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4 July November 2005
WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KANSAS
Wyandotte Gazette 1860 - July 1888. KANSAS CITY GAZETTE 17 July 1888
This folder provides a brief history of Wyandotte County as it relates to the Grinter, Defries, Honeywell, and other families associated with the Lenape-Delaware Indians in Kansas. It is not a Wyandotte County web site per se. For ease of reading, I have made a few minor changes. Additionally, some items have not been extracted in full; that is, we have not included extraneous matter not of interest to the purpose of this site. We are striving to make notes on the placing of some of the personalities of interest to us and placing those persons in their family contexts. We welcome anyone with additional to or differing information from this site. Submit these to martinweeks@cox.net and/or swiftwater@lenapedelawarehistory.net . So far we have published items from 1860 through June 1888. The color red indicates that the a person was a Kansas Delaware.
The Editor appreciates very much the hard work of Martin "Marty" Weeks in making the extracts from microfilm and in providing the extracts to this site. There may be more entries in the near future. We are striving to place some of the personalities of interest to us in their family contexts and have made an index to some of those names. Time permitting, those from 1888 will be added.
PARTIAL INDEX OF NAMES
Adams, Deacon/Rev. William The father of Richard C. Adams , Delaware advocate and author of The Delaware Indians: A Brief History (19067), which see in the History File.
Allen, Mrs. - She may be Martha Vashtie Grinter Allen Kirby, the daughter of Moses Grinter and Anna Marshall.
Bartles, Jacob "Jake - Married to Kansas Delaware Nannie/Nanny Journeycake Pratt, the daughter of Rev. Charles Journeycake. She was the former daughter-in-law of John Gill Pratt. The town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma was named for Jacob Bartles. Joe Bartles, the son of Jake and Nannie Bartles, was the head of the Business Committee of the Eastern Oklahoma Delaware Tribe from about from about 1925 to the 1950's.
Defries/Defriese, Bailey B.+ - He lived at Stony Point in 1889.
Defries, Henrietta+ - She married J. A. Reams. She lived at White Church.
Defries, Edward+ -
Defries/Defriese, James+ -
Defries, J. L.+-
Defries, [Martha] Mattie Defries - Married Christian F. Hahn, of Butler County, Pennsylvania. Mattie was the daughter of Audley Paul Defries, of Kentucky, and Mary Jane Grinter, the daughter of Moses Reed Grinter and Anna Marshall.]
Defries, Mose - The son of of Mary Jane Grinter and Audley Paul Defries and the brother of Mattie Defries.
Defries, Nathan T.+ - [Is Nathan "T" Defries possibly Nathan F. Defries, son of William T. Defries and brother of Audley Paul Defries, ] born in Barren County, Kentucky, in October 1829, died in 1900 in Wyandotte County, Kansas?
Defries, Mrs. Polly+ - Daughter Lulu.
Defries, William Asher - The son of Audley P. Defries and Mary Jane Grinter, daughter of Anna Marshall and Moses Grinter. William A. Defries, known as "Ashe," later lost a leg, perhaps as a result of the above mentioned affliction. In 1888, he lived in Osborne County, Kansas.
Defries, William Archibald (1861-1920) -
Garret, Susie+ - Married to Eli/Ely M. Honeywell.
Grinter, Baxter - Of Kansas City, Missouri in 1890. County. He was the son of Thomas A. Grinter.
Grinter, Belle - My be Mary Belle Grinter (1857-1954), daughter of James C. Grinter. She was the wife of James Colley.
Grinter, C. R. - Of Perry, Kansas.
Grinter, Betty/Bettie - She lived in Kentucky and was a sister of John Grinter. John was the son of Francis Grinter and the brother of Moses Grinter.
Grinter, Cunningham "Cam" (1864-1924) - Youngest son of Moses Read Grinter and Anna Marshall. He was married to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Shirley.
Grinter, Daniel W.* - He is probably Daniel W. Grinter, the son of Samuel Grinter, the son of John Grinter. Dan Grinter would cousin of Moses Read Grinter and James C. Grinter].
Grinter, Frances Catherine (1839-1908) - The oldest daughter of Moses and Annie Grinter, married John C. Grinter.
Grinter, George+ - Lived at Stony Point. in 1888.
Grinter, Ida+ - Spouse of John W. Grinter. Is she the same person as Ada Shepherd, spouse of John Grinter, Jr.?
Grinter, James F "Shanghai" -
Grinter, James C.* - The son of Francis Grinter, and the brother of Moses Read Grinter]
Grinter, James+ - Married Libby Timmons.
Grinter, J. M. - In 1888, lived near Perry, Kansas.
Grinter, James "Jimmy"? F. + - Married Sarah Stevens of Johnson County.
Grinter, John C. Justice of the Peace+ -
Grinter, John, Jr. - Spouse of Ada Shepherd.
Grinter, John. W.+ - Spouse of Ida Grinter. Is he the same person as John Grinter, Jr., married to Ada Shepherd? There is a J. W. Grinter "of Perry."
Grinter, Linton E.+ - A
teacher in School District No. 4 of Wyandotte County.
Grinter, Laura, daughter of Thomas Grinter and sister of Linton Grinter,
married Norris..
Grinter, Maria Jane - Daughter of James C. Grinter and wife of James F. Timmons. They lived in Edwardsville in 1888.
Grinter, Mary E.+ -
Grinter, Mary Jane Grinter
1843-1908) - The daughter of Moses Grinter and
Annie Marshall.
Grinter, Martha
Vashtie Allen Kirby 1857-1930 -
The daughter of Moses and Annie Marshall Grinter.
She was married to the Rev. Henry Clay Kirby.
Grinter, Maude+ - Daughter of
Grinter, Moses - The first white settler of present Wyandotte County. Moses married Anna Marshall, a Delaware woman. Their final home, the Grinter Place, is now a Kansas State Museum.
Grinter, Nannie+ - She married Henry A. Stephens. Henry Stephens and Nannie Grinter were the parents of Annie Stephens, an early Grinter family researcher.]
Grinter, Newton - Of Lee's Summit, Missouri, a brother of Thomas A. and James F. Grinter.
Grinter, Miss S.+ -
Grinter, Robert+ - There is a Robert Grinter, born 1877, died 1879, buried near Dan W. Grinter in the Grinter Chapel Cemetery.
Grinter, Sue + - May b e the same person as Miss S. Grinter, above.
Grinter, Captain Thomas A.* - Capt. Grinter is probably Thomas A. Grinter, the son of John Hill Grinter, the son of the immigrant John Grinter. Thomas A. Grinter married second Emily Stevens/Stephens.]+
Grinter, William "Will?" + - He was probably a brother of Moses Read Grinter.
Grinter, William Henry Harrison+ - Unmarried son of Moses Read Grinter and Anna Marshall Grinter.
Hahn, C.[hristan] ["Chris"] F.[rederick] Hahn + - " Chris" Hahn of Butler County, Pennsylvania, along with his brothers Paul and Augustus "Gus" Hahn, emigrated to Wyandotte County in the mid-1880s Chris married Martha Mattie" Francis Defries, the daughter of Mary Jane Grinter, of Wyandotte County, and Audley Paul Defries, of Kentucky and Tennessee. They lived on Grinter Road, on a portion of the Delaware allotment that Mary Jane Grinter gave to Mattie. Chris was a farmer and owned a general store at the intersection of __________ [to be added) and Grinter Road. They moved to a farm near Thayer, Neosho County, Kansas, and 1812 and then to White City, Morris County, about 1915, where he ran a general store and was a carpenter. In 1920, they moved to Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, where he died in 1934. Mattie died in Topeka at Topeka in 1972.
Hahn, John - Chris Hahn's father, John Hahn, died in Bay City, Michigan, in 1887.Hahn, John - Who is this? He is not a brother of Chris Hahn. Chris Hahn;
Honeywell. Ely (Eli) M. - The son of William Honeywell and Sally Owl. His wife was Nora Myers. He may have also been married to Susie Garrett.
Hovey, Mr. G. U. S. -
Journeycake/Johnnycake, Isaac - Brother of Rev. Charles Journeycake. married to Nancy Ketchum whose Lenape name Aupahmundaqua or Aquamdageockwe.
Ketchum, Cy+ -
Ketchum, Rev. James -
Ketchum, Lewis (1808-1904) - Kansas Delaware, brother of Rev. James Ketchum, married to Elizabeth Zeigler.
Ketchum, Simon W. - Son of Lewis Ketchum.
Ketchum, Solomon - Born 22 January 1861, son of Lewis Ketchum.
Kirby, Rev. Henry Clay Kirby - Minister of the Methodist Church South in 1888. He was married to Martha Vashtie Grinter Allen. Of Nebraska City in 1889.He died in 1939.
Kirby, C. A. - Elected a deacon of the Methodist Church South on 7 September 1888. What is his relationship to Henry lay Kirby?
Marshall, Anne - "Annie" Marshall Grinter was the daughter of the Indian Trader William Marshall and his Delaware wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Willaquenaho. Annie was the wife of Moses Grinter, listed in this index.+
Mooney, Robert T. - Married Mary E. Grinter, daughter of John C. Grinter and Francis Catherine Grinter. Francis C. Grinter was a daughter of Moses Grinter and Annie Marshall. In 1889 he was a contractor who lived near Muncie..
McCamish, Charles+ -
McCamish, William H.+ - Of Muncie, from Coffey County.
Myers, Miss Nora+ - She was the wife of E. M. Honeywell.
Newman, Oscar+ - He married Jennie Newman, a daughter of Annie Defries Newman. The latter was a daughter of Mary Jane Grinter and Audley Paul Defries.]
Norris, Laura nee Grinter, sister of Linton Grinter. She moved from Atchison back to Wyandotte County near her father, Thomas Grinter, in 1889.
Pratt, John Gill+ - Head of the Delaware Baptist Mission, married Kate Woodfill.
Reams, J. A.+ - His spouse was Henrietta Defries.
Secondine, James "Jim" - A noted Delaware scout who served under Fremont.
Shepherd, Ida - Wife of John Grinter, Jr.
Sherley, Mr. Father of Mrs. Grinter. Same as Shirley below?
Shirley, Elizabeth "Lizzie" - Of Edwardsville, she was the wife of Cunningham "Cam" Grinter.
Stephens, Emily H.+ - Sometimes spelled Stevens, daughter of Sylvanus Stephens, second wife of Captain Thomas A. Grinter.
Stephens, S.+ -
Stephens, Henry A. - He married Nannie Grinter. Henry Stephens and Nannie Grinter were the parents of Annie Stephens, an early Grinter family researcher.]
Stevens, Charles "Charley"+ - Chicago, Ill. He was the nephew of James and Thomas Grinter.
Stevens, Mary+ - She was an attendant at the wedding of Mr. J. A. Reams and Miss Henrietta Defries of White Church.
Stevens, Sarah A.+ - Of Johnson County, wife of James F. Grinter.
Timmons, James F. - He was married to Maria Grinter (1853-1892). She was the daughter of James C. Grinter. James Timmons was a state representative in the Kansas legislature and was from Ohio. He and Maria lived in Edwardsville.
Timmons. Libbie+ -
Thomas, Maria+ - Maria Thomas, born 23 November 1863, died 1944, was later the wife of William Asher Defries, born 30 June 1861, Wyandotte County and died in March 1920 in Wyandotte County, the son of Audley Paul Defries and Mary Jane Grinter.
Wilcoxen, Melinda - She was the daughter of Aquamdegaockwe, grand-daughter of Echelangonaockwe (the sister of Captain Ketchum), cousin of Annie Grinter.
Wilcoxen, Nody - Daughter of Rezin and Kansas Delaware Melinda Wilcoxen.
Wilcoxen, Rezin+ - Sometimes appears as "Reason" and "Wilcoxin."
Woodfill, Kate+ - Of Wyandotte, wife of Rev. John Gill Pratt.
Zeigler, Logan - Son of Philip Zeigler and Delaware Indian Betsy Taylor.
[Edited through 1888]
1860
13 October. Railroad Meeting - At a meeting of the citizens of Wyandotte
County, held at the Post Office in Wyandotte City, on Monday evening, October
8th, pursuant to a call signed by "many citizens," James R. Parr was
called to the Chair and Thomas J. Barker and R. B. Taylor were
chosen Secretaries. The following named gentlemen were unanimously elected to
the Territorial Railroad Convention, to assemble at the city of Topeka,
on the 17th instant. The following named gentlemen were unanimously elected said
delegates [among other]: Gov. Wm. Walker, Silas Armstrong, A.
Guthrie, Moses Grinter*.
1863
21 February.
Successful Expedition by Loyal Indians - The following letter, with the
treaties mentioned it it, and papers were received at the Indian Bureau
recently: Delaware Agency, Jan. 29th, 1863 Sir: On
or about the 1st of September last, a company of
Delaware and Shawnee Indians, numbering
96 - 70 Delawares and 26 Shawnees - left Kansas on an expedition south-west from
Kansas, under the leadership of Ben. Simon, a Delaware
Indian.
11 April . Thomas A. Grinter vs. Martha A. Grinter.
Divorce granted.
2 May.
Fielding Johnson, Esq., of
Quindaro, agent of the Delaware Indians, made us a call yesterday. From him we
learn that a gang of thieves, some thirty in number, crossed the Kaw river at
Delaware crossing in Wyandott County, on Saturday evening last, and proceeded to
rob inhabitants of that section of their horses. They took some nine that he had
already heard of. At one place, a man refused to unlock the stable door, and
they knocked him down with a fence rail, when his terrified wife, unable to
find the key, brought them a wrench, with which they pried open the door and
took off his horses. The thieves, he says, are inaugurating a reign of terror.
Such facts as these call loudly upon our military authorities to follow up their
orders with severest penalties known to military law. If not, the whole country
will have to be given up to the outlaws. Journal Commerce, May 2nd.
29
August . Kansas Invaded
by Gambleites - Lawrence Burned! - 134 Citizens Murdered - Two Millions of
Property Destroyed (From: Leavenworth Conservative) At five o'clock
yesterday morning, Quantrile entered Lawrence with a band of bushwhackers,
variously estimated at from two to five hundred in number.
5
September. Recruiting.
Wm. H. Grinter* of Munsie Town has
been appointed Lt. in the 5th Regt. Indian Brigade to assist in
recruiting a company of Delawares for that
command. Lt. E. T. Vedder is also engaged in the same regiment. Capt.
Converse has established his headquarters in this place. This will afford
the Delawares an opportunity to enlist and form a company of their own men,
belonging to the regular and legitimate organization - the Indian Brigade are
now in active force. [Note: William Henry Harrison Grinter is the son of
Moses Read Grinter and Annie (Marshall) Grinter.]
12
September. At the
Delaware Baptist Mission Chapel, September 6th, by Rev. J.[ohn] G.[ill] Pratt,
assisted by Rev. J. Ketchum,
Deacon William Adams, of Delaware Reservation, to Kate Woodfill of
Wyandotte.
17 October. Jennison's Regiment - Authority has been
granted to me to recruit a regiment of Cavalry - the Fifteenth! It
will be raised for the protection of Kansas, and destruction of Bushwhackers and
Rebels. This regiment will be armed with Sharpe's rifles, revolvers, and sabres.
Persons recruiting for this regiment will report to me by letter or at my
headquarters on this city, the number of men recruited, that subsistence and
transportation may be furnished them. C. B. Jennison Office Shawnee
Street, corner of Main, Leavenworth.
24
October. Secondine.
Comparatively few of our readers, we presume,
are aware that there is a place within fifteen miles or less of this City, which
has been and probably may again be known by the euphonious name of Secondine. We
confess that we had, during the six years of our acquaintance in the country,
remained in blissful ignorance of this interesting fact. We were only
enlightened in regard to the matter during our visit to the railroad on
Wednesday. On our return we made a brief call at "Delaware Crossing," as
we have been accustomed to hear it called, and in the course of a conversation
with Moses Grinter, were informed by that gentleman, that they formerly
had a Post Office there, the regular mail from Independence to Fort
Leavenworth, taking that route, and that the office was named after a Chief of the Delaware Indians, the bravest and
noblest of his tribe, whose name heads this article.
Mr. Grinter also gave us some interesting facts relative to the career of Jim Secondine, a son of the old chief, after whom the Post Office was named, and a worthy son of a worthy sire. He was with Fremont in one of his expeditions across the Rocky Mountains, and at one time saved the gallant Pathfinder's life, when he must have otherwise have fallen by the hand of a savage for. Fremont had fired his last shot, and was in a defenseless condition, as a burly savage sprang upon him like a tiger from his lair, and would inevitably have thrust him through with his spear, had not the noble Delaware seen the peril of his pale-faced leader at a glance, and come promptly to his rescue. He knocked the weapon from the hand of the savage, and slew the would-be murderer of his friend on the spot. Lieut. Fremont secured the spear which had been wielded against his life, took it east with him on his return, and had it manufactured into rings, jewelry, and keepsakes of various kinds, by which to remember his faithful companion and friend, the sharer of his hardships and privations, and the savior of his life.
These trinkets, or some of them, he gave to his wife, and at a subsequent period, when Fremont and Jessie [Fremont] together passed through this country, on their way to California, they took especial care to pay a visit to Secondine, when a most affecting meeting took place between Fremont and his friend, and Mrs. Fremont exhibited to the noble Delaware these mementos of his fidelity and courage, and asked him if he knew of what they were made. Secondine's reply showed that he at least suspected that they were made from the shaft he had turned aside when aimed at the life of her husband.
We cannot give these incidents in the exact language in which Mr. Grinter related them, or clothe them with a tithe of of the interest with which his account surrounded them. But we give some of the main facts in uncomely drapery, but still with so near an approach to accuracy as to justify, as we opine, the conclusion that the name Secondine, euphonious and of easy pronunciation as all must admit it to be, is peculiarly appropriate to the locality where lived the great Chief of the Delawares, and his brave and gallant son, the savior of the life of the greatest and best of Chiefs of the Pale-faces, and who is now at the head of an enterprise which is calculated to again bring into notice and render of no little importance; the place where repose the bones of the honored red men, whose virtues we have here briefly alluded to, and whose name we would fain see re-inscribed on our country's records as designating the first important station, Post Office and town, on the Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division, west of beautiful Wyandotte.
Will not the people of the locality referred to, when a new Post Office shall be established in their midst, ask of the powers that be, that its name be Secondine? Will not the Postmaster General grant such reasonable request? And will not Gen. Fremont, Sam Hallett & Co. and all others interested, unite with us in giving to the railroad station, and the delightful town which must grow up around it, the euphonious, the romantic and talismanic name of SECONDINE?
1864
26
March. That frightful disease, the small-pox, has
broken out in Eudora, Douglas county. It was taken there by a company of
Delaware Indians. -
Times.
3 September. Company G, 15th Kansas volunteers are stationed at Mound City.
24 September. Excitement Along the Border - Jennison
Takes the Field
To the Editor of the Times:
Entire train from the South captured and the
escort killed. No prisoners taken. The enemy are principally
Cherokee Indians, known to number two regiments of infantry and one
battery of artillery, cavalry unknown, but considerable. Capt. Ledger, of the
Sixth Kansas, was killed in charging the rebel battery, with twelve men. He
fell within fifteen feet of the guns. Stragglers are arriving at the Mission
constantly. - Bourbon county is now included in Col. Jennison's
district. He takes the field today in person. Trouble certainly ahead.
1865
7 January. One of the rumors we have had on the street this past week , was that
Capt. [probably
Thomas A.] Grinter* had been killed. Another that a man had
been found lying dead in the road near
Splitlog's mill. A third was that Col. Gilliford had shot a black man who
was trying to steal his horses in the night and that the darke had lain there
dead between his barn and the road in sight of passers-by, for nearly two days.
We have made inquiries, and are satisfied that there is not a word of truth in
either of the stories. [Note: Capt. Grinter is probably Thomas A. Grinter,
the son of John Hill Grinter, the son of the immigrant John Grinter.
Thomas A. Grinter married second Emily Stevens.+]
25
February. Married. In Wyandotte County, on the 23d
inst., by Rev. Mr. Bowles, Captain T. A. Grinter, to Miss Emily
H.+, eldest daughter of Sylvanus Stephens. The printer was generously
remembered, for which the parties will accept our thanks.
1866
3 February. While canvassing for fruit trees in this county, in
a conversation with Mr. J. C. Grinter on the depredations of the borer,
he stated that when he planted trees he marked his ground off with white hickory
stakes, and after the trees were planted the stakes remained. So long as they
were in the ground not a borer was to be seen in one of his trees, but since
they have rotted they are troublesome. Mr. Grinter is going to try the
experiment again. It is a well known fact that the borer will attack a hickory
and eat it up as soon as it dies, no matter whether it is standing or laying on
the ground. It will cost nothing to try the experiment, and if successful it is
worth remembering. It is also said to be a fact, that the finer the fruit the
more troublesome are the pests, for instance, they will eat up a Yellow
Bellflower, while a Jenneting by the side of it will not be touched. J. W.
Blachly [Note: J. C., that is, James C. Grinter, the son of Francis Grinter, and the
brother of Moses Read Grinter of Wyandotte county.]*
31 March. Delaware Lands - We commend the
following letter to the serious consideration of the citizens of Wyandotte
County:
Editor Gazette.
- A movement in high official quarters, is said to be in progress, to have the
treaty made with the Delaware Indians two years ago, ratified, or another
one negotiated, whereby the diminished reservation of that tribe will go into
the hands of the company who are constructing the railroad from Kansas City
to Fort Leavenworth. This would be a clear speculation for that company, the
subscriptions to and endowments of that enterprise being already sufficient to
build and equip the road. The whole profits of the speculation would therefore
go into the private pockets of a few individuals and out of the pockets
of the farmers who will become the purchasers of this land. Never was there a
more wicked scheme for "fertilizing the rich man's field with the sweat of the
poor man's brow" than this monopoly of the public lands by railroad
corporations.
Wyandotte county
has done more for the State of Kansas than any other county within her
boundaries, and has been treated with less liberality. She is the garden of the
State, as beautiful as Heaven and as fertile as Eden. But she needs artificial
facilities for communication with the rest of the State. Two, if not three
bridges are essential to her prosperity. The Delawares
are willing to sell their lands for two dollars and fifty cents per acre.
Through the exertions of your Senators and Representative in Congress a treaty
could be negotiated with this tribe by which the county of Wyandotte might be
enabled to purchase a sufficient quantity of these lands, or all of them, the
profits arising from the sale of which would build the three necessary
bridges and grade the roads to the bridges. The county should be authorized to
issue bonds bearing at least six per cent per annum, in favor of the Indians,
and any surplus arising out of the sale of their lands after making the
improvements indicated should be used for the redemption of the bonds Let me
suggest that your people meet in county convention, say Saturday the seventh of
April, and express their views on the subject and apprise their Senators and
Representative in Congress of their wishes. Very respectfully your friend,
ABELARD GUTHRIE
21
April.
New Settlers - The land office of the Union
Pacific road in this city is doing a land office business in settling up the
state. They are locating on their choice lands in small communities a great many
settlers. Their policy is to sell small tracts to actual settlers, and are
finding this spring an unprecedented demand from heads of families for small
parcels of lands. The Delaware Reserve lands comprise some of the best lands in
the State. Mr. Bartholomew, Land Commissioner, is an agreeable and
pleasant gentleman, and is always willing to give all the information possible,
to settlers and others desiring land.
1 September. The
Neutral Lands - From Mr. Ross, one of the head men of the
Cherokee nation, we, for the first time, gather some reliable
information, which we have been unable to secure from any other source, relative
to the treaty with the Cherokee Indians. The treaty was ratified by the
Senate on the last day of the session. Under its provisions, the Cherokees
relinquish their right to the neutral strip, twenty-five miles wide and fifty
miles long, or eight hundred thousand acres. The land is to be surveyed and
thrown into the market the same as other Government land, and settlers thereon
are to be protected in their homesteads. The Secretary of the Interior may,
however, if he sees fit, sell those lands in a bulk, for a sum not less than
$800,000; but in that event, those who actually settled there previous to the
4th of July, 1869, shall have the privilege of buying their land, not exceeding
one hundred and sixty acres, for 1.25 per acre. Under the railroad grant, our
company is to have each alternate section of the land for ten miles on each side
of the road, with the privilege of supplying the deficiency, if any exist - on
account of more than each alternate section being taken up by settlers. -
Fort Scott Monitor.
22
September. Delaware
Reserve Lands - The Lawrence
Journal says that at a late meeting of the Directors of the Union
Pacific Railroad E D, it was determined to immediately re-appraise these
lands, and that then they are to pass into the hands of
R. M. Shoemaker & Co.
in settlement for the building of the main line to Fort Riley and the
Leavenworth branch. It may be to the interest of persons residing or
desiring to locate on the reserve, to purchase while the land office of the
company is yet open and which is not to be closed, as we are informed, until the
new appraisement is made, and division had among the parties respectfully
interested in them. After that time purchases will have to be made from
individuals who may decline to consider parties who have settled upon the lands
and made improvements without having purchased.
15 November. Advertisement for Tyrrell's
Picture Gallery - Photograph, Ambrotype, Ferrotype.
[Listed because this may be source of early
Grinter photos.]
1867
2
March. Delaware Reserve Lands
- We learn through several
sources that it is the intention of the railway company to sell the Delaware Reserve Lands at auction to the highest bidder, commencing
on the first and second day of April Next and giving settlers the preference, so
far as to allow them to take their claims at the appraised value; and such as
are not prepared to pay down for the same, can purchase the scrip of the
Company, and thereby have time to make payments; the scrip being good with the
Company in payment for the land. We shall be please to see
some such arrangement whereby all parties can justly receive that which is right
and proper, and harmony and union of action bro't about in such a manner as will
develop the resources of our country. We advise all the settlers to
remain on their claims, and purchase of the Company, if they are prepared to
make payments, or can do so by having time. These lands are valuable, and have a
wide reputation all over the country; and being on or near the great through
line of Railway, and always convenient to the best markets, they will ever
remain valuable. There is no risk in investing in them when title is secured. -
(Oskaloosa Independent.)
9 March. We learn, says the Bulletin,
that treaties have been completed with all the Kansas tribe of
Indians
for their removal to the Indian country.
A treaty has also been concluded with the Cherokee Indians of this State,
modifying the treaty of July 6th, so as to allow the tribe to sell what is known
as the Neutral lands - comprising about 800,000 acres, to the Atlantic and
Pacific Railroad Company.
4
May.
Dead Body Found - On the 28th day of April, near Mr. Grinter's,
at the mouth of Turkey creek, near this city, the dead body of a man was
found. On his person was a white linen handkerchief marked B. Burns; also
a medal marked "Magnus Dei." Of Irish descent, five feet seven inches in
height - weight about one hundred and twenty pounds, twenty-five or thirty years
old, black curly hair, and was dressed in a half-sack coat, red and white shirt,
and striped brown pants.
18 May.
Immigrants - A large
number of immigrants passed through this city this week who intend settling in
this and adjoining counties of Kansas. Soon the Indians will be removed, then
look out for an unparalled immigration to Wyandotte County. Where in the
State, is there a county more inviting to immigrants than Wyandotte?
15 June. Married - By
Rev. D. Dickinson of Wyandotte, on the 12th of June, 1867, at the residence
of the bride's father, in Johnson county, Kansas, Mr. James F. Grinter+
of Wyandotte county, and Miss Sarah A. Stevens+ of Johnson county.
1868
25
April.
From the Indian Country. - Advices from the Indian Territory at the south of Kansas, state that the
Delawares have arrived at their new homes and
are much pleased with them. They are busy in building their cabins, plowing,
fencing, &c. The Cherokees received them
cordially into their country, and their prospects for the future seem very
encouraging. They are located on the Verdi Gris and the Little Verdi
Gris, and have bought out the improvements of a number of Cherokees who
mostly are located below the Delaware.
12
September. Big Potato - James Grinter left a sweet
potato at Buesche's store one day this week, which weighed four pounds and
three quarters.
24
October. White Church Meeting. We mentioned in the Gazette last week,
that a
Republican meeting would be held at the White Church, in the
Delaware Reserve, near the Ketchum Farms,
on Monday evening the 12th inst. Luckily we had come
prepared for all emergencies, with our lamps trimmed and burning, two pounds of
candles, and a splendid cold-chicken supper. So we made tables of some
smoothly-cut stumps, wagon seats &c., looked after the wants of the inner man,
and Capt. Thomas Grinter for Chairman and Dr. Lucas for Secretary,
Mr. Newman
for the first speaker and an audience of about seventy-five or a hundred people
we opened our meeting.
1869
24
October. Republican County Convention - The Republican
County Convention met in accordance with the Call of the Central Committee,
at Dunning's Hall, in this city, on Monday, October 19th, at 2 p.m. H.
W. Cook, Dr. E. Fitzgerald and Thomas A. Grinter were appointed a committee
on permanent organization. The committee on permanent organization reported the
names of Alfred Gray for President, and W. H. Grinter
for Secretary, and they were unanimously elected as such. After the nomination
of candidate [sic] for Representative in the two districts, the county
convention again came to order, and after listening to speeches from Messrs.
Cook, Cobb, and Dutton, proceeded to elect a County Central Committee,
consisting of two members from each voting precinct, as follows: Washington's,
Dr. D. P. Lucas, Thomas A. Grinter. Muncie, H.F. Reid, W.[illiam] H.[enry] Grinter.
1870
20 January. Death of Tau-ro-mee, Chief of the Wyandottes
10 February. Legal Notice. Attachment and garnishee process before John C. Grinter,
J[ustice of the P.eace], Wyandotte County, State of Kansas.
30 June.
We had the pleasure of a call
from
Isaac Johnnycake,+ one of the head chiefs of
the Delaware Nation, who is at present on a
business visit among us. He reports the tribe well satisfied with their
new location.
27 October. Church.
Dedication -
We learn that the new Methodist church, at Secondine, in this county,
known as
"Grinter's Chapel," will be dedicated Sunday, Nov. 13th. Rev.
Wm. M. Rust, of St. Louis will officiate on the occasion. The church is a
large frame, substantially built, situated about a quarter mile from the
station. The membership at this time is about 40, Rev. Thos. C. Downs, pastor.
A large attendance is expected from all parts of the county, and ample
arrangements have been made for the comfort of those attending. Mr. M.[oses] R.[ead]
Grinter, a resident of this section for about 40 years, has been one of the
prime movers in this worthy enterprise, and its successful accomplishment is due
in great measure to his efforts.
1 December. Supper and Concert at
Secondine - Mr. Editor - Happening to be in the Secondine neighborhood on Friday
evening the 25th - a friend invited me to go with him to Grinter Chapel
where Prof. Moss was to meet his singing class, that evening.
Accepting the invitation, we went, and found the Professor and his class of
young ladies and gentlemen already engaged in singing. After listening a
while to their performance, we felt ourselves amply repaid for our walk, and
concluded that the Professor was master of his business, and that he had his
class pretty well drilled, considering that they had only one quarter's tuition.
1871
21 September. From the Prairie
- Mr. Jacob Bartles+ has rented his farm to Mr. Swift, of
Quindaro,
and proposes to move down into the Indian Country.
He was down there recently putting up a new saw mill and on his return brought
back a young deer.
1872
4 January. Pocketbook Lost -
Between my residence in Wyandotte Township and that of J. F. Timmons,
on the night of January 1st, 1872, containing one note against W. H. H.
Grinter, for two hundred and fifty dollars, payable to J. L. Conklin,
three notes against
Stephen Briggs, payable to W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] and John C. Grinter, school
orders of District No. 13, numbers 6 and 7, payable to James C.
Grinter, school order number 5, same district, payable to Will S. Jones,
one note against John Lynch, payable to
John C. Grinter, one joint note against W. R. Latta and F. S.
Bigham, payable to
James C. Grinter, and various other valuable paper, and about one hundred
seventy five dollars in greenbacks. A liberal reward will be paid for the
recovery of the said pocketbook and its contents. N. B. All persons are hereby
cautioned against purchasing any of the above named notes or papers, as I shall
take measures to stop the payment of them John C. Grinter, Wyandotte Township,
January 31, 1872.
25 January. White Church Festival
- At last came a dispatch "supper," is ready. Se we moved out in "solid column"
and carried everything before us, arriving at the door, we presented our tickets
to Mr. John C. Grinter, who very politely invited us to "pitch in -
western. for eat, drink, and be merry. Well, he was obeyed to the letter.
Mr. Editor, you should have seen John C. as he attended to his duties at the
door. He smiled and talked (John can talk some, you know) and
bowed showing the ladies where to find good places, and pushing the boys
out of the way, and doing the very best he could to make every one feel good.
The festival would have been minus considerable of John C. had been kicked over
by an unruly cow before starting for White Church.
21 March. Isaac Journeycake the well known chief of
the Delawares, is about to return to his farm near Wyandotte. It is likely that many of the Delawares will follow him out of
the
[Indian] Territory [in present Oklahoma].
28 March.
Township Nominations -
The following are the nominations on the People's Ticket for Wyandotte Township:
Trustee, W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter.
27 June. Fourth
of July, '72 for
Wyandotte County, on the Broad Gauge Plan! - Go ring the Bells and Fire the
Guns, and Fling the Starry Banner Out! - Speeches, Music, Bells, Cannon, Fun,
Dinner &c. - Enough for All Who Come! - Programme, Committees, &c ... That
Mayor J. S. Stockton be President and the following persons for Vice Presidents.
[The list includes J.[ohn] G.[ill] Pratt+, Moses Grinter, J. C. Grinter.
12 June.
Wheat - W. H. H. Grinter,
of Secondine, commenced cutting his wheat on Wednesday. The prospect is that the
crop will be above average.
22 August. Election - Capt. Thomas A.
Grinter followed Mr. Betts, speaking about 20 minutes in favor of the
election of Mr. Greeley. Capt. Grinter admitted that President Grant
was an able General and entitled to great credit for what he had one in them
field. But he claimed that as the war was over it was statesmanship rather than
generalship that we now need at the head of affairs, and insisted that Greeley
was far ahead of Grant in statesmanship
1873
18 July. Farmers in Council. The Meeting at White
Church - Capt. T[homas] A. Grinter was the next speaker called for. He said
that it had not been his intention to speak. but thought that there was abundant
reason why the farmers should come together and take counsel together in regard
to their interests. He said that they did not wish to take ground in opposition
to other trades and professions, but it was certainly their duty to look after
their own interests.
We had several invitations to dinner, but accepted only two of them. We divided
our time between Mrs. Betton's spread and that of Mrs. John C. Grinter,
they being located near together, and if the occasion had been a State Fair. and
a large premium had been offered for the best dinner, we would be willing to
risk something that one of these ladies would have taken the prize.
8 August.
Second Meeting of Farmers - Capt.
T.[homas] A. Grinter was called for, but excused himself.
10 October.
Farmer's Public Meeting - A meeting of
the farmers of Wyandotte County. Kansas and those directly interested in farming
pursuits on October 14 at White Church was called by R. P. Clark,
Chairman Thomas A. Grinter, Secretary.
17 October. Farmers' Meeting at White
Church - Committee of Nominations: Delaware Township - T.[homas] A.
Grinter. Wyandotte Township J. C. Grinter
1874
29 May.
Arrangements for the Fourth -
On arrangement included J. C. Grinter.
12 June.
Wheat -
W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter, of
Secondine,
commenced cutting his wheat on Wednesday. The prospect is that the crop will be
above the average.
4 December. Wyandotte County Sunday School
Association
- Suggestions upon the
plan of organization were then made by Thos. Grinter. Thomas Grinter elected
President.
The Festival - The festival given by the people of [School] District No. 37, on
the occasion of the dedication of their new school house, near the residence of
James F. Simmons, about a mile and a half from Edwardsville, on Saturday night
last, was, as we learn from several persons who were present, a very pleasant
and enjoyable affair. [Did the school have a name?] The Edwardsville Glee Club
sang a number of excellent pieces, in their usual fine style, Miss Flora Cook,
of this city, playing the accompaniments on the organ. Miss Cook also played and
sang several beautiful songs, as also did Miss Belle Grinter+, the entire portion
of the entertainment being such as to win the hearty applause of the audience.
1875
28 May. Married - Mooney - Grinter
At the residence of the bride's parents, in Wyandotte county, May 20th, 1875, by
Rev. Wm. Smith, Mr. Robert T. Mooney+ and Mary E. Grinter+.
11 June. Meeting at White Church - A mass meeting was
held at White Church, on Saturday last, to consider the destitution in the
county, and the best method of relief. Judge R. P. Clark was chosen chairman and
D. W. Grinter, secretary. [Note: D. W. Grinter is probably
Daniel W. Grinter, son of Samuel Grinter, son of John Grinter. Dan Grinter would
be the nephew of Moses Read Grinter and James C. Grinter].
25 June. Isaac Journeycake - We
learn from the Coffeyville Courier. that the murderer of Mr. Journeycake is a half-breed Cherokee, by name of
Calvin Coker. Coker and some friends had been drinking it seems, and seeing
Journeycake accompanied by Daniel Anderson, a colored man, going by got on their
horses and met them. Coker told Mr. J. to ride outside of the road as he wished
to talk with him. Journeycake replied that if he had anything to say he could
ride along the road and say it. Coker then struck at him with a revolver and at
the same time caught hold of him and fired one shot but missed his aim. Both men
fell from their horses and as Journeycake attempted to raise up Coker fired
again, striking the victim in the breast and killing him instantly. The
funeral took place on the following Tuesday, and was conducted by the Masonic
fraternity, of which the deceased was an honored member, and was largely
attended. Mr. Journeycake was born i n the year 1809 and was consequently 56
years old. He has by his honorable conduct endeared himself to every member of
the tribe, and at the time of his death enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all
who knew him. He was a member of the Delaware Council
and has been for many
years the official tribal Interpreter.
9 July.
Married - Honeywell-Myers. In Prairie township, Wyandotte county, Kansas, July 3d, 1875,
Mr. E. M.
Honeywell+ to Miss Nora Myers, both of Wyandotte County.
10 September. Farmer's Picnic -
The farmer's picnic held in James C. Grinter's grove, near Secondine, last
Saturday, was a very pleasant affair. Thos. A Grinter was President and J. F.
Timmons Secretary. Speeches were made by J. Stockton, D. B. Hiatt, M. L. Thompson,
Dr. M. B. Lyons, and Capt. T. A. Grinter. A bountiful dinner, fine
vocal and instrumental music, and a sociable time generally, were among the
[text to be entered. Editor]
17 September. We had the pleasure on last
Sunday of visiting, in company with
Capt. Wilcox, the Secondine Sunday School, held in Grinter's Chapel, on the bluff,
about a mile north of Moses Grinter's house on the K [and P?] railroad.
The chapel is a neatly-built little church situated in a pleasant grove on the
hill, and the school is composed of the children and adults of the neighborhood,
some of them coming from adjoining school districts, and belonging to different
religious denominations. There were present, we should judge, about fifty
teachers and scholars. Mr. Akin is superintendent and Mr. Hilliard, secretary.
The venerable Moses Grinter was present, also his son
W[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison], James Grinter, a
brother of Capt. Thomas [Grinter], and several others of the name, among the younger
members of the school ... The exercises of the Sunday school, and the organization of the Township
association having been got along with invitations to dinner seemed in order,
and they were numerous and pressing. It was decided, however, to go with Mr.
Stevens, and draw upon his son-in-law Capt. T.[homas] A. Grinter for entertainment, it
being desirable to consult him, as President of the County Association, in
regard to the arrangements for the annual meeting in October. We found the
Captain pleasantly situated in an ancient log house, but with a handsome new
frame building early ready to move into. Capt. Grinter has an excellent farm,
with several hundred choice apple trees, just coming into bearing, a large
number of grape vines, blackberry and raspberry bushes, &c. and soil that
produces corn, wheat, buckwheat, the various grasses, and musk melons, Irish and
sweet potatoes &c. in the greatest profusion so that, as may be supposed, we
fared well when we reached his domicile, although it was hard work to get there,
on account of the roughness of the road. And that leads us to say, in closing,
although it is not strictly connected with Sunday schools or County S. S.
associations that Wyandotte, has the roughest and impracticable roads of any,
and this so to be. [?] The county authorities ought to see that at least two
good roads are built through the county, running east and west and then the
people of the different road districts should see that their local roads are
kept in better order.
1 October.
S. S. Picnic - We learn
that the Sunday School which meets in Grinter's Chapel, in Delaware township,
will have a picnic party in the grove near the chapel on Saturday night of next
week. A pleasant time is anticipated, and the friends of Sunday Schools in the
vicinity are cordially invited.
8 October.
Republican County
Convention ... The following committees were appointed, viz: On credentials
- W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter.
31 December.
A Reunion of Brothers
Editor Gazette: - Some fifty years ago
there was seen a tall, athletic man wending his way to the then wilderness of
what is now Wyandotte County. He shouldered his pack away back in Logan County
Kentucky, to make himself a home, and on the banks of the Kaw he pitched his
tent, drove his stakes, and reared a numerous and respectable family, that has
been instrumental in giving tone and stability to society in the community in
which they reside. As the traveler passes up the Kaw valley, behind the iron
horse, he is early reminded where our venerable friend drove his stakes, by the
view of a large brick dwelling looming up (at the old Delaware Ford) in all its
pristine glory. The occupant, our friend, Moses Grinter, was agreeably surprised
by the arrival of his brother . The brothers had not met until
now for over a quarter of a century. The 22d inst. witnessed the reunion of all
four brothers, with members of their families as far as possible, and a more
pleasant day and agreeable assembling of kinfolk is seldom met with in a life
time. There was the aged with silver locks, middle-aged and the young, and one
could no help being impressed with the truth of John Quincy Adams' remark while
minister of England just before our second war with that country, that the young
men should get married and raise up sons to fight our battles, it being
beautifully illustrated in the Grinter family; for there were at least
forty-five present, young and old, and not half told at that. The day passed off
very agreeably. In the evening the young people had a pleasant party, and since,
festival has followed festival. The last reunion will take place tomorrow, the
28th, with James C. Grinter, and will close with festivity and the departure of
the visiting brother to his home in Atlanta Ill. In all human probability this
will be the last time they will meet on earth. May God in His infinite mercy,
bring them all to re-unite around the Great White Throne above, where parting
is no more.
1876
14 January.
The Country Ahead -
Mr. English and the Rev. Mr. Warren conducted Capt. Grinter to
the chair, who, after a few appropriate and well-timed remarks, awaited the
pleasure of the meeting.
11 February. From
Secondine - School District No. 13 Wyandotte Co., Kan., January 31st. 1876
- [To the] Editor Gazette - On order to prohibit whispering in my school I
propose to have published the name of each student who would not whisper during
the month of January, 1876. I found it to be very nearly a success. Some of the
students kept the "faith," and most of them kept it for three weeks, some indeed
up to the 27th inst. Please insert the following names in your paper: James
R. Ford, Bailey B. Defries+, Robert Eakins. [I would never have made it. Editor]
5
May. Proceedings of the Republican County Central
Committee - Committee met pursuant to roll call, April 29th, 1876, at 1
o'clock p.m. At roll call, the following members were present: C. E. Wilcox,
W. J. Buchanan, R. E., B. Grafton, D. Abbott, R. M. Gray, L. C., A. W. Kelly,
Wm. Grinter.+ [William
Grinter is probably the brother of Moses Read Grinter.]
1877
10 August.
Commissioners ... John C.
Grinter was appointed Treasurer of Wyandotte township to fill vacancy
caused by the death of Henry Burgard, and the appointment previously
made, of Larkin Washer, for that position was rescinded.
26 October. Edwardsville -
J. C. Grinter is having a good comfortable tenant house built on his farm
now occupied by Jno. Benedick. H. C. Wilson has the contract for
building it.
2 November. Wyandotte Township - The
mass meeting called at Kerr's precinct, for Saturday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m.,
organized by electing Thos. Grinter as chairman, and John Purtee
as secretary. After reading of the financial report of C. H. Carpenter,
township Trustee, the following nominations for township officers were made:
Trustee, C. H. Carpenter, Treasurer, John C. Grinter.
16 November.
Township Officers
- Wyandotte Township - Treasurer, John
C. Grinter
1878
4 January.
Proceedings of the Greenback County
Committee - On motion, the following persons were chosen to act as full
committee for 1878. Delaware, James C. Grinter
25 January. William Burgess was
arrested last Saturday morning on charge of taking a revolver of John Grinter's
and Monday, on confession, was sentenced by Judge Hovey to confinement in
the County jail for twenty days.
22 February. White Church Items -
Asa Ford has rented Cy Ketchum's+ farm. Milton Thorpe has sold
his farm for $2,000 and has purchased 80 acres on the prairie, of Lewis
Ketchum+, for $2,000 and 20 acres from John Silar.
8 March. Edwardsville Items. Mr. J. C.
Grinter shipped one hundred and fifty barrels of apples to Messrs.
Clemens, Cloon & Co., Kansas City, on Tuesday
29 March. As previously announced, the
White Church Lyceum met the Grinter Debating Club in joint discussion
last Thursday night. Question, Resolved, That conscience is a true guide
to duty. Speakers on the affirmative were D.[aniel] W. Grinter, S. Stevens,
T. H. Grinter, John Grinter and - Murphy. Negative, R[ezin?] Wilcoxin, Worth
English, A. W. Lamingham, and L. D. Crotchett. Judges Messrs. Wm. Grinter, Akin
and Murphy. The rule reads as follows: "The judges shall give reasons for
their decision." The judges decided in favor of the affirmative, but when
requested to give reasons, they failed to do so; so the W. C. [White Church]
boys claim the discussion, and we think the large audience present will bear
them out in their rights.
5 April. The Grinter-White Church joint
debate took place Thursday evening. Judge English was chosen
chairman and Messrs. Frank Bigham, David Taylor and Asa Ford were
selected as judges. The question debated was "Resolved, That capital punishment
should be abolished." The affirmative was defended by D. Abbott, W. English,
L. D. Crotchett, John Hacker and John Kelly; the negative by D. W.
Grinter, T.[homas] A. Grinter, J. F. Grinter, J. W. Murphy and S. Stephens+.
The judges gave a decision in favor of the affirmative. The third and final
joint discussion will be held at White Church on the evening of the eleventh of
April, in the church building. Question for debate, "Resolved, That the right
of suffrage be extended to all female persons over twenty-one years of age."
Affirmative, White Church Lyceum, Negative, Grinter Lyceum.
19 April. The White Church-Grinter joint
debate took place last Thursday evening at W.[yandotte] C.[ity], pursuant to
adjournment. Robert T. Mooney was called at the chair, and Messrs. W.
M. English, John Humphreys and I. Drake were appointed as judges. The
question debated was so amended as to read: "Resolved, That there should be no
discrimination on account of sex, in the exercise of the elective franchise in
the U. S. of America." Affirmative - R.[ezin?] Wilcoxen, L. D. Crotchett, W.
English, John Hacker, and D. Abbott. Negative - D.[aniel] W. Grinter, J.
F. Grinter, J. W. Murphy, S. Stephens, and T.[homas] A. Grinter. Decision
in favor of the negative.
26 April. Statement of Claims and Accounts -
Allowed by the Board of County Commissioners of Wyandott County, Kansas
at the regular April session, A.D. 1878. . . N. T. Defries for repairing
approaches to Elkins and McGraw bridges - 11.00. [Is Nathan "T"
Defries possibly Nathan F. Defries, son of William T. Defries
and brother of Audley Paul Defries?]
31 May. White Church Items. There will be a
Fourth of July celebration, this year, at Grinter's Chapel. Mr. R.
Wilcoxen has four acres of wheat that averages over five feet in height.
14 June. Death of an Old Citizen - Moses
R.[ead] Grinter died at his residence at Secondine in this county, on
Wednesday, June 12th, aged 69 years and 3 months. He was apparently in good
health up to Monday afternoon, when he was found, lying prostrate in his
dooryard, stricken with an attack of paralysis of the brain. He was brought in
the house and placed in bed, where everything possible was done for him, but he
gradually sank, remaining speechless from the time he was brought into the
house, and passed away about ten o'clock Wednesday morning. Mr. Grinter was the
oldest settler in Wyandotte county, having come here in 1829. He was known all
over the county, was universally respected as an upright citizen and an honest
man. His death will be mourned by a large circle of friends. The funeral took
place Thursday afternoon and was very largely attended.
The Fourth at Grinter's - Our national anniversary will be celebrated in
the handsome grove near Grinter's school house, by a basket picnic, under
the auspices of the Grinter Debating Club. The programme will include an
address by Hon. S. A. Cobb. All are cordially invited. The following is the
order of exercises:
Assembly called to order at 10:30 a.m. by chairman.
Music- National Anthem. Prayer. Address of welcome by D.[aniel] W. Grinter+.
Reading of the Declaration of Independence. R. Eakins.
Music - Star Spangled Banner. Dinner. Oration, by Hon. S. A. Cobb. Five
minute speeches. Music. The committee of arrangements consists of S. Stephens,
W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter,
D.[aniel] W. Grinter and T[homas] A. Grinter. The chairman of the day
is R. T. Mooney and the Marshals are S. Stephens and T. A.
Grinter.
21 June 21. J.
C. Grinter has received three carloads of lumber for the
mammoth barn he is building
12 July. That substantial and prosperous
granger, John C. Grinter, Esq., of White Church occupied a chair in the
GAZETTE sanctum early Tuesday morning. The Fourth of July celebration at
Grinter's was an eminent success in every respect. The oration was delivered by
Judge Carroll, instead of Col. Cobb, as was previously announced.
Other gentlemen spoke, and a good time was had. The committees deserve great
praise for the perfect manner in which all details were attended to.
26 July. Maywood Items. A daughter was born
a few days ago to Mr. John Ginter (?) and John is happy as the seven other
boys.
9 August. Rev. Mr. Warren, of Mo., will
preach the funeral sermon of Moses Grinter, deceased a short time ago, at
Grinter's Chapel, at 11 o'clock a.m. on next Sunday.
20 September. Republican County
Convention. Afternoon Session. The committee on credentials reported the
following gentlemen entitled to seats as delegates or alternates: Delaware
- J. M. Shore, W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison]
Grinter.
27 September.
School began a week ago
last Monday in the Timmons school District, and Mr. Frank Grinter
is the teacher.
11 October. Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Grinter
went to Atchison to attend the Synod last Thursday.
25 October. Mr. Ed. Defries+ has just
finished raising a fine large corn crib. Mr. John Grinter has purchased a
handsome parlor ornament in the way of an organ.
1 November. Mr. John Grinter, after two
trials has succeeded in completing a well, by curbing as he proceeded
downward. Mr. James Defries is planting his engine opposite the
store. He proposes to attach a pair of corn burs to the power and to put
up two sheds or houses of some sort. This will give Stony Point a corn
mill.
15 November. The New Township Officers.
Wyandotte Township Clerk - D[aniel] W. Grinter.
22 November.
Mr. Defries's corn
mill is now in operation and its busy hum gives Stony Point quite a
business air.
W. D. Allen died on Sunday night at the residence of his late father-in-law
Moses Grinter. Mr. Allen was a highly respected citizen, and much
esteemed by all who knew him. He was in the 34th year of his age, and had, for
three consecutive years, served as teacher. On Tuesday a meeting was held at the
school house to organize a Literary Society. R.[obert] T. Mooney
was elected President, T. Jacks, Vice President;
W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter,
Secretary;
J. F. Grinter
Treasurer; D.[aniel] W. Grinter, J. Mitchum, and C. J. Smith
were appointed on the executive committee.
29 November. James Defries+ wishes to
notify the citizens of Stony Point and vicinity, that the regular
grinding days will be Fridays and Saturdays. Quite a pleasant social gathering
was held at Mr. J. F. Grinter's on Sunday last, to keep fresh in their memories
the birthday of Miss Mary and Mr. Frank Stephens.
6 December. Mr. James Defries wishes
all to know that he can make as good a meal, and as much of it, as any one in
the county.
1879
3 January. Mr. James F.
Grinter made us a short but pleasant call Thursday. He allowed us to
ornament our subscription book with his name. Mr. R.[obert] T. Mooney
came in with a drove of sixty-four splendid porkers one day last week. He
disposed of them to Plankinton & Armour. Mr. R.[obert] T. Mooney, Esq.,
is engaged in remodeling the machinery of the mill. Mr. Mooney is a resident of
our County, and ranks among the leading mill-wrights of the west.
17 January. John C. Grinter
"bounced" the train here on Tuesday, and made a flying trip to Leavenworth.
7 February. Mr. Mooney has been, and
is still engaged in fitting up the Pomeroy mill
A child of Mr. Mooney swallowed two needles last Wednesday. His mother
removed one with her finger but the other stuck crosswise in its throat, causing
such pain as not to allow it to close its mouth for about eight hours. It is
thought the needle passed out towards the outside of the neck. The child plays
around now as usual.
28 February. White Church.
Solomon Ketchum+ has bought a wild and
beautiful pony of Mr. Cook. Sol. is breaking him in to ride.
28 March. R.
T. Mooney, who has the contract for
building the lodge room for the Masons, and has been handling lumber from
Wyandotte this week
4 April. Mr. Frank Eakin has taken Mr.
James Grinter into his store as a partner
18 April. Edwardsville Items. Eakin &
Grinter have lately brought on a $2,500 stock of goods .
25 April. White Church Items. Reason [Rezin]
Wilcoxen lost his fine mare last Monday night, which makes nine horses Mr.
Wilcoxen has lost in five years. Died. Last Saturday morning after an illness
of two weeks, Elizabeth, wife of Ambrose Grinter, aged 46 years.
A large concourse of mourning friends and relatives followed the remains to the
Grinter Cemetery on Sunday
2 May. Real Estate Transfers - R.[ezin]
Wilcoxen and wife to G. U. S. Hovey, one-fourth acre in 31, 10 24,
warranty, $110. J F Timmons and wife to James C. Grinter, 80
acres in 29, 11, 24, warranty, $1,600. J. C. Grinter and wife to J. C
.Moore and wife, 58.80 acres in 10, 11, 24, warranty, $2,000. J. C. Grinter and wife and Wm. Jacks and wife to J. C. Moore 48
acres in 10, 11, 24, warranty, $1,840. R.ezin] Wilcoxen, 80 acres in 31,
11, 24, warranty. J. Ketcham [Ketchum] to Wilcoxen, 80 acres in
31, 11, 14, $2,000.
9 May. Mr. Dan Grinter lost an infant child
last Sunday morning. Rev. O. D. Allen preached the funeral discourse at
the Grinter Cemetery Sunday evening. [NOTE: There is a Robert Grinter,
born 1877, died 1879, buried near Dan W. Grinter.
30 May. Braman Hill
Items. Jacob Bartles,
postmaster at Bartlesville, Indian Ter., wife and son, were calling on
old friends at this place on the 24th.
4 July. The Supreme
Court met Tuesday for the July term. The suits of J. C. and J. N. Grinter
vs. the K.[ansas] P.[acific] R[ail] W.[ay] Co., were passed.
16 July. Edwardsville Items . Mr. John Grinter, of Grinter's Chapel,
was in our town last Sunday evening. Your correspondent knows what brought him
here, but will not say.
18 July. Come to Eakin & Grinter's for
No. 1 shoes and boots at bedrock prices. A team belonging to Jas. C. Grinter
ran away last week. Damage was slight.
26 September. County Personals - John G.[ill] Pratt, of Maywood,
Wyandotte county, was born in Mass., in 1814 and moved to
Wyandotte county April 2, 1837. Soon after this he established a Baptist
mission among the Delaware Indians and
at a later period he was appointed agent for this tribe. It has been stated
that Mrs. Pratt has never visited either Wyandotte or Leavenworth,
while living in the vicinity of their present residence (15 miles from those
cities) in the past 42 years. Mr. Pratt informed me that this was a mistake, as
Mrs. Pratt makes frequent visits to both of those cities. Mr. Pratt is a very
quiet, modest unassuming gentleman, one of the kind of men who wear well and
yet, I am sure, one with whom it would be dangerous to meddle. He wears no
whiskers and looks at least fifteen years younger than he really is. Mr. Pratt
is about five feet seven inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He is at
present engaged in farming.
Logan Zeigler+, settled at Wyandotte, Kansas, 1829 .
17 October. Republican Convention.
Delaware - W.[illiam] H.[Henry] H.[arrison] Grinter.
24 October Edwardsville Items. The
following is the programme of the Lyceum in district no. 37 for Saturday
evening, November 1st. Select Reading by Miss S. Grinter. 2 - an
address by Mr. J. F. Timmons 3 - Song by Miss Belle Grinter.
31 October. On
the prairie, last week, Robinson's steam thresher threshed for John Deister 600
bushels of wheat, for Frank Deister 695 and for Wm. Honeywell .
21 November. Stony Point Items.
Mr. Baxter Grinter came down from Perryville and spent the Sunday at
his father's Thos. A. Grinter.
5 December. John Grinter has bought a
farm in Jefferson County, Kansas from Clay Siler, formerly of this
place. In him this community lose a good citizen.
12 December. Edwardsville.
Messrs. Eakin & Grinter are closing out their Store and will go out of
business in this place. Now is the time to get bargains in dry goods. Mr.
Eakins will go west and go into business in some western city
26 December. Edwardsville.
Messrs. Eakin & Grinter will not close out their business as stated before,
but will hereafter run a larger stock than before. They intend, in the Spring,
to build a large addition to their already large store room. Married, last
Thursday evening, at the residence of the bridegroom's father, Mr. John
Grinter jr. and Miss Ida Shepherd.
1880
16 January.
Those having "drive wells" on their
premises met at Eakin & Grinter's store, last Friday, at ten o'clock p.m.
and organized themselves into a club to fight the royalty of $10 on each pump or
well claimed by certain persons upon the process of getting water. They have
determined to carry the question into the Courts if need be.
30 January. Claims against Wyandotte
County - D[aniel] W. Grinter, same - 8.0
6 February. Township Elections. Justices
- Wyandotte Township - J. D. Husted, J. F. Grinter.
Quindaro Township - Constables - Rezin Wilcoxen+
13 February. Edwardsville Items.
Mr. H. B. Hunt has purchased the brick store of Mr. Jas Grinter and
has moved his family from Kansas City.
5 March.
Pomeroy.
Jimmy Grinter was in town on Wednesday. He reports everything serene in
the vicinity of Timmon's school house
19 March. Pomeroy. Lewis Ketchum,
and wife, took the train here last Tuesday, bound for the Indian Territory
on a visit.
7 May. Immigration Society. The Wyandotte
County Immigration Society met at Voss's Hall on Saturday at 2
o'clock p.m., and formed a permanent organization by the election of James T.
Johnson as President, Hon. Sanford Haff .... The following Township
Committees were also elected: Wyandotte - Thomas A. Grinter. Mr. Jas.
Grinter is indisposed, and attended by Dr. Murphy.
23 July. Edwardsville. Frank
Eakin and J. C. Grinter will go into business at Perryville,
Kansas.
6 August. There was a Sunday school picnic
at Grinter's School house, Stony Point, on Saturday, July 31. Speaking
by the local talent. A good time generally. We put in a day visiting John C.
Grinter and vicinity this week. And if our readers want to see the finest
country in Kansas, they would do well to take the same trip. They will find J.
C.'s latch string out and he will show them sights in farming that will do them
good. Mr. Grinter is a god honest democrat, but from the way he pointed out the
farms belonging to his republican neighbors, and the need of praise he gave them
for their thriftiness, we judge him to be either very liberal toward his
political opponents or unusually well pleased with their early education and
their manner of farming.
August 27. James Grinter, of
Perryville
came down last Saturday to visit his parents. Republican Primaries.
The returns of the election of Thursday evening, as
far as heard from are as follows: Delegates - Delaware - J. M. Shores,
McDowell, W.[illiam] H.[enry] Grinter.
September.
Republican Nominations. The Republican County Convention assembled in Dunning Hall on
Saturday August 28th and was called to order by H. L. Alden, chairman of
the central committee. Mr. Eli Teed was chosen temporary chairman who
appointed the committees as follows: On credentials - R. D. Speck, T. C.
Foster, Wm. H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter, W. L.
McKenzie.
8 October. Edwardsville. J. C. Grinter has
been shipping some apples to Burrton, Harvey Co., Kansas and realized
a good price for them.
1881
4 March. Pomeroy -
Uncle Lewis Ketchum and wife left Monday
evening for the "Nation" to visit friends.
1 April. Wyandotte County Delinquent Tax
List Delaware Township - S. [Solomon?] Ketchum
W/2 of SW/4 of Sec. 3, T. 11, R 23 Amt - 80 acres -$25.40. R D McCamish
E/2 of E/2 of SE fractional quarter of Sec. 36, T 11, R 23 - 38.8 acres -Amt -
$79.90
7 May. Edwardsville - H. C. Wilson
has employed S. Etter as sawyer for his mill. He will move the mill
to J. C. Grinter's farm for a few days. and will saw a large amount of
lumber for hi during the summer.
15 July. Louis Ketchum
brought to the mill his half of forty acres of wheat one day this week. It
brought him the munificent sum of three dollars.
16 September. Hon. W. R. Wagstaff - [Names supporting Wagstaff for judge includes J. C.
Grinter.]
25 November. Pomeroy - Sylvania
Lodge No. 9 Knights of Pythias elected officers on Saturday night. J. D.
Mudeater, C. C., S. W. Ketchum, V. C.
2 December. James C. Grinter, Esq.,
says that in some parts of Wyandotte county the grub has destroyed many acres of
wheat. The sudden and severe frosts of the past few weeks have not injured the
wheat as much as we feared. It contained so much sap that a sudden check was
liable to injure the tender plant.
16 December. Sol Ketchum, son of Lewis
Ketchum, of Wyandotte county, was robbed of $140 in gold while traveling on
the Fort Scott road. Sol says that he would know the fellow if he should
ever meet him again. He would like to meet him too. Sol will sleep with one eye
open next time.
23 December. White Church -
Mr. Sol Ketchum is up from the Indian Tr.
visiting friends. He reports everything in a flourishing condition.
30 December. Suc-Quindaro - Historical and
Descriptive Sketches of Quindaro Township, White Church, Six
Mile, Pomeroy, and Quindaro as a City, a Racy Sketch by Our
Pomeroy Correspondent. White Church so named for the
old Delaware church which still survives, was first [the township,
not the church] started in 1869 by the late W. English, who had invested largely
in real estate in the vicinity and Mr. Samuel McMillen . . . Among the
oldest citizens of the burg . . . Dan Grinter. Quindaro Township -
. . . The line between the old Wyandotte
and Delaware reservations crosses the township, passing near the
residence of W. R. Malott known as the old Isaac
Journeycake place.
1882
6 January.
A colored man by the name of Israel Johnson stole a horse from
Joseph Thatcher near White Church last week. Judge Hovey
commissioned Thacher as a special constable and put him on track. The thief and
horse were both overhauled in Leavenworth County and the boy, who is only
sixteen years of age, now lies in our county jail. His age is all that saved him
from summary trial by the vigilantes. Mr. John C. Grinter interceded for
him.
27 January. Armstrong - The following
officers were nominated at the township convention held at Armourdale
Jan. 21st: . . . justice of the peace ... John C. Grinter
10 February. White Church - Mr.
Daniel Grinter is very low with pneumonia. Dr. Newton is attending
him. Solomon Ketchum leaves for
Vinita. I. T., on Friday, Feb. 10.
17 February. Mr.
S. C. Ketchum return to the [Indian]
Territory last week, and just before leaving subscribed for the
GAZETTE in order to keep posted in regard to Wyandotte county. Township Officers
- Quindaro Constable. R.[ezin] Wilcoxen ... Wyandotte Justices of
the Peace, John C. Grinter.
31 March.
[Listing of Court Cases]
John C. Grinter vs. Wm. Fletcher et al.
2 June. Delaware Indians trading
extensively at Independence, and are said to be good cash customers.
23 June. The Delawares - Rev. William Adams+ formerly
of Wyandotte County, a Delaware Indian,
and now living in the Cherokee Nation,
called at our office yesterday. From him we learn that the Delawares have
secured comfortable houses and in comfortable circumstances. The Baptist
church has a membership of 230, having two hours of worship. Their schools
are well intended. Herding stock and farming are about equally divided. Mr.
Adams says herding and raising stock is on the increase even the boys are not
satisfied without a whip and a pony. A considerable majority of the Cherokees
are opposed to dividing the lands they think it too soon to agitate the
question. Mr. Adams would not commit himself on the question of United States
Courts in the territory. "Oklahoma Payne" they have no use for - he
knows better that to come into their territory. Crop prospects are good and
fruit will be plentiful. [NOTE: "Oklahoma Payne" was David Payne, an early
promoter of white settlement in Oklahoma. He led a group known as the
"Boomers" which promoted white settlement. Payne County, Oklahoma, where
Stillwater is located, is named after David Payne. There are several
articles in the Gazette opposed white squatters in the
Indian Territory and the editors generally
took a position opposing that white settlement.]
Of the Delawares the great part of the old settlers are
dead. Mr. Charles Journeycake is still living with his family on Lightning
Creek. The Connors are all dead. One of the Sarcoxie family is left.
"Delaware Charley" is still living and sticks to the customs of his
forefathers. He dresses in Indian style but is shrewd enough to possess a good
form. He and Captain Jackson live on the extreme northwest corner of the
Cherokee Nation. There the "wild ones" have their temple and worship the Great
Spirit in truly ancient style. There are forty or fifty of that class. They
exert considerable influence upon the younger members of the tribe who often go
there out of curiosity. When the Delawares left Wyandotte county they numbered
900, now, at roll call only 750 are reported.
4 August. Republican Convention . . . The
County Central Committee was chosen by precincts and wards as follows:
Delaware - W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter
25 August.
Democratic Convention
- The following were elected delegates to the Emporia Convention:
Alternates - D.[aniel] W. Grinter. The committee on credentials reported
the following as having been elected members of the County Central Committee:
Newton - D. W. Grinter.
1883
5 January. Mr. J. A. Reams and Miss
Henrietta Defries of White Church were married on December 30 1882 by
J. Grinter esq. The attendants were Phil Lemmon and Miss Mary
Stevens+, also D.[aniel] B. Defries and Miss
Nannie Grinter.
19 January. Edwardsville - Hon. J. F. Timmons came down
from Topeka on Friday of last week. [The term "down" from Topeka
is interesting. Kansas City is downstream from Topeka on the Kansas
River.] F. Eakin
and family of Perry are visiting J. C.
Grinter's.
16 February. Our friend the
Honorable James Findley Timmons, Democratic member of the [Kansas]
Legislature, is in a state of bewilderment. [Whatever that means!]
2 March. Married - At the residence of the
bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Grinter of White Church, Mr. H. A. Stephens and Miss Nannie Grinter
were united in marriage on Tuesday evening, February 27, at 7:30 o'clock.
Rev. O. D. Allen, of Parkville, pronouncing the ceremony. After
receiving congratulations the guests numbering over one hundred sat down to a
bountiful supper. The bride was attended during the service by Miss Stephens
and Miss Doyle English, of White Church; the groom's best men
were J. C. Grinter. of Edwardsville, and C. J. Smith, of Wyandotte.
[NOTE: Henry Stephens and Nannie Grinter were the parents of Annie Stephens, an
early Grinter family researcher.]
11 May.
Pomeroy Items - Simon W. Ketchum+
and wife came in from
Indian Territory
on Tuesday. Simon passed the
winter in Florida searching for the fountain of youth. His many friends
in this section fully hope that he may soon fully regain it. [NOTE: He may
have been one of the original "Snow Birds" I hope that he found the Fountain of
Youth there. I did! Editor]
8 June.
Jurors for July Term - A
double panel of twenty-four jurors was drawn for the July term of the district
court as follows: James F. Grinter, Thomas A. Grinter of
Wyandotte Township.
22 June. On Tuesday, June 19, Wm.
McCamish, of Muncie, commenced cutting wheat.
5 October. A pleasant party was attended at
Mr. Grinter's, on Tuesday evening, in honor of Lincoln [?] who
commences teaching at No. 43, next Monday. [NOTE: Probably a misprint. The name
should be Linton rather than Lincoln.]
19 October.
Bright Little Tiblow - Tiblow,
a bright little village fifteen miles west of Wyandotte, on the Union
Pacific R. R., is attracting the attention of passers by as a suburban town
for residences, on account of its commanding appearance and beautiful building
sites. It was named after Henry Tiblow, a Delaware Indian, who was well know to
the early settlers of Wyandotte county as an intelligent and affable man,
with a pleasant word for all. Situated on the banks of the Kansas River,
Tiblow became first known as a exchange station for the Southern Overland Stage
Co., on the military road from Ft. Leavenworth to Fort Scott, and also as
a camping ground for U. S. troops and freight trains en route to and from
Ft. Scott and the south. A store and tavern were established at Tiblow's Ferry
during the [Civil] war, which afterward burned to the ground, and no
efforts were made to rebuild, them until about 1869, when the demand for a store
again arose, to supply wood choppers and railroad tie makers with the
necessities of life.
16 November. County Correspondence,
Maywood - Mrs. J. H. Bartles+ is
up from Indian Territory, visiting at Mr. J.[ohn] G.[ill] Pratt's, and is
also receiving medical attention from Dr. Brock of Leavenworth, for some
throat trouble from which she is suffering. [She was a daughter of
Charles Journeycake and a former daughter-in-law of John Gill Pratt.]
23 November. County Correspondence, Stony
Pointers - Perkinsville (formerly Stony Point) - The most noted
personage is Squire Grinter, who deals out justice with an impartial
hand. Thomas Grinter, the fruit man, picked over 300 bushels of apples
from his orchard this fall. Mr. R.[obert] T. Mooney is building a large
two-story residence for James Grinter, Jr., and James Defries and
Mr. Johnson are erecting one for Mrs. Allen. Linton Grinter,
teacher at District No. 34, was at home over Sunday.
William A.[sher]Defries+, who has been
attending the medical institute for a lame limb, returned home Saturday, gently
improved. [NOTE: He was a son of Audley P. Defries and
Mary Jane Grinter, daughter of
Anna Marshall and Moses Grinter.
William A. Defries later lost a leg, perhaps as a result of the above mentioned
affliction.]
14 December. Stony Pointers - James Grinter and James David,
two of our expert Nimrods, left for an extended hunt in
Indian Territory. R. T. Mooney, the
noted hunter and trapper, succeeded in catching three fat beavers recently. Mrs.
James Cooley of Glenwood, Johnson county is visiting her father James
Grinter, Sr. Mrs. R.[obert] T. Mooney pleasantly entertained a large number
of friends and family at a turkey roast on Thanksgiving. Rev. Lewis
of White Church, who has been holding a protracted meeting at Grinter's Chapel
this past week, will be assisted by Rev. . . . of Wyandotte, during continuance
of the same. Will Grinter, our veteran hunter, after faithfully pursuing
a duck several days succeeded in capturing it on last Thursday in time for
supper. [NOTE: James David was the spouse of Harriett/Henrietta
Grinter, a daughter of James C. Grinter and a nice of Moses Read
Grinter.]
Maywood Chips - Mr. Ely Honeywell+, one of our oldest citizens,
has gone to see if there is any wealth stored up in the mountains of Oregon
for him. Mr. John Deister has so remodeled and worked over his residence
that we can scarcely believe our eyes when we pass that way.
21 December.
From Muncie Town
- D. G. Grinter's health is rapidly improving under treatment of a Kansas
City physician. Stony Point - A valuable mule belonging to R. T.
Mooney was badly lacerated on the forelegs and shoulders last Sunday while
attempting to jump a barb wire fence and getting entangled in the same.
28 December. Stony Point - Master
Charley Stevens of Chicago, Ill., is visiting his uncles, Messrs.
James and Thos. Grinter. Linton Grinter, and James Moore Sr.,
and wife, started last Sunday for an extended visit to Russellville, Logan
Co., Ky. [The names Stevens and Stephens seem to represent the same
families with different spellings. It was common for newspaper items of the day
to spell the names incorrectly. Based on other data, it appears that "Stephens"
was the more commonly used. James Grinter and Thomas A. Grinter were sons of
John Hill Grinter, the son of John Grinter, and the brother of
Moses Read Grinter. It appears that James Grinter's wife, Sarah Stephens,
and Thomas A. Grinter's wife, Emily Stephens, were sisters, probably
making Charley the son of a brother of Sara or Emily. According to the 25
February 1865 extract, Emily was the daughter of Sylvanus Stephens, so,
Charley Stephens might have been his son, or, the son of his yet unknown
brother. Linton Grinter was the son of Thomas A. Grinter and Emily H. Stephens.]
Linton Grinter closed his school at Pleasant Grove, until
after New Year's, and is spending his vacation at home. Mr. Sidney Smith,
Mrs. Sue Grinter+, and James Moore, and wife, started last Sunday
for an extended visit in Russellville, Logan Co., Ky.
1884
11 January.
Mrs. Honeywell and Judge Hollingsworth went down to
Wyandotte on business for the former. Quite a serious accident occurred to
Mr. Honeywell the other morning which resulted in a very fine sleigh;
while driving to the depot at this point his sleigh upset and threw him out. His
horse taking fright ran off, and before she could be caught, had completed the
destruction of the sleigh.
18 January. Stony Point.
James
Defries visited his daughter in Allen county this week. R[obert]
T. Mooney spent week before last in Indiana on a business visit.
8 February. Stony Point.
Mr. Daniel
Grinter has purchased a team and will engage in tilling the soil the coming
spring. Mssrs. W.[illiam] H.[enry] Grinter and
James Defries were delegates to the congressional convention at Wyandotte.
A boarder registered at the house of Mr. Oscar Newman+ last Wednesday who
will now and forever wear petticoats, also one at Mr. Merna Stevens, last week,
who will vote in twenty-one years. [This is a birth announcement for Jennie
Newman, a daughter of Annie Defries Newman, who was a daughter of
Mary Jane Grinter and Audley Paul Defries.]
15 February. Township Elections.
Wyandotte Township - Justice of the Peace - John C. Grinter.
Quindaro Township - Justice of the Peace - R.[ezin] Wilcoxen.
7 March. Mr. Oscar Newman moved on his farm, situated on
the Reidy Road, last Thursday which was recently vacated by Mr. Wm.
Mounger. The newly organized literary society at Muncie schoolhouse
discussed the question. - Resolved, that the morals of the present generation
are degenerating" last Friday night. Mr. R. T. Mooney went to Humboldt,
Allen County, last week on a business trip. Mr. Porter into the house on
Mrs. Defries farm, vacated by Oscar
Newman. [Mrs. Defries, that is
Mary Jane Grinter, was the widow of Audley
Paul Defries, who died 27 July 1882. Oscar Newman is her son-in-law, the
spouse of her daughter, Anna Elizabeth Defries.]
Stony Point . Mr. James Defries is erecting a dwelling for
Postmaster Woods of Muncie Town. Mrs. James Grinter and
Mrs. Oliver have been on the sick list but are convalescing. Mssrs. Wm.
and Charles McCamish+ of Burlington, Coffey County, are
circulating among friends this week. Mr. Sidney Smith and Mrs. Sue
Grinter returned home last Thursday from an extended visit in Kentucky.
Messrs. John C. Grinter, Thos. Noland, Wm. Mounger and R. T. Mooney, were
in attendance at the Grand Lodge, at Lawrence. Mr. Thos. Grinter
is preparing to ship his apples to Kansas City.
4 April. Stony Point and White Church. John Grinter, Jr.,
has rented his farm for five years to R.[obert] T. Mooney. R. T.
Mooney is having "Crystal Palace" plastered, preparatory for occupancy by
the general benedict [?] L. W. Whitson.
9 May. Stony Point. Mr. Linton Grinter
closed his school at Hazel Grove last Tuesday. Rev. O. D. Allen of
Platte county, Mo., preached at the Maywood church last Sunday,
and visited Mr. John C. Grinter's. Mrs. Jams and Thomas Grinter
last Wednesday, on an extended visit with relatives in Gaylord, Smith county.
20 June. Delegates to the Republican County
Convention.
Township - Delaware W. Grinter, Jas. Defries.
15 August. Stony Point. Mr. Jas Defries
is preparing for another big wheat crop, but not as large as last year. Mr.
R.[obert] T. Mooney is building a wheat granary for Mrs. Defries.
Esq. Grinter is as usual at his post, but needs a white plug to complete the
faith canvass. [What does this mean?] There is to be a Sunday school picnic at
Grinter's chapel on the 22nd inst., all schools are invited. Refreshments
are to be on the grounds, no intoxicating liquors are allowed. Come with a song
and joyous heart. Mr. Will Grinter has captured his stolen boat, "Old
Black Bob," and is boat riding half the time.
22 August.
We had the pleasure of dining a
few days ago with our good democratic friend, John C. Grinter, who
resides in the western part of Wyandotte township. Mr. Grinter lives
in the garden spot of Wyandotte Co., as all must admit who will go with home
over his productive fields, and will stand in his front yard and beautiful
country which surrounds his farm. Mr. Grinter, besides having the fine farm, has
the name of unbounded hospitality, which his wife does her full share to
sustain.
29 August.
Mr. T.[homas] A. Grinter says that we may
expect a hard winter and he advises farmers to lay up for their own use one or
two hundred pounds of corn extra. It may be needed and is the safest kind of
insurance in the world.
17 October. John Grinter, J., expects to
start for California soon. Mr. Thomas Grinter celebrated his 57th
birthday and Mr. David Taylor his 48th birthday last Saturday, at the
Grinter residence. Several friends and relatives were present. The table
was a fairly creaking under the weight of god things which Mrs. G. had prepared
for the occasion. Everyone present expressed the wish that Mssrs. Grinter and
Taylor might love to be a hundred years old and have a birthday inner every
year.
28 November. Married. In a copy of the
Ventura (California) Signal we notice the following: "On 18th
June at the residence of the bride's parents on Ventura avenue, by Justice
Hammer, Mr. E. M. Honeywell+ to Miss Susie Garret+."
19 December. Stony Point . B.
B. Defries says he is lie [sic] unto the old woman, with flaxseed, he has
help at hand. It's a boy. John W. Grinter, who was intending to emigrate
to California, had to abandon the journey, in account of the health of
his wife, but still intends going in the spring. Prospects of Stony Point
future's prosperity are as follows: ... Hogs, there has been considerable taken
off to market. Mr. Mooney has a lot of nice ones.
W.[illiam] H.[enry] Grinter has some he intends
to put in at Philadelphia. James F. Grinter also has a good drove.
John H. Grinter, Esq., has a nice lot. Jas Defries has one he
thinks will tip the beam at four fifty. Cattle, there are some being fatted.
Sheep, James C. Grinter has the only drove. Fowls, Mrs. Martha Allen
has a drove of one hundred and forty-five, holding for the spring markets.
Stony Point is a country village of a store and a school house and one or
two residence. Like all other cities it was once it its infancy ... Court
convenes whenever called by Justice of the Peace John C. Grinter, Esq.
1885
9 January. Death of Nody Wilcoxen+. It is not often that
the sympathies of an entire community go out towards a sufferer and later to the
bereaved family, as in the case of which we take liberty to say a few words.
Miss Nody, daughter of Rezin and Melinda Wilcoxen
of White Church,
had, during her short life, continuously been an invalid. She was the youngest
of the household, was petted and caressed by the family and by neighbors but not
spoiled. She acquired, at home, an education, was a great reader, skilful in
mathematics and other branches; she acquired a vast fund of useful information
withal gave evidence of great piety. But the stern reaper could not be stayed.
At a few months less than sixteen years, on December 20th, she closed her eyes
forever, and tenderly the frail body was prepared for burial. On the 22nd,
Rev. Sherman of Wyandotte, conducted the funeral services and the
loved one of the community was laid to rest in the Grinter cemetery. But
her memory and her beautiful life remain.
23 January. Mr. Robert T. Mooney
met with quite a serious accident, while assisting in
digging a grave; one of the workmen in the act of pitching a shovel of earth
came very near severing the thumb of his left hand. Little Maud, the
daughter of John W. and Ida Grinter, is lying very low with diphtheria.
James C. Grinter has been very low in the last month with inflammatory
rheumatism. W. A. Defries has his wonderful four-horse sleigh very near
completion. Oscar Newman was visiting his mother-in-law last Sunday.
[She was Mary Jane Grinter Defries, daughter of Anna Marshall Grinter
and Moses Grinter, and the spouse of Audley Paul Defries. Oscar
Newman was married to her daughter, Anna Elizabeth Defries.] Bailey
Defries is going to move near Edwardsville. Mr. Thomas Grinter
has sold six hundred bushels of apples at seventy-five cents per bushel. Mr.
W. H. McCamish+ has moved back to his farm. He hails from Coffey County.
H. S. Hilbert has been circulating with friends during the holidays. He
looked as of yore behind his cob pipe. He gave Mr. Will Grinter a call,
and said the turkey was just splendid. Mrs. Polly Defries and daughter,
Miss Lulu, are visiting among relatives
13 March. We understand that
W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter
argues that as under democratic domination [a] p. m. [postmaster] was appointed,
so now, as an act of comity, a republican should be selected. This, however,
would be a great strain on the party which has watched and waited for a quarter
of a century for an easy way to make a living.
8 May. Stony Point. Mr. Galloway,
of Illinois, has rented Mrs. Allen's farm. [Mrs. Allen may be
Martha Vashtie Grinter Allen Kirby the
daughter of Moses Grinter and Anna Marshall.]
Mr. James Defries, Jr., of Cameron, Mo., has been visiting
relatives here for some time. John Grinter, Jr., has moved to Vinita,
Indian Territory. "Cam" Grinter has purchased a team and started to
farming. W. A. Defries is canvassing for books in Coffey county.
[He is probably William Asher Defries, son
of Audley Paul Defries and Mary Jane Grinter.
Does anyone know what this entry means?] Wm. McCamish, a former resident
of the county, but recently of Coffey County, has moved back to his farm.
John C. Grinter, R. T. Mooney, and L.[inton] E. Grinter are improving
their farms by setting out large orchards. Mr. Stephens, formerly of
White Church, has moved to Stony Point, and is erecting a wagon shop
nearly opposite the school house. [This may be Henry A. Stephens, the
husband of Nannie Hill Grinter, daughter of
Frances Catherine Grinter. "Doc" Young and family of
Russellville, Ky., visited Mrs. Young's uncle, John C.
Grinter, and other relatives in these parts, a short time ago and have gone
to Barbour county to relocate. John C. Grinter and R. T. Moony,
each have fine fields of wheat, the best we have seen in this county, although
as a general rule, wheat is almost a total failure in this part as in other
parts of the county. Quite a number of real estate transfers have been made
this spring, among which are the following: Mr. Fowler to James F.
Grinter, 80 acres; John Gable to L. E. Grinter, 40 acre
24 April. L.[inton] E. Grinter and
Misses Annie and Ida Grinter, of Muncie, made our school and the
scribe a pleasant visit last.
14 August. Republican Central Committee. On Friday, August 7th,
the following were elected ad the central committee: Delaware - W. H.
Grinter.
25 September. Stony Point. Mr. Linton Grinter's
wheat crop made twenty-two and one-third
bu. Per acre. Mr. John W. Grinter was up from Indian Ter. He
reports fin e crops. W. A. Defries and family are visiting relatives of
Stony Point and vicinity. He hails from Kentucky. J. L. Defries
is preparing for a trip to Mrs. Norris, his daughter's, in southern
Missouri.
23 October. Muncie. Mr. W. H.
McCamish has returned from El Dorado, Mo., where he was engaged in
merchandising.
1886
1 January. Stony Point. Miss Maria Thomas , who is visiting her sisters, will
soon leave for Nemaha co.
29 January. Stony Point. Miss Maria
Thomas, who is visiting her sisters, will soon leave for Nemaha co. [NOTE:
Maria Thomas was later the wife of William A.[sher] Defries]. W. H. McCamish
has bought the Houts farm, north of White Church, and will move about March 1st.
12 February. L.[inton] E. Grinter has
returned from St. Joe. W.[illiam] A.[sher] Defries got back from
his trip north. He reports brisk business and plenty of snow drifts.
12 March. Stony Point. Nathan Defries+ has rented widow Ingram's farm for the present year. [He is
probably Nathan F. Defries, born in Barren County, Kentucky, in
October 1829, died in 1900 in Wyandotte County, Kansas.]
9 April. Mr. John W. Grinter+, son
of John C. Grinter, has returned from the Nation to make Kansas
his future home.
23 April. Stony Point. Mr. A.
Grinter was absent from Sabbath school last Sunday, being called to Atchison, Ks. [So far, I can't place this Grinter. Editor] Mr. Cam Grinter,
the biggest young man that was in our neighborhood, got tired of leading a singe
life, and was married on the 14th inst. to Miss Lizzie Shirley of
Edwardsville. He will commence housekeeping near Grinter's Chapel.
11 June The President has ... approved
special bills granting pensions to ... Henry Shirley of Rantoul
[Which is where?] [It is not clear whether or not this Henry Shirley is the same
Henry Shirley who was Cam Grinter's father-in-law.]
25 June. Stony Point. Mr. William
Grinter has been catching some nice fish, having caught one the other day that
weighed eighty pounds. Mr. William Herdman will soon go to housekeeping
in the Linter Grinter house on the old Cree farm. Mr. Robert Mooney lost a fine
colt a few days ago by his mules killing it.
2 July. Republican Convention. The delegates
met in Dunning's Hall on Saturday, June 26th ... Committees, etc. W[illiam]
H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter.
27 August. The following is a list of those
who attended the Normal Institute just closed: W. H. McCamish, Geo. Grinter
... Ida Grinter.
3 September. Stony Point. Mr.
R.[obert] T. Mooney is erecting a large barn for John C. Grinter in
place of the old one which was blown down last spring. Mr. James Walker,
of Cass County, Mo., stopped on his return from western Kansas
to visit his uncle, Mr. James Defries. He reports crops in western
Kansas looking well. The last term of the district court was adjourned over
Thursday of last week ... The names of the jurors are as follows:
W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[enry] Grinter.
24 September. Stony Point.
Mr. Baxter
Grinter of Leavenworth is visiting his parents Mr. Thomas
Grinter.
1 October. Edwardsville. Cam
Grinter has moved on his father-in-law's farm north of town. [That is, the
farm of Henry Shirley.]
29 October.
Stony Point. Mr. Thomas Grinter
is on the sick list. Miss Ida Grinter who has been lying low for five
weeks, is at this writing not expected to live. Mr. John C. Grinter is
able to be around again.
12 November. Stony Point. Miss Ida
Grinter who has been so low for seven weeks is slowly recovering.
Mr. John C. Grinter is confined to his room again with a carbuncle.
Mr. C.[hristian] F.[rederick] Hahn and Miss Mattie
[Martha Frances] Defries were married at the residence of the
bride's mother. Nov. 3rd, Elder W. F. Wait officiating. [Mattie was the
daughter of Audley Paul Defries, of Kentucky, and Mary
Jane Grinter, the daughter of Moses Reed Grinter and
Anna Marshall. Mattie's father, Audley Paul
Defries, had died two years previously, on 27 July 1882. Chris Hahn was born
in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Chris and Mattie applied for a wedding
license at the Office of Probate Judge of Wyandotte County on 3 November
1886 and a wedding license was issued a Marriage License to Christian F. Hahn,
age 23 and Mattie Defries, age 18, but it was not returned to be recorded.]
Mr. G. R. Purtee and Mr. W. H. and J. M. Grinter will leaver for
southern Missouri on a big hunting expedition. Mr. Thomas Grinter has
about finished gathering his fine crop of apples, which will make him near a
thousand bushels
1887
7 January. Stony Point. Mr. Nathan Defries has
moved on the old Searcy place. There is some sickness in our neighborhood . . .
Mr. James F. Grinter and wife are on the sick list.
18 February.
Edwardsville. Miss Libbie Timmons
was married a few nights ago to Mr. Jas. Grinter.
25 February. Muncie. Mr. Cash Miller has rented
Cam Grinter's farm and will move on it in the spring.
4 March. Edwardsville.
Cam Grinter moved to
his farm last week.
15 April. White Church.
Judge R. Wilcoxen
sold his farm Saturday to Mr. Kerr, of Wyandotte, for $125 per
acre.
17 June. Stony Point.
Mr. R. T. Mooney of
this place shipped a car load of wheat a few days ago to the Kansas City
Milling Company.
15 July. W.[illiam] H.[enry]
H.[arrison] Grinter, of Muncie, was in the city yesterday. He
is for Blaine for president and a little more rain to keep the corn
moving and to settle the chinch bugs.
10 August. Important Sale. The final
transactions in the sale of 617 4-10 acres of land by
W.[illiam] H.[enry] H.[arrison] Grinter et al. to the Riverside
Investment and Improvement company were completed Monday. This tract of land
lies a short distance west of Muncie station on the hills and consisted
largely of wood land. This added to the property already owned by the Riverside
company makes in all some 800 acres, which they intend to beautify and improve.
Lying as it does on a fine plateau overlooking the Kaw Valley and being
abundantly supplied with springs and streams, it can be made into one of the
finest parks in the west. It lies nearly opposite the town of Quivira on
the south side of the river and it may be expected that the important
developments in this part of the country will take place in a very short time.
The price paid for the Grinter tract was $100 per acres. List of Real Estate
Transactions included: W. H. H. Grinter to H. F. Robinson, land in 29, 11, 24 .
. . 36,000.
23 September. Stony Point. Mr.
W. A. Defries of Downs, Kansas, paid his old home a visit a few days
ago.
14 October. Stony Point.
Bailey Defries is selling out and will quit farming. We understand that he is going
into the mercantile business.
18 November. Wyandotte Township - treasurer R.
T. Mooney.
16 December. Distressing Accident
W. H. H. Grinter Shot through a Mistake -
He Shoots Slayer and Then Drops Dead. The people of this city were shocked to
learn Monday that W. H. H. Grinter, one of the best and favorably known citizens
of the county had been accidentally killed while on on a hunting expedition in
Southwest Missouri. The deceased, his brother C. R. Grinter, and James
Grinter, a cousin, were hunting in Ozark County, Mo., near
Rockbridge, having been in that neighborhood for something over three weeks.
Another party of hunters from the vicinity of Ft. Scott were hunting in
the same locality.
Saturday morning between 8 and 9 o'clock both parties were out hunting.
The deceased was on a hillside in a crouching position imitating the call of a
turkey. It is supposed that W. H. Racqua, the man who shot him hearing
the noise, and seeing a dark object in the brush fired three buckshot from his
gun taking effect on Mr. Grinter's head, neck, and shoulder. Mr. Grinter
immediately sprang to his feet and fired both barrels of his gun at Racqua, who
was approaching, killing him instantly. His brother, who ran towards him on
hearing the shots, heard Mr. Grinter say, "You shot me and I'll kill you." These
were his last words; he died a few moments after his brother reached him. A
coroner's jury rendered a verdict that each man came to his death by the other's
hand, through mistaking each other for game. The remains were brought to
Swigley's undertaking rooms Monday where they were prepared for burial on the
following day.
In Memoriam. The friends and relatives paid the last tribute to all that was
earthly of W. H. H. Grinter Tuesday afternoon, and all that is left them now is
the recollection of the fine character and noble example of the citizen,
neighbor and kinsman, who came to his untimely end in such a tragic manner. W.
H. H. Grinter was the son of Moses R. and Anne
Grinter, who came to tine territory in 1832. He was born on November
1st, 1841 and is said to have been the first white child born in the county. At
the time of his death, he was entering his 47th year. His early life, and in
fact all of it, except the period spent in the army, was passed in this county.
On September 1st, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, 15th Kansas cavalry
for three years, or during the war. He held the rank of orderly sergeant until
peace was declared. On July 1st, 1865, he was discharged by special order No.
176 to accept the commission of First Lieutenant of his company. as a reward
fore meritorious conduct. He was commissioned by Sam'l. J. Crawford, who was the governor of Kansas at that time. Since that to me he has been engaged in
farming, and by industry and frugality had a amassed a very smug fortune, having
been one of the owners of the Riverside tract near Muncie until
recently, when it was purchased by a wealthy syndicate of which he was a member
at the time of his death. Since the death of his father, in 1878, he and his
widowed mother [Anne Marshall Grinter] and
sister have been living together, he never have been married.
Mr. Grinter was quiet and unostentatious in his manners, and although very
popular with all classes of people he never sought his own personal advancement.
He was well informed on all topics of general interest and was public spirited
to ah high degree. He was an earnest advocate of all that was been in all
matters pertaining to the general welfare, and it went without saying that W. H.
H. Grinter's moral support was always on the the side of the best men and
measures. No higher tribute can be paid to any citizen. He was a man of fie
physique, very fond of hunting, and one of the surest and quickest marksmen in
the country.
He was interred at the cemetery near his old home. Rev. G. J. Warren
of Gallatin, Mo., Rev. Mr. White of White Church and Rev.
J. McCormer of this city officiated at the obsequies. The funeral arrangements
were under the direction of H. S. Swingley, were very complete in every
detail. The pall bearers were John Caskey, J. H. Coleman, C. F.
Gilford, John Barger, Henry Sheley and M. R. Conlier. In the
death of W. H. H. Grinter his family and the community have suffered an
irreparable loss, and worse of regret for his tragic fate and sympathy for his
family are on every lip.
1888
6 January. Edwardsville. At
a shooting match held Saturday last in Williamson's grove, Jim Grinter, Jim
Malone, Henry Wilson, and Jack Brown, were the lucky shots.
13 January. Edwardsville. Jim Grinter is
now papa and the way in which he "set 'em up" to the boys plainly told that he
was highly honored with his new position. It is a bouncing boy. Letters of
Administration granted to John Caskey on December 31, 1887, W. H. H. Grinter
Estate.
27 January.
Stony Point. J. F. Grinter
has been on the sick list for some time, but is
recovering now. L. E. Grinter
is serving on the jury at the district
court. We understand that J. H. Grinter will leave in a short time for
his old home in Kentucky. Mrs. Hahn who has been lying sick for
some time is recovering.
2 March.
Stony Point. R.[obert] T. Mooney
is building a new house on his north eighty, which will be occupied by James
Wetzel, and Marshall Malone occupy the one formerly occupied
by Mr. Wetzel. Elder Michaels will, on the second Sunday in March,
preach a sermon at this place, in memory of Mr. Bailey Mann (formerly
called Grandpa Mann) who died on the 9th of January, at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. James Defries.
16 March. Mr. Will McCamish has been
appointed to the position of postal clerk on the Southern Kansas railway.
Mr. McCamish is one of Wyandotte county's brightest teachers, and will make a
first-class s.[data missing] Stony Point. Mr. T. A. Grinter
is back on the sick list. E. N. Brown has moved from the W. H.
Grinter place to Pat Cahill's place.
13 April. Revival at White Church.
Rev. H. C. Kirby. pastor in charge of the Wyandotte county circuit,
has just closed a series of meetings which have resulted in great good to the
entire community.
11 May. Stony Point. Mr. R. [obert]T.
Mooney is shipping walnut logs to Kansas City over the
Northwestern, which he will have sawed into lumber.
25 May. Hon. J. F. Timmons, democratic
representative of the Thirteenth district, Hon. J. L. Buckland, and Hon. John
Doe, true name R. B. McNatt were brought before Justice Auld
by Constable Parker on charges of assaulting, beating, bruising and striking with a
hatchet with intent to do great bodily harm, S. M. Humphrey and S. R.
Taylor conductor and porter on the Union Pacific Railway.
2 June. The Timmons Trial. The
case of the state vs. J. F. Timmons for assaulting Lindsey
Taylor, a porter on the Union Pacific railway on May 15th was called
for hearing in Justice Auld's court Monday.
8 June. Wellborn. Rev. Kirby will conduct
religious services here next Sunday evening at 7:30 o'clock.
29 June. There will be a fine crop of apples
this year. Mr. T. A. Grinter has the finest crop we have ever seen.
The Stony Point singing society was organized at the church last
Friday night. Mr. R. T. Mooney was elected president and Marshall Malone
as leader in the singing. The society will meet every Friday night.
Edwardsville. Rev. Kirby preached here Sunday last.
The name of the newspaper changed from the
Wyandotte Gazette to the Kansas City Gazette on 13 July 1888.
13
July.
Edwardsville.
Rev. Kirby filled his regular appointment at this place Sunday last.
27 July. That
Vicious Cow Again.
Mrs. J. F. Timmons [Maria Jane Grinter Timmons, dau. of James
Grinter] of
Edwardsville, who is visiting friends
in this city was attacked by the vicious cow that
ranges along Barnett Street from Sixth to Eighth
Streets. Tuesday night Mrs. Timmons had occasion to go with her friend on an errand to that portion of the city.
Near the corner of Seventh and Barnett
streets, they encountered the cow. The savage brute unexpectedly
attacked Mrs. Timmons, knocking her down and
bruising her considerably. Springing to
her feet quickly Mrs. Timmons made her escape
before the animal could strike her a second time. The cow attacked Mrs. Lou Barnard a few weeks ago an account of which was
published in the
Gazette at the time. The cow has
attacked several persons at different times
and yet she is allowed to run at large. The people living in the vicinity are anxious to have this dangerous animal off the street.
17
August. Stony Point. Geo. Grinter is putting out strawberries in large quantities.
Edwardsville. Rev. Kirby of the Methodist church, South, delivered his farewell sermon last Sunday evening. The Rev. leaves a host of
friends here, whose best wishes go with him.
24
August. Central
Committee Meeting. V. S. Lucas offered the following
resolutions of respect of Mr. W. H. H. Grinter, who for a
long term of years has been a member of the central committee, and a staunch
republican, which were adopted. WHEREAS, Since the last annual
meeting of the Wyandotte county republican
committee, we have lost by death one of our most valued
members, who, for many years, assisted us by
his counsel and work, W. H. H. Grinter. Be it RESOLVED, That in the death of Mr.
Grinter the republican party has lost an able and efficient
worker, the county one of its valued citizens, and his family a true son and brother. After the adoption of the
resolution, Mr. G .U. S. Hovey, of White Church,
made a brief speech eulogistic of Mr. Grinter, calling attention to the fact
that he was the first white child born in the
county, and at the breaking out of the war he threw aside the
traditions of his family and espoused the cause of
the republican party and did valiant service for the country and
his party, both on the battlefield and in
the walks of a private citizen
7
September. The M. E.
Conference. At the morning session of the annual conference of the M. E.
church south this morning,
H. C. Kirby and J. D. Austin were admitted to the conference on trial, and
A. J. Lawless was readmitted. F. A.
White and C. A. Kirby were elected to deacons’
orders, and will be ordained at the morning services
next Sunday. In the evening the
bishop announced that he had decided to divide the conference into two districts
for the convenience of the ministers in their work, with a presiding elder for
each district, Bishop Hendrix then announced the following appointments:
Kansas City Circuit – H. C. Kirby.
14
September.
Muncie and Stony Point.
J. F. Timmons sold two teams belonging to Frank Worthington and
Bill Marks Monday to satisfy a chattel mortgage. Thos. Grinter reports about only one-half a crop of apples this year, and will only have about 3,000 bushels off of 900
trees. Oscar Newman is building a new
residence on his farm north of Stony Point. J. F. Grinter’s cellar under his
house, which he started seven years ago, when he built
his house, is nearing completion. If you want to get into trouble just ask “Shanghai” about his cellar.
28
September. Edwardsville. J. F. Timmons is rusticating at his
old home in Ohio.
5 October. After an absence of three weeks visiting
friends and relatives in Eastern Arkansas, Rev. Kirby has returned with renewed health to resume his year’s
labors on the Kansas City (Wyandotte) circuit. The circuit will be held as it was last year until further notice
is given. Hon. J. F. Timmons has returned from the reunion at Columbus.
He had a splendid time. And reports the show to have been immense. He says
is overwhelmingly
Republican and that many of the brigade comrades from Illinois,
Indiana and other states report the mechanics in all the railroad and other
shops as against the Mills bill, and all for Harrison.
12 October. J. F. Timmons has returned from his extended
trip in Ohio well pleased with the country and people,
and especially with the great boom for Harrison in
that state. From his remarks, one would infer that he had been
converted from a Democrat to a full fledged Harrison man. J. F. Timmons has built a new
tenement house on his farm
2 November. Miss Bettie Grinter who had been visiting
her brother, J. C. Grinter, will leave in a few days for
her home in Kentucky. Stony Point. Mr. W. A. Defries and family, of
Osborne county, Kansas, have come to spend the
winter in the old home in Wyandotte county. Baxter Grinter, of
Leavenworth county, visited his father, T. A. Grinter, this week.
23 November. Edwardsville. H. C. Wilson is building a barn for
J. M. Grinter near Perry. Stony Point. Our farmers are done digging their
potatoes and have begun to gather their corn, which proves to
be the best crop for several years. Mr. John C.
Grinter will have between two and three thousand bushels with which he is feeding a fine lot of cattle for the market.
Mr. J. F. Grinter is about to
complete his new cellar.
1889
4 January.
Stony Point.
Mr. W. A. Defries has his new house
nearly completed, and will occupy soon. T. A. Grinter returned a few days
ago from St. Joseph, Mo., where he had been
visiting his daughter. Mr. J. F. Grinter has sold a part of
the old Fowler place to George Ottens and Reuben Oliver.
1 February. Edwardsville. Mr. And Mrs. C. R. Grinter of Perry,
Kansas, visited last week with Mr. Sherley,
father of Mrs. Grinter. Henry Wilson has completed J. W.
Grinter’s barn at Perry and is at home
8 February. Stabbed
by His Tenant. Intelligence has been received to
the effect that Mr. R. T. Mooney, the contractor, was
assaulted and seriously stabbed by his tenant near Muncie. The assailant lives on Mr. Mooney’s farm at the last named place. It
appears that some words had passed between
the two men in regard to keeping a gate
closed, when the tenant attacked Mr. Mooney with a pocket
knife, inflicting quite serious wounds. A physician was called and sewed up the cuts.
15
February. Stony
Point. The name of our post office will be Grinter, but our items will still be from Stony Point.
Mr. B. B. Defriese has bought a part
of Mr. Hammot’s place, will build him a residence on
the same
15 March. Stony Point. Mr. L. E. Grinter will garden pretty
extensively this year.
29 March. Successful Meetings. Rev. H.[enry] C.[Clay] Kirby of White Church has
just closed a very successful series of
meetings. He has been doing revival work incessantly for four months and during that time has received forty persons
into the church, while a number of his
conversions have gone to other churches. At Connor these were twelve accessions to the Church
12 April. The County’s Business. R.[ezin] Wilcoxen, J. F. Timmons and
J. W.
Kindred were appointed viewers on the John Horan road. Date of view June 24. J. L. Defries, J. M. Shores and
J. F.
Grinter were appointed viewers for the Thomas Smith road: date of
view June 19.
19 April.
Grinter Gossip. Linton Grinter went to Atchison
county this week to assist in moving his
sister, Mrs. Laura Norris, back to Wyandotte county. She will live near her father,
Thomas Grinter. The Union Sunday School elected
officers last Sabbath, with Mr. Chris Hahn
as superintendent. George Grinter has accepted a
position with the corps of engineers, who are
locating the new railroad. While John C. Grinter and Roezin
Wilcoxen were leading a cow to the latter’s home a few
days ago by means of a rope tied around her horns, she
fell to the ground and broke her neck. It is needless to say she died in five minutes
26 April. Grinter
Gossip. John Hahn’s new house presents a
fine appearance. R. T. Mooney had a cow badly cut on
the wire fence. There is no doubt but he has
sympathy for the cow having suffered a like wound from a
knife recently.
10 May. Grinter Gossip. R. T. Mooney lost four head of good
cattle from clover bloat last Friday
evening, and many other cases of the same kind have been reported recently.
7 June. Stony
Point. The Sunday school of Wyandotte
township met in session at this place on last
Tuesday evening for the purpose of organizing in connection with the State Sunday school work. Speeches were made by
Rev. Kerby [sic] and others. The following are the
officers: President, R .S. Porter, vice president, James Defriese,
secretary, L. E. Grinter.
11 October. Stony Point. Mrs. T. A. Grinter who has been sick
is recovering slowly.
1 November. Argentine.
Mr. H. C. Kirby, of Nebraska, was in
the city yesterday looking up the many advantages of
the smelting city. Mr. Kirby thinks of locating here.
Kirby-Allen. At the residence of Moses R.
Grinter near Muncie, Rev. H. C. Kirby and Miss
Anna J. Allen [Note: should be Martha V. Allen] were married last
evening by Rev. Geo. Warren of Chillicothe, Mo. A
large number of guests from the surrounding
country were present. A magnificent supper
followed the wedding ceremony.
1890
24 January. Stony
Point. Mr. Cam Grinter has moved down from Perryville, and lives in the house with his
mother on the old homestead.
22 May. Grinter
Items. Mr. Baxter Grinter and wife, of
Kansas City, Mo., has been visiting his father, Thomas
A. Grinter. Mr. Grinter is master mechanic and returns to his work on Monday.
The Wyandotte township S.S. [Sunday
School] association convened at Grinter’s
Chapel May 18. Schools were represented as follows: Lake Side, Grinter’s Chapel and Stony Point. The
attendance was large and the dinner was larger
in spite of unfavorable weather. The addresses were to the point and of such a nature as to make
all feel that the S.S. work is a grand one
and one to be proud of, while the singing was excellent…. The following officers were elected for the ensuing
year, viz: President, R. S. Porter; vice-president, Edward Shores;
secretary and treasurer, Edward Defries.
29 May. Grinter
Items. The Farmer’s Alliance No. 2251
meets every Thursday night; John C. Grinter,
President.
5 June. Grinter
Items. Miss Ida Grinter is visiting her
uncle’s family in Chicago. Mr. James Grinter has a new
carriage and George is happy. Misses Kittie Grinter [this may be
Catherine Shavan Grinter Mooney, daughter of Frances
C. Grinter] and Ora Mooney have been with their
grandmother, Mrs. Anna Grinter, visiting their aunt [probably Martha Kirby] in
Nebraska City. Mr. S. Stephens [probably Sylvanus Stephens,
referred to in previous articles], who recently celebrated his 80th birthday with forty-five of his near relatives present, is visiting his daughter and family in
Macon City, Mo. This Sunday school and the one at Grinter’s chapel
are invited to a Sunday school picnic next Sabbath, June 8, at Lakeside, in
honor of “Children’s Day,” which will be observed there at that time.
3 July. Mr. James
F. Timmons Loses $3,000 by Fire. On Wednesday evening, Mr. James F.
Timmons of Edwardsville lost his barn and contents by fire.
30 October. Fifty-four and Sixty-four. On Saturday the families and
immediate relatives to the number of forty of D. G. Taylor
and Thos. Grinter enjoyed the annual birthday dinner at the
home of the latter near White Church. The birthday of
these two gentlemen falls on the same
day, and for a number of years [it] has been
their custom to get their families together at the home of one or the other
and celebrate the event in feasting and a
general good time. On Saturday Mr. Taylor had
completed his fifty-fourth year, while Mr. Grinter was just ten years his senior.
1891
5 March. Muncie. The building boom has struck,
Messrs. Grinter, Friedburg, and Herbert are improving their
farms and houses. George Miller and family have
returned from Southern Kansas and have taken
up their abode on Mr. Mooney’s farm.
Ghost Dancers in the Territory. Rev. G. W. Hicks, superintendent of
the Baptist Mission about fifteen miles north of
Anadarko, writes the Indian missionary, under recent date, that the
Indians (Wichitas, Caddos,
Delawares,
Kechis
) are still dancing. These
dances commenced during the Sioux troubles and have
continued since with only temporary intermission.
19 March. Stony Point Items.
Mr. Newton Grinter of Lee’s Summit, Mo., visited Mr. T .A. Grinter and
Mr. James F. Grinter, his brothers, at this place last week. Mr. Mose
Defriese and Charley Mand have gone to Colorado and George Ottens
and William Jacks to California. [Moses[s] Reed Defries was
said to have been a "breaker of horses.]
16 April. Stony Point. Mr. George
Grinter and James Mooney
have returned from Sedalia, Mo., where they have been attending school.
23 April.
The Wyandottes. I remember once riding out from Quindaro with Charles Ketchum, prominent
Delaware – and it hardly seems possible, but Quindaro was in 1857
a larger and more flourishing place than Wyandotte. As late as 1858 I
used to ride up there of a Sunday morning to get Uncle Menser to shave
me…. But I started to relate my interview with Ketchum. He told me that in the old days, when the Delawares
were driven from their homes by that fierce Indian confederacy, the Five
Nations, the Wyandottes, who had long before felt their vengeance, gave them a
piece of their blanket to sit upon, and that in return the Delawares had now
given them a piece of their blanket; but the simple Indians had
learned some of the ways of civilization during the lapse of years, and it seems
to me that there was a substantial monetary consideration connected with the
last transfer. At any rate I have always understood that the Wyandottes
paid the Delawares for the land. Mr. Ketchum said that that the Delawares
called the Wyandottes “Uncle” and in turn addressed by them as “Grandfather.”
I doubt that he had ever read the fascinating “Leatherstocking” tale, but the
story, as he told it, sounded familiar. I only know that when our ways
parted we dismounted from our horses and, seated on a moss-grown log, he filled
my ears with Indian lore until nearly sundown.
14 May. Stony Point. Mrs. Baxter Grinter of Kansas City, Mo., spent last week visiting at the home of
her father-in-law. Mr. T. A. Grinter of this place. The Sunday schools of
Wyandotte township will hold their annual meeting on the second Sunday in
June at Grinter’s chapel, beginning at 10 o’clock a.m.
28 May. Stony Point Items. Mr. L. E. Grinter is
marketing his strawberries, which are of a very fine quality. Mr.
C. F. Hahn is making some improvements in the way of a stone cellar and
a workshop. Mr. John C. Grinter returned from Perryville last Monday
where he has been to see James C. Grinter, who has been very ill
for some time but is better now.
25 June. Stony Point. Mr. George Grinter
left for Tonganoxie a few days ago on business. The township Sunday school convention, which convened
on the 14th inst., was well attended with good access. Our county
president, W. H. Young, was present with us. The following officers were
elected for the ensuing year: President, L. E. [Linton] Grinter;
vice-president, R. S. Purtee; secretary, E. B. Defries.
23 July. Stony Point. Mrs. Cynthia Yelton and her daughter, Mrs. Richie of Kansas City, Mo., have been visiting her
nieces, Mrs. John Purtee, and Mrs. W. A. Defriese, returning home Wednesday.20
August. With Closed Doors The Peoples
Party Makes a New Departure. After Rev. Greene had invoked the divine blessing
upon the convention and the names of Geo U. S. Hovey, James F. Timmons, J. B. Hipple
and three or four other alliance men were put up.
27 August. Stony Point. Mr.
Baxter Grinter of Kansas City, Mo., paid his father Mr. T, A, [Thomas] Grinter, a visit this week.
The recent hail storm did much damage to crops and fruit especially. Mr. R. T.
Mooney losing nearly his entire crop.
17 September. Stony Point. Some of
the Stony Point people have the Oklahoma fever. Mr. Baley Defries
and George Munger will start the first of October for the Territory.
17 December. The marriage of Mr. L. E. [Linton]
Grinter to Miss Mattie Masterson, both of near White Church, this county, will
occur on December 23.
24 December. In
and Around Stony Point. Mr. L. E. Grinter and Miss Mollie Masterson will be married tomorrow evening at the home of the bride’s mother,
Mrs. Masterson. This morning John C. Grinter forgot about the chicken
thieves visiting his turkey roost and went out to feed his gobbler that he had
been saving for Christmas dinner, but the old gobbler failing to show up, soon
reminded him of the fact. He tried to console himself by holding up his
hands and denouncing a chicken thief anyhow.
1892
14 January. A Pioneer Dead. Thomas A. Grinter, and old and highly respected citizen of Wyandotte County Thomas A. Grinter, an old and highly respected citizen of Wyandotte County, succumbed after a short illness to that dreaded disease, pneumonia, early Sunday morning. Mr. Grinter was 57 years of age. His remains were interred in the Grinter cemetery near Stony Point Monday.
10 March. Farmer Grinter Robbed. A. G. [Ambrose] Grinter, an old and highly respected farmer living near White Church, reported to Sheriff Peterson last Friday that his house had been burglarized that night. The thieves forced an entrance digging up the earth found over $500 in gold. They then made their escape without arousing the family from their peaceful slumbers. The robbery was not discovered until this morning. Mr. Grinter lost no time coming to this city to notify the sheriff. The robbery is unquestionably the work of some one who is familiar with the premises and the eccentricities of Mr. Grinter who has but little faith in banks as is shown from the fact that he buried such a large amount in the ground.
The Grinter Robbery – The Sheriff Finds the Stolen” Money in a Hen’s Nest.
A. G. [Ambrose] Grinter’s gold has been found. As stated in Saturday’s Gazette, Mr. Grinter reported to the police that his cellar had been entered by thieves on the previous night and over $500 of his gold was stolen. Sheriff Peterson placed Deputy March on the case and he came back from White Church Saturday night with just $710 more than when he started. Of this $600 was $20 pieces, $45 in silver, and the balance in $10 and $1 gold pieces. Mr. March and Grinter went to the home of the farmer, where they found a grief-stricken family. Mr. Grinter stated to the sheriff that it was the savings of his life. On the train Mr. Grinter gave the sheriff the history of the money,, some of which he claimed had been in his possession for over fifty years. He was positive that it was all gold that he had hid in his cellar. But the more he was questioned, the more he became confused, and at last declared that he did not have the least idea how much money he had saved.
The story of the search and the finding of the money is as follows:
When they arrived at Grinter’s home the officer made an investigation of the cellar, which had been completely torn up, and found the lock was broken, showing that thieves had been there. He next surveyed the premises and in the orchard found an old can and shot bag which the old man positively identified as the ones which did services of a savings bank at the Grinter homestead. The articles, however, had the appearance of having been in the orchard for some time. After searching about the farm and every nook in the house, the sheriff almost gave up his task of finding the farmer’s money and had almost come to the conclusion that the thieves really got it.
He went back to the White Church depot, but fortunately missed the 2 o’clock train. The next was due at 5 o’clock. He returned to the house and began searching the barn. Deep under the hay in a manger he pulled out a box which had been used for the purpose of a chicken nest and to his surprise the dirt was loose. He dug up the earth about three inches and pulled out a can which contained just $710. When the money was viewed by the old man, he declared it was not his. He said he never saved silver, and that the officer should keep it. He was positive that his savings were stolen. Deputy Sheriff March brought the gold into the city and turned it over to Sheriff Peterson, who placed it in the bank for safekeeping.
21 April.
Grinter Gets His Money.
Sheriff Peterson Tuesday afternoon “shelled out” $710 in gold to John C. [should
be Ambrose] Grinter. The money has been in charge of the officer since last
January when it was found by under Sheriff March on Grinter’s farm, and the
latter refusing to accept it because it had been moved from the place where he
thought he had hid it. He also claimed some one had stolen his money.
Yesterday he concluded that it was his money and so he called for it. His
memory served him quite well yesterday and he was able to recall the exact
amount, how much each sack contained together with the denomination of each
piece of coin
23 June.
John Grinter Registers a
“Kick”. John Grinter, the well known farmer living a few miles west of the
city, was in town Thursday. He paid his respects to the board of equalization
and “kicked” until perspiration ran in rippling rivulets from his face, because
his valuable tract of land had been assessed at $50 more than last year.
County
Clerk Bruce stated that Mr. Grinter was the first vigorous “kicker” that had
made his appearance. John says every relative he had in the county was raised
this year and for what he did not know. No change was made in his case.
28 July.
The Muncie Dam, The Awards
Made by the Condemnation Commissioners. The commissioners awarded damages for
lands condemned as follows: Martha Kirby, $500 … Thomas Grinter, $1; James
Grinter, $1.
22 December. Elected Officers. Delaware Lodge, No. 96, A. F. and A. M., of White Church, held their annual election of officers last Tuesday night. The following officers were chosen unanimously: … John Grinter, secretary.
29 December. Kansans in Town. W. E. Zeigler of Independence, and a prominent citizen of southern Kansas is in the city today. Mr. Zeigler is of the opinion that there will be some fun at Topeka during the next two weeks.
Indian Folly – The Reservation System’s Entire Failure of Object – Millions of Acres Tied Up for the Misuse of Lazy Savages – The Fertile Valleys of Utah Could Be Settled. [Excerpt from interview with Ex-Governor Tom Fletcher (of Kansas?)] – Did you ever think about this reservation system? Well, it is wrong – all wrong. There are tribes who have had the most careful attention and for whose civilization effort and money have been expended without stint for nearly 100 years, and they are still savages – we have not even got the blanket off them yet. The reservation system is the cause of the failure…. The squaw men, a kind of white men who cannot live in civilized communities, are the only whites they get acquainted with, and it is no wonder that, judging by they thus come in contact with, they regard the white man as unworthy to be emulated. [Really!. Editor]
1894
1 March. Grinter Citizens Want the Bridge. They Say the Structure Across the Kaw at Turner Must Be Built. At a mass meeting at Grinter, the following resolutions were passed unanimously: [Not included herein.]
10 May. The following citizens have been drawn as jurors for the May term of the court of common pleas: … Frank Deister, B. W. Defries.
21 June. Ratified. Wyandotte County Republicanism All Right. The vice presidents were as follows: … J. C. [John] Grinter. This morning John C. Grinter forgot about the chicken thieves visiting his turkey roost and went out to feed his gobbler that he had been saving for Christmas dinner, but the old gobbler failing to show up, soon reminded him of the fact. e tried to console himself by holding up his hands and denouncing a chicken thief anyhow.
1895
31 October. William
Grinter, a driver of a coal wagon belonging to the James Sullivan Coal Company, had his leg broken in a runaway on Sixth street between Minnesota avenue and State street
this morning at 10
o’clock. He was driving a heavily loaded wagon down the steep declivity when a
trace broke frightening the horses. They
started to run throwing Grinter out. He was removed to his home at Ninth and the Patch in the patrol
wagon.
28 November. Carry May Stephens, born January 23, 1889, died
November 9, 1895, aged 6 years, 9 months and days.
Our Carry May is gone to live with God and the angels in Heaven. God, our
heavenly Father gave her to us six years, months and sixteen days ago, and now
he has taken her back, as she was too pure for earth. [Followed by a flowery
poem]
The writer preached her funeral to a large and weeping congregation at the Stony
Point Church, where we laid her away to rest till God shall
call the immortalized body to again be the abode of the immortal soul. May
God bless and comfort the hearts of the dear parents is our prayer.
– Rev. J. H. Morgan, Piper, Kansas.
1896
2 January. Yesterday the
husband of Mary Grinter [apparently William Grinter], aged 25 years, who lives
in the “Patch,” was discharged from Bethany hospital where he had been nursing a
broken leg. Last night Mrs. Grinter, for reasons thus far unknown, took a
big dose of carbolic acid. The dose was sufficient to cause her to scream
violently with pain, but not to kill. The neighbors brought Dr. C. M. Stemen to the woman’s assistance
and he promptly administered an antidote for the poison. Mrs. Grinter was then
sent to the hospital where her husband had left but a few hours before.
23 July. The following is
the list of central committeeman chosen
for the ensuing
year: Delaware [Township], J. P. Grinter.
17 September. To the
republican county central committee elected at the primary election held in Wyandotte county, Kansas,
Sept. 12, 1896….The
committeemen elected and entitled to participate in said meeting
are as follows: Delaware – G. P.
Grinter.
1897
9 September. Rev. John G.
Pratt is lying seriously sick at his home near Piper, and owing to his advanced
age, his friends feel concerned.
23 September. The
Populist county central committee, the county central committee of the Pop-Democrats and the new central committee of
the Democratic Party held meetings Saturday
afternoon and elected officers ….As this has been a full straight Democratic
committee in Wyandotte County, we will
publish it in full: Delaware, R T. Mooney… White Church,
Emmett Wilcoxen.
30 September. A Search for the Resting Place of a Shawnoe [Shawnee] Prophet – A Very Interesting Event. – Chief Charles
Blue Jacket Aids the Wyandotte County
Historical Society in Locating a
Grave of a Brother of Tecumseh’s Near Argentine.
The visit of Charles Blue Jacket, the
surviving chief of the Shawnees, by request of and as the guest of the Wyandotte
County Historical Society, to locate the grave of a noted Shawnee Prophet,
brother of Tecumseh, is an event of more than ordinary historical significance.
His mission to this city is to locate the grave. The Prophet died and was
buried near Shawnee springs south of Argentine many years ago. The noted
Shawnee Chief met with the Historical Society this morning at Argentine and
accompanied the members of this organization to the burial grounds, where the
remains of the prophet rest. The exact spot is not known but the chief is
positive that he will be able to locate the grave. Five generations of the
Grinter family, descendants of the Delaware Indians, will also be in
attendance. [Emphasis added] The passing of a people or a race is an incident in the world’s
history that the whites on the frontier have seen much of, and the remnants of
tribes once powerful now living in the Indian territory, and from which they are
being lowly squeezed, are worthy of the profoundest consideration. Wyandotte County is exceedingly rich
in Indian history, three of the most noted tribes in all the records of the
continent, the Wyandottes, the Shawnees, and the Delawares, making practically
their last stand here.
Chief Charles Blue Jacket, our guest, is the son of George Blue Jacket, who
signed the treaty of November 7, 1825, and August 8, 1831, and was interpreter
to the Shawnee council in 1855. He is an educated man and handles the
English language so that no one would suspect him of being chief of a tribe of
Indians. He is tall, rather slender and wears short chin whiskers.
He came to this section in 1832 from Ohio, where the main body of Shawnees was
located. The father, George Blue Jacket, was a noted fighter in the war of
1812, and went with the crowd of Shawnees that fought with the British troops.
Chief Blue Jacket was never much of a warrior. He has participated in
nearly every treaty made by the government within the last forty or fifty years.
Blue Jacket has been married three
times and is the father of twenty-three children. His three wives were
Shawnees. The first and second are dead, while the third is living a happy life
with the chief and their children at Blue Jacket station in the Indian
territory.
Part of the Shawnoes, as they were originally called, lived in Missouri and part in Ohio. The treaty of 1825 moved them all to the west line of the state of Missouri. Their land extended from the Missouri line west to Fort Riley along the south bank of the Kansas river 120 miles, south to Council Grove, and then back to the place of beginning, making a tract equal to fifty miles square, taking in the counties of Morris, Wabaunsee, Douglas and Johnson. For this tract of land they ceded to the United States certain lands in Ohio and Missouri. They also received from the government $829,000. Against this treaty the Wyandottes protested claiming that the land in Wyandotte and Johnson counties had first been ceded to them. The Shawnees remained, however, in possession of the land, sharing the Wyandotte hunting and fishing grounds, and they always lived in peace. The Kansas land was conveyed to the Shawnees by deed May 11, 1844.
The Shawnees had their ancient home in the basin of the Cumberland river, and they played such an important part in the treaty of 1682 with William Penn that the Society of Friends took a special interest in them. Thomas Chalkley, a member of the London society of the denomination, who visited them in 1706, mentions among the peculiarities of the nation its custom of admitting women to its councils. He says: “In the council was a woman who took part in the deliberations of this council, as well as upon all important occasions.” The interpreter informed him, as a reason for this, that “some women were wiser than some men, and they had not done anything for years without the council of this ancient, grave woman, who spoke much in this council.” The Shawnees have a tradition that they came across the water, and they are the only tribe who claim they have European blood in their veins. The Iroquois made war on the Shawnoes, and the latter were badly scattered, some going to the Carolinas, and Florida, and others to “New Spain.” They were reunited in 1786, and by treaty settled on the Ohio river at the mouth of the Little Miami. They later removed to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, from whence they came to Kansas. They seem never to have inclined much to war, and readily adopted the innovations of the whites. Tecumseh, however, was a Shawnee warrior, one of the few whose name and fame will live through all history. Another account says that a band of 500 Shawnee warriors gave the government a great deal of trouble in the early history of Indiana. When they were re-united in the valley of the Ohio, Father Marquette says “they were in such numbers that they seem as many as twenty-three villages in one district, and fifteen in another, lying quite near each other.”
The first mission school among them in Kansas was established by the Rev. Thomas Johnson, a few miles south of Rosedale in 1829. Col. A. S. Johnson, for many years land commissioner of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, and now a retired citizen of Topeka, is a son of Rev. Johnson. Col. Johnson is supposed to be the first white child born in Kansas, but this is disputed by Mr. McCoy, who says a man named Boone was born at a date sooner at the Delaware agency west of Lawrence. In 1835 the scholars numbered twenty-seven, and the church congregation was composed of seventy-four Shawnees. In 1854 the school had one hundred pupils. The Rev. Johnson represented the Methodist conference of Missouri. In 1831 a Baptist mission was established among them by Rev. Isaac McCoy. The Shawnee Manual Labor School located a few miles south of Rosedale, played an important part in the white history of Kansas. The first Territorial legislature met at Pawnee near Fort Riley July 1st, 1855, and on the 4th adjourned to meet at Shawnee Mission. Here the white settlers, or rather the Missourians made our first code of laws, known as the Bogus Statutes. Their pastor, the Rev. Thomas Johnson was president of their Territorial council.
The Eastern Band of the Shawnoes, numbering about nine hundred souls, including white men who had intermarried in the nation. The white men were not more than twenty. The tribe then owned (1854) about 1,600,000 acres of land or about 1,700 acres each. They had good dwelling houses, well provided with useful and respectable furniture, which was kept in good order by the females, and they lived in the same manner and as well as the whites. They had an abundance of farm wagons, horses, oxen, carriages and buggies. They raised a great deal of corn, oats and some wheat. Their homes were of hewn logs, with shingle roof and stone chimneys, and were kept neat. There were some good mechanics among the younger ones. They had large meeting houses, and frequently held camp meetings, and there were some good lecturers in the tribe
And here we are at the end of a fine tribe of people, whose history beyond William Penn know one knows, but whose history since then has been carefully gathered by the whites who have pushed them out and supplanted them, and with almost the last one to guide a local Historical Society is engaged in the searching for the unmarked grave of a Prophet, famous among the Shawnoes, and whose bones lie with us. It is an interesting event, and a very clever tribute to those who have gone before, whose life is a mystery to men but not to Him who gave it.
DID NOT FIND THE PROPHET’S GRAVE. Word was received in Kansas City yesterday afternoon that Blue Jacket had located the grave of Shawnee Prophet a little over a mile directly south of Argentine, just at the foot of a hull and about fifty yards from a wagon road, but it was not so. Blue Jacket said that the ground and everything on it had been changed so much by the whites that no landmarks were left by which he could locate the grave, and the search had to be given up.
14 October. Full List of Nominations
Made for Township Officers, November Election. Wyandotte
Township. Republican
Ticket: Trustee, G. P. Grinter. Peoples Party Ticket:
Road Overseer, J. O. Mooney [believed to be
James O. Mooney, husband of Catherine Shavan Grinter, who was
daughter of Frances Catherine
Grinter].
4 November. GRAVE LOST FOREVER. – Chief
Bluejacket Died Saturday Last – Aged Eighty Years – Historic Indian
Character – Caught Cold While Searching for the Grave of the Prophet in
Wyandotte County September 28 – Settled in Wyandotte in 1833.
Charles Bluejacket chief of the Shawnees, spent several
weeks in Kansas City, Kansas and on
September 28, with
representatives of the Kansas State Historical Society and the
Wyandotte County Historical Society [went]
to the old Prophet
Town, which is a mile south of Argentine….
11 November. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS ELECTED. Full list of
Trustees, Constables, Justices and Road Overseers. Wyandotte Township –
Republican Ticket – Trustee – G. P. Grinter.
13 November.
The Grave of James Swanic, a Delaware
Indian Representative Uncovered. Workmen on the
Hughes farm, one and three-quarter miles northeast of Edwardsville, unearthed a
metallic coffin some time ago. They were plowing when they struck something
that gave forth a metallic sound. They had heard that the place had been used
once as an Indian burial ground and they removed the loose earth. Digging about
one and one-half feet further they uncovered the coffin. They removed the head
piece and through the glass could see the face of the dead man in a good state
of preservation. In one hand a glove was held and a silk handkerchief laid
across the coat. Several old settlers at once pronounced the grave that of
James Swanic, a Delaware Indian who had been the tribe’s representative at
Washington. He died in 1849 at the national capital. He was 49 years old at
the time of his death. His body was embalmed at Washington and placed in a
sealed casket. It was brought to Kansas City by steamboat and buried at this
place. The site of the grave was on a piece of rolling ground and the earth had
washed so much that the casket was left only a few feet below the surface. The coffin was not
disturbed, but was again covered with earth in its resting place.
1898
24 March. The Republican county convention assembled at 11 a.m. and was
called to order by E .A. English, chairman of the
committee. The roll of delegates
was called, and the following gentlemen were found to be entitled to seats: Delaware
[Township] – Chris Hahn.
31 March. A PIONEER. Mrs. Phoebe A. Bartles, widow of the late Joseph A. Bartles, died at the home of her daughter-in-law. Mrs. Melissa Bartles, 513 Oakland avenue, at the advanced age of 82 years. She was buried at the cemetery at Quindaro this afternoon. Mrs. Bartles was one of the pioneers of Wyandotte county, and had lived here for the past forty years. She came to Kansas with her husband from New Jersey. They came up the Missouri River and landed at Quindaro in June, 1857. During the war her husband took an active part in suppressing the border of ruffians that invaded this section of the country at that time. He died in this city about seventeen years ago. Her two sons – Theodore and Jacob – enlisted and fought in the Federal army. Theodore died about nine years ago at the home where his mother died. Jacob is now located in Bartlesville, I. T. He arrived in the city from there several days ago.
Times New Roman 14 point. Copy 13 November 2004. Photo check A. TH