2020 Winter Spring Newsletter

The 2020 Winter, Spring, “COVID 19” Edition Newsletter of the

Bloody Kansas

WAKARUSA WAR

SACKING OFLAWRENCE

POTTAWATOMIE MASSACRE

BATTLE OF BLACK JACK

BATTLE OF OSAWATOMIE

MARAIS des CYGNES MASSACRE

In this issue, an assemble of events that accrued in and around Miami County before and during the Civil War.

The museum has a new display model of the 1864 fort that was built on top of tower hill, the present location of the old Paola water tower.

E-Mail: micomuseum@gmail.com

Web Page: https://micomuseum.org Price $2.00

Contents

Officers and Directors 2020

President- Larry Lybarger Vice President- Wes Cole Secretary- LuAnne Debrick Treasurer- Vincent Thorpe

913-731-1075 913-731-3193 816-392-0605 913-294-5436 913-406-3243 913-335-2657 816-392-0605 913-731-3009 913-406-1508 785-869-3246 913-731-7869 913-731-3193 913-294-5436 913-294-2779 913-731-3917 913-710-1767 913-849-3278 913-259-9839 913-449-5153 913-731-8150

Gift Corner

Pg 3 Pg 4

Letter from the President Library- Mini Minutes, Pg 5 Volunteers report Kluber obit Pg 6 Ray Bendorfe interview Pg 7 A Veteran Remembers Pg 8 Orphan Train #2 Pg 9 Paola Union Crusader reprint Pg 10 Kansas Day photos Pg 11 Fort Paola model display Pg 12-13 Mildred Haley obit Pg 14 1918 Spanish Flu Pg 15 Local pre civil war battles Pg 16-17 Rockville’s Post Pg 18 Coldwater Grove’s Post Pg 19 Lloyd’s Letter Pg 20 -21 Publications for sale Pg 22 Heritage Walk Bricks Pg 23 Buffey - Chiefs Back Cover

Board of Directors

Louisburg - Aggie Dillard Marysville Township - Jana Barcus Member at Large - LuAnne Debrick Miami Township - Nina Gerken Middle Creek Township - Kristin Graue Mound Township - Donna Darner Paola City - Elsie Cordle Paola Township - Mike Hursey Richland Township - LeAnne Shields Stanton Township - Lloyd Peckman Sugar Creek Township - Ann Benton Ten Mile Township -Gorden Geldhof Valley Township - Colleen Ewan Wea Township - Larry Lybarger Osage Township - Ann Davis Osawatomie City- Wes Cole Osawatomie Township - Vicent Thorpe

913-731-1075 Genealogy Society Coordinator- Betty Bendorf 913-557-2485 Newsletter - Roger Shipman 913-259-9219

A Newsletter of the Miami County Historical Museum & Genealogy Society Winter 2020 Volume 35- No.1 Miami County Historical Museum 12 E. Peoria, Paola, Kansas 66071 Phone: 913-294-4940 E-Mail: micomuseum@gmail.com. Web address; https://micomuseum.org Museum Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Financial The Miami County Historical Museum is a Non-Profit Organization with a tax exempt status allowed by the Internal Revenue Dept. Gift and donations received by the Societies are deductible for Income Tax purposes. For additional infor mation or questions regarding Endowments, Trusts, etc., Please contact us at 913-294-4940

Page 2

Visit our gift corner We have books, out of print museum books on DVD, brochures of local attractions, numerous historical Paola photos suitable for framing, tee-shirts, hats and some free stuff

Hours for the Museum Open Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closed Saturday with the exception of special occasions For appointments call: QCD Qualified Charitable Distributions Donations from an IRA fund to meet your IRA Annual Required Distribution to a Charity. Any Donation with QCD are 100% untaxed by the IRS. Normal distributions are subject to federal and state income taxes. Requirements: To Avoid Taxes on Distributions 1. Age 70 1/2 or older 2. Donations made directly by IRA Custodians to 501 charitable group 3. Limit of $100,000 per year per person with IRA 4. Donation made by Dec. 31 of each year given by Custodian Thus, you can give to our museum up to $100,000 per year per person from your IRA as a distribution and pay no taxes on that gift---normal distributions are taxed as a part of your adjusted gross income. The custodian provides a 1099-R form to report on your income tax return. Example: Have your custodian of your IRA give to our museum $2,500(any sum up to $100,000) from your IRA. Will be part of your required distribution but would be exempt from normal taxes that year. A WIN-WIN FOR YOU AND YOUR CHARITY CHOICE Give to Charity---Pay Less Taxes. QCD—for the Endowment or Regular Museum Donation. Timely Tax Information 816-392-0605 913-294-9769

Page 3

President’s Letter

Dear Friends: As the new year has taken shape, our nation has witnessed a major and historic event. As it unfolds, it seems to be compared to the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu. we have been closed as ordered by our governor under her legal powers. We have just now reopened this June. Change has hit our community and our museum. Our Vice-President Patsy Bortner and our Librarian, Ellen Welch, have both resigned, due in part to their concerns about the vi rus. We have been very fortunate to have both of them with their skills and efforts toward our museum. They both made major contributions in their time here. Thanks to both. Thanks to all our volunteers who continue to step up and continue to add their skills and efforts toward our museum. There are many who could be singled out, but special men tion should be made of LuAnne Debrick, Vince Thrope, Ann Benton. They have always been ready to meet the challenge. Thanks also to Roger Shipman and our loyal board members.

Larry Lybarger

Our Museum has bloomed with its new carpet in the main gallery and library. A new copier is to arrive soon with the pres ent one ending its lease agreement. We have a new website now functioning and the addition of a Facebook updating of our activities. We have continued during the closure to answer requests by email for information of former citizens and have continued to collect obituaries to add to our collection. We hope our Museum continues to keep a record of the his tory of our county and serve the needs of our members and patrons. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS. Larry Lybarger, president MEMBERSHIP DUES CHANGE FOR THE MUSEUM Our Miami County Historical Society dues are currently collected throughout the year according to the date the member has joined. To improve our accounting method, we wish to change the due date of all dues to a single annual date which will be the same for all members. The annual date for all membership dues will be October 1. Currently, those who pay between now and October 1, 2020 will not be billed for another year until October 2021. We hope this will not be too confusing for members, but it will make the accounting system more efficient. We cherish our members for their very generous gifts and donations. This support is vital for our continuation and improvement of our museum and genealogy library. Again, thank you for your consideration and we welcome your concerns and questions.

The Executive Board Phone: 913-731-1075 816-392-0605

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Front Desk (1/2 or full day), computer input, arrang ing displays, moving help, grant writers, interviewers, history researchers

The Museum has reprints of past Newsletters for sale at $2.00 an issue.

Page 4

QUERIES Kathy Dagenett wanted to know about Laura Belle Lay Dagenett. Karen Emerson wanted 3 obits, for Knowles and Frank Shaw and Ida May (Shaw)Austin. Shannon Young wants info on Robert Shelby and wife Dora, Rosie Johnson, Verla McClure Gatewood and Rob erts 7 children. Arthur Schaper wants to know about Deborah Susan Vanderslice and her 3 husbands, M. Goins, James T. Cline and William Hurst and any children. Von Rothenberger is trying to connect William W. Bullock of Miami County to one in Osborne County Kansas. Mike Zakoura information on infant deaths of Maud and Floyd Zakoura. Aimee Taylor-Nutt family Fred Nutt and Roy Nutt obits and District Court case about wages not paid by Meridian Petroleum Corp. Emma Blinkhom obit for Francis Ann Cammeis. Janice Aldrick wants death and birth records Nancy Ruth Sterling and Lizzie Mae Sterling. Hugh Poland info on Patrick Poland and Michael Cun ningham. Elaine Crowl obits for Betty Caton and Helen Snyder Ca ton. Audrey Bryant info on Houston Family I am taking this opportunity to say that I am complete ly retiring from the museum and library. It has been a “labor of love” for a long time. I have enjoyed the work and experiences of a lot of jobs thru the years, (Since 1983). I can’t lift the heavy books and boxes anymore and new technology is leaving me behind. I’m sure the officers will find someone to carry on. Iris is still here to do research and she is good at it. Thanks for the many years. Betty Bendorf. Library Well!!! That is a deep hole. Ha. The virus sure did a number on everything. However, during our being closed, we got our new car peting in our main building. It sure is nice. We are missing Ellen as she chose not to come back because of health issues. Hopefully she will come back at a later date.

Walk In Inquires William Johnston (Maddox, Johnston, Stevenson, Hysom) Gordon Geldhoff (McLachlin, McLaughlin) Traci LeDesma (Hamlin, grave of Fred Hamlin) Sherry Delo (John Stickney) Carol OKeefe (1956 school year book) Carolyn Carnes (history of house on Piankishaw) Bill Clawson (Hubert Schafgus) Bob Graham (Golman) Lavonne Chase (copies of obits)

MINI MINUTES NOVEMBER

Slate of officers and directors for 2020 was approved Ann Benton is working on new web site. Ann asked for help on accessioning artifacts Ellen has been working on following up on the oil paintings. Ellen is also working on “Kansas News papers” data for the library. Motion to purchase a 6 month subscription was made and passed. Discussion on lights in basement 3. Motion to approve work needed passed. Discussion on Christmas Party. Will be Dec 10, 10a.m. to 2p.m. DECEMBER Annual Christmas Party JANUARY Discussion about Kansas Day. Ann reported that the web site is almost completed Mike Hursey offered to post information about Muse um on Facebook. This is the last available minutes because of the virus shut down. The Museum closed in Early March. As of June 8 2020 we are open again. We have masks available.

Page 5

VOLUNTEER AND VISITOR REPORT NOVEMBER 2019 THRU MAY 2020

VOLUNTEERS - 35

HOURS – 1,788

BOARD MEETINGS – 3 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE – 12 VOLUNTEERS: Jana Barcus, Janice Barker, Betty Bendorf, Ann Benton, Jim Bousman, Patsy Bortner, Kaylen Butler, Wes Cole, Larry Cole, Elsie Cordle, Donna Darner, Ann Davis, Luanne Debrick, Agnes Dillard, Pat Erickson, Colleen Ewan, Karen Feehan, Nina Gerken, Gordon Geldhof, Krista Grau, Mildred Haley, Mike Hursey, Iris Kluber, Larry Lybarger, Cooper and Chance Minden, Kate Minden, Lloyd Peckman, Pat Peckman, Ann Roark, LeAnnne Shields, Roger Shipman, Vince Thorpe, Ellen Welch, Beth Wilson. Visitors: 226 States Represented: 10 Minnesota, Georgia, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, New Hampshire, California, Kentucky Texas and Louisiana.

We were saddened to learn of the death of Iris Klu ber‘s husband, Ed Kluber. Iris is the volunteer that does much of the museum’s research and answers queries that people have inquired about. Edward F. Kluber, Jr., age 90, of Paola, Kansas, passed away June 1, 2020. Ed was born September 5, 1929 in Wilson, Kansas to Edward F. Kluber and Alta Kramer Kluber. He graduat ed from Wilson High School in 1947. Ed was a veter an of the Korean war. He served 4 years in the United States Navy. After his service, he attended Fort Hays State where he met and married Iris Sloan on June 3, 1957. They both then went on to graduate from Kan sas State University. Ed worked most of his career at Bendix/Allied Signal

son, Mark Bradley. Survivors include his wife, three children, Dr. Edward F. Kluber, III (Julie), Wendy Jean Skidmore (Cary), and Kathleen Jenese Skidmore (Tom), 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at 2PM at Wilson, Kan sas Cemetery, on Monday June 8, 2020. Memorial contributions are to Shriners Children’s Hospital and can be sent c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS, 66071. Family and friends are encouraged to post their con dolences and memories on Ed’s tribute wall.

in Kansas City, Missouri as a mechanical engineer. He also enjoyed 16 years as a volunteer on the Board of Miami County Rural Water District #2. He served as Treasurer for many years. During retirement one of Ed’s favorite hobbies was making fine wood furni ture for his family. Ed was proceeded in death by his parents and

Meet three of our new volunteers, Mrs. & Mr. Mike Hursey and on the left Wendy Burkett

Ed Kluber

Page 6

Interview Ray Bendorf Another person to be interviewed was Ray Bendorf by Ethel Barnes of Louisburg in July 2001. It is very hard to give the highlights of this talk. In telling his story Ray would go off on many side stories and named many people in the Louisburg area, both relatives and neigh bors. Ray Dean Bendorf was born March 28, 1928 at the family farm northwest of Louisburg along with his twin sister Fay Ruth. She was born first and I came along 30 minutes later. I had a brother that was born Novem ber 5 1925, but he died of appendicitis peritonitis on Aug 13 1929. My father was Jacob Bendorf and mother Martha Jane Whitmore Bendorf. I have resided on the fam ily farm since I was born in the upstairs bedroom. My dad bought the farm from Fred Sponable in 1911 for $5,650.00. I went to Cole School, Dist 52 for 8 years just down the road. Eunice Duval was 1st grade teach er, then June Berley, then Dorothy Patterson, then Wyenema Ferguson, then Elma Breckenridge. After 8th grade I graduated at Paola High School. I started High School in Bucyrus in 1942. I took manual training and made a wagon box, the next year I made a hayr ack. The third year I helped Lloyd Stuteville on some projects. I played basketball and lettered 3 years. I drove a car to school but when muddy, sis rode a horse and I rode a mule. Some boys pulled the bridle off my mule and I had to walk home. I found out who did it and they never did it again. I stayed home and farmed till 1951 and the flood got my wheat so I went to driving a truck and worked for Charlie Dellinger and Olin Roberts, and later went with Jack Cooper Transport Co. hauling cars out of Kansas City. I went to work in 1953 and retired in 1986. I drove four million miles and never had a wreck. When I started I hauled 4 cars and finished hauling 10 cars.

In the service I was drafted in 1954 and took basic in El Paso, Tex. I ended up going to Germany and teaching guys to drive trucks. I spent 18 months overseas. I got in this country about March 25 and went to Ft.Ord California. I drove an old Ford car home on $29.00 worth of gasoline. Ray talked about his early years. He played baseball. softball, basketball and track. In the summer, to make extra money, he would take a team of mules and work in the big lake oil field. He could earn $10 a day with a team. I worked in the oll field till I was 18 years old. We always had plenty to eat. Had a big garden, butch ered a hog and a beef and raised chickens. We went to the Baptist church at Chiles. Ray named a lot of people in the area and their fam ilies. Ray married Betty in June 1975. He told stories of his pulling ponies and winning matches and driving the team in parades. Ray joined the Masonic Peace Lodge 243 in 1959 and then went into the Scottish Rite. In 1977 he went into Abdallah Shrine and rode with the Mounted Patrol. He was a Charter member of the Louisburg Shrine Club. We started raising Suf folk Draft horses and would take a team to the Pow ell Pumpkin Patch. We would give rides on the hay wagon around the pumpkin field. He would charge 1.00 a person and donated the money to the Shrine children Transportation Fund to help get kids to the Shrine Hospital in St. Louis. Rays grandfather was Albert Bendorf and great, great grandfather was Francis Hastings. They came to Miam County about 1865 and homesteaded. Ray likes to hunt and during deer season we have a number of friends and relatives come to the farm to hunt. Ray also likes to go fishing. In his interview he told many stories of neighbors and relatives and their families. Too much to put in this highlight.

Page 7

A VETERAN REMEMBERS The 75th anniversary of World War II is September 2, 2020. A war that took the lives of over 405,000 U.S. military personnel. Nick Chamberlain from Paola, was recently interviewed about his WWII memories. He lived in Osawatomie in 1944, when he joined the service and had been a recent graduate of Osawato mie High School. Nick went to the Great Lakes for his basic training for his Navy duties. He had joined at age 17(his mother had to agree since he was not of age yet). He was assigned to the U.S.S. Gen. W. H. Gordon docked in New York.

When he left the Navy, he brought with him a Japa nese rifle he had obtained in the Gilbert Islands, as a souvenir of the war. He carried the rifle home in his duffel bag. While in the service for almost two years he received four medals. He was one of the fortunate ones to survive the war and was of the era which be came known as “The Greatest Generation” Upon returning to Osawatomie he kept the rifle until 2009, when he donated it to the Miami County Muse um to add to their many items from WWII. The rifle is a special and rare gun. It was a Type 99 Arisaka, that was used since 1939 in the Japanese military. The gun had on top of the barrel an engraved chrysanthemum. This was the symbol of the Emperor of Japan, and to their troops was a sign of ownership of the gun by the Emperor. Most Japanese soldiers would remove the symbol, before surrendering their gun, as a sign of respect and reverence for their leader. The gun Nick obtained had not had its flower removed or scraped off, thus it is a rarity. The gun can be seen in the military room at the Miami County Museum.

U.S.S. Gen. W. H. Gordon

The ship’s main assignment was to protect the North Atlantic from submarine activity. Six months after his arrival on the ship, Germany surrendered and the Eu ropean war was over. His next assignment was to go to the Pacific to finish the war with Japan. Soon after his arrival in Hawaii, President Truman made the deci sion to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. Thus, the war ended in the Pacific. The role of his ship changed from being a destroyer to that of an occupation force of the troops of Japan, which still had held parts of the Mar shall and Gilbert Island in the South Pacific. Nick’s Navy career soon ended and his ship was sent to Florida for mustering out of the crew.

Nick proudly displays his war souvenir.

Japan manufactured over 3.5 million Ari saka rifles between 1939 and 1945. Examples of the en graved chrysanthe mum are pictured here.

Page 8

Paola. Three of the gentlemen were Civil War Vets. Six of the men were active in the Masonic organizations. Two of the committee men had no children at all. Four of the men had lost children; one had seven children who had passed. In religious beliefs, they were widely varied. There were three Methodists, two Presbyterians, one Baptist, one Universalist, one Catholic, and one whose religion was not stated. The committee men were: George Anderson, John Milton George, Lyman C. Gilmore, Dr. David H. Johnson, Rev. John Franklin Kellogg, Charles H. Mallory, Edwin Wash ington Mitchler, William E. Stich, and Norris H. Taylor. These gentlemen accepted applications for children until the train arrived on the 13th of November, 1896. Agent Tice brought thirteen children with him. The place ment occurred at 10 am on that Friday the 13th at the Op era House. There were several hundred people gathered there to witness the event. Eleven of the children found homes at the placement. Two little brothers, Joseph (4) and Victor (9) Benson, went unplaced, but B.W. Tice took them back to the hotel and worked to find the boys accept able homes. He succeeded, finding them homes with fa ther and son, John Folks and Alfred Folks. Father John took the younger brother Joseph, and his son Alfred took older brother Victor. They lived a short distance from each other and the boys were able to visit whenever they pleased. On the fifth of May 1900, Victor went to the John Folks farm to visit his little brother. A thunderstorm blew up while he was there. He was standing in the barn door and was struck by lightning and killed instantly. Victor rests at Whiteford Cemetery at Osawatomie. These were not the only Orphan Train Riders to find homes in Miami County. Basil Keats, who was the subject of articles earlier this month, lived with William Booze near Fontana, Kansas, which was in the southern part of Miami County. From a train in December of 1896 to Olathe, there were two children taken to Miami County. Elmer Williams, a thirteen year-old African American boy, was taken in by Henry Kerns of Osawatomie. Sixteen year-old Leo Chap man found a home with Cornelius Donahue of Fontana. As more information becomes available, I am sure we will find other riders who found homes in Miami County as well. The search continues!

Orphan Trains to Miami County Part Two

By Lori Halfhide

Seeing the incredible demand for children, Agent Brace decided to bring another company of children the following month. He retained the same local committee, the three ministers and the mayor/banker. The newspaper articles in mid-October of 1880 stated that there was another party of “orphan children wanting homes” arriving on the noon train from Kansas City on Friday, October 22, 1880. This time, he asked applicants to contact William Crowell at the bank and state the age and sex of child they desired, and to secure recommendations. The placement would take place at the Court House at 12:30. This time, the newspaper accounts of the second place ment were not as descriptive. They stated that there were twelve children, all over ten years of age. There was again great demand; the reporter estimated that fifty children could have found homes that day. He described Agent Brace by saying, “a more efficient man for the position could not be obtained than James P. Brace.” They also commended the ministers and the mayor for their hard work in helping to find these children homes. Again, the children were list ed in the newspaper article next to the local resident who took them home. In late October of 1896, it was announced that another company of children would be brought to Paola from the Children’s Aid Society. Benjamin Wilson Tice was the agent this time. He selected a large committee, nine gentlemen ranging in age from 39 to 81 years-old. Five of the men were merchants, owning different types of businesses in downtown Paola. One was the Methodist Minister. There was a bank cashier, an entrepreneur, and the final mem ber was a physician who was also serving as the Mayor of

The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children. ... This relocation of children ended in the 1920s with the beginning of organized foster care in America.

Page 9

What is Carminative ? see page 21

more on pg 21

Page 10

Kansas Day 2020

The museum was well represented at the Kansas Day event sponsored by the Paola Chamber of Commerce. Ellen Welch and Betty Bendorf chatted with visitors about the museum. We also had some photo displays depicting the many facets in the museum

Long-time volunteer Betty Bendorf retires July 24, 2020 after 37 years of dedicated service to the Miami County Historical Museum. Betty joined the Museum in 1983 and has been a full time volunteer ever since. She started as a mem ber of the Board of Directors representing the Wea Township The Genealogy Society was working on publishing the “Cemeteries of Miami County” and the Historical Society was working on publishing the “History and Stories of People in Miami County”. She was active in working on both projects. Other proj ects she was active in producing were the “150 Year Timeline” and “Barns of Miami County”. As Librarian she and her volunteers indexed all re cords received from the Miami County Court House, clipping files for future research, setting up obituary files for some 44,000 people of Miami County and researching all queries sent in, both by letter and e-mail. She has held positions of President, Secre tary, Treasurer and Museum Coordinator. Betty said, “Genealogy and the history of our Coun ty in both written information and material artifacts is what she and the Museum take pride in”. We will miss her expertise and her dedication and wish her well in her well-deserved retirement.

(A recognition of her years of service was held at the Museum Board Meeting on Tuesday, July 14.) Betty Bendorf

Page 11

The museum has added a new model display, “Fort Paola”. It was built on top of Tower Hill during the Civil War. Roger Shipman spent most of his covid 19 lock down time working on it. “Post Covid” consists of hundreds of craft sticks, foam board insulation, paper mache, lot of miniature lumber and a half gallon of glue.

Page 12

Details of the main gate, doors and frame contains 37 wooden parts.

Hand painted troopers man the parapets

Model of a caisson, amunition transporter wagon of an artillery company. Did you know that it took a team of seven men to load, aim and fire a cannon?

Page 13 Company C Paola Kansas 12th VOL, INF’ commemo rative poster. Reprints of this document may be pur chased at the museum in sizes up to 11 x 14 inchs.

Observer looking to the East toward the Missouri border

She has been a member of the Paola United Methodist Church since 1949. Mildred was active in United Methodist Women and volunteered in various other capacities. Mildred worked several part time secretarial jobs until 1962 when she was employed by Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co, Paola. She retired in 1988 with 25-years of service. Since re tirement she has volunteered and held various offices at the Miami County Historical and Genealogical Museum. Other memberships are American Legion Auxiliary and the Miami County Medical Center Auxiliary. In November of 2016 she resigned from the Paola Senior Center Board of Directors after serving there for several years. She leaves behind her three children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Many nieces and nephews also sur vive.

Mildred Dorthea Haley age 89 of Paola, passed away Janu ary 22 at the Olathe Medical Center. Date of Birth: May 10, 1930 Place of Birth: Fontana, KS Parents: George D. and Mabel Greagoff, deceased Siblings: Edna Greagoff-Bright, Wesley Greagoff and Justin J.Greagoff, deceased. Mildred’s mother died when Mildred was three weeks old and later to be raised by Alice M. Hampson-Poteet, Paola, becoming like another grandchild--even though not blood related. Two of Grandma Poteet’s grandchildren, James Po teet, Jr. and Betty Poteet-Fellers, were raised with Mildred and became like a brother and a sister. Both are deceased. She attended Paola schools, graduating from PHS in 1948. She married Keith Ray Hart of Jet, Oklahoma, in July of 1948. Keith was killed in an accident in July of 1949. There were no children. At that time she returned to Paola to make her home. She was united in marriage to Carl Haley on August 5, 1951. Together they had three children—Kay (Jim) Ged minas, Steve (Debra) Haley, and Monica (L.D.) Bickerstaff. Carl passed away July 9, 2014. In Memoriam Mildred Haley, A Dedicated Volunteer

NOTE; Amazon.com has two copies of the Urusline book for sale. A used copy for $851.90 and a new one for $1012.90. The museum offers a softcover copy for $35.00. Clipped from the Miami Republic.

Page 14

Spanish Flu 1918 I n 1918 the United States was involved in World War I, but was also dealing with the outbreak of a deadly influ enza epidemic. The first cases of the outbreak were re corded in Haskell County, Kansas, and Fort Riley, Kansas, where young men were being hospitalized for severe flu like symptoms. A local doctor sent a report to the Public Health Service, but no one was sent to investigate the sit uation. On March 4, 1918, an outbreak appeared at Fort Riley, with as many as 500 soldiers hospitalized within a week. Within a month, however, the number of patients dwindled and it seemed that the flu had passed its course. Many of these soldiers were sent to Europe to help fight in World War I. While in Europe the disease mutated and became deadly. By May many reports of soldiers falling ill were reaching the U.S. It did not take long for the disease to spread from the soldiers to the civilian population of Europe, and then around the world. Few areas remained unaffected, and there were recorded outbreaks in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, as well as the Arctic and remote Pacific Islands. The outbreak of 1918 was named the Spanish influenza. Although inaccurate, historians believe this name came from the lack of media censure in Spain when the disease hit. The virus mutated again and deaths were being re ported in Boston, Massachusetts, by August. In Septem ber outbreaks were reported in California and Texas. By October 1918, 24 countries had reported cases of influ enza, and many had several deaths. The Spanish influen za was different from other strains of the flu because of how quickly it passed from person to person and the age group it targeted. Most flu strains affect the very young, the elderly, and those without strong immune systems. The main victims of the Spanish influenza were aged from

20 to 40 and were typically healthy individuals. In Fall 1918 the disease made its way back to Kansas and government officials were quick to take action against the spread of the disease. Dr. Samuel J. Crumbine was the secretary of the state board of health and began a campaign to keep the public in Kansas well aware and educated about the flu and what people could do to pre vent it. However, despite these measures there were still hundreds of deaths reported in Kansas, and eventually health officers were forced to close individual cities. By closing schools, public gatherings, theaters, church ser vices, and limiting the number of people in a store at a time, the government officials in Kansas hoped to limit the outbreak and prevent more people from becoming sick. Other countries were not so lucky, and although there is no official tally, it is estimated that the disease killed between 16 and 30 million people worldwide and was responsible for 675,000 deaths in the United States alone. The Spanish influenza was responsible for twice the number of casualties (both killed and wounded) of the United States in World War I, which totaled near 323,000. A third and final wave of the epidemic hit in the spring of 1919, and many reported that it was so severe that people could wake up healthy and be dead by nightfall. By the end of spring the number of patients had dropped enough that officials lifted bans from their cities and states and people could resume school and church. Since the disease occurred at the same time as World War I, the epidemic was overshadowed. Although the epidemic only lasted a year, it left a large mark, both in America and worldwide. Reprinted from Kansapedia, Kansas State Historical Soci ety, Title Flu Epidemic of 1918

Words to “live” by

Page 15

LOCAL PRE-CIVIL WAR BATTLES The civil war started April 12, 1861, but there were a number of local battles fought in Kansas between proslavery and anti-slavery forces. This was referred to as “Bleeding Kansas”. It lasted from 1854 – 1861. Approximately 50 people died and many were injured. The two factions also destroyed much personal prop erty. On November 21, 1855, an abolitionist (freestater) named Charles Dow was killed by a proslavery settler. This was the beginning of the WAKARUSA WAR . The antislavery citizens started to rally and were plotting their revenge. Douglas county sheriff Samuel Jones who was a southern sympathizer put together a group of Missouri ruffians and went to Lawrence and created a blockade of the city. John Brown heard what was go ing on and he gathered a group of antislavery men and headed to Lawrence to defend it, this one act made John Brown turn to action instead of words. The battle ended on December8, 1855. On May 21, 1856, the SACKING OF LAWRENCE began. At this time the Kansas Territory had a proslav ery territorial legislature that President Franklin Pierce said was legitimate and anyone opposing it would be committing and act of treason. At this time John Brown was hoping for increased hostilities so that he could re taliate. The U.S. District Court of Lykins (Miami) Coun ty, issued an indictment of John Brown and his sons for disagreeing with the laws of proslavery government. This did not set well with John Brown, but he took no immediate action. The local antislavery newspapers spoke out against the proslavery leaders. A proslav ery grand jury stated that the newspapers needed to

At this same time, back in Washington, a Massa chusetts abolitionist senator, Charles Sumner, was at tacked on the floor of the U.S. Senate by proslavery Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina. He was injured so severely that it took him 3 years to re cover. When John Brown heard about this frustrations arose. He was camped along Middle Ottawa Creek and he told his men to prepare for a fight. His sons tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail. He planned on revenge on all proslavery sympathizers. On May 24, 1856, the POTTAWATOMIE MASSACRE BEGAN. This battle was a direct result of the attack on Lawrence and the caning of Senator Sumner. John Brown, his five sons, a son in law, and two friends wait ed until the evening of the 24th for their attack. Their first stop was the cabin of James Doyle. They killed James and two of his sons. His 16 year old son was spared. They next went to Allen Wilkinson’s home and killed him. They crossed the creek at Dutch Henry’s Crossing. Brown met William Sherman and suspected that he was a proslavery individual and he killed him. These five settlers were all killed near Pottawatomie Creek in Franklin county. Northern and southern news papers all condemned these actions and Florella Adair, Brown’s own sister was very upset that her brother did this. Henry Pate led a group of proslavery forces to go after John Brown when they heard of these killings. Brown’s men escaped into the woods except for John Brown Jr. and his brother Jason who were taken prison er. The Brown’s cabin was burned. On June 2, 1856, the BATTLE OF BLACK JACK oc curred. John Brown gathered up 29 men to attack Hen ry Pate and his men at their camp at Black Jack, near Baldwin city. Neither man knew how big the other’s forces were. The battle was pretty much of a draw with no progress either way. Pate ask for a ceasefire be cause he thought he was out manned, but Brown de manded unconditional surrender—the battle went on. A few of Pate’s men began to escape and Brown sent some men after them. Pate thought these men were reinforcements. He felt outnumbered and decided to surrender. John Brown agreed to trade the captured men for his sons. The battle actually lasted only three hours. In Douglas County, Lawrence was the main antislavery stronghold. FRANKLIN, FORT SAUNDERS and FORT TI TUS were three small proslavery settlements near Law rence. These three settlements were in the gunsights of the abolitionists. John Brown attacked Franklin on

be shut down. Sheriff Samuel Jones with 800 men attacked and shut down the newspapers. Other businesses were destroyed as well. As he was traveling to Law rence, John Brown heard of the attacked and was irritated when he found out that no freestaters tried to defend the city. He called them cowards.

Vincent Thorpe

Page 16

June 4, 1856. He seized some weapons and ammunition. A man named Major Hoyt was a resident of Lawrence and he tried to calm things down by going to Fort Saunders on August 11th to reach a peace agreement. Upon leaving to go back to Lawrence, he was shot and killed by proslav ery forces. In response to the killing of Major Hoyt, the freestaters attacked Franklin again on August 12th and killed six proslavery settlers. James Lane was a freestate politician, but not an abolitionist. He was as mad as John Brown about the killing of Major Hoyt and he attacked Fort Saunderson August 15th where the proslavery set tlers surrendered and the fort was burned. On August 16th, 1856 Fort Titus was attacked by the abolitionists in retaliation for the proslavery attack on the house of a man named Judge John Wakefield. This occurred just outside of Lawrence near Lecompton which was the capital of the proslavery legislature. This fort was also burned. On August 30, 1856 the BATTLE OF OSAWATOMIE took place. A proslavery Baptist minister named Martin White led a scout team ahead of hundreds of proslavery Mis sourians. He saw John Brown’s son and immediately shot and killed him. When John Brown heard what happened, he got his forces together and headed for Osawatomie. As the battle went on and Brown’s men ran out of am

munition, he ordered them to retreat in different directions so as to draw the invaders away from Osawatomie. Since the invaders could not catch all of Brown’s men, they returned to Osawatomie and burned the town. Five antislavery settlers were killed and several others were taken prisoner. Brown left Kansas to raise money for his abolition ist cause, but returned later in 1858. The MARAIS des CYGNES MASSACRE took place on May 19, 1858. Thirty proslavery men led by Charles Hamilton rode in from Missouri and at tacked the village of Trading Post in Lynn, County. They captured eleven free state men and marched them to a ravine and Hamilton ordered those shot. Five were killed, five were injured, and one man es caped. Word of the massacre spread and a group of men rode into Missouri to find Hamilton’s gang, but they were unsuccessful. John Brown returned to Kansas a month after the Marais des Cygne mas sacre. He built a small fort at this site. Vincent Thorpe Source was---Kansas State Historical Society

Douglas County Black Jack Highway Park | Douglas County Kansas These battle sites are within a hours drive from Miami County. A day trip could be planned with a stop at Battle of Black Jack east of Bauldwin City then continue on to Lawrence for a self guided tour of Quantrell’s raid. Another trip to the south into Linn county is the Battle of Mine Creek Kansas State Historic Site & Visitor Center. It’s located on K-52 highway East of Mound City.

Page 17

Rockville and the Civil War, Miami Co. Kansas

from the lookout, they had hidden much of their posses sions and food, and themselves. The State Militia called to Old Mission during the Battle of Westport were hard on the heels of Prices’ armies, but the troops of the enemies were between them and their homes, wives, mothers and children. The troops raided the stockade of Rockville, but were in such a hurry, with the militia coming, that they no doubt would have searched the hills too, but instead took the horses. William Shannon lost five horse to them. Fifteen men were killed during the Civil War from this area. That meant one man in every four families. That was a high mortality rate. Doc Binkley was killed at the battle of Lone Jack. Prices armies were caught up within Linn Co. and were again fighting a retreating battle. This took place near Pleasanton, Kansas. Taken from Early History of Sugar Creek, by J. H. Rhea in 1919 Star Files, Drexel, Mo. J. H. Rhea was my g.g.uncle. He was a Methodist Episco pal minister, a school teacher, justice of the peace, farmer and the 1888 Miami Co. representative to the Kansas State House of Representatives. and he wrote the Early History of Sugar Creek for the Drexel Star newspaper. His son George Rhea was the editor of the Drexel Star.

At the time of the Civil War, there were about 60 families living in Sugar Township. All able-bodied men were called into the service during that struggle. Even the men too old for service, were ushered into the State Militia. Missouri fought on the side of the confederacy and this little band of people settled on the Kansas side, proudly flew the union flag for Abraham Lincoln. A stockade was built around the old stone church at Rock ville. Then the land was almost bare of trees, and today, with its dense underbrush it is hard to visualize it as a prai rie with these high bluffs. A lookout tower was built at the top of the stockade and from this vantage point you could see for miles. When Prices army was defeated at the Bat tle of Westport, they began retreating down the state line. The main armies staying on the Missouri side; but he sent skirmishing troops scattered over the Kansas side. From atop the lookout on the stockade the troops were sighted, long before they arrived. All the people of this little community were residing within the stockade; that was: boys, girls, little children, women, and men too old to fight. When Prices troops were sighted coming their way, everyone began carrying everything they could down the hills and hid it along the banks of Sugar Creek. As they had several hours advantage by seeing the troops

Patricia Hines Hall Olathe, Kansas

http://www.ksgenweb.org/civilwar/rockville.html

http://www.ksgenweb.org/civilwar/index.html

Page 18

COLDWATER GROVE’S POST The town of Coldwater Grove, located 13 miles east of Paola, was on the Kansas-Missouri border. Most sourc es place the town on the Missouri side of the border, but Clarence W. Long, author of The Prelude: A History’ of the Border, claimed most of the town was on the Kansas side. In June of 1863 the District of the Border was created. Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr. was assigned as Commander of the District of the Border with headquarters in Kansas City. Ew ing, frustrated with the frequency of guerrilla raids on both sides of the border from Kansas City to Fort Scott, estab lished a number of posts to protect the border. He appoint ed Lt. Col. Charles S. Clark, with headquarters at Coldwater Grove, to commanded the border Post of Aubry, Coldwater Grove, Rockville and Trading Post.2 A post was established at Coldwater Grove. This post was established on the Kansas side of the border and lasted at least until June 1865. In October 1864 it On August 20, 1863, Clark received news from Capt. Joshua Pike stationed at Aubry, that Confederate guerrilla William Clarke Quantrill was camped in the area. Clark responded by sending out scouts and ordering the troops Trading Post and Rockville to reinforce his troops at Coldwater Grove. Clark, in a report, wrote he first learned Quantrill had passed into Kansas at 3 A.M. the next morning. Clark then left a force of thirty men in a hopeless attempt to pursue and intercept Quantrili.3 Through its existence usually one or two companies of troops were stationed at the post. Two counts of troops on duty are available. The count for February 1864 listed fif

ty-two men on duty. A count for the following month listed fifty- one men at Coldwater Grove. At least twice in order to meet emergencies elsewhere the troops at Coldwater Grove were moved to nearby localities.4 In August 1864 Col. Thomas Moonlight issued the follow ing order to Capt. Henry Pearce, the new post commander, “Construct a sufficiently strong and large stockade, if it is not already done, so as to protect your camp and cover your horses, and in which you may defend yourself against 400 men until re-enforcements reach you.” Moonlight also admonished Pearce to maintain the friendly relationship that existed between the area’s citizens and the military. According to Clarence Long, Col. A. J. Mitchell was defens ing the Post with 300 men of the 11th Kansas Cavalry – he noted: “Coldwater Grove must have been a fairly large area to accommodate 300 men and their horses.”. It is un known whether the stockade was built, as it was not again mentioned.5 The post at Coldwater Grove was temporarily abandoned when the troops rushed to joined Col. Moonlight and the rest of the 11th Kansas Cavalry in the defense of Westport. When the Confederate troops moved south from Westport on the Missouri side of the border, the 11th Kansas Cavalry shadowed then on the Kansas side of the border. On Octo ber 24, 1864 the 11th Cavalry “engaged Sterling Price in a long range fire fight at Coldwater Grove. After being abandoned during Price’s raid, the post was again occupied. Even at the end of the Civil War guerrillas were still in the area. Capt. A. J. Lumsden reported May 6. 1865, “Commanding officer at Coldwater Grove informed me that his men killed a bushwhacker night before last.” The last known correspondence concerning Coldwater Grove’s post was penned in June 1865.

tents

This image shows the tents at Coldwater Grove

Page 19

To; MIAMI CO. MUSEUM;

work that day, it was my job to give them the tour. We first went to the Big Barn area at 387 and Coldwater Road and met Bill Earnst who showed them the area. Due to disrepair, the barn was torn down several years ago. I last photographed it in 2015. Picture from both directions show that is the high point on the Military Road. Next, we traveled around Section 10 to about two miles southwest to 395th and Rockville Road. That is about 1 and a half miles south of the old Rockville town site and behind a steep hill. The Kansas Park Service has a barricade across this entry. Just inside here is where Jack and Jerry found much artifact and believe it is the first Village site. Just east of here in the bend of sugar Creek they found silver and valuable artifact indicating the Chief may have lived there. The picture of the Guys’ was taken just in front of the vil lage site. They spent a lot of time at this site. Next stop was just above LaCygne, Kansas where the Big Turtle Hill Trading Post was located. The exact spot for the Post is known by Jack as artifact was found there. Another home site was located northwest and the Geboe Cemetery is about one forth mile north west. Our last stop was up over Pidgeon Ridge and on to the Old Miami Village and Church-school and Cem etery area. I introduced them to John Grother at his home just east of the second Cemetery. We discussed the wet ness of the area as we had some rain recently, but John thought we could get back there. We talked about the wells and the possibility of digging off the dirt and ex ploring the rock contents. John’s Son, Steve owns the well sites and both He and his Dad would like to really find out what is in them. That is a future hope? We were able to drive back to north edge of the Cemetery area to explore the wells. Guys’ spent a great deal of time back there. My feet and legs wouldn’t allow me to do that. Next, we drove west toward the River and around this large bare field where the large two- story Church and School once stood. Raymond Rodewald owns this area all the way south to the Old Mission Vil lage about a quarter mile plus south. The Church and School area is under the KC Power Lines very near the center highest point. Jack York found a Catholic Cross and bullet encased around a coin there. On our way out south through a wet ditch we nearly got stuck .

From: Lloyd L. Peckman: TITLE: TRIBAL VISIT DOUG AND JONATHAN:

Last May 10th, 2019. Two Official Miami Tribal mem bers came here from Indiana and Ohio. They were Doug Peconge and Jonathan Fox. I believe Doug is now the Director of the Ft. Wayne office. He had visited our Museum before. Jonathan was from Oxford, Ohio and has an office, next to Dr. George Ironstrack at Mi ami University. They came in an officially marked Mi ami University Truck. See picture attached this report showing Doug on the left and Jonathan on the right standing in front of what has been described as the first Miami Village two miles southwest of the landing point or the Big Barn site. This visit resulted from a meeting that Jack York and I had with Officers’ of the Tribe at their last Pow- wow held at Louisburg in September of 2018. We met there with Doug and Tribal Officers Donya Williams and Scott Willard. We told them about the four research reports indicating that the first cemetery was most likely lo cated just southwest of 399th and Coldwater road. That location is stated in our 1878 Atlas as being locat ed two miles southeast of Rockville, Kansas and might include 150 Miami Indian burials there in 1846- 49. Stanley Gunnels, a descendant of Carrol Gunnels, a family handed down reports it a quarter mile south of the barn site. Also, Bill Earnst, caretaker of Section 3 claims the only dirt deep enough for burial is just southwest of 399th and Coldwater road where the land slope toward Southwest Sugar creek. Lastly, Jack York recently told me that about in the ear ly 1970’s when he first started metal detection at the Big Barn area, a much older man told him this; that on his way to the school about 3/4th mile south, he walked down the military road and past the Indian Cemetery. This may have been a Gunnel’s ancestor as they lived just east of the Big Barn. Dough contacted me early in 2019 and told me about coming here to tour the Miami area and set the date as May 10th. He and Jonathan arrived here on that date in a new Miami University truck with camera equipment in the covered rear. Because Jack had to

Page 20

early 80 years and not many people are much con cerned. No historical markings are anywhere. New homes are being built nearby. We might be able to dig the top of the wells off with local Indian help, but would advise the Miami Tribe if Gravestones were found. The Rockville Cemetery would have to be ini tiated by the Miami Tribe and might require the inclu sion of Kansas Historical Society. Respectively Lloyd L. Peckman

The very large scattered Old Miami Village buildings are by Jack and Jerry exploration, located in this area of what is considered the intersection of Block Road Boundary and 367 Street, also known as Mission Road. A large number of Indian homes were scattered around this area. Raymond lives about a quarter mile south of here. I introduced Doug and Jonathan to Ray mond and We had a good discussion about the area. Of concern is that John, Raymond and I are all in our Oklahoma Peoria Chief comes to our Museum Monday June 29th, Craig Harper, Chief of the Peoria Tribe of Miami, Oklahoma came to visit our Museum. He introduced himself to those present and I took him back to view our Indian Room. I showed him the Elmo Ingenthron book entitled “ Indians of the Ozark Plateau” that reports 60 Peoria Indians living at the mouth of Bull creek near what is now Forysight, Mlssouri in 1818. That included Bap tiste Peoria and fragments of the Miami’s, Wea’s and Piankashaw’s also known as the white River Indians. With Baptist’s leadership they moved to Miami Coun ty Kansas in 1830. Baptiste and Mary Ann became influential figures in Paola’s early history and gave land for the Park Square and schools and churches. I took his picture in front of our large image of Bap tiste on the east wall. I provided him a copy of H. Long’s booklet entitled “”LAN-E PE-SHAW or ‘Majoor Baptiste Peoria His History By A.J. Peery and a copy of my report entitled “Baptiste Wives and Children”. Due to his other appointments, Craig time with us was very short. L. Peckman

Doug Peconge and Jonathan Fox

Craig Harper, Chief of the Peoria Tribe of Miami, Oklahoma

Cont’ from page 10

Definition of carminative car·mi·na·tive : expelling gas from the stomach or intestines so as to relieve flatulence or abdominal pain or distension

Did You Know?

In times gone by, human personalities were believed to be controlled by four humors: blood, phlegm, choler (yellow bile), and melancholy (black vile). Though this belief was long ago discredited, its influence lingers on in the English language. When “carminative” came into use in the 15th-century medical field, carminative agents were thought to be effective be cause they influenced the humors. The word comes from Latin carrere, meaning “to card,” referring to the act of cleansing or disentangling. This history reflects the theory that certain humors could be “combed out” like knots in wool. From Merriam-Webster online dictionary

Page 21