Captain Avra P. Russell, A Kansas Soldier.

Numbers 2. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Owen A. Bassett, Second Kansas Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND KANSAS VOLUNTEERS,
In the Field, December 10, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to instructions received from yourself, I detailed a scouting party from my regiment under command of Captain [A. P.] Russell, consisting of Companies A, D, and I, 10 men from Company C, 10 from Company E, and 10 from Company F, numbering 147 men.

Captain Russell left camp with this force at about 4 p. m. on the 4th instant, and the following in his report to me:

CAMP OF THE SECOND REGIMENT KANSAS VOLUNTEERS,

Cane Hill, Ark., December 5, 1862. Lieutenant S. K. CROSS, Acting Regimental Adjutant:

I have the honor to report that, pursuant to orders received on the afternoon of the 4th instant, with a detachment of 147 men from the Second Kansas Volunteers, I left camp to reconnoiter, and, if possible, to discover the position and movements of the enemy. About 2 miles from camp I sent Lieutenant [H. L.] Moore with about 60 men (Companies A and D) down what is known as the Mount Air road, while O proceeded with the remainder of the party of the direction of the Cove Creek road. I came into the Cover Creek road at Price's old headquarters, 9 miles southeast of camp, where our advance pickets are posted, and, after following this road about 6 miles, the advance discovered a fire, supposed to be that of the enemy's pickets. After reconnoitering, I became satisfied that it was either a very strong picket or the advance of the main force of the enemy, and concluded to wait until daylight before proceeding and farther. I posted a picket, and, with remainder of my men, fell back half a mile and formed line in a field.

In this position, every man standing by his horse, I remainder until the morning of the 5th, when just before sunrise my picket was fired on by the enemy, and morning of the 5th, when just before sunrise my picket was fired on by the enemy, and at once retired. I then sent forward about 30 men dismounted, as skirmishers, under charge of Lieutenant [J. M.] Mentzer, holding the others mounted in line as reserve. A brisk skirmish ensued, lasting for several minutes, when, seeing a movement made to flank me, I withdrew the skirmishers and fell back about 4 mils, where I again formed line and remainder two hours. Seeing nothing further of the enemy, I returned to camp, reaching it about 3 p. m.

Respectfully,

AVRA P. RUSSELL, Captain, Commanding Detachment.

Numbers 5. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Owen A. Bassett, Second Kansas Cavalry.


HEADQUARTERS SECOND KANSAS VOLUNTEERS,
Boonsborough, Ark., December 2, 1862.

[SIR: ] I have the honor to report that, on the evening of the 27th ultimo, I left Camp Babcock and marched in column, formed by the Third Brigade, in the place assigned, which was in the immediate rear of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry.

My command consisted of nine companies of cavalry: Company A, commanded by Lieutenant [J.] Johnston; Company C, by Captain [D. S.] Whittenhall; Company D, by Lieutenant [A.] Moore; Company E, by Captain [J.] Gardner; Company F, by Captain [H.] Cameron; Company G, by Captain [A. W.] Matthews; Company H, by Captain [A.] Gunther; Company I, by First Sergt. M. Enright, and Company K, by Captain [A. P.] Russell, numbering 337 enlisted men; one battery of light artillery (four pieces), the same captured by this regiment at Maysville on October 22, under command of Captain [H.] Hopkins, known as Company B, Second Kansas Volunteers, and one section of mountain howitzers, under command of Lieutenant [E. S.] Stover, Second Kansas Volunteers.

On the evening of the 27th, I went into camp 10 miles north of Cane Hill, and received orders to march next morning at 5 a. m.

Moved on the morning of the 28th, at 5 o'clock. I was ordered to send a portion of my force in advance, and accordingly I sent Companies C, I, and G to the head of the column, under command of Major [J. G.] Fisk, and with the rest of my regiment took the same position assigned to me the day previous, Captain Gunther having been detailed by yourself as field officer of the day, leaving Company H in command of Lieutenant Ballard.

About 10 a. m., Captain Whittenhall, at the head of the column as advance guard, surprised and captured 3 of the enemy's pickets and killed 1. Major risk hurried forward, and at the foot of the hill, about one-half mile north of Boonsborough, came upon a party of the enemy's cavalry drawn up in a lane leading to the village. He formed line, and Lieutenant Stover, coming up with his howitzers, opened upon them with good effect. The enemy was drawn up in force on a hill to the right from of Major Fisk's line, and with three pieces of artillery opened fire. Lieutenant Stover immediately turned his howitzers to bear upon them. Rabb's Second Indian Battery coming up, Major Fisk moved a portion of his force to the rear, over the brow of the hill, dismounted it, and ordered the men to lie down and hold themselves as a support to Rabb's battery. The remainder he sent to reconnoiter the enemy's position. Just after making this disposition of his battalion, the major received a severe wound on the top of his head by a piece of shell, which tore away the top of his hat crown and knocked him down. He recovered in a few minutes, and remained in command for a full hour afterward.

When the first shot was fired by the enemy, I was still in rear of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, which had halted 2 miles back, but immediately passed that regiment by file to their right and left flanks, through timber and underbrush; brought up my men to the brow of the hill in rear of Major Fisk's position, where I found General Blunt, and, under his orders, I sent Captain [S. J.] Crawford, with Companies A and D, to occupy a hill to the right and front of Major Fisk's position.

At the same time, Captain Cameron, commanding Company F, was sent to a hill still farther to the right of the position occupied by Captain Crawford, and Captain Gardner, commanding Company E, to the right of the position taken by Captain Cameron. Lieutenant [D. E.] Ballard and Captain Russell, with their companies, remained on the hill to support Rabb's battery.

I rode over the where Captain Cameron was stationed, and discovered the enemy in full retreat from the timber on the hill, where they had made a stand, and sent word to General Blunt, communicating to him what I had discovered, and caused Companies A, C, D, F, G, and I to move forward to the front and right, and soon afterward, under direction of Colonel Cloud, skirmished through the timber the enemy had lately occupied; passed out on their trail to the top of the hill I had discovered them retreating over, and awaited there for Captain Hopkins' battery to come up, which, arriving soon after, opened fire on the retreating column, about three-fourths of a mile distant, and upon a section of the enemy's battery on a hill about 1 mile distant. With such precision was the round shot thrown from the gun handled by Corporal Sawyers that the enemy retreated with their pieces immediately.

Companies H and K, left in support of Rabb's battery, having been relieved by the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, came up to the support of Captain Hopkins' battery, under command of Major Fisk, whom I ordered to report to the surgeon to have his wound dressed, and, with the other companies under my command, moved forward to the right front over the chain of hills, where I remained for half a hour inactive.

General Blunt coming up, I moved forward to the town of Newberry, 1 mile south of Boonsborough, and there, under direction of Colonel Cloud, dashed down the road, across the valley to the heights opposite, and pressed the enemy's rear closely to the foot of the mountain, 5 miles from where the fight first commenced. Companies F, G, and I had, by some means, become separated from me in the woods. The enemy had made a stand, placing their artillery upon a high point, and stationed their cavalry at the foot of the hill. I sent Companies C, A, and D, forward through the brush, under command of Captain Crawford, to drive back the cavalry, and a sharp skirmish took place, lasting for several minutes, when the enemy gave way and retreated up the hill, taking position behind his artillery. I here drew in my skirmishers, ordered them to mount and remain under cover. The enemy's artillery opening, Lieutenant Stover, having withdrawing his artillery, I started with my men up the hill. Having gained the point which the enemy had just abandoned, I dismounted my men, and ordered them to skirmish. At this time Captain Russell came up and took position on the right, and with Companies C, D, A, and K, I moved forward to the second bench, when Company C. returned to their horses and mounted. Captain Russell, commanding Company K, pressed forward in advance of everything else around the base of the rocky ledge, just below the summit, along which runs the main road, and Companies A and D pressed on up and over the summit, under my immediate command, and returned into the road about 1 mile from the foot of the hill. I halted to let the Eleventh and Thirteenth Kansas Infantry and Sixth Kansas Cavalry pass; collected my regiment, and moved forward about 2 miles farther into a field, and encamped for the night.

My loss during the day amounted to 1 killed and 4 wounded, my regiment maintaining the advance from the first opening of the fight, at 11 a. m., until 3.30 p. m., following the enemy's retreating column for a distance of about 6 miles. It is unnecessary for me to say more than this for the courage and bravery displayed by the men under my command. I could not discriminate if I desired.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

OWEN A. BASSETT,

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE FRONTIER,

Rhea's Mills, Ark., December 20, 1862.

Authors note. As this report is very long I will ony give the part that states A. P. Russell name. However if you would like the full report I will be glad to send it on request.

Many instances of individual gallantry and daring occurred during the day, for an account of which I refer you to the reports of regimental, brigade, and division commanders. As the immediate commander of the First Division, I deem it but justice to say of Colonel William Weer, commanding the Second Brigade, that he behaved throughout with great gallantry, leading his men into the thickets of the fight. The same is true of Colonel [T. M.] Bowen and Major H. H. Williams, commanding regiments in the same brigade. Captain S. J. Crawford, of the Second Kansas Cavalry, who commanded a battalion of that regiment that fought on foot, displayed great gallantry, as did also the lamented Captain A. P. Russell, who fell, mortally wounded. Colonel Thomas Ewing, Lieutenant-Colonel Moonlight, and Major Plumb, of the Eleventh Kansas, gave evidence of their high qualities as gallant officers. To Captains Rabb and Hopkins and Lieutenants Tenney and Stover, who served their artillery with such terrible and destructive effect upon the enemy's ranks, too much praise cannot be awarded. All did their duty well and nobly. Men of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana mingled their blood upon the same field, and for the same worthy cause. For their deeds of valor upon the field of Prairie Grove, their native States may well be proud of them.

< END >

Royal Eastman.

ROYAL EASTMAN, Plainville, Kansas, Rooks County.

ROYAL EASTMAN, farmer, Section 30, Medicine Township; postoffice Igo, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., January 23, 184, and at nine years of age his parents moved to Port Hope, Wis., where he lived as a farmer until the fall of 1860, when he returned to New York, and on April 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, as a private; discharged as a private May 3, 1863; re-enlisted as a veteran in Company C, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private; discharged as a private August 15, 1865. Then went to Blue Earth County, Minn., where he farmed for about five years. Then he moved to Rooks County, Kansas, where he homesteaded his present farm, and has since been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. Has now 26 head of cattle. Was married June 25, 1867, to Miss Cordelia M. Nichols. They had one child, Addie M. Was married again December 30, 1877, to Miss Harriet Webster. They have two children, Maudie B. and Corydon M. Was elected trustee of Medicine Township for one year. Is a member of the G. A. R.

New York 26th. Infantry.

Enlisted at 20, years, Enlisted May 3, 1861, Utica, to serve two years; Mustered in as a Private, Company F, May 21, 1861, Mustered out with Company May 28, 1863, at Utica.

Wisconsin 23rd., Infantry.

Re-enlisted as a Veteran crult, January 20, 1864, Residence Fort Winnebago, Rank Musician, Transfrred to the 35th, Wisconsin Infantry, July 1, 1865.

Wisconsin 35th., Infantry, Co. I.

Transfrred from Company C, 23rd., Wisconsin Infantry; Musician; Absent without leave at muster out of regiment.

STEPHEN G. BABCOCK

STEPHEN G. BABCOCK, hardware merchant, is the son of John and Eliza Babcock, and was born in Seneca, N. Y., August 10, 1846. His father was a farmer and native of New York, and his mother was a native of New Jersey. He began his education in the common school, but at the age of fourteen years he entered the academic department of the union school, which he attended for two years. At the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, the date of his enlistment being July 30, 1862. He served until June 19, 1865, participating in all the general engagements in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged from the time of his enlistment to the close of the war. Leaving the army, he returned to New York State, where he commenced farming.

At Clyde, N. Y., December 24, 1867, he was married to Miss Amelia M. Tipling, a native of New York. By this marriage, five children have been born to him--Mabel E., born in Seneca County, N. Y., April 7, 1869; George E., born same place July 15, 1870; Edith M., same place, June 16, 1873, died at Kingman, Kan., July 22, 1879; Maude E., born at Clyde, N. Y., November 10, 1876; Ada, born at Kingman, Kan., September 7, 1880, and John, born July 19, 1882, died August 7, 1882. In 1873, Mr. Babcock engaged in the grocery business at Clyde, N. Y., at which he remained until March, 1879, when he moved to Kansas and located at Kingman, where he engaged in the lumber and hardware business in company with Garrison & Craycraft. In 1880, the firm dissolved, Mr. Babcock retaining the hardware and implement business, which he still continues to carry on. In the fall of 1880, he was elected to the Legislature, taking his seat in the second biennial session as Representative from Kingman County.

Note. In the information above it states that he enlisted at the age of 16, years however the official records state otherwise, and the dates of his mustering out are different as well.

Stephen A. Babcock. age 18 years, enlisted July 30, 1862, at Tyre, to serve three years; muster in as a private, company F.; August 22, 1862; surrendered, September 15, 1862, and paroled September 16, 1862, at Harper's Ferry Va.; promoted Corporal, November 1, 1863; tranfferred to company D., December 25, 1864, mustered out with company June 3, 1865, near Alexandria Va.

The Ghost Town Of Geneva Kansas.

GENEVA Kansas.

This town is situated in the northwestern part of the county, north of the Neosho River, and between Martin and Indian creeks. The location is a beautiful one, and the place is surrounded by a thrifty and enterprising class of citizens. The village contains a store, post office and blacksmith shop, and has a population of about one hundred.

The town of Geneva was founded in the summer of 1857. A colony was formed in New York under the leadership of Ephraim Fisk, and another in Michigan under the leadership of Merritt Moore. These united, forming the Union Settlement Association, among the prominent members in which were Dr. B. L. G. Stone, G. L. Wait, S. T. Jones, Rev. G. S. Northrup, I. A. Holman, P. P. Phillips, E. J. Brinkerhoff, J. H. Spicer, A. P. Sain, H. R. Somers, Frank Ureidenberg, J. C. Redfield and J. M. Mattoon.

The colony selected the northwestern part of Allen County for a location, and started out with great expectations. There were about 300 families engaged to settle at once. It was decided to locate and lay out a town comprising not less than 640 acres of land. The present site of Geneva was chosen on account of the fertile prairie land around, as well as the heavy timber so close along the banks of the streams. It was decided to at once begin the building of a large structure and to found a non-sectarian college and academy.

Plans having been made for so much building and so many families having promised to locate, the next thing was to erect a saw-mill. Therefore a contract was entered into with L. L. Northrup that he should build a steam saw-mill, and that the colony should, in turn, give him 160 acres of good timber land and furnish him all the sawing he could do, and pay him $15 per thousand feet. The mill was brought and set up on the bank of Indian Creek, in the summer of the year 1858. But the sawing was not provided in any great quantities and L. L. Northrup soon opened a store.

Though the settlement started with such brilliant prospects, the idea of building a large town was soon give up. Not one-fourth of the projected colony of 300 families ever came, and those who did were rather poor, and through the lack of money and settlement the college was not built, though an academy afterward took its place.

The settlers from the first were an intelligent and enterprising class of people, who regarded the moral and mental culture of the young as one of the first things to be looked to, after opening their farms, therefore churches and schools were established.

There was at first considerable controversy over claims, which resulted in occasional riots, but aside from this the neighborhood has generally been very peaceable.

Geneva continued to exist as a small town, and by the year 1869 it contained two stores, one blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a hotel, a Congregational Church built of stone, and an academy. This building was a frame structure two stories high, and the school had been established in 1866, and was then as now, under charge of the Neosho Presbytery. The population was then about one hundred. From the above date until 1872 some improvements were made, and several business enterprises were undertaken that afterward fell through. It was expected that a railroad would be built through that part of the county, and when the town failed to secure it, it began to go down, and now it can only be said to be a thriving country village, surrounded by a prosperous settlement.

People of Geneva.

EPHRAIM FISK, farmer, Section 23, P. O. Geneva, was born at Strafford, Orange Co., Vt., September 10, 1811, and spent his youth on a farm. In 1842, he moved to Wyoming County, N. Y., where he was employed in agricultural pursuits, and also worked in woolen mills in that and Seneca County. In March, 1857, he came to Kansas and located on this farm. He conducted the farm until lately, when he turned it over to his step-son, Alroy B. Curtis. Mr. Fisk took up 160 acres of raw land on his arrival here, and made a highly improved farm of it. He has been a deacon of the Congregational Church in this locality since 1858.

ALONZO W. HOWLAND, dealer in live stock, Section 29, P. O. Geneva, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in 1834, and reared on a farm in Calhoun County, Mich. He has earned his own livelihood since thirteen years of age. Mr. H. was employed for some time in grocery business, and also learned the trade of stone mason in Calhoun County. He came to Kansas in April, 1859; located in Allen County, pre-empting 160 acres in this township, on which he resided some five years. In 1864, he moved on to his present farm, Section 29, Township 23, Range 18. Mr. H. had very small means on his arrival in this State. He worked some at his trade, and farmed, and by industry and energy, has made himself one of the representative men of Allen County. He owns about 440 acres of land, and is an extensive raiser and dealer in live stock. On his place is a fine stone residence, which he built some fourteen years ago, and an orchard of about 500 fruit trees. Mr. H. was elected a member of the Board of Commissioners of Allen County, in 1872, and re- elected in 1874. He was married in Calhoun County, Mich., when twenty years of age, to Miss Eveline Gardner, who died here in May, 1873, leaving three children. He was married again, in Allen County, Kan., in December, 1874, to Miss Emma Harlow.

REV. SALATHIEL M. IRWIN, Section 25, P. O. Geneva, was born at South Salem, Ross Co., Ohio, November 23, 1836, and received his preparatory education at the Presbyterian Academy of that place, after which he attended Hanover College, Ind., graduating in 1861, and then taught Hanover High School for two years. Mr. Irwin attended Princeton Theological Seminary for three years, graduating there in April, 1866. He was licensed to preach in 1865, and ordained a minister in the following year, at Little Osage, Mo., where he had charge of the Presbyterian Church for one year. In September, 1867, he came to Allen County, Kan., and has since resided at Geneva. He has charge of the Presbyterian Church here, also the Liberty Presbyterian Church, and the church at Carlyle. During his first six years' residence at this place, he was principal of the Presbyterian Academy. Mr. Irwin has a nice farm here of about 135 acres, and has also eighty acres in Woodson County.

CHAS. L. KNOWLTON, merchant, Geneva, was born in Clark County, Ind., June 23, 1849. His father was a doctor and also carried on a farm, and the subject of our sketch assisted him in the latter business. The doctor resided for four years in Cumberland County, Ill., and in April, 1867, moved to Allen County, Kan., locating at Geneva. His son, Chas. L. accompanied him, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits in this township until January 15, 1882, when he embarked in general merchandise business. He carries a nice stock of about $3,000, and is building up a good trade. He also has a small farm of fifty-three acres. Mr. Knowlton is a member of the order of A., F. & A. M., and is one of the trustees of Tuscan Lodge, No. 82, at Neosho Falls.

JONATHAN M. MATTOON, Postmaster, Geneva, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., December 17, 1813, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age. He then learned the trade of machinist and worked at it in New York and Detroit, Mich. He came to Allen County, Kan., in the spring of 1857, located at Geneva, and was employed as a carpenter. He was Deputy Postmaster under Dr. Stone, from 1858 until 1861, when he was commissioned Postmaster, an office which he has filled ever since. He also carries a small stock of goods and has a small farm. Mr. M. has been Justice of the Peace since 1859, and is also Notary Public. He served a two years term on the Board of Commissioners for Allen County, during the war. The subject of this sketch was married in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1837, to Lucy Hancock, she died in 1859, leaving six children and two of these, sons died in the late war. Mr. Mattoon was married again in Allen County, Kan., in January, 1861, to Nancy Dickey. They have two daughters.

JONATHAN H. SPICER, farmer, Section 24, P. O. Geneva, was born in Plymouth, N. H., April 12, 1816, and reared principally on farms in the State of New York. His father Jabez Spicer was a medical doctor and a missionary of the Presbyterian Church, but also engaged in agricultural pursuits. The subject of our sketch was, during the years of 1851 and 1852, in the employ of the Panama Railroad Company, in charge of a body of men engaged in building a railroad across the Isthmus. In 1853, he went to California, where he remained one year engaged in mining pursuits. Returning east he carried on mercantile business at Wacousta, Clinton Co., Mich., for three years. Mr. Spicer came to Kansas, in the spring of 1857, and located on his present farm in Allen County. He has 167 acres of land all improved, has a nice orchard, and is quite an extensive raiser of cattle, horses, etc. On October 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, serving three years and three months. He was Quartermaster Sergeant of the regiment. He was for some years Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, at this place. Mr. S. was married at Watertown, Mich., September 3, 1839, to Miss Emily Phinney. They have one son, Duane D.

DEXTER L. WARNER, proprietor of the Geneva House, was born in Franklin County, Mass., March 12, 1842, and reared on a farm. He enlisted May 6, 1861, in Company D, Twelfth Massachusetts Infantry; was shot in left hip joint at Groveton, Va., August 30, 1862, and discharged May 26, 1863. Returning to Franklin he remained until 1871, when he moved to Worcester, where he was employed as a painter and also worked in boot factory. Three years later he moved to Oxford where he was engaged in the capacity of a clerk in general merchandise business. In July, 1879, he came to Allen County, located in Geneva Township and followed agricultural pursuits. In April, 1882, he engaged in his present business and also continues to farm same. Mr. Warner was elected Trustee of Geneva Township in February, 1882, and again in February, 1883.

Civil War pensioners of Geneva.

1. Ambrose L. Bell, Private, 40th., Indiana Infantry.
Wounded in right forearm, $18. per month.

2. Dexter L. Warner, Private, 12th., Massachusetts, Infantry Co. D.
Wounded in left hip, $14., per month.

3. Lewis Clukey, Private, 8th., New York, Heavy Artillery, Co. C.
Gun shot wound in left forearm, $6., per month, started April 1871.

4. Horace A. Cowles, Private, 40th., Iowa Infantry, Co. E.
Loss sight right eye affec. left, $10., per month.

5. George C. Barrick, private, either the 145 indiana Infantry or 82nd.,Indiana Infantry.
Injured in left leg, $4., per month, started July 1879.

6. Asa Hoppes, Private, either the 136th., New York Infantry or 55th., Ohio Infantry.
Wounded in right thigh, $2., per month, Started November 1873.

Geneva's 1880 census.
I have listed the head of the families only.  These names are not in alphabetical order.  I have the wife's names and the childrens, if you need this information write me and I will be glad to send it to you.

1. Dexter L. Warner---Farmer.
2. Charles Knowlton---Farmer.
3. John D. Knowlton---Farmer.
4. John W. Cleek---Farmer.
5. Amos Edson---Farmer.
6. Henry Van Deman---Horticulturist.
7. James P. Boyd---Farmer.
8. Newton Edson---Farmer.
9. Jesse Hibbs---Farmer.
10. Martin Garman---Farmer.
11. James Mack---Farmer.
12. John Palmer---Farmer.
13. William Palmer---Retired farmer.
14. Michael Vanderhoof---Farmer.
15. Edward Mabie---Farmer.
16. Marion M. Swan---Farmer.
17. Benjamin S. Swan---Farmer.
18. Joseph Davis---Farmer.
19. Henry Howland---Farmer.
20. Orin Leake---Farmer.
21. Samuel E. Cooley---Farmer.
22. Alexander Newman---Farmer.
23. Thomas Lawson---Farmer.
24. Charles Pickering---Farmer.
25. D. Roberting---Farmer.
26. Clinton Hawley---Farmer.
27. Henry Cease---Retired speculator.
28. Frank Cease---Farmer.
29. Jasper Powell---Farmer.
30. Aaron T. Leake---Farmer.
31. John P. Dickey---Farmer.
32. Alonzo W. Howland---Farmer & stock dealer.
33. Lucas S. Childs---Farmer.
34. George Barrick---Farmer.
35. Alroy B. Curtis---Farmer.
36. Herman Halcomb---Farmer.
37. Plamer McClure---Blacksmith.
38. Francis Inge---Keeping house.
39. Margaret Welch---Keeping house.
40. Ephraham Fisk---Job not stated.
41. Columbus Denney---Farmer.
42. William Hyde---Farmer.
43. Rachel Hastings---Keeping house.
44. Charles Rhodes---Farmer.
45. Salafhiel Irwin---Farmer.
46. Ebinezer Wolford---Farmer.
47. William R. Norris---Farmer.
48. Charles Norris---Farmer.
49. Elesebeth Evans---Keeping house.
50. William Miller---Farmer.
51. Squir J. McGrew---Farmer.
52. William Cross---Farmer.
53. Abraham Burton---Farmer.
54. Edward Doolittle---Farmer.
55. Edwin G. Steele---Farmer.
56. Duane D. Spicer---Farmer.
57. Jonathan H. Spicer---Farmer.
58. Marcus Vinton---Farmer.
59. Philander Blackledge---Farmer.
60. Henry N. Gray---Farmer.
61. Jonathan Mattoon---Postmaster.
62. Eugene Esse---Farmer.
63. Lewis Dickerson---Farmer.
64. Newton I. Funston---Farmer.
65. Andrew J. Estep---Farmer.
66. John W. Mead---Farmer.
67. James Templin---Farmer.
68. Nancy Carpenter---Keeping house.
69. Josephis Newbro---Farmer.
70. James Christy---Farmer.
71. Amanda Leake---Job not stated.
72. Henry Grimm---Farmer.
73. Elias Miller---Farmer.
74. John Merrel---Farmer.
75. Jesse Smith---Farmer.
76. Michel Welch---Farmer laborer.
77. Jerome Goforth---Job not stated.
78. Manoah Ratlif---Farmer.
79. Lewis A. Boner---Farmer.
80. John R. Pickett---Farmer.
81. George W. Butt---Farmer.
82. Samuel Kelly---Farmer.
83. John C. Thomas---Farmer.
84. Jack Fields---Farmer laborer.
85. Calvin Fields---Farm laborer.
86. Samuel Baxter---Farmer.
87. George Hall---Farmer.
88. Adrian McKelvey---Farmer.
89. Solomon Edwards---Farmer.
90. William Banta---Farmer.
91. Alexander C. Pickerel---Farmer.
92. Portor Poe---Farmer.
93. Harrison Newman---Farmer.
94. Steven Trien---Farmer.
95. David Hutton---Farmer.
96. John Grimm---Farmer.
97. Mary Noble---Keeping house.
98. Las Searls---Farmer.
99. Enos Thompson---Farmer.
100. James K. Mcquigg---Farmer.
101. Dexter E. Curtis---Farmer.
102. Mary J. Edwards---Keeping house.
103. Mary Mortimore---Keeping house.
104. Edwin Harting---Farmer.
105. Martha Miller---Keeping house.
106. John R. Berry---Farmer.
107. Lewis White---Farmer.
108. David Carman---Farmer.
109. James B. Dickey---Farmer.
110. Henry Lester---Farmer.
111. Wilson Vaught---Farmer.
112. William Lane---Sawyer.
113. Robert White---Farmer.
114. Daniel Cornell---Farmer.
115. Charles Newton---Farmer.
116. John E. Yingling---Farmer.
117. Theodore F. Hazzard---Farmer.
118. Cary Roush---Farmer.
119. William Allenbaugh---Farmer.
120. Jacob Heath---Farmer & stockman.
121. Joseph Ackerman---Farmer.
122. John T. Cornell---Farmer.
123. Charles Scoville---Farmer.
124. Emma Black---Keeping house.
125. Theodore Elliot---Dry goods.
126. Pollard S. Ano---Farmer.
127. John Shelden---Farmer.
128. Benjamin Berry---Job not stated.
129. Richard Brown--- Carpenter.
130. George Esse---Farmer.
131. Marion Johnston---Farm laborer.
132. Dwight S. Leavitt--Wagon maker.
133. Benjamin Potnam---Stone mason.
134. James F. Knowlton---Physician.
135. Franklin Newbrough---Retired farmer.
136. Henry F. Osland---Job not stated.

Santa Fe Kansas.

I had been looking for a Kansas Ghost town to work on for a while now but with no luck. Kansas is full of ghost towns and are easily found. The problem is finding anything on them. There are many reasons why a town dies and unless some important event happen in or around the town it's long for gotten. Then while looking for sometnig eles I found Santa Fe. At first I found vert little on the town then I started changing the wording on my searchs and soon was finding some imformation. This imformation will be in short paragraphs. Even so you will learn a lot about the town and will find the information interesting.

About the picture: Moving S.E. Cave's office building from Santa Fe to Sublette, Kansas View of workers using wagons and mules to move S. E. Cave's office building from Santa Fe, Kansas, to the new county seat in Sublette, Kansas. The James S. Patrick Real Estate office, left, was later moved to Satanta, Kansas. In the background, behind the S. E. Cave building, is the original Haskell County Courthouse building. Santa Fe pioneers fought hard for a railroad for Haskell County, but when it came in 1913, it missed Santa Fe, the original county seat, by seven miles. In 1920, the county seat was moved to Sublette, Kansas, which had prospered by being on the Santa Fe railroad line, and Santa Fe faded away into a ghost town.
Creator: Steele, F. M. (Francis Marion), 1866-1936
Date: Between 1891 and 1912.
Picture can be enlarged by pushing on it .

Santa Fe was founded in 1886, in Haskell county. One of the better known men of Santa Fe was that of Jeptha McCoy, who owned a farm six miles south of Santa Fe, Hhe worked hard on the farm but because of some bad whate corps he would loss the farm. In 1893 Mr. McCoy moved to Santa Fe in order to give his children better school advantages. He still had to depend upon the toil of his hands to support the family, and went to Colorado as a place offering better advantages. He was there almost a year and then decided to remain in Kansas. He planted 400 acres of wheat on the shares, and while there was a fair crop he was $100 worse off when it was threshed than when he finished sowing. This was a year of wet, cold weather, and wheat was practically ruined by the black rust. The next year he again went to Colorado and began operating a threshing outfit for hulling alfalfa. His experiences in Colorado kept him there until June, 1900, when he returned to the harvest fields of Larned, Kansas, and since 1901 has been engaged in farming and stock raising near Santa Fe. Mr. McCoy owns the east half of section 25, township 28, range 33. The improvements on this land were placed there by Mr. Rosenthal, a former banker of Santa Fe.

Mr. McCoy has been quite active in local affairs, was for two years trustee of Loco Township and one of the early members of the School Board of district No. 45. In October, 1917, he retired after two years of service as county treasurer of Haskell County. He was elected to that office on the democratic ticket and has always supported that party in politics. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are Ella, Frank, Myrtle, and Miss Edna. Ella is the wife of F. E. Murphey, president of the Santa Fe State Bank at Sublette. Frank is a real estate man and abstracter of Sublette, married Etta Swartz and has a daughter, Ethel. Myrtle is the wife of E. H. Elliott, of Sublette, and has two children, Merton and Dorsey.

The Postoffice of Santa FE.

Santa Fe became the seventh post office established June 16, 1886, in what was then Finney County, soon to become Haskell County. James H. Grayson was the first postmaster and served only from June 1886 to November 1886 when Mark Highfill took the office and served until September 1887. Morgan Funkhouser became the next postmaster and served until November 1887. Mr. Highfill again took over and served until May 1889.

William V. Marshall was the following postmaster and he held the office until February 1891 when Andrew P. Heminger was appointed and served until April 1893. Elijah M. McMahan took the office until November 1896 when DeEtta Robertson was named and served until June 1897.

John J. Miller, publisher of The Santa Fe Monitor, was appointerd postmaster and served until November 1901. His daughter, Helen Wells, recalled living in the building where the post office, printing plant, a small grocery store and a lawyer's office was housed.

Joseph T. Miller took the office and served until August 1913. George A. Tyler was appointed and served until July 1915. Katie Cummins filed in from July to September 1915. While she was acting postmistress she was directed from the U. S. Treasury Department to pay James T. Pearce, former postmaster, the sum of 74 cents.

Ralph Wallace served as postmaster until December 1915. Ethyl H. Beymer was the postmistress until March 1819. The last postmistress was Agnes E. Lindeman, who served from March 1918 to July 31, 1925, when the mail was dispatched to Sublette and the Santa Fe office was closed.

Santa Fe was the county seat for a short time then was mover to Satanta, which was named after a famous War Chief. The townsite was surveyed and the first lot was purchased by James S. Patrick, a well known real estate dealer and abstractor who lived in Santa Fe. Mr. Patrick's store can be seen in the above picture. He had built it the front yard of his ranch at Santa Fe. Mr. Patrick made the move just in time to see the first train to arrived in Satanta on October 22, 1912.

Haskell County government.

Governor Martin appointed J. E. Marlow, C. H. Hunnington and Joe Comes commissioners of the county; Lowery G. Gilmore, county clerk, and J. B. Shumaker, sheriff. These officers met in a room of the offices of O’Brien and Manuel and took oath of office. County business began in a room in Santa Fe rented for $20 per month, furnished with a table and six office chairs purchased by the county. The Haskell County Review (later to become The Haskell County Monitor) was designated the official county newspaper.

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Haskell County.

Santa Fe Cemetery.

The largest of the county cemeteries is located just south of Old Santa Fe Feeders on U. S. Highway 83 and originally served the town of Santa Fe. The first block was acquired from Margaret S. Frisbie, and the original cemetery plat was filed August 28, 1888. The balance of land to the highway was purchased from James Patrick in 1921 for $25 an acre. Four blocks are platted, numbering 1600 plots and nearly all have been used or sold.

Records have been carefully kept of the cemetery since 1914. Lots containing four plots were sold for $5 at that time. To raise revenue in addition to the sale of lots, dinners were served and food sales and bazaars held. These netted as much as $83. Donations of $1 and $2 were often made. Mrs. Meredith made a generous gift of $2,000 in 1943.

In 1941 an election was called to give a deed to Haskell Township to legalize a levy; the cemetery is now tax supported. The first well was drilled in 1929, and a new fence was constructed in 1939, replaced in 1951 by the present fence and brick entrance. The metal arch was moved near the highway at that time from its previous location about midway in the cemetery. Many, many hours of volunteer labor have been donated to help keep the cemetery up over the years. The most recent improvement made was a second flagpole placed at the front entrance just before Memorial Day 1984.

In the earlier recorded minutes, plans for Memorial Day were extensive. They included parades, speakers, musical numbers, flowers, flag raising and selection of a high school student to recite the Gettysburg Address. Memorial services are now provided each year by the Sublette American Legion Post #205 and Auxiliary with a speaker, color guard, placement of a wreath at the flagpole and taps, all honoring approximately 70 veterans buried at the cemetery. A flag is placed at each of their graves by the Legion.

The earliest known burials are several in 1887 near the west fence. Side by side are two cement-covered graves whose markers bear that date¾ F. M. Rosenberry, age 12 and Ella Collins, age 15. Two stones marked "unknown" and many other old stones can be found in this area. One inscription tells of a tragic death: Willie Pryor, 1899-1914¾ "Willie tried to swim the Cimarron River at low flood stage."

Many names no longer familiar can be found, but some have been remembered: Mrs. Gillespe¾ "Died August 1893 at A. J. Trimbles." Her story has ben passed on by the McCoy family. She was traveling through the area when she became too ill to go any farther and the family stopped at the Trimbles who took them in and helped care for the sick woman until her death. Their kindness did not stop there. Years later one of the Trimble sons, who was in the monument business, erected the stone in memory of the lady who died at his parents’ home.

Abraham Bushey, a bachelor, died in 1906 at the age of 38. He hauled freight from Garden City for the Rutledge Hotel and, when the wagon was filled with ice, the trip was made at night. On one of these late-night trips, while still in Finney County, he apparently went to sleep and slid to the ground. His neck was broken whe he fell beneath the wagon and died instantly. Mr. Rutledge brought him back to Santa Fe, arranged for his burial and erected the monument.

John L. Taubman, 1848-1918, and his sister Meta Taubman, 1865-1946, came from the Isle of Man, a small island located in the Irish Sea midway between England and Northern Ireland. It is believed she originally came to New York as a maid and that he carried the mail in this area at one time. How and why they came to Haskell County is not known. Several Sublette residents remember Meta who stayed on in Her little two room house a block east of Sublette’s main street until her death.

Where are all of these people’s relatives? They do exist. J. K. Stanley who died in 1921 at the age of 83, was a Civil War veteran who homesteaded here with his wife Margaret (Hanston) Stanely (1848-1898) and also served as Register of Deeds at Santa Fe. A few years ago a Stanely descendant in California wrote a letter of inquiry about them for her genealogy research.

Each person buried in the Haskell County Cemetery has his or her story and all should be remembered for their numerous contributions to our community. For nearly 100 years our Kansas winds have swept this plot of ground as those who lie there rest undisturbed.

Update September 1, 013.

Terry Vollmer sent me this picture and note.

 

This picture looks like it was taken in the 1920's.
Push to enlarge.

Hi...Found your Santa Fe, Kansas info site through Google search... Thought you might be interested.
It appears as if the building in this photo is the  same one seen in the background of the photo you have included on the Santa Fe, Kansas page...  No additional information available with  this photo post card...