Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 166 - 177

 WILLIAM MATHEWSON.  The history of Sedgwick County, and especially the city of Wichita, would be incomplete without a sketch of the life of her favorite citizen, William Mathewson, President of the Wichita Savings Bank, and one of the founders of the city.

      A stranger unacquainted with the life of Mr. Mathewson, on seeing him for the first time would little dream that the gentleman of quiet and unassuming manners with whom he was talking, was the veritable, world renowned "Buffalo Bill," famous for his brave and daring exploits as a hunter, scout and trader on the Western plains.  This title was not conferred upon Mr. Mathewson simply on account of his skill as a hunter, but was adopted by a grateful people who owed their lives to this noble, generous-hearted man.  It was in 1860, during which year there was a great drought in Kansas, that he obtained that famous sobriquet.  The crops had failed entirely, and many of the settlers were literally starving, when the big-hearted hunter came among them.  Though big herds of buffalo were roaming the plains, the presence of numerous hostile Indians prevented the settlers, unused to Indian warfare, from obtaining the supply of meat of which they stood in so much need.  Mr. Mathewson, feeling it to be his duty to succor the helpless settlers, gathered together a wagon train, and notwithstanding the imminent danger of encounters with the cruel savages, led the way to the stamping ground of the buffalo, and from September to February he remained at his post, killing sometimes as many as eighty buffalos a day, and sending train after train laden with meat into the famine stricken region of Kansas.  To the queries of the grateful settlers as to who killed the buffaloes, would come the reply, "Buffalo Killer himself."  A few who knew the mighty hunter called him "Bill."  The teamsters caught the name, and in reply to questions would say:  "It was Bill--Buffalo Bill," hence the origin of the name, which has since been unjustly appropriated by Hon. William F. Cody.

      Mr. Mathewson is one of the last of the Indian scouts employed by our Government.  He seldom speaks of his past life, "but," in the words of a recently written article concerning the real Buffalo Bill, "when he does, his thrilling tales seem like the chapters of a romance."  Twenty-four years of his life were passed amid scenes of the most stirring adventure.  He was offered $10,000 by Harper Bros., of New York, for a full history of his life, but so averse is he to public notoriety that he refused the offer. 

     William Mathewson comes of good New England stock, and was born in Broome County, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1830.  He is the son of Joseph and Eliza (Stickney)  Mathewson, natives respectively of Connecticut and Massachusetts.  His father was a farmer and stock-dealer, and continued in that business until his death.  To him and his wife were born four sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living.  The subject of this biography was the youngest of the family, and received a common-school education, and remained in the home of his parents until he was thirteen years old.  He was a vigorous, manly lad, and had early developed a taste for the adventurous life of a hunter.  At the early age before mentioned he became his own master, and entered upon the roving life of a trapper and a lumberman.  He went to Steuben County, N. Y., and there and in Western Pennsylvania was employed in the lumber and mill business a part of each year, until he was eighteen years old.  In the fall of the year he would set out with other hunters on a long hunting expedition, and would go to Pennsylvania, Michigan and Canada, returning home from these excursions toward spring.  He was a part of the time engaged in looking up pine lands in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and at one time acted as a guide to a party of land buyers through the unknown West.  In 1849 he started from Minnesota to join the Northwestern Fur Company, and entered into their employ at Omaha.  From there he went with a party of hunters and trappers up the Missouri River, through the Yellowstone Valley, Red River region, and the Upper Missouri of the North, to the British possessions and along the foothills of the Rockies.  It was in that expedition that young Mathewson acquired his first knowledge of Indian warfare in various encounters with the hostile Indians of the Blackfeet tribe.  After remaining two years in the employ of the fur company, Mr. Mathewson joined that now famous party under the leadership of the world-renowned Kit Carson, consisting of the two Maxwells, James and John Baker, Charles and John Atterby.  They came south to the head of the Arkansas River in Colorado, traversing the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, crossing the Big Horn, the north and south forks of the Platte, and down through the country where Denver now stands, but which was then given over to elk and deer.  He went with Kit Carson to get the Indians together, and prevent them from raiding into Mexico.  In 1852 he entered the employ of the two Indian traders, Col. Bent and Col. St. Vrain, and remained with them at the foot of the Rockies on the Arkansas River for a few months.

      In 1853 Mr. Mathewson established himself in the business of a trader, building a trading-post on the great bend of the Arkansas River, where he  remained until 1863.  He also established other posts during that time for the accommodation of the overland mail route from Independence, Mo., to Santa Fe, N. M.  He built a post on the Little Arkansas, on the Santa Fe trail, and started another on Big Cow Creek.  It was at his Cow Creek post that Mr. Mathewson had a personal encounter with Satanta, the renowned chief of the Kiowas, who entered the post with several warriors, and announced that he had come to kill him.  Mr. Mathewson very promptly knocked Satanta down with his revolver and severely whipped the fallen chieftain, and pointing a revolver to the remaining warriors advised their departure, which advice they were not slow to act upon.  Since that he has been called by the Indians "Sinpah Zillpah," the "Long-bearded, Dangerous Man."  Satanta swore deadly revenge, but when Mr. Mathewson, hearing of his vow, started out to find his enemy, the noble red man deemed discretion the better part of valor, and journeyed westward a long distance, and did not return for a year, when a treaty had been entered into by which Mathewson became the possessor of several of Satanta's best horses. 

     In the summer of 1864, on the 20th, 21st and 22d of July, at Cow Creek Ranch, Mr. Mathewson and five of his men had one of the hardest and most unequal fights, for three days, that the annals of Indian warfare recount.  The desperate fight was with 700 Indian warriors, well armed and well mounted, and were determined upon either the capture of the little band or their massacre.  After three days of perilous hardship and fighting the Indians were repulsed and forced to retire.  Three days prior to the attack Mr. Mathewson had been warned by the war chief of the Kiowas, Satanta, the most valorous in battle and the most generous in peace of that warlike tribe.  Being thus warned, it was thought by the chief that he would leave the ranch, with its supplies, and repair to a place of safey.  Not so, however, with this valiant frontiersman. He at once set about to make thorough and careful preparation to resist the attack, which, as above mentioned, was successfully done.  After receiving the notice Mr. Mathewson warned the settlers and other traders, and all the traders west of the Missouri River abandoned their posts and sought places of safety.

      After the Indians were repulsed they at once turned their attention to a large train, comprising 135 wagons and 155 men and boys, who had formed a corral and gone into camp about two and a half miles from Mr. Mathewson's ranch.  The wagons were loaded with Government supplies for the soldiers in New Mexico and Arizona.  Their contents, however, were disguised.  In the train were several wagon-loads of the most approved arms, including Sharp's rifles and Colt's navy revolvers, but the teamsters and wagon-masters were ignorant of this.  In the fight at the ranch, and after the Indians had been repulsed with a great loss,  including the killing of their two war chiefs, they formed in Indian fashion and made for the wagon train, which they surrounded, and began firing upon the unarmed teamsters, gradually drawing their lines closer.

      From the top of the stockade building, and with the aid of his excellent field-glass, Mr. Mathewson studied the situation, and it only required a few minutes for his practiced eye to determine that unless immediate relief was given the whole train must be massacred.  Turning to his most trusty companion, he inquired if he could hold the stockade in his absence.  Being answered that he could, Mr. Mathewson decided to at once go to the rescue of the imperiled teamsters.  Taking his Sharp's rifle and six revolvers in his belt, and mounted on his celebrated mare, Bess, he picked his way through the tall grass and down a ravine until within 200 yards of the corral.  The Indians were circling around and fighting on horseback, and as all their attention was directed to the train they failed to observe him until he had passed with almost the speed of lightning through their lines, and in a moment reached the corral.  His thoroughbred mare, knowing by instinct what to do, with one Herculean leap sprang within the corral.  He threw himself from the back of his noble steed and called for an ax, and in less time than it requires to read these words he had mounted one of the wagons, begun splitting open the boxes and handing out rifles and ammunition to the men.  Many of the men were acquainted with him, and all had heard of his daring prowess and brave achievements.  Cheer after cheer went up when they recognized who their reseuer was.  It was but a moment until a well-directed  fire was turned on the now astonished and bewildered Indians.  After continuing the fight for a short time, having many of their number killed and wounded, the Indians hastily beat a retreat.  Mr. Mathewson was not yet satisfied with the victory, but organized and mounted the teamsters at once, and gave chase, and drove the Indians miles away.  After taking needed rest, burying their dead, and repairing the ravages of the fight, the train moved on to its destination.

      The owners of the train had previously informed Mr. Mathewson of its  contents, and the possession of this knowledge enabled him to save the train from complete disaster, as above indicated; and it was for this deed of heroism that the owners, through Mr. E. H. Durfy, presented a brace of elegant pistols to Mr. Mathewson.  This was done at a banquet given in his honor, and in the presence of a large number of distinguished and prominent persons.

      In 1864 our subject joined Blunt's expedition as a scout, and it was through his exertions that comparative quiet was restored.  In 1865 he was sent by the United States Government to gather the different tribes of the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Arrapahoe and Cheyenne Indians together for a council.  He was successful in this difficult undertaking, and the treaty of peace which was concluded in October, 1865, was entirely due to him.  He afterward conducted the Indians back to their reservations.  He entered into a private treaty with the chiefs of the different tribes, in which they agreed to allow him to come and go, and trade amongst them as he willed, without molestation, and he, on his part, agreed never to take up arms against them, or act as guide or scout for the soldiers.  This treaty has been faithfully observed.

      In the spring of 1866, Peck, Durfee & Co., of Leavenworth, Kan., presented "Buffalo Bill" with a very handsome pair of revolvers, mounted in silver, inlaid with gold, as a token of their appreciation of his bravery during the trying times of 1864.  In the spring of 1867 Mr. Mathewson was authorized by the General Government to arrange with the Indians for a general council.  He collected a few tried and reliable frontiersmen, and on the 9th of May, 1867, came down to the site of Wichita, where he left his men in camp.  This was east of the regular line of soldiers.  From that point he rode the entire summer among the Indians, and arranged for them to meet in October of that year (1867) at Medicine Lodge (where the county of Barbour now stands), for a general council with the Quaker commission and United States authorities, to arrange for peace, and for the Indians to give up their lands in Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado, all of which was accomplished at that treaty, largely through the powerful influence which Mr. Mathewson had with the Indians.  They were induced to cede to the Government their lands, and to peaceably go to the reservations set apart for them in the Indian Territory.  The tribes were the Kiowas, Comanches, Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Apaches, and also the Wichitas, who were living right where the city of that name now stands.

      In the latter part of 1868, some of the bands of Indians became restless and left their reservations.  Gens. Sheridan and Custer came here and organized an expedition and went into the Territory, and scattered the Indians all over the country.  In the spring of 1869 Sheridan and Custer withdrew their expedition, having failed in a measure to accomplish what they went for.  It was then that the Interior Department arranged with Mr. Mathewson to bring the Indians back on their reservations.  He assembled the Cheyennes and Arapahoes at Camp Supply, and the Kiowas, Comanches, and Apaches on the reservation where Ft. Sill now is, and remained with them until the President's peace commission and the Quaker commission came out and held a council at Camp Supply, thence to Ft. Sill, where treaties were concluded, and the Indians returned to their reservations.

      In 1867 and 1868 the Indians again took to the war path, and both times Mr. Mathewson acted as mediator, and kept the savages within bounds.  He traveled among the different tribes with the Quaker commission, and afterward settled near where Ft. Sill now stands, and remained there until 1876.  He was the only man who could travel among the Indians unmolested, as they both feared and respected him.  He has a thorough knowledge of their customs and manners, understands their speech, and also the sign language common to the different tribes.  By a knowledge of the sign language he was once enabled to rescue a young girl who had made her escape from the Indians, but was in imminent danger of being recaptured.  When her story was told by signs in his presence by a party of Kiowas to a body of Arapahoes, to whom they offered a reward of horses if they would assist in her recapture, Mr. Mathewson immediately determined to save the girl from being taken again by the Indians.  He saddled his favorite mare "Bess," who could outrun anything in the country, and had figured prominently in other rescues, mounted on her, and with a led horse started out to find the poor girl, telling the Indians that he was going in pursuit of stray cattle.  He gave the same excuse to a party of Indians scouring the plains for the trail of the girl.  He rode for hour after hour and could see no trace of her, and it was not till the evening of the second day that he overtook her.  He transferred her from the animal that she rode to his led horse, and he finally had the satisfaction of placing his charge in safety in Council Grove, where she afterward married and still lives.  He also rescued the two babies, Helen and Louisa Lincoln, whose proper names are Kirkpatrick.  The Indians got them away once, but he rescued them again, and with the assistance of the friendly Delawares, took them to a place of safety.  From 1865 to 1873 Mr. Mathewson was instrumental in rescuing fifty-four women and children (the two girls above mentioned, included), from the various wild tribes on the plains of Kansas and the Indian Territory.

      The following is an account of probably the most thrilling adventure experienced by Mr. M. during his long and thrilling experience on the frontier:  With a small party of hunters, he was in the mountains of Colorado during the fall and winter of 1854-55, and in March of the latter year, while on the Colorado River in the southern part of the then Territory, they undertook to cross over the Santa Christa Range to the St. Louis Valley.  Thirteen men  besides himself formed the party, comprising what is known in frontier parlance as two outfits.  They were in that country for the purpose of hunting, trapping, and prospecting for gold.

      The party had gone thither in the fall, and for mutual protection kept together.  The game at that time of year on the high mountains was very scarce, and heavy snowstorms having prevailed for a long time, they were caught in the wild fastnesses of the mountains, and soon ran short of food.  They were on very short rations about two weeks, and after that prolonged fast there were four days that they had nothing to eat, and no water but snow.  Eleven of the men became nearly wild from hunger and thirst, and were in danger of killing one another for food.  Two of Mr. Mathewson's associates he could rely upon, and with these he disarmed the eleven, and kept them under guard.  It was at this time that probably the highest test of his courage, bravery, and fortitude was exhibited.  He was also, like the others, in a weak and famishing condition, yet determined that he would force the men to abide by his decision, and not do each other injury, declaring to them that even at that critical moment, if they would obey him, and be guided by his counsel, he would yet bring them out in safety.  After getting them in camp, on the evening of the fourth day, though himself hardly able to walk, he informed them that he would go out and search for game.  Having proceeded a short distance from the camp, and nearly exhausted from the effort, he sat down on the brow of a canyon, and after watching for some time, saw no game, and rose to return to camp.  He was, however, seized with an irresistible impulse to remain a little longer.  Seating himself again, and soon after gazing across to an adjacent canyon, a little over 100 yards away, his heart was gladdened by seeing a large, black-tailed deer walk out from behind the jutting crags.  With promptness he shot it, and the sharp crack of his rifle was heard by his distressed companions in camp.  So wild with delight was Mr. Mathewson, that, mounting the highest adjacent eminence, and standing proudly to his full height, swinging his sombrero around his head, with loud huzzahs, his clarion voice sounded the glad tidings to his companions.  It was only a few seconds until he was joined by them, and from that moment the question of their being saved was solved.  He once rescued a wagon train on the Santa Fe trail, near his ranch, but the brief limits of this biography forbid further mention of the many daring and wonderful deeds of this remarkable man.

      We must now turn our attention to Mr. Mathewson's more peaceful career as a business man:  In the spring of 1868 he pre-empted the quarter-section of land which is now absorbed within the limits of the thriving city of Wichita, and there built a log cabin, one of the first houses in the city, into which his wife moved in January, 1869.  The house is still standing on the banks of Chisholm Creek, and is one of the points of interest to visitors, most of whom have heard of the famous "Buffalo Bill."  He has been a permanent resident of Wichita since 1876, and from that time till 1882 carried on agriculture on a large scale on his farms of several hundred acres.  Since then he has rented his farms, and has been engaged in various other enterprises, all of which have resulted successfully, and brought him much wealth.  He engaged in buying and selling cattle, and in the real-estate business, and in January, 1887, organized the bank of which he is President, and opened it to the public the following March.  He has the controlling interest in the Winfield Street Railway in Cowley County, and has an interest in the Motor Line of the Central Avenue and eastern Street Railway line of Wichita.  He has bank stock in the Fourth National Bank, of Wichita, and in the First National Bank, of Anthony, county seat of Harper County.  In 1887 he established a brick plant, south of the city, for the manufacture of dry pressed brick.

      In politics our subject is prominently identified with the Democratic  party.  Socially he is a Mason, Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, and Improved Order of Red Men.  As an Odd Fellow his reputation is co-extensive with the State, and for three years he has been Grand Instructor of Odd Fellows of the State.

      Mr. Mathewson is a liberal and public-spirited citizen.  The wonderful and rapid growth of Wichita since the first settlement was made here at a comparatively recent date is due in great measure to him, and men of like energy and ability.   He has contributed thousands of dollars to various enterprises for the advancement of the city.  His generosity and many deeds of kindness have given him a warm place in the hearts of the many people to whom he has proved a friend in need.

      Mr. Mathewson has been twice married.  His first wife, to whom he was married Aug. 28, 1864, was Miss Elizabeth Inman, of Yorkshire, England.  She came to America when she was nine years of age.  She was the first white woman who ever crossed the Arkansas River and went through the Indian Territory.  She was his companion among the Indians and passed through many scenes of border life.  Her death occurred Oct. 1, 1885.  Two children were born to her and her husband, Lucy E. and William A.  We copy a few extracts from Wichita papers written by Mr. Mead concerning the life and death of Mrs. Mathewson.  "She came  to Kansas in 1860 and took up a claim within half a mile of the original town site, upon which still stands the humble cabin in which she first made her home, near the present home of her husband.  She was the sister of Mrs. James R. Mead, of Wichita.  She married, in 1864, William Mathewson, who owned the Cow Creek and  Walnut Creek ranches on the old Santa Fe trail, and was the chief of the scouts for the United States troops engaged in fighting the wild Indians, who at the time swarmed over the plains.  With him she shared the dangers of the plains; she became an expert in the use of the rifle and revolver, and on more than one occasion stood by her husband's side and helped beat back the savage foe who attacked their home and camp.

      "While living at Walnut Creek ranch many of the noted men of the nation were her guests and ate at her table, among whom we may mention Gen. Sherman, Gen. Hancock, Gen. Canby, and many others, including Henry M. Stanley, the African explorer.  He spent several weeks at her house, and from her obtained much of the information that he furnished Eastern papers concerning savage life of the plains.  Col. J. H. Leavenworth, the noted Indian agent, made his home at their house, and by the influence and assistance of Mr. Mathewson was enabled to reach and negotiate treaties with hostile tribes.

      "At Walnut ranch she became a successful and favorite trader with the Indians, who called her 'Marr Wissi,' or 'Golden Hair,' while her husband was called 'Sillpah Sinpah,' the 'Long Beard Dangerous Man,' whom they both admired and dreaded, and who seemed to have a charmed life, as many a predatory band learned to their sorrow.  She was one of the most active and energetic members of the Old Settlers' Society.  In this life she proved herself a mother to the orphan and friendless, and her whole life was full of kindness and good deeds.  She died calmly and bravely, as she had lived, and at her death left two  children.  Upon her coffin lid was inscribed 'At rest.'"    

     Mr. Mathewson's second marriage, which occurred in May, 1886, was to Mrs. Tarlton, a most estimable lady of Louisville, Ky.  Fine portraits of Mr. Mathewson and his first wife are shown in this work.  She was the first white woman to cross the Arkansas River to live in this part of Kansas, and was one of the best representatives of the pioneer women of Kansas.  It is therefore eminently proper that her portrait should adorn the pages of this volume, side by side with that of her brave, patriotic and noble-hearted husband.

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