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Sketches of Early History
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Sketches of Early History
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Transcribed by
J. Richardson, 21-July-2000
Originally published in the Humboldt Union, Humboldt, Allen County, Kansas
21-Mar-1918
Sketches of
Early History - Part 3
In the Settlement of Humboldt and Allen County
By Watson Stewart
(continued from last week.)
-----------
Land Office.
The Land Office for this district was opened at Fort Scott, but on survey of the
lands west, it became evident that the office would be removed further west.
Humboldt, Iola and LeRoy were the places aspiring for the location. Humboldt
easily put forth the best efforts in that direction.
The administration and the Land officers were Democratic. The Humboldt men were
mostly Republican; Coffey was the only administration man in the Town Company.
When, therefore, efforts were made to secure the influence of the officers at
Fort Scott, Glanton, Coffey or Signor would always take along such men as Dr.
Phillips or Col. Thurston to work with them.
The Office was not, however, removed when the Republican administration came
into power in 1861. Kansas was admitted as a state, with two United States
senators to elect. Blanton was just in a place where it was thought he could "do
the most good" for Humboldt. He was a member of the first state legislature.
Blanton determined to know nothing else in this matter, but the interest of
Humboldt.
Offices were in the hands of the successful candidates with which to reward
their friends. Blanton sought for no office. He only asked that the Land Office
be removed to Humboldt -- the most central, and ONLY suitable place for it in
the district, looking to the convenience of the people. He was fortunate in his
support of both J.H. Lane and S.C. Pomeroy, who were elected senators.
The location of the Office was secured -- in the language of Mr. Blanton
himself: "They promised me that they would move the office to Humboldt just as
soon as they got to Washington, but instead of attending to the matter the first
thing, as promised, they left it to the last; and after the new Register, J.C.
Burnett, and Receiver, Charley Adams, Lane's son-in-law, were appointed and Lane
having control of the patronage of Southern Kansas -- as he claimed -- he sent
Burnett and Adams to select the point to move the office to: Lane writing me
that if Burnett and Adams recommended Humboldt, he would move the office to that
place.: But Mr. Blanton says that the removal of the Office was secured "without
Lane's aid and in spite of him".
The Humboldt Town Association contributed two hundred lots in aid of the removal
of the Office to Humboldt. The Office was opened for business in Humboldt,
September 23, 1861.
The Humboldt Town Company, prior to 1860, held all its meetings in Lawrence; a
consideralbe number of its members failed to come to the site, or make such
improvements as were comtemplated in its organization. No title had yet been
acquired to the land on which the town was built.
On the 20th of June, this year, a re-organization of the company was effected,
dropping out the absent members, with Geo. A. Miller added. W.C. O'Brien was
afterward made a member, making the company consist of N.B. Blanton, J.A.
Coffey, J.H. Signor, W.H. Signor, Geo. A. Miller and W.C. O'Brien. This company
was organized as the "Humboldt Town Association."
The town site was entered November 16, 1860, by J.G. Rickard, probate judge, for
the Town Association.
---------
Military Period.
I name the period from the spring of 1861 to the spring of 1865 the military
period, for both Allen county and Humboldt. But few men lived in the county at
that time, but what took some interest in military matters. Early in the summer
a company was organized in Humboldt for the volunteer service. N.B. Blanton was
captain, S.J. Stewart, 1st lieutenant. J.H. Signor became 2nd lieutenant
afterward. This company was mustered into the service at Fort Leavenworth August
7, 1861.
They were mustered in as a part of the 4th Kansas, under Colonel Weir; afterward
they were mustered into the 10th upon the consolidation of the 3rd and 4th
regiments.
The names of those enlisted at Humboldt were: B.H. Witlow, Benj. H. Witten,
David H. Nichols, Philip Beck, Wm. Burgeous, N.D. Bingham, Geo. Cole, Thos. R.
Morris, John E. Stewart, Calvin Webb, D.R. Webb, Davis W. Webb, James C.
Woodward and Hiram K. Loomis.
This company participated in a number of battles, among which were those at
Osceola, Mo., Locust Grove, Cherokee Nation, and Prairier Grove, Arkansas.
The only persons enlisting at that time in the company, now residing near
Humboldt, are S.J. Stewart, Philip Beck and J.E. Stewart. Lieutenant Stewart
became captain before coming out of the service.
Humboldt was considered greatly exposed to rebel invaions from Missouri or the
Indian country.
The militia were pretty thoroughly organized. Captain Isaac Tibbetts had a
company of infantry; Captain I.N. Phillips, one of cavalry. They with other
companies in this and Woodson counties were organized into a regiment, Orlin
Thurston, colonel; James Kennar, lieutenant colonel, and N.S. Goss, major.
General James H. Lane was during the latter part of the summer busy organizing
the militia forces of Kansas, and this regiment was tendered to him as the 7th
Kansas regiment for the defense of Kansas.
About the first of September, a fight occurred on the Drywood, below Fort Scott,
between Lane's forces and General Rains. Fort Scott was in danger, and Colonel
Thurston's command was ordered over there. Before reaching Fort Scott, the order
was countermanded, and they were ordered to Barnsville, where the command
occupied a position as picket guards, while the main force fortified a point
about si miles back, which was called Fort Lincoln. This point Lane designated
as the "Key to Kansas".
Here most of the men of Humboldt were holding this key, while a band of rebels
came in by another door and sacked the town.
---------
Raid on Humboldt.
It was on the afternoon of September 8, 1861, that about 150 men under Captain
Livingston of Missouri and Captain Mathews of the Osage Indian country, came
dashing into town. These men were Missourians and Cherokee Indians, with a few
Osage half breed Indians.
They found but few men in the place, met with no resistance, and at once
proceeded to rob stores and houses of whatever they found of value, and that
they could carry away with them. They remained but a short time, hurrying off
south the same evening, taking from settlers on their route, horses and articles
of value as they could find.
Dr. Miller was at the time away seeking authority from Lane to raise two
companies of "Home Guards" for the protection of Humboldt. He came back with
authority, and immediately two companies were organized, one of infantry under
Geo. A. Miller, the other cavalry under Captain Henry Dudley.
Such force as could be raised started in pursuit of the rebels. We were joined
on Lightning creek by Colonel Blunt (after ward major general). Captain Mathews
was killed, and two or three prisoners were taken. Mathews was a trader among
the Indians, had been with the Indians for a number of years, and had great
influence with them. He lived on the west side of the Neosho river, just where
Oswego now stands.
Those two companies of Home Guards were now put into active service. The cavalry
were kept out on the south as scouts, while the infantry were fortifying
O'Brien's mill and guarding as best they could the town.
-------------
Humboldt Burned.
On the evening of October 14, 1861, Humboldt was again visited by a rebel force
of between three and four hundred, under the command of Colonel Talbott of the
Confederate army. Captain Livingston was with the command.
The Home Guards were taken completely by surprise and the greater part of them,
with the citizens of the town, were taken prisoners. A detachment of cavalry had
been as far south as Lightning creek on a scout, and had just returned about
noon that day, reporting no sign of rebels in all that country. Our men felt
quite secure and were off their guard. Only one man lost his life from this
raid, a Mr. Secrest; when he saw themcoming, he attempted to run off a span of
mules which he owned. On being ordered to halt, and refusing to do so, he was
shot, from which wound he died.
The rebels, having secured their prisoners by placing them under a heavy guard
in the ravine just south of town, proceeded to rob and burn, entering nearly
every house and settin fire to it; a few houses were saved from the fact that
women were sick in them, a few were saved by having the fire extinguished after
the rebels had left. They did not set fire to the churches, nor to the building
in which the Masonic Hall was. It was said that a posse broke open the door of
the hall, but went no further; whether they saw something at the threshold that
awakened their better feeling, I know not; but the house saved.
The Land Office had only been removed to this place a few days; many land
warrants were there with other valuable papers. Miss Kate Burnett, a sister of
the Register of the Office, obtained permission from the cammander to go into
the Office for a candle. She gathered a large number of land warrants and other
valuable papers, which she succeeded in saving. Fire was set to the building and
some of the records were destroyed, but many of the books were only scorched and
not destroyed. Mr. Burnett succeeded in reaching the office before the fire had
got well under way and put it out.
O'Brien's mill was burned, thus making two mills burned for him in Humboldt.
Thurston's mill escaped. There were probably fifty building in Humboldt before
the raid, and not more than a dozen remained.
Having accomplished their purpose, the rebels released their prisoners and
marched back to Southwest Missouri, from whence they came.
It was a sad day for Humboldt. Many were ready to give up in despair. They had
spent their all in making a home or in starting in some business in the new
country, and now only ashes remained. But Humboldt, phoenix-like, will arise
from its ashes. So thought some of its leading citizens, and in that faith they
continued to WORK and WAIT.
(continued next week.)
Last Updated:
Monday, December 26, 2005 17:38:21
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