 |
Joel O. Mack
[ALSO: BEGINNING OF “COWLEY COUNTY POOR FARM.”]
[Note: For some reason or another the papers sometimes called Mr. Mack by different first names such as “Joseph,” “Jo,” “Joe,” etc. Have corrected my copy to show “Joel.”]
WINFIELD 1874:
Joel O. Mack, 33. [No spouse listed.]
Kansas 1875 Census, Winfield Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
Joel O. Mack 33 m w Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
George Bull 52 m w England Illinois
Mary Bull 20 f w Illinois Illinois
George W. Bull 18 m w Illinois Illinois
[Note: Mary Bull married Joel Mack in 1877.]
WINFIELD 1878:
Joel Mack, 35; spouse, Mary, 22.
FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
[THE SOLDIERS’ REUNION.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 23, 1873.
At half past 2 o’clock the soldiers, to the number of about 150, fell into line at the tap of the drum, and preceded by the Winfield Martial band, marched to the Methodist Church, which had been kindly tendered for their use. The meeting was called to order by T. A. Blanchard. L. J. Webb was chosen Chairman, and James Kelly, Secretary.
The chairman stated the object of the meeting to be to organize a permanent Soldiers’ Union.
On motion a committee consisting of A. A. Jackson, A. D. Keith, Capt. Wm. H. H. McArthur, Capt. Henry Barker, and Col. E. C. Manning were appointed on permanent organization.
During the absence of the committee, D. C. Scull entertained the meeting with a few appropriate remarks.
The committee on permanent organization reported as follows.
Mr. Chairman: Your committee on permanent organization, recommend the following as a permanent organization for Cowley County, of the Union Soldiers of the late war.
1st. The association of all soldiers into an organization to be known as the Cowley County Soldiers’ Association.
2nd. That said association elect a president, 3 vice presidents, secretary, and assistant secretary, and treasurer, and adopt a constitution.
3rd. That said association request its members to subscribe the constitution as an evidence of membership, giving the required company or battalion to which each belonged, and to attend the meetings of the association.
4th. That said association meet semi-annually for celebrations, and as much oftener as business requires. A. A. JACKSON, Chairman.
The above was unanimously adopted. The roll being called; the following “Boys in Blue,” answered to their names.
NEW YORK.
Joel Mack, Co. M, 12th N. Y. Cav.
Winfield Courier, December 31, 1874.
We have received a private letter from Mr. Joel Mack of this place, who is now on a visit to Osawatomie. Joel gives us some valuable hints which we will be glad to act on when the proper time comes. He says that he has examined the work on the Paola and Fall River railroad, and finds that the grading and masonry are of a good substantial character, which would warrant the belief that the project would be put through at no distant day. Mr. Mack will write a description of the road and other matters for the readers of the COURIER, when he gets home.
Excerpts: Joel Mack...
THE WINFIELD COURIER.
CENTENNIAL ISSUE.
WINFIELD COURIER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1876.
In the month of November, 1869, several families crept down along the valley and settled on claims in the vicinity of where Winfield now stands. These settlers each paid the Osage chief $5 for the privilege of remaining in peace. These early pioneers were W. G. Graham and family, who came the last of October, and whose wife was the first white woman that settled on Timber (then known as Dutch) Creek. During the next week P. Knowles, J. H. Land, J. C. Monforte, and C. M. Wood came with their families.
A. Howland, W. W. Andrews, Joel Mack, H. C. Loomis, A. Menor, and others took claims during the winter in this vicinity, and the families of those who were married soon followed. They all settled on the claims where they now reside. Mr. Howland built the first frame house in the county. It is his present residence.
Excerpts: Joel Mack...
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1876. Editorial Page.
THE CENTENNIAL REFORMERS OF WINFIELD.
The Cowley County Telegram dated August 4, issued on Monday morning, August 8, had the following article.
MORE CONTEMPTIBLE TRICKERY.
Within the past few days Cowley County has been the scene of more of that contemptible trickery and political intrigue and corrupt practices which has made the leaders of the Republican party, in the county, so odious in the sight of an honest people. And especially was Winfield the ground on which one of the dirtiest of these jobs was put up. Knowing that if the masses of the party were present at the primary convention, called for the purpose of electing 10 delegates to the county and district conventions, to be held on the 12th of the present month, the delegates selected by them, and who would, without question, vote for their men, no matter how odious they were, or what their records were, would stand no show for election. So they hit upon a plan whereby their friends would be sure to be present while the opposition would be busily at work on their farms and in their shops.
The day set by the county central committee was the 8th—the call so read—the Republican organ so stated in an editorial, and urged that upon that day every voter should turn out. Right in the face of this they quietly send out their strikers to tell the “faithful” that they must come in four days earlier, as the convention would be held then and their presence was needed. On the morning of the earlier day determined upon, a few posters were posted up in out-of-the-way places calling a primary for that afternoon. So far their little plan worked well, but when the Republicans who were opposed to this way of transacting business saw this, they went to work and gathered together a force sufficient to scoop them, which they would undoubtedly have done, had not one of the ring-leaders of the corrupt gang rushed through a resolution requiring that each man who voted should subscribe a pledge to support the nominees on the National, State, and county ticket. The “gag” a hundred or more Republicans refused to swallow, and they had it all their own way, electing their ticket by a majority equal to the number of their friends present. The whole proceedings were corrupt, illegal, and scandalous, and engineered by a set of political tricksters of whom the people of the whole county entertain feelings of the greatest disgust. It is only a continuation of the corrupt practices they have been foisting upon the people as Republicanism for years past—and such a job as will cause the honest voters of the county to repudiate their entire outfit at the polls next November.
The men who managed the affair are respectively candidates for State Senator, County Superintendent, Probate Judge, Representative, District Judge, and County Attorney. Let the voters spot them. . . .
On Tuesday, August 8, before 4 o’clock, Cliff Wood, A. H. Green, T. K. Johnston, John D. Pryor, N. M. Powers, Joel Mack, and 5 or 6 others who do not desire to have their names published, because they do not approve of the action taken, slipped over to the courthouse one at a time by different routes and pretended to hold a meeting. . . . A few minutes before 4 p.m., Mr. Manning went to the courthouse to have the bell rung and upon entering the courthouse found that C. M. Wood was occupying a chair at the table as chairman and John D. Pryor occupying another chair in the capacity of secretary. Mr. Manning took the floor and inquired if the meeting was organized, and to what style of proceedings it had arrived whereupon a “reformer” at once moved an adjournment, which was at once put and carried, and ten of the purifiers of Cowley County politics fled the room in such haste as to leave three or four others who had not fully comprehended the trick, sitting in wonder at the unseemly haste of those present, and expecting to have a chance to vote for delegates.
As soon as Mr. Manning entered the room a bystander rang the bell, whereupon nearly one hundred voters poured over to the courthouse. A meeting was organized by electing S. D. Klingman as chairman and B. F. Baldwin secretary. The action of the “reformers” was related to the meeting. A committee on resolutions was appointed, which soon reported the following, which was adopted by sections, with but one dissenting voice to the first resolution.
They passed more resolutions, which endorsed the previous action taken.
Manning and his group won again!
Winfield Courier, September 14, 1876.
The following are the delegates to the Republican county convention for Winfield Township.
Delegates: J. D. Pryor, W. P. Hackney, J. S. Hunt, C. M. Wood, H. Brotherton, G. W. Robertson, Joel Mack, E. C. Seward, Geo. Youle, W. D. Roberts.
Alternates: W. C. Robinson, R. H. Tucker, J. H. Curfman, B. B. Vandeventer, John Park, C. A. Seward, Geo. Bull, Frank Hutton, J. L. M. Hill, A. B. Lemmon.
Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876. Editorial Page.
PROCEEDINGS OF REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
Pursuant to call of the County Central Committee, the delegates to the county convention met in the courthouse, in Winfield, on Saturday, Sept. 16th, at 11 o’clock a.m., and organized by electing Capt. J. S. Hunt temporary chairman and C. H. Eagin temporary secretary.
On motion the convention adjourned to meet at 2 o’clock p.m.
2 p.m.; convention called to order; Capt. Hunt in the chair.
The committee on credentials being called submitted the following report: Your committee on credentials find that the following named gentlemen were duly elected as delegates to this convention, and all are entitled to seats therein.
Winfield: J. D. Pryor, W. P. Hackney, C. M. Wood, G. W. Robertson, Joel Mack, E. C. Seward, Geo. Youle, H. Brotherton, W. D. Roberts, J. S. Hunt.
Joel Mack married to Miss Bull...
Winfield Courier, July 19, 1877.
MARRIED. It was Joel Mack and Miss Bull who were married some weeks since and about whom there was so much guessing.
Joel O. Mack, age 33, married Mary Bull, age 22, on June 17, 1877.
[Marriage book a, page 280.]
Excerpts: Joel Mack...
Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.
The storm of last week, Wednesday morning, came from the W.N.W. across the north part of Sumner County down the Ninnescah River, where it did a considerable damage. The center of the storm passed over Vernon, Winfield, Tisdale, Dexter, and Otter Townships in Cowley County in a general direction of E.S.E., and left the county in the vicinity of Cedarvale. It could not have been more than about fifteen miles wide and the track of the heaviest rainfall was scarcely more than half of that width. From all the circumstances taken together we conclude, it was a cyclone or rotary storm, of about seven or eight miles in diameter; that the rotation was not extremely rapid, and that the progress of the storm was very slow.
LOSERS BY THE STORM.
On Black Crook: W. Dunn lost 60 acres of wheat; Joel Mack 20; others lost a considerable.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET.]
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
The following is a list of cases that will stand for trial at the May, A. D. 1879, term of the District Court of Cowley County, beginning on the first Monday in May, and have been placed on the Trial Docket in the following order.
CIVIL DOCKET. FIFTH DAY.
G. W. Bull vs. Joel E. Mack.
[Bull had E. S. Torrance as his lawyer; Mack had Hackney & McDonald.]
[WALNUT TOWNSHIP, COWLEY COUNTY.]
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1879.
J. H. CURFMAN, Chairman. T. A. BLANCHARD, Sec.
Walnut Twp., Cowley Co., July 12, 1879.
Pursuant to call, the citizens of Walnut twp. met at the courthouse in Winfield on the 12th day of July, 1879, and organized by the election of J. H. Curfman, chairman, and T. A. Blanchard, secretary. The object of the meeting being stated, the nomination of a township ticket to be voted upon at the coming township election on the 22nd day of July, inst.
Committee on nominations appointed as follows: Robert Weakly, John Mentch, and John Hoenscheidt, who, after due deliberation, made report, which was received and unanimously adopted as candidates at the approaching election: trustee, J. C. Roberts; treasurer, Joel Mack; clerk, T. A. Blanchard; Justice of the Peace, J. L. King and S. E. Burger; Constable, T. J. Johnson and Abe. Land. Messrs. Mentch and Hoenscheidt were appointed a committee to procure ballots.
[REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
The Cowley County Republican convention met on Saturday, Sept. 6th, at 11 o’clock a.m., at Manning’s Hall, in Winfield.
Committee on credentials reported the following named delegates entitled to vote in this convention; which report was adopted.
Walnut: J. C. Roberts, John Mentch, S. E. Burger, W. W. Limbocker, Jesse L. King, Joel Mack.
[THE FAIR.]
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1879.
Last Saturday ended the most successful fair ever held in Cowley County. The display, especially of blooded stock, was large, and shows that our people are awake to the advantage of well-bred over common scrub stock. We hope this may result in rooting out the old scrubby breeds that are so numerous at present.
HORSES. Mr. Joel Mack exhibited a two-year-old colt, which had many fine points.
[WALNUT TOWNSHIP ELECTION.]
Winfield Courier, February 5, 1880.
The fight in this township was very lively, over 170 votes being polled. Both the Republicans and Democrats had tickets in the field. The following was the vote.
For Trustee, J. C. Roberts, 113; D. W. Ferguson, 63.
For Clerk, T. A. Blanchard, 116; C. A. Roberts, 62.
For Treasurer, Joel Mack, 158; A. J. Thompson, 62.
For Justice of the Peace, John Hoenscheidt, 158; S. E. Burger, 112; G. W. Prater, 65.
For Constable, Frank Weakley and H. L. Thomas were elected.
[FARMER’S STOCK PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.]
Winfield Courier, March 11, 1880.
Notice.
A meeting of the citizens of Walnut will be held in the schoolhouse near the brewery on the evening of the 17th inst., at early candle-light, for the purpose of organizing a farmer’s stock protective association. Everybody interested in the matter are requested to be present.
A. S. BLANCHARD, B. E. MURPHY, W. W. LIMBOCKER, WM. BARKER, J. L. KING,
W. COWEN, S. CURE, A. B. GRAHAM, JOEL MACK. March 8, 1880.
[TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.]
Winfield Courier, February 17, 1881.
Below we give a list of township officers elected at the February election. In some of the townships the Justices hold over.
WALNUT: Trustee, J. C. Roberts; treasurer, Joel Mack; clerk, T. A. Blanchard; Justice, J. L. King.
Winfield Courier, May 5, 1881.
Mr. John Roberts and Joel Mack keep order and help run the court. They have been appointed bailiffs for this term.
[THE NEW IRON BRIDGE.]
Winfield Courier, July 14, 1881.
J. C. Roberts, Trustee of Walnut Township, called on us last Thursday, and invited us to go along and see the new bridge, while they examined the structure for final acceptance. We soon found ourself at the bridge, where were the treasurer and clerk of the township, Messrs. Blanchard and Joel Mack; Col. Bullene, of Leavenworth, the contractor, and his brother, J. G. Bullene; S. E. Burger, and a few others. We did not go as an expert, so our opinion was not given and did not count, but we were much pleased with the bridge. It appeared to us to be thoroughly well constructed, and a complete bridge in every particular. It is a beautiful bridge, of a hundred feet span, on abutments far above high-water mark.
We came back, and all took some lemonade, at Col. Bullene’s expense. Then the parties sat down in the COURIER office and settled up, and the board paid for the bridge. A great deal of work has been done by Robert Weakley, S. E. Burger, George Brown, and others, to get up an interest, get the necessary legislation, and the necessary subscriptions. The Township Board have spent their time, and used the greatest care to make the bridge perfect in every respect, and have attended to their work faithfully. The people most interested give them full credit and grateful thanks.
This bridge is of much importance to Winfield in many respects, and the efforts of those whose exertions have secured the bridge will be appreciated.
Winfield Courier, September 29, 1881. Joel Mack finished threshing his 75 acres of wheat yesterday and put up 1280 bushels machine measure. It is fully up to No. 2 grade. Twelve acres averaged about 25½ bushels to the acre.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 27, 1881 - Front Page.
OLD SOLDIERS OF WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
JOEL MACK, PRIVATE, CO. M, 12TH N. Y. CAV.
Cowley County Courant, February 2, 1882.
The Walnut Township Republican convention met according to published notice at Frank Manny’s stone building. Ezra Meech was appointed chairman and F. S. Jennings, secretary. The following nominations were made: For Trustee: J. C. Roberts. For Clerk: T. A. Blanchard. Treasurer: Joel Mack. Justice of the Peace: S. E. Burger. Constables: Henry Perry, colored, and Jethro Cochran. Road Overseers: District No. 1, George Brown; District No. 2, Perry Hill.
Winfield Courier, February 2, 1882.
The Republicans of Walnut Township met last Saturday and nominated J. C. Roberts for trustee, T. Blanchard for clerk, Joel Mack for treasurer, and S. E. Burger for Justice. The first three are the officers who have been managing the affairs of the township for several years, and their re-nomination is an assurance that their official acts have been satisfactory to the Republicans of the township—an endorsement that was fully deserved. Jethro Cochran received again the nomination for constable. Henry Perry, a colored man, was nominated for constable against Mr. John Ferguson, and the boys say they are bound to elect him. From what we can learn, he is fully qualified to fill the office. We hope to see the ticket go through with a rousing majority, as it certainly will. Is “Olive Oil” satisfied with this convention?
Winfield Courier, February 9, 1882.
TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS.
Up to the time of going to press, we have heard from the following townships: In Pleasant Valley, J. S. Hill, Greenbacker, received 44 votes and was elected trustee over Z. B. Meyers, Republican. With this exception the straight Republican ticket was elected. In Walnut Township the straight Republicans carried the day by a large majority and J. C. Roberts is trustee for another year. Tom Blanchard and Joel Mack got all the votes cast. In Fairview the straight Republican ticket was elected, which makes Wm. White, trustee; J. H. Curfman, treasurer; and R. B. Corson, clerk. There was a tie between A. J. McCollum and B. Hanlan, for Justice, each receiving 18 votes. W. F. M. Lacey and N. E. Darling were elected constables.
Liberty goes Republican, so also Richland.
[WALNUT TOWNSHIP CORRESPONDENT: “ERASTUS.”]
Winfield Courier, April 6, 1882.
E. P. Hickok has a field of wheat 80 rods wide and one mile long that is just magnificent. Joel Mack also has a fine piece of wheat.
Cowley County Courant, May 11, 1882.
The Republicans of Walnut township held a meeting at Frank Manny’s stone brewery building last Saturday at which the following delegates and alternates were elected to attend the County Convention to be held in this city May the 13th inst.
J. L. King, M. A. Graham, S. E. Burger, S. Cure, H. W. Stubblefield
Alternates: T. A. Blanchard, Joel Mack, John C. Roberts, Chas. Wilson, and C. E. Metzgar.
The delegates were instructed to also vote for delegates to the State Convention to be held in Topeka on the 24th day of June next.
Winfield Courier, May 11, 1882.
The Walnut Township primary was held Saturday and the following persons were elected delegates to the County convention: J. L. King, M. A. Graham, S. E. Burger, S. Cure, H. W. Stubblefield. The alternates were as follows: T. A. Blanchard, Joel Mack, C. E. Metzgar, Chas. Wilson, J. C. Roberts. A resolution was passed instructing these delegates to assist in the election of the delegates to the State Congressional Convention also.
[COUNTY CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We, your committee on credentials, report the following delegates and alternates from the various townships as entitled to seats in this convention.
Walnut Township, Delegates: S. Cure, J. L. King, H. W. Stubblefield, S. E. Burger, M. A. Graham. Alternates: C. Wilson, T. A. Blanchard, Geo. Youle, Joel Mack, C. Metzgar.
Winfield Courier, July 6, 1882.
Joel Mack comes to the front this week as one of the boss wheat raisers of Cowley. He brought in three large sheaves of wheat from his farm two and a half miles southeast of this city, last Thursday, that are simply immense. Two sheaves of it are the “Boss” variety, and the other is Fultz. The straw is five feet high, and the grains are large, plump, and beautiful. Many farmers while in the COURIER office have examined it closely, together with other samples on exhibition, and are of the opinion that it cannot be excelled for quality, yield, or rankness of straw. The samples will be sent to the State Fair. The “Boss” wheat is a variety that Joel Mack has propagated himself, and he has the only seed in the county. It yields 48 bushels to the acre.
Winfield Courier, July 6, 1882.
COWLEY’S CROPS.
Now is the Winter of our Discontent made Glorious Summer by the Grandest Crop of Wheat ever Raised in any Country Under the Sun.
Mr. F. J. Moore, who has been farming Joel Mack’s place, threshed last week. He had thirteen acres of old ground wheat which yield 48 bushels per acre. He had twelve acres of sod wheat on hand which one year ago was in prairie, from which he got 25 bushels per acre. He sold the wheat for 86 cents per bushel, and from the twenty-five acres realized $744.76. The total expense of seed, cultivation, and marketing the crop was about $240.00, leaving a net profit of $500 off of 25 acres.
[REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882. Following elected a County Central Committee.
Beaver: Moses S. Teter; Bolton: John D. Guthrie; Cedar: N. W. Dressie; Creswell: J. B. Nipp; Dexter: J. V. Hines; Fairview: Wm. White; Harvey: E. W. Woolsey; Liberty: John A. Cochran; Maple: D. S. Haynes; Ninnescah: P. W. Smith; Omnia: J. L. Parsons; Otter: John Stockdale; Pleasant Valley: Z. B. Meyer; Richland: N. J. Larkin; Rock Creek: S. P. Strong; Sheridan: J. M. Jarvis; Silver Creek: Ed Pate; Silver Dale: L. J. Darnell; Spring Creek: J. H. Gilliland; Tisdale: S. W. Chase; Vernon: Oscar Wooley; Walnut: Joel O. Mack; Windsor: Evan James; Winfield, 1st ward: D. A. Millington; Winfield, 2nd ward: T. H. Soward.
Winfield Courier, November 2, 1882.
Joel Mack has built an elevator on his farm and will hereafter handle his wheat by horse power.
[WALNUT TOWNSHIP CORRESPONDENT: “SPECTATOR.”]
Winfield Courier, December 7, 1882.
Walnut Pencilings.
Joel Mack has added to the capacity and convenience of his granary by building an addition and putting in an elevator. Mr. Mack let his threshing at so much per bushel, the machine man furnishing all the hands, and as a result got his straw stacked in fine order and no worry over lack of hands.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
Walnut Township Primary.
The Republicans of Walnut Township met at Olive schoolhouse January 19th at 2 p.m. They organized by electing John Mentch chairman and S. E. Burger Secretary. Frank Manny, G. Brown, and J. A. Mentch were elected judges. The following persons were nominated.
For Trustee: T. A. Blanchard.
For Treasurer: Joel Mack.
For Clerk: Frank Manny.
For Justice of the Peace: J. L. King.
For Constables: J. C. Monforte, Jr.; J. A. Mentch.
For Road overseer, District 1: F. Arnold.
For Road overseer, District 2: _ ____.
For Road overseer, District 3: J. C. Roberts.
The following resolutions were adopted.
Resolved, That we request our Senator and Representative in the Legislature to use their best endeavors to reduce passenger rates on railroads to three cents per mile and freight rates be fixed at so much per ton per mile.
Resolved, That we are opposed to the commissioner system unless backed by a specific law, the mere collection of facts to report to the next Legislature having the people at the mercy of the roads for two years more.
Resolved, That the Secretary of this meeting furnish a copy of these resolutions to our Senator and Representative at Topeka and to each of the Winfield papers for publication.
JOHN MENTCH, Chairman.
S. E. BURGER, Secretary.
[TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS.]
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Township Elections.
The following township officers were declared elected by the Board of Commissioners at their canvass of the vote on Tuesday.
WALNUT: T. A. Blanchard, trustee; D. C. Beach, clerk; Joel Mack, treasurer; J. L. King, J. P.; J. Mentch and J. C. Monforte, constables.
[WALNUT TOWNSHIP CORRESPONDENT: “SPECTATOR.”]
Winfield Courier, March 29, 1883.
Mr. John Mentch sold his wheat for one dollar per bushel, and Joel Mack sold 2,800 bushels for one dollar and five cents per bushel.
Winfield Courier, July 12, 1883.
Joel Mack lost a fine set of harness and saddle last Sunday night. The thieves were very bold and did their stealing about nine o’clock in the evening.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.
The Republican convention of Cowley County met according to call at the Opera House in Winfield on Saturday, April 19, 1884, at 11 o’clock a.m.
DELEGATES.
Walnut: E. M. Reynolds, S. Cure, J. O. Mack, D. C. Beach, Jno. Mentch.
[COUNTY POOR FARM.]
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1884.
The County Commissioners held a special meeting last Friday at which they purchased for a county poor farm the Joel Mack place, two miles southeast of the city; consideration $7,500. The Board gets possession for building purposes immediately, and entire possession the first of September.
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1884.
Joel Mack brought us in a bunch of rye Monday, grown on the county poor farm, just six feet and four inches high, and still growing.
[COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1884.
Commissioners’ Proceedings, July, 1884 session.
[Listing names only.]
REGULAR JURY. T. J. Anderson, J. W. Aley, J. W. Browning, H. J. Donnelly, Jonas Seedy, R. R. Longshore, Wm. Mercer, Samuel C. Kelly, George Russell.
SPECIAL VENIRE. Joseph Abrams, C. G. Bradberry, George Easterly, J. M. Jarvis, Warren Wood, R. N. Huff, D. S. Beadle, E. B. Gault, J. F. Carter, Z. B. Myer, J. M. Midcalf, A. DeTurk, T. F. Axtell, Adin Post, J. S. Pickering, I. H. Bonsall.
TALESMEN. David Doty, H. Zimmerman, James Tweedle, Samuel Welch, Alex McCartney, Charles Cunningham, Lafayette Wells, Ransom Crinin, J. W. Jackson, M. S. Teter, Noble Caldwell, Samuel Bard, Samuel Smedley, M. M. Scott, B. F. Wood, E. F. Blair, Wm. Trezise, John Waters, Lewis Meyers, S. E. Burger, J. J. Plank, J. P. Short, A. H. Doane, H. C. Loomis, D. Rodocker, J. O. Mack, D. W. Frew, H. W. Stubblefield, Sampson Johnson, Daniel Hunt, W. J. Hodges, W. P. Hostetter, F. M. Freeland, Joseph Davis, S. H. Jennings, H. Baxter, R. B. Mitchell, H. B. Wakefield, T. A. Blanchard, S. Cure, J. C. Monforte, Jr., D. Robertson, John Ross, John Mentch, J. W. Arrowsmith.
[COUNTY POOR FARM.]
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
The Board of County Commissioners rented fifty acres on the poor farm to Joel Mack, for wheat, at $3.00 per acre.
FOR SALE.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 28, 1885.
Eighty acres of a Mixed crop of wheat, rye, and cheat; will make the best kind of hay for stock; also a second-hand string binder in good running order. Will sell cheap if sold soon, as I need to be free to attend to interests, elsewhere. Joel Mack.
OUR COUNTY POOR FARM.
One of Cowley County’s Praise Worthy Institutions.
“Blessed are the Poor.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 23, 1885.
The Board of County Commissioners drove out Monday afternoon to view the poor house. Through their courtesy our reporter was taken along. No doubt most of the citizens of this county are aware that we have one of the best locations and buildings for the purpose of caring for the destitute, if not the best, of any county in Kansas. Somewhat over one year ago the County Commissioners purchased the Joel Mack farm two miles southeast of this city, containing one hundred and fifty acres, at fifty dollars per acre. This is a number one piece of land. There is plenty of good water and some timber. This spring the contract was let for a building suitable for the poor. This building occupies a shady grove about the center of the farm, east and west. It stands upon a site from which the surrounding country can plainly be seen and the city of Winfield. The building is 30 x 50; facing north and south, built of stone, the front pitch faced rouge work, the rest of the building rubble work. It is three stories high including a basement. The basement consists of a dining room and kitchen, side by side. North of this is a large room unfinished, which will be used for a cellar and store room. Two short flights of stairs lead out of the dining room and kitchen to the second story. Here a hall runs the full length of the building. At the north end of the hall is the sitting room, a pleasant and commodious room. Opposite this is a room for the sick, or it may be used for a second sitting room. Along each side of the hall are bedrooms of ample size. On the second floor are eight rooms. An easy flight of stairs ascends to the third story. This is not finished yet on account of a lack of funds. When the third story is finished, the house will contain twenty rooms. It struck us at once upon viewing this pleasant place that old age could here while away the most pleasant hours of their existence, away from the bustle of a noisy life. The infirm, the crippled, and the forsaken, the young, the old, and the middle aged can find a home here if they deserve it, and the pleasant surroundings will dispel the cutting thoughts of what might have been. Cowley County has been badly in need of an institution of this kind for some time. The building costs about $3,100, the land $7,500. This more than exhausts the fund of $10,000 appropriated for this purpose. We don’t believe the county could duplicate it today for $12,000. This farm should be more than self-sustaining, and under the able supervision of our “County Dads,” will be so. Our Commissioners have shown excellent judgment in selecting this site and in the management all the way through. The work is all first class. J. B. Stannard is the architect and superintendent, and has shown his ability in this line. Conner & Sons did the stone work in their usual workmanship like manner. Armstrong & Reeves were the carpenters, and did it well. Harvey and Frazier were the plasterers and made a very fine job. Shaw and Barnes executed the painting in a first-class manner. Take it all in all, it is a public institution we can well be proud of.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 20, 1885.
A party of itinerants have been traveling over Cowley County selling a sulky harrow and seeder, of which D. M. Ferry, the great Detroit seeder, is claimed patentee and proprietor. The machine may be all right. That the sellers are tricky, we know. Joel Mack, of south Walnut township, bought one of these seeders. He wasn’t to pay for it until October first, and gave an order on John D. Pryor, his agent, payable then, telling the seller to get Pryor’s endorsement. The order was presented to Mr. Pryor, with no explanation, and not noticing the future payment clause, Mr. Pryor drew a check for $60, and the fellow walked off. The trick was noticed afterward, and Mr. Mack made the harrow dispenser admit the October contract, “but I’ve got my money and you don’t get it back,” said he. No man doing an honest business would play such a game, and people will do well to treat these fellows accordingly.
Joel Mack: cattleman...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 18, 1886.
Joel Mack is back from his cattle in the Territory. He reports cold, muddy times in Uncle Sam’s domain.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 25, 1886.
Joel Mack sends us a card stating that Lon Stalter, whom THE COURIER reported some time ago as one of the frozen victims of the western counties, is alive and well in the Territory and was not in the western counties during the winter. Lon is a brother to George Stalter of Rock, and we are glad to learn, even at this late date, that he still kicketh.
RKW did some research on Joel Mack and came up with the following item.
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1897.
[Dispatch. Independence, Kansas, February 11, 1897.]
“Last night a wagon and team were found in a secluded place in the woods, not far from the road at the crossing of the Verdigris river, about three miles east of Nowata, Indian Territory, fifty miles south of here. Today it was identified as that of Joel Mack, a wealthy stock raiser, who owns a large tract of land near Bartlesville, but whose family lived in this (Independence) city. His coat and hat were found near the wagon. Indications were that a struggle had taken place. Excitement ran high and upon further search it was found where his clothes had been burned, and later his head, detached from his body, was discovered in some underbrush on the river’s bank. His body cannot be found and it is probable that he was murdered and his body thrown into the river. Mack was in this city a little over two weeks ago and started in a wagon for Vinita, where he was a prominent witness in a case in the United States court there. It was thought by some that he was murdered to prevent his appearing on the stand. He had considerable money when he left here and some thought that might have been the incentive. A dispatch to his wife here states that the horses had stood several days and were almost dead when found.”
Mr. Mack was a pioneer resident of Winfield and preempted the claim upon which is now located the county poor farm. He has relatives in this county yet.
NEW DATA.
January 13, 2003.
A friend of mine gave me another story relative to the death of Joel Mack. It was taken by a paper given by Sylvia McClintock, Dewey, Oklahoma, in 1947 of the memories of Jennie Carr Johnson, mother of Lelia Johnson Walker, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and the grandmother of Bill Johnson, rural Dewey, Oklahoma.
The paper starts out with Jennie Carr Johnson stating that she was 77 years of age in 1947, having been born December 31, 1869, to Nelson Carr and Sarah Roger Carr. Her parents were the first white settlers in the community of Dewey.
Murder in the Territory of Joel Mack.
[Story by Jennie Carr Johnson.]
“In 1889 I married John Johnson and we lived two miles north of Dewey. It was while we were living there that one of the most talked of murders in these parts at that time took place.
“There was a family named Mack living in what is now known as Elm Grove in the extreme southeast part of Dewey. The mother and children were in Independence, where the children were in school and the father was staying here, farming. He had a family consisting of the man and wife and their 15 year old son staying with him and working for him.
“One day Jack Henderson, father of the late Andy Henderson, who lived just north and west of Dewey, noticed this hired man of Joel Mack’s taking some hogs north to Caney. He stopped him and got up on the wagon and asked him how much hogs were selling for, and that he had some he wanted to sell. The man told him he would let him know when he returned that evening. As the man did not return, Mr. Henderson sent his boy, Andy, to the Mack place to make further inquiries and the wife of the hired man said they hadn’t sent any hogs to Caney.
“Since the two stories were different, Mr. Henderson came over and talked to my husband about it, and together they decided to investigate the matter.
“They found that the hired people had killed Mr. Mack and cut off his head, that the 15 year old boy had committed the actual murder with an axe. They found his body this side of Nowata and the head in a different place near the Verdigris River. Jim Gibson, the U. S. Marshal, arrested them and the man and boy were sentenced, but committed suicide in jail.”
Jennie Carr Johnson also had the following to say about her father, Nelson Carr.
“After my father, Nelson Carr, passed away and we were going through his papers, we found a Certificate of Commission in the U. S. Secret Service, dated 1879, and none of the family ever knew that he held this commission during his lifetime.”
