https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-lplks/original/b1b485b0e6ca961bf5265e8bd6944aa6.pdf 92b56e4d127d226b172c6cda34b884c6 PDF Text Text -/ .. . \ .. --- �,)r '. ' JEr.l,_ \ vol. 35, no.1-2 JaIJuary-April, 2012 \ TIl \ ) \ L " lI81111 -. --- - - ~~ --:- ~- -- --...-.;;;----- ..... , -. '~-~---- - - -- --- Published twice a year DOUGLAS COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1329 KASOLD Gl LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66049-3426 �THE PIONEER Published by the Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society, Inc., 1329 Kasold Gl Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3426 " January & April, 2012 Volume 35, no. 1-2 I Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society 1329 Kasold G 1 Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3426 Mary Burchill burchill@ku.edu President & Pioneer Vice-President & Programs Treasurer Shari Mohr Smohr@kuendowment.org Genealogist Paul Jordan jordpc@brownchair , Assis. Gen Richard Wellman rwwellman@Embarqmail.com Don Vaughn donwil468@earthlink.net Web Master The Douglas County Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization. Meetings are held on Final Fridays of 'each month at the Watkins Community Mu~eum of History from 5:30 to 7. Membership fees are I $15. Checks should be made payable to the Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical ~iety (DCGS) and sent to the address above. The fiscal and membershi~ year is from January 1 to December 3I."Visitors are always welcome lat meetings. I 1 �The Helen Osma Room on the lower level of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont, Lawrence, has a collection of Douglas County history and genealogy books. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 _ 6pm; Saturday 9:30am-6pm; and Sunday 12-6pm. Anyone may use the Library, but items may not be checked out of the Osma Room. Microfilm readers are available in the Osma Room. The Society is partnering with The Watkins Community Museum for meetings and consultation. WEBPAGE http://skyways.lib.ks/genweb/douglas/dckgs.html This is our sixth issue to be sent out by email. We are very interested in hearing any comments preferably favorable ones. We are still , learning how to do this so bear with us. Thanks TABLE OF CONTENTS Six months older Page 2 Page 5 Black Jack Page 6 R.H. Pearson, 1901 Mortality schedules Page 7 Douglas County Tombstone Census Books Page 8 D.G. Kennedy store Page 8. The lynching record, 1919 Page 9 New Research Website for Douglas County Page 10 T.B. Shore living in Baldwin Page 13 About the Santa Fe Trail Page 13 New City Hall a link to city's roots Page 14 Dues form Page 20 Ancestry.com connection Page 20 2 �Once again the bulk of the infonnation in this issue pertains to the Baldwin area. That is because Richard Wellman, who furnishes me a lot of material, and I are involved in documenting The Battle of Black Jack and its participants. I would be happy to get other infonnation about other areas of Douglas County. Mary Burchill SIX MONTHS OLDER The Baldwin Republican, 24 Oct 1902. In lastweeks Mail and Breeze an article appeared claiming that Wm. Britton, of Alton, was the oldest living resident of Kansas which certainly is a mistake as Palmyra township has a resident, in the person ofR.H. Pearson, of Black Jack, who located his claim, now the Beeks Fannjust north of Baldwin, May 15 th, 1854, while Mr. Brittain (note change of spelling) according to the Mail and Breeze did not locate until the fall of that year. R.H. Pearson was born in Yorkshire, England, April 1st, 1828 and with his parents, in 1902 emigrated to America, locating at Alleghaney City, Pa., living there until the California gold fever swept over the United States when he went to California, where he was in 1853 and early '54, when the bill was in Congress for the opening of KansaS and Nebraska. The talk among the California miners at that time was that Nebraska would be a free state and Kansas a slave state, and the emigration fever again entered Mr. Pearson's blood, and he left the gold fields for the new county of Nebraska and Kansas, going by the way of Panama and New York, and after a short visit with his parents in Pennsylvania, 3 �came on west by steam boat to Kansas City, then a small town and only boasting one small hotel. There he met Joel K. Goodwin,(who was afterwards killed by Jim Lane) Gayes Jinkins and Henry Barricklow, Jr., who invited him to join their party and go with them to look for townsites in the new country, but they desired locating in Kansas in preference to Nebraska, claiming tht Kansas never would be a slave state. The party first went to St. Joe, from there to Weston, opposite Ft. Leavenworth and then to the Fort to obtain news in regard to the opening of the new country. They were told if they located back thirty miles fromthe State Line the Government troops would not molest them. Leaving the Fort they returned to Kansas City where PearsQn and Barricklow purchased, each a pony, the rest of the party leasing a team and wagon, and early in May traveled west, leaving civilization behind, but passing many Indians with herds of ponies, crossing the Kaw River at where Lawrence now stand, then west to Big Springs, there the party turned back, returning as far as Mt Oread, which the party decided was the best townsite location they had see~, they then turned south, keeping along the Government road until they came to what is now called Willow Springs, then east to Hickory point, there they saw a wagon about 200 yards from the road. Pearson and Barricklow decided on a visit to it and found a woman and three children, with about half a dozen Kaw Indians standing around which was causing the woman much uneasiness. She called Pearson to one side and asked him and his party to remain awhile until her husband who was away to purchase a cow should return. The party remained awhile, Barricklow stopped three days and Pearson is still remaining. The lady told them "there were many good claims and that her husband, a Mr Kibby would help them make a selection, and by the way this Kibby was the man who killed a pro-slavery man by the name of Davis at Lawrence, during and election, which is supposed to have been the first death in the cause which brought on the Civil War. A pro-slavery man was burning anti-slavery men's cabins and Kibby insisted that he 4 �stop. Davis took the matter up, and began stricking[sic] at Kibby with a knife. Kibby had a pistol loaded with eight shot, and capped with a cap furnished by Pearson and as Davis again advanced, shot him, the whole load of buckshot entering the man's stomach, killing him almost instantly. Mr. Pearson pre-empted his farm, and the next spring Barricklow returned, accompanied by Nehemia Green, (who was Lieut. Governor) L.F. Green and Dan Johnson and wife who also settled near here. Mr. Pearson was all through the boarder[sic] warfare, being at the battle of Black Jack, Blanton's Bridge, Prices Raid at Kansas City, at Lawrence in 1855, at Bull Creek and East Tauy, besides helping to persuade many a pro-slavery men that Kansas did not desire to be a slave state, and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. ., government. He is now getting along in years, but is yet very active and energetic, and owns a farm of 240 acres on which the battle of Black Jack was fought. We believe this gives Mr. Pearson the claim to being the oldest living settler of Kansas, having pre-empted what is now the Beeks farm in Palmyra township, Douglas County, Kansas May 15 th, 1854, and is still a resident of the same township. BLACKJACK The Baldwin Ledger 9 March 1900 Black Jack, Kansas, March 6, 1900 Editor Ledger On last Saturday morning, as I arrived in your city, I was informed that 5 �I had a brother at the hotel Stuart House, in which I had not seen for nearly forty-four years. A brother who in the year of 1855 came to Kansas over to Lawrence in company with Gov. Robinson, wife and others. Coming here in the pioneer days, though a young man, he with others had a varied experience in this state as a free state frontiersman The then city of Lawrence was only founded, the then (prospective Palmyra). It was in the days of buffalo ranges, gamblers a few, but thugs and in all a lively time. He had altercations and thrilling times under varied circumstances. He being young, he was in his Pa's home, restless and ambitious. Seeing no opening for a boy in the crowded East he followed the advice of Horace Greely, and Kansas then was the object point, and he located upon the quarter section now owned and occupied by D.G. Kennedy upon Black Jack Creek, Prairie City. T.J. Mowberry was the main trader and old Prairie City offered in the pages of the Prairie Cin: Champion edited by S.S. trouty, many inducements, and your pen dotter who was a sojourner of that city looked often toward the , Barricklow hill to see the white top schooners that add to the wonderful growth of Prairie city. That brother had been absent since the spring of 1858. Living in Davenport he enlisted in 1861 and was at Shiloh, Fort Donelson, and carried three leaded bullets yet, and one deadly shot through the groin but he lived and after many long years of absence he came back, not a youth, not a tenderfoot, but a man of age, came to see a brother so long lost to pour out his tender passions of kindred affection and to look over the grounds where he and Koon's, one Anda Keepin, Gil Gillmore came to assassinate Esq. Rice, June 27 th 1857,where he and I, were amid great personal danger. With the nerve of a man and the quickness of action, Koons was laid upon the ground and the others began to plead and one day Proslavery mob was quelted(?) And later on Koons who had killed his third free state man 6 �and planted them upon the bank of the west side of the battle ground, bit the dust upon the night of 26th day of December 1857 and soon after Anda Keepin watched an opportunity to attack the Stonebaker boys and he got a left hander from Brother Austin that settled his audacity to seeking hide go seek thereafter. The early days of Black Jack carry with them much unwritten and many an idle threat. [an interesting way of writing.] R.H. PEARSON, 1901 A case of Advancement. The Baldwin Ledger, 11 January 1901 When I first settled in the territory of Kansas May 15, 1854, I went to Kansas City fifty miles to get my mail. When Lawrence started mail was changed there in the fall of 1854. Lawrence is twenty miles away. In 1856 Palmyra started up and we had Newman Blood Postmaster. Next Baldwin comes into existence, Mr. Scott is our Postmaster. Next comes Rural Delivery No 1, Wellsville and I do not have to go so ,many yards as I did miles in 1854. R.H. Pearson. Also from The Baldwin Ledger 11 January 1901 W.C. Vantries, Robert Pearson, J.P. Bell, S.E. Carlton, A.T. Shepard, Sam Stonebacker and Frank Bell have been in from the eastern part of the township this week and they all say that the people in their neighborhood are in favor of helping the Orient railroad. [NOTE: This was in support of extending the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient RR from Kansas City to Baldwin City. Obviously the extension never was completed.) 7 �MORTALITY SCHEDULES What is it? A list made at the time a census was taken of those who died during the preceding year. st Covers only persons who died in the 12 months preceding June 1 of the census year. Example: 1850 Mortality Schedule lists persons who died between June 1 1848 and May 31 1850 Information includes: Name, Sex, Age, Color, Birthplace, Occupation, Marital Status, Month of Death, and cause. Some later ones even give the parents names. When were they recorded? 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, Mortality Schedules were taken by Counties, but are indexed by the state ~ a whole. Since 1902 The Bureau of Census has obtained ' Mortality date directly from records maintained by cities and states. DOUGLAS COUNTY TOMBSTONE CENSUS BOOKS. In the middle of page 266 of volume 2 of the Douglas Co Tombstone Census there is a note about 3 tombstones that they think may be for the surname '~Moore". The stones were for Dicey, Ethel and Earl. ;' While working on the Bell family records with Al VanTries, I related the story of no surnames for the 3 tombstones at Old Pioneer Cemetery in south Baldwin. He recalled that he had a relative named "Dicey". With that unusual name, he was able to find that he was related to the 3 persons. Here is the story. Dicey Prather, b. 9 April 1859, dau. of Thomas Helms and Nancy Elizabeth (Alverson) Prather, d. 27 February 1892, married 23 October 8 �1879 to John Wilkerson. They had 4 children including one Earl Wilkerson, b. 1882 d. 1885. Dicey's sister Esther Lulie Prather" married Duncan Wilkerson, the brother of John Wilkerson. So 2 sisters married 2 brothers. Esther and Duncan had 4 children, including Ethel Wilkerson, b. 1883, d. 1885. So the surname mystery has been resolved. They are all Wilkerson. D.G. KENNEDY STORE The Baldwin Ledger~ 5 February 1904. The store ofD.G. Kennedy, at Vinland, was burned last Friday morning. The entire stock of groceries and merchandise and all his household goods were destroyed. All valuable papers were saved belonging to the post office department. The fire originated from a defective flue. The loss was about $8000, fully insured. Mr. Kermedy will rebuild as soon as possible. ' THE LYNCHING RECORD, 1919 The Lawrence Daily Journal-World~ 6 January 1920 Annual Report is compiled at Tuskegee Institute. According to the record compiled by Monroe N . Work, of the Department of Records and Research of the Tuskegee Institute, there were 82 lynchings in 1919, of which 77 were in the South and 5 in the North and West. This is 18 more than the number 64 for the year 1918. Of those lynched 75 were Negroes and 7 were white. One of those put to death was a Negro woman. Nineteen, or less than onefourth of those put to death, were charged with rape or attempted rape. Seven, of the victims were burned to death. Nine were put to death and 9 �then their bodies were burned. The charges against those first killed and then their bodies burned were attempted rape,3; shooting officers of the law, 3~ rape,l~ murder, 1~ incendiary talk, 1. The offense of murder was charged against all the white lynched., The offense charged against the Negroes were: murder, 13; attempted rape 10; rape, 9; abetting riots, 4; shooting of officers of the law, 4; alleged incendiary talk, 2; writing improper letter, 1; charge not reported, 6; shooting a woman, 1; robbery, 1; murder sentence changed to life imprisonment, 1; shooting night watchman, 1; shooting and wounding a man, 1; alleged complicity in killing officer of the law, 1~ killing man in self defense, 1; killing landlord in dispute over crop settlement, 1; no charge made, 1; for being acquitted of shooting an officer of the law, 1; remarks about Chicago race riot, 1; for keeping company with a white woman, 1; for being found under bed, 1; for making boastful remarks, 1; for alleged misleading of mobs searching for another, 1; because appeal was taken from ten years' sentence for attempting the life of another, 1; for discussing a lynching, 1. The states in which lynchings occurred and the number in each state are as follows: Alabama, 7; Arkansas, 12; Colorado, 2; Florida, 5; Georgia, 21 ~ Louisiana, 7; Mississippi, 12; Missouri, 2 ; Nebraska, 1~ North Carolina, 3; South Carolina, 1; Tennessee, 1; Texas, 4; Washington, 1; West Virginia, 2; Kansas, 1. NEW RESEARCH WEBSITE FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY From Sheryl McClure, mkat72@gmai1.com Hello AliAs part of my "Kansas History and Heritage Project," I have created a website for Douglas County. 10 �Http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com!~ksdoughp/index.htm1. My new, free website features: 1867 -1868 County Business Directory 1873 Plat Maps, all Townships Mortality Reports, Oak Hill and Maple Grove Cemeteries, Lawrence, 1887, 1888, 1890, 1891 (months of Jan., Feb., and Apr., only) and 1892 (1892 includes Apr. Through Sept. Only) Swedish and Danish immigration 23 bios from "Portrait and biographical Record of Leavenworth, Douglas and Franklin Counties, Kansas." First Presbyterian Church, Lawrence. Charter members and 1888 membership roll. "End of Year" death records from newspapers for 1898,1899, 1890 List of soldiers buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, 1906 List of soldiers buried in Maple Grove, Franklin, Oread Cemeteries 1904 1887 County map African-American enlistees, Spanish American War 1902 and 1904 Teaching Certificates Over 100 obituaries, most over 100 years old. Lawrence High School classes of 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1904 and 1910 list of graduates 1915 Lawrence Schools 8th grade gradutes County 8th grade graduates, 1895, 1911 and 1921 Lawrence Volunteer Company, Spanish-American War enlistees· "School Reports" various years 1889 Lawrence Business directory 1873 County Business Notices 1888 Township Officials 1894 G.A.R. Posts and Rosters-Eudora, Clinton, Lecompton, Vinland and Baldwin posts (Lawrence posts coming soon) 11 �I plan to add much more data in the coming months. Also, be sure to check out my "Online Counties" page to see if I have a website for your other Kansas counties of interest. I hope you will have a look at my new website, and if you have any corrections, suggestions, questions or want to contribute pictures or data~ I will be happy to hear from you. I am moving on to my next county in the project, but I will come back to Douglas County from time to time to add data, so please bookmark this site. I will announce any major additions of data on this list.. This website features a search engine, but I strongly urge you to browse the data, as some of the spelling of surnames is questionable. Douglas is the 45th county in this project-only 60 counties to go! I hope to have all Kansas counties online within the next two.years, but until I can gather enough data for a specific county, I will store the file for that county on the state website. Http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kahhp/index.html This website houses also statewide information (such as maps, military histories, college files, etc.) as well as serving as a repository for data for the "orphan" counties~ and links to counties that do have their own sites. Sheryl 12 �T.B. SHORE LIVING IN BALDWIN The Baldwin Ledger, 7 July 1905 Celebrated the 4th here in 1857. Fourth of July Celebration here nearly a half century ago. The first time the Fourth of July was celebrated in this neighborhood was in 1857,just forty-eight years ago, one year before Baldwin, townsite was laid out-Kansas then being a territory. The day was celebrated by giving a a public dinner and speaking~ and was held on the hill in West Baldwin, which was then called Prairie City. The late Sam Wood, who was killed some years age;> in a county seat war in the southern part of this state spoke on that occasion. There are two people living in Baldwin today who took part in that celebration, being T.B. Shore and S.L Clark. ABOUT THE SANTA FE TRAIL The Baldwin Ledger, Friday, 3 February 1905 Recent agitation to mark the line of the pathway-Baldwin on the list Monuments are springing up in various parts of Kansas for providing permanent markers for the old Santa Fe Trail, which preceded the Santa Fe railroad as the connecting link between the east and west. Franklin county cannot get in on the original Santa Fe trail deal, b~t she has as fine a line of side trails, rich in history, as any county in the state. The original Santa Fe trail and main line on which the gold' 13 �l traffic to California traveled, crossed the Missouri at Westport and came west through Black Jack, through the present location of Baldwin and just missed the northwest corner of Franklin county, passing west through Burlingame. Another trail went to the north . through or near Lawrence, and the two trails joined near Burlingame. It was the traffic that came up from the south, from western Missouri and Fort Scott and even from the south, that passed through Franklin county on the way to join the great pathway to the west. This road crossed the Marais des Cygnes river at what is still known as "Fort Scott crossing", which is some three miles down the river from Ottawa. The seventh street road runs by it, and a branch crossed it. On the east and south the trail crossed the Pottawatomie near Lane at what was known as "Dutch Henry's crossing". It was here that one of John Brown's massacres too~ place. Though it is proposed to mark the Santa Fe trail proper with monuments it will never be possible to define any definite track or set of tracks as the exclusive trail. When the emigrants struck the prairies west of the Missouri they spread out over the considerable territory, the various trails or paths coming together at the principal watering places. So it came about that many California pilgrims came down past the Tauy Jones place, now Woodlief though the main trail did not run that way. These were first parties to introduce blue grass to this county. Seed dropped on the prairie in time sodded an entire section of ground, while all around was the prairie, and the unsettled wilderness. Tauy Jones and Robert Atkinson got the idea of cultivating blue grass here from this volunteer crop that sprang up on the branch of the Santa.Fe trail. The old Santa Fe well in north Baldwin will always mark this trail here. 14 �This is one chapter from More About Wonderful Old Lawrence by Elfriede Fischer Rowe, a longtime resident of Lawrence. This is copyright 1981 by Mrs. Rowe. NEW CITY HALL A LINK TO CITY'S ROOTS "At last we are in our new home!" How many times that has been said by people? And the City of Lawrence can well say it now, with its new city hall. The city has been renting for the past 10 years. True, there have been several "homes", but this is the first city-built structure erected exclusively for the, purpose of conducting municipal business. In the earliest years, city business was carried on in one room in the back of a privately owned fire department. This was near the loc~tion of the Community Building at 11th and Vermont. Soon after, o~cials moved from there and rented one room in the rear of a red brick building at the northwest corner of Eighth and Vermont at the rate of $8 per month. Records show that in 1885, the City of Lawrence purchased three, lots at the northwest comer of Eighth and Vermont at a total cost of $2!>650. They apparently leased three lots to a group of men to build a city market. However the builders took on more financial obligations than they could handle, so they sold the building to the city for $28,000 in 1896. The city then proceeded to make room for the many offices needed to conduct government business. The fire department, not owned by the city at that time, also moved in. 15 �There was enough room in the red brick building to house the offices of the mayor, city council, city clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, sheriff, district court, register of deeds, city marshal, city engineer and police headquarters. Next to the police judge's room were cells for drunks. Besides all the activities that went with these various offices, the election board for Ward I functioned there. As the years went on; the outside of this beautiful old brick building did not reflect the old greasy wooden floors, the ancient wooden stairs and the inadequate plumbing and lighting. It was not conducive for efficient operation of a rapidly growing city. In 1905, the county offices moved out when the present county courthouse was completed. In 1929, the city offices were moved to what is now the Elizabeth Watkins Community Museum building due to the generosity of Mrs. J.B. Watkins who bequeathed it to the city, The building was originally built for the banking and mortgage business. Here was a magnificent structure both inside and out but the costly, elegant fixtures and marble floors added nothing to contribute to efficiently handle city business. Space was cramped. Partitions were installed, but it became apparent the city had outgrown the Watkins building and did not have the funds to bring it up to par. So in October of 1970, the city moved again, this time to rented quarters in the First National Bank Tower. Now, 10 years later, we find the city finally with its own "home." Settlement in the location seems fitting and proper-where out town began- on the banks of the Kaw River-more or less in the center of Lawrence's early beginnings. 16 �The marker for the first house is a half block south. To the east, at the foot of New Hampshire Street was the ferry landing used before we had a bridge:> and to the west now are the two bridges linking north:> east and west Lawrence. The new city hall is an anchor at the north end of Lawrence, with the county courthouse and the Watkins building at the south end of the downtown business district. The new brick-face building at Sixth and Massachusetts quietly fits into its surroundings. But, you have to go inside to get the "feel" of the whole concept. Those who objected to the location should give it a second thought and take a tour of the building before criticizing further. One would have to be unreasonably biased not to . acknowledge the inspiring views in all directions from the many' windows. Taking a quick tour of this five-story building, one finds there are four stories showing from the south and five stories on the north counting the basement. Walking in on the south, you are on the ground floor. Immediately on your left is the commission meeting room with spectator seating for over 80, and for around 40 more if they overflow into the hall. Chairs for the overflow are provided when needed, and sound is piped from the main room. The commission room has a large, black-lighted screen on one wall. The colors used and placement of chairs give an air of friendliness, and you feel relaxed. This first floor houses the mayor's office, which is shared by the commisioners. You pay your water bill on the second floor, and while doing so you can look out the windows for a magnificent view of the river and beyond. The city clerk's and finance director's offices are there too. Ethan Smith, finance director, has a view from his office windows that all artists and photographers wO}lld like to catch on canvas or paper. As you look down, you see the Kaw River and dam and two bridges. 17 �Beyond to the right are the grain elevators formerly Derby Grain, owned by Paul Smart. They belong in this picture, for they are symbols of Kansas and a reminder of the importance of Kansas in helping feed the world. And framing this picture are the hills way beyond to the north. The third floor houses personnel and human resources. Our city manager, Buford Watson, has his offices on the fourth floor. They are appropriately on 'the south side so he can lookout over the city, downtown Lawrence, KU's Fraser Hall and the Campanile. Because of the time of year, to the west the trees hide the houses one probably can identify in the winter when the leaves are gone. At the other end of the fourth floor is Parks and Recreation. The offices have the east view of the river. They need little artificial light due to the , light walls and large picture windows. The basement houses engineering, building inspection, Community Development and the atrium, which has been spoken of as a "greenhouse," possibly because of its greenhouse-shaped windows. ' But it is much more functional than a greenhouse. \ It is a place where employees and the public can go in, relax: and rest and eat a lunch. At the east end, just outside, are vending machines and a small microwave oven for those who wish to have a soft drink or snack. With the south exposure in the atrium plants should flourish . The cost of the city hall project is around $3 million. That's quite a contrast to the purchase by the city for the city hall at Eighth and .' Vermont for $28,000. About $1 million has been paid directly from federal revenue-sharing and $2 million is bonded to be paid off by 1988. How lucky it seems for the people who work at the Lawrence city hall, that they can look out every day to such beauty. 18 �Provisions for the handicapped to be able to use and enjoy this building have been well-planned, When you drive into the parking area;> which is directly east and at the end of New Hampshire, you will find two levels for parking. There are special parking stalls for the handicapped as well as stalls for bicycles. The east doors are especially weighted, and it takes only a light touch for them to open. Then you are on the first floor. The old Bowersock grain elevators have been cut down and the bases left to serve as a retaining wall for planting of greenery. Not only does the location of the new city hall bring the City of Lawrence closer together, but it ties in with our two new parks. There is a walking nature trail that starts at Burcham Park at the foot of Indiana Street and continues east to join Tommy Constant Park and goes on east winding up at Robinson Park and City Hall. This trail is for the enjoyment of all ages. And now, for the first time after 122 years (its charter was granted in 1858)~ Lawrence has its first home, designed and built exclusively for its sole use. This was in a letter frm Kansas Senator Terry Bruce. This came from a friend in Eldorado. Did you know? Kansans now have free access to family history records on Ancestry. com. The Kansas Historical Society has partnered with Ancestry.com to allow individuals with a valid Kansas driver's license access to more than 8 million Kansas records on the popular family history website. Under the partnership, users may access certain Kansas State Census Records, Civil War Enlistment Papers of 19 �Kansas Volunteer Regiments, selected World War I manuscripts, and the United Spanish-American War Veterans certificates collections. Visitwww.kshs.org/ancestry. then enter your name, date of birth, and Kansas Driver's license number to access the free ancestry records. Dues for the Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society are due January 1 and are good : through December 31 of that year. 2012 dues can be paid now. Name,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _--eMaiden Name_ _ _ _ _ ___ Street._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Apt, # _ _Home Phone,_ _ _ _ _ _ ___ City_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State_ _Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ email- - - - - - - Renewal_ New_Surnames you are searching,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Amount enclosed_ _ _ _ _($15.00 per year) Mail to: DCGS 1329 Kasold, G1 Lawrence, KS 66049-3426 Make checks payable to DCGS 20 �[This came from a member and I thought It was inteesling. J Census paranoia nmning amok 1. It is absolutely mind-boggling that there are media types and so-called " think-tank"experts , out there who can see nothing but doom and gloom in the release of the 1940 census. . The government " broke a privacy promise, " one trumpets. 1 The census data • " IS a treasure trove for can artists, " anatl7er wails. 2 Now that tile census data is out there for bad gurs to find, " The next thing you know they are going shopping on your credit card or filing a tax return with your information. " 3 Balderdash. PoppYcock. Go ahead and insert your own favorite alternative synonym for the excrement of a male bovine. This is paranoia, folks. Ain't nobody gonna be using the 1940 census systematically to defraud Americans. First and foremost, we are all at far greater risk of identity theft each and every time we hand a credit card over to somebody who takes it out of our line of sight to process a charge or' hand our SOCJ~/ Seclli7!y number over to a fife clerk to enter in our records than we are from access to census information. ' We're at much much higher risk every time there's a securitv breach in a computer system storing 0tW cJrreat information - as iust ha{JPet7ed fflCeatll - than anybody is from tile paltry facts included in the census. Griping about the risk of identity theft from 1940 census data is a little bit like complaining that your tea is cold in the dining room of the Titanic just after it strock the iceberg. ' , Let s start with the simple fact that the vast majority of those enumerated on the 1940 census are dead. Of .the roughly 132 millions Americans enumerated in 1940, some 85 percent or more have passed on. Whatever privacy interest the dead may have had in their census data, it passed on and common sense with them. The law A ' . h uoesn t survIVe t. e person._5 Bu~. tells us that the right of privacy is personal and the naysayers how~. what about those still living? For them,. they whine,. the census information is "an invitation to defraud the elder~, as many financial institutions use things like mother's maiden name, father's middle name, and/or date of birth as passwords."6 , lIIIaiden names? You re kidding me, right? My parents are both listed in the 1940 census with both of their mothers. Neither of the mothers' maiden names is shown, only their married names.~ 21 �, . t've looked at a LOT of 1940 census pages already; beyond my own family pages, I m also doing indexIng. You know how many maiden names t' ve seen? None. Nor one. Nada. Zilch. To find tile maiden name of tile mother of a man living today, yOll need to know who his . J grandparents were. Finding him in the census won't do it. And to find the maiden name of the mother of a woman living today, you have to know her maiden name just to find her on the census, and then go back beyond her parents to find her grandparents. And in both cases, even if you had all that info to start looking in the census, you still wouldn't get the right maiden name if there was a divorce or death and then a remarriage. Just how many identity thieves are going to put in that much effort, hmmmm? Middle names? You're still kidding, aren't you? My father's middle name isn't in his census record. Neither of my grandfathers' middle names are shown. Guess how many middle names the enumerator in my Chicago grandparents' enumeration district wrote down? Yep, you got it. Exactly none. In many cases, the enumerator didn't even write down the first name, but used initials only. And birthdates? Excuse me? What birthdates? You know how many birfhdates appear in the entire 1940 census, start to finjsn, all 132 mjlljon entries? None. lJJere's an age gjven, but no date of birth at all. 8 My German grandmother told the enumerator she was age 49 and my father was 18._ So tell me, doom and gloom folks~ what year was each of them born? Was she born in 1891 (and had , • i already had her birthday in 1940) or 1890 (and wouldn t tum 50 until after the census)? Was , he born in 1921 or 1922? If you can t tell me the year of birth, pray tell, what good is the census in determining the date of birth? The naysayers then warn that senior citizens could be conned into giving up information because identity thieves can find out what street they grew up on. No, from the census, assuming you can find ttre person at all (mmember 85% of ttrose enumerated am dead now), you can find out only. what street the person lived on in 1940,~ and only if the person lived in an area urban enough to use street addresses and even then only if the enumerator wrote that information down. And then you have to make the leap to the conclusion that American senior citizens are so , . damned dumb they II hand over mfo to anybody who calls or emails talking about that street. Gimme a break!!! But at a minimum we should . " consider restricting the general publication of answers to sensitive " 1 0 qUestIons, , one doomsayer demands._ Uh .•. what sensitive questions? There aren t any phone numbers in census records. There aren't any Social Security numbers in census records. No' bank account data. No asset information, except maybe if you owned your home or rented it. There , . aren t any deep dark secrets here and nothing of interest or even use to identity thieves. Chicken Little panicked when an acorn fell from a tree. These nitwits are panicking at a nonexistent 22 �threat based on misinformation and, I daresay, deliberate fearmongering. Me? i' m not buying this nonsense for a nanosecond. I'm going to side 100% with the guy who posted a comment to the silliest of these "the sky is fallind' pundits: Do I C6Yi9 that 70 yealY frvm now someone can find out whet73> I lived and what I did? Heck no. By then I'll be happy if someone cares I' m alive.~ You tell , em, brother. You tell , em. SOURCES I. Adam Marcus, "The census' broken privacy promise," CNET:Security, posted 2 Apr 2012 (hllp://news,cne/,com/security/?laQ=mncol,-bc : accessed 4 Apr 2012), <f.-J? 2. Ron Scherer, Staff writer, "1940 Census data: A treasure trove for con artists?," Christian Science Monitor, posted 3 Apr 2012 A§ we ann Ikrrn~w tllne li~41t1D cerrn§un§ Ilna§ alrIrllVe~:t Tllnere §eem t~ be 111l11allllY plalt;e~ to alt;lt;e~~ ito IbavellJl 9 t tried allllY yet \\nnt w01l11ld be ]]]Jtterte§Jte((]J ]D] JbJearDD]g ab~nnJt ~JtJhJer§ eXIPler]e]]ce§.. Mary 23 �THE PIONEER Douglas County Genealogical Society, Inc 1329 Kasold, G1 Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3426 Forwarded and return postage guaranteed Address correction requested. " .. --- ------------ ------- -- ~ -~ -- - - --~- - --~ - - - -- - -- - �Til - -' ----...- --- -~ vol. 35, no.1-2 January-April, 2012 . ~---=.~-- ..,. , Published twice a year DOUGLAS COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1329 KASOLD Gl LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66049-3426 �If you could and would want to receive The Pioneer by email please let us know. Email me at \\:nll1fc\b)ill@~~,:tffioel\iml and I will change you from mail to email. Thanks for your consideration. Mary Burchill �THE PIONEER Published by the Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society, Inc .. 1329 Kasold Gl Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3426 January & April, 2012. Volume 35, no. 1-2 Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society 1329 Kasold G 1 Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3426 . Mary Burchill burchill@ku.edu President & Pioneer Vice-President & Programs Treasurer Shari Mohr Smohr@kuendowment.org Genealogist Paul Jordan jordpc@brownchair Assis. Gen Richard Wellman rwwellman@Embarqmail.c~m Don Vaughn donwil468@earthlink.net Web Master The Douglas County Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization. Meetings are held on Final Fridays of each month at the Watkins Community Museum of History from 5:30 to 7. Membership fees are $15. Checks should be made payable to the Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society (DCGS) and sent to the address above. The fiscal and membership year is from January 1 to December 31.' Visitors are always welcome at meetings. 1 �The Helen Osma Room on the lower level of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont, Lawrence, has a collection of Douglas County history and genealogy books. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 - 6pm; Saturday 9:30am-6pm; and Sunday 12-6pm. Anyone may use the Library, but items may not be checked out of the Osma Room. Microfilm readers are available in the Osma Room. The Society is partnering with The Watkins Community Museum for meetings and consultation. WEBPAGE http://skyways.lib.ks/genweb/douglas/dckgs.html This is our sixth issue to be sent out by email. We are very interested in hearing any comments preferably favorable ones. We are still learning how to do this so bear with us. Thanks TABLE OF CONTENTS Six months older Page 2 Page 5 Black Jack R.H. Pearson;. 1901 Page 6 Page 7 Mortality schedules Douglas County Tombstone Census Books Page 8 Page 8 D.G. Kennedy store The lynching record~ 1919 Page 9 New Research Website for Douglas County Page 10 T.B. Shore living in Baldwin Page 13 About the Santa Fe Trail Page 13 New City Hall a link to city's roots Page 14 Dues form Page 20 Ancestry.com connection Page 20 2 �Once again the bulk of the information in this issue pertains to the Baldwin area. That is because Richard Wellman, who furnishes me a lot of material.. and I are involved in documenting The Battle of Black Jack and its participants. I would be happy to get other information about other areas of Douglas County. Mary Burchill SIX MONTHS OLDER The Baldwin Republican, 24 Oct 1902. In last weeks Mail and Breeze an article appeared claiming that Wm. Britton, of Alton, was the oldest living resident of Kansas which certainly is a· mistake as Palmyra township has a resident, in the person ofR.H. Pearson, of Black Jack, who located his claim, now the Beeks Farm just north of Baldwin, May 15 th, 1854, while Mr. Brittain (note change of spelling) according to the Mail and Breeze did not locate until the fall of that year. R.H. Pearson was born in Yorkshire, England, April 1st, 1828 and with his parents, in 1902 emigrated to America, locating at Alleghaney City, Pa., living there until the California gold fever swept over the United States when he went to California, where he was in 1853 and early '54, when the bill was in Congress for the opening of Kansas and Nebraska. The talk among the California miners at that time was that Nebraska would be a free state and Kansas a slave state, and the emigration fever again entered Mr. Pearson's blood, and he left the gold fields for the new county of Nebraska and Kansas, going by the way of Panama and N ew York, and after a short visit with his parents in Pennsylvania. 3 �came on west by steam boat to Kansas City, then a small town and only boasting one small hotel. There he met Joel K. Goodwin,(who was afterwards killed by Jim Lane) Gayes Jinkins and Henry Barricklow, Jf., who invited him to join their party and go with them to look for townsites in the new country, but they desired locating in Kansas in preference to Nebraska, claiming tht Kansas never would be a slave state. The party first went to St. Joe from there to Weston opposite Ft. Leavenworth and then to the Fort to obtain news in regard to the opening of the new country. They were told if they located back thirty miles fromthe State Line the Government troops would not molest them. Leaving the Fort they returned to Kansas City where Pearson and Barricklow purchased, each a pony, the rest of the party leasing a team and wagon, and early in May traveled west, leaving civilization behind, but passing many Indians with herds of ponies, crossing the Kaw River at where Lawrence now stand~ then west to Big Springs there the party turned back, returning as far as Mt Oread, which the party decided was the best townsite location they had seen, they then turned south, keeping along the Government road until they came to what is now called Willow Springs, then east to Hickory point, there they saw a wagon about 200 yards from the road. Pearson and Barricklow decided on a visit to it and found a woman and three children, with about half a dozen Kaw Indians standing around which was causing the woman much uneasiness. She called Pearson to one side and asked him and his party to remain awhile until her husband who was away to purchase a cow should return. The party remained awhile, Barricklow stopped three days and Pearson is still remaining. The lady told them there were many good claims and that her husband, a Mr Kibby would help them make a selection, and by the way this Kibby was the man who killed a pro-slavery man by the name of Davis at Lawrence, during and election, which is supposed to have been the first death in the cause which brought on the Civil War. A pro-slavery man was burning anti-slavery men's cabins and Kibby insisted that he 5 5 5 4 �stop. Davis took the matter up, and began stricking[sic] at Kibby with a knife. Kibby had a pistol loaded with eight shot, and capped with a cap furnished by Pearson and as Davis again advanced, shot him, the whole load of buckshot entering the man's stomach, killing him almost instantly. Mr. Pearson pre-empted his farm, and the next spring Barricklow returned, accompanied by Nehemia Green, (who was Lieut. Governor) L.F. Green and Dan Johnson and wife who also settled near here.' Mr. Pearson was all through the boarder[sic] warfare, being at the battle of Black Jack, Blanton's Bridge, Prices Raid at Kansas City, at Lawrence in 1855, at Bull Creek and East Tauy, besides helping to persuade many a pro-slavery men that Kansas did not desire to be a slave state, and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. government. He is now getting along in years, but is yet very active and energetic, and owns a farm of 240 acres on which the battle of Black Jack was fought. We believe this gives Mr. Pearson the claim to being the oldest living settler of Kansas, having.pre-empted what is now the Beeks farm in Palmyra township, Douglas County, Kansas May 15th, 1854, and is still a resident of the same township. BLACKJACK The Baldwin Ledger 9 March 1900 Black Jack, Kansas, March 6, 1900 Editor Ledger On last Saturday moming~ as I arrived in your city, I was informed that 5 �I had a brother at the hotel Stuart House, in which I had not seen for nearly forty-four years. A brother who in the year of 1855 came to Kansas over to Lawrence in company with Gov. Robinson~ wife and others. Coming here in the pioneer days, though a young man, he with others had a varied experience in this state as a free state frontiersman The then city of Lawrence was only founded, the then (prospective Palmyra). It was in the days of buffalo ranges, gamblers a few, but thugs and in all a lively time. He had altercations and thrilling times under varied circumstances. He being young, he was in his Pa's home, restless and ambitious. Seeing no opening for a boy in the crowded East he followed the advice of Horace Greely, and Kansas then was the object point, and he located upon the quarter section now owned and occupied by D.G. Kennedy upon Black Jack Creek, Prairie City. T.J. Mowberry was the main trader and old Prairie City offered in the pages of the Prairie Ci~ Champion edited by S.S. trouty, many inducements, and your pen dotter who was a sojourner of that city looked often toward the Barricklow hill to see the white top schooners that add to the wonderful growth of Prairie city. That brother had been absent since the spring of 1858. Living in Davenport he enlisted in 1861 and was at Shiloh~ Fort Donelson, and carried three leaded bullets yet~ and one deadly shot through the groin but he lived and after many long years of absence he came back, not a youth, not a tenderfoot, but a man of age, came to see a brother so long lost to pour out his tender passions of' kindred affection and to look over the grounds where he and Koons, one Anda Keepin, Gil Gillmore came to assassinate Esq. Rice, June 27 th 1857,where he and I, were amid great personal danger. With the nerve of a man and the quickness of action, Koons was laid upon the ground and the others began to plead and one day Proslavery mob was quelted(?) And later on Koons who had killed his third free state man 6 �and planted them upon the bank of the west side of the battle ground, bit the dust upon the night of 26th day of December 1857 and soon after Anda Keepin watched an opportunity to attack the Stonebaker boys and he got a left hander from Brother Austin that settled his audacity to seeking hide go seek thereafter. The early days of Black Jack carry with them much unwritten and many an idle threat. [an interesting way of writing.] R.B. PEARSON, 1901 A case of Advancement. The Baldwin Ledger, 11 January 1901 When I first settled in the territory of Kansas May 15, 1854, I went to Kansas City fifty miles to get my mail. When Lawrence started mail was changed there in the fall of 1854. Lawrence is twenty miles away. In 1856 Palmyra started up and we had Newman Blood Postmaster. Next Baldwin comes into existence, Mr. Scott is our Postmaster. Next comes Rural Delivery No 1, Wellsville and I do not have to go so many yards as I did miles in 1854. R.H. Pearson. Also from The Baldwin Ledger 11 January 1901 W.C. Vantries, Robert Pearson, J.P. Bell, S.E. Carlton, A.T. Shepard, Sam Stonebacker and Frank Bell have been in from the eastern part of the township this week and they all say that the people in their neighborhood are in favor of helping the Orient railroad. [NOTE: This was in support of extending the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient RR from Kansas City to Baldwin City. Obviously the extension never was completed.) 7 �MORTALITY SCHEDULES What is it? A list made at the time a census was taken of those who died during the preceding year. Covers only persons who died in the 12 months preceding June 18t of the census year. Example: 1850 Mortality Schedule lists persons who died between June 1 1848 and May 31 1850 Information includes: Name, Sex, Age, Color, Birthplace, Occupation, Marital Status:> Month of Death:> and cause. Some later ones even give the parents names. When were they recorded? 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900. Mortality Schedules were taken by Counties, but are indexed by the state asa whole. Since 1902 The Bureau of Census has obtained Mortality date directly from records maintained by cities and states. DOUGLAS COUNTY TOMBSTONE CENSUS BOOKS. In the middle of page 266 of volume 2 of the Douglas Co Tombstone Census there is a note about 3 tombstones that they think may be for the surname '~Moore". The stones were for Dicey:> Ethel and Earl. While working on the Bell family records with AI V anTries, I related the story of no surnames for the 3 tombstones at Old Pioneer Cemetery in south Baldwin. He recalled that he had a relative named "Dicey". With that unusual name, he was able to fmd that he was related to the 3 persons. Here is the story. Dicey Prather, b. 9 Apri' 1859, dau. of Thomas Helms and Nancy Elizabeth (Alverson) Prather, d. 27 February 1892, married 23 October 8 �1879 to John Wilkerson. They had 4 children including one Earl Wilkerson, b. 1882 d. 1885. Dicey's sister Esther Lulie Prather, married Duncan Wilkerson~ the brother of John Wilkerson. So 2 sisters married 2 brothers. Esther and Duncan had 4 children, including Ethel Wilkerson, b. 1883, d. 1885. So the surname mystery has been resolved. They are all Wilkerson. D.G. KENNEDY STORE The Baldwin Ledger, 5 February 1904. The store ofD.G. Kennedy, at Vinland, was burned last Friday morning. The entire stock of groceries and merchandise and all his household goods were destroyed. All valuable papers were saved belonging to the post office department. The fire originated from a defective flue. The loss was about $8000, fully insured. Mr. Kennedy will rebuild as soon as possible. THE LYNCHING RECORD, 1919 The Lawrence Daily Journal-World, 6 January 1920 Annual Report is compiled at Tuskegee Institute. According to the record compiled by Monroe N. Work, of the Department of Records and Research of the Tuskegee Institute, there were 82 lynchings in 1919, of which 77 were in the South and 5 in the North and West. This is 18 more than the number 64 for the year 1918. Of those lynched 75 were Negroes and 7 were white. One of those put to death was a Negro woman. Nineteen, or less than onefourth of those put to death~ were charged with rape or attempted rape. Seven, of the victims were burned to death. Nine were put to death and 9 �then their bodies were burned. The charges against those first killed and then their bodies burned were attempted rape,3; shooting officers of the law~ 3~ rape~l~ murder~ 1~ incendiary talk~ 1. The offense of murder was charged against all the white lynched. The offense charged against the Negroes were: murder, 13; attempted rape 10; rape;> 9; abetting riots;> 4; shooting of officers of the law, 4; alleged incendiary talk, 2; writing improper letter, 1; charge not reported, 6; shooting a woman, 1; robbery, 1; murder sentence changed to life imprisonment, 1; shooting night watchman, 1; shooting and wounding a man, 1; alleged complicity in killing officer of the law~ 1~ killing man in self defense, 1; killing landlord in dispute over crop settlement, 1; no charge made, 1; for being acquitted of shooting an officer of the law, 1; remarks about Chicago race riot, 1; for keeping company with a white woman;> 1; for being found under bed;> 1; for making boastful remarks, 1; for alleged misleading of mobs searching for another, 1; because appeal was taken from ten years' sentence for attempting the life of another, 1; for discussing a lynching, 1. The states in which lynchings occurred and the number in each state are as foHows: Alabama, 7; Arkansas, 12; Colorado, 2; Florida, 5; Georgia~ 21; Louisiana~ 7; Mississippi~ 12; Missouri~ 2; Nebraska, 1~ North Carolina, 3; South Carolina, 1; Tennessee, 1; Texas, 4; Washington, 1; West Virginia, 2; Kansas, 1. NEW RESEARCH WEBSITE FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY From Sheryl McClure, mkat72@glnai1.com Hello AlIAs part of my "Kansas History and Heritage Project," I have created a website for Douglas County. 10 �Http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.coml~ksdoughp/index.html. My new, free website features: 1867-1868 County Business Directory 1873 Plat Maps, all Townships Mortality Reports, Oak Hill and Maple Grove Cemeteries, Lawrence, 1887, 1888, 1890, 1891 (months of Jan., Feb., and Apr., only) and 1892 (1892 includes Apr. Through Sept. Only) Swedish and Danish immigration 23 bios from "Portrait and biographical Record of Leavenworth, Douglas and Franklin Counties, Kansas." First Presbyterian Church, Lawrence. Charter members and 188~ membership roll. . "End of Year" death records from newspapers for 1898,1899, 1890 List of soldiers buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, 1906 List of soldiers buried in Maple Grove, Franklin, Oread Cemeteries 1904 1887 County map African-American enlistees, Spanish American War 1902 and 1904 Teaching Certificates Over 100 obituaries, most over 100 years old. Lawrence High School classes of 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1904 and 1910 list of graduates 1915 Lawrence Schools 8th grade gradutes County 8th grade graduates, 1895, 1911 and 1921 Lawrence Volunteer Company, Spanish-American War enlistees "School Reports" various years 1889 Lawrence Business directory 1873 County Business Notices 1888 Township Officials 1894 G.A.R. Posts and Rosters-Eudora, Clinton, Lecompton, Vinland and Baldwin posts (Lawrence posts coming soon) 11 �I plan to add much more data in the coming months. Also, be sure to check out my "Online Counties" page to see if I have a website for your other Kansas counties of interest. I hope you will have a look at my new website,and if you have any corrections, suggestions, questions or want to contribute pictures or data, I will be happy to hear from you. I am moving on to my next county in the project, but I will come back to Douglas County from time to time to add data, so please bookmark this site. I will announce any major additions of data on this list. This website features a search engine, but I strongly urge you to browse the data, as some of the spelling of surnames is questionable. Douglas is the 45 th county in this project-only 60 counties to go! I hope to have all Kansas counties online within the next two years, but until I can gather enough data for a specific county, I will store the file for that county on the state website. Http://www.roots\veb.ancestry.con1/~kahhp/index.html This website houses also statewide information (such as maps, military histories, college files, etc.) as well as serving as a repository for data for the "orphan" counties, and links to counties that do have their own sites. Sheryl 12 �T.B. SHORE LNING IN BALDWIN The Baldwin Ledger, 7 July 1905 Celebrated the 4th here in 1857. Fourth of July Celebration here nearly a half century ago. The first time the Fourth of July was celebrated in this neighborhood was in 1857, just forty-eight years ago, one year before Baldwin. townsite was laid out-Kansas then being a territory. The day was celebrated by giving a a public dinner and speaking, and was held on the hill in West Baldwin, which was then called Prairie City. The late Sam Wood, who was killed some years ago in a county seat war in the southern part of this state spoke on that occasion. There are two people living in Baldwin today who took part in that celebration~ being T.B. Shore and S.L Clark. ABOUT THE SANTA FE TRAIL The Baldwin Ledger, Friday, 3 February 1905 Recent agitation to mark the line of the pathway-Baldwin on the .list Monuments are springing up in various parts of Kansas for providing permanent markers for the old Santa Fe Trail, which preceded the Santa Fe railroad as the connecting link between the east and west. Franklin county cannot get in on the original Santa Fe trail deal, but she has as fine a line of side trails, rich in history, as any county in the state. The original Santa Fe trail and main line on which the gold 13 �traffic to California traveled, crossed the Missouri at Westport and came west through Black Jack, through the present location of Baldwin and just missed the northwest comer of Franklin county, passing west through Burlingame. Another trail went to the north through or near Lawrence, and the two trails joined near Burlingame. It was the traffic that came up from the south, from western Missouri and Fort Scott and even from the south, that passed through Franklin county on the way to join the great pathway to the west. This road crossed the Marais des Cygnes river at what is still known as "Fort Scott crossing", which is some three miles down the river from Ottawa. The seventh street road runs by it, and a branch crossed it. On the east and south the trail crossed the Pottawatomie near Lane at what was known as "Dutch Henry's crossing". It was here that one of John Brown's massacres took place. Though it is proposed to mark the Santa Fe trail proper with monuments it will never be possible to define any definite track or set of tracks as the exclusive trail. When the emigrants struck the prairies west of the Missouri they spread out over the considerable territory, the various trails or paths coming together at the principal watering places. So it came about that many California pilgrims came down past the Tauy Jones place, now Woodlief though the main trail did not run that way. These were fITst parties to introduce blue grass to this county. Seed dropped on the prairie in time sodded an entire section of ground, while all around was the prairie, and the unsettled wilderness. Tauy Jones and Robert Atkinson got the idea of cultivating blue grass here from this volunteer crop that sprang up on the branch of the Santa Fe trail. The old Santa Fe well in north Baldwin will always mark this trail here. 14 �This is one chapter from More About Wonderful Old Lawrence by Elfriede Fischer Rowe, a longtime resident of Lawrence. This is' copyright 1981 by Mrs. Rowe. NEW CITY HALL A LINK TO CITY'S ROOTS "At last we are in our new home!" How many times that has been said by people? And the City of Lawrence can well say it now, with its new city hall. The city has been renting for the past 10 years. True, there have been several "homes", but this is the first city-built structure erected exclusively for the, purpose of conducting municipal business. In the earliest years, city business was carried on in one room in the back of a privately owned fire department. This was near the location of the Community Building at 11th and Vermont. Soon after, officials moved from there and rented one room in the rear of a red brick building at the northwest comer of Eighth and Vermont at the rate of $8 per month. Records show that in 1885, the City of Lawrence purchased three lots at the northwest comer of Eighth and Vermont at a total cost of $2~650. They apparently leaSed three lots to a group of men to build a city market. However the builders took on more financial obligations than they could handle, so they sold the building to the city for $28,000 in 1896. The city then proceeded to make room for the many offices needed to conduct government business. The fire department, not owned by the city at that time, also moved in. 15 �There was enough room in the red brick building to house the offices of the mayor, city council, city clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, sherif±: district court, register of deeds, city marshal, city engineer and police headquarters. Next to the police judge's room were cells for drunks. Besides all the activities that went with these various offices, the election board for Ward I functioned there. As the years went on, the outside of this beautiful old brick building did not reflect the old greasy wooden floors, the ancient wooden stairs and the inadequate plumbing and lighting. It was not conducive for efficient operation of a rapidly growing city. In 1905, the county offices moved out when the present county courthouse was completed. In 1929, the city offices were moved to what is now the Elizabeth Watkins Community Museum building due to the generosity of Mrs. lB. Watkins who bequeathed it to the city, The building was originally built for the banking and mortgage business. Here was a magnificent structure both inside and out but the costly, elegant fixtures and marble floors added nothing to contribute to efficiently handle city business. Space was cramped. Partitions were installed, but it became apparent the city had outgrown the Watkins building and did not have the funds to bring it up to par. So in October of 1970, the city moved again, this time to rented quarters in the First National Bank Tower. Now, 10 years later, we find the city finally with its own "home." Settlement in the location seems fitting and proper-where out town began- on the banks of the Kaw River-more or less in the center of Lawrence's early beginnings. 16 �The marker for the first house is a half block south. To the east, at the foot of New Hampshire Street was the ferry landing used before we had a bridge, and to the west now are the two bridges linking north, east and west Lawrence. The new city hall is an anchor at the north end of Lawrence, with the county courthouse and the Watkins building at the south end of the downtown business district. I The new brick-face building at Sixth and Massachusetts quietly fits into its surroundings. But, you have to go inside to get the "feel" of the whole concept. Those who objected to the location should give it a second thought and take a tour of the building before criticizing further. One would have to be unreasonably biased not to acknowledge the inspiring views in all directions from the many· windows. Taking a quick tour of this five-story building, one finds there are four stories showing from the south and five stories on the north counting the basement. Walking in on the south, you are on the ground floor. Immediately on your left is the commission meeting room with spectator seating for over 80, and for around 40 more if they overflow into the hall. Chairs for the overflow are provided when needed, and sound is piped from the main room. The commission room has a large, black-lighted screen on one wall. The colors used and placement of chairs give an air of friendliness, and you feel relaxed. This first floor houses the mayor's office, which is shared by the commisioners. You pay your water bill on the second floor, and while doing so you can look out the windows for a magnificent view of the river and beyond. The city clerk's and finance director's offices are there too. Ethan Smith, finance director, has a view from his office windows that all artists and photographers would like to catch on canvas or paper. As you look down, you see the Kaw River and dam and two bridges. 17 �Beyond to the right are the grain elevators formerly Derby Grain, owned by Paul Smart. They belong in this picture, for they are·symbols of Kansas and a reminder of the importance of Kansas in helping feed the world. And framing this picture are the hills way beyond to the north. The third floor houses personnel and human resources. Our city manager, Buford Watson, has his offices on the fourth floor. They are appropriately on the south side so he can look out over the city, downtown Lawrence, KU's Fraser Hall and the Campanile. Because of the time of year, to the west the trees hide the houses one probably can identify in the winter when the leaves are gone. At the other end of the fourth floor is Parks and Recreation. The offices have the east view of the river. They need little artificial light due to the light walls and large picture windows. The basement houses engineering, building inspection, Community Development and the atrium:. which has been spoken of as a "greenhouse," possibly because of its greenhouse-shaped windows. But it is much more functional than a greenhouse. It is a place where employees and the public can go in, relax and rest and eat a lunch. At the east end, just outside, are vending machines and a small microwave oven for those who wish to have a soft drink or snack. With the south exposure in the atrium plants should flourish . The cost of the city hall project is around $3 million. That's quite a contrast to the purchase by the city for the city hall at Eighth and Vermont for $28,000. About $1 million has been paid directly from federal revenue-sharing and $2 million is bonded to be paid off by 1988. How lucky it seems for the people who work at the Lawrence city hall, that they can look out every day to such beauty. 18 �Provisions for the handicapped to be able to use and enjoy this building have been well-planned, When you drive into the parking area;. which is directly east and at the end of New Hampshire;. you will find two levels for parking. There are special parking stalls for the handicapped as well as stalls for bicycles. The east doors are especially weighted, and it takes only a light to.uch for them to open. Then you are on the first floor. The old Bowersock grain elevators have been cut down and the bases left to serve as a retaining wall for planting of greenery. Not only does the location of the new city hall bring the City of Lawrence closer together, but it ties in with our two new parks. There is a walking nature trail that starts at Burcham Park at the foot of Indiana Street and continues east to join Tommy Constant Park and goes on east winding up at Robinson Park and City Hall. This trail is for the enjoyment of all ages. And now, for the first time after 122 years (its charter was granted in 1858), Lawrence has its first home, designed and built exclusively for its sole use. This was in a letter frm Kansas Senator Terry Bruce. This came from a friend in Eldorado. . Did you know? Kansans now have free access to family history records on Ancestry. com. The Kansas Historical Society has partnered with Ancestry.com to allow individuals with a valid Kansas driver's license access to more than 8 million Kansas records on the popular family history website. Under the partnership, users may access certain Kansas State Census Records, Civil War Enlistment Papers of 19 �Kansas Volunteer Regiments, selected World War I manuscripts, and the United Spanish-American War Veterans certificates collections. Visit vV\vw.kshs.org/ancestry. then enter your name, date ofbilih, and Kansas Driver's license number to access the free ancestry records. Dues for the Douglas County, Kansas, Genealogical Society are due January 1 and are good through December 31 of that year. 2012 dues can be paid now. Name Maiden --------------------------------~ Name______________ Street_______________________Apt. # _ _Home phone---------------City___________________State_ _Zip____________email--------------Renewal_ New_Surnames you are searcrung,_____________________________ Amount enclosed.______ ($15.00 per year) Make checks payable to DCGS Mail to: DCGS 1329 Kasold, G 1 Lawrence, KS 66049-3426 20 �[This came from a member and I thought It was Inteestlng.j Census pamnola running amok 1. It is absolutely mind-boggling that there are media types and so-called ". thtnk-tank" experts out there who can see nothing but doom and gloom in the release of the 1940 census. The government "broke a privacy promise," .one trumpets. 1 The census data is "a treasure trove for con artists." allothe; wails.;; Now t'7at the census data is out there for bad guys to find. "The next thing you know they are goinq shopping on your credit card or filinq a tax return with your information. "3 Balderdash. Poppycock. Go ahead and insert your own favorite altemative synonym for the excrement of a male bovine. This is paranoia, folks. Ain't nobody qonna be usinq the 1940 census systematically to defraud Americans. First and foremost, we are all at far qreater risk of identity theft each and every time we hand a credit card over to somebody who takes it out of our line of siqht to process a charqe or hand o&)~ Soc/a! Seam\'V 17umber over to a ,~)~ c,~rk to enter in OuT records !t'lan we are I~~om access /0 census information. We're at much much hiqher risk every time there's a security breach in a computer system storing OU\~ a/li~ent infotmatkm - as lust hapoel7ed recBl7tll/ - than anJ'body is from the palty ,-Bets included in the census. Griping about the fisk of identity theft from 1940 census data is a little bit like complaining that your tea is cold in the dining room of the Trtanic just after it struck the iceberg. Let's start with the simple fact that the vast majority of those enumerated on the 1940 census are dead. Of the roughly 132 millions Americans enumerated in 1940, some 85 percent or more have passed on. Whatever privacy interest the dead may have had in their census data, it passed on with them. The law --- and common sense - - tells us that the right of privacy is personal and doesn't survive the person.~ 8u(. the naysayers how(. what about those sM/ living? For them.. they whine.. the census information is " an . invitation to defraud the elderly, as many financial institutions use things lik6! mother s maiden name, fathers middle name, and/or date of bflth as passwords."E Maiden names? You're kidding me, rlgM? My parents are both listed li7 the 1940 census with both of their mothers. Neither of the mothers' maiden names is shown, on{y their married names.' 21 �;' ve looked at a LOT of 1940 census pages already; beyond my own family pages, t'm a/so doing indexing. You know how many maiden names I've seen? None. Not one. Nada. Zilch, To lim! t,?e maidell name ol the mother ol a man living toda}" you need to know who his grandparents were. Finding him in the census won't do it. And to find the maiden name of the mother of a woman living today, you have to know her maiden name just to find her on the census, and then go back beyond her parents to find her grandparents. And in both cases, even if you had aii that info to start looking in the census, you still wouldn't get the right maiden name if there was a divorce or death and then a remarriage. Just how many identity thieves are going to put in that much effort, hmmmm? Middle names? Vou're still kidding, aren't you? My father's middle name isn't il7 his census record. Neither of my grandfathers' middle names are shown. Guess how many middle names the enumerator in my Chicago grandparents' enumeration district wrote down? Vep, you got it. Exactly , none. In lI1alW cases, the enumerator didn t even write down the first name,' but used initials only. And birthdates? Excuse rne? What bit1hdates? You A'now how' many' bit1hdates appear in the entire 1-'140 ce.nsus, slatt to .fini..9h, afl /32 miffion entries? None. There's an age given, but no dale of bit1h at all. My German grandmother told the enumerator she was age 49 and my father was 18.~ So tell me, doom and gloom folks, what year was each of them born? Was she born in 1891 (and had already had her birthday in 1940) or 1890 (and wouldn't tum 50 until after the census)? Was he born in ! 9 2! or 1922? If you can't tell me the year of birth, pray te/I, what good is the census in determining the date of birth? The naysayers then warn that senior citizens could be conned into giving up inf<?rmation because identity thieves can find out what street they grew up on. No, from the census, assuming you can ifrrd tile person at ail (remember 85% of those enumerated are dead now), you can find out only what street the person lived on in 1940,: and only if the person lived in an area urban enough to use street addresses and even then only if the enumerator wrote that information down. And then you have to make the leap to the conclusion that American senior citizens are so damned dumb they'll hand over info to anybody who calls or emails talking about that street. Gimme a break!!! But at a minimum we should "consider restricting the general publication of answers to sensitive questions." ooe dooms3yer demands.: Uh ... what sensitive questions? There aren't any phone numbers in census records. There aren't any Social Security numbers in census records. No bank account data. No asset information, except maybe if you owned your home or rented it. There aren't any deep dark secrets here and nothing of interest or even use to Identity thieves. Chicken Little panicked when an acom fell tram a tree. These nitwits are panicking at a nonexistent 22 �threat based on misinformation and, / daresay, deliberate fearmongering. Me? I' m not buying this nonsense for a nanosecond. I, m going to side tOO % with £he guy who posted a comment to the silliest of these " the sky is falling' pundits: Do I C6't'C? that (70 Heck no. By then You tell , em, brother. yeat:S' , r II fro,7'l /,ow S0>77eone can til?d out where I lived and what I did? , r 11 be happy if someone cares / m 8t1Ve._ You tell , em. SOURCES I. Adam Marcus, "The census' broken privacy promise," CNET:Security, posted 2 Apr 2012 (hfJp.://news.cnef.com/seclIr.ify/Jfaq=mncoJ:bc : accessed 4 Apr 20J2). -? 2. Ron Scherer, Staff writer, "1940 Census data: A treasure trove for con artists?," Christian Science Monitor, posted 3 Apr 2012 As we an !know time] 940 cernslUIs has 2lIrrRved. There seem to b¢ many ])\ace~ to acce§§ it. 1 ba,fen')t tried any yet but would be ]ntereslterll Dn hearDng albou»lt others experiences. Mawy 23 �THE PIONEER Douglas County Genealogical Society, Inc 1329 Kasold, G 1 Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3426 Forwarded and return postage guaranteed Address correction requested. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Douglas County Genealogical Society Subject The topic of the resource Douglas County (Kan.) -- Genealogy Douglas County (Kan.) -- History Description An account of the resource This collection is comprised of the publications of the Douglas County Genealogical Society, including issues of The Pioneer (the quarterly newsletter of the Society) as well as directories, various indexes compiled by members of the Society, and other resources of interest to genealogists and researchers studying the history of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Douglas County Genealogical Society (Lawrence, Kan.) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Lawrence Public Library (Lawrence, Kan.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1977 - 2013 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource text Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Douglas County (Kan.) Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Pioneer, Vol. 35, Nos. 1 and 2: January and April 2012 Subject The topic of the resource Douglas County (Kan.) -- Genealogy Douglas County (Kan.) -- History Douglas County Genealogical Society (Lawrence, Kan.) Description An account of the resource The quarterly newsletter of the Douglas County Genealogical Society in Douglas County, Kansas, containing information regarding the organization, activities, and membership of the Society, and articles of interest to those researching family ties to or the history of Douglas County, Kansas. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Douglas County Genealogical Society Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Douglas County Genealogical Society (Lawrence, Kan.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright, Douglas County Genealogical Society Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context PIONEER_VOL35_1AND2_JAN-APR2012 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Douglas County (Kan.)