January 2006 - Harvey County Genealogical Society

THE
HOMESTEADER
newsletter of the harvey county genealogical society
Volume 2 Issue 1 - JANUARY 2006 - ISSN 1559-3592
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
With the focus of this newsletter on Burrton, here are some great places to find information for
that city and area:
Community information for Burrton can be found at http://www.skyways.org/towns/Burrton/
index.html.
Burrton newspapers may be found on microfilm at the Harvey County Historical Museum &
Archives (203 North Main, Newton) for the years 1878-1930. The archives also has a great
collection of tax rolls, voter registrations, and records for the local schools, Churches, and businesses.
Famous folks - Milburn Stone, known as ‘Doc Adams’ on television’s ‘Gunsmoke,’ was born in Burrton on July 5, 1904. You
can find information and photos for him online from the Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center at http://www.
nationalcowboymuseum.org/research/r_a_ston.html.
From the bookshelf - Gathering at the Hearth: Stories Mennonites Tell, by John E. Sharp (Herald Press, 2001). In the story
‘Showdown in Burrton, Kansas,’ Mennonites found that during World War I that they were considered enemies by their neighbors
and business associates. Everything made them suspect - their German origins (even if generations removed), language, culture,
and pacifism. Read how some Burrton residents handled ‘patriotism’ with a Mennonite family in their community on November
11, 1918. This book may be purchased through Provident Bookstores (http://www.providentbookstores.com). A short account
of this incident can also be found at http://www.swissmennonite.org/feature_archive/2004/200411.html.
In other news, our society is searching for individuals (or their family members who might have
information) who had direct ties to the Fred Harvey diningroom, Arcade Hotel, and dairy in
Newton for inclusion of their stories in a future newsletter. If you were a Harvey Girl or one of
the many other employees within the Fred Harvey system that operated specifically in Harvey
County, or if you are a family member of a former Fred Harvey employee, please contact us.
Don’t forget our quarterly program on Saturday, February 18 at 1:00 p.m. This will be a tour of
the Mennonite Library and Archives on the Bethel College campus, 300 East 27th Street, North
Newton, Kansas. As always, check the society website for details on upcoming events.
Prosperous digging!
Diana Carmichael
G.W. Flickinger, Burrton’s blacksmith
and wagon maker, was born in Perry
County, PA on January 5, 1830, where
he learned his trade and lived until 1856,
when he came west and was employed
in the Agricultural Implements Works of
John Deere, at Moline, IL. He made the
plow that was sent to the World’s Fair
at Vienna, also the plow that took the
premium at the Centennial Exposition,
at Philadelphia, and was employed there
until he came to Kansas in 1878. In
G W Flickinger
January, 1865, he enlisted in Company
G, 47th Regiment Illinois Volunteers,
and joined his command near Mobile,
AL., and participated in the taking of
Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort; after the
surrender was employed in the secret
service for a time and was mustered
out in February 1866. He organized
his business of blacksmith on coming
to Burrton in 1878 and is also engaged
in buying grain and feeding stock for
shipping. He owns five lots, a business
house and shops in Burrton and 160
acres in Section 6, used as a stock ranch.
He was married in 1852 to Miss Sarah
Curtis, a native of Pennsylvania. They
have five children - Flora, Susan, Amos,
Alice, and Clara. He is a member of the
IOOF and AOUW, first past master made
in Illinois. Was a member of the Board
of Supervisors of Rock Island County,
IL., one term and member of the City
Council of Moline, IL., two terms.
BURRTON
The Villages of Harvey County
“One of the most enterprising
towns on the main line of the
AT & SF Railway is the city of
Burrton,” it was said in 1883.
A primary shipping point
between Newton and Hutchinson, it was
also a connecting point as passengers
waited to change trains.
Some towns center around significant
historical events the townsfolk share.
Burrton developed around the quality
and character of her people, our ancestors
now largely forgotten but whose daily
lives centered on their relationships and
their commitments to build a strong
community of family and friends alike.
The first settlers to the area south of
Burrton came in March of 1871 and
included James McMurray, James
Patterson, & John Gorgas. Settling in
what would become Burrton Township
was John Blades and others who came
in April of 1871. During this time it was
said that, “everything west of Newton is
savage territory, unfit for civilized man.”
Indians and buffalo still roamed these
prairies, little more than a “wild sea of
waving grasses” and only the hardiest
pioneers could survive the hardships of
this frontier life. Yet they came.
It was more than a year later, in June of
1872, that the Santa Fe Railroad’s 700
track layers arrived in the area as they
made the great push to the Colorado
border. What is now town was still
prairie land along the tracks over a year
later, with the notable exception of a
small store owned by Mr. J. H. Gresham,
when in June of 1873 a small area south
of the tracks was selected as a town site
by the Arkansas Valley Town Company.
It was named “Burrton” in honor of
Mr. Isaac T. Burr, the “gentlemanly &
efficient railroad man” from Boston who
was a stockholder and Vice President of
the Santa Fe Railway at the time. The
following month, a Post Office was
established in Mr. Gresham’s store.
With this, Burrton was born. A. W.
Ballard built a blacksmith shop, which
was the first building actually inside the
Burrton town site. The next building
was a general store built by John Hunt
& Joel Moore. In October of 1873,
Mr. Gresham moved his store west into
the town site. On April 14, 1873, the
first school district meeting was held in
which David Hanselman was elected
director, John Goodwine, clerk, and I.
H. Haney, treasurer. The board called
for an election to approve bonds for a
school building. The election was held
on April 29 at Leicester Day’s house,
and bonds were approved. The wooden
frame school building was built in the
winter of 1873-74 for $1,200. J. G. Lane
was the first teacher, followed by Mrs.
Morrison. Among the first pupils were
Estelle & Alva Haney, John & Birdie
Gibson, Owen & Frank Goodwine,
Charles & Lizzie Hanselman, John
Hunt, Martha & Mina Baker, Clem &
Laura Gibson, among others.
Still, nobody actually lived in Burrton
proper until the spring of 1874, when
Dr. J. L. McAtee built the first residence,
followed by G. A. Thompson and J.
E. Howard. A hotel was built by A.
A. Woodruff in 1874. That same year,
Mr. Woodruff’s son, Bert, was born,
the first child of Burrton. 1874 was the
year of the great grasshopper plague and
drought that brought great hardship to
the pioneers who remained. The first
death was R. Dunlap in the Spring of
1875. In 1877 the Burrton Mills were
built.
The town pump was located in the
center of the intersection. This pump
and watering trough was essential as
horses were the main method of travel
into town.
Soon two hardware stores were opened,
William F. Dunn & Company, and F. W.
Cawkins & Company. J. H. Miles and
C. A. Dean came to town and opened
general stores on the east side of the
street south of the tracks. Grocery stores
were established by M. L. Sawyer, Welch
& Stone, and W.H. & A. Wilson. Drug
stores were owned by C. Rogers, C.H.
Bates, and W.H. Wilson. Other early
Tumbleweeds....
The Methodist Episcopal Church was orgainized in June,
1873 by Rev. John Harris. The First Presbyterian Church was
organized Feb. 13, 1874. The Christian Church was organized in
1874. The Baptist Church was organized in 1876, the Mennonite Church in 1906,
and the Burrton Bible Church began in 1977.
The GAR Farragut Post No 37 was organized in 1882. Officers included J.S. Elder,
Presiding Officer, Joseph Collins, Secretary, & David Hanselman, Chaplain.
One of the earliest fires in Burrton was the Burrton Mill, which burned in 1889.
In 1895 the Harvey House was destroyed by fire, and Mrs. Sam Hudlow lost her
life in the blaze. The Radix House burned in 1896 and the Emerson-Eales elevator
burned in 1898.
In 1902, the water tank on Main Street burned, and John Summerhouse died in
the fire. The Old Methodist Church burned in 1913. A huge tragedy ocurred on
November 11, 1914, when the east side of Main Street burned down. In 1926, the
Opera House, a furniture store, telephone office, real estate office, & barber shop
was destroyed by fire.
stores included Lumber companies,
Livery stables, Millinery stores, and the
harness shop.
Honoring Our
Pioneer Ancestors
Burrton was incorporated as a city
on September 12, 1878 following the
election of Mayor W. H. Kinney and
Councilmen J. A. Moore, Joseph Jarret,
H. C. Palmer, W. H. Riggs, and Thomas
Praster. J. J. Hunt was elected as Police
Judge, John Goodwine, Clerk, R. W.
Weymouth, Treasurer, and J. L. McAtee,
Marshall. Three years later, the first
private bank was established by G. A.
Vanderveer, which became the Bank
of Burrton in 1882 when J. E. Howard
assumed its management.
Having graduated from Burrton
High School in 1978, I have had
extra fun in compiling this issue.
Burrton enjoys a rich history, but
this history is found more in the
daily lives of its people than in any
particular organization or event - in
much the same way that my High
School experiences were rewarding
to me primarily on account of
the people I encountered and the
friendships I enjoyed through our
shared experiences.
It was in 1887 when some businesses
started up on the north side of the
tracks, the area that eventually became
the main business district.
These
included harness shops, furniture stores,
general merchandise stores, dry goods,
confectionary, variety stores, jewelry
store, bakeries, meat markets, and the
creamery and produce.
Several hotels were established. The
Harvey House was located north of the
depot, and burned down about 1895.
Henry & Maggie Holzrichter owned a
depot restaurant. The Hotel Baltimore
was operated by Mrs. Hugh Mynett until
1925. The Radix house was near the
railroad roundhouse, owned by Travis
Brown. The City Hotel was first owned
by Hanston Osborne.
Doctors included Dr. Burris, J. W.
Hempstid, Irl Hempstid, Newton
Seehom, Joseph Myers, & E. W.
Kappers.
Bakeries were owned by Mrs. Mattie
Paine and C.M. Childs. Mr. Childs
baked large amounts of bread in the
oven in the back of the bake shop.
by Darren McMannis
Burrton High School, 1885
On March 2, 1910, a skating rink was
opened “under the mangaement of R.A.
Mahoney and W. W. Jerome, with free
skating matinee for ladies, which was
largely attended and greatly enjoyed
by the young ladies of Burrton. Mitch
Brown is the instructor and does some
fancy skating.”
The Burrton Opera House was known
all over the country for the excellent
stage plays presented. Large crowds
climbed the long flight of wooden
steps to see Grace George, The Georgia
Troubadours, Monara Minstreels, and
others, and to see see plays such as Uncle
Tom’s Cabin and East Lynn. Graduation
exercises were held here, as well as
Election Night Results gatherings where
updates were received by telegraph and
then announced to the eager crowds.
For many years Burrton had a city band
and concerts on the city square were a
Saturday night event that people came
in rigs and wagons from miles around
to attend. Main street was crowded and
rigs were tied everywhere. The Burrton
Cornet Band was organized in October of
1882, with 16 members. W.H. Sheppard
was the band leader, J.D. Sweeney was
President, J.E. Gay, Treasurer, and Miles
Taylor, Secretary.
Tea parties were popular among the
ladies in the early days of Burrton’s
history. For younger folks, the big event
of the week was going down to the train
depot on Sunday afternoons to watch
the trains come in and the people shuffle
about. The Beau Mond Dancing Club
was organized, and elaborate balls were
held. Chautauqua programs were held
under a large tent for a week at a time.
“Gone But Not Forgotten” is
inscribed in many of the headstones
I have seen throughout Burrton’s
area cemeteries. Yet the sad reality
is that, for the most part, they ARE
forgotten. Their sacrifice and hard
work to make Burrton a better place,
their gracious acts of kindness to
their neighbors, the things they
enjoyed and the things they didn’t,
are lost to us. All that remains of
them is a name and a date, if it is
still readable, on a headstone. They
are gone, and they are forgotten. It’s
the same story for every town.
Discovering the forgotten lives of our
ancestors, and then working to honor
the lives of others in the community,
is just one reason why Genealogy
an exciting hobby. It’s about family
history, and it’s about the history of
families that made our towns what
they were and what they are. Your
participation with us in the Harvey
County Genealogical Society will
insure that none of our pioneers will
be forgotten by those who still today
benefit from their legacy.
For many people tracing the lives
of their ancestors, often the place
to start is with their death. Once
we know where a family member is
buried, we can find a death date, and
then an obituary (perhaps the only
biography ever written about their
life). This ties them to place and time,
ties us there too, and gives us a new
appreciation for our personal and
our community heritage. Won’t you
consider joining us in remembering
- and honoring - the lives of those
who have gone before us?
s
n
o
i
t
a
Gener
By Deloris Carmichael
& Diana Carmichael
DAVID HANSELMAN
Burrton, Kansas
David Hanselman was born on February 3, 1833 in Union County, Pennsylvania,
the son of John Hanselman and Margaret Durling. He had four brothers and five
sisters. On March 13, 1836, David married Nancy Thorn in West Virginia. David
and Nancy had seven children, the last two having been born in Burrton, Harvey
County, Kansas: James Marion, born December 25, 1856; David Chalmers, born
January 22, 1861; George Peter, born March 18, 1864; Elizabeth Jane, born August
11, 1867; John, born December 22, 1870; Anna Armeda, born September 10, 1872;
and William Hayes, born August 6, 1876. Nancy died on June 23, 1886. David
then married Frances Elizabeth Ayers on August 14, 1889. To this union two more
children were born: Frances Virginia, born June 20, 1890; and Margaret Dorothy,
born December 16, 1891.
David and his family had come to Kansas in 1871, locating their homestead of
160 acres in Harvey County; the first dwelling was a 16 x 14 foot frame house. Since
David was a veteran, he had first chance to make a claim using ‘homestead rights.’
In August of 1871, David went on his first buffalo hunt. He, his wife and son, Chalmers, drove west about nine miles across
the Arkansas River where they found a large herd of the animals. During the hunt, they wounded a buffalo which went into a
nearby wallow. In order to drive it forth, he and Chalmers again shot it. Immediately it came towards them with a snort and the
situation became quite alarming. Chalmers ran for the team and wagon where his mother was waiting, but before David was
aware of the danger, the infuriated animal charged him, tossing him into the air several times and nearly goring him to death.
At last the buffalo fell and died, but David was severely injured. His wife tore strips from her petticoat to cover the wounds
and try to stop the bleeding until they reached home. David told her to to drive the wagon toward the
lone tree in the sand hills as long as she could see, then to follow the star at the right, which she did,
until finally they saw a light which had been hung outside by their friends, reaching home just before
midnight. David did recover, but he bore a number of the scars as a result of the attack for the rest of
his life.
At the first meeting of School District #50 which was held on April 14, 1873 in Burrton, Harvey
County, Kansas, David was elected Director. He also served as township trustee and treasurer for
many years. Both he and his wife were charter members of Burrton’s Christian Church. He lived a life
of rectitude and rugged honesty. David, frontiersman and civil war veteran, passed away on March
30, 1919 at his home one mile south of Burrton where he had first settled in the 1870’s and resided
almost half a century, having carved out a life on the plains. He and his wives are all buried in Burrton
Cemetery, Harvey County, Kansas. -- Deloris (Hege) Carmichael for Duane Carmichael, greatgrandson of David Hanselman
DAVID CHALMERS HANSELMAN
Burrton, Kansas
The Chal Hanselman referred to in the following article is David Chalmers Hanselman, son of David & Nancy Hanselman,
who was born January 22, 1861 in West Virginia and died November 12, 1891 in Lake
Township, Harvey County, Kansas. David is also buried in Burrton Cemetery.
From the November 1891 Burrton Free Lance:
“The community was considerably shocked Wednesday evening by the
announcement that Chal Hanselman had accidentally shot himself. He and Harry
Knight had been hunting about five miles southwest of town and were driving along
in their buggy when the gun went off, lodging a whole load of shot in his left side
and tearing the flesh and skin off, leaving his bowels drop down and exposing his
lungs. For a moment his head dropped on the shoulder of his companion, who drive
to Robert Ambler’s place as fast as possible, when they got out and Chal walked to
the house, holding his bowels in with his hands. E. H. McFall, who was teaching school nearby, was appraised of the accident, and
immediately dismissed and came to town after Dr. Hempstid who, upon arrival at the place found Chal sinking rapidly and told
him it was only a question of a few hours, but in order to satisfy the family sent for Drs. Easling and Lawrence, the latter of whom
lived in Halstead and arrived too late, the young man having passed away a short time before his arrival. Medical skill could do
nothing and Chal passed from this life at 8:15 o’clock, having suffered less than five hours.
“The deceased leaves behind a wife and four children, the youngest of which was born an orphan, having come to this life after
the flight of the spirit of its parent, thus making the affair more sad. The funeral services were held at 2 p.m. yesterday, and after
the remains had been taken to his home and viewed by the afflicted wife, they were laid to rest in the city cemetery. The Free Lance
extends most earnest sympathies to the bereaved relatives.”
David Chalmers Hanselman married Mary Mathews in Burrton and they had four children: Nettie, Harry
William, David Lemar, and Nellie Chalmers (Nellie, pictured at right in 1907, is the one referred to in the
above article as “the youngest of which was born an orphan”). Because of various circumstances after the
death of her husband, Mary made the decision to give up the children, and the two youngest, David Lemar
and Nellie Chalmers, were eventually ‘taken in’ by John and Catherine Carmichael who raised them as their
own. John and Catherine Carmichael were well-known and respected in the Burrton community and had nine
children of their own: George, Dougal, Isabelle Sarah, William T., Mary Helen, Jennett Anna, Christina Rosa,
John W., and Lucinda Nancy. -- Diana Carmichael
Burrton News
From the Burrton Graphic, Friday, December 1, 1911 (Vol 35 No 15), Page 4:
Leonard D. Hanselman, aged 22, of Burrton and Frankie M. Bartlett, aged 20, of
Patterson were married Sunday in Hutchinson by Probate Judge Jorden.
Dick Carmichael will make special prices to schools and
Churches for Christmas candies. A large supply of fresh candies will be on hand at the proper time and prices will be right
to all. Don’t buy your Christmas candies until you investigate
our goods and prices.
From the Burrton Graphic and Free Lance, Thursday,
November 7, 1912 (Vol 36 No 12), Page 8:
Mr. Ed Hoskinson and Frank Evans have purchased a new corn
sheller and gasoline engine which are doing fine work.
Mr. and Mrs. Edd Parretts and family and Ethel Carmichael
took dinner at V. Priddles Sunday.
Mr. John Carmichael and family spent Sunday night with his
brother Mr. George Carmichael.
Mr. Sam Collins has built a new addition to his barn.
From the Burrton Graphic and Free Lance, Thursday,
November 7, 1912 (Vol 36 No 12), Page 1:
The death of Mrs. John Carmichael occurred at her home at
2 a.m. Wednesday morning after a semi invalidism extending
over a period of years.
About a month ago she was thrown from a buggy from the effects of which she continued to suffer until the end came early
Wednesday morning. The funeral services will be held Friday
from the U.B. Church, Reverends Hinshaw and Duncan officiating. The deceased was a resident of Lake twp, and lived there
continuously 33 years with the exception of 2 years in Burrton,
and was a highly respected member of the community, loved
and revered by all her neighbors. After a life of usefulness she
has passed to her reward. A full obituary will appear in our next
issue [of the Graphic].
Vital Statistics
Burrton Cemetery
Star Cemetery
Carmichael, Dougal
born 18 Sep 1868
died 14 Sep 1942
Bartlett, Frankie Maude
born 15 Dec 1889
died 13 May 1915
Carmichael, Cora M
born 04 Feb 1873
died 11 Apr 1965
Hanselman, David Lemar
born 07 Jun 1889
died 01 Apr 1918
Carmichael, Nellie Mae
born 27 Oct 1891
died 19 Mar 1979
Valley Township
Cemetery
Carmichael, Lucinda Nancy
born 04 May 1885
died 29 Jun 1976
Carmichael, Docia Mae
born 27 Mar 1897
died 26 Mar 1973
Matlack, Karl Linford
born 22 Apr 1887
died 02 May 1958
Matlack, Clyde Clinton
born 25 Mar 1883
died 25 Jun 1923
Stone, Edward Austin
born 23 Sep 1895
died 18 Sep 1971
Carmichael, Clyde Harold
born 16 May 1907
died 10 Oct 1993
Carmichael, George
born 20 Jun 1867
died 15 Nov 1946
Carmichael, John
born 06 Feb 1834
died 16 May 1921
McArthur, Catherine
born 09 Sep 1844
died 06 Nov 1912
Program Notes
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS!
by Kelly Krotz
The November general meeting of the Harvey County
Genealogical Society was held on Saturday, November 19th at
the Harvey County
Historical Museum. President Diana Carmichael
opened the meeting by welcoming members
and guests, and then introduced Carol Gibbens
who presented a program entitled Digging for
Ancestors: Settling in Harvey County.
Carol’s multi-media presentation provided
information of the Gibbens and Auernheimer
families settling in the Harvey County area.
A highlight of the
presentation was a video of Carol’s trip to her ancestral homeland
of Germany. Carol has spent numerous years researching and
collecting genealogical data. She provided several histories for
the 1990 book Harvey County History edited by Linda Smurr; and
in 1992 Carol compiled and published a book titled Auernheimer
History and Genealogy, “Meadowhome,” A Continuation of a
Compilation by Selma Auernheimer and in Association with
Family Members. The meeting concluded with the presentation
of a certificate of appreciation to Carol for her presentation.
To the surprise of the Society, Carol then presented President
Carmichael with a copy of the book for the Society’s holdings.
Society holdings are housed in the archives section of the Harvey County Historical
Museum and are available for use by the public.
The next general meeting of the Society will be February 16, 2006. Please check our
website at www.rootsweb.com/~kshcgs for additional information.
Do you have genealogical materials specific to Harvey County? Did you know
that you can donate those materials to HCGS to be housed in the Society’s
holdings section of the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives? Contact
us for the details!
Upcoming issues of The Homesteader will focus on Walton, Kansas, the lost towns
of Harvey County, the people of the Harvey Houses, and general discussion of
Genealogical helps and issues. Your submissions are encouraged!
J BRADLEY MILLER
Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
HCGS is currently seeking donations
for the acquisition of historical and
genealogical materials (i.e., books,
software, equipment and other items)
to be placed with our collections which
are housed in the archives section
on the second floor of the Harvey
County Historical Museum and
Archives, 203 North Main, Newton,
Kansas. Such materials will benefit
genealogists and family historians
who have ancestors with connections
to Harvey County, Kansas, thus
providing additional means for
furthering their research into family
origins, along with genealogical
and historical data. Since one of our
society’s objectives is to collect and
preserve genealogical and historical
materials and make them available
for use, we feel that this endeavor
is an important part of each person’s
legacy to their family, city, state and
country. You or your organization
can help us in our efforts to build
the society’s archival holdings by
providing either monetary donations
in any amount or purchasing specific
materials to be made available for
use by patrons and researchers, in
which case we can provide you with
a current ‘Wish List’ of items our
society would like to acquire.
HARVEY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
“You’ve Got Family Here”
PO BOX 75 NEWTON KS 67114
Website: www.rootsweb.com/~kshcgs
Email: [email protected]
BOARD MEETINGS
HCGS Board Meetings are open to the public, and anyone with
an interest in Genealogy or the HCGS is encouraged to attend.
Meetings are currently held at 7:00 p.m. in the Source of Light
building conference room, 901 SW 14th Street, in Newton.
Upcoming Meetings:
January 19 - February 16 - March 16
The Homesteader is published bi-monthly by the Harvey
County (Kansas) Genealogical Society, PO Box 75,
Newton, Kansas 67114. To be added to the mailing list,
submit materials, or for more information about the content
listed herein, contact Darren McMannis, Newsletter Editor.
HCGS reserves the right to edit submissions and other
material for space, content, clarity, grammar, and spelling.
This newsletter may be freely photocopied and distributed,
as long as it is not reproduced for profit or other personal
gain.