The museum is dedicated to preserving the past for the future. In pursuit of this goal, the museum pr
Thank you to Dana James for this 1920's replica kitchen display, based on her mothers own kitchen. The appliances are metal and have moving parts. Come to Cowley County Historical Society Museum to check it out! Open Tuesday-Sunday 1pm-4pm. 👀
👀We are BUSY at Cowley County Historical Society Museum getting the main room ready for the 150th anniversary this year! You'll have to come soon and check it out! 🤩
📚First go see the exhibition at Winfield Public Library • Winfield, KS then come see us! We have Sue Jean Covacevich art 🎨at Cowley County Historical Society Museum
"The name resonates across Winfield when the subject is art.
The name and her art will be on display in an exhibition and program beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, at the Winfield Public Library, a testament to her lifetime in the art world and the community.
From her arrival as an art teacher at Winfield High School in 1929 until she died in 1998, Covacevich created, explained, criticized and stood her ground on the subject of art in Winfield. She started an art collection still owned by the USD 465. She helped form the Arts and Humanities Committee. She taught at Southwestern College. She prepared and promoted exhibitions of art. She created the iconic mural that exists at RCB Bank, depicting Winfield history highlights. She tutored and inspired artists of all ages.
Covacevich studied with prominent Mexican-born muralist Diego Rivera, and Lindsborg College Professor Birger Sandzen, who gained fame painting Kansas rivers, Colorado mountains and desert scenes.
In 2020 Sue Jean’s daughter, Teresa Grana, made a gift of twenty-one Covacevich paintings to the school art collection, now managed by the USD 465 Foundation. The range of subject matter reflects years of international living and travel during which she produced a large number of paintings. She visited India, Russia, Israel, Jordan, Rome, and lived for a decade in Mexico, reflecting the environments in her art..
A selection of those works will be on display at the library. The gift will be explained and the art life of Covacevich will be remembered. A reception will follow the program, and the works will be on display for observation and conversation.
The program is prepared by members of the USD 465 Foundation and USD 465 Art Collection Committee, in cooperation with the library staff." 🪷
City of Winfield, KS
🗣 Giving a SHOUT OUT to Carl Martin for donating his 1992-1998 Walnut Valley Youth Choir scrap albums to CCHSM. We appreciate you supporting the Cowley County Historical Society Museum! 🤓
Kansas Day at Whittier Elementary was a fun success! Cindy presented "Early Winfield Transportation," Hal presented as an old-fashioned "Schoolmaster," Mary showed how to do old-timey laundry by hand, and Dominick, Ayla and Amy showed "Pack your Wagon for the Oregon Trail." Collaborations like this make us feel fortunate to be included in the community. 🥳
Tomorrow, we are celebrating Kansas Day at a local elementary school! One of the exhibits will be "Pack your Wagon for the Oregon Trail" and we're going to have a bunch of museum artifacts for the kiddos to interact with. They will learn how hard it was to pack a wagon for a family of 5 to travel 2,000 miles for a six month journey.
🧐Cora L. Johnson vs. the Badger Lumber Company: Cora contracted to sell a plot of land, but the guy went and had a house built on the lot before he paid her for the land. Then Badger Lumber and other claimed material and mechanic liens on the property and tried to foreclose so they could sell it all and get paid. The district court said she was out of luck, but the appellate court sided with her! Big win! 🤩
George Rhodes then sold the 3 lots on block 27 in 1893 to Cora L. Johnson. Cora A. Denning (1867-1951) married M(Mahlon)E. Johnson (1861-1932) in a double wedding in 1888. She was the daughter of Walter Denning, who was a real estate person and an auctioneer. Walter knew our previous owner A.J. Thompson. Walter went into business with Cora's husband, but Cora was no slouch. In the 1885 directory she is listed as "compositor for the Telegram." She worked as a relator & lawyer, and even had a case reviewed by the Supreme Court.
Celebrate Cowley County History, the event many look forward to each year, is quickly approaching! Next Saturday, January 28, 9:00, Baden Square, Winfield interesting Cowley County history will once again be presented. See the attached flyer for the topics that will be explored that morning. Hope to see many of you there! Please share with your friends as well.
Celebrate Cowley County History, the event many look forward to each year, is quickly approaching! Next Saturday, January 28, 9:00, Baden Square, Winfield interesting Cowley County history will once again be presented. See the attached flyer for the topics that will be explored that morning. Hope to see many of you there! Please share with your friends as well.
🤔We established George Rhodes joined the Civil War in 1861 and fought for the Confederate Army. He was wounded in the battle at Manassas on July 21st, 1861. He was a clerk, and got wounded on his first mission, and then was put on "light duty." However, he went AWOL for 10 days. His "Company Muster Roll" shows he deserted June 8/1862. It also appears he then changed the spelling of his last name, from Rhoades to Rhodes. We start finding newspaper articles about George Rhodes in Winfield in 1890, some 28 years later. He bought the lot we are researching in 1892.
George Rhodes joined the Civil War in 1861 and fought for the Confederate Army. He was in Company L, West Augusta Guard, 5th Regiment, Virginia, under Captain J.H. Waters. He was reported as wounded-Private George A. Rhodes, in the Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861. 👇
🧐 "Manassas, Virginia was about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the Civil War it was on one of the main roads as well as one of the few railroad lines that linked the nation’s capitol with Virginia and the south. It was almost inevitable that it would see not just one, but two major battles during the Civil War.
On July 21, 1861, an army under Federal Brigadier General Irvin McDowell attacked across a small stream called Bull Run a Confederate army under Brigadier General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard. After fighting all day, Confederate reinforcements under Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston turned the tide and Union forces retreated back to Washington in complete disorganization. It was the first major battle of the war, and a disturbing sign that the war would not be short and painless. The North called it the Battle of Bull Run, after the small stream they crossed, and the South the Battle of Manassas, after the nearby town.
A little over a year later, on August 28-30, 1862, the two armies clashed again. They were much larger and more experienced and the battle was longer and much bloodier, but they followed a similar plan. Federal Major General John Pope spent two days attacking the detached troops of Confederate Major General Thomas J. Jackson (whose nickname of “Stonewall” had been won at the first battle). Then reinforcements under Major General James Longstreet under the overall command of General Robert E. Lee arrived on the field and swept the Union army away in a disorganized retreat to Washington.
Today much of the battlefield is preserved as Manassas National Battlefield Park. The Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour starts from the Visitor Center and visits twelve tour stops. Miles of hiking trails crisscross every part of the park. And scores of wayside markers and monuments tell the story of what happened here in the two battles."
Manassas National Battlefield Park
https://www.newspapers.com/image/72202153/?terms=%22George%20A.%20Rhodes%22
https://stonesentinels.com/manassas/
https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/virginia/5th-virginia-infantry-regiment/
Next on the list of owners was George A Rhodes. He had bought the lots from the Sheriff Deed sale in 1892. It was hard work finding info about him. First, I find a newspaper article telling he was "a substantial citizen" in Winfield, then find he died of an "accidental overdose of morphine in a hospital at Port Jarvis, N.Y." That newspaper article was dated 1/30/1896. With a deceased date range, found he is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery, in NY.
🧐Now, this is a great clue, because to be buried at this cemetery, you must meet their criteria. 💥"Prior to 1873, eligibility for burial in a national cemetery was restricted to U.S. soldiers who died as a result of injury or disease during the Civil War. In 1873, however, Congress approved legislation extending burial rights to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and Marines who served during the war. To accommodate the growing number of burials requested at Cypress Hills, more than 15 acres were purchased in 1884. In addition, in 1941, a small tract within the old Cypress Hills Cemetery, known as the Mount of Victory Plot, was donated by the State of New York. Today the cemetery consists of three parcels totaling a little over 18 acres: the Union grounds, a larger area on Jamaica Avenue, and the Mount of Victory. Although Cypress Hills was established to honor Civil War veterans, its grounds include the graves of soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, Spanish-American War, Korean and Vietnam wars. Cypress Hills National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997."
https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/ngl/result -content
We've established that Andy Thompson was one of the "original" settlers of Winfield. In this article dated 3/28/1889, a Mr. Stoner reminisces about Andy when "he lived in a sod house and wore stoga boots and overalls" (check out the photo of a Kansas sod house and those old-timey stoga boots). After Andy got in trouble NOT paying the bills and bootlegging, Geo.A Rhodes stepped in and purchased the "Thompson building" at 9th and Millington for a STEAL (see news article). Rhodes bought the $30k building for $15k. Geo A. Rhodes was an esteemed citizen. The Cowley CourierTraveler even did a whole article about what a great person he was in 1892.
🤩 Graves Drug Winfield has five, count 'em 5 sesquicentennial calendars! Better get one while they're hot! Perfect 150th anniversary gift for your special someone! 🫵
RAFFLE WINNERS ARE:
Giant Wreath: Brianna Avers
Musical Train: Maverick Sivils
Holiday Wagon Wheel: Veronica McClange & Cory Logan & Graham Donals
*Come on in and get your prize!* 1-4pm Tuesday-Sunday
Merry Christmas! Here are some old-timey Christmas cards for you to enjoy 🎄
📰In 1886 J. C. Fuller and A. J. Thompson hung out with W. P. Hackney. They were strong forces in the prosperity and upbuilding of Winfield. (As a side trip, here is the "Fuller House" and "Hackney house" as illustrated in an 1887's newspaper) (and some info about lightning rods, because you can see them drawn in the pictures and these old houses have original rods still in place)
City of Winfield, KS
Cowley CourierTraveler
Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce
"Arkansas City Traveler, September 15, 1886.
Our Winfield Neighbors Restirring Themselves.
The Winfield Visitor tells of an active effort being made by home capitalists to build up the city and infuse some life into business. The first move made in this direction was the purchase last week of the Mendenhall property, on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Millington Street, for $15,000. The gentlemen composing the syndicate who made the purchase are: W. P. Hackney, A. J. Thompson, John A. Eaton, H. D. Gans, J. B. Nipp, M. L. Robinson, J. L. Horning, James B. Mabry, W. L. Hands, P. H. Albright, M. L. Read, T. H. Soward, Curns & Manser, and J. L. M. Hill. They buy the lots, we are assured, with the intention of erecting a large stone building thereon. There is also talk of another syndicate being formed to make another purchase of real estate on West Ninth Avenue, where another stone block is to be erected. Some more loose talk is thrown in of Messrs. Ferguson, Hackney, Albright, Fuller, and Smith making arrangements to build on their lots on Ninth Avenue, and Mr. James Fahey agrees, if the last-named work is done, to carry up the post office building so as to make it correspond with the Farmers’ bank and the Short block. We are glad to learn that our Winfield neighbors are waking up to the necessity of the times, but they have aroused themselves so late in the season that we do not expect to see much stone and mortar laid before bad weather sets in. It is well to make a stir, however, and encourage the townspeople with great things to be accomplished, though the consummation is never arrived at. It will never do to give up best."
Control F for "Thompson" here: http://www.cchsm.com/resources/misc/wortman_cc/fuller_jc.html
https://www.kfb.org/Article/Lightning-rods-tools-to-tame-the-heavens
Control F for "Jochems" here for the lightning rod salesperson in the ad: http://www.cchsm.com/resources/newspapers/1870/win05161878.html
CCHSM will be closed the rest of this week, due to pending inclement weather and the Christmas holiday. 🎄 We'll be open for tours again, Tuesday the 27th at 1pm- 4pm. 👣
🤓 Honestly, we could go on and on about A.J. (Andy Jackson) Thompson (1844-1893), who BTW is buried at Union Cemetery.
"Although Union/Graham Cemetery now refers to the Cemetery located at 433 N. Michigan in Winfield Kansas, the cemetery actually started out as two separate cemeteries. Over the years the names were combined, but burial records are still kept separate for the two cemeteries. Limestone block markers have been installed over the last several years to help identify and differentiate the two old cemeteries.
• Graham Cemetery established May 20th, 1872 under the supervision of the Winfield Cemetery Association.
• Union Cemetery established February 28, 1898 under the supervision of the Cowley Union Cemetery Association.
• Owned and operated by the City of Winfield since 1918.
• G.W. Graham was appointed the first City of Winfield Cemetery Sexton in 1918."
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/93956/union-graham-cemetery
City of Winfield, KS
Although Union/Graham Cemetery now refers to the Cemetery located at 433 N. Michigan in Winfield Kansas, the cemetery actually started out as two separate cemeteries. Over the years the names were...
Have you ever heard of the " Rossetti Circle?" Well, snooping thru all the really old stuff at the CCHSM, we found some great artifacts if you're interested in this topic. 👇
"The women of Winfield have at various times felt the need of forming clubs, and as a result, social and literary organizations have been formed. The literary clubs have done the most good for the women; so the following are a list of them.
The Rossetti Circle
The Rossetti Circle, one of the most prominent literary clubs in Winfield, was also one of the first to be organized. In 1894, a group of progressive women, feeling the need of a closer relationship with literature and various kinds of arts in their homes formed an organization for this purpose.
The club was named for the celebrated English artist family, the Rossetti's. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, himself a great artist and writer, inspired the club by his correspondence until his death." 🤯
http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cowley/Oldnews/FLYERS/WIN24.HTM
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/dante-gabriel-rossetti
Kansas State History City of Winfield, KS
💥WHOA! These new 2023 Sesquicentennial Anniversary calendars from CCHSM are selling like hotcakes! 💥Graves Drug Winfield and Cowley CourierTraveler both have some in stock, as well as the CCHSM at 1011 Mansfield St in Winfield and on our web site: www.cchsm.com/books/index.html
This can fulfill ALL your gift giving needs! (slight exaggeration 🥸)
(If we sell out in December, we can take your name and get you one ordered the first week of January, once the printer is back from holiday.)
Do you ever just love your job? Like when your neighbor gives you the house plans for their home built in 1915 and you have to tape it all together? Like some sort of . Jesse N. Shackelton, (not M. like the plans say) lived in her house at 1401 E 9th, while having my house on 1321 E 9th built. Another piece of Winfield history preserved and noted before disintegrating into dust. Now the house at 1401 E 9th will have a file at CCHSM.
But then, stuff starts going bad for A.J. Thompson. In 1888 he gets sued under the Murry law for “allowing a joint on his premises.” (Kansas prohibited alcohol in 1881). He starts getting sued by creditors. Then check this out, he put out an ad in the newspaper, trashing the judge John A. Eaton in 1892 who made him sell his land to pay the bills.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/384044637/?terms=%22A.%20J.%20Thompson%22%20%22defendant%22&match=1
5/
Everything is going great for A. J. Thompson, he platted 3 different additions to City of Winfield, KS and then the Grand View addition in February 1886. He was a big deal around town, lots of mentions of him in newspapers.com and on our website.
"WINFIELD COURIER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1876.
Max Shoeb was the first blacksmith; Frank A. Hunt, the first hardware dealer; W. Q. Mansfield, the first physician; J. P. Short, the first hotel keeper; A. J. Thompson, the first feed store keeper; Manning the first merchant and P. M.; T. H. Johnson was the first lawyer; B. H. Dunlap, the first livery stable keeper; Judge T. B. Ross preached the first sermon; Rev. A. Tousey, the first resident preacher; Miss A. Marks, of Silver Creek, taught the first school; J. C. Fuller, the first banker; M. L. Palmer, the first tinner and schoolmaster; the first birth was Fred Manning; W. M. Boyer, the first news dealer and book store. C. A. Bliss & Co. bought out the small stock of Baker & Manning in September of 1870, and were the first regular mercantile firm in town and brought in a large stock of goods."
"Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.
In our early day reminiscences we left out A. J. Thompson, who used to ply the saw and hatchet, the only tools required by a carpenter in those days. Our attention was called to the fact by seeing him taking out a load of fruit trees Saturday. He is getting into fruit raising extensively, and will make a specialty of small fruits. When the trees become grown, they will add greatly to the view out toward the mounds east of town."
He took his Winfield residence seriously, see this article:
"FALSE AND CORRECTED.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 28, 1886.
Inasmuch as there are a number of citizens in Walnut township, Cowley County, Kansas, living on land which has never been platted adjacent to the city of Winfield in said county, and said citizens have not petitioned to become citizens of said city of Winfield, and inasmuch as land not platted cannot be arbitrarily taken into the city limits, therefore be it resolved, that it is the place of the mayor and council of the city of Winfield that under the law only those citizens of Walnut township who are living on said lands who petitioned to become citizens of said city, whose names are as follows: A. J. Thompson, T. H. Soward, S. L. Gilbert, H. G. Fuller, D. Rodocker, and others, are citizens of the said city and those who did not petition the said city to become citizens thereof living on the said land are still as heretofore, residents of Walnut township. State of Kansas, Cowley County, ss."
Cowley CourierTraveler
http://www.cchsm.com/resources/newspapers/1870/win03151872.html
www.cchsm.com/resources/newspapers/1880/win01011886.html
http://ausbcomp.com/~bbott/wortman/ThompsonWinAJ.htm
4/
Got to thinking more about A. J. Thompson (1844-1893). You'll remember he received 160 acres from the United States in 1872. Here is how he did it:
“Winfield Messenger, March 15, 1872.
HOW TO GET A FARM.
Come to Cowley County, select 160 acres of land from the 300,000 acres yet unclaimed, camp on it, and go to work. Raise plenty of vegetables and corn the first year on the sod without culture or fence, protected by the herd law.
Fence a field with stone, rails, or boards to yard your stock in, and if you have but little stock, large enough to pasture them. If you have much stock, you can afford to join with your neighbors and herd them. Set out plenty of fruit, shade, and forest trees and you will soon have plenty of fruit and timber.
Put out your hedge rows and grow your fence in three years. Within three months of settlement file a declaratory statement at the United States Land Office, and within a year prove up and pay $200, and you are the owner of a valuable farm. In selecting your claim, do not fear being long without neighbors. Doubtless nearly every quarter section in the county will be occupied within a year.
Do not fear that the surrounding country will fall into the hands of speculators, for these lands are only sold to actual settlers, and to no one more than 160 acres, so you are sure of being immediately surrounded by neighbors. If you desire the choice of locations in the county, you can buy choice farms at low prices.” (http://www.cchsm.com/resources/newspapers/1870/win03151872.html)
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1011 Mansfield
Winfield, KS
67156
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The Cowley County Historical Society dates from 1931 with a major reorganization and move to our present location in 1967. The CCHS’s mission is to preserve and make available the colorful history of our county. We also support and encourage activities pertaining to local history throughout the county. Our bookstore makes available an assortment of items dealing with local history. The historical society also maintains a fine collection of historical records and vintage photographs
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