2017 Fall Newsletter

T his is an o-bit of the photographer that took the photo of Mary Ann . According to the o-bit, Mr. Mangrum was taking pictures in Paola in 1871 Charles W. Mangrum, aged 78 years, was found dead in a tub of a public bath house, in Los Angeles, California, March 2nd, 1920.-He had been making his home with his daugh ter-in-law, Mrs. Ruby Mangrum. He leaves two sons, Richard L., in El Centra; Arthur Mangrum, in San Francisco, and one daughter, Jennie, of Fresno, Calif. He was 78 years old and wealthy. The deceased was well known in Paola where he was a photographer in 1871, and later lived on the Geiseke farm, north of Somerset. Ely Moore named Osawatomie and his son, Ely Moore, Ju nior witnessed the naming of the town and reported why the town was named Osawatomie, and recounted how the town was named in an article in the Collections of the Kan sas State Historical Society 1911-1912. The older Moore was the special agent of the Five Confederated Tribes of In dians, and Eli Moore Senior gave his son the duty of protect ing the Native American lands in Miami County from white incursions. Ely Moore, Junior met with O.C. Brown, one of the founders of Osawatomie in September of 1854, and was immediately impressed by Brown’s demeanor, stating “I rec ognized by his tone and manner that he was a gentleman, so upon dismounting, I extended the hand of friendship.” However, Ely Moore, Junior informed Brown that he was trespassing on reservation land. Brown indicated that he had been misled, and after visiting with Eli Moore, Junior, Brown accompanied him to meet with Baptiste Peoria, who was the “Interpreter of the Five Tribes.” Brown and Peoria met, and negotiated an agreement by which a town would be founded, and a meeting was called to determine the name of the new town. Ely Moore Junior stated, “Among those present, I noted Capt. Louis Chouteau of Saint Louis, A.G. Boone of Westport, William Scott, Judge J.W. Clymer, and J.W. McHenry of West Point, Missouri., all licensed traders; also, many Indians.” The only real business was the selection of a name for the city. Ely Moore, Junior stated that a battle of wills ensued between O.C. Brown and Baptiste Peoria, which led to Ely Moore, Senior final ly naming the town. Ely Moore, Junior stated “Mr. Brown advocated either the name of Brooklyn or Brownsville. To these names Baptiste was unalterably opposed, and in turn How Osawatomie got its name by Grady Atwater

Above is the back of the Mary Ann photo naming C.W. Mangrum as the photographer who was in Paola in1871

proposed the names of Peoria and City of Kansas. To these Brown objected. A deadlock was on, and in this dilemma my father was called on for his selection of a name.” Ely Moore, Junior reported that his father sought to salve the egos of both O.C. Brown and Baptiste Peoria by creat ing a neutral name for the town that was not named after either of them, and stated that Eli Moore, Senior advocated blending the names of the streams close at hand, Osage and Pottawatomie to form “Osawatomie.” There being no ob jection, Osawatomie it was, and Osawatomie it remains. A few years after the naming of the city some persons holding interest in the town strove to have the name changed, but their efforts failed. Osawatomie was technically named for the Osage River, which was later renamed the Marais Des Cygnes in Kansas and Pottawatomie Creek. Realistically, though, the town was named Osawatomie to resolve a conflict between O.C. Brown and Baptiste Peoria. Ely Moore, Senior wisely stepped in and offered a compromise that both men could accept, and gave Osawatomie its unique name.

Moore shaped Osawato mie’s history by resolving the conflict over the name of the town between two of Mi ami County’s pioneers, and, therefore we owe him a debt of gratitude and respect. He gave the town a name that sets it apart from every oth er town in the nation and the world, for there is only one Osawatomie, thanks to Ely Moore, Senior.

Grady Atwater

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