chelsea, which is a town hear Boston, and Chelsea it is even to this day. The first plat was made by a company on what is

Page 105

now the Buchanan and Nelson farms, in 1858, and another, I believe, in 1867, where the school house now is. The Cole brothers and White were from Wisconsin; Woodruff and Rice, Iowa; Scotts, Illinois; Lamb-din, Indiana; Donaldson and myself, last, anyhow, from Jefferson, county, Kansas. The Lord only knows where the DeRackens did come from.

In fifty-eight the fifth parallel was the line between Butler and Hunter county on the south. West of range 4 was Otoe; south of Otoe, Irving, while the east line of Butler crossed Fall river near Eureka.

Among the several families that came in the fall of fifty-eight was Daniel Shipley, a burly Missourian, who rarely wore a hat or shoes. His shirt flared open at the bosom and his arms were bare. He was always ready for a fight. Ewing Moxley was another, a thorough frontiersman, born in the wilds, an unerring marksman, fearless, honest and simple and tender as a child. I never read Fenimore Cooper's "Leather Stocking Tales" without thinking of Moxley. He had been a government scout and guide on the plains and while carrying dispatches was drowned in the Kaw river near Lawrence in attempting to swim his horse across it.

Henderson Thomas first settled on what is now the Henry Diller farm in Sycamore. F. B. McAllister started a blacksmith shop on the Cogeshall farm north of Nelson. Settlers came in rapidly and took claims on all the creeks, the more heavily timbered ones first. William Thoroughman was the first settler on Satchell creek. He subsequently sold his land for $300 to Thomas W. Satchell, who gave his name to the stream. This was afterward the Shaffer brothers' farm and is now owned by Charles L. King. It has on it a magnificent spring which furnished water even in 1860, the year of the terrible drouth.

Our most accessible postoffice was Lawrence. A tri-weekly hack was running from Lawrence to Emporia, and Chelsea and Emporia people rented box 400 at Lawrence, to which their mail was addressed. Whoever went to Emporia brought down the mail for Chelsea, receiving it from Messrs. Fick & Eskride; merchants. Ox teams were used for all purposes, whether freighting or going to church or a dance.

L. M. Pratt, his wife and sons, John and Dick, came in the winter of fifty-seven-fifty-eight; also Matthew Cowley, James Trask and Dr. S. P. Barrett. Settlements were made on West Branch, upper Whitewater, and on Fall river by a Norwegian colony, whose names even to this day prove that they stayed. Such as Ole Ladd and H. G. Branson were leaders. In troublous times we found them loyal and true.

Our amusements were hunting buffalo, deer and turkeys, which abounded. I have seen the prairies between the Whitewater and the Arkansas black with apparently one herd of buffalo. Turkeys came to our corn cribs. Lambdin shot one in his crib one Christmas morning. Dances were frequent. James Gordy and John Pratt, both still living, the one at Oklahoma City, the other at Cottonwood Falls, were the fiddlers Gordy played half a tune and Pratt the other half, passing the fiddle back and forth. We stayed all night. One time we started to a

Page 106

dance with an ox team and picked up so many girls that the boys had to walk.

My first acquaintance with Bige Bemis was when I found him roasting chickens in camp. His was probably the first restaurant in the valley; we got all the chicken we wanted and a drink out of his whiskey jug for fifty cents.

In the spring of fifty-nine C. S. Lambdin, cousin of J. C. Lambdin, built a saw and grist mill at Chelsea, the settlers hauling the machinery from Leroy. We now established independent municipal organization and we voted on one of the numerous state constitutions submitted to us. The first election was in a grove near Joseph McDaniel's house, on Buchanan's farm. We used an old coffee mill for a ballot box, furnished by Mrs. Woodruff to help us out of the dilemma. The drawer would be pulled, the ballot deposited, the drawer closed and the will of an American Kansas elector was expressed.

Archibald Ellis came to us this summer, a sterling man in every relation, a true man, excellent citizen, fine neighbor and honest officer. He and his most estimable wife were from Ireland. They were indefatigable workers and generous and kindly beyond expression to their neighbors and friends. They are remembered by hundreds in Butler county for their strength of character, their integrity, thrift and energy. Their children are among the prominent people of the county, and are wealthy, not alone by what they inherited, but by what they themselves have won. George (now deceased) and John have splendid farms which they till with profit. John was county commissioner and served two terms. Mrs. N. B. Cogeshall, who resides near Chelsea, is their only daughter.

Illustrating the light hold the moral code had on some, let me say that many horses had mysteriously disappeared and were traced very close to DeRacken's, and Bob was suspected. A vigilance committee called on him but he was discreetly absent. His younger brother was caught and ordered to tell where Bob was. He refused, a rope was brought and he was hung by the neck repeatedly, but he was steadfast and said they might take his life, but they couldn't make him tell, and they didn't. The DeRackens, however, "made themselves scarce."

J. C. Lambdin was elected to the upper house of the territorial council of fifty-nine, the member of the lower house coming from Chase county. Lambdin was also a member of the constitutional convention in i860, and under that constitution the State was admitted, January 29, 1861.

The year 1860 surpassed beyond expression any I ever saw in Kansas. It was a year of unprecedented drouth-May, June and July passed without a drop of rain. Every green thing withered; even the leaves on the trees turned yellow and then brown. The streams dried up. Fish innumerable died, and as the deep water holes dried away they were pitched into a wagon and hauled to hogs. Great seams cracked

Page 107

in the earth. It was really dangerous to ride a pony at speed across the prairie. To add to our woes along in August came myriads of grasshoppers that literally hid the sun. Many settlers, under these distressing circumstances, coupled with the doubt what democracy meant to do regarding their homesteads, left the State never to return. This awful year gave Kansas a name that was a detriment to her for years after.

A settler named Gordon died,, and his widow, trying to save the claim and house, went to Lawrence, where she had friends who would furnish her money. Her claim was "jumped" by a man and his two sons, who shall be nameless here. They had taken possession, but George T. Donaldson notified the settlers of the facts and in a short time a hundred men were at the widow's cabin fighting mad. It was dusk and the jumpers were within. Donaldson hailed them. They refused to open the door and Donaldson promptly kicked it into the middle of the cabin. The inmates were ordered to strike a light, which they did. They said they were going to hold the claim. The settlers expressed a different view and directed that they load their "plunder" into their wagon and get off immediately. They pleaded that their horses were on the prairie and could not be found. It was no use, the settlers made them load up, the old man was required to take the end of the tongue and each boy a single tree and the procession moved. When they reached a big drift near Lewellyn's they were halted. The drift was fired and preparations made to hold an impromptu court. The culprits were ready to promise anything and were turned loose. That broke up claim jumping.

The first law suit was before Jutice Scott. Rev. Isaac Winberg, of Cole creek, had a yoke of oxen that broke into a neighbor's field. The neighbor brought suit for damages. A. J. Miller was attorney for the plaintiff and "Pegleg" Morton for the defendant. The case was heard and the jury retired to deliberate in the shade of a tree. Dan Shipley was foreman and, when a verdict was quickly reached, marched the jury back, single file. Barefooted, bareheaded, shirt wide open, sleeves rolled up and his stiff hair standing on end, he loomed before the court. "Have you agreed on a verdict?" said Justice Scott. "Yes, by G-d, we have," said Shipley. "Hand it to the court" said Scott. "Well, judge, by G-d,

it ain't writ," said the foreman. "We, the jury in the d d case decide
that this here court hain't got no jurisdiction; we'll be d d if old
Pratt shall run this county!" Miller protested and Shipley told him to
"shut his d d mouth or there'd be a get a -:- good licking
quick." The case ended.

Rev. J. S. Saxby was a Congregational minister who took to the frontier like a duck to water. He created quite a sensation by his brilliant sermons, until some too critical persons who read the New York "Independent" claimed to have discovered a remarkable similarity between his discourses and those of Henry Ward Beecher. Saxby was a good feeder. Any old settler can tell of his marvelous gastronomic feats. Getting ready for a buffalo hunt, Saxby was preparing to grease his

Page 108

wagon, having only a small piece of tallow for the purpose. He laid it down for a moment, a dog bolted it, whereupon he calmly shot the dog, removed the lubricant by means of a butcher knife and was soon ready to roll out.

Some buffalo hunters coming in off the plains in 1859 became frightened at what they thought to be hostile Indians. They alarmed the settlers on Whitewater and the lower Walnut. There was a great stampede to Chelsea. One of the hunters, Jerry Woodruff, mounted a pony at Towanda springs and, with a butcher knife for a spur, made the trip to Chelsea in quick time, feeling for his scalp at every jump and warning everybody he saw. The settlers barricaded the C. S. Lamblin (log) house that stood on the then townsite not far from where J. K. Nelson's house now is. Some of the settlers declared that as they came they saw houses burning on the Whitewater. Wagons were formed into corrals with the stock inside. Water was provided in the house and every preparation made to stand off the noble Red Man. Pickets were posted by Capt. George T. Donaldson, who commanded, among them "Pegleg" Morton. Along toward morning, when Indians usually make attacks, he heard the whizz of arrows coming from the river. In a panic he fired his gun and broke for the house yelling "Indians! Indians! The Indians have come!!" Consternation reigned. Children cried; mothers prayed; men swore and prepared to sell their lives dearly. The redskins didn't advance at once and cool men said we'll reconnoiter. They advanced with Morton to his picket post when whizz! whizz! went the arrows. "That's them," said Morton, "they're shooting at us!" But the sounds were nothing more nor less than goshawks gathering their food as they flew. Morton never heard the last of his scare. The Indians didn't come, and those of the settlers who quit running at Chelsea (some didn't, continuing on to "the States") returned to their claims. The alarm was due to the passing of Indians from the southwest to fight with the Kaws near Council Grove. The false character of the scare was not discovered until P. B. Plumb, at the head of a small company from Emporia, came down to help repel the Indians. Emporia was a little selfish perhaps. She wanted the people of the Walnut as a buffer between herself and the Indians. Neither storm nor flood could restrain Plumb and his men in after years from coming to our relief at the least hint of trouble.

George T. Donaldson was Chelsea's first postmaster. Many early pioneers recall him. He was a natural leader, keen, quiet, soft spoken, with a dash and daring when there was a call for action that made him the admiration of the settlers. He had good judgment and was never "rattled" by emergencies. He had accumulated some 800 acres of land, was in the very prime and vigor of manhood, when in hauling logs, on November 4, 1869, one °f them rolled off the wagon, crushing him upon a wheel as it went.

The awful drouth of 1860 was most disheartening and hundreds of settlers left their claims. Agents went to the States and solicited aid.

Page 109

S. C. Pomeroy, afterward United States Senator, was relief agent at Atchison and all supplies were shipped to him. The human hogs came to the front, as usual on such occasions' but generally relief was fairly distributed. Grain, flour and beans were shipped in heavy grain bags which were afterward utilized for clothing, on which the lettering would show. Sometimes it would be "S. C. Pomeroy" on one leg, "Kansas Relief" on the other and "Atchison" somewhere else. A pair of pants
worn by Bixler took the cake. He was both broad and tall and on the broadest part of his pants in black letters was "Kansas Relief, S. C. Pomeroy, Atchison, Kansas."

I went to my old home in Edgar county, Illinois, in the fall of 1860 and did what I could soliciting aid for "Bleeding Kansas," a name given in derision by proslavery people. When I returned in the spring of sixty-one I did not come alone. I had induced a brave-hearted girl to cast her lot with mine. To my wife is due in great measure the credit of our staying through the dangers and privations which followed. The "Border War" in Kansas and the issues leading thereto had become national and the Civil War came on. The Indians were restless and threatening. Many settlers abandoned their homes. A majority of the able-bodied men enlisted in the Union cause. A more patriotic and heroic people never lived than the Kansans of sixty-one and sixty-five. Enlistments from our section were discouraged. Col P. B. Plumb declared that one of us was worth more to the country here than ten of us in the army because of the rebel and Indian raids which we could repel. We kept up a military organization in readiness most of the time for quick action.

Butler county's first organization was in 1859, when J. R. Lambdin (Joshua?) was chosen county clerk; C. S. Lambdin, county treasurer; J. C. Lambdin, probate judge; Dr. Lewellyn, sheriff, and George T. Donaldson, Dr. P. G. Barrett and Jacob Landis, county commissioners. This organization failed, most of the officers moving away.

In sixty-two more grief came to us. Nevin A. Vaught and Ole Branson gave their young lives to their country and were buried in unknown graves near Springfield, Mo. Soon after followed Moses, Thomas and Burge Atwood. I cannot recall all, but I know that few who enlisted returned.

In those days buffalo and wolf hunting was a source of revenue. Wolf pelts were worth $1.25 to $2 each and buffalo skins brought from $3 to $6. These furs had to be taken in the winter, and danger from storms and Indians made hunting no pleasant work.

In sixty-three Rev. I. C. Morse, of Emporia, Congregationalist, preached to us occasionally. Elder Rice, who was presiding elder of the Emporia M. E. Church, preached each quarter at Donaldson's (log) house that stood but a short distance south and west of where the stone dwelling is on the Holderman farm. Father Stanbury, an itinerant Methodist and an unique character, also came occasionally.

Page 110

Society as now defined was unknown yet, and the people were bound by social ties that do not now exist. One neighbor could not do too much for another. None thought of locking doors or granaries. Strangers were welcomed with genuine hospitality and entertainment for man and beast was free.

Miss Sarah C. Satchell taught the first school in Butler county, in the summer of 1860. Miss Maggie Vaught (Mrs. H. O. Chittenden) taught the next two years. Oliver C. Link taught a term. In sixty-two I enlisted in the Union army, expecting to help fight General Price in Missouri, but instead was sent to the plains to watch forts and Indians. I shall never forget one beautiful Sunday morning in April, sixty-five, when I saw a horseman flying down the road toward the present Chelsea, waving a newspaper over his head. It was Henry Donald, and he was shouting, "Richmond is took! Richmond is took!" We could readily forgive his bad grammar for his news was very good, and we rejoiced.

John Houser came in sixty-nine and seventy and set up his black smith shop on a lot in front of (west of) the store there now. His shop had neither foundation, sides nor roof-the whole business was out of doors. He had few tools, but he made good use of them. He was successful and now owns a good farm and is one of the esteemed citizens of the community where he has resided for years. (He now lives in El Dorado.) Mr. and Mrs. Joel Benson (both deceased) and their sons,
William and Fred (deceased) came in the latter part of seventy and located on what was then known as the McQuarter land. They lived there until 1900, when Joel and William Benson moved to El Dorado, where William was engaged in banking business. Fred Benson left the farm three years later to become register of deeds of this county. In seventy-seven, J. S. McWhorter, Henry Bell and J. K. Skinner put in a saw mill and shingle machine at Chelsea. A Mr. Watson opened a store. Dr. Sparks stuck out his professional shingle. J. B. Shough, now of Prospect, built a hotel, which still stands as the Chelsea store. J. B. Parsons, J. C. Rayburn, J. M. Rayburn, Dr. Zimmerman and some others built dwellings, and business houses. The next year, sixty-nine, O. E. Sadler and J. C. Becker built the first good dwelling in Chelsea and put a stock of goods in it.

Page 111

A big frame school house was erected, the first in the county and the first bell ever in the county was hung in the belfry and is there yet. Mrs. J. E. Buchanan, Mrs. George Ellis and Miss Alma Henderson (now Mrs. Neil Wilkie, of Douglass) were the teachers in those early days.

In looking back nearly thirty-eight years I recall many sad and sorrowful scenes and many ludicrous events. The remembrance of friends who, like myself, were then young, now old and gray; the recollection of many who have gone to the "undiscovered country" is a solemn retrospect. Among the true-hearted friends of tha]; time who have passed away are Mrs. Garrett, Archibald Ellis and his wife, George T. Donaldson and wife (my sister), J. C. Lambdin and his son Joshua, Henderson Thomas and wife, P. P. Johnson and wife, drowned on West Branch in the flood of sixty-nine; Mrs. Lizzie Goodall, T. W. Satchell, J. M. Ray-burn, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Taylor, and Matthew Cowley and the other boys in blue who gave their lives a sacrifice for the country. Peace be to their ashes.

CLAY TOWNSHIP
By. C. M. Price

On April 7, 1879, a petition signed by Joseph Blancett and fifty-four others, was presented to the board of county commissioners asking that a township be created out of the territory comprising Congressional township 29, range 6, east, to be called Clay. The petition was granted and an election was ordered held at the Morehead school house on the third day of June, 1879. The following township officers were elected: B. M. Winters, trustee; M. O. Dillon, treasurer; Joe Blancett, clerk; S. J. Ensley and John T. Bailey, justices of the peace; John McQuain and J. McGaffey, constables.

Among the earliest settlers in the township were George Messick, S. J. Ensley, John Valkman, M. O. Dillon, W. H. Ellet, John McQuain, K. Bell and Fred Fenkennel, all now deceased. Others have moved away. The only ones now residing in the township on their original claims are N. F. Frakes and the writer, C. M. Price.

All the land in this township is located in what is known as the "twenty-mile strip" and was subject to settlement under the pre-emption laws of the United States, the settlers paying $1.25 per acre. All kinds of crops, including natural and tame grasses, are grown. The township is well watered and adapted to live stock. Many cattle, horses and mules are handled for the markets.

CLIFFORD TOWNSHIP
By Col. Bill Avery

I first landed in Kansas in March, 1860, and settled in Breckenridge, now Lyon county, where I stayed until December of that year, when I returned to Hillsdale county, Michigan, my place of birth; in August, 1862, I enlisted in Company D, Eighteenth Michigan infantry. I returned from the army in July, 1865, and in October of that year, I returned to Kansas and settled on the old Santa Fe trail twenty miles east of Council Grove at 142 creek. When I lost all I had, with stock dying of Texas fever, in April, 1868, I came to Butler county and settled in what is now Clifford township. It was then Towanda township, from northwest corner of Butler county to four miles south of Towanda, and twelve miles wide.

Page 112

When I landed in what is now Clifford township, I unloaded my goods in the brush on what was afterward named Avery creek, in company with my wife and one son, U. S. Avery, 3-1/2 years of age. There were in the territory the following settlers: T. L. Ferrier, his father and family; Walter Gilman, H. H. Wilcox and a man by the name of Cams. In June of this year, we had the Indian scare, when everybody left their homes and all returned but Cams. In the fall of 1868, I. V. and William Davis came and located about three miles northwest of our claim. William Davis is still living there. Of all the settlers who were there when I came none are now living.

In the spring election of 1869, I was elected trustee of Towanda township and I assessed the following persons, commencing on the northwest corner of Towanda township: H. H. Wilcox, Walter Gilman, T. L. Ferrier, Cams, H, Comstock, John Wentworth, Joseph Adams, Jake Green, Amos Adams, John Adams, Anthony Davis, a Mr. Kelly, on west branch of Whitewater; Mr. Green, Dan Cupp and Sam Fulton, and I stayed all night with two Ralston boys and Lew Hart four miles south of Towanda. The Goodales were on their claims, having just arrived, and were not subject to taxation that year. I presume I have forgotten some names. These are all I can remember now.

On November 15, 1868, H. H. Wilcox, his son and Mr. Dean and I went on a buffalo hunt, and on the eighteenth we were caught in a snow storm which lasted forty-eight hours, and covered the ground to a depth of ten inches, and we camped on the Ninachee river with one dead cottonwood tree for fuel. We succeeded in getting a supply of meat, and finally reached home after our friends had about given up hope for our return.

The first school in Clifford township was taught in a log cabin on the claim of Martin Ashenfelter on section 34, in the summer of 1871, and the teacher was Nettie Maynard, the term being three months. Her compensation was $12 per month and "board around" and, of course, being a sensible girl, she boarded with the best cook most of the time, and all old settlers know who that was. A baby girl was born to us in March, 1871, and died in 1886, aged 16 years.

The first Sunday school was a union school organized at the same place in the same year. Morton Eddy was superintendent and Mrs. Avery was clerk, and she secured the first Sunday school papers through an uncle, Randall Farrote, a Christian minister at Newville, Ind.

There was a rush of new settlers during 1870, 1871, 1872 and 1873, and in 1873 we cut loose from Towanda and organized the township of Clifford out of township 23, range 4. W. H. Avery circulated the petition for said organization and selected the name of a friend, John A. Clifford, the father of Sam Clifford, of El Dorado, and presented the petition to the proper authorities.

The first township election was held in the house of John A. Clifford on April 1, 1873. At the election the following were elected: E. Y.

Page 113

Ketchem, trustee; J. A. Clifford, treasurer; Z. M. Ketchem, clerk; J. J. Long and W. C. Derby, justices of the peace; William Bain and W. G. Hess, constables.
The year 1874 was and will be long known as "grasshopper year." The clouds of hoppers came like a snow storm and the sun was blotted out. Our little garden was north of the house, and we were at the west door of our little cabin watching the hoppers come and wondering what they would do, when my wife said: "They are getting my onions." I wondered how she knew and she said: "One of them hit me on the nose and I smelled his breath." Sure enough, she was right, and we found holes in the ground where the onions had been and that was all. The only thing they left was the prairie grass, and we put up lots of hay and the good people in the East sent us food and clothing.

The first school district was No. 21 organized in 1871, and the first stone school house in Butler county was built by Avery & Jackson in district 21, on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of 14-23-4. This was in 1871 and 1872.

We at that time tried to farm and raise the same things we were used to in the east. Had we known of the merits of alfalfa, kaffir and the sorghums, life would have been much more satisfactory to the homes.

CLIFFORD TOWNSHIP (Continued.)
By Elva Commons Nonkin, of Shady Land Farm-It is not my purpose in this short sketch to attempt a chronological history of Clifford and her people, but to try and trace some of the reasons for Clifford and her people appearing so seldom on the criminal docket of' Butler county and so rarely on the list of the county commissioners' proceedings which relate to aid given to paupers.

The educational development of the community lay very close to the heart of the early settlers and Blue Mound was early recognized as one of the foremost districts in the county, having the reputation of turning out more teachers than any other district in the county. This was made possible largely by the efforts of the Averys, Ashenfelters, Austins, Lobdells, Hopkins and Harper families. District 47, Brown, was also noted for the length of its terms and the high class of teachers hired. The leading spirits in this were the Baxters, Commons, Smiths, Waggys, Johnsons, Crows, Goddings and Tuttle families, while the Leydigs, Superhaughs, McCroskeys, Jennings, Huletts, Shrivers and Liggets kept up a high standard in district 71, the third organized in the township.

Among those who developed the live stock industry most extensively during the early days were J. A. Clifford, H. H. Wilcox, Robert Hopkins and C. F. Bruner. Later their places in this industry were taken by H. Lathrop & Sons, the Liggett families, T. A. Enright, J. A. Day, H. S. Lincoln, the Gefeller Bros., V. H. Smith and L. P. Nonkin.

Page 114

Perhaps no person has made a more permanent impression on the community than has Mrs. A. M. McCroskey. She lived for many years on the farm now occupied by Mrs. H. G. Liggett, but finally moved to Lawrence, where her son Ward and daughter Orrell graduated from the State university. From there she went to San Francisco, where she makes a home for her son Cyrus and daughter Anna, who are in business there, and although she is now past seventy, she is in the thick of municipal politics, on the side of woman suffrage and prohibition. While here her husband died, and she took charge of the farm, doing nearly all kinds of farm work. She was a member of the school board, a Sunday school superintendent, taught a few terms of school, took active part in organizing many social gatherings, helped young teachers secure schools and was a general neighborhood arbiter, but never during this time neglecting her family or failing to keep, up her general reading. Another woman who lived in the township only four years, but made a lasting impression on the lives of the young with-whom she came in contact, was Mrs. Maria G. Spear. o With her husband, they settled on the farm now the home of L. P. Nonkin. Having no children and being of a social disposition and very fond of the young, she soon became identified with the best things in the community life, having had better opportunity in her early life than most of her neighbors and also of a high moral character, her influence for good cannot be over-estimated. J. M. Linn., who lived in the Blue Mound district about fifteen years, developed the musical talent of his neighborhood. In winter he sometimes had six different singing schools, teaching every night in the week, and on Sunday he led the music at the Sabbath school and church. Although a modest, retiring man, yet he soon became the leader in the church activities, was an excellent public school teacher and a social leader in his community. His death in 1898, at the age of 48, was mourned sincerely by those whose lives he had touched.

Another who was a leading personality in the seventies and eighties was Mrs. S. D. Drake. Of a commanding presence, and with the voice of a prima donna, she always willingly sang and trained others to sing for church and social gatherings, and when she removed to her former home in Boston we felt that we would never have good singing in Clifford again.

Dr. I. V. Davis was an important factor in every enterprise for the upbuilding of the community, and in his capacity as physician he came very close to the hearts of the people. In 1870, John Boersma, a Hollander, with his family, homesteaded the farm now occupied by his son-in-law, Samuel Merwin. Although in the direst poverty for several years, they kept up courage, practiced extreme self-denial and all worked untiringly. They lived in a one-roomed sod house for many years. It was always kept scrupulously clean and orderly and no one entered it but was impressed by the innate worth of its occupants. It was a long time before he could buy a team, but with his spade and hoe he worked

Page 115

wonders, and in later years, after he had prospered and had built a good house and barn, the farm, with its beautiful well-trimmed hedges and trees and orderly premises was the "show place" of the neighborhood. Of later years, the farm home of Adam Fawley deserves this title. The handsome, commodious, well-painted buildings and the beautiful lawn and well-cared for lots, fields and fences, set an example for the neighborhood. C. C. Page was for many years a potent factor in local politics, church and educational activities. His death occurred in the autumn of 1915, at his home in Peabody, Kan., where he had resided since leaving Clifford township. No history of Clifford township would be complete without the mention of Mrs. Hattie E. Meeks, a scholarly woman of high ideals, who, having no close family ties, gave her whole time and talent to the pupils entrusted to her care. Her work for many years in the Blue Mound and Brown schools could hardly be excelled.

While these to whom I have referred have seemed to be natural leaders, yet there have been many other noble men and women in Clifford township to whom we of a later generation owe a debt of thanks for the examples they have set for us and for the'hardships they have endured that we, their children, might have the advantages they had been denied.

DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP
By J. M. Satterthwaite

Probably the first settlers to claim land in the township were the Dunn brothers, Birney and Samuel, the latter part of the year 1867. (Samuel was killed by Indians' May 17, 1869.) Their claims were upon the Walnut river at the south side of the township, and at the southern border of the land the Osage Indians were then ceding to the government for settlement. About the same time, a man named Hugh Williams opened a frontier trading post in a cabin near a ford of the Walnut, a little north of the claims of the Dunn boys. Just what lines he carried is not known at this date, but his stock must have been the frontier staples: Flour, bacon, gun powder, tobacco and whiskey.

In February, 1868, John W. Graves took a claim on "the island," nearly a mile north of the present city of Douglass. He still owns the original claim and long since added to it a hundred or two acres of the best land in the Walnut valley. The same year D. W. Boutwell, John Stanley, John Long and Samuel Shaff took claims along the Walnut river. G. D. Prindle, George Fox, John T. Martin, Neal Wilkie, William Hilton, Ed Wilford, T. I. Kirkpatrick, Capt. Joseph Douglass and others came and made settlement. Captain Douglass took the claim, the northeast quarter of section 20, township 29, range 4, east, upon which he founded the city of Douglass, to which he gave his name, and after which the township was named. Captain Douglass built the first house upon the townsite. It was

Page 116

constructed of hewn logs and stood near the present business center of the city.

In very early days, Joshua Olmstead and family located on a claim a mile and a half below the present city and started a saw mill. He then put a dam across the Walnut river and built a grist mill. John W. Dunn, a brother of Birney and Samuel, bought the mill and for many years it was successfully operated, farmers coming many miles with the grain to be ground.

In the earlier organization of the county the territory now comprising the township of Douglass was a part of Walnut township, which then comprised the south sixteen miles, clear across the county from east to west.

January 6, 1873, the county commissioners organized a municipal township, six miles by twelve miles in extent, comprising township 29, range 3, and township 29, range 4. The first officers elected were: J. R. Gardner, trustee; John T. Martin, treasurer; C. B. Scott, clerk; S. A. Goodspeed and J. W. Alger, justices of the peace; F. S. Fleck and Thomas Long, constables. Not long afterward township 29, range 4, was taken from Douglass and Richland township organized.

The town of Douglass was organized as a city of the third class in 1879. The first mayor was C. B. Lowe; E. D. Stratford, city clerk, and F. W. Rash, city attorney.
In the years 1868, 1869 and early 1870 mail was brought from El Dorado by private subscription, John Long making weekly trips to that point, bringing to the settlers such mail as might come to them. In

Page 117

1870 a regular stage line from Emporia was instituted and a postoffice established. C. H. Lamb was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by C. Calhoun, he by his partner, Dave Young, and he by Rev. J. B. Ives.

The first paper published at Douglass was The Douglass "Enterprise," founded by D. 0. McCray in 1879. After a year he moved the paper to Burden. Then The Douglass "Index" was started in 1880 by J. B. Ives, with his nephew, a Mr. Cole, as editor.

Mr. Ives, with the help of several editors, continued the publication until the winter of 1883, when he sold it to J. M. Satterthwaite, who founded The Douglass "Tribune" in its stead and continues its publication until this date.

The first school taught in the township was a subscription school taught by Miss Agnes Stine, who soon became Mrs. George Fox, and still lives upon the Fox homestead two and a half miles north of the city. Mr. Fox died several years ago. Her early successors in educational work were S. L. Shotwell, afterward county superintendent and the organizer of much of the educational work in the county, and Mrs. Alma Wilkie, then Miss Henderson. Then Prof. J. W. Shively took up the work. For years he was the leading educator of the county.

In the year 1881 a branch ofthe Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad was extended from El Dorado to Douglass, which was the terminus of the road for about six years before the line was extended to Winfield.

Up to the year 1870 the Texas cattle trail crossed the Walnut river a mile north of the present city of Douglass. This Texas cattle trail was a great thoroughfare, over which vast herds were driven from the ranges in Texas, through the Indian Territory, to shipping points in Kansas. With the herds and along this trail reckless, venturesome men traveled, many of them too dishonest and reckless for the regions of settled society. Their doings in those wild days, just after the close of the Civil war and border troubles, in which men were educated to reckless deeds of violence, have furnished instances for many a true, tragic and thrilling story of frontier life. This trail, passing through the Indian reservations,'first touched the country open to white settlement, and presumably under civil law, at the point where it struck the territory now in Douglass township. Naturally Douglass was the rendezvous of many wild and reckless characters. Horse thieves and cattle rustlers came and went, and some took claims and made their stations near here.

On the afternoon of May 17, 1869, Samuel Dunn and a boy companion named Henderson were slain by a band of Osage Indians. The killing occurred on the prairie near the timber that skirted the Walnut river. Dunn and Henderson had been hunting and looking over the land. Henderson's folks were looking for a desirable claim on which to settle. Returning from their wandering, they stopped to rest upon a log that had been washed up on the prairie bottom on the west side

Page 118

of the Walnut and east side of Eight-Mile creek. As they were seated upon the log a band of Osages came riding up from the southwest, dashing down upon them. Dunn and Henderson ran for the timber, but were overtaken by the Indians and both killed and scalped. The savages not only scalped Dunn, but they cut off his head and three of his fingers. It is said that some of the Osages had a grudge against Birney Dunn, Samuel's brother, and when they made the attack supposed they were killing Birney.

The government called the Osages to account for the murder and two members of the tribe were turned over to the civil authorities for trial. The sheriff of Butler county, James Thomas, of El Dorado, had the Indians in charge and was bringing them to EJ Dorado from some point at the northeast. Coming up the south fork of the Cottonwood river, the two. prisoners disappeared. Some assert that they made their escape. Others claim they were shot and buried. At any rate they never appeared for trial.

The horse thieves that infested the Texas cattle trail were a source of greatest annoyance and loss to the early settlers in the region around Douglass. Settlers among strangers, a long way from old home and former friends, driving teams to wagons in which were loaded their scant household effects and earthly belongings, would suddenly find themselves without horses, the animals having been ridden or driven off in the night, and in some instances boldly taken in the day time. Afoot and amid strangers, in a vast, unfamiliar region, was a woeful condition to be in. Few of the settlers had the cash wherewith to replace the teams so lost. The settlers became enraged and determined upon drastic measures to rid the country of suspected characters. A vigilance committee was organized. On the night following election day, in November, 1870, a force went to the cabin of George and Lewis Booth up the Walnut river, a little more than a mile north of the north line of the township. (The land is now owned by Lonnie Morrison.) George and Lewis Booth were shot and a man named Corbin hanged. The party, returning to Douglass, met a desperate character from Texas, named Jim Smith, at the crossing of Little Walnut on the old stage trail. He was an associate and companion of the Booths and Corbin, and was headed for the Booth cabin. He gave battle and his mount was shot from under him. He got behind a stump and stood off the vigilantes for a time. It is said he hit one or more of them, but it was never generally known who, for the vigilantes protected their doings with pledged secrecy. But Smith was soon surrounded and shot. When the Emporia-Arkansas City stage crossed the creek some little time afterward the driver found Jim Smith's dead body on the trail.

But the end was not yet. These four men who had been executed as horse thieves had friends. Whether these friends were associated with them in horse stealing and dividing the funds received for stolen horses is disputed. But these friends started criminal proceedings against

Page 119

men charged with having taken part in the killing and some were arrested. Feeling ran high and revenge was threatened. For the purpose of intimidating their opposers, the vigilance committee took action again, and on the night of December 1 four citizens of Douglass, William Quimby, a merchant; Dr. Morris, his son, and Mike Dray, a clerk in Morris' drug store, were taken to the timber a mile and a half below Douglass and hanged. At this act a number of suspicious characters left the neighborhood and horse stealing abated. It was a desperate remedy for a bad state of affairs and left a bad effect upon the community. Some of the men executed may not have deserved their fate. They may have been only warm friends of the men who did.

Joseph W. Douglass, the founder of the city, and after whom the city and township were named, was shot and mortally wounded on the townsite in 1873. He had taken a lively interest in the suppressing of thieving in the community, and on the night of his murder had arrested, without a warrant, a camper he suspected of stealing chickens. The man had chickens in his possession and did not give a plausible account of where or how he obtained them. Douglass marched his prisoner to several places where he had said he purchased the fowls, but the parties denied having sold them to him. The prisoner, evidently fearing the fate of others, shot his captor with a small pistol he had in his possession. Douglass was armed with a larger revolver, but had failed to disarm his prisoner. The man ran and Douglass fired at him several times, but failed to hit him. Douglass lived a day or two after being wounded and requested that no injury be inflicted upon the murderer. He was captured, tried and sent to the penitentiary for ten years.

One event that had great effect upon Douglass and community was the building of a great sugar mill for the manufacture of sugar from sorghum, in the year 1888. Investigators had set up the claim that sugar could be made at much profit from sorghum, and so heartily did the people of Douglass take up with the idea that they promoted a company, built a great mill, and induced the farmers to plant a large acreage of sorghum. When the mill was put in operation at great expense it was found to be unprofitable. Those who had put their money into. the scheme lost it all. The city had voted bonds for water works and turned the bonds over to the sugar mill company, under contract of building the water works. The failure of this enterprise carried down with it the Wilkie bank. Mr. Wilkie had been a pioneer banker in both El Dorado and Douglass, having considerable wealth for those times. He had ventured it all to build up the city of Douglass and lost.