Bald.Eagle.Vol25.No2.Summer.1999

The LHS Newsletter Archive
Volume Twenty-five, Issue Number 2
Originally Published in Lecompton, Kansas : Summer 1999
Digitally Archived August 2006
~fle£~
UfI£1)
VOL. 25, NO.2
<
SUMMER, 1999
LECOMPTON, KANSAS
,,-,\,,",~""'-"-_4
"
~
otJ~l?~ '-~"'<'"''''''''
.
BARKER SCHOOL DISTRICT #20
~
-
--';r.,,~~
by lona Spencer
t
I
I
I
The Barker School District #20 was located on
the Farmer's Turnpike southeast of Lecompton.
On May 14, 1859, a call was made for an assembly
to organize a school district and board members
were elected, composing of Dr. Francis Barker
Elias D. Hughson and William Yates.
'
Also at this time, it was voted to employ a
teacher for a three-months' school beginning June
I, 1859. A special meeting was called July 21,
1859, to talk over the erection of a schoolhouse.
At a September meeting, a report was read, which
showed there were fourteen males and thirteen
month
On January 29, 1863, Dr. Francis Barkerand his
wife 8izabeth F. Barker drew up a deed in favor of
School District No. 20, in consideration of the sum
of $1.00, for one acre of land situated in the
Southwest corner of the S.W. 1/4Sec. 16, T. 12, R.
19, "~ith the express understanding that the
aforesaid land was to be used for religious or school
p~rposes only, and should the aforesaid land be
diverted from such use and purposes, then this
obligation to be null and void."
A special meeting held Mar. 23, 1863, at the
!emales between the ages of five and twenty
Inclusive, in the district and that twenty of these had
attended the summer school; that J. H. Muzzy had
taught the school at an agreed salary of $25.00 a
hom~ o~Joseph H. Harrison, voted to receive into
the distrICtthose residing on a fraction of land lying
n?rth of the district and extending to the Kansas
River,the
and
to invite
the following
persons
to come
into
district:
Chas..
Smith, Allen
Gentry;
G.
~_.
..
Sweezer, Chas.. Emery, A. K. Burdit,J. Randolph
and Mrs. Wall.
It was voted to change the size of the
schoolhouse to be 24 feet by 36 feet, but only 10
feet for the height of the wall, with seven windows
and a double door. A committee composed of
Robert Allen,Rev. Upham and Henry Leonard was
appointed to solicit aid in building the school.
Another meeting in June, 1863, again changed the
height of the wall to 12 feet with a square ceiling
instead of an arched one as before planned, with a
total of eight windows, two of them being in front.
The contractor was to receive $15.00 additional
for the extra work and material involved in
consequence.
Finally1863 saw the schoolhouse actually under
construction and it was finished in September,
1864, when Henry lserman had put on two coats of
brown and one of white plaste'r. For this job,
material and labor, he received .40 cents per
square yard.
The firstschool meeting held in the buildingwas
on Nov. 15, 1864, to secure fuel for heating it. F.
Kayler contracted to furnish ten cords of good
wood for $3.50 per cord.
The annual meeting of 1865 was held with
Joseph H. Harrison in the chair, and with the
business _of levying tax to pay debts _contracted
during the war, still to be reckoned with. It was
voted to pay a teacher for six months of school that
year, three months for the benefit of the colored
children, and three months for the white children.
However, in 1867 it was decided to have both
races attend school together, there being 62 of
school age inthe district at the time.
In 1869 there was dissension over County
Superintendent Starrett striking off ten quartersections from DistrictNo. 20 and attaching them to
DistrictNo. 70 (Winter District)west of Barker on
the Farmer's turnpike.
This stone schoolhouse did duty until 1898,
when a brick buildingwas erected.
In 1898, the
district board members were J. M. Harrison, C. A.
RiChardsand Noah Hetrick.
Taken from the Lawrence Weeklv World, April21,
1892. School at the Barker district No. 20 under
the instruction of Miss Marie Boone closed on the
17thafter a seven months term. The districtvoted a
six months term this year.
School records started to be saved in the year of
1897-1898. Miss Lalia Wallingtaught 31 pupils in
the term of 1897-98, at a salary of $30.00 per
month.
Following is a list of teachers, years taught and
--
salary.
1898-99 Frances Albert, $28.00; 1899-1900
Lalia Walling, $32.00; 1900-01 Carrie Cothlin
$30.00: 1901-02: R. N. Davis $30.00: 1902-03
Alpha Lane $30.00: 1903-04 Mayme Brune
$30.00: 1904-05 Stella Cressman $32.50: 190506 Minnie E. Lyons $39.00: 1906-07 & 1907-08
Alice Hammond $39.00: 1908-09 Stella M. Rudwill
(Rudisill) $40.00: 1909-10 Florence Pringle
$40.00: 1910-11 Florence Pringle $40.00: 191112 Mrs. Ira Hird $45.00: 1912-13 Margaret
DeForest $45.00: 1913-14 Miss Alice Wolverton
$56.50: 1914-15, 1915-16 & 1916-17 Janet E.
Funk $56.50: 1917-18 Reta Brock$65.00: 191819 Opal Jones $65.00: 1919-20 Ida Steele
$75.00: 1920-21 Leona Eberwein $80.00: 192122 Nora Norris $80.00: 1922-23 Marie Husted
$80.00: 1923-24 Olive I. King $80.00: 1924-25 &
1925-26 Roberta Nottingham $90.00: 1926-27 &
1927-28
Lois Emick $95.00: 1928-29 Erma
Rumsey: 1929-30 Gretchen Gabriel $90.00: 193031 & 1931-32 Erma Rumsey Allison $100.00:
1932-33 & 1933-34 Miss Mildred Carter $70.00:
1934-35 Alice Held (Hird)$65.00: 1935-36, 193637 & 1937-38 Miss Ruth Sawyer $70.00: 1938-39
& 1939-40 Mrs. V. C. Springer $75.00: 1940-41 &
1941-42 Irma Evans $80.00: 1942-43 Mrs. Irene
PollocX$_90.00:1943-44 Erma Rumsey ~hank,
also Etta Mitchell& V. C. Springer $72.00: 194445 Mrs. V. C. Springer $80.00: 1945-46 Mrs. Freda
Lee $80.00: 1946-47 Margaret Foley $80.00:
1947-48 Mary Jamison & Mrs. Nellie Streib
$170.00: 1948-49 & 1949-50 Mrs. Mary Jamison
$170.00: 1950-51 & 1951-52 Mabel Nieder $235.
00: 1952-53 & 1953-54 Mrs. Lou Ella Salisbury
$260.00:
1954-55 Mrs. Lou Ella Salisbury
$300.00: 1955-56 Lucile Horne $300.00: 1956-57
& 1957-58 Alice Land $366.00.
Those serving on the school board are as follows:
J. H. Harrison, C. A. Richards, Noah Hetrick, E. C.
Holloway, R. W. Gorrill,Seigel Rose, Ed Manvill,
Paul Winter, Charlie Titterington, John A.
Anderson, Barr Gorrill, Norris Bryan, Ambrose
Bigsby, Grant Johnson, Robert Gentry, C. N.
Hodson, J. W. Nason, Thomas Richardson, Joe
Foley, F. C. Blackwood, Walter Arbuckle, Russell
Tuckel, John Foster, Cecil R. Allen,Jesse Wingert,
Francis Wempe, Bennie Hughes and Wesley
Grimes.
The followingare names of students attending
Barker school from 1898 tillclosing in 1958.
Jessie &Harold ADY: Bessie, MinnieLouisa, (Eva)
ADAMS: Earl, Eugene, Unis ARTMAN: Johnnie
& Betty ANDERSON: Paul, Pearl & Ruby
ATHEY: Katherine ABBOTT: FloydANDREW:
Robert, Betty
ALLEN:
Archie, Verdie
BASHORE:
Norris, Walter, Virginia, Dorothy
BRYAN: Clarence, Jakie BROWN: Myrtle
BARDELL: Bessie, Qlin, Ethel, Minnie, Jannie
BUTTON: Prudy, Mable, Rena, Myrtle, Bertha,
Roy BOWEN:Herbert, Clarence, Stella BELLES:
Helen, Robert, Harold BIGSBY: MaryBARNES:
Joan BOUTON:Wayne BENSO: MarianBELL:
Glen, Ernest, Donald, William, Gerald, Phillip
BREWSTER:
Clarence, Sandra, Jan, Sue
BARTZ: . Debra, Dannie BOYLE: Bigl, Della
CRAGON: Sidney CLARK: Susan, Emmett,
ElijahCREEL: Clarence CURRY: Clarence, Earl
CALHOUN:
Katy, Johnie,
Flois?, Roy
CHANNELL: Faunda, Francis, Thomas, Alma,
COOK:
Maurine CARPENTER:
Raymond
COBB: Gordon COOPER:
Wilbur CRISS:
Mary, Lillie, Edith, Gladys DESKIN: Belle,
Thomas, Gilbert, Eugene, Gladys DANIELS: Guy,
George DAVIS: David, Herald DODDS: !va,
Harry, Loyd, Mildred,Cynthia, Johnny DICK: Mary
EDGAR:
Mary, Forest, Phillip, Aileen, Doris,
Virginia, Richard EVANS: Harold FERMAN:
LloydFRAKER: Maxine,Charles FELD: Beverly,
Francis FOLEY: John, David, Ronald, Carolyn
FOSTER: Maud, Barr, Robert, Marshall, Virginia
GORRILL: Daisy, Flossie, Walter, Lucile, Alta,
Mildred, Robert, Dorothy, Marian GENTRY:
Robert
GILL:
Beulah,
Wesley,
Wilma
GRAMMER: Sharon GIBSON: Sandra, Ruth
GRIMES: Arleen GOINS: Maud, Anetta, Charlie
HETRICK: Oscar, Nina, Marie, Ruby, Maxine
HOLLOWA Y: Nellie (Millie) Mercy, George,
Homer, Warren, Clarence HOUSTON: Carl,Carrie
HIRD: Richard & Lloyd HAYWORTH: Helen
HARSHBERGER:
Merle,
Louis, Grace
HARPEL: Clarence HODGE: Lloyd, Hazel
HENICK: Philip, Lawrence, Sharon HODSON:
James
HOFFMAN:
George
& Donnie
HENDERSON: Lloyd, Floyd, Shirley, Bobby &
Charles HAAS: Larry & Robert HUGHES:
Douglas & Mona Lee HARGADINE: Clara
HUNSINGER: Calvin & Lovel? ICE: Will,Robert,
Jean & May JONES: Lulu, Ruby, Grace, Anna &
Billy JOHNSON: Hany KING: Earl KELLER:
Jeanne KERBY (KIRBY): CarolynKAMPSCHROEDER: Mildred,Geneva, Josephine, Georgia,
Lizzie, Ida, Eddie, Freddie, Johnie, Ella, Frances
LEWIS: Ernest, Walter &Ellamay LOGAN: Leo,
Samuel LORRANCE: Caroline, Geneva, Anna &
Josephine LAQUA: Howard, Jayne & Joe LEE:
Luta & Theodora MAIN: Martin, Selma, Fred &
Edna MOLINE: James, Ronald & William
McGOLDRICK: Thomas R. Jr. McROY: Flora
McCLANAHAN: Fay, Eunice, Dorothy, Grace &
GladysMILLS: Charles MAYOR: Charley, Arthur,
Caroline MAIR: Irene MANVILLE: Elvin,
Clarence, Lawrence & McKinleyMORRIS: Liebu?
& Murry MARTIN: Louise & Glenn MARKEL:
Lorene MANN: Kenneth MIRACLE: Romy
MOORE: Dennis MOLES: Ralph & Marion
NASON: Roger NIEDER: Henry, Charlie,
George, Emily, Lillian & Mary & Louisa
OBERBAUGH (OBERBACK): Martha, Harold,
Carroll,Mayme,Marvin&RubyOTTINGER: Ethel,
Winter, Brook, Barrett, Beth Jeanette, Philip,
Clayton, Olla, Alma, Vaughn, Thelma & Belle
PONTIUS: Alene, Eva & Ronald PERDUE:
Roland PURVIS: Ernest, Ruth, Edith, Esther &
Charles RICHARDS: Hattie, Harrison, Leslie, Leo,
CliffordEsther & Fay ROSE: Ernest, Gertrude,
Lucile & Lois ROTHWELL: Katie REED:
Norraine & Lee ROLL: Geraldine RHODES:
Mattie, Walter, Ruby, & Floyd RIST: Luta, Nellie&
Cora SCRANTON: Hattie, Harry, Roslan, Samuel
& Rosco SKINNER: Jessie, Louis, Florence &
Mabel STRAWN: Agnes SHOOK: Delmar
SLINKARD: CliffordSPARKS
Chaney & Hazel SILVERS: Everett, Lawrence &
May TITTERINGTON: Oliver THORTON: Earl
TOBLER: Myrtle, Nellie & Solam TUCKER:
Ethel THOMAS: Clarence, Albert, VIOla& Ivan
TRANSMIER: Edwin THATCHER: Glen, Marie
& Stanley TYER: Mary, Ruby, Leonard, Leon &
Elsie TROWBRIDGE: Donna FE1.D (TELD):
Russell, Jr.
& Roger TUCKEL:
Eric
THORSTEINSON:
Granville, Henry, Lehman,
Arthur,Richard, Charles, Bennie &Mable UNDERWOOD: Loretta, Twila, Joyce, Martin, Bruce,
Terrence, Marsha, Frances, Teresa, Velma &
Georgia UNFRED: Linden, Mayetta & Raymond
VOIGHT: William,Bobby, Billy,Jeanne & Joyce
WILSON:
Elizabeth, Bennie & Berniece
WIGGINS: Bennie, Bnora, Mabel & Darlene
WALLACE: Lois & DixieWATERS: Lois& Irma
WATKINS: Carroll, James & Alfred WINGERT:
Donald & Constance
WEMPE:
Freddy
WYMORE: Robert YOUNG:
References: Spencer Libraryschool records
Douglas Co. Register of deeds school records
Watkins Museum picture of Barker School
Negatives of Barker school from Helen Harshberger
Dolbier.See pictures at Museum.
Picture of Francis Barker &his lifein Barker District
by MarilynSharkey
Artdrawings by Ellen Duncan
Articles:complimentsof Kansas HistoricalSociety.
'=
'"
act antagonized other missionaries at the station.
Sometime between 1854 and 1857 the Barker
family left the mission and came to Lawrence,
settling in the area which now bears their name. Dr.
Barker gave several acres of land and some money
for the school. In 1862 a stone school building was
begun, and was finished just before Quantrill's raid.
Dr. Barker died Feb. 1, 1863, and his dying wish
was that the building he had presented should
never be used for other than educational or
religious purposes, and his wish has been
/('
respected.
. i
i
When Quantrill's men were sacking Lawrence, six
month after Barker died, five of the raiders came to
the Barker home and asked a neighbor who met
them at the door. "Where is Dr. Barker?"
When told he had died, their next question was,
"Where are those guns he had?" The neighbor
assured the raiders that Barker was a minister and
Rev. Francis Barker
had no guns; in return for this information the
raiders took the man's watch, and left.
Barker Neighborhood Named
for Missionary to Indians
The Barkers' daughter, Sophronia, who was born
The origin of names of districts or, as they are Sept. 5, 1847, at the mission married Milton
more usually called, "neighborhoods" in Douglas Titterington, March 25, 1871. They were the
County are quite often unknown, even to some of parents of Charles and Lawrence Titterington,
these who live in the district.
previously mention ed. Four other children were
Barker neighborhood, about five miles west of born to the union, two dying in infancy. A son,
Lawrence and in the vicinity of Lakeview, is named Everett and daughter, May Rose, are also
for the Rev. Francis Barker, a missionary to the deceased.
Shawnee Indians, who homesteaded there. The
Milton Titterington had been born in Edgington,
Rev. Mr. Barker was the grandfather of two present III., in 1848, and came to Kansas in a covered
day residents, Charles Titterington, now 81, who wagon in 1858. In 1867 as a student of 19, he
lives on the old homestead, and Lawrence accompanied a scientific party of 12 persons under
Titterington, 62, of Lawrence city.
a Major Powell to Colorado to collect specimens.
Barker,who was a physicianas well as a minister, He later taught school two years at Barker and two
came to Kansas from Southampton, Mass, in 1836, years in the Brackett district. He died in 1936.
In 1931 Mrs. Titterington was honored at the
having been appointed to the Baptist Mission at
Shawnee. There through an interpreter, he taught Kansas Day celebration in Topeka, on Jan 29, as
the Indians until the mission was discontinued in the oldest native born pioneer woman in Kansas.
1855.
She was presented a painting, "The Pioneer
He had a church built a mile from his home and Woman" by Bryant Baker.
Besides the two sons of Mr. & Mrs. Titterington
preached, also through an interpreter, to the
Indians. He was a graduate of Newton Theological there are four grandchildren, Milton Rose, Mrs.
Seminary and had also been educated in medicine. Ruth Ward and Mrs. Helen Chappell of Lawrence,
A young woman, Miss Efizabeth Churchill, of and Mrs Gladys Parker of Topeka; five great
Ipswich, Mass., was also appointed as a teacher to grandchildren, Mrs. Delores Miller, Marilyn, Russell
the Shawnee Mission. She came alone from her and Rose Marie Ward, and Everett and Laura
home to Kansas. A romance developed and Miss Parker, and two great great grandchildren.
Churchill and Barker were married at the mission,
One of the treasured possessions of the family is
Oct. 2°, 1839, and their children were born there.
a 123-year-old "friendship book" in which
While at the mission, Barker freed two slave autographs and sentiments were written by friends
couples, by purchasing them from their master. and relatives of Elizabeth Churchill and brought
One of the couples returned to the mission and with her when she came from Massachusetts to the
worked out the price of his freedom. But Barker's Shawnee mission.
1
ARRESTOFE~HTOFTHECH~AGO
PARTY
Eight of the Chicago party on Thursday evening
started from Topeka for Lawrence.
Below
Tecumseh they missed the road. getting instead.
upon the road to Lecompton. That night they
encamped. Starting on, in the morning. they soon
found themselves in the town of Lecompton. They
went into a store for the purpose of buying
refreshments. placing their arms. as they went in.
against the wall of the building. Soon, persons
began to gather in the store. standing between
them and their arms; after a sufficient crowd had
gathered. a rush was made for their arms by some,
and others, under the lead of Colonel Titus. seized
the Chicago men and made them prisoners. They
were thrust into a back room of the store, and
shamefully insulted by Titus and his crew, who
charged them with being abolitionists. and
connected with Lane's party; they also threatened
to hang them; and Colonel Titus, with a revolver
cocked and aimed at the head of one of them,
decfared, .you are a d--d abolitionist, and I am a
d---n good mind to blow you through." All of them
believed they would be unable ever to leave the
town alive, and so the fiends around them said.
One of the Chicago party was acquainted with John
Shannon, having been to school with him in Ohio,
and he requested to see him. Young Shannon
came forward and was recognized by him. Soon
after this, they were taken from the room where
they were confined and carried to the building
where the prisoners from Franklin were. The
Franklin prisoners had heavy chains about their
ankles. In a short time Colonel Titus came and
asked one of the party to come out; he did so; was
taken round to the corner of the building where a
rope was sent for, which Titus placed about his
neck, and by threats. now of hanging---then the
shooting---compelled him to give that information
tte knew concerning what they termed Lane's
party. He then sent him as a prisoner to his cabin.
This person whom Titus so cowardly and rudely
treated was the youngest of the party, hardly
twenty years of age, and small in stature. That
"high toned gentleman.' ---as the border ruffian
papers term him--Sheriff Jones, then saw the
prisoners. and endeavored. by threats. to extort
from them a promise not to meddle in the contest in
the territory. He finally told them they might go, but
they must go without their arms.
--Compliments of the Kansas State Historical
Society .
CLAIMS OF CITIZENS OF KANSAS
35TH Congress
2nd Session House-Misc.
documents No. 43
No. 246 Account for loss of an arm.
Territory of Kansas
County of Douglas
To the commissioner appointed to audit and certify
claims in consequence of, or growing out of. the
difficulties in Kansas Territory by act of legislative
assembly. approved February 23,1857.
AbsaIom White, complainant. says; That owing to
the difficulties in Kansas Territory. in the month of
August, A. D. 1856. this complainant. in company
with several others of his companions, met in
hostile array a company of southerners, there
camped and fortified at the house of H. T. Titus, in
Douglas county. at which time and place a battle
ensued; and this complainant states that a ball from
a rifle or musket in the hands of one of the party of
said southerners struck the left arm of your
complainant. and so shattered the same that
amputation became necessary. and that said arm
was amputated, as may be seen by inspection; your
complainant says that he is damaged and injured to
the amount of two thousand dollars; he states that
his loss was occasioned by, and in consequence
of. the difficulties in Kansas Territory, in the year A.
D. 1856, and that he is a resident of Kansas. He
states that the matters and things set forth in the
above are true.
ABSALOM WHITE.
Sworn to and subscribed before me. this 17th day
of November A. D. 1857.
E. D. LADD, Notary Public
The foregoing claim of Absalom White was not
allowed, upon the ground that he was engaged in
rebellion and making unwarranted attack upon the
person and property of a private citizen, not in
obedience to the laws of the country, or commands
of any legal authority.
H. J. STRICKLER, Commissioner
*********************************************************
LECOMPTON ALUMNI BANQUET
JUNE 19,
1999
Anyone who attended High or Grade
schools in Lecompton are welcomed.
The more the merrier. Please send your
reservations
to
Lecompton
Alumni
Banquet, Box 63. Lecompton, Ks 66050
Meals $8.50 per person. Reservations
must be received by June 14th.
*********************************************
CIVIL WAR HISTORY HISTORIC LECOMPTON
TERRITORIAL CAPITAL FESTIVAL
SATURDAY JUNE 26,1999
6:00-9:00 P.M.
7:00-10:00 AM.
8:30 AM.
9:00 AM.
9:00 AM.
10:00 A.M.
10:30 A.M.
11 :00 A.M.
FRIDAY. June 25th
CarnivalandGames-Ottaway
AmusementInc. (Familynight)
RegistrationforTurtle RaceandFrogJumping
SATURDAY. June 26th
Pancake Feed: Community Building-Campfire Group
Frog and Turtle Race
Horseshoe Tournament-Call 887-6326
Softball Tournament-co-rec-caIl887-6720
Pioneer Skills living History and Demonstrations:
1. Blacksmith
8. Woodcarvers
2. Soap maker
9. Water Color Artist
3. Broom maker
10.WheatWecNer
4. Post Rock Cutter
11.FurTraderCraft
5. Spinners
12.OregonTrailTravelers
6. Weavers
13.Magicians
7. Potter
Territorial
Capital Museum and Constitution
Hall (Open)
Book signing "Lecompton's Well Kept Secret" by Florence B. Smith, Author
at Territorial Capital Museum
Dedication of Shelter House in Rowena Park
Judging Parade
Scenic River Road Bike Tour (Fun Race) call 887-6192
Parade call 887-6075 ("145 Years of Wonderful Memories" Theme)
Carnival and Games
- Ottaway
Amusement Inc.
11:30 A.M.
United Methodist Church Dinner
1:00 P.M.
Re-enactment
2:00 P.M.
Prelude to Civil War-10 character play by Howard Duncan at
Territorial Capital Museum
John Brown Sr.-dramatization
by Marvin Stottl.mlre at Territorial
Capital Museum
.
Historic 111 year old Grand Piano Recital and singing at United
Methodist Church
"Pre-Civil War Battle of Fort Titus" East of Territorial
CapitalMuseum
3:00 P.M.
4:30 P.M.
6:00 P.M.
7:00 P.M.
8:00 P.M.
9:00 -12:00 P.M.
Ice Cream Social
Women's Quartet
Lawn and Garden Awards
Country Line Dance-Dena Grandstaff
Evening Concert- "Crow Canyon"
*********************************************************************************************
SUNDAY. June 27th
1:30 P.M.
"Re-enactment
Pre-Civil War Battle of Fort Titus"
Carnival Rides, Games, Crafts, Foods & Flea Market
For Information call (785) 887-6691
No Alcoholic Beverages
THE REAL HEROES
WORE BLUE UNIFORMS
By MaJor Scott Price, USAR
I
I
In just five short years.-2004, Kansas and the
American people will begin an odyssey of self.exploration when we begin to officially commemorate
the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of the
Kansas and Nebraska Territories in May of 1854.
Shortly after the dawn of a new millennium Kansans
will commemorate the beginning of the epic
struggle.that gave birth to our state. As a people
we need to seize this opportunity to honestly
examine our past, warts and all, and to question
some of the myths that have been handed down to
us from our state's founders.
We may not like what we find. I suggestthat the
New England based Free-soil movement was not
the innocent victim in a one-sided onslaught from
the barbarian hordes from Missouri and the South.
An honest evaluation will prove that the free-soilers
gave as good as they got. The struggle in Bleeding
Kansas was not a 'good guy verses bad guy' fight.
When you examine the long list of terrible crimes
committed by both sides from 1855-1860, one is
hard pressed to find many good guys worthy of a
white hat.
If we have the courage to honestly examine the
facts, some of our Kansas folk heroes will be
exposed as free-booting opportunists with feet of
clay. A handful, were murderers who led groups of
men whom today we call terrorists.
Throughout his life, President Harry Truman
often reminisced about growing up in Lamar,
Missouri. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas his
grand mother and mother began the family's
holiday meal by reminding them all that another
family, somewhere in Kansas, was setting down to
dinner using their good silverware and plates that
were stolen by marauding Jayhawkers. We laugh a
bit now but, to some extent this lingering legacy of
bitterness haunts us to this very day.
In their own minds Jayhawkers were patriots who
were merely fighting fire with fire. And, in the final
analysis, most were. When they won the armed
struggle for the prairies of Kansas. they earned the
right to write their version of history in their
children's test books.
However, as a Kansan, I refuse to celebrate the
memory of men who hacked five men and boys to
death with broad swords. I refuse to call these
murderers heroes, the very words stick in my throat.
To call them such would cheapen the memories of
the pantheon of genuine Kansas heroes who gave
their lives fighting to preserve our nation. Our real
heroes' bones lie in their graves on a hundred
battlefields scattered from Missouri to North
Carolina. We must never confuse vigilantes and
terrorists with heroes. The words are mutually
exclusive.
We must remember that men who attempt to
murder law enforcement officers during the
discharge of their official duties are nothing more
than cowards. Political considerations should not
be taken into consideration. Murder is murder even
when the terrorists are killing or maiming those
whom with we disagreed.
It is all too easy to forget when we mourn the
dead who were killed when William Quantrill and his
men burned Lawrence in 1863,that it was Kansans
who initiated the practice of burning undefended
civilian towns and murdering noncombatants in
1861.
While Colonel James Mulligan and his
Federal Irish Brigade were fighting for their lives
during the siege of Lexington, Missouri, in
September 1861, Kansas troops. who might well
have raised the siege were too busy, looting and
burning the town of Osceola, Missouri. The men
lynched there following their so-called "court
martial" as well as their families considered their
deaths to be cold blooded murder. Today, Army
troops under arms who committed such acts would
be prosecuted as war criminals.
Modem Kansans have forgotten that
depredations including looting, arson and murder,
committed by Kansas troops. stationed in western
Missouri from 1861-1862 drove thousands of loyal
men into the ranks of the secessionists and
guerrillas. Hence, it can be argued by reasonable
men that we ourselves sowed the seed of the
Lawrence massacre by filling the ranks of the
guerrillas with desperate men who had nothing
more to lose who thirsted for revenge.
Now, with almost 150 years behind us, we tend
to forget that the first constitution overwhelmingly
adopted the Kansas free-soilers called for ALL
blacks, both free and slave, to leave our state with
within 90-days after she was admitted into the
union. A strange notion indeed coming from a
group of men and women who claimed to be
dedicated to destroying slavery and freeing those
in shackles.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since
1854, when our nation's leaders decided to
unleash the genie called Popular Sovereignty from
its bottle, a decision that would ultimately lead to
the Civil War that spelled doom for over 600,000
Americans.
r
Ii
I
II
I;
I
Ii
;
For better or worse, American's Civil War altered
the destiny of our nation and its people forever and
most historians agree that both the political and
eventually, the military struggle began in Kansas.
Like so many watershed events in our history,
the looming struggle over slavery didn't look all that
dangerous in 1854. Nationwide, only a handful of
abolitionists were working themselves into hysteria
over the institution of slavery.
A handfulof powerful men in Congress from both
the North and South continued the tradition of
playing the game of hardball politics, always, almost
imperceptible, raising the stakes. Some, like Illinois'
senator, Stephen Douglas, were busy positioning
themselves for future bids for the presidency and
hoped to be all things to all people. Although most
didn't recognize it at the time, the days of the truly
great sectional leaders in Congress were over.
Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster
were all gone and the lesser gods' grasp exceeded
their reach.
Most Americans failed to recognize, muoh less
heed, the warning signs that indicated that the
traditional system of compromise had broken down.
Earlier compromises on the issue of slavery had left
a bad taste in everyone's mouths and few of the
new leaders wanted to appear "weak." Partisans of
both the North and South had finally managed to
paint each other into corners.
As a result of Popular sovereignty and the
mirage-like opportunities it seemed to otter both
sides, northerners and southerners, rushed men
and weapons into Kansas preparing for an armed
struggle. When the fighting eventually broke out, a
ten-year reign of terror descended in Kansas and
Jater,western Missouri.
The real heroes in that titanic struggle were the
soldiers of the United States Army. The troops
based at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley did their
best to disarm both sides and keep the peace.
Serving much like our present day Peace Keepers
in Bosnia, these troops overcame incredible
obstacles and hardships to accomplish their
missions and looking back with the hindsight of
History, did a credible job of intercepting illegal arms
shipments, freeing political hostages and facing
down armed bodies of vigilantes. Each and every
time they rode out onto the contested crimsoned
prairies,they laid their lives on the line. Sometimes,
certain of our Kansas "heroes" lurking in ambush
took these men's lives.
All of this in addition to their regular duties of
patrolling and safeguarding settlers
and
commence along the territory's vast network of
trails, exploring the new region and conducting
campaigns against hostile Indian tribes.
As taxpayers our ancestors got a tremendous
return on the $11 a month pay they invested in
these men. And 145-years later, as taxpayers, we
still do.
So I ask that in the year 2004, let all Kansans join
together and raise a toast to the memory of the real
heroes of the struggle for Kansas the nameless,
faceless troopers of the United States Army.
ARTICLES LOANED OR DONATED TO
THE TERRITORIAL CAPITAL MUSEUM
1.
Spinning wheel made in the 1870's; 13 old
grade school books printed from 1870 - 1926:
Framed picture of Wm. Franklin Spencer home.
Loaned by Frank and Freda Spencer.
2.
Gettysburg plate (Battle of American Civil War)
and 6 Gone With the Wind figurines. by Paul
Bahnmaier.
3. Pictures, one of August Glenn, one of Frances
(Peggy) Drake, one of Arlette M. Fulton, from Wilma
Tibbs estate.
4. Jones School records by Everett O'Conner
5.
Laser scanned image of the Territorial Seal by
Kansas State Historical Society and Tim Rues.
6.
Copy of Dale Bartlett's speech at 1982
Dedication by Martha Bartlett Letcher.
MEMBERSHIP
REPORT
LIFE MEMBERS:
Joseph A. Worrell
Dale Faust
Sharon Hodson Engle
Dale Glenn
Elizabeth Hansen Mellen
Ula Bates Armstrong
E. Lorene Matney Maxwell
MEMORIALS:
Shipman Winter by Wint Winter, Sr.
DIRTY DISHES
"Thank God for dirty dishes
They have a tale to tell;
While other folks go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With Home and Health and Happiness
We shouldn't want to fuss
For by this stack of evidence
God's very good to us"
OBITUARIES
He married Lou Ann House on May 5, 1946, in
Paris. She survives.
HEMME, Thelma, 82,died Nov .14, 1997 at Salt
LakeCity,Utah.
t
f
.
Other survivors include two daughters, Sarah
Ann McGuire, Coweta, OK. and Marilyn Lou
Boudreaux, Lake Charles, LA.; a son, Michael
Dickson Milliken, Lenexa, KS.; a brother, Harley V.
Milliken, Overland Park, KS: two sisters, Ona Mae
Daseier, Stockton, CA., and Doris Rogers, Carmel,
IN.: and six grandchildren.
She was bom Oct. 25, 1915 in Oklahoma, the
daughter of William and Blanche Schimmel.
She was married to Robert Osborne, he died in
1970and later married Albert Hemme who preceded
her in death.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Osbome
and Carl Osborne both of Salt Lake City, and 6 HANSON, Margery Day, 95, East Poultney, VT.
grandchildren; three brothers Raymond Schimmel died March 2, 1999 at Eden Park Nursing home in
and Walter Schimmel both of Lawrence, and William Rutland.
Margery was bom July 18, 1903 in Lecompton
Schimmel, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
She was a member of the Lutheran Church at the daughter of Eldred G. and Nance Adaline
Fleenor Day. She graduated from the University of
Salt Lake City. Burial in Salt Lake City.
Kansas.
She married Richard E. Hanson in 1928. He
NICHOLS, Charley Harold, 63, died Wednesday,
Feb. 17, 1999, at his home.
preceded her in death. They were married 65 years
Other survivors include two sons, Rev. Peter
He was born Sept. 18, 1935, at Eminence, Mo.,
Hanson,
Fairfield, CT.; Richard E. Hanson, Jr.,
the son of Harold Gus and Wilma Lee Nichols
Brune.
Atlanta, GA.; two daughters; Nancy Stevenson,
He married Sandra Kay French on July 8, 1972, Kent, OH. and Elizabeth Mel/en, Manhattan, NY.
10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
at Lawrence. She survives.
She compiled two genealogy books: "Day by
Other survivors include three sons, Harold
.
David Nichols, Eudora, and Richard Nichols and Day" and "Fleenor Family".
She was a member of the Poultney United MethMichael Nichols, both of Lecompton, four
daughters, Ann Clark, Lenexa, Donna Davis, odist church. Burial in East Poultney Cemetery.
Tonganoxie and Susan Wood and Dee Nichols
both of Lecompton, his father, Harold G. Brune, GRANT, James Albert, 91, Oskaloosa, died SunLawrence, and 12 grandchildren. Burial in Maple day, February 14, 1999.
He was born Oct. 28, 1907, at Lawton, OK., the
Grove Cemetery at Lecompton.
son of John C. and Rose Clayton Grant.
He was married to Mildred E. James on Feb. I,
MILLIKEN, Russell Wilfred, 85, Paris, Tx. died
1931,
at Des Moines, IA. She died May 4, 1984.
May 2, 1999 at his home.
He is survived by a stepson, Robert Davis,
He was born Oct. 23, 1913, at Tecumseh, Ks.,
Lawrence;
and a brother, Fred Grant, Salem, OR.
the son of Harley Churchill and Mary Bien Wilson
He was cremated. Inummentwill be at a later date.
Milliken.
**************************************Please Clip and Mail With YourCheck********************************
THE LECOMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lecompton, Kansas 66050, is a non-profit corporation for the
preservation of historical sites. We are eager for continued membership and new members.
Dues are $5.00 per year for individual membership and $7.00 for a couple's membership. The dues
are from December to December. Life membership is $50 per individual, contributions are tax deductible.
Checks should be made payable to the Lecompton Historical Society, and mailed to Georgia Trammel,
11 N 2064 Rd, Lecompton, KS 66050
$5.00 Annual Individual Membership
$7.00 Annual Couple's Membership
$50.00 IndMdual Ute or Memorial Membership
Other Contribution
$
NAME
City
AddressState
PLEASE NOTIFY US OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS
--~,-
Zip
-~---
~...
~
CONFER. Marie, 95, Lawrence, died Saturday
March 13, 1999.
She was born Aug. 24, 1903, in Hoxie, the
daughter of Theodore and May Houser Eppler.
She married Samuel Archie Confer Sept. 24,
1919, in Clay Center. He died July 16, 1990. She
was preceded in death by two sons, Kenneth
Confer July 23,1981 and Melvin Confer April 11,
1991.
Other survivors include a daughter, Carol McCune,
Lawrence, a brother, Alan Eppler, Topeka: two
sisters, Beulah Grimm, Green, and Marjorie Head,
Coffeyville; 6 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
KENT, Roberta M., 79, of Lecompton, died March
II
11,1999.
She was born Feb. 14, 1920, to James Arthur
and Fannie C. Klingensmith Chandler in Trenton,
Mo.
She married Merton W. Kent July 11, 1936, in
Trenton. He survives of the home.
Other survivors include six daughters, Ardith
Smith, Overbrook, Jeanie Vestal, Winchester,
Louise Wallace, Grantville, and Carolyn Glenn,
Verna Pletcher and Dorothy Kent all of Lecompton;
two brothers, Walter Chandler, St. Louis, and Glen
Chandler, Trenton, Mo.; two sisters, Ruby May,
Tustin, Calif., and Bertha Fisher, Rio Linda, Calif.;
12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one
great great granchild.
She attended the Lecompton United Methodist
Church..
Burial in Maple Grove Cemetery at
Lecompton.
LINQUIST, Edwin, Sr. 77, Lawrence, died Friday,
March 19, 1999.
He was born July 18, 1921, in Kansas City, Mo.
the son of Edwin Carl and Eva Baile Linquist.
His wife, Rita Linquist, died in 1996.
Other survivors include a son, Edwin R. Linquist,
Jr., Topeka; daughters, Deena Linquist, Overland
Park, Cindy Linquist, Denver, Marcy Meyers-Cook,
Olathe, and Carla Linquist, Topeka, a sister, Virginia
Linquist Craig, Lenexa and 6 grandchildren.
CHAPPELL, Helen, 86, Lawrence died Wed.
March 24, 1999.
She was born April 24, 1912, in Lawrence, the
daughter of Robert and May Titterington Rose.
She married Edward Nelson Chappell in Aug.,
1931, in Lawrence, He died Sept. 3, 1989.
Survivors include a daughter, Delores Miller,
Lawrence; a sister, Ruth Ward, Lawrence; two
grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
HALL, Ida Mae, 85, Downers Grove, lit, died April
21, 1999.
She was born March 14, 1914 the daughter of
George and Lillie Mae Doddridge Richards six miles
west of Lawrence. She attended Winter school &
graduated from Lecompton High School in 1931.
She married Verne R. Hall Jan. 27, 1935. He
survives. They were married 64 years.
Other survivors include sons, Richard Hall of
Downers Grove and Thomas of Solomons, MD, five
grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
She was a member of the United Methodist
Church
*********************************************************************************************
President* Paul Bahnmaier
Vice President * Rich r/cConnell
Secretary * VICki Roberts
Treasurer * Betty Leslie
Program- Beverly VanDyke
Historical Writer-Sara Walter
MerTtJership * Georgia Sill'l!T()nSTrammel
Genealogy & Historical researcher*lona Spencer
Tours*01ar1ene VVinter
Funding*Mae Holderman
Board MerTtJers * Maxine Dark, George Simmons
lIIustrator*Ellen Duncan
Keith Noe, Jason Dexter, Duane VVulfkuhle,Ron Meier
Assistant Treasurer *Sherri Neill
Curators * Marguerite Bowman, Opal Goodrick, Dorothy Shaner
Kitchen * Helen Hildenbrand
George & Artoene Simmons, Darlene Paslay
Merrorials* Ruth Ice
MerrOOrshipAss'ts. *Duane &DorothyVVulfkuhle
*********************************************************************************************
Forwardingand Address ~
Requested
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Pemit No. 1
PlbIished by
Lecol1l>ton, Kansas
The ~on
HistoricalSocay
LECOMPTON,KANSAS66050
Const. Hall Hist.
% Tim Rues
PO Box 198
Lecompton KS 66050
~
..