Franklin County KS Genealogy – Access Genealogy

1859 List of Munsee from Leavenworth County Kansas

This list was adapted for the web from a photocopy of a two-page typed document possessed by the family of Clio Caleb Church. Since it has no official heading or signature, the document appears to be someone’s transcription of an original report to the Office of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. Likely this is a census of the Munsee who were moving from Leavenworth County to the new reservation in Franklin County, coinciding with the Treaty of 1859. It is not an enrollment list — it includes non-Indian spouses and there are no enrollment or allotment numbers. The document lists the person’s name, sex, and age, grouped by family unit.

Kansas Registrations of Enemy Aliens, 1917 – 1921

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.

Treaty of June 24, 1862

On June 24, 1862, a treaty was finalized between the United States and the Ottawa Indians, represented by their chief and councilmen, aimed at integrating the tribe into U.S. citizenship within five years. Key provisions included land allotments for tribal members, financial support for education, and payment for past claims against the government. The treaty also established a framework for selling unsold tribal lands to white settlers, emphasizing the tribe’s desire for productive settlement and collaboration with the United States.

Biography of Jerry Hussey

Jerry Hussey, a notable figure in Kansas history, was born in Vermont in 1845 and became an orphan at a young age. He enlisted in the Civil War at just 16 and endured captivity in Libby Prison. After the war, he moved to Kansas in 1868, transforming a wilderness into a thriving farm. A respected community member, he served as Osage County’s register of deeds and was active in local organizations. Hussey had three marriages and two children, living a life marked by resilience and dedication to his community.

Biographical Sketch of Owen A. Bassett

Owen A. Bassett was a dynamic figure in the tumultuous era of the Border troubles and the Civil War, as well as the Reconstruction period. Born in Pennsylvania, he relocated with his family to Illinois and then Iowa. Initially aspiring to be a civil engineer, he shifted to law and became active in the free-state movement in Kansas. He served as an engineer during critical battles and later commissioned as lieutenant colonel of the Ninth Kansas. After the war, he was elected district judge and remained influential until his death in 1896.

Biography of William R. Smith

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.

Biography of Peter P. Elder

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.

Biography of Foster Dwight Coburn

Foster Dwight Coburn stands as a towering figure in Kansas agriculture, recognized for his transformative contributions over two decades as secretary of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Born in Wisconsin in 1846, Coburn cultivated a deep devotion to farming, which blossomed from his early experiences post-Civil War. His prolific authorship on agricultural topics has established him as a leading authority, while his commitment to service earned him numerous accolades. Despite political invitations, Coburn remained focused on advancing Kansas farming, leaving a lasting legacy in the state’s agricultural history.

Biography of Carey J. Wilson

Carey J. Wilson, born on February 21, 1868, in North Carolina, has been a prominent figure in the Kansas insurance sector since he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1899. After years in life insurance, he became the assistant state superintendent in 1911, later elected as the state superintendent of insurance in 1914. A lifelong Republican, Wilson is active in several fraternal organizations and the Church of Christ Scientist. He married Gertrude Tracy in 1907, known for her musical talent in Topeka.

Slave Narrative of Clayton Holbert

Clayton Holbert, an 86-year-old ex-slave born in Linn County, Tennessee, shares his experiences working on a large plantation during the Civil War. He recounts daily life, including home-spun clothing, communal butchering, and the close-knit community among enslaved families. Holbert details his family’s struggles post-emancipation, particularly his mother’s challenges after the war. He moved to Kansas in 1877, where he farmed successfully and engaged with the local community. Holbert’s narrative reflects on the resilience and adaptability of enslaved individuals and their families in a changing world.

Biography of Herbert O. Caster

Herbert O. Caster, born in Ohio in 1871, moved to Kansas in 1878, facing the early settlers’ hardships. He excelled in education, serving as superintendent in Oberlin and establishing the first accredited high school course in Decatur County. Elected county attorney in 1908, Caster advanced his legal career, ultimately becoming attorney for the State Public Utilities Commission in 1914. He was active in local governance and the Baptist Church, and he and his wife, Maud, raised three children in a family dedicated to education.

Biographical Sketch of Joel K. Goodin

Joel K. Goodin, born in Ohio in 1824, emerged as a prominent lawyer and free-state advocate after relocating to Kansas in 1854. He participated in key events such as the Big Springs convention and served in various legislative roles, notably as clerk and secretary in the early free-state government. Goodin practiced law in Douglas County before moving to Ottawa, where he later represented Franklin County in the Legislature. He played a significant role in establishing the State School for the Deaf before his death in 1894.

Biography of Samuel V. Mallory

Samuel V. Mallory, a dedicated educator and current superintendent of the Morrill city schools, has a rich history in education across Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1856, he graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1883. His career includes roles as principal and superintendent in various Kansas cities and significant contributions to Oklahoma’s educational system. Active in community and church affairs, Mallory is recognized for his efforts in improving Morrill’s school standards and for promoting it as an ideal place for child-rearing.

Biography of Horatio W. Gates

Horatio W. Gates, a prominent undertaker and embalmer in Kansas, is noted for founding the Kansas Funeral Directors Association and having the first embalmer’s license in the state. Born in Ohio in 1849, he moved to Kansas in 1870, where he established a successful business in Rosedale. His wife, a pioneer in her own right, was the first woman licensed in Kansas and Missouri. Their professional and personal lives were marked by community service, political engagement, and family ties, reflecting their commitment to both their profession and local values.

Biography of Frank Geoffroy

Frank Geoffroy, born on November 10, 1884, in Franklin County, Kansas, comes from a pioneering family that settled in the region during the turbulent pre-Civil War era. His father, Ernest Geoffroy, was a significant figure in early Kansas and Oklahoma development. Frank began his career in the grain business at a young age and eventually established his own successful commission business in Abilene after working for various firms. He married Lulu Irene Morgan in 1905, and they had four children, solidifying their roots in this vibrant community.

Biography of John S. Kinkaid

John S. Kinkaid, born on September 9, 1833, in Indiana, hailed from a prominent Kentucky family with a legacy of military and religious service. Educated in Missouri, he married Caroline Frazier in 1859 and moved to Kansas in 1861. In 1883, he settled in Camas Prairie, engaging in stock-raising, especially graded Durham cattle and Percheron horses. Kinkaid and his wife had ten children, all surviving to adulthood. An ordained minister and devoted Christian, he is known for his strong humanitarian values and loyalty to the Republican Party.

Biography of Frank Sigel Dietrich

Frank Sigel Dietrich, born January 23, 1863, near Ottawa, Kansas, came from German immigrant parents. After his father’s death when Frank was an infant, his mother ensured his education, leading him to graduate from Brown University in 1887. In 1891, Dietrich began practicing law in Idaho, eventually leading a successful law firm and serving as attorney for the Oregon Short Line Railroad. A committed Republican, he ran for district judge in 1898. Dietrich is married to Martha Behle, and they have a daughter, Margaret Kathryn.

Biographical Sketch of William E. Stich

William E. Stich, born in Hanover, Germany, in 1850, immigrated to Michigan with his family in 1857. He trained as a cabinet maker and later worked in an organ factory before managing a musical merchandise store. In 1883, he moved to Kansas, where he ran a general store in Paola for 21 years. After a brief ice business, he established an insurance office in Independence in 1906. A community leader, he was active in several fraternal organizations and married Augusta S. Lewis, with whom he had a daughter, Blanche.

Biographical Sketch of Herbert Hickman

Herbert Hickman, born December 6, 1893, in Las Animas, Colorado, is the editor and owner of The Florence Bulletin, a position he secured after years of diligent work in the printing field. Orphaned young, he was raised by his maternal grandparents in Colony, Kansas, where he gained valuable newspaper experience. He became foreman of The Bulletin in 1914 and purchased the paper in 1917. Hickman, married to Florence Waddel, is connected to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, contributing to his community through journalism.

Biography of Camden L. Bloom

Camden L. Bloom, born March 14, 1868, in Pennsylvania, had a remarkable career in the oil and gas industry, notably in Independence, Kansas. Despite losing a fortune during the 1907 panic, he reconstructed his wealth through hard work and expertise, becoming a pivotal figure in the development of local resources. Bloom’s early ventures included pioneering natural gas contracts and significant contributions to Independence’s industrial growth. A prominent businessman and community supporter, he experienced personal loss but found strength in his second wife, Anna Belle, and their daughter, Helen, who continue to enrich his legacy.