JAMES
RENFRO.
From E. C. Manning’s autobiography the
following facts emerge.
Early in June 1869 there were only six or
eight “squatters” located in the valley and only two of them had families,
namely T. B. Ross and James Renfro. Ross and Renfro were about three miles
above Winfield.
The special census of Cowley County was
held on February 10, 1870, and listed James, Jessie, John, Penn, Phoebe, and
William Renfro.
Winfield 1874: Renfro, John Sr., 64;
mother?, Cynthia, 85.
Winfield 1874: Renfro, Jas. Jr., 44;
spouse, Ruhana, 38.
Winfield 1874: Renfro, Furman M., 23. No
spouse listed.
Winfield 1874: James, 48; spouse, Phebe
A., age not given.
Winfield 1874: John W., 25. No spouse
listed.
Winfield 1874: Wm. Renfro, 50. No spouse
listed.
Kansas 1875 Census, Winfield Township,
Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age
sex color Place/birth Where from
Jas. Renfro 50 m w Tennessee Missouri
Pheobe A. Renfro 44 f w New
Jersey Missouri
John W. Renfro 25 m w Illinois Missouri
Ferman M. Renfro 23 m w Illinois Missouri
Pleasant E. Renfro 3 f w Kansas
Wm. Renfro 52 m w Tennessee Missouri
Rock Township 1882: Jno. S. Renfro, 33.
No spouse listed.
FROM
THE NEWSPAPERS.
Cowley County Censor, Saturday, March 18, 1871.
THE WINFIELD INSTITUTE. Discussion of the
Herd Law.
According to appointment the Winfield
Institute met at the schoolhouse last Wednesday night for the purpose of
hearing the merits and demerits, advantages and disadvantages of the proposed
Herd Law discussed. By a vote of the previous meeting this subject had been
selected for the evening and Messrs. J. B. Fairbank and E. C. Manning had been
chosen leading disputants. Mr. Manning having given Mr. Fairbank the choice of
sides in the discussion, the latter gentleman chose the affirmative of the
question, and when the time appointed arrived, Mr. Fairbank opened the debate
and made a close, good argument in favor of the adoption of the law. The house
was crowded and the fullest attention was paid to the remarks of the speaker.
Several citizens had come in from the country to hear the debate. Mr. Manning
then followed, first prefacing his remarks with the announcement that whatever
might be his private opinion on the subject, the negative had fallen to his lot
and he should without previous thought or experience in the matter attempt to
sustain his side of the question. His arguments demonstrated that herd law was
in conflict with the welfare of the county, and especially with the interests
of the settlers of small means and owning but few cattle and cultivating but
small fields. Rev. Johnson made a few remarks. He said that he was pleased to
have been present at the meeting. That he came there in favor of the herd law.
That after hearing what had been said, his conclusion was that a herd law was
not desirable; that it seemed like an impracticable delusion.
Messrs. James Renfro, W. W. Andrews, and
others spoke against the herd law. Mr. Tousey balanced on the fence awhile:
could not make up his mind in the case.
Mr. Fairbank then closed the debate with
some excellent arguments in favor of the law, provided his premises were correct;
they being erroneous, his arguments did not have the desired effect. The
following question was then put to the meeting: “Resolved, That it is desirable
to adopt the herd law in Cowley County,” which resolve did not obtain a single
vote in its favor; but when the negative vote was taken, nearly the entire
audience rose to their feet and voted against the resolution.
NOTE: HERD LAW WAS SOON GIVEN IN ANOTHER
PART OF PAPER.
COUNTIES INVOLVED: MARSHAL, REPUBLIC, DICKINSON, BUTLER,
COWLEY, SEDGWICK, NEOSHO, WILSON, ALLEN, MITCHELL, AND
ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP IN COFFEY COUNTY; AND SO MUCH OF
MARION COUNTY AS IS NOT INCLUDED IN DOYLE TOWNSHIP.
THE IDEA BEHIND HERD LAW IN THE COUNTIES
NAMED WAS TO KEEP CATTLE, HORSES, MULES, SHEEP, OR STOCK OF ANY KIND FROM
RUNNING AT LARGE. IT CALLED FOR FENCES FOR FIVE YEARS FROM THE APPROVAL OF THE
ACT.
[THE FAIR—LIST OF PREMIUMS AWARDED.]
Winfield Messenger, October 4, 1872.
Lot
Four—Mares and Fillies—Eleven Entries.
Premiums to W. J. Snodgrass, James
Stewart, James Renfro, Daniel Miles, J. A. Kinney, George Knott, E. P. Hickok,
W. McClellan.
[COURT PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 7, 1873.
W. Rogers vs. J. Renfro, continued.
[EDITORIAL PAGE.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 4, 1873.
MORE ITEMS RE FARMERS’ MASS MEETING &
TELEGRAM EDITOR....
ONLY
GOING TO GIVE RECAP ON ONE ARTICLE.
On Saturday morning we went to Winfield
expecting to meet our brother farmers and spend the day socially with them,
comparing notes of crops, profits, losses, experiments, etc. We hoped to take
by the hand our friend, Renfro, and inquire after his horses and colts; to ask
Mr. Cochran as to his corn crops in the valley and on the uplands; to
congratulate Mr. Stewart and Capt. Lowery on their fine improvements and with
them much happiness in their new residences; to obtain from Mr. Clingman some
valuable information in regard to growing hedge; to inquire of Mr. Andrews of
his brick making enterprise, and learn whether brick can be furnished so as to
take the place of wood as a building material thus saving money in the county
rather than sending it to the lumber men of Wisconsin and Michigan; to ask Mr.
Davis and Mr. Holcomb of their fine Swine; to obtain some valuable information
from Mr. Foos in regard to the management of the dairy, etc.
We reached the place of meeting through
clouds of dust, and found about three hundred people present, but not our
friends: Cochran, Renfro, Stewart, Lowery, Clingman, Andrews, Foos, Holcomb,
etc. A few farmers were present, but they wore either a dissatisfied look, as
though they had been sold, or a hungry look as though they would give their
farms for a county office.
The farmers were called to order by J. F.
Paul, CIVIL ENGINEER and OFFICE-HOLDER, who was then chosen president of the
day, by previous arrangement, as would seem from the set speech he delivered
upon assuming the chair. Mr. Allison, EDITOR, was chosen Secretary at the
meeting. . . .
The next thing on the programme was the
reading by the ENGINEER from the distinguished HOTEL KEEPER, I. S. Kalloch,
explaining why neither himself nor his friend, Sidney Clarke, the LIGHTNING ROD
PEDDLER, could be present. . . .
We have learned from our neighbors that
after dinner the train ran off the track. The public generally blame the
engineer and fireman for this catastrophe. They endeavor to lay the blame upon
the switchman and brakeman from Arkansas City, who certainly, if report be
true, used the switch most mercilessly, and neglected to apply the brake in
time to save the concern from total wreck.
[FAIR NOTES.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 25, 1873.
We give this week a cursory report of the
3rd annual fair of the Cowley County Agricultural Society, held last week.
Notwithstanding the dust which at times was almost stifling, the fair was
quite successful and the managers are entitled to much credit for the energy
and good judgment they used. We are informed by the secretary that there were
over 400 entries, and more than 1,000 different articles on exhibition. We
report some of the premiums as furnished us. The race horse and fast trotter
had to take a back place this year, while the horse for service came to the
front. The “pure agricultural horse trot” gave way to the tests of strength,
and excellence was not measured by the short time required to run 300 yards. We
were glad to notice some very good young stock in this department. The premiums
were awarded as follows.
HORSES.
Thoroughbred stallion, H. C. Fisher.
Stallions for general purposes, over 4
years old, H. C. Fisher; over 3 years old, R. Richards, under 3 years old,
James Renfro.
Brood mares with colts by their side—1st
pr. J. Stewart; 2d pr. J. Renfro.
Mares and fillies 2 years old: 1st pr. D.
Miles; 2d A. P. Forbes.
Spring colts: 1st pr. J. Stewart, 2d,
John Renfro.
[THE DISTRICT COURT: OCTOBER TERM.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 16, 1873.
CIVIL
DOCKET. SECOND DAY.
Wm.
Rogers vs. James Renfro.
[THE SOLDIERS’ REUNION.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 23, 1873.
Meeting of the Veterans. At half past 2
o’clock the soldiers, to the number of about 150, fell into line at the tap of
the drum, and preceded by the Winfield Martial band, marched to the Methodist
Church, which had been kindly tendered for their use. The meeting was called to
order by T. A. Blanchard. L. J. Webb was chosen Chairman, and James Kelly,
Secretary.
The chairman stated the object of the
meeting to be to organize a permanent Soldiers’ Union.
ILLINOIS. James Renfro, Co. K, 98th Ill.
Inf.
[DISTRICT COURT PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.
Proceedings of the Cowley County District
Court, to Oct. 29th, 1873. The Following Causes having Been Disposed of.
W. Rogers vs. J. Renfro, settled and
continued.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
Winfield Township Officers. Road
Overseers: 1st district, James Renfro; 2nd district, Hiram Silver; 3rd
district, Charles Seward; 4th district, C. Cook; 5th district, J. C. Roberts.
CENTENNIAL ISSUE. HISTORY OF COWLEY
COUNTY.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 6, 1876.
In August, 1868, N. J. Thompson, the
first white settler, ventured within its limits. He built a house on the east
bank of the Walnut River, about one mile below the line. The fame of its many
beautiful streams, groves of heavy timber, rich valleys, and inviting prairies
was attracting attention in the State. In the spring of 1869 several young men
took claims along the Walnut River and built claim cabins. Judge T. B. Ross and
James Renfro came into the county in January of 1869 and commenced work upon
claim houses into which they moved with their families in the March following.
They reside upon the same claims about two and a half miles above Winfield on
the east bank of the Walnut. These with Wm. Quimby and family, and Mr. Sales
and family, who settled on the Walnut just below Thompson’s place in December,
1868, were the first settlers with families of whom any evidence can be found.
At this time there was no house on Grouse Creek, nor upon the Arkansas River
below Wichita.
Sometime in the month of June, 1869, C.
M. Wood brought some flour, bacon, and groceries down to sell to Indians and
settlers. He left his goods at the house of James Renfro’s and erected on the
rise of ground a few rods east of where Bliss & Co.’s grist mill now
stands, a small building by setting puncheons in the ground and covering them.
He moved his goods into it in July following. The Osage Indians attempted to
take some of his goods away from him shortly after and he drove them away, but
concluded to return his goods to Renfro’s for safety. Soon after the goods were
moved, the Indians burned the house down.
1870
Oct. 8th, a call for a “People’s
Convention” was issued, signed by W. Q. Mansfield, T. H. Johnson, T. A.
Blanchard, James Renfro, James Land, D. A. Millington, Wm. Craig, F. A. Hunt,
A. Menor, J. Mentch, T. B. Ross, and H. Wolf.
Winfield Courier, July 13, 1876.
THROUGH the solicitation of friends we publish
on our first page this week our Centennial History of the county. For the facts
concerning Cowley’s early history, we are indebted to the “old settlers,” among
whom we might mention Col. Manning, C. M. Wood, Jas. Renfro, Judge Ross, Dr.
Graham, and others, of this neighborhood; Judge McIntire, H. C. Endicott, and
T. A. Wilkinson, of Arkansas City; Capt. Jas. McDermott, of Dexter; S. S.
Moore, of Tisdale; and J. W. Tull, through R. C. Story, Esq., of Lazette. For
the courtesy of county, township, and city officers in placing at our disposal,
books, records, etc., we are particularly grateful.
THE
WINFIELD COURIER. CENTENNIAL ISSUE.
WINFIELD
COURIER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1876.
COWLEY
COUNTY.
This county was born in the usual way, of
“poor but honest parents,” viz: the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives
in old Constitution Hall at Topeka, on the 3rd day of March, 1867. Governor J.
S. Crawford stood sponsor and named it Cowley, in honor of Lieut. Mathew
Cowley, a soldier of the 9th Kansas Regiment. At that time and up to July 12,
1870, the land embraced within its borders belonged to the primitive red men,
the Osage and Cherokee Indians. The Osages used it as a neutral strip from
which they made many raids into the country south of us, stealing from the
Texans and Indians their horses and cattle. These they sold to white border
ruffians, who met them here and drove the stock further north into the older
portions of the state. From this class of whites the early settlers first
gained their knowledge of Cowley’s beautiful prairies, rich bottoms, and swift
running streams.
Attracted by these reports a party of
persons, consisting of James Renfro and sons, Judge T. B. Ross and sons, Shep
Sayers, and Frank Hunt, crossing the sombre, stony hills of old Butler,
followed down the Walnut River on the 1st day of January, 1869, and “took
claims” in the bottom just above the mouth of Timber Creek. In August, 1868, N. J. Thompson built a log
house near the Butler County line. This was the first house in the county. Wm.
Quimby and family, and a Mr. Sales settled on the Walnut below Thompson’s place
about the same time. They were the first actual settlers in Cowley County.
Sometime in the month of June, 1869, C.
M. Wood brought some groceries down from Chase County to sell to the Indians
and settlers. He kept them at the house of Renfro and erected a small shanty,
by setting puncheons in the ground, located a few rods east of where Bliss
& Co.’s mill now stands. Into this shanty he moved his goods during the month
of July. The Osage Indians made several futile attempts to steal them. Fearing
an attack when not prepared, Mr. Wood moved his stock back to the house of Mr.
Renfro for safety. Afterward, in the month of August, when all the settlers
were ordered out of the valley by the Indians, the goods were taken up to the
Butler County line. After the goods were removed, the brave Osage warriors
burned the house to the ground.
COMMUNICATION FROM “LITTLE
DUTCH”—WINFIELD.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 5, 1877.
The case of Mrs. Renfro against her
father-in-law, James Renfro, came out victorious. Juries have a wonderful
leaning to young widows. You had better been more generous, James.
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1877.
James Renfro has sold his farm to T. E.
Gilleland and moved to Missouri.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 17, 1878.
District Court. Mr. E. S. Bedilion,
District Clerk, furnishes us with the following list of cases which will
probably be for trial at the next term of the District Court, commencing on
Monday, May 6, 1878.
CIVIL
DOCKET. Jas. Renfro v. Margaret Renfro, Administrator.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 15, 1878.
Court Proceedings. [From the Cowley
County Telegram.]
The following is a report of the disposal
of the cases which have come up so far during this term.
James Renfro vs. Margaret J. Renfro,
Admx., dismissed without prejudice.
Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.
Probate Court. Annual report of M. J.
Renfro, Adm’x, allowed time to May 13th.
Winfield Courier, May 30, 1878.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.
James Renfro and wife to W. Gillelen, in
se. 18-32-4; 13 acres, $125.
Note: The next item by a correspondent of
the Topeka Commonwealth has a version about the arrival of James Renfro
and others that does not agree with previous accounts.
[TOPEKA COMMONWEALTH CORRESPONDENT:
“W. G. H.”]
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1879.
ED. COMMONWEALTH:—The first settlers came
into Cowley County in 1869. I cannot ascertain the exact time. Its growth and
development has been marvelous.
Winfield is a city of the second class
with a population of two thousand five hundred. It is beautifully situated on
the east bank of the Walnut river, and extends back to the mounds on the East.
It is the largest, liveliest, best town south of Wichita.
Its first settler was C. M. Wood, who
located on the town site, April 20th, 1869. Two gentlemen, Jas. Renfro and U.
B. Warner, accompanied him at that time. They were joined in a few days by E.
C. Manning, at the present time a member of the Legislature from this county.
They were burnt out by Indians on the first of June of the same year, and
compelled to leave. No one occupied the site from that time until the 10th of
October, when Wood returned, bringing his wife with him. They erected a log
house which was fired by the Indians again, but they succeeded in saving it
and holding the fort. The last of November, Manning and Baker brought on a
stock of goods and used Wood’s house for a storeroom until they could erect a
store, which they did of logs. The old log store is still in use in the city.
From the beginning it has grown to its present dimensions and is still
growing. The dry goods business is represented by some of the best firms in the
State. They carry very large stocks and sell an immense amount of goods.
(?) Renfro...
[REPORT FROM “PUD” - ON SPRING CREEK
MATTERS.]
Winfield Courier, July 15, 1880.
Hurrah for Maple City! Her first
celebration was a grand success. About five hundred persons were present, being
the largest crowd ever seen here. The oration by Judge Soward was listened to
with marked attention. Judge Gans made us a good speech. This township will go
for his re-election to the judgeship. P. G. Smith, of Dexter, presided over
the exercises. The young folks took great delight in tripping to the sound of
the violins. Blenden and Renfro are experts with the bow, hence we had good
music.
Frank Woodruff returned home yesterday
from Arkansas, where he went for sheep. While riding along talking to a couple
of men one day, he looked up to see two revolvers pointing at his head. Money
or life was his choice, and he chose life and forked over the money, $47.
John S. Renfro...
Winfield Courier, March 3, 1881.
Mr. John S. Renfro, who has been
administering on the estate of Jane Dinwiddie, made us a call Tuesday. He is
making annual settlement of the affairs of the estate.
Mr. (?) Renfro of the Winfield
Telegram...
Winfield Courier, August 30, 1883.
Mr. Renfro, of the Winfield Telegram, made
us a pleasant call last week. Wichita Eagle.
Such is fame. Our Democratic brother
visited Wichita last week in all the glory of his Oscar Wilde suit and summer
mustache, expecting that his fame as the author of those bright, sparkling, and
original witticisms known to the world as the “Telegram Primer,” had
preceded him, and returns to be recorded only as plain “Mr. Renfro.” This is
hard to bear, but we hope he will cheer up and try to remember that in this
busy, selfish wold, genius often goes unrecognized.
Isaac Renfro...
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.
The Probate Court has issued MARRIAGE
LICENSES during the past week.
Isaac Renfro to Mary Fitzsimmons.
Note: Wood’s narrative about James Renfro
and family varies a great deal from the story first put forth about Renfro in
the Centennial Edition. It really varies from the story told in 1879 by a Topeka
Commonwealth correspondent.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 14, 1886.
Thinking it would be an appropriate time
in the beginning of the year to review the past, and get the personal
experiences of our early settlers, we started out on an interviewing bout and
first called on Cliff M. Wood, who answered our questions as follows.
“During the winter of 1868-1869 while
counter jumping in the store of H. L. Hunt & Co., at Cottonwood Falls,
Chase County, Kansas, I accidentally overheard a conversation between James
Renfro and Frank Hunt concerning a beautiful country way down the walnut river
in a wild Indian country near the Indian Territory, known on the map as Cowley
County. My curiosity was somewhat excited and I at once determined to
investigate and explore for myself. I went directly to a friend of mine, U. B.
Warren, then a prosperous hardware merchant, doing business in the same town,
and told him what I had heard. We both at once resolved to make the trip, and
about the first day of April, joined team to a spring wagon and started up the
south fork of the Cottonwood river, thence down the Walnut to El Dorado, then a
small village, and the county seat of Butler County, where we stopped for the
night. The next day we came on down the river as far as Muddy creek, at the
north end of Cowley County, where we stayed all night with a cattle man by the
name of Turner, the first habitation we came to in the county. Next morning we
pulled out to explore the then forbidden ground we found below Turner’s ranch.
First came Eli Sayles’, about two miles; next came John Jones’ cattle ranch
near the mouth of Rock creek; below him John Watson; after him we found no
habitation or sign of civilization except signs of claim taking, until we
reached James Renfro’s claim, known now as the Gilleland or Taylor farm, where
he had a neat little hewed log house erected with a good roof without doors,
windows, or chinking. We stopped for information and something to eat. After
dinner Mr. Renfro, Warren, and myself mounted our horses to explore the
situation and condition of things at the mouth of Dutch creek (now Timber
creek). About three-quarters of a mile below Renfro’s, we came to Judge T. B.
Ross’ cabin, where his son John and mother now live. Mr. Ross had only a square
pen of logs without a roof, doors, or windows. We then came on to Dutch creek
and crossed at the ford just above where the bridge now stands. Upon reaching
the top of the bank and coming out on the little prairie, I remarked, full of
enthusiasm, “Gentlemen, there is my peach orchard and yonder on that elevated
piece of ground is or will be the county seat of the county.” The other men
agreed with me after examining the mill site where Bliss & Wood’s mill now
stands. I proceeded to take a claim by blazing an oak tree yet standing on the
ravine northwest of the depot, writing with lead pencil, “this claim taken by
C. M. Wood.” We then went back to Mr. Renfro’s, from where we started back to
Cottonwood Falls fully satisfied that we had found what we were looking for.
Upon our return to Cottonwood, we told the people of this beautiful country,
which to them seemed incredulous. I at once arranged my affairs and came down
with goods for trade, such as flour, coffee, sugar, and in fact, quite a stock
of general merchandise, with some building material, and commenced at once the
erection of a house on the high ground about 25 rods southeast of where Bliss
& Wood’s mill now stands. This building was 18 x 26 feet, 10 feet high,
made by cutting logs of uniform size about 14 inches in diameter, splitting
them in two, hewing the flat sides, and taking off the bark, as it would peel
off smooth, then these slabs were set upright in the ground two feet deep,
batted on the inside with shaved “stakes,” and made quite an imposing house
with open front. When the house was not yet finished and when I was at work on
it, a stranger came to me and introduced himself to me as E. C. Manning, from
Manhattan, Kansas, who said he was looking up the country, and wanted to know
if I wanted any help. “What kind of help?” (Noticing that he was not a laboring
man.) He said, “With your town site.” I told him I did, and after some talk he
went away very much undecided as to the venture; was doubtful about the land
coming into market.
I disposed of the most of my goods to the
Osage Indians, who were on the way to their annual spring hunt and were water
bound, the streams all being full of water from the numerous heavy storms that
spring. The Indians were in camp on the ground where now stands the cemetery,
northeast of town; some 2,000 strong, where they remained for some days, giving
no great amount of trouble to the few squatters, but with a threatening, gloomy
look, would point with finger to the north and say: “You, pucachee.”
C.
M. Wood’s Story Continued.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 21, 1886.
This part of Wood’s story covers his
leaving his claim at the demand of the Osage Indians...
Bill Conner came to me next morning and
told me that the Indians had a private council and in that they disagreed. Chetopa
and the Little Osages wanted me to stay, but the Big Hills said I must go. Upon
this I sent him back with some presents, such as tobacco, etc., telling him to
report conditions soon to me; so about 3 o’clock came a message from Conner
with written instructions from Chetopa, to leave, go up the river, and when
they were gone to come back. This letter was signed “your friend, Chetopa.” So
we put what remaining goods we had into a wagon, locked the house, drove down
to the ford on Timber Creek and found the water too high to cross. I got on my
horse, went up to the Indian camp and found White Hair. He would not listen,
but sent me to Hard Rope, who listened to me but seemed very determined. I
asked him to keep his people away from my camp until I could cross the creek.
He said I should be protected; to go back and remain until I could cross the
water with safety. I went back and in a few minutes an Indian came to me, who
could talk English, and said he was one of Hard Rope’s warriors, that he had
been sent to stay with me and protect me. While I was arranging for his
comfort, as it was now about dusk, I heard a hoop and yell, and looking up I
saw eight or ten Indians coming mounted, and on full run, evidently meaning
mischief. My protector went out, met them, talked to them a few minutes, when
they leisurely turned their ponies and went back. We had no more disturbance
that night and the water having run down to some extent, I concluded to venture
in the next morning. But when the team got nearly through, they mired down, and
could not pull the wagon out. By the time the team was gotten out, there were
some ten or twelve Indians, who stripped off what few clothes they had on, and
with the white men and myself commenced carrying the goods to the top of the
bank. When the wagon was unloaded, we all took hold and pulled it to the top of
the bank, reloaded, gave the Indians a plug of tobacco apiece, then moved on up
to my friend Renfro’s ranch, where we stayed all day and that night. The next
morning the Indians were all on the move by daylight. Chetopa, with some of his
warriors, came by Renfro’s, where I had a long talk with Chetopa, through Bill
Conner. He told me that I should go back, get much goods, and be ready to trade
with them when they returned from the hunt; said he was council chief and would
protect me. I told him that his people had said that they would burn my house,
but he said no, that they would not do it if I would promise to bring some
goods, so I gave him some tobacco and medicine, he being sick.
C.
M. Wood’s Story Continued.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 28, 1886.
Then Mr. Renfro’s boys, John and Firman,
put me across the raging Walnut in a boat. I mounted my horse and went directly
back to Cottonwood Falls, where I was several days buying goods and arranging
to come back. This was about the 22nd to 25th of June,
for on the 26th day of June, I was married to Miss Melinda Jones,
from Springfield, Ohio, at the residence of Judge W. R. Brown, at Cottonwood
Falls.
Mr. Wood narrates returning to his
claim...
Mr. Andrews and I held a council of war
and concluded to load up and cross the creek out of the track of the returning
Indians, so we proceeded back to James Renfro’s, where we found Chetopa with
about twenty-five braves. He had ordered Renfro and all other white men to go
north beyond their lands; but when I came up, he at once said I should stay. I
told him his men had burned my house, but I had built another, and I wished him
to go back with me and protect me from a second fire. He said that he would,
whereupon Mr. Patterson volunteered to accompany me on horseback. We marched in
front of the Indians, and when about halfway back, discovered an immense cloud
of smoke ascending up from the location of my new home. I turned in my saddle
and remarked to Chetopa, “They have done it, come on and help put it out.” Then
Patterson and myself put our horses under full speed until we reached the fire.
Having no vessels for water, we at once stripped off our saddles and took the
blankets and let them down into a well I had dug in the side of the bank close
by, and then slapped the wet blankets on the logs until we got the fire under
control, and about that time the Indians came up. They sat on their ponies a
few minutes, when Chetopa ordered an old Indian to dismount and help put out
the fire. I at once set a muley fork in the shallow well, sat down on the pins,
and dipped up water with my hat, which they carried and threw on the fire until
it was out. While leaning over the well, the Indian dropped a stone pipe out of
his mouth into the well, the water being about three and a half feet deep. I
went clean under the water, got his pipe, and he received it from me with the
word, “Logany,” mounted his pony, and went away. Anyone desiring to see the
charred logs at the southeast corner of the oldest house this side of Judge
Ross, can take a walk to Island Park Place Addition and there he can see it for
himself.
And now, after the second house had been
fired by the Indians, who had ordered James Renfro to pack up and leave their
reserve, and who had shown their hostility in other ways (stealing Judge T. B.
Ross’ horses and ordering him to leave), a council was held by the squatters in
which it was decided to move north to or near the Reserve line and await developments.
Renfro moved up near Muddy creek with cattle, horses, and family. W. W.
Andrews, Mr. Patterson, and myself formed a company for putting up prairie hay.
I went to Cottonwood Falls, bought a mowing machine and other tools, laid in a
quantity of provisions, and returned about the 10th of July to
Douglass. Mr. Andrews and Mr. Patterson meanwhile had selected hay grounds
about four miles southwest of Douglass, on what is known as Eight Mile creek,
and between Eight Mile and the Walnut river, where lay a fine piece of bottom
land and upon which grew as fine blue stem prairie grass as anyone could wish
to see. The land is now owned by a Mr. Osborne and sons. We at once struck
camp, made what the boys called a go-devil for dragging hay to the rick,
started the machine, and started stacking as fast as the weather would permit,
as 1869 was the wettest year that I have ever experienced since coming to this
State. We continued work for about three weeks, getting up a large amount of
hay, when I went back to Cottonwood Falls, bought a tent, some cooking
utensils, and such articles as were necessary for the comfort of Mrs. Wood, who
came back with me.
After studying the various stories
relative to the Renfro family, it becomes quite apparent that the narrative
given by C. M. Wood comes the nearest to being truthful.