Also referred to as Rumseyville, this small settlement was located near the eastern border of the county, just north of the junction formed by Mule Creek and the Salt Fork, possibly in S12-T34-R16. A post office was opened there in July 1884 with Gerard Rumsey acting as postmaster. Mention was made of a Rumsey newspaper published by E.S. Kendall in December 1884.Individuals from Rumsey were also involved with nearby Evansville, for on the same day the Rumsey post office was closed in August 1885, an office was reestablished in Evansville. Gerard Rumsey later served as Evansville's doctor and was a general merchandise dealer there. Kendall ceased publishing his Rumsey paper in September 1885 and he too, relocated in Evansville.
By Dave Webb, Comanche County History, page 30.
The story about the beginning of Evansville mentions my great grandfather, Dr. G. K. Rumsey, in general merchandise, Rumsey's Pioneer Store: "Evansville's growth as a town apparently started when the post office at the nearly settlement of Rumsey relocated there in August 1885... Dr. G.K. Rumsey, in general merchandise, is a pioneer settler; and with the whole territory to choose from, selected this part of the county...".His full name was Gerard K. Rumsey (don't know what the K stands for), he was born Jan 6, 1841 in Westport, Connecticut. He was a widower when he married my great grandmother Sarah Josephine Tennison, born Feb 29, 1864 in Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas. They were married Oct 9, 1887. Their son Gerard Cleveland Rumsey was born Sept 22, 1888 in Evansville, Kansas.
Sometime between 1888-1900 they moved to Cimmaron, Oklahoma. I found them in the 1900 census in Cimmaron.
My grandfather Gerard Cleveland Rumsey married my grandmother Vaneta Gibler in Kansas. Their son, (my father) was D. Lowell Rumsey born Feb 26, 1920 in Hayden, Colorado. He passed away when I was a young girl, Aug 1960.
I was born and raised in California, and still live in California. Didn't really know much about my Rumsey side till I got my computer. My great grandmother's sister was Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ann Tennison Platt married to John W. Platt. John and Elizabeth Platt are buried in the Aetna Cemetery. Don't know how close that is to Evansville.
The cyclone pictures from 1927 were given to me by my aunt. She recently gave me all her photos and keepsakes. She's 85 years old and said she wanted to make sure I got them. She remembers her family going out to the Platt ranch after the cyclone. It was my grandfather Gerard Rumsey, her father that rebuilt the house and barn. Lizzie Platt was his aunt. She and his mother were sisters. His mother was married to Dr. G. K. Rumsey of Evansville.
-- Teresa Chapman, from an email to Phyllis Scherich.
When we were all out at the Platt Ranch, Mike mentioned that my grandfather was the one who rebuilt the house and barn (after the Platt tornado). Up until he met me he had no idea he was related to the Rumsey's.
My great grandparents, Sarah Josephine Tennison & Dr. G. K. Rumsey divorced in 1905. Sarah must have married ? Evans not long after the divorce. For the life of me I can't find his first name. I asked my aunt and she doesn't know either. She just remembers her grandmother being married to Mac McCombs. I found them in the 1930 Oklahoma Census living in Enid. His name was Charles McCombs. I'm pretty sure he was the Chief of Police 1927-1929 in Enid. Sarah is buried in Tonkawa next to her son, Gerard C. Rumsey. Her head stone reads "Sarah Rumsey Evans"
-- Teresa (Rumsey) Chapman, from an email to Phyllis Scherich.
1886 map of Barber County, Kansas,
note the location of the town of Rumsey just west of the Comanche County/Barber County line.
Jack Rumsey, Mike Platt and Teresa (Rumsey) Chapman at Platt gravestone in
Aetna Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Scherich.
Jack and Teresa's great-grandmother, Sarah Josephine Tennison, was a sister to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ann (Tennison) Platt married to John W. Platt.Jack & Teresa's great grandfather was Dr. Gerald K. Rumsey, formerly of Rumsey, later in general merchandise in Rumsey's Pioneer Store in Evansville. He was born Jan 6, 1841 in Westport, Connecticut. He was a widow when he married their great-grandmother Sarah Josephine Tennison, born Feb 29, 1864, married married Oct 9, 1887. in Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas. married Oct 9, 1887. Their son Gerald Cleveland Rumsey was born Sept 22, 1888 in Evansville, Kansas. Sometime between 1888-1900 they moved to Cimmaron, Oklahoma. Gerald Cleveland Rumsey married their grandmother, Vaneta Gibler, in Kansas. Their son, Jack and Teresa's father, was D. Lowell Rumsey born Feb 26, 1920 in Hayden, Colorado. He passed away when Teresa was a young girl, in Aug 1960. Teresa was born and raised in California, and still lives in California. She didn't know much about her Rumsey side of the family until she got her computer.
Early in 2003 she was putting in searches for Rumsey - which linked her to Evansville to our Evansville Trail Ride site. She e-mailed me for information. She and her husband, and daughter came from California and her brother from Louisiana for our last trail ride - to search for their "roots" and "walk where their great-grandfather walked".
I had contacted Mike Platt from Medicine Lodge. After the ride Dee & Phyllis Scherich, Doug & Barb Scherich, Kyle Scherich, Mike Platt, and the "Rumseys" took a tour of the Evansville area, the Aetna Cemetery, and the Rumsey town site.
-- Phyllis Sherich, from an email to Jerry Ferrin, 25 June 2005.
Gerald "Buck" Rumsey and Teresa (Rumsey) Chapman
at the gravesite of their great-grandmother's sister in Aetna Cemetery, June 2003
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Scherich.
Mike Platt, Teresa (Rumsey) Chapman and Gerald 'Buck' Rumsey at Rumsey town site.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Scherich.
Mike Platt, Teresa (Rumsey) Chapman and Gerald "Buck" Rumsey at Rumsey town site in Comanche County, Kansas. All that is left is a depression in the pasture and some crude bricks. Possibly the only two people who could show you the site were there that day - Dee Scherich and Mike Platt. It is located on what is now the Merrill Ranch, managed by Dee Scherich - just a short distance from the fence to the Platt Ranch, now managed by John Platt.
Mike Platt, Gerald "Buck" Rumsey and Teresa (Rumsey) Chapman compare history
notes on their common ancestors.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Scherich.
Also see:
The Family of John & Lizzie (Tennison) Platt
Eyewitness Account of the tornado at the Platt Ranch by Mike Platt, published in The Hardtner Community News, Issue No. 90, Sept. 4, 2003.
BARBER COUNTY SWEPT BY TORNADO
LEAVING DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
Published in The Barber County Index, May 27, 1927.Jessie Evans of Evansville, Comanche County, Kansas
The History of Evansville, Comanche County, Kansas
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