Reprinted with permission of Rooting Around, published by the Leavenworth County Genealogical Society. Donated by Debra Graden.

Mary Jester Allen, curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum, at Cody, Wyoming, who formerly lived in Leavenworth, who is a niece of Colonel William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) informs the writer that the museum has been taken over by the town of Cody, "and," she says, we all have great plans for expansion." Mrs. Allen continues at the museum and says she has a pleasant apartment there.

Her daughter, Cody, who is director of public relations at Russell Sage college, Troy, New York, who is a writer, has been spending a year with her, during which time she finished one book and much of another one. The town of Cody and the museum, which are situated on the old Buffalo Bill ranch, constitute an interesting spot to visit.

The recent passing of James W. Layton, of Weston, former judge of the Weston district of the Platte County court, as recordedd in the Times of December 12, recalls that Judge Layton's father. James H. Layton, was also a judge in that county in the early days. Paxton's "Annals of Platte County" says of the latter "Judge James H. Layton died at this home above Weston February 7, 1867. He was born in Mason County, Ky., July 13, 1813, married in 1836, Sarah Smither. They came to Platte in 1844, and settled in Marshall township. He was elected in August, 1856, a judge of the county court. When, in 1860, the county court was reduced to one judge, he was appointed to the office. In 1864, he was elected to the same office. He was ousted by the Voting Ordinance, and H. M. Aller succeed him.

"Judge Layton's stern integrity, with the nerve and resolution to do his duty, peculiarly fitted him for the responsible office he held in the troublous time of war. His courage, justice, and honor are the chief treasures he left to his posterity."

The new year, 1944, will usher in the centennial anniversaries of the births of a number of well known Leavenworth County pioneers. Among those who were born in 1844--a century ago--were the following:

Adolf Lange, Leavenworth druggist, born in Germany, January 15, 1844: located in Leavenworth in 1866; served in the Civil War with the 14th New York Cavalry, participating in 27 engagements and was a prisoner of war in Andersonville, Libby and Belle Island rebel prisons.

Frederick Knollman, farmer near Millwood; born February 7, 1844, in Indina; came to Kansas in 1867, and settled in Leavenworth County where he lived the rest of his life.

Martin L. Buckley, government contractor; born in New York state, February 11, 1844; settled in Leavenworth in 1855.

Judge Newton Mann, born in Ohio, March 19, 1844; came to Leavenworth in 1866; was an early lawyer and probate judge.

Benjamin M. Tanner, born April 11, 1844, in Ohio; settled in Leavenworth in 1854, when the town was first started, and was engaged in the wholesale fruit and produce business here for many years.

Herman Richter, born in Germany, April 13, 1844; came to Leavenworth in 1878 and engaged in the furniture business.

James H. McGee, general merchant at Easton, born April 21, 1844, in Indiana; was a member of the Kansas Malitia during the "Price Raid"; settled first on a farm in Alexandria township, moving to Easton in 1882; he was and early postmaster there.

J. H. Behee, born in Pensylvania June 11, 1844; Civil War veteran of the Second Missouri Calvary ("Merrill's Horse"); wounded in the battle of Little Rock, Ark.; came to Leavenworth after the war and became superintendent of the Union Machine Works.

Stanton Pearson, farmer near Tonganoxie, where he settled in 1877; born June 18, 1844, in Indiana.

John R. Elderfield, born September 7, 1844, in Indiana; served in an Indiana regiment during the Civil War; he was a cabinet maker by trade and, in 1881, became superintendent of the Abernathy Bros. & Co. furniture company in Leavenworth.

Samuel Black, passenger conductor on the Leavenworth, Topeka & Southwestern railroad; born December 31, 1844, in New Jersey, located in Leavenworth in 1862.

Phil J. O'Neil, mechanical engineer, and head draughtsman for the Great Western Manufacturing Co., was born in Ireland, in 1844, and came to Leavenworth in 1875. He was a Civil war veteran.

Professor A. P. Scheureman, musician, composer and instructor in piano, voice and harmony, locate in Leavenworth in 1870; born in 1844, in Germany.

Joseph Bleakley, farmer, Reno township, where he settled in 1872, born in Ireland in 1844.

Captain Eli H. Linton, Tonganoxie, was born in Pennsylvania in 1844; he was a Civil War veteran; located at Tonganoxie at an early day and was postmaster and railroad agent.