Husband Jesse Layne
Born: 1793 - Virginia
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: David Layne
Mother: Mary DOSS
Marriage: 18 May 1820 - Campbell County, Virginia
Other Spouse: Jane Wood - 3 Jul 1852 - Campbell County, Virginia
Wife Nancy Davidson
Born: 1790 - Virginia
Christened:
Died: Bef 1852
Buried:
Children
1 M James Layne
Born: 1828 - Virginia
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Nancy Ann Godsey
Marr: 17 Feb 1851 - Campbell County, Virginia
General Notes: Husband - Jesse Layne
No proof this is James father. Jesse's wife was a Davidson, and dates seem to match. Possibly daughter of Alexander Davidson and Elizabeth Agnes Crews, per some trees
Illinois Marriages Initial info from Frye Family Tree (Owner: redheadkelly) Find a Grave Find a Grave Find a Grave Birth from Virginia Borth Records, LDS site info from Hewitt-Rogers etal tree on ancestry.com
Infor from birth record for John Rink Pratt Name of Child Place of Birth County Date of Birth Father's Name Mother's Name Mother's Maiden Name "Wonderful Old Lawrence" by Elfriede Fischer Rowe. Printed in Journal-World December 8, 1960 1905 Kansas State Census, living with daughter Ida and sister Mary Jefferson Co., Missouri COMMISIONS AND MARRIAGES 1838-1849 P240
VA Marriages
Name:
Gender:
Spouse Name:
Spouse Gender:
Marriage Date:
County:
State:
Name:
Gender:
Marriage Date:
Marriage Place:
Spouse:
FHL Film Number:
1840 Census: (close to John Davidson and Stephen Duguid)
Name
Home in 1840 (City, County, State)
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49
Persons Employed in Agriculture
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write
Free White Persons - Under 20
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49
Total Free White Persons
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves
1850 Federal Census (Next to David Lane and Poly! >>probably his parents)
Campbell, Virginia
Family Number
All born in VA
Jesse Lane
Nancy Lane
Andrew Lane
James Lane
Sally Lane
Nancy Lane
Frederick Lane
John Lane
Wm E Dixon
Robt Hunter
John H Moore
Above David Lane:
David Mayberry 25, VA
Elizabeth J, 23, VA
Ann S, 7, VA
Thomas E, 5, VA
Samuel B, 3, VA
David R Lane, 81, farmer, VA
Polly, 70, VA
William J, 42, farmer, VA
Polly, 42, VA
Name:
Gender:
Spouse Name:
Spouse Gender:
Marriage Date:
County:
State:
1840 Campbell County, Va
Name:
Township:
County:
State:
males: 2011001
2 under 5
1 10-15
1 15-20
1 40-50
females: 0211001
2 5-10
1 10-15
1 15-20
1 40-50
Close to John Davidson
000000001 0001000011
John 60-70
females:
1 15-20
1 60-70
1 70-80
Next page:
Rayleigh Chilton, Littlebury Lane, who married a Mary Davidson,
Jno C Caffrey 100001020001
1 male, under 5 (Charles C)
1 male, age 30-40 (John C)
2 female, age 6-10 (MT, Agnes)
1 female, age 30-40 (Elizabeth)
Jno Hughs 01000001 00131
1850 Campbell County, Dec 11, 1850
Jesse Lane, age 47, all born in Va
Nancy Lane, age 60
Andrew, age 20
James, age 23
Sally, age 21
Nancy, age 13
Frederick, age 12
John, age 8
Wm E Dixon age 33
John H Moore age 18
Robert Hunter, age 18
Next to David Lane age 80, father to Jesse?
David Lane
Polly Lane
Wm J Lane
Polly Lane
Also, next to a David Mayberry; James above may have married into Mayberry family, a Nancy Mayberry
Close to Stephen Duiguid age 32 (prior page)
an Abraham Grishaw, age 45 next page (grandson of Isaac Grishaw)
1860 census Campbell County, Eastern District, Spring Hills Post Office:
Jesse Layne
Jane Layne
Geo W Layne
Jesse Layne
America Hite
US City Directories
Name
Gender
Spouse
Publication Title
Household Members
Name
Jane Lane
Jesee Lane
General Notes: Wife - Nancy Davidson
Husband John Leonard
Born: 8 Mar 1841 - Liberty Township, Fairfield County, Ohio
Christened:
Died: 7 Jan 1907 - Altamont, Effingham County, Illinois
Buried:
Marriage: 13 Mar 1862 - Effingham County Illinois
Wife Nancy Davidson
Born: 1839 - Illinois
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Micajah C Davidson
Mother: Mary Fry
Children
General Notes: Husband - John Leonard
Name: John Leonard
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Nancy Davidson
Marriage Date: Mar 13, 1862
Marriage County: Effingham
Comments: This record can be found at the County Court Records, Film # 1010047 - 1010048.
Family Data Collection
Name: John Francis Leonard
Spouse: Nancy Davidson
Parents: Daniel Leonard, Mathilda Brown
Birth Place: Fairfield Co, Liberty Tsp, OH
Birth Date: 8 Mar 1841
Marriage Place: Effingham Co
Marriage Date: 13 Mar 1862
Find a Grave Index
Name: John Francis Leonard
Birth Date: 8 Mar 1841
Age at Death: 65
Death Date: 7 Jan 1907
Burial Place: Effingham County, Illinois, USA
URL: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-...
General Notes: Wife - Nancy Davidson
Several reports on the internet list death as 1865, which is likely as I cannot locate her in the census
1860 Christian, Illinois
Taylorville, Illinois
S W Williams 34, IL, farmer
Eliz Williams 28, IL
Edward H Williams 8, IL
Nancy J Williams 4, IL
Nancy Davidson 19, IL
Husband Daniel Glenn Vaughn
Born: 1817 - Grayson County, Virginia
Christened:
Died: 20 Mar 1892 - Carroll County, Virginia
Buried: - Smythers Cemetery, Woodlawn, Carroll County, Virginia
Father: Wm K Vaughn
Mother: ES
Marriage: 6 Feb 1879 - Carroll County, Virginia
Wife Nancy Davidson
Born: 1847 - Carroll County, Virginia
Christened:
Died: 1910 - Carroll County, Virginia
Buried: - Smythers Cemetery, Woodlawn, Carroll County, Virginia
Father: John E Davidson
Mother: Hope Posten
Children
General Notes: Husband - Daniel Glenn Vaughn
Daniel Glenn Vaughan
Birth:
Grayson County
Virginia, USA
Death:
Carroll County
Virginia, USA
Occupation - wagoneer
md - Matilda Early - 18 Dec 1838
md - Nancy Davidson - 6 Feb 1879
Family links:
Parents:
William Kajer Vaughan (1781 - ____)
Elizabeth Smith Glenn Vaughan (1790 - ____)
Spouse:
Nancy Davidson Vaughan (1848 - 1910)*
Children:
William King Vaughan (1840 - 1892)*
Vashtie Ann Vaughn Aker (1847 - 1914)*
John Marshel Vaughn (1878 - 1975)*
Elizabeth Jane Vaughan Davis (1881 - 1974)*
Siblings:
Permelia Ann Vaughn Jones (1811 - 1889)*
Alexander C Vaughan (1812 - 1855)*
Peyton William Vaughan (1814 - ____)*
Daniel Glenn Vaughan (1817 - 1892)
Spain Marshall Vaughan (1827 - 1863)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Smythers Cemetery
Woodlawn
Carroll County
Virginia, USA
General Notes: Wife - Nancy Davidson
Nancy Davidson Vaughan
Birth:
Carroll County
Virginia, USA
Death:
Carroll County
Virginia, USA
1870 Census age 23 Sulphur Springs, Carroll Co. living with parents. 1910 Census age 64 living with son-in-law William A Davis Sulphur Springs. Died after 1910. Burial Smythers Cem, Carroll Co, Va
Parents: John E. and Hopey Poston Davidson
Family links:
Parents:
John E Davidson (1798 - 1887)
Hopey Poston Davidson (1800 - 1900)
Spouse:
Daniel Glenn Vaughan (1817 - 1892)
Children:
John Marshel Vaughn (1878 - 1975)*
Elizabeth Jane Vaughan Davis (1881 - 1974)*
Siblings:
Thomas Jefferson Davidson (1843 - 1934)*
Malinda Elizabeth Davidson Alley (1845 - 1923)*
Victoria Davidson Porter (1845 - 1922)*
Nancy Davidson Vaughan (1848 - 1910)
John Henry Cooper Davidson (1852 - 1926)*
William Buchanan Davidson (1856 - 1941)**
*Calculated relationship
**Half-sibling
Inscription:
Dates are wrong on stone.
Burial:
Smythers Cemetery
Woodlawn
Carroll County
Virginia, USA
Created by: Val Baugh
Record added: May 02, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 36661923
Nancy <i>Davidson</i> Vaughan
Added by: Val Baugh
Photos may be scaled.
Click on image for full size.
Rest in peace, 3X Great Aunt.
- HBB
Added: Mar. 2, 2016
- KJHall
Added: Sep. 13, 2009
Husband Enoch Warren Martin
Born: 13 Aug 1857 - Pike County, Missouri
Christened:
Died: 26 Mar 1941 - Young County, Texas
Buried: - Murray Cemetery, Murry, Young County, Texas
Marriage:
Wife Nancy Bruce Davidson
Born: 31 Jul 1860 - Appomattox County, Virginia
Christened:
Died: 14 Apr 1918 - Young County, Texas
Buried: - Murray Cemetery, Murry, Young County, Texas
Father: John R Davidson
Mother: Dolly C. Sternes
Children
1 M Willie Martin
Born: 10 Sep 1891 - Young County, Texas
Christened:
Died: 19 Jul 1927 - Young County, Texas
Buried: - Murray Cemetery, Murry, Young County, Texas
2 F Hattie Emma Martin
Born: 19 Feb 1893 - Throckmorton County, Texas
Christened:
Died: 19 Jun 1975 - Graham, Young County, Texas
Buried: - Murray Cemetery, Murry, Young County, Texas
Spouse: Lee Newell Carmack
General Notes: Husband - Enoch Warren Martin
Enoch Warren Martin
Birth:
Pike County
Missouri, USA
Death:
Young County
Texas, USA
Children; Abbie Martin Meadows,# 43905450, Buried in the Paradice, Wise Co. Tx Cemetery
Mary Martin Meadows,,,, Buried in the Paradice, Wise Co., Tx.
Husband of Abbie: Henry F. Meadows,# 43905455, Buried in the Paradice, Wise Co., Tx Cemetery.
Abbie and Mary Meadows, each had 10 Children.
Enoch was left an Orphan at an early age, He had one known Brother, James living with Aunt Nicey Smith.
Moss Martin was Tresurer, Baptist Church, 1885.
Family links:
Spouse:
Nancy Bruce Davidson Martin (1860 - 1918)*
Children:
Willie Martin (1891 - 1927)*
Hattie Emma Martin Carmack (1893 - 1975)*
Toye B. Martin Wootton (1895 - 1973)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Murray Cemetery
Murray
Young County
Texas, USA
General Notes: Wife - Nancy Bruce Davidson
Nannie B Davidson
Parents:
John R Davidson, Dolly E Davidson
Find a Grave
Nancy B Martin Davidson
Birth:
Death:
Young County
Texas, USA
Family links:
Parents:
J. R. Davidson (1829 - 1906)
Spouse:
Enoch Warren Martin (1857 - 1941)
Children:
Willie Martin (1891 - 1927)*
Hattie Emma Martin Carmack (1893 - 1975)*
Toye B. Martin Wootton (1895 - 1973)*
Sibling:
Joseph Burgess Davidson (1859 - 1954)*
Nancy Bruce Davidson Martin (1860 - 1918)
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Murray Cemetery
Murray
Young County
Texas, USA
Husband Samuel Harvey Rogers
Born: 1811 - Kentucky
Christened:
Died: Jul 1844
Buried:
Father: William Rogers
Mother: Elizabeth
Marriage: 28 Aug 1837 - Barren County, Kentucky
Wife Nancy C Davidson
Born: 1815
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Young Davidson
Mother: Malinda Whitley
Children
1 F Huldah A Rogers
Born: 1839 - Kentucky
Christened:
Died: 1874 - Barren County, Kentucky
Buried:
Spouse: Henry Smith Wells
Marr: 17 Dec 1861 - Barren County, Kentucky
2 F Lemurtha Jane Rogers
Born: 1844 - Kentucky
Christened:
Died: 1874 - Barren County, Kentucky
Buried:
Spouse: Andrew Younger Davidson
Marr: 3 Mar 1867 - Barren County, Kentucky
Spouse: W. R. Redford
General Notes: Husband - Samuel Harvey Rogers
Husband Thomas A Edwards
Born:
Christened:
Died: - Ohio County, Kentucky
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Nancy E Davidson
Born: 5 Jan 1854 - Clinton County, Kentucky
Christened:
Died: - Ohio County, Kentucky
Buried:
Father: Elijah G Davidson
Mother: Cassander Ann Robertson
Children
Husband William Pratt
Born: 1841 - Nova Scotia
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Nancy E Davidson
Born: 1848 - Indiana
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Julius C. Davidson
Mother: Sally Ann Walters
Other Spouse: Conner
Children
1 M Julius Clarkson Pratt
Born: 1 Feb 1886 - Adams Township, Harrison County, Missouri
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 M John Rink Pratt
Born: 5 Mar 1887 - Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - William Pratt
Name of Child Place of Birth County Date of Birth Father's Name Mother's Name Mother's Maiden Name
Pratt, John Rink Bethany, Missouri Harrison Mar 5, 1887 William Pratt Nancy E. Pratt Nancy E. Davison
General Notes: Wife - Nancy E Davidson
Pratt, John Rink Bethany, Missouri Harrison Mar 5, 1887 William Pratt Nancy E. Pratt Nancy E. Davison mother age 39, father age 46, mother b Induiana, father born Nova Scotia
Pratt, Julius Clarkson Adams Township Harrison Feb 1, 1886 William A. Pratt Mary E. Pratt Mary E. Davisson, mother age 38, father age 45, mother b Induiana, father born Nova Scotia
Husband Acchillas Bedford Wade
Born: 25 Aug 1829 - Franklin County, Missouri
Christened:
Died: 6 Oct 1891 - Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
Buried: - Oak Hill Cemetery
Father: John Wade
Mother: Mary
Marriage: 9 Mar 1848 - Jefferson County, Missouri
Wife Nancy E. Davidson
Born: 13 May 1828 - Garrard County, Kenticky
Christened:
Died: 16 Sep 1906 - Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
Buried: - Oak Hill Cemetery
Father: Jordan A. Davidson 2
Mother: Sarah A Naylor 2
Children
1 F Mary Ann Frances Wade
Born: 26 Feb 1849 - Franklin County, Missouri
Christened:
Died: 23 Dec 1934
Buried:
Spouse: Charles Wesley Mitchell
Marr: 10 Jun 1866 - Lawrence, Kansas
2 F Eudora Alice Wade
Born: 24 Oct 1858 - Douglas County, Kansas
Christened:
Died: 15 Dec 1900 - St Josephs Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri
Cause of Death: operation on tumor
Buried: - Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
Spouse: Edwin L. Garret
3 M Harvey Edward Wade
Born: 1862 - Douglas County, Kansas
Christened:
Died: 1918
Buried:
Spouse: Mary Loiuse Johnson
Spouse: Lucille
4 M Abner Frank Wade
AKA: Frank
Born: Apr 1863 - Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
Christened:
Died: 1919
Buried:
Spouse: Etta
Marr: 1890
5 F Ida May Wade
Born: 1867 - Douglas County, Kansas
Christened:
Died: 18 Sep 1948 - Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
Buried: - Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
Spouse: Jacob French Swadley
Marr: After 1910
Spouse: Charles Eugene Starr
Marr: 16 Mar 1886 - Lawrence, Kansas
6 F Nancy E. Wade
Born: 27 Jan 1871 - Douglas County, Kansas
Christened:
Died: 21 Nov 1887 - Kansas
Buried: - Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas
General Notes: Husband - Acchillas Bedford Wade
LAWRENCE HAS AN AMAZING NUMBER of older homes that are still standing, occupied and in good condition.
The first house in Lawrence was built in 1854. It was a log cabin about 18 by 24 feet and erected by Clark Stearns a pro slavery man from Missouri. The act of organizing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska passed Congress, May 30, 1854, and within a few days after that, Stearns arrived upon the ground and erected his cabin as a squatter's claim, for a farm. The New England advance pioneers found him there with his family and after they erected their tents, August 5, 1854. When they proposed to organize a town company, Stearns was an obstruction to be got rid of, and they bought him out for $500. There is a cement marker at 616 Massachusetts Street, just south of Underwoods, in front of a used car lot, and bordering the sidewalk, which reads: "Site of the first house in Lawrence, 60 feet east."
In June of the same year, Achilles B. Wade built a cabin and settled on it as a squatters claim. He later accepted $100 for his claim, and left. Wade's cabin was east of the present Water Works, on Indiana Street.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Recollections of 1854 - No. 6, July 28, 1870, Western Home Journal, By J. Savage
And near the residence of A. D. Searl then living our estimable fellow citizen. A. B. Wade, who was also a member of the first Legislature of Kansas. While behind all these, there was the whole power of the Government, its patronage and officials, with the army to back them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lykins or Robitaille Float
Author: Moore, Ely
Date: May 14, 1857
This printed form was sent to the agent of the New England Emigrant Aid Company to inform him of a land claim by Robert Robitaille, a Wyandot Indian, to a portion of the city of Lawrence. It was sent by the General Land Office in Lecompton, Kansas Territory, and was signed by Ely Moore, register and William Brindle, receiver. William Lykins and Achilles Ward are mentioned in the description of the property being disputed.
-----------------------------------------------
Buried in section 7, Plot 185
-----------------------------------------------
1850 census
District 31, Franklin County, Mo
August 31, 1850
Achillas Wade, age 21, born in Mo,farmer, $250
Nancy, age 20, born in VA
Mary Ann, age 1, born in Mo
1870 Douglas County, Kansas, August 9, 1870
p468b/Dw321/Wakarusa Township
Wade, Acchillas B. 41 m w Farmer $12,000/$530 Missouri
Wade, Nancy (Nancy Davidson) 42 f w Keeping House Kentucky
Wade, Dora 11 f w Kansas
Wade, Eddie (Edward Wade) 8 m w Kansas
Wade, Franklin 7 m w Kansas
Wade, Ada 3 f w Kansas
(1870 Douglas Co KS) (1880 Douglas Co KS)
1880 census
Wakarusa Township, Douglas County, Kansas
June 5,7,8 1880
Achillas Wade, age 51, farmer, born in Mo,farmer, $12,000 Real Estate, $560 personal, parents born in KY
Nancy, age 52, born in KY, father born in KY, mother born in VA
Dora, age 21, teaching school, born in KS
Eddie, age 19, farm hand, born in KS
Franklin, age 17,farm hand, born in KS
Ada, age 13, attending school, born in KS
Nancy, age 8, born in KS
Oct. 8, 1891
A.B.Wade, a brother-in-law of Mrs. E.P.Harris and one of the first settlers of Douglas County, died at his home at Lawrence on Monday.
Obituary, Lawrence Paper, Oct 1891
The funeral of Archilies (Achilles) B. Wade took place this afternoon from the family residence on South New Hampshire Street.
Mr. Wade was born in Franklin County, Missouri in 1828 and came to Kansas in 1854. He assisted in erecting the first dwelling house put up in this place and was trustee of the town for a long time in its early days. All the years of his residence in the vicinity he has been a farmer and has always been respected and honored by his neighbors.
Since Mr. Wade's return from Calif. about a year ago, he has been in poor health. Earlier in the summer he was injured (
Five children survive to mourn Mr. Wade's death. The oldest son H.E. Wade is located in Calif. and the youngest son Frank is at home. Mrs. Mary Mitchell, the oldest daughter, resides in Rockford, Ill. Of the other daughters, Mrs. Dora Garrett lives on the old home place and Mrs. Ida Starr lives in Wakarusa Township.
Mr. Wade was one of the earliest settlers in the county and was universally respected and liked by all who knew him. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Church and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J.K. Miller of that church.
Lawrence Daily Journal Lawrence, Kansas 07 Oct 1891, Wed
A. B. WADE.
The funeral of Arcbillas B. Wade took place this afternoon from the family residence on south New Hampshire street.
Mr. Wade was born in Franklin county, Missouri, in 1828 and came to Kansas in 1854. He assisted in erecting the first dwelling house put up in this place and was trustee of the town for a long time in its early days. All the years of his residence in this vicinity he has been a farmer and has always been respected and honored by his neighbors.
Since Mr. Wade's return from Califor-nia about a year ago,he has been in poor health. Early in the summer he was injured by a wagon and since then has been in very poor health. The cause of the death was heart trouble; which was very much aggravated by the injury re-ceived in June.
Five children survive to mourn Mr. Wade's death. The oldest son, H. E. Wade, is located in California and the youngest son, Frank, is at home, Mrs. Mary Mitchell, the oldest daughter resides in Rockford, 111. Of the other daughters. Mrs. Dora Garrett lives on the old home place, and Mrs. Ida Starr lives in Wakarusa township.
Mr. Wade was one of the earliest set-tlers in the county and was universally respected and liked by all who knew him. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. K. Miller of that church.
Some info obtained from World Family Tree Vol3, Ed 1, tree 0125 (B = Bedford, parents name, date of death slightly different, date and location of marriage different than listed here...)
-Member of school board
-in 1854, built 2nd log cabin in Lawrence, Kansas
-in 1854, helped Mr. Sterns finish his cabin first
-Occupation: Sheriff of Douglas County, legislator
William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
was first published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL. Below are extracts regarding the Wades:
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Previous to May 15, 1854, the county was not open to settlement by white people, being held by the Shawnee Indian as a part of their reservation under the treaty between them and the Government in 1825. On the former date a new treaty went into effect, by the terms of which the Shawnees reserved 200 acres to each member of the tribe, or 200,00 acres in all, most of it in Johnson County. The most of that lying in Douglas County selected by them under the treaty was embraced in Eudora Township, in the northeastern part of the county. As soon as the land was thrown open to settlement, "squatters" came in from Missouri and from the Western and Northwestern States to secure claims, the region, now Douglas County, having been long known as a desirable location, from the fact that one of the great highways of travel between the East and California traversed its entire width. It was also the route over which the Pottawatomie trade mainly passed, one of the great crossings of the Kansas River being at the trading post of Uniontown, in what is now Shawnee County. These, however, were not the first white men in Douglas County. In 1842, Gen. John C. Fremont, on his first tour of exploration to the Rocky Mountains, after leaving Cyprian Chouteaus's trading house on the Kansas River, six miles west of the Missouri line, on June 10, which trading house was in latitude 39 degrees 5' 57" longitude 94 degrees 39' 16", elevation above the sea, 700 feet - encamped near the present location of Lawrence on the 12th, and describes the spring near the residence of the late Bruce. He says of the location:
"We encamped in a remarkable beautiful situation on the Kansas bluffs, which commanded a fine view of the river valley, here from four to five miles wide. The central portion was occupied by a broad belt of heavy timber, and nearer the hills prairies were of the richest verdue."
Many other California emigrants passing over this route were particularly struck with the beauty of the scenery, and the magnificence of the view in the vicinity of Lawrence - among them Dr. Charles Robinson, who afterward became one of her pioneer settlers and most honored citizens. Along the California road, the first settlers located. This road entered Douglas County at the eastern line of what is now Eudora Township, at the crossing of the little stream then called Captain's Creek, and near the Methodist Mission of Dr. Still. Passing two miles west, Dish's Hotel was reached- a stopping place to which theFree -Statee settlers were always cordially welcomed by the Shawnee proprietor. The road crossed the Wakarusa at the house of Blue Jacket, a Shawnee chief, about a mile east of the reserve line. Two miles from the crossing of the Wakarusa, the town of Franklin was afterward laid out on the claim of Mr. L. B. Wallace, formerly of Indiana. Associated with Wallace was a Virginian - Mr. Church, a famous violinist. Mr. Wallace's house was one mile west of the site of Franklin. About four miles further west, the road wound up a sharp prominence and "Hog Back Point" was reached, the future Lawrence lying just to the north. Six miles further was another rise in the prairie, the table-land then reached being near the locality of a famous spring, near where Judge Wakefield afterward settled. Eight miles further on - the road still passing over the high prairie with a full view of the Kansas and Wakarusa Valleys to the north and south - the "forks" of the road, the future site of Big Springs was reached, and, a mile beyond, the road passed out of Douglas County. Among the settlers who came into the county and settled along and in the vicinity of this road in the spring and early summer of 1854, were the following:DJJ. W.Luminas, of South Carolina, April 13; A. R. Hopper, May 9; Clark Stearns and WilliamHOH. R.Lays, May 26; A. B. andMNN. E. Wade, June 5; J. A. Wakefield, June 8; Calvin and Martin Adams, June 10; J. J. Eberhart, June 12; Brice W. Miller, June 6; J. H. Harrison, June 124; H. S. and Paul Eberhart, June 15; S. N. Wood, June 24; Mr. Rolf, June 24; L. A. Lagerquest, July 4; James F. Legate, July 5; William Lyon, and Josiah Hutchison in July.
more:
the 26th of May, 1854, Mr. Clerk Stearns and Mr. John Baldwin selected claims on what was afterward the town site of Lawrence; Mr. Stearns' being the quarter section lying on the river, on which the business portion of the town was afterwards built, and Mr. Baldwin's the adjoining claim east. On the same day Mr. William Lykins, a young man from Missouri, squatted upon the same quarter section as Mr. Stearns - neither being aware of the other's presence. Mr. Stearns built a log cabin, and resided continuously on his claim with his family. Lykins laid the foundation of a cabin, went back to Missouri and filed apreemptionn claim in the General Land Office at Washington. On the 5th day of June, Mr. A. B. Wade made a third claim, on a less valuable portion of the town site, and commenced living upon and improving it. On the 6th of June, Mr. J. Wilson took a fourth claim and soon afterward, Mr. W. H. Oliver a fifth. When Mr. Charles Branscome visited the place in July and selected it as a location for the New England town, only Mr. Stearns and Mr. Wade were living on their claims. The others were absent, and Mr. Stears believed that Lykins, knowing himself (Stearns) in actual possession, had left without intention of pressing his claim. Mr. Branscome, accordingly, as agent of the Emigrant Aid Company, purchased the claim of Mr. Stearns for $500 to be paid within sixty days, and which was paid on the 29th of September. Mr. Wade agreed to sell his claim for $100, to be paid at the expiration of sixty days. No arrangement was made with Mr. Baldwin, he not consenting to sell. On the arrival of the first or pioneer party, the site was claimed for town purposes and on the arrival of the second party in September, the claims above mentioned were included within the limits of the city site, as laid out soon afterward. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Lykins had, in the meantime, returned to Lawrence, prepared to contest their claims, which were now held by the Lawrence Association on the ground that the claim to the tract was made on the day the Indian title was extinguished and the first day the land was legally open to settlement; and that, being claimed as a town site, it was by law exempt frompreemptionn. Mr. James Blood was sent to Washington as agent for the association to secure the claim, the boundary of the city including the contested claims. In the meantime, Baldwin associated with himself Messrs. Babcock, Stone and Freeman, men of some means and influence, and put his business into the hands of a speculator named Starr, who immediately proceeded to lay out a rival city, which he named Excelsior, on the claim; Mr. Baldwin and the Lawrence Association both occupying tents upon it, in proof of ownership. The strife grew bitter and although purely one of conflicting property rights - the parties being nearly all Free-state men - was represented or misrepresented, to be a quarrel between the Pro-slavery men and Abolitionists. Matters stood thus; Mr. Baldwin occupying his tent, and the Yankees scowling defiantly at him across the ravine, until, on the 5th of October, notice was given that open war was declared, by the appearance of a wagon containing several armed men in the vicinity of the New England tent. Hostilities were commenced by a woman, a sister of Mr. Baldwin, it was stated, who speedily packed the obnoxious tent, with its contents into the wagon - the men with their rifles standing guard. As soon as they were discovered by the Yankees, who were at work in the neighborhood, the City Marshal, Joel Grover, not waiting for arms, rushed to the rescue, unarmed, followed by Edwin Bond, with a revolver. The latter seized the horse by the bridle, ordering the surrender of the property, and others coming up, the intruders allowed the tent to be replaced, at the same time threatening to have 200 Missourians on the spot in a short time, when their designs would be accomplished. That night the Lawrence settlers organized what they called the "Regulating Band." to be ready for the next day's fray. Soon after dinner on the 6th, the "Missourians" by which all Southerners opposed to the aims of the Emigrant Aid Society were called, began to assemble in the neighborhood of Baldwin's tent, but open hostilities did not commence until 4 o'clock P. M. when the gage of battle was hurled at the Yankees in the shape of the following note:
KANSAS TERRITORY, October 6
DR. ROBINSON: Yourself and friend are hereby notified that you will have
one-half hour to move the tent which you have on my undisputed claim and
from this date desist from surveying on said claim. If the tent is not
moved within one-half hour, we shall take the trouble to move the same.
(signed)
JOHN BALDWIN AND FRIENDS
The following pithy reply was instantly returned:
TO JOHN BALDWIN AND FRIENDS:
If you molest our property, you do it at your peril.
C. ROBINSON AND FRIENDS
E. D. Ladd first Acting Postmaster of Lawrence, tells the remainder of the story in a letter dated October 23, 1854, and published in the Milwaukee Sentinel. He says:
Prior to the notice, they had assembled to the number of eighteen, mounted and armed, at Baldwin's, the aggrieved man's tent, on the claim and about twenty rods from our camp. Upon the notice being served, our men - those who were at work about and in the vicinity of the camp - to the number of about thirty, stationed themselves about ten rods from the contested tent, the enemy being about the same distance from it, the three occupying the angles of a right-angled triangle, the tent being at the right angle. Subsequent to the notice, a consultation was held at our position, between Dr. Robinson and a delegation from the enemy's post, which ended on our part with the proposition of Dr. Robinson, which proposition he had previously made, both to Baldwin and his legal adviser, or rather speculator, who wished to make a "heap of money," as the Missourians say, out of him, to submit the question in dispute to the arbitration of disinterested and unbiased men, to the adjuration of the squatter courts now existing here or of the United States Courts, and on the part of the enemy by the assurance that, at the termination of the notice they should proceed, at all hazards, to remove the tent and if they fell in the attempt, our fate would be sealed, our extermination certain; for 3,000 and if necessary, 30,000 men, would immediately be raised in Missouri to sweep us and our enterprise from the face of the earth. It was all expressed, of course, in Southwestern phrases which I will not attempt to give. "The hour passed on," or rather the half hour, and in the mean time, our military company, formed the evening before, went through a variety of I don't want, out of respect for military science, to call them "evolutions," say we call them "manifestations," marching and counter marching, in single file and by platoons in a manner not to be excelled in greenness by any other greenhorns (in this business I mean) on the face of the globe, our captain himself being as green as the greenest. General, I fear for your buttons could you have seen them. But there were strong arms and determined wills there. Had a man laid fingers on that tent, he would have been sacrificed instantly and had another single offensive movement been made by one of them, there would not have been a man left to tell the tale. Our company of thirty men had about 400 shots in hand, with their rifles and revolvers, and they would have used them to the last extremity. They had been annoyed by every means possible and even tauntingly told to their faces, a dozen of them together, that no Yankee, except Cilley, ever dared to fire.
Well, the half hour passed, and another quarter, the enemy in full view, in consultation, occasionally making a movement as if about to form in order for the execution of their threat, then seating themselves on the ground for further consultation, perhaps occasioned by the "manifestations" of our military. While thus waiting, John Hutchison asked Dr. Robinson what he would do if they should attempt to remove the tent? Would he fire to hit them or fire over them? Dr. R. replied that he should "be ashamed to fire at a man and not hit him" Immediately after this reply, a man who had been with theFree -statee men and till then suppose to be one of them, went over to the other party, which soon after dispersed. It was supposed at the time that the report of this spy brought the "war" to an end for that day. After the band had mounted and dispersed, the principals and principal instigators avoided our neighborhood. Some of the more honest dupes, however, seeing the absurdity of their position, and the reasonableness of our proposition, riding up to us, had a social chat, cracking jokes, etc. and then rode off with the determination formed, and more than half expressed, of never being caught in so ridiculous a farce again.
Several efforts were made, subsequent to that described above, to produce an open collision between the opposing parties. On the Monday following, a company of six armed men came into the neighborhood of Lawrence from Douglas, expecting to be joined by volunteers on the spot, and be able to make a hostile demonstration, they were disappointed, however, and retired in disgust. On Saturday, October 7, the day succeeding the outbreak at Lawrence, a convention for the nomination of Delegates to Congress was held at Tecumsah, and the news of the affair having reached that place, a committee was appointed to consider the case; resolutions were passed and an address to the settlers issued, desiring them to meet, the next Friday (the 13th) on Mr. Baldwin's claim for the purpose of "restoring to the oppressed and punishing the oppressor" The result of this circular was a small gathering of outsiders, who, instead of punishing anybody, verygoody sat down on the grass under the trees, in company with the "oppressors" and listened to speeches from theself- constitutedd Congressional candidate, Squire J. B. Chapman, and from Messrs. Samuel C. Pomeroy, S. N. Wood and A. H. Mallory.
In regard to Mr. Chapman's speech there seemed to be a diversity of opinion - one of his hearers says: "I took paper and pencil to report his speech, and the report is words, words, words, and not one of us can tell what the gentleman has been aiming to impress on our minds, except the single fact that he wants our votes, which he will not get very soon." Mr. Chapman himself says (History of Kansas and Emigrant's Guide - 1855): "The day of battle arrived, and much anxiety was manifested. A large number of people assembled and Mr. C. addressed them on the political interests of Kansas and the necessity of peace and harmony. They all became absorbed in politics and relinquished the contest for a claim." If, as Mr. Chapman flattered himself, he was the instrument appointed to restore peace and harmony to the troubled town, subsequent events did not prove it. Although the idea of settling the difficulty by force was apparently abandoned, the trouble was far from being removed. The matter was brought before Governor Reeder, Judge Lecompte and United States Land Commissioner Wilson, a remonstrance being sent to the latter, through Gen. Whitfield, and signed by Messrs. John Baldwin, A. B. Wade, E. Chapman, Simon Hopper, W. H. Oliver, W. H. R. Lykins and William M. Baldwin, protesting against theirpreemptionn claims being "interfered with by town rights." The opinions expressed by the Governor and Commissioner being favorable to the claims of the first settlers, a compromise was effected in the spring of 1855, which was in substance that the city site should be one mile square, embracing the claim of Messrs. J. and W. Baldwin, Lykins and Chapman, the lots to be divided into 220 shares, 100 to be held equally by the four claimants, 110 by the Association and ten by the Emigrant Aid Society, two of the latter in trust for the benefit of a college to be erected in the vicinity. A Wyandot Float, covering 640 acres, was located on the city site, and a title in fee simple secured. Although this settlement failed to give e satisfaction to a part of the emigrants, it put an end to the bitter quarrel which had, according to the Herald Freedom, "hung like an incubus over the city for several months," prevented emigrants from settling there, and been a serious drawback to the growth and prosperity of the city. Subsequent investigation, however, led many to the belief that this compromise was not altogether necessary and it seems probable that, if Dr. Robinson had not then been absent at the East, it would not have been made. The Emigrant Aid Society purchased their claim from the original settler, Stearns, and the town site did not them include more than few acres belonging to the other claimants.
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Lawrence was incorporated in 1855, by the bogus Legislature, its boundaries being defined as follows: 'Beginning at a stone monument in the mouth of a ravine entering the Kansas River in a northwesterly direction from the town of Lawrence, and between the dwelling houses of William H. R. Lykins and Achilles B. Wade, and running due west 1,250 feet, thence due south 6,729 feet, thence due east 5,280 feet, thence north 4,260 feet, to the Kansas river, thence along said river to the place of beginning. '
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Portrait and Biological Record
HON. ACHILLES B. WADE, deceased,came to what is now Douglas County in March, 1854, before the Shawuee treaty had been ratified, and was oue of the very earliest white settlers in this section of the state. He was born in Franklin County, Mo., in June, 1829, a son of John and Mary Wade, natives of Kentucky, but for years residents of Missouri, where they died. He was the fifth among eleven children and was reared upon the home farm. At the discovery of gold iu California he determined to seek his for-tune in the great west. Accordingly he crossed the plains, overland, with an ox-team. As he passed through Kausas he noted with admiration the fertile soil and broad prairies, but the Indians were in possession, and settlement was, therefore, impossible. He proceeded on his journey and was gone two years, returning to Missouri and settling upon a farm. However, he did not feel contented there,and again started westward. With a cousin, Mr. Kaufman, he engaged in surveying the country and arriving at Blue Mound they struck for claims. The cousin staked a claim on what is now Massachusetts street, Lawrence, while Mr. Wade put his stake down about one-quarter of a mile away, in what is now West Lawrence. There he broke the soil, planted a crop and en-gaged in farming for one season. Meantime he built the first log house in Lawrence. After a year he and his cousin sold out to the Lawrence Town Company and settled two miles northwest of the present site of Lawrence. Ilis second claim was for one hundred and sixty acres, but the adjoining claims overlapped his so that he had only one hundred and tweuty acres. There he built a large brick house, a substantial barn and other farm buildings, and placed the land under cultivation, making of it one of the finest farms for miles around. He continued to reside on the same place until 1890, when he rented the farm and located at No. 1910 Haskell street, where he had fifteen acres of fruit land. During the Price raid he enlisted iu the Kansas militia and started for the front with his command, but was severely injured by being thrown from his horse and was obliged to return home. During the early days he was sheriff of Douglas County and he was also a member of the first territorial legislature. For many years he served as a mem-ber of the school board and his helpful sugges-tions were of the greatest value in promoting the welfare of the schools. As a citizen he was progressive and public-spirited. His long-time associates in Douglas County tested him by the varying vicissitudes of many years, and had reason to know the manner of man he was, the strength of his friendship, the generosity of his nature, the integrity of his purpose, and the sincerity of his life. It was, therefore, with a feeling of per-sonal loss and bereavement that news was received of his death, at his home in Lawrence, October 6, 1891. His passing from earth deprived the city of one who had from earliest days been de-voted to its welfare and interested in its pros-perity.
In Franklin County, Mo., February 10, 1847, Mr. Wade married Miss Nancy Davidson, who was born March 13, 1828, in Lancaster County, Ky., a daughter of Jordan and Sarah (Naylor) Davidson, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. Her grandfather, Jesse Davidson, a native of Virginia, was a pioneer farmer of Ken-tucky, from which state her father moved to Franklin County, Mo., and engaged not only in farming, but also in carpentering and building. In 1855 he came to Kansas and took a claim four miles from the home of his son-in-law, continuing on the farm until he died. His wife, who was a daughter of Thomas Naylor, a native of Vir-ginia, spent her last years in the home of her daughter, where she died. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom attained mature years, but only two are now living. Three of the sons took part in the Civil war as members of a Kansas regiment, while four of Mr. Wade's brothers also served in the Federal army. Like her husband, Mrs. Wade has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination since childhood and is now identified with the First Church in Lawrence. She was eight years of age when her parents moved from Kentucky to Missouri, and in the latter state she passed the years of girlhood. Since the death of her hus-band she has superintended their property and maintained a general oversight of their interests. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in childhood, and Nancy at the age of sixteen. Four are living, viz.: Mrs. Mary Mitch-ell, who graduated from Lane University and is now living in Rockford, I11.; Mrs. Dora Garrett, a graduate of the University of Kansas, and now residing on the home farm near Lawrence; Ed-ward, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Franklin, who is proprietor and manager of a theatrical company.
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From Story of Early Settlement of Douglas County:
Compiled Account of Nancy E. Wade by the Jeffersonian Pioneer Women and Early Settlement Gazette 1899
Written by daughter Mary Wade Mitchell. Quotes from her mother Nancy.
Among the very earliest settlers of Douglas County were A. B. Wade and his wife Nancy E. Wade. Mrs. Wade was the first white woman to settle in the county and is perhaps the oldest settler in the point of years of actual residence in the county now living. Mr. Wade was quite a prominent figure in public life and was a member of the first legal territorial legislature.
Achillas B. Wade was born August 25, 1829 in Franklin county, Missouri. His parents came from Kentucky and his grandparents from Virginia. The family has always held to the principles of the great Virginia statesman, Jefferson. Mr. Wade was always a strong prohibitionist, although he came from a state where the demijohn had a prominent place in every household.
His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm where the opportunity for acquiring an education was very slight. During his last winter at school he "ciphered" as far as "the single rule of three." He cared little for books except those of history and biography but the daily newspapers were his delight and not home in the country was better supplied with current news than his.
He was married February 12, 1848 in Franklin county Missouri to Miss Nancy E. Davidson. She was bom in Kentucky March 13, 1828, her parents Jorden Davidson and Sarah Nailor were boin in Vngnua. The family uf Davidson was one of the earliest in the settlement of that state. Mrs. Wade's grandfather and great-uncles fought with Washington, they are a strong hardy family, many are still living at the old home near Louisville, Kentucky, and one is nearing her ninty-fifth birthday.
Mrs. Wade's education was confined to the elementry branches. At the age of seventeen she was selected to "keep" the district school. The only books in use were the testament and spelling book, arithmetic and writing were taught from the black-board. She was the oldest of eight children and had much of the care of the younger ones teaching them their lessons, settling their differences and encouraging them to help in the tobacco field where much of the "worm" and ' sucker" picking was done by the children. There is a tradition in the family to the effect that Mr. and Mrs. Wade "started" with fifteen cents, that is, after setting themselves up in housekeeping and farming in a small way there was but fifteen cents in the family purse, and that there in the first days of their married life they resolved to be worth something, someday. Later they had two ambitions for their children, good education and a start in life, the two needs they had felt most keenly in their own lives.
In the spring of '50 Mr. Wade went to California with a party of relatives and neighbors. They traveled overland with ox teams, crossing the line at Little Santa Fe and traveling by way of the old California trail. He like many others was attracted by the beauty of the valley in which Lawrence is situated as seen from Mount Oread. There was talk even then of this country being opened up for settlement and here he determined to settle as soon as opportunity afforded. The company was several months on the way, they had much trouble with the Indians stealing and stampeding the cattle, an often went miles off the trail to avoid hostile parties. They killed several buffaloes but the cholera broke out presumable caused by lack of water and many men and the one woman, Mrs. Pritchet by name, died; many of the cattle also died and provisions gave out. Finally wen about two hundred miles from their destination, Nevada City, they divided the remaining provisions, corn and beans, abandoned the poor starving cattle and started on alone. Mr. Wade and his brother Samuel went together and walked the remaining distance. He stayed in California two years and returned in a sail ship by way of Central America, the Isthmus and up the Mississippi river, thus getting a sight of tropical birds, plants and climate which he never tired of describing.
While in California he prospected in the mines, sifted out gold, sold out, prospected again, sometimes not, his letters home were hopeful, promising to come back when he got rich. February 2, '51 he says:
"I received three letters today in one mail and was very glad to hear from you being the first work I have received from home since the 20th of July, they cost me eight dollars and twenty-five cents. I bought a lot the other day for one hundred and fifty dollars and I was offered two hundred in two minutes afterwards. Wages are from six to eight dollars a day. If our lots pay as well as common we stand a good chance of coming home next fall with several thousand dollars. The winter had been very dry and warm. They have ditched and brought water ten miles through a gap of the mountain to wash the gravel with : also they are running tunnels under the hills three or four hundred feet to drain the water out so as to get the gold."
These letters were highly prized you may be sure, so many of the men were away that a packet was almost sure to contain letters for all or at least news for all. They were simply folded with the writing inside and addressed on the back; to envelopes being used. Mrs. Wade spent the two years of separation in weaving linens and bedspreads which found ready sale in St. Louis, their nearest town.
When Mr. Wade returned in the summer of '52 he began to wind up his affairs and prepare to settle in the New Territory as soon as it should be opened. They had descended from a long line of pioneers to that Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri with their Indians and wild beasts made fair Kansas with the Indians driven back and the buffalo receding seems as a haven of rest.
The following is from the pen of Mrs. Wade who still resides in South Lawrence was the first woman to settle in the county:
"About the first of March 1854, my cousin J. Koffman a surveyor living at Warrensburg was engaged to measure off the thirty miles Shawnee reservation. My husband and several others accompanied him for the purpose of staking off claims.
"On the morning of the 4th they reached the end of the reserve and found themselves near what is now know as 'Blue Mound' from the summit of which they could see the river winding down bordered on wither side by luxurient timber. They had come from a timbered country and nothing but timber would satisfy them so with a shout they started to run, they soon however moved at a more leisurely pace; Stearns out ran the others and stuck his stake near the site of Pierson's mill. My husband stepped off about one half mile and stick his stake. His claim extended from the West Lawrence ravine to the brewery. Wilson took the McFarland farm, Hopped the Judge Stevens farm and others staked claims east of Stearns. They each laid four log foundations, camped over night and returned to tell of the wonderful possibilities of the new country. Miles and miles of range between their farms and the ridge which no one would ever want to cultivate and consequently would remain free for the flocks and herds. They never expected to have a trading post nearer than Kansas City, but that was no hinderence, they would take turns in making monthly trips to mill and that would give ample opportunity for bringing back mail and anything else needed in the settlement. In a few weeks they, with the Adamses, Cowels and others returned.
Stearns and my husband built their cabins and for weeks they were the only houses in the place. Both cabins were raised the same day although Stearns' was the first to be covered.
MI came out with my only daughter Mary, about the middle of May and we were for many weeks the only woman and child in what is now the city of Lawrence. We brought with us slabs to cover our cabin, our household goods and thirty cows. The sun was just setting as we drove up to that uncovered dwelling but we had come to get a home and we were enthusiastic for the future.
"I noticed in a former chapter the date of our settlement is given as June 5th. This was after we had gone back for implements and supplies. When we returned on the 5th we found our cabin empty, a chair nailed to a tree on which was placed our flour and meat, our bedding tied up in a sheet suspended from a bough and other things piled into the ravine. We put the things back into the house and the 'jumper' gave us no trouble when he found we had come to stay.
In this little home ten feet by twelve, with its dirt floor, its one door and one window, an exact counter part of the one at the head of this column, situated on the bank of the river just west of the spring which runs out under the Santa Fe tracks: we lived for months and kept boarders. C. W. Babcock, Col. Starr and many others partook of our humble fare and slept on bedsteads make of poles fastened against the well, one above another. Later we built a comfortable two-story house on the site of 311 Mississippi street.
"Early in the summer the Emigrant Aid Company came out looking for a town site. Their charter gave them three hundred and sixty acres of land, provided it did not interfere with settlers. They sent a prospecting committee up and clown the river for miles, but nothing would do but the claims of Stearns and Wade. They pictured in glowing colors the benefits to be derived from the town. The settlers were not so easily persuaded for by this time all the farms along the river had been taken and to move out on the prairie was in their opinion certain starvation. Finding their powers of persuasion inadequate they pitched a tent in front of our cabin and prepared to jump us. When a reasonable amount of money and persuasion had been used in vain and while the land was ours by right there was very little law and order in those days and we knew not what they might succeed in doing. The tents began to disappear - quickly and quietly, one after another as often as they were left unguarded. The subject puzzled my husband as much as any one. Like the babes in the woods they peacefully slept under the leaves in the deep ravine running down to the river. The town company finally decided to buy the land of us and gave us twenty-five hundred dollars and every fifty foot lot over one hundred and sixty acres. We then moved to the homestead west and north of town where we lived until '88 when it was sold to our son-in- law, Edwin Garrett, and we moved to our present home on Haskell avenue.
"Emigrants coming from different sections of the country wholely unlike in thought and manners gave rise to many ludicrous incidents. The western settler had fully as much contempt for the Yankee as the Yankee had for him.
My earliest impression of a Yankee was of a long slim biped somewhat lacking in the upper story. You will the better understand the reason for this impression when I tell you that many of the specimens from New England brought trunks filled with trinkets to trade to the settlers for land as they would trade with natives. One young New Englander offered me two silk handkerchiefs for a cow and would throw in a pair of scissors if I'd sell him the cow that gave the buttermilk. The grass was very abundant in this section. It grew taller than a man on horseback in many places and when winter came it fell and made a warm mulch for the green grass underneath and this made feed for the cattle throughout the winter. We found ready market for milk, butter, vegetables and everything we could produce though this came far short of supplying the demand, so the people of the town were forced to live by pillage. When provisions were getting short or money scarce bands of men went to Missouri and brought back stock of all kinds, some of which was used for food and the rest sold to the settlers. Most of the meat and flour was obtained in this was. Many things besides eatables found their way into the saddlebags of these men. Most of this pillaging was done in Missouri, if however, the roads were bad or time limited they visited the surrounding country.
"One evening the cows did not come home from pasture and I heard the lowing of cattle from the direction of Lawrence. There I found the entire herd shut up in a correll on the site of the county jail. I let down the bars and the cows started home. In a few moments nearly twenty mounted men had driven the cows back and secured the bars, by this time the excitement was intense and stump speeches were the order of the day, for in those days they literally spoke on the stump. The question was discussed pro and con by Dr. Prentiss; Ex-Gov. Robinson and others. I shall never forget the sensation created when Wesley Duncan cried out, "For shame! to slaughter the cows that have fed you for months, what will you do when you've eaten them? Starve as you deserve to do! And you call this free-stateism. If this is free state rule, I am no more for free state." It was finally decided that I should have my cows. My neighbors cows were all mine that day.
"The men of the neighborhood were at this time in hiding from Jim Lane, who had gathered about him a lawless band from other states, for whom the government did not claim to be responsible, neither did it take the trouble to punish. He claimed to be working under orders and that his only order was to rid the territory of Missourians. Scores of men were called to their doors shot and their homes destroyed for the crime of being born south of Mason and Dixon's line.
"My home was fired into and searched many times, our firearms and horses were taken, my husband had some very narrow escapes. When Jim Lane was known to be coming this way the men fled to the woods between here and Lecompton and remained in concealment for weeks, stealing home at night for provisions. You can imagine the anguish of those wives when several nights would pass without work form their husbands and they knew that this band of desperadoes were scouring the country in search of them. My little daughter and I slept in those days in a bed made by sinking a hair mattress between two large chests drawn to the center of the room and a large pillow set up at either end, other women arranged similar devices to stop bullets fired into the houses at night.
I know some are trying to make a saint out of Jim Lane now-a-days. Well I hope he is a saint now for he came far short of it then. Much of the petty thievery was blamed onto the negroes but I found one of the "high officials" in my milk house which had been built over our spring in the river bank, and he was licking cream off the pans with a wooden splinter. He had since become one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the state, perhaps the qualities necessary to a successful life be hidden in stolen cream. The settlers from our section of the country were homeseekers. They were mostly young men under twenty-five years of age, non-salve holders and without any special interest in politics except that when the test came they were all union men and fought for the union, but they were objects of suspicion from both sides. The pro-slavery men at Franklin treated them as enemies because they lived at Lawrence, and the Lawrence people tried to drive them out because they had come from Missouri, so that a home in the Sunflower state in the 50's was not what it is today. Besides the so-called political strife the country was filled with all classes. The laxity of law gave opportunity for the worst classes to congregate where each man was a law untb himself and carried the administration to justice in his belt, one incident will serve to show at what a low estimate human life was rated.
"We had brought with us from Missouri a sow and pigs, they were the only ones in town and had the right of way, they ran free through the streets and were fed and petted by everybody. Their disappearance one day caused much comment and a few days later my husband having been informed of their whereabouts went our into the country and without ceremony laid down the pen in which they were confined and the pigs followed him home. This created the laugh on the farmer who had thought to provide his meat in this way and he never forgave the ridicule to which he had subjected himself.
"The day after the raid as we were coming to town to see the ruins we were met by a party of horsemen, strangers, fully armed and one of them carried a rope. They stopped the carriage held a consultation some said "it is he" some said "it is not." I was very much frightened, it always set me trembling in those days to see armed men carrying a rope, for I knew it meant some man whether innocent or guilty might lose his life by it. One of the men said "we are looking for A. B. Wade." my husband said, "He has gone to Lawrence" thinking if he could get to town he would be safe, which proved to be the case. For upon investigation it was found that the man who had stolen the pigs had hired three negroes to make affidavit before the sheriff that they could point out a man they had seen burning houses the day before and these men we had met had been sent our to summarily dispose of without investigation. His name was kept from the sheriff, Billy Sole, Mrs. Dr. Prentiss' brother who knew my husband as a friend to Lawrence but had been given to the land of executions that they might find him.
On May 10th 1859 my husband made a second trip across the plains taking his family with him. We went with a party of emigrants in covered wagons drawn by oxen to Colorado Springs. There was still much danger from Indians and much scarcety of water. We saw many Indians and many herds of buffalo but had no serious trouble with either. We were gone two years and returned by way of Salt Lake.
The dirt in the mines was washed and sifted and the gold gathered into small leather bags of $50, $100 and $200 sizes to be brought home, we sometimes washed out from $300 to $500 a day but this was after perhaps weeks and months of fruitless prospecting and digging, some mines would pay for a few days and
Then months would be spent and find nothing. I was not idle during aunng these days and brought home S700 made by making money bags, miners shirts, etc. Money was plenty and we were always well paid for any slight service we were willing to
"The winter of '61 was very severe, the mountain passes were filled with snow and the little party was snow-bound for months, provisions gave out bacon and flour were all gone and there as nothing in the camp but beans. Each one was aUowance a quart of beans a day not counting the children who cried for read. At home a quart of beans would have been sufficient but it seemed that when we knew we could have no more we were always hungry. When the snow egan to melt we watch anxiously for supplies. I have often heard my husband say that the pretties, sight he ever saw as one morning jus. a sunrise when a small train of little pack mules with their heavy loads was seen winding down the mountain path. This experience was sufficient and we did not spend another
"Three years later my husband in partnership with Billie Likens fitted out a supply train to Salt Lake. There were one hundred large government wagons each drawn by two yoke of oxen with one driver to each wagon and two
wagons ?????????. These wagons were filled with provisions 22222222 cost $125 a piece so that the train cost four or five hundred dollar and they expected to double their money on the transaction. About a hundred miles beyond Topeka they sen. back work that the Indians had stampeded the cattle but they had saved the tram. My husband hired men and went out to hunt the cattle some were found and others were bought to replace the ones that were lost and they were sent on after several weeks delay. This venture did not prove successful. One wagon boss came home and said he had been robbed the night before he left Salt Lake and the other never came back. He was found about ten years ago a poor man and said the money had been a curse to him all his life.
"The germ from which the public school system of the state has grown was started in what was long known as the "Wade District." In the fall of '54 the neighbors came together and decided to build a school house. The site was located on the claim of Wm. Yates, later known as the Reeder Float, now owned y James McCreath. It was a log structure 14x26, four windows, two on each side, with the door and teachers desk at the front end. The patrons of the school bmlt the house and it has never been torn down but has been utilized a a room in the McCreath dwelling. The first trustees were Wm. Yates, of Lawrence, Calvin Adams of Perryville, and J. Bush, deceased. Some of the first pupils were Mary, Sarah, George and Henry Yates, Nick Gentry, Dave, Dock, Jim, Mary, Will and John Adams, John and Billy Bush, Louisa Prentise and Mary Wade. The best teacher was Robert Allen and he was enjoined by the board to "not be afraid of threshing and to lay it on them youngsters good and hard." The school was opened in December and after that we always had three months in the winter taught by a strong able bodied man sometimes three months in the summer. Louisa Prentiss, now Mrs. William Simpson of Kansas City taught a summer school, and the winter of '60-61 was taught by Hon. L. J. Worden. This was after the drouth of '60 and corn was a dollar a bushel, so he thought he would rough his team through without working them and teach school. He owned and lived on the Wiggins farm on the California road. Mr. Taylor of the Ebin Baldwin farm was on the board at the time and insisted that he should put in full time, twenty-four days to the month, so he was obliged to teach from Monday morning till Saturday night. Many still remember his famous spelling schools, when his school spelled the Lawrence folks down, Jennie Adams was his best speller. When the school had out grown the log house the late stone one was built in '65. Little did the patrons of the first school organized in the state think that with in ten years their children would have the advantage of a State University and that within sight of the old log school house would be reared such imposing structures as adorn Mr. Oread today and which are the pride of every Kansan."
General Notes: Wife - Nancy E. Davidson
Name:
Census Date:
Residence County:
Residence State:
Locality:
Birth Location:
Family Number:
Gender:
Estimated birth year:
Race:
Line:
Roll:
Household Member(s):
Name
Ida M Starr
G M Starr
Loran Starr
Cloyce F Starr
N E Wade
Mary Burnett
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Lecompton area papers:
14 Feb. 1902
Mrs. Harris was called to Lawrence Wednesday on account of an accident to her sister, Mrs. Wade.
March 7, 1902
Mrs. Harris returned Tuesday from Lawrence where she has been for a few days taking care of her sister, Mrs. Wade who was injured a short time ago by falling down stairs. She is now in a fair way to recover.
The Jeffersonian Gazette Lawrence, Kansas 29 Jul 1903, Wed
Frank Wade, the well known actor, is home being called by the serious illness of his mother, Mrs. Nancy A. Wade. Frank left his company doing summer "stunts" in Iowa.
LAWRENCE DAILY JOURNAL
17 September 1906
PIONEER GONE
Death of Mrs. Nancy Wade who came to this Territory before Lawerence was Surveyed
PROMINENT IN HISTORY
The Wades came to Kansas in 1854 and settled here
CLAIM NOW LAWRENCE
Mrs. Nancy Wade, wife of the late A.B. Wade, died at twelve o'clock last night at the family home on the Haskell Road.
Mrs. Wade came to this county in the June of '54 just after the Kansas, Nebraska bill and five months before the little settlement received the name of Lawrence, in the company of her hidebound and ten other people, all of whom are now dead.
Both Mr. & Mrs. Wade, who came here from Missouri, were strong members of the pro-slavery party. Mr. Wade was a member of the first pro-slavery legislature which met in Lecompton and the family was closely identified with the early political history of the state.
Mr. & Mrs. Wade settled on a claim before the first survey was made on the land which is now occupied by the brick plant and a part of west Lawrence. When the town was laid out, Mr. Wade, who was a member of the company, gave up his land and took a claim farther out of town on which the family made their home for many years.
Mrs. Wade, whose husband died about twelve years ago, is survived by sons, Frank A. Wade, the well known theatrical man and H.E. Wade of Kansas City.
NOTE:
Mrs. Nancy (Davidson) Wade was also survived by three daughters, Mary, Dora and Ida.
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Lawrence Weekly World (Lawrence, Kansas) • Thu, Sep 20, 1906
1st Woman Here
Mrs. Nancy Wade, Dead Today, Came Here in June, 1854.
Helped Survey Townsite in November, That Year -- Husband in Lecompton Legislature.
Mrs. Nancy Wade, aged 78 years, died at her home, corner of the Rock road and Banks street, last night at 12 o'clock. The funeral will be held from the home tomorrow after-noon at 2 o'clock. The services will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Lenig and interment will be in the Oak Hill cemetery.
Mrs. Wade was the first white wo-man to settle in Lawrence. She came here in June of 1854, and the survey of the townsite was made the following November. She was one of the I twelve members of the surveying (party of which her husband and cousin were the leaders.
Mr. Wade took a homestead west of town, where the brick plant is located, and after the town company absorbed his farm in lots. Mrs. Wade settled on another farm farther west. Mr. Wade was a pro-slavery man and a member of the first legislature at Lecompton in 1854. He was not a radical, nor was he identified with the Border ruffians, as were other men from Missouri, who settled here with him.
Mrs. Wade is survived by four children, Mrs. Mary Mitchell of Rockford,Ill.; Mrs. Ida Starr of Lawrence; H. E. Wade of Kansas City, Mo., and F. A. Wade, a traveling salesman. Her husband died about seven years ago.
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Lawrence Daily Journal, Lawrence, Kansas 19 Sep 1906
Services Over Pioneer Woman Largely Attended
The funeral of Mrs Nancy Wade, one of the oldest and best known citizens of the county, took place yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home on Haskell road. The services, which were conducted by Dr.Lenig, were attended by many pioneers of the country and town who, together with other friends, sent handsome floral offerings. Dr. Lenig in his fuueral address gave many bits of interesting early history In connection with the life of Mrs Wade and told of the good and interesting career of the deceased.
Interment was made in Oak Bill cemetery and the following men acted as pall bearers: Messrs B F Smith, EO Hansoome,Wm Brown, Scott Holloway, Watt aod Wm Miller.
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Some info is in World Family Tree Vol3, Ed 1, tree 0125 (the FTM date of death is slightly different and states she died in Missouri, date and location of marriage different than listed here...)
in 1854, she ran squatters off land with an axe
Notes: Marriage
Achelis Wade and Nancy Davidson married on 9 March 1848 by James Williams, MG at Jefferson Co., Mo.
Husband William Roy Shore
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Nancy Faye Davidson
Born: 1930 - New Jersey
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Lucian Davidson
Mother: Marguerite Esther Mazzarella
Children
Husband Elijiah Harbor
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Nancy J. Davidson
Born: 1844
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Luke Davidson
Mother: Ann Cooper
Children
1 F Bertana Harbor
Born: 1862 - Kentucky
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 M John A Harbor
Born: 1863 - Kentucky
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Nettie Ann Harbor
Born: 1865 - Kentucky
Christened:
Died:
Buried: