The LHS Newsletter Archive

Volume Twenty-two, Issue Number 1

Originally Published in Lecompton, Kansas : Spring 1996 Digitally Archived August 2006

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~Re£\!VOL. 22, No.1 SPRING 1996LECOMPTON, KANSAS

JUDGE ELMORE'S 1856 DEER HUNT

The following article was written by Ely Moore. Sr.the son of the Col. Ely Moore. who came with his

family in May, 1856, to Lecompton the first capital ofKansas, where Colonel Moore, became Registerand Special Agent of the land office. ColonelMoore lived at Lecompton until his death in 1860.Ely Moore Sr., wrote several articles for the KansasState Historical Society.

All who were so fortunate as to know intimatelyRush Elmore, Judge of the United State FederalCourt of Kansas in the early days of Kansas history,felt a profound respect for his many social qualities.

and his intense love for the hunt was one of them.The deep-toned baying of the stag hound was farmore enchanting to his ear than the artificial jingle ofGilmore's Band. The first sound of the bugle-likenote of the hound when he "Opens" in pursuit ofhis game, would send the blood tingling throughhis veins. add brilliancy to his eye, and bathe hiscountenance with exquisite joy. Then it was thatlegal love, and cold knotty arguments by thelearned bar were forgotten, and in his excess ofpleasure the Judge's thoughts were more apt toform much lines as these:

Harkat Sport'sImpatientcry

As he makes the bold buck flyUst to Troop's bewailing yellEcho long o'er plain and dell

No wonder, then, that Elmore should havebrought with him from his southern home a numberof fine dogs. This he did, and they were beautifulspecimens of their kind.

One Mondaymorninglate in the fall of 1856, asthe Judge was on his way from his Tecumseh hometo Lecompton for the purpose of holding court, andwhen but a little west of Big Springs, a herd of sixdeer crossed the road just in front of him on theirway to the bluffs and bottoms of the Kaw. Thissight so inoculated Elmore with the spirit of thechase that he adjourned court without giving causeor explanation, setting aghast the Marshal andbewildering the bar as he announced, "Courtstands adjourned until 10 o'clock Wednesdaymorning."

The Judge at once sent home for his dogs andalso for those belonging to several of hisneighbors. The hounds arrived that night, fifteen innumber, and we of the town and vicinity furnishedas many more.

Every preparation was made for the hunt to takeplace the next morning. Many notables ofLecom,pton including the military officers, wereinvited to join in the sport. (These military officerswere stationed at Camp Sackett Southwest ofLecompton near where Charley & lone Paslay nowlive, and were Ft. Leavenworth soldiers stationedthere to keep peace in the Territory.)

We assembled by bugle call early on the momingof the hunt, and as we stood "attention" before theold American hotel, we numbered twenty. We wereall well mounted, and full of vim, dare and stunt.The exceedingly reckless but magnificent riding Iwitnessed that day would have made the RoughRiders of the present ineligible to show in that ring.

Now let me give you the names of thosecomposing the party, as related by me to the lateand deeply lamented Colonel Henry M. Greene.

"Here", said I to the Colonel, as we passed out ofGrover on a Santa Fe down train, "here began adeer hunt in the fall of 1856which ended at CoonCreek, just west of Lecompton. There were twentyparticipants, and so far as I know and believe, I amthe only living representative. You may be

interested to learn the names of the otherscomposing the party. Get your pencil and writethem down. Major John Sedgwick, Capt. CharlesMay, Capt. Delos B. Sackett, Ueut. J.E.B. Stuart,Judge Rush Elmore, Gov. Wilson Shannon, Hon.Wm. McDowell, Gen. H. J. Strickler, Gen. B. J.Smith, Ueut. Mcintosh, L A. Maclean, Sam!. J.Jones, Gen. T. W. Sherman, Gen. Frank Marshall,Dr. John P. Wood, Gen. Wm. P. Richardson, Gov.Hugh S. Walsh, Corporal Benny Cunningham,private Pete Sweeney, and Ely Moore.

"Now let us talk about them, and you will agreewith me that seldom if ever, have an equal numberof men who were or afterward became famous, metupon a deer hunt. Gen. John Sedgwick, who ledthe Sixth Troops at Malvem, at Antietam, whocarried Marye's Heights, and struck Lee's rear atChancellorsville, who saved the second day atGettysburg, and fell instantly dead in the wildernesswhile good humoredly taunting his staff withtimidity--Sedgwick, the brave, bashful bachelor,who was more disconcerted at the flash of abeautiful eye than at the volley of a hostile brigade.Capt. Charles May, the boy with the flowing hair,who charged the chapparel (Me>dcan RoadRunners) at the battle of Resaca de la Palma ,in theMexican war. and broke Arista's lines with hisdragoons; May, the brave and chivalrous, say theWar Reports. Gen Delos B. Sackett, who receivedpromotion for gallantry in Mexico,was Captain of CoB., of the dragoons during the early struggle inKansas, and during the rebellion was made andcontinued to be until his death, in 1884, InspectorGeneral of our armies. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, alieutenant of cavalry whilst in Kansas, but becameLee's thunderbolt, and after participating in scoresof daring raids and skirmishes, to fall mortallywounded almost in sight of his bravely defendedcapital. (Washington D.C.) Judge Rush Elmore,courtly and chivalric, though merciless anddetermined in his execution of the laws as FederalJudge. Gov. Wilson Shannon, the great lawyer andstatesman, twice a governor of the Kansas Territoryand a minister to foreign court. Hon. Wm.McDowell, one of the profoundest lawyers Kansasever knew. Gen. H. J. Strickler, Adjutant General ofthe Territory, the man of large affairs and loftyintegrity. Gen. B. J. Smith, of Texas, who fought asa gallant Confederate General in the West. Gen.Mcintosh, who went down in the fearful first day atPea Ridge,(Arkansas) 1862, in command of therebel center; the same Mc Intosh in whose tent, atLawrence, Kansas Sam!. J. Jones was shot. Gen.

L.A. Maclean,chief clerk of Gen. John Calhoun(President of the Lecompton ConstitutionalConvention, and surveyor General of Kansas andNebraska), the great rugged Scotchman, who haslong lived under unjust censure on account of theOxford returns and the mythical burial of the'Candle Box', and was General Sterling Price'sAdjutant General until most treacherously slainby abrother officer in Arkansas, and whose stone bearsthe touching words dictated by himself in his deathagony, 'Approved and Respectfully Forwarded tomy Superior." Sheriff Saml. J. Jones, the mostcordially hated of Lawrence and Free State mengenerally, but who, during the rebellion, became afederal officer in Arizona. Gen. T. W. Sherman, whoso nobly commanded Sherman's artillery in Mexico,and during the rebellion won high distinction forvaluable services; he became the son-in-law ofGovernor Wilson Shannon. Gen. Frank Marshall,who so liberally endowed Marshall Hall, aneducational institute at Golden City, Colo., andfathered Marshall's Pass over the Rockies. Dr. Jno.P. Wood, a surgeon of distinction in the MexicanWar, an important character during the early days ofKansas, and until recently, though within a notch ofthe century mark, was the oldest practicingphysician in this or any other country. Gen. Wm. P.Richardson, Maj. General Kansas Territorial Militia.Gov. Hugh S. Walsh, acting Governor andSecretary of the Territory. Corporal BennyCunningham, a highly educated young gentlemanfrom the Green Mountain State, but who had metwith a jilt and jolt from some adored one in Vermont,sought and found~hishaven and solace in Sackett'sdragoons. Benny lost his life in crossing the Kaw atLawrence. He was buried on the site of Mt. Oread.Some workmen in excavating for a foundation yearsago found a skeleton, some dragoon buttons, anda piece of army blue. The local papers weremystified as to who was buried there, it was BennyCunningham. Should I omit to mention in thisconnection Pete Sweeney, I would overlook a mostremarkable character. Pete was born inTennessee, his father was an Irishman,his motner aYankee girl. Sweeney was six feet four inches inheight, and our late ex-senator was broad of hipand deep of chest when compared to Pete. Petewas the same width and depth all the way up untilyou reached his neck, that was of the pipe stemorder and fully six inches in length, at the extremeupper termination of which was placed-insecurely--a head very like in size, shape and appearance toour everyday Ben. Davis apple. But strange to sayas a musician--both instrumental and vocal--he was

truly a marvel. He had a voice for every song, frombewitchingly pathetic to ludicrous. His favoriteinstrument was the banjo, from which he couldextract the sweetest of sweet tones. His equal withthis instrument was certainly unrivaled. Sweeney'sfavorite song with the army and especially withStuart, was 'Jine the Cav-al-ry.' This was one of hisown compositions and consisted of some fiftyverses. I wish I could recall some of them, but onlyremember the chorus, which ran:

Wander afar:.>enjoy all that you seeBut if you want fun, jine the cav-al-ry

Sweeney was a private in Stuart's cavalry company.He cast his fortunes with Stuart and followed himfrom Kansas to Virginia, where he was killed fallingin the same battle where Stuart fell. I hopeSweeney and his banjo rest in the same grave.

The following extract is taken from GeneralJames Longstreet's letter in the Century Magazine,published in 1886. As will be seen it spe,akshighlyof Stuart, and makes manifest that Jeb. had notforgotten 'Jine the Cavalry.'

Jeb Stuart was a very daring fellow.and the bestcavalryman America ever produced. At the SecondManassas, soon after we heard of the advance ofMcDowell and Porter, Stuart came in and made areport to General Lee. When he had done soGeneral Lee said he had no orders at that moment,but he requested Stuart to watt awhile. ThereuponStuart turned round in his tracks, laid down on theground, put a stone under his head and instantlyfell asleep. General Lee rode away and in an hourreturned Stuart was still sleeping. Lee asked forhim, and Stuart sprang to his feet and said: "Here Iam General."

General Lee replied, "I want you to send amessage to your troops over on the left to send afew more cavalry over to the right.'

"I would better go myself' said Stuart, and withthat he swung himself into the saddle and rode offat a rapid gallop singing as loudly as he could" Jinethe Cavalry."

Truly a wonderful collection of notables driftedinto Kansas and drifted out again into the headycurrents of the great war, where so many of thembecame immortal.

But to the hunt. With our dogs safely coupled and

snug in two spring wagons, we took the road fromLecompton to Big Springs, thence the Californiaroad through the then little settlement ofWashington, (just west of Big Springs) to a pointnear Tecumseh. Here we were divided, MajorSedgwick taking the bottom with half the men andhalf the dogs, the balance, under Judge Elmore,beating bluff and brush, all moving eastward. Wefailed to rouse our game for weary miles, and notuntil we approached Big Springs branch did thedogs become uneasy, some of them throwing theirheads up as they do to "wind" the game. Thehunters were placed in twos down the bottom andabout 100 yards apart. Jeb Stuart with myselfoccupied the east most stand. The dogs soongave "tongue" as they sprang up the bluff. Thedeer took the open prairie west for several miles,then eastward, but separated, four keeping to thebluffs and a fme buck and doe taking the bottom,the dogs about equally divided on the differenttrails. As they approached Grover, now on theSanta Fe road, and within a stone's throw of wherethat honored and honorable friend of mine nowresides, Wm. H. Christian, (Christian ran a store andwas post master of Grover) the deer and dogsflashed in sight. The long, deep baying of thepack--from deep bass to light tenor--set the menand horses in an eager, tremulous state, and torestrain ourselves and our mounts was a taskindeed. But as Major Sedgwick was in command ofour relay, we reluctantly awaited his orders. Soonthey came, as "Uncle Johnnie" dashed along ourline, hat in hand, giving the command to charge,and added with all his vim and voice, "a basket ofwine to him who is in at the death."

As before related, Stuart and I were on theextreme eastern relay and when the charge wasmade some little advantage over all others. But therush was spontaneous, every mind and everyhorse doing his upmost to gain the lead. Overstumps, fallen trees, boulders, up and downravines we flew in a mad race. As we nearedGlendale, the bluffs became too steep for the deer,so they resorted to a level wood road, now usurpedby the Santa Fe. Here the running was fine, and 3SStuart and I had repeatedly amused the militarycamp by racing our rival horses over a half milestretch near Lecompton, and he as a rule having ashade the better of me, I felt deep concern in a longpull and a game finish. After leaving Glendale a mileor so behind, I gradually took the lead, passed thedogs, and felt were of a shot. Here a very uglywashout interposed itself, and whilst the deep,wide ravine at that place was no barrier to the deer

yet compelled the horsemen to seek a crossing.We were soon across this impediment, and thencame the supreme dash, if not to gain a shot to atleast prevent the game from crossing Coon Creek,which would have lost us our victory. My horsenobly responded to the spur, and just beforereaching the creek I turned the deer. As theyattempted to take the rising ground I rushed uponthem, then pulling my revolver (for Colt's navy wasthe only weapon we were permitted to carry thatday) I had a fair shot at the buck when only sometwenty yards distant. 1hit him at the first fire, as thedropping of his flag (tail) told me, and as I rapidlyemptied two more barrels he fell dead. The doe, ~her selected one fell, started to retrace her steps,but at her first jump Stuart's revolver cracked closebehind me, and the doe fell dead almost at thehorses feet.

We had scarcely bled our deer when the shots andshouts from o!.:r comrades on the prairieannounced that they, too, had reaped a likeharvest. Judge Elmore and Captain Sackettproving the fortunate Nimrods on the upland. Thenthe huntsman's horn bade the dogs give o'er thechase for they had twenty miles of rough running,as their whining, lolling tongues and lacerated feetattested.

Thus ended the memorable hunt, and all thatremained was the recounting of our exploits andrefreshments. These were enjoyed at militaryheadquarters that night.{Camp Sackett) The Majorwas equal to his promise, for the wine flowed asliberally as jokes, songs and speeches, which by farout sparkled the wine.

Cast no rocks at those who lived in the blithe andhappy long ago, but do them full justice by recallingthe fact that no severely moral strings were invogue to hamper their actions during those freeand easy days. Doubtless a lapse in language ordemeanor might have been discerned by the moreprying and exacting present, but it matter~ notthen from where a man hailed, his politics orreligion, all men hugged close the belief that theywere right, just, honorable and brave. Then whyshould we not exclaim, "Olden days with all thyfaultswe lovetheestill.n by ElyMoore

JUDGE RUSH ELMOREHen. Rush Elmore was born in Autauga Co. (now

part of Elmore Co.) Alabama, on the 27th day ofFeb. 1818 and grewto manhoodin that locality. Hereceived a liberal education at the University ofAlabama, and at the close of his collegiate lifechose the law for his profession. At the beginning

of the Mexican War he raised a company of youngmen in Montgomery, of which he was electedcaptain. The service of this company was tenderedto and accepted by the Federal Government forservice in the Mexican War, and they weremustered into the service of the United States as apart of its military forces, for operation in Mexico.After the war, he returned to Montgomery andformed a partnership with his older brother, theHon. John A Elmore and the Hon. Wm. A Yancy,and again commenced the practice of hisprofession. Soon after his return from Mexico hewas elected Bridadier-General of the Alabamamilitia, and continued to hold that position until hecame to Kansas.

Upon the organization of Kansas and Nebraska, in1854, he was appointed one of the associatejustices of the Supreme Court of Kansas. He firstvisited the Territory in the fall of 1854and In theSprings of 1855,with his family, moved and locatedat the town of Tecumseh, Ks. He served as Justiceuntil the admission of Kansas into the Union, inJanuary, 1861.

JAMES EWELL BROWN STUART

J.E.B. Stuart was born in Virginia in 1833and wasone of the romatic legends of the Civil War. He waslater called Jeb. He graduated from U. S. M. A,West Point in 1854, and then served in the U.S.Army units of the west. While there he came toknow John Brown, the abolitionist. When Brownseiged the great arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859,he revoluntioned to serve as an aide to Robert E.Lee in the attack to free the arsenal from Brownwho had rented a place in Maryland from which hehad led the attack, he and- his group of eighteenmen. It was a large U. S. arsenal and contained

stores of ammunition and weapons that he hopedto take and place in the hands of negro slaves, sothat they might fight for their freedom. He led-anattack on the complex and holed up in the thickwalled fire home where he made a stand.

During the night a company of U. S. Marinesarrived, commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee and Lt.Jeb Stuart. They attacked the fire house and afterthirty-six hours, Brown gave up. He and his menwere tried by a court. found guilty and hung Dec. 16.1859.

When Lincoln declared war on the South. Jebdecided to withdraw from the U. S. Army and joinedthe South, along with Robert E. Lee, and manyothers. He then participated in the first attack atMannassas. He had become a captain, then aLieutenant COlonel in the 1st Virginia cavalry andled his unit through the First Bull Run campaign andwas promoted to Brigadier General in Sept. 1861andJuly, 1862became Major General of cavalry. Amonghis expoits was the capture of part of GeneralPope's (North) staff with their documents. He thendistinguished himself at Antietaim.

In the 1862Penisular Campaign, he took 1200calavry into enemy territory, and for three daysmade a complete circuit of the Union forces,capturing prisoners, arms, horses, equipment andhelped set up the confererate victory at GainesMall. He then led his troops through a second BullRun, at Sharpsburg, Fredricksbllrg and raid atCataletti Station and many personal belongings.He then started his second ride around McClellan'sArmy.

After Stonewall Jackson's death in an accidentalshooting by his own men, Stuart took over his-command temporarily, with unclear instructionsfrom Lee, on June 24 he went across the army andPotomac supply route. He was successful in thatventure, but arrived too late to help in the Battle ofGettysburg.

He then went on to fight in the Wilderness, May1864 Spotsylvania and Yellow Tavern, Virginia,where he was mortally wounded after emptying hispistol as he was firing at the Union Cavalry, dyingthe next day, May 11, 1864.

Stuart liked to exploit his abilities, but his courageand professionalism along with his sense of humorand style provided the Confederacy an ideal thatwouldlongsurvive. by SaraWalter

When the hunt took place the railroad was not inexistence. When Ely Moore told the story, therailroadhadbeen laid,so he usedthe railroadandstationsto showwherethey were huntingdown bythe bluffs.

1 Tecumseh was about 8 miles west of Lecompton.2. Big Springs where Smore spotted the deer onhis way to Lecompton.3. Lecompton where Elmore was to hold court.4. Camp Sackett where United States military menwere stationed.S.Left Lecompton and went through the town ofWashington just west of Big Springs on theCalifornia Road.6. Grover, after leaving Tecumseh they headedback east along the bluffs to Grover.7. Glendale, It was just about a mile east of thisrailroad station is where they spotted the deer andthe first one was shot.

ELY MOORE, SR.It Kansasshouldseek among its livingcitizens a

man whose career is richest in associations with theevents far back in territorial times there could be nobetter appoximation to the ideal choice than that ofthe venerable Ely Moore, Sr., of Lawrence. He wasthen a young man in his early twenties much of that

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strenuous struggle which made Kansas Territorythe battle ground of the nation. .

Col. By Moore, father of Ely Moore, Sr., was aprominent man both in the East and in Kansas. Heserved two terms inCongress from New York, andalso held the office of comptroller of the port of NewYork City. Colonel Moore married Emeline Coutantof FrenctrHuguenot ancestry. The had five childre,Mary, Hampden, Emma, Helen and Ely. Col. ElyMoore gained his military title when appointedcommissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians,whose headquarters were at what was then MiamiMission, some twelve miles from the present site ofPaola,Ks Colonel Moore brought his family out toKansas in June, 1853. He was a prominent man inearly territorial days both by reason of his officialposition as Indian commissioner, and also by hisofficial relations with the early white settlement.While he was Indian commissioner a state of warexisted between the Five Civilized Tribes and thePottawatomie Indians. After making three trips fromMiami to Pottawatomie, Col. Moore succeeded inestablishing peaceful relations betWeen thebelligerents. In May, 1856, the Moore familyremoved to Lecompton, the first capital of Kansas,and Col. Moore became register and special agentof the land office. He lived at Lecompton until hisdeath in 1860. He was buried out on the land wherethe Battle of Ft. Titus took place.

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8y Moore, Sr., was bom in New YorkCity Dec. 7,1832, and was twenty-one years of age when hecame with his parents to Kansas. He had alreadyshown an ability and responsibility and wasfrequently delegated with affairs of importance inconnection with the Indian office of commissioner.While on some business connected with the FiveCivilizedTribes, he was traveling over the countrywith and Indian guide, and this guide havingdeserted him he spent a lonely night on MountOread, and thus was the firstwhite person so far asknown to have slept where Lawrence now stand.He came to know the Indians not only officiallybutpersonally. He hunted with them for weeks at atime. Mr. Moore in the first twenty years after hecame to Kansas killed hundreds of buffalo. Herecall seeing these herds when they covered manysquare miles of the vast prairie and when theynumber hundreds of thousands. When such aherd wouldget in motion impelled by fear the treadof their hoofs would make the entire earth shake.

Mr. Moore was a participant in the events thatmade Kansas history. He came to the territorywhen, with but few exceptions, there were no whitepeople except at militarystations. It was a land ofIndians, buffalo, antelope, wolves, prairie chickensand rattlesnakes. Mr.Moorewas in Kansas throughthe border warfare period. He is one of many of theold timers in Kansas who are emphatic indenunciation of John Brown and those whoendeavor to give that character a halo of virute. Hehas lived in Kansas over sixty-fouryears, and heknew personally many of the most noted andnotorious characters of the early days. IncludingBrown,Jim Lane and others.

Mr. Moore first located in Lawrence as anemployee on the old Lawrence Journal. Later withSenator Ross he published the DemocraticStandard. Still later he was connected with thestate printingoffice inTopeka. Mr.Moore has beena resident of Lawrence for many years, and in thatcommunity, where he is best know, he is loved andrespected by everyone.

Mr. Moore married Rose McKinney. Theybecame the parents of five children, Margaret, Mrs.Charles C. Seewir, of Lawrence, Sue, Mrs. C. L.Whitney,of Kansas City, Mo.; Ely,Jr., a resident ofNew York City; Helen, Mrs. George Ensminger, ofKansas City,Mo.and Thomas, who died in infancy.

Ely Moore died in Lawrence April26, 1918at theage of 86 years. He is buried in Oak HillcemeteryReferences:1.Photos-courtesy of the Kansas State HistoricalSociety and TimRues curator of ConstitutionHall.

2. Websters Biographical Dictionary3.Civil War Almanac, Editor John S. Bowman, N.Y.,N. Y. 19824.Kansas State Historical Collection, by Wm. C.Connelley, Sec. and Deer Hunt by Ely Moore.5. McPherson, James, Battle Cry of Freedom, TheCivilWar Era. Ballantine Books, N. Y. 19896. Lawrence Gazette, April 27, 1918.7. Lawrence Joumal-World-Jan 23, 1996*********************************************************

As the feature story in the Bald Eagle states, wehave located information that another famousAmerican has walked the streets of Lecompton.Jeb Stuart who distinguished himself as third incommand of the Confederate Army along withseveral future Generals of the UnionArmywere allstationed at Camp Sackett in the late 1850's. It iseasy to see why national historians say thatLecompton was an household word to Americansand the site of major events which caused the CivilWar.

This issue also includes the design for theLecompton Turnpike Interchange to be opened inthe Fall of 1996. The interchange will beappropriately marked with signs directing visitors toour historiccity. Pres.PaulBahnmaier

>- The Lecomptoninterchange; rhe $3.15 million project begins March 1 and is slated for% :ompletion in the fall.'iGIent:GI.a0a:..0ellN2,;a:0(.)

lS.0UthLawrenceTrafficway

TERRY 'TEVENS/joURNAL-WORW uRAl'HlC

THANKS VOLUNTEERSA big thank you to all of you who helped with

decorations and music for the Christmas Vespers.A compacity crowd was in attendance this year

Thanks to the following individuals who placedthe following items in the Territorial CapitalMuseum.1. Allie Banks Estate-Ladder back chair with cane

bottom, hexagon table, corner stand andmemorbilia, dishes, sewing items and other items.2. Phil & Peg Wizer-6Oth Anniversary Photo book3. Ruth Carr Wyatt-Antique books4. Dale Gregg-old Lecompton road sign5. Roy & Marsha Paslay-Christmas Ornament6. Dorothy Shaner-Newspaper clippings7. Evelyn Dines-Old Bible8. Esther Matney-Old newspapers & sheet music.9. Marge Schmitt-Lecompton Owl newsletters

VISITORS AT THE MUSEUMIn 1995over 3,000 visitors from seven foreign

countries, 37 states and 108cities in Kansas visitedLecomptolJ. This is a testimonial to the quality ofthe two museums in Lecompton and the nationalsignificant of our history. Its great to think we hadthis many visitors and not located along a majorhighway and no turnpike exchange.

VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATEDThe Lecompton Historical Society would like to

extend great appreciation to Marie Traxler, treasurerand Margaret Wulfkuhle, program chairperson asthey have retired at the end of 1995. Marie keptexcellent minutes of meetings and Margaret wasalways able to provide so enthusiasticallyoutstanding programs on vairous historical topics.

Pres. Paul Bahnmaier

YOU ARE INVITEDCONSTITUTION HALLSTATE HISTORICSITE ATLECOMPTON, KANSAS PRESENT

WATERCOLOR PAINTINGSOF HISTORICALAND LOCAL INTEREST

By81en DuncanReceptionand officialopeningfor this show washeld Sunday, Feb.11, 1996,from 2 until 4 p.m. andwill continue to be on display from Feb.11 until theend of April, 1996. The Constitution Hall hours are10to 5, Wednesday thru Saturday, and 1 to 5 onSunday.LANE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM hoursare from11 to 4, Wednesday thru Saturday, and 1 to 5 onSunday.

LECOMPTON ALUMNIRememberthe LecomptonAlumni Banqueton

May25 .TERRITORIAL CAPITAL FESTIVAL

Also remember the Territorial Capital Festival onJune 29th. The Battle of Fort Titus will be re-enacted on June 29 and 30th.

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MAMA'S MAMA

Mama's Mama, on a winter's day,Milked the cows and fed them hay,slopped the hogs, saddled the mule,and got the children off to school,Did a washing, mopped the floors,

Washed the windows and did some chores,Cooked a dish of home dried fruit,Pressed her husband's Sunday suit,Swept the parlor, made the bed,Baked a dozen loaves of bread,

Split some wood and lugged it in,Enough to fill the kitchen bin,Cleaned the lamps and put in oil,Stewed some apples she thought might spoil,churned the butter, baked a cake,Then exclaimed, "For Goodness Sake.'The calves have got out of the pen,Went out and chased them in again,Gathered the eggs and locked the stable,Returned to the house and set the table,

Cooked a supper that was delicious,and afterwards washed all the dishes,

Fed the cat, sprinkled the clothes,Mended a basket full of hose,Then opened the organ and began to play.

"When You come to the End of a Perfect Day.'Submitted by Bruce Beresford

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

LIFE:Dorothy (Brooke) KramerJune Stapleton Hill WindscheffelMaize (Morris) GeorgeRobert E Fulton

Merta (Wingfield) FultonHelen Dolbier (Harshberger)Laura Kimball (Wulfkuhle)

MEMORIALS:

Nora (Dreyer) Bertschinger and Wm. WrightBertschinger by their daughter Ruth Schirmer andson Harold Bertschinger.

OBITUARIESLONG, Lydia Jane-92, died Sat. Nov. 25, 1995.She was born Jan. 31,1903, in EIReno, Okla, thedaughter of Wm. Francisand Sarah Frances HillHunter. She was a member of the United MethodisChurch, Golden Rod Club, and life member of theLecompton Historical Society. She married RobertWm. Long in 1926. He died in 1968. Survivorsinclude three sons, Kenneth Long, San Antonio,Gerald Long, Silvis, III. and Martin Long,Lecompton; four daughters, Elaine Long, Lee'sSummit, Mo., Donna Sprowls, Raytown, Mo., SylviaHabayeb, Columbia, Mo., and Leora Johnsen,

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Citrut Heights, Calif; a sister; Adah Reavis,Manhattan; 24 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.Burial at Crescent Hills Cemetery in Adrian, Mo.SOPHIA EVANS-79,died Wed. Dec. 6, 1995.She had just moved from Big Springs to Rich Hill,MO.She was born Mar. 22, 1916at Richland, thedaughter of Elba and Susie Norris Leonard. Shewas a member of Big Springs United Methodistchurch. She married Wayne L. Webber on April 20,1932,at Big Springs. He died Oct.31,1962. Shemarried Presley Evans on Oct. 4, 1964,at Yakima,Wash. He died April II, 1972. Survivors include twodaughters, Juanita Fritzasch, Picayune, Miss, &Beverly Back, Yakima, Wash. three sons, CraigEvans, Rich Hill, Mo., Rick Evans, Usk, Wash, &Robert Ritenoir, Golden Dale, Wash. 13grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and fivegreat-great grandchildren.STOUGH, CHARLES D. JR. 81,died Fri. Dee.81995at Lawrence. He was born Dee. 6, 1914 atMound Valley, the son of Charles D., Sr. and NarkaPauline Ice Stough. He was a member of thePlymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence. Hewas a professor of local government law of theUniversity of Kansas in 1969-70. He had been cityattorney of both Lawrence & Eudora. He wasmarried to Mary Juliet Shipman on Feb. 13, 1936.She died Nov. 25, 1986. He was married to EdithGray on Nov. 19, 1988. She survives. Othersurvivors include two daughters, Brady Rubin, LosAngeles, and Sally Bartlett, Valley Falls; a sisterMargaretFrink, Cocoa Beach, FI. and four grand-

Children. Burial in Pioneer Cemetery, LawrencePHILIP E. HODSON,64, died Mon. Dec. II, 1995at Lawrence hospital. He was born June 27,1931,atLawrence, the son of Clarence Noah and RuthRachel Collins Hodson. He was a lifelong farmer inthe Lakeview area. He was married to Nelda L.Easum on Dec. 20, 1952,Lawrence. She survives.Other survivors include a son, Philip A. Hodson,Lawrence; a daughter, Teresa Ann Dodson,Oklahoma City, Ok.; a brother, Billy C. Hodson,Lenexa, two sisters, Betty J. Rogers, Lawrence,and Sharon M. Engel, Mansfield, Pa.; and threegrandchildren. Graveside services at Maple GroveCemetery at Leeompton. Dorsey-Liberty Post No.14 of the. American Legion conducted militaryhonors.ALVIN E. WILSON,83,died Tues. Dee. 12,1995,at Kansas City. He was born Sept. 3, 1912,at BigSprings. He was a member of MetropolitanAvenue United Methodist Church. He was marriedto Dorothy M. Crist. She survives; Other survivorsinclude a daughter, Mary M. Colton, Topeka,sisters, Esther Holm, Canon City, Co. MabelWendel, Lansing, Hazel Stewart, Yuma, Az, ZeliaBoydston and Jessie Rake, both of Lecom,ptonand Carol Simpkins, in Iowa. a brother, Kent Wilson,Topeka; and a granddaughter. He was preceded indeath by a son, Alvin Clyde Wilson. Burial was in

Johnson County Memorial Gardens at OverlandPark.EUGENE WOLKEN, 82, died Thurs. Dec. 14,1995 at Lawrence. He was born Jan. 4, 1913inScipio, the son of Wm. J. and Lena LickteigWolken. He was a member of Holy FamilyCatholic

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Church in Eudora and the Knights of Columbus grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and fiveCouncil at Lawrence. He married Mary Agnes great-grandchildren.Walter, Jan. 30, 1943,in Perry. She died Aug. 28, CHARLES J. SULZEN, 75, died Thurs. Jan.1990. Survivors include three sisters, Agnes 11, 1996,at Lawrence. He was born June 2, 1920,Rossman and Louise Sobbe, both of Richmond, at Lecompton the son of Theodore and AlicePollyand BertilleBichelmeyer, Eudora. Burialwas in St. Sulzen. He was an Armyveteran of WorldWar 11.Peters Cemetery at BigSprings. He was a member of Alford-OarkePost No. 852 ofWALTER H. MCCLANAHAN-8O, died Sun. the Veterans of ForeignWars. HewasmarriedtoDec. 24, 1995,at Topeka. He was born Oct. 30, Bertha Goff on Jan. 20, 1943, at Topeka. She1915,in Lecompton the son of W. O. and Hazel survives. Other survivors include two daughters,Bertschinger McClanahan. He was married to Ruth Unda M. Sulzen, at home, and Orlena Carr,Morriss, Aug. 9, 1936, in Leavenworth. She Lawrence; a sister, DorothyCasto, Topeka and twosurvives. Agrandson, Gary Harding,died in 1994. grandsons. Burialwas in MemorialPark cemetery at

Other survivorsincludetwodaughters, Donna Lawrence. /Harding and Judy Rumsey, both in Topeka; two MARTHA RUTH HARSHBERGER, 83. diedsisters, Alice Lewis, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Norma Sun. Jan.28, 1996at Lawrence. She was born Jan.Windburn,Granada Hills,Calif;two brothers, Homer 10, 1913,in Lawrence, the daughter of Edgar Alvinof Long Beach, Calif., ad Fritz of Topeka; four and AdeliahViolaMorrisWilson.She was a membergranchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Burial in of the Friends Church in Lawrence, and the UnitedMapleGrove Cemetery at Lecompton. Methodist, HistoricalSoc. and Goldenrod Club, allVESTA BAHNMAIER WYMER, 95, died Fri. in Lecomptol). She was married to Charles CurtisJan. 5, 1996at Lawrence. She was born Feb. 14, Lamb, June 6, 1931. He died Sept. 3, 1972. She1900, near Centropolis, the daughter of Ruben was married to Howard Harshberger Jan, 9, 1979.Oliverand AlberUnda Nelson Slavens. She was a He died June 8, 1985.A son Merle Lamb died Julywell known teacher in the Lecompton school 12,1994. Survivors include fivesons, Charles Lamb,system. She was a member of Lecompton United Bolivar, Mo., Donald Lamb, Aorissant, Colo.,Methodist Church. Lauren Lamb, Katy,Tx., Gerald Lamb, Dodge City,She married George Miles Bahnmaier on June 8, & Dan Lamb, Lakewood, Co.; three stepsons, Lee1924,at Topeka. He died Jan. 18,1969. She married Harshberger of Baldwin, Dale Harshberger,WilliamA. Wymeron Feb. 16,1971.He died July 25, Houston, & Gary Harshberger, Lawrence, 151985. Survivors include a daughter, Beverly Van grandchildren, 7 stepgrandchildren,20 great grandDyke, Lawrence; a stepdaughter, Carolyn White, children; two step great granchildren and a stepManhattan; a sister, Irene Symon, Centropolis great,great grandchild. Burial in Oak Hillcemeteryone brother,NelsonSlavens,Naches,Wash. four at Lawrence.

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President* Paul Bahnmaier Hstork:aI\Miter * Sara WalterVice President * Rich WcConneH Genealogical Writer& MeniJership * lana SpencerSecretary* Veld RobeI1s IlkJstrator"EllenDuncanTreasurer * ~ Leslie TOUIS*Q1arteneWrterBoard Merroers * Maxine Dark,BruceBeresford Funding~ ~nGeorge Sirnrons, David Paslay, Ralph Davis, Ron Meier . Program :alne ~Curators * MargueriteBowman,OpalGoodrick,DorothyShaner AssistantTreasurer S~ NeillGeorge&Moone Simmons,David&DarlenePaslay Kitchen* HelenHikjerbrandMen1:JershipAss'ts *Duane &DorothyWUlfklJ1le MemoriaIS*Ruth Ice******************************************************************

Forwarding and AddresS Change RequestedNon-Profit OrganiZation

U.S. POSTAGEPAIDPemit No.1

Loo:>nl:>tOn. KansasPltJIished by

The Lecorrt>ton Hstorical Socey

LECOMPTON, KANSAS 66050