The series contains original affidavits of registration that record personal information about each registrant, their photograph affixed to the majority of documents, and the registrants fingerprints. All of these are specific to Kansas, and most have the actual documents attached.
In the aftermath of the War of 1812, British agents Edward Nicholls and James Woodbine rallied Indigenous and Black groups in Florida to challenge U.S. expansion. They fortified a stronghold that Colonel Clinch besieged, resulting in the fort’s destruction and a significant enemy casualty count. Following further conflicts and the rise of General Jackson, who captured key territories, the U.S. ultimately took control of Florida in 1819, resolving lingering tensions with Spain and concluding the Seminole War for the time being.
Rev. William E. Means, born June 28, 1850, in Paris, Illinois, graduated from Northwestern University’s theological department in 1879. He served as a pastor in various churches across Minnesota and Kansas, contributing significantly to church building and revival efforts. In 1891, he became pastor in Sidney, Illinois, later taking on the Atwood charge. Due to health issues, he retired in 1893 but remained active in ministry. In 1895, he acquired the Atwood Herald, a politically independent newspaper. He was married to Ella M. Chesnut, and they had one son, Cyril.
Capt. John Hamilton, a Pennsylvania native and soldier in the regular army, played a pivotal role in establishing Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1842 under Gen. Zachary Taylor’s orders. As a sergeant of the First Dragoons, he led a small party to select the site, personally cutting the first tree for the fort. After returning to Fort Scott in 1855, he became actively involved in local defense during border troubles and was later elected to the Kansas House of Representatives before his death in 1876.
Col. Lewis R. Jewell and his family were notable figures in Fort Scott, particularly during the Civil War era. Originally from Massachusetts and later a resident of Ohio, Jewell became a river transportation captain before moving to Kansas to farm. He initially resisted the Cherokee but joined the Union forces as a lieutenant colonel when the war began, demonstrating bravery at the battle of Cane Hill, where he was mortally wounded. Jewell’s legacy endures, with Jewell County named in his honor, as well as his son’s contributions post-war.
William R. Smith, born on March 21, 1872, in Lecompton, Kansas, has served as the state printer since 1916, following a successful career in journalism and public service. With extensive experience in the printing industry, he has led the Kansas State Printing Plant to efficiency and cost-effectiveness, producing school textbooks at significant savings. Smith’s leadership has been vital in enhancing the institution, recognized for its advanced equipment and productivity. He is connected to various fraternal organizations and resides in Topeka with his wife, Bertha, and their daughter, Louise.
Peter P. Elder, born September 30, 1823, in Maine, was a prominent figure in Kansas history. An early abolitionist, he moved to Franklin County, Kansas, in 1857, where he farmed and served in the militia. Appointed by President Lincoln as an Indian agent, he played a crucial role in securing Native American support for the Union. Elder later became a successful banker and a key political figure, serving as lieutenant governor and mayor of Ottawa. He was instrumental in the development of local infrastructure and media, leaving a lasting legacy upon his death in 1914.
Charles W. Goodlander, born April 25, 1834, in Pennsylvania, was a skilled businessman and philanthropist who founded the Home for Children in Fort Scott, benefiting the local community. He initially worked as a carpenter in several states before settling in Fort Scott in 1857 as a contractor and builder. Despite facing financial setbacks, including a devastating boiler explosion and a fire, he rebuilt his enterprises. Goodlander’s legacy culminated in 1901 with the establishment of the children’s home, which opened its doors to those in need, reflecting his generous spirit until his death in 1902.
John H. Rice, born in Tennessee in 1825, established a notable career across Georgia and Kansas. A lawyer by 1845, he became editor of the Cassville Standard and a major general in Georgia’s State Militia. An opponent of secession, he served as a purchasing agent for Federal cavalry in 1865. After moving to Kansas, he successfully managed several newspapers, including the Miami Republican and the Fort Scott Monitor. Active in public affairs, he promoted railroads and flood control, passing away in Fort Scott in 1904.
Hiero T. Wilson, born in Kentucky in 1806, became a pivotal figure in Southern Kansas as one of its earliest white settlers. After moving to Indian Territory in 1834, he served as sutler at Fort Scott when it was established in 1843. Following its closure in 1855, Wilson remained influential, enhancing the city’s development through real estate investments and leadership roles, including as director of the First National Bank. He passed away in 1892, leaving a legacy marked by progress, as seen in the streets named in his honor.
Hon. Charles P. Hangen, a prominent figure in Sumner County, recently completed his second term in the State Legislature, representing the Sixty-ninth District. Born in Ohio in 1877, he moved to Kansas as a child. Hangen became the cashier of the National Bank of Commerce in Wellington in 1906, contributing significantly to its success. A dedicated Democrat, he has been involved in various legislative committees, notably in public health initiatives. He married Edna Pratt in 1906, further establishing his roots in the community.
George A. Crawford, born on July 27, 1827, in Pennsylvania, was a prominent figure in the development of Fort Scott, Kansas. Educated at Jefferson College, he worked as an editor and engaged in politics, opposing Know-Nothing sentiment. In 1857, he co-founded Fort Scott and served as its president for two decades. Active during the Civil War, he organized military efforts and later became Kansas’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate. He also helped establish the Kansas Historical Society and contributed to community development before his death in Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1891.
Phoebe Banks was born on October 17, 1860, at a Creek Indian farm in what is now Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her mother, Eldee, worked tirelessly for the Perrymans, while her father, William McIntosh, belonged to a prominent Creek family. During the Civil War, Phoebe’s family attempted to escape slavery, joining Old Gouge’s group. After facing violence from Rebel Indian soldiers, her family reached Kansas, where her uncle fought in the war. Post-war, they returned to Fort Gibson, which had significantly changed since her mother’s time, and Phoebe later raised a boy she found abandoned.
Charley Williams, born January 11, 1843, reflects on his life as a slave on a Louisiana plantation. He recounts the hardships faced during and after the Civil War, including the presence of Union soldiers and the eventual loss of the plantation’s resources. Williams describes the close relationship with his old master, John Williams, and the labor-intensive life on the plantation, which included self-sufficiency in farming and craftsmanship. Despite the adversities, he maintains a resilient spirit and recalls fond memories of the past, while expressing hope to reunite with his former master in the afterlife.
Charles Estabrook Cory, born December 2, 1853, in Ontario, Canada, has served as a bankruptcy referee in Kansas since 1898. A lawyer for over thirty years, Cory began his career as a teacher in Southeastern Kansas before becoming an attorney under the mentorship of Eugene F. Ware. He held various legal positions, including county attorney, and was instrumental in educational affairs as a board member. Married to Ruth Emeline Kellogg, he has four children, and is actively involved in community and Masonic organizations.
Dr. John Ross Newman, a prominent surgeon in Fort Scott, Kansas, has distinguished himself through specialization in surgery, unlike many of his contemporaries in smaller cities. Born in Dade County, Missouri, in 1881, he graduated from Central Medical College in 1905 and initially practiced general medicine. However, he pursued surgical training in major hospitals across the U.S. before returning to Fort Scott in 1910. Known for his exceptional surgical skills and approachable demeanor, he has become a respected figure in the medical community. Dr. Newman is also a devoted family man and active community member.
Oscar Rice, a lifelong resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, exemplified the spirit of enterprise, launching The Western Automobile Indemnity Association in 1910. As secretary and manager, he capitalized on the burgeoning automobile industry, creating the nation’s oldest and strongest mutual liability insurance association. Under Rice’s leadership, the association earned a reputation for fair claims handling and reliable service across eight states. His prominence in Kansas is further linked to his father, John Holt Rice, a notable journalist and influential figure in American journalism.
Edward C. Gates, born in Dixon, Illinois on September 1, 1861, established a notable legal career after being admitted to the Kansas bar in 1887. After practicing in Fulton, he moved to Fort Scott, where he became renowned within the Kansas bar and worked alongside A.M. Keene until 1913. Gates valued law as a profession, earning respect through dedication and hard work. He was also active in local politics and church, and married Sadie J. Wright in 1886, with whom he had two sons.
David G. Cobb is a prominent figure in Fort Scott, Kansas, where he leads the Fort Scott Wholesale Grocer Company, a significant local enterprise founded in 1886. Born into a pioneering family in Bourbon County, his father, David Ransom Cobb, was an influential early settler and public servant. After graduating from the Kansas Normal School, David G. Cobb built his career through various positions, ultimately becoming president of the grocery company. He is active in his community and family, married to Mary Emma Quick, with whom he has two children.
Oscar Rice, Jr. was born on August 23, 1865, in Terrell County, Georgia, later moving to Kansas. He worked as a traveling salesman for the Fort Scott Wholesale Drug Company before founding The Western Automobile Indemnity Association in 1910. A dedicated Mason, Rice held various positions within Masonic organizations and was active in promoting good roads, serving as secretary of the Kansas City, Canada, and Gulf Good Roads project. He married Stella Prager in 1894, whose family faced hardships during the Civil War.