Allen Conner was born on July 10, 1824, in Greene County, West Virginia. His parents were William and Mary Conner, both from Virginia. Educated in local schools, he initially worked as a millwright before transitioning to carpentry and cabinet-making. In 1851, he migrated to a new county, where he purchased a 200-acre farm. He married Margaret Warren in 1850, with whom he had three children, but she died in 1859. He remarried Martha M. McClung in 1860.
Benjamin B. Odell, born on January 14, 1854, in Newburgh, New York, served as the thirty-seventh Governor of New York from 1901 to 1905. He graduated from Newburgh Academy and attended Columbia College before starting a political career. Odell was active in the Republican Party, serving on the State Committee and as Chairman of the State Executive Committee. He was a U.S. Congressman from 1895 to 1899. After two marriages, he passed away on May 9, 1926, at the age of 72.
G.W. Ozment, born in 1833 in North Carolina, became an orphan at ten and later moved to the West, arriving in Oregon in 1852. A veteran of the Indian wars, he bravely fought in significant battles, including Hungry Hill and Cow Creek, during the 1855 Indian uprisings. After his service, Ozment settled in the Siuslaw, acquired land, and engaged in sheep farming for over fifteen years. He has been a notable contributor to public schools and churches, demonstrating his commitment to community welfare.
Henry Clay McDougal, born December 9, 1844, in Marion County, Virginia, was the son of John F. and Elvira McDougal. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War and later worked in the U.S. Quartermaster Department. After establishing himself in Gallatin, Missouri, he became a prominent lawyer, mayor, and probate judge. A dedicated community member, he supported public education and engaged in local political affairs while maintaining a high professional reputation. McDougal was respected for his integrity and strong connections within the community.
David F. Hanna, M.D., was born on August 18, 1851, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Orphaned at birth, he was raised by his grandmother and educated at Louisburg Academy. He studied medicine under A. C. Kincaid and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Hanna served as a resident physician at a city hospital in Richmond before moving to Gallatin, Missouri, where he established a successful practice. A founder of the Daviess County Medical Society, he is recognized for his contributions to medicine and surgery in North Missouri.
James L. Chapman, born on March 23, 1818, in Hancock County, West Virginia, migrated to Iowa in 1854, later settling in Missouri. He engaged in farming and transitioned into the mercantile and hotel business before establishing a fruit farm in Gallatin, Missouri. Married to Nancy J. Daugherty in 1849, they had six children. Nancy passed away in 1878, after which James continued his commitment to the Christian Church, serving as a deacon for over thirty years.
William W. Watson reflects on his memories of slavery, detailing the physical and emotional scars it left on him, including lash marks and harsh treatment from masters. He recounts his upbringing on plantations owned by Henry Watson and Tom Davis, his family history, and the hardships of daily life as a slave. Following emancipation, he and his wife faced challenges in building a life together, raising thirteen children, and overcoming adversity. Despite his trials, Watson expresses gratitude for his freedom and devotion to his faith.
John W. Fields, born March 27, 1848, in Owensburg, Kentucky, narrates his life as an ex-slave during the Civil War period. Separated from his family at six due to his owner’s death, he endured harsh conditions and exploitation throughout his childhood. Despite the challenges of slavery and later ignorance of his freedom, Fields persevered, eventually joining the Union Army and establishing a respectable life in Lafayette, Indiana. He became a community leader and a member of the Baptist Church, embodying resilience and moral integrity.
Joseph H. Mercer, born in 1864 in Ohio, has been a significant figure in the agriculture sector as Kansas’s state live stock commissioner and secretary of the Kansas Live Stock Association. His contributions include combating livestock diseases, improving relationships between farmers and packers, and advocating for agricultural interests. Mercer, who has a deep understanding of farming, began his career in Kansas after a varied background in education and public service. He has held office in the Kansas Legislature and is actively involved in various community organizations. He married Ula Scribner and has four daughters.
William F. M. Arny, born March 6, 1813, in Washington, D.C., emerged as a beloved figure in Kansas despite not being a native. After a notable role as a secretary for prominent preacher Alexander Campbell, he became an influential force in the Republican Party and settled in Kansas in 1857. Arny contributed significantly to the Leavenworth constitutional convention and managed relief efforts during the grasshopper plague. Appointed by Lincoln as secretary of New Mexico Territory, he died on September 18, 1881, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness and service.
Marshall M. Murdock, born in 1837 in West Virginia, became a significant journalist and founder of the Wichita Eagle. His family moved to Kansas due to their opposition to slavery. Murdock initially sought gold in the Pikes Peak region, where he discovered silver at Leadville. During the Civil War, he returned to Kansas to support his family and eventually served as a lieutenant-colonel. He established the Eagle, advocating for Wichita’s growth and becoming a respected editor and influential community figure until his death in 1908.
Prof. Lewis L. Dyche, a distinguished figure in zoology and taxidermy at the University of Kansas from 1900 until his passing in 1915, was born on March 20, 1857, in West Virginia. He earned multiple degrees from the university and undertook numerous scientific expeditions across North America. His work greatly contributed to the university’s extensive collection of mammals, showcased notably at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Additionally, he served as state game warden and fish commissioner, effectively balancing this role with his academic duties.
Richard Thornton’s articles explore the history of early Native Americans in the Shenandoah Valley, emphasizing their cultural and historical significance before European contact. The region, a center for trade and conflict, reveals archaeological evidence linking its inhabitants to distant areas. Despite a rich Indigenous heritage, much of this history remains overlooked, overshadowed by the European narrative. As the articles delve into the area’s early residents, they highlight the challenges historians face in uncovering the past and the persistent myths surrounding Native American life in the Valley.
The Seven Bends area of the Shenandoah River in Virginia has yielded numerous Native American artifacts, primarily from the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland, and Late Woodland periods. Notable sites include the Thunderbird Archaeological District, which offers evidence of Clovis Culture, and various mounds and earthworks in Shenandoah County. Significant finds, such as petroglyphs, human remains, and pottery styles, suggest a rich cultural heritage. Additionally, the Keyser Culture, which thrived until the late 1600s, has been identified through archaeological excavations across the region.
In the late 1500s, Sir Francis Drake explored Virginia, noting the fertile Shenandoah Valley inhabited by peaceful agricultural Indians. Subsequent accounts, including those by John Smith and expeditions led by Governor Berkeley, documented the region’s Native inhabitants and their agricultural practices. However, with the rise of conflict and the Iroquois claiming territories, settlers began encroaching upon these lands around 1730. Early accounts by settlers also revealed substantial Native structures and artifacts, indicating a complex society previously overlooked in Virginia’s official history.