The LHS Newsletter Archive

Volume Thirty, Issue Number 2

Originally Published in Lecompton, Kansas : Summer 2004 Digitally Archived August 2006

SfI£D ~fle£~VOL. 30, NO.2 LECOMPTONKANSAS.COM

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Thispicture of Constitution Hall Administrator Tim Rues in Kansas Territorial Days' garb was on thecover of Kansas Heritage magazine. It's reprinted with the Kansas State Historical So,dety'spermission.

Magazines Discover Lecompton' sHistoric Attractions

It may be the Kansas Territorial Sesquicentennial Celebration is starting to enterthe national consciousness. Or it may just be the promotional efforts of theLecompton Historical Society are reaping rewards.

This year many major magazines are featuring the historical importance andnatural beauty of Lecompton.

Gary Peterson writes in AAA's Home & Away about Bleeding Kansas and itsrole in an article entitled, 'Prelude to War.' He reports, "Lecompton is the place tostart. Billed as the Birthplace of the Civil War, the small town was the territorialcapital. Inside Constitution Hall it's possible to sense the political weight of thedecisions made here Lecompton's role is also told at the Territorial CapitalMuseum. .. It has the feel of a county history museum, but the heft of thecommunity's heritage elevates the experience."

Another travel writer from Scottsdale, Ariz., did Lecompton proud in herCountry Discoveries article. She recounts the history and then concludes, "I foundthe Territorial Capital Museum here just as fascinating (as Constitution Hall).Originally (designed to be) an elegant capitol building, it later became LaneUniversity, which closed in 1902 I was amazed to think how events in this now-sleepy town influenced U.S. history. Lecompton's definitely a place every historybuff should see."

Kansas Heritage magazine's front cover shows a fabulous picture ofConstitution Hall administrator Tim Rues clad in period costume kind of emulating

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SUMMER, 2004

SesquicentennialMedallion

The Lecompton HistoricalSociety is producing a bronzemedallion commemorating theTerritory of Kansas Sesqui-centennial. On one side willbe the territorial seal and onthe other, Constitution Hall.The limited edition medallionwill cost $5, plus $3 postageand handling. To reserve aKansas Territory Sesquicen-tennial medallion, please callTerritorial Capital Museum,887-6520, or send your $8 toBetty Leslie, treasurer, LHS,625 E. 7th St., Lecompton66050.

Democratic

HeadquartersDedication HighlightsTerritorial Days

Lecompton Reenactorsto Perform 'Prelude toCivil War'

The featured event of thisyear's Territorial Days will bethe dedication at 2 p.m., Satur-day, June 26thof the restoredDemocratic Headquarters, alate-l 850s limestone cabin.The cabin, which sits on a .bluff overlooking the KansasRiver, was purchased by theLecompton Historical Societyin 1998. Restoration was

completed earlier this year,allowing the ceremony tohighlight Lecompton's cele-bration of Kansas Territory'sSesquicentennial.

continued onpage 6

Wichita State University Libraries, Department of Special Collections

Map of an exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the 1842 and to Oregon & north California in the years1843-44, by John Charles Fremont, published in 1845.

A Fresh Look at the Lecompton Historical~_Soci~~~s Gie~~J;llanJ'fan CQUectiop~~_~ ~=~-

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Raymond Gieseman was born a few miles downriverfrom Lecompton in Williamstown, a small burg foreven this part of rural Kansas. He enjoyed adistinguished career as an educator, economist, statis-tician for the U.S. Labor Department in Washington,D.C., historian and collector of all manner of papersand artifacts regarding Kansas Territorial history. Helived in a large apartment on Washington, D.C.'sMassachusetts Avenue, which often is described asEmbassy Row. And indeed, Gieseman's apartmentwas filled with so much Kansas Territory andLecompton historical data and memorabilia that it wasknown as "the Lecompton Embassy."

On one of his many trips to Lecompton, he told ourpresident, Paul Bahnmaier, that he would sit in hishigh school classroom and look across the KansasRiver toward Lecompton. "He told me that even backwhen he was in school he was fascinated byLecompton's history," Paul recalls. "He was a greatfriend to our society."

When Mr. Gieseman died in 1988, he bequeathedmany books of historical importance and Congressionalpapers of the 1850sto the Lecompton HistoricalSociety. He also gave the Society 72 maps, manydating to and before the establishment of the Territoryof Kansas in 1854.

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While many of us have been delighted at theirstrange and changing county boundaries, the hand-colored borders and the early dates on them, from1802 onward, the Society has never detennined justwhat to do with the treasures that the maps are nor,significantly, how to make them more accessible tovisitors.

It's a process, an ongoing effort to learn about theimport and significance of Mr. Gieseman's gift.

So enter Barbara McCorkle, one of the growingnumber of educators and professionals returning toDouglas County after distinguished careers. We wereintroduced to her by Justice Fred Six, the distinguishedjurist who is fast becoming one of Douglas County'sleading historians. In a classic understatement, JusticeSix said, "She worked with maps at Yale University."

Indeed. Barbara McCorkle was the map curator atthe Yale University Library from 1979to 1993.Earlier, she had been married to KU's ProfessorOswald Backus. During her Kansas years she wasassociate librarian at the Spencer Research Library,from 1968 to 1874.

President Paul and our Museum Administrator,Vicki Leochner, joined in welcoming the fonner Yalelibrarian. Mrs. McCorkle, attired in a KU EndacottSociety of Retirees cardigan, was delighted to see

Kansas/Nebraska map on the wall. She said, "Oh my!That's such a lovely one. That's a beautiful job offraming, especially with its leather carrying case."The book-sized red leather jacket is mounted justbelow the 30-inch by 40-irichmap, and together withthe map, it makes a wonderful presentation.

It's one of about a half dozen that Mr. Gieseman hadframed before donating them. "He certainly knewhow to take care of his collection and how to frame

them beautifully," she says.We look at map after map, some by J.H. Colton of

New York, others by J. Disturnell or S.A. Mitchell. Itgives you a chill to see the original work of famousexplorers like Brevet Capt. John Fremont in 1842 and1843 on his way to New Mexico and Capt. ZebulonPike of Pike's Peak fame.

Then Paul pulls out a roll-down, window-shade-likewall map. It's big, maybe five-feet square-a four-color map ofthe United States published in 1855,justa year after the enactment of Kansas Territory byCongress. Barbara goes to her hands and knees andthe rest of us follow. "I love the vignettes on thesemaps. Look at the detail on those ships," she says.

They are remarkable. The miniature line drawingsof ships are about the size of a silver dollar and havebeen placed randomly on the seven seas. They depictships of the period, from side-mounted paddlewheelsteamers to the graceful Clipper ships, barkentinesland sailing yachts. The map and its features all arebordered by an intricate design unique to the map.This particular map, a Gaston & Johnson of NassauSt., New York City, especially enchants her. "I saw asimilar period map like this, it wasn't in as finecondition, on the Antiques' Roadshow and it wasestimated to be valued at $25,000."

"There are different theories about how to exhibit

and protect these wall maps," she says. "One, you canhang it up and it'll have some strain. Or you can leaveit rolled up or placed open in a map case. All havetheir problems. I think I'd do a really fine job ofhanging this one. It's in exceptional condition andshould stay that way."

Wichita State University Digitized Maps

These digitized Kansas maps come fromthe Wichita State University Libraries,Department of Special Collections. They are ofidentical period maps found in the LHSRaymond Gieseman Collection at the TerritorialCapital Museum at Lane University.

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The LHS maps, she adds, are a "treasure trove. Mr.Gieseman clearly was a serious collector who left theSociety maps worth mega bucks. Many ofthem areworth four and five figures."

She particularly likes the Gunn maps of the Kansasgold fields. Mike Kelly, Wichita State UniversityCurator of Special Collections, agrees with her thatthey are exceptional. "Those maps are highly prizedthese days," he says. "The Lecompton HistoricalSociety's collection is one you would not expectexcept in a major university or museum."

All of the maps are stored in mylar folders. Kellyand McCorkle say the LHS should consider scanningthe maps for digital display and encapsulating them insealed mylar. That of course is not in the LHS budget.

As more historical information is added to theLecompton Kansas.com Internet site and as morepeople interested in Kansas history come to the site,it's clear much of the Gieseman collection should bemade accessible that way. The next project will becompleting grant requests for the funds to update theLHS storage facilities and, perhaps, to better exhibitthem. But as the Yale librarian concludes, "You'vedone a goodjob protecting and preserving them.That's what is most important."

Wichita State University Libraries, Department of Special Collections

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Lecompton's Arbor Day CeremonyIt was some sight in the Community Building onApril 29, 2004. Nearly 30 Lecompton GradeSchool fourth-graders stood on stage next to a 10-feet-tall Autumn Splendor Maple tree and recited

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Above, Lecompton fourth graders in action.Below, Lecompton fourth graders admiring theiraccomplishment.

Joyce Kilmer's poem, Trees. They were joinedon stage by Mayor Roy Paslay, our PresidentPaul Bahnmaier and County Commissioner JereMcElhaney. Members of the LecomptonUnited Methodist Church Choir joined insinging the patriotic songs.

The ceremonial serviced was organized bythe Lecompton Historical Society (LHS) tocommemorate Kansas' TerritorialSesquicentennial. LHS President PaulBahnmaier read letters from politicians andintroduced Douglas County Commissioner JeriMcElhaney. The commissioner addressed hisremarks to the Lecompton Grade Schoolstudents, reminding them oftheir town'shistorical roots, and of how in years to comethey can watch this tree grow its roots. The treewill, he said, remind them of their history andits roots.

The children then helped carry the tree,which was provided by Gov. Kathleen Sebeliusand the Kansas Bankers Association, to where itwould be plantegjust to the..n°r:thof City !iall.Each student wielded a ceremonial shovel tohelp plant the tree.

The students singing, reciting and plantingwere Travis Bohannan, Austin Brouhard, ClaraFoster, Shannon Foster, Trevor Hastert,Michelle Higgins, Addison Jones,

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Arbor Day,continued

Austin Kelley, A.J. McKinsey,Keri Muntzert, Sam O'Trimble,Rebecca Pennay, EdwardPolovin, Lucas Rombach, EmilySchmidt, Wyatt Schumann,Dustin Shuck, Mary Stewart,Teddy Sumner, Adena Benton,Evan Breitenbach, Erik Brooks,Cameron Coleman, DerrickEddy, Karis Fritzsche, PaulFunk, Dalton Gulick, MikaylaJackson, Luke Kellum, MichaelKing, Garrett Koehler, VirginiaNichols, Wesley Powell, OliviaSchwyhart, Austin Sledd, JessicaWelliver, Brittany Zilliox. Theirteachers are Shelly Grospitchand Richard Brown and the Principal is Dr. Denis Yoder.

The hole for the maple was exactingly dug by Keith Noe, Jason Dexter and Tim Rues. BobChristman made the stand for the plaque commemorating the planting. The invocation and benedictionwere delivered by Lecompton United Methodist Church's Robert Morris.

Representing the sponsoring Kansas Bankers Association, from the left,Todd Sutherland, University National Bank, Lawrence; Jim Maag,President, Kansas Bankers Association; and Pat Slabaugh, DouglasCounty Bank.

Magazines Discover Lecompton, continuedfrom page 1

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the John Brown pose. The article describes thehistorical sites not only in Lecompton but also ofNortheastern Kansas. The description is graphic,"We are fortunate to have Constitution Hall, builtin 1856, standing today. A beautifully renovatedwhite frame building, it holds history as a landoffice and the seat of the territorial legislature thatspeaks volumes about the territory's turbulenttimes. Today, resting gracefully on green slopinglawns, Constitution Hall State Historic Site capturesthe story of the proslavery/free-state conflict; thebogus legislation, the writing of the infamousLecompton Constitution (we don't buy thatdescription), the attacks on nearby Lawrence, thefree-state prisoners, and the battle of Fort Titus.It's all here inside these historic walls."

Midwest Traveler's Patsy Bell Hobson writes,"On your trip to Lawrence or Topeka, stop inhistoric Lecompton and view the TerritorialCapitol-Lane Museum, as well as ConstitutionHall. The three floors of the history-packedmuseum include rare treasures found only in largermuseums and private collections."

And finally the prestigious Smithsonianmagazine checked in with a retelling of the

Bleeding Kansas story, and a travel writer,Matthew Polly, a Topeka native, for Microsoft'sSlate online magazine visited Lecompton. Hisconclusion isn't what we'd choose. "We (he'srecreating childhood travels with his parents)manage to miss Constitution Hall and end up atthe Territorial Capital Museum, instead, which,even for the Polly family, is quite a feat.Lecompton is the size of a postage stamp. I'vealways wondered what happens to towns that pickthe wrong side of a fight. Based on evidence ofLecompton, they end up with populations of lessthan 1,000, no interstate highways exits, and anobsession with the past."

Lecompton High's Alumni Banquet

The annual Lecompton High School AlumniBanquet will be held June 19 at the LecomptonHigh School gym. The cost is $15 andreservations may be mailed to P.O. Box 63 byJune 12. Social hour will start at 5 p.m. withdinner at 6 p.m. Alice Bates and Linda Poort, forthe fifth year, have provided excellent leadershipin organizing the event.

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Territorial Days Schedule, continuedfrompage1"It will be a grand event," says LHS President Paul Bahnmaier. "The Lecompton United Methodist ChurchChoir will sing and politicians will make speeches. A four-piece band will play songs of the 1850s. We'llhave refreshments. And it will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy another performance by the LecomptonReenactors.

The Pilot Club of Lawrence has donated the flag pole and the Daughters of the American Revolutionhave donated the flag.

Friday, June 25th6 to 9 p.m. Family night carnival9 to 11 p.m. Teen Dance6:30 p.m. Softball tournament

12:30 p.m.1:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

Bike races1850s Band Concert at

Democratic HeadquartersDemocratic HeadquartersDedicationLecompton Reenactors Present:Prelude to the Civil WarRecital on the Historic PianoUnited Methodist ChurchIce Cream SocialRegistration for Tractor Pull,Ages 4 to 12Tractor PullLawn & Garden AwardsEvening Concert

Saturday, June 26th7 to 10 a.m. Pancake Feed8 a.m. Horseshoe tournament

8:30 a.m. Turtle & Frog races9 a.m. Pioneer skills demonstrations9 a.m. Constitution Hall and

Territorial Capital Museum Open10 a.m. Parade Line Forms10:30 a.m. Parade Judging11 a.m. Parade11:30 a.m. United Methodist dinner

Territorial Days Committee: Mike Leming, president; Penny Bahret, vice president; Susan Clemons,secretary; Tabatha Mallonee, treasurer; Vickie Marino, concession booths; Brenda Hastert, carnival.

4 p.m.

6 p.m.

6:45 p.m.8 p.m.9 to 12 a.m.

Donations to Territorial Capital Museum

1. Glass candlestick holder; black desk phone,adding machine, antique lamp, three framedpictures, eight alumni banquet programs, HighSchool play book (Clover Time), by MarcellaAnderson.

2. Article on President Dwight D. Eisenhower, byJohn Solbach.

3. Eisenhower book, Ike 1890-1990; quotations byand about Dwight D. Eisenhower, Saturday EveningPost, April 8, 1967; picture, Robert E. Lee, 1807,byPaul Bahnmaier.

4. Nicole Etcheson's Bleeding Kansas, by LHS.5. Ten red tablecloths, by Mae Holderman.6. Program, the Stonemasons of Lecompton, byMarlene Hackathorn.

7. Ticket to Eisenhower rally, Oct. 25, 1956;Twophotographs of Leavenworth, one etched; photo of

Leavenworth Chapel, photo of the Col. and Mrs.Middleton home; Eagle and tassel from flag flownat White House, Jan. 21, 1957 at Ike's inauguration;Ft. Leavenworth bicentennial newspaper, by theestate of Col. Fred Middleton, USA-Ret.8. Eisenhower photograph, by Dorothy L. Silcott.9. Photo remains of "Old Catholic Church," byMarshall Brown.

1O. Original Horlick's jar with wooden ice creamspoons; "Our Mother" cocoa container; tin grater;glass bottle; wooden cradle; five old hats and ahatbox; double boiler; 50 children's ABC blocks;white silk scarf; Implement Directory, August 1895and August 1896; Delineator magazine, August1904, May 1902, December 1904, pair of trackshoes, baseball glove, by Marie Kreipe.11. Grind stone, by Jason Dexter.

Memorials1. Edison Amberola Cylinder Phonograph player and one cylinder, by the friends and family of Vernon

Spencer.2. For the Love ofIke campaign buttons, one Dick and one Ike campaign pin, by Donna Levings and Robert

Hildenbrand on the 90thbirthday of their mother, Helen Hildenbrand.

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OBITUARIES

Lewis, Alice Lee, 78, Tuscaloosa, Ala. died Feb. 18,2004. She was preceded in death by her mother,Hazel McClanahan; her father, Walter O.McClanahan: and brothers, Walter and HomerMcClanahan.

She was a Life member of the LecomptonHistorical Society.

Survivors include her husband E. L. Lewis, Jr.; ason, Ronnie C. Lewis (Mary); grandson, CraigLewis; granddaughters, Angeline Lewis and SusanRoberson (Aubrey), Mobile; two greatgrandchildren, Corey and Kayleigh Roberson;brother, Fritz McClanahan (Virginia), Topeka, ;sister Norma Jane Winburn (Chuck), Granada Hills,Calif. and sister-in-law, Evelyn Clary.

Burial in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park, Tuscalosa,Ala.

Morey, LeVona 'Jackie Grace, 64, Wichita, Ks.died Feb. 16,2004. She was born May 10, 1939, inAlbany, Mo., the daughter of Arthur and DarleneSteinman Paslay.

She was a member of the Lecompton HistoricalSociety.

She married Robert D. Morey, who survives ofWichita. Other survivors include her mother,Darlene Paslay, Lecompton; a son, Ricky Morey,Wichita; three daughters, Vickie Morey, Robin Leeand Candy Crow, all of Wichita; three brothers, Art

Steinman, Colo. and Ricky Paslay and David Paslayboth of Kansas; two sisters, Linda Eisenhut andSheila Robles, both of Kansas; 10 grandchildren,and two great grandchildren.

Martin, Phyllis Helene, 80, died Feb. 27, 2004 inTopeka. She was born July 18, 1923, in Lecomptonthe daughter of Julia Sehon Martin Springer. Shegraduated from Lecompton High School in 1941.

She was a member of Lowman United MethodistChurch in Topeka and was a life member of theLecompton Historical Society.

Survivors include two cousins, Elaine Taylor andfamily of Lawrence, and Barbara Ann Sanford ofLynden, Wash.

Burial in Maple Grove Cemetery in Lecompton.

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Norwood, Mae M. 88, died Mar. 30, 2004 inLawrence. She was born Aug. 2, 1915, inLecompton the daughter of Robert M. and Bessie D.(Jackson) Norwood. She graduated fromLecompton High School in 1933. She attended theLecompton United Methodist church and was a lifemember of the Lecompton Historical Society.

Survivors include two brothers, Wesley M.Norwood, Lawrence, and James T. Norwood,Cheney, Wash; and a sister, Helen E. Norwood,Lecompton.

Burial in Maple Grove Cemetery at Lecompton.

**************************************Please Clip and Mail With YourCheck**************************************THE LECOMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lecompton, Kansas 66050, is a non-profit corporation for thepreservation of historical sites. We are eager for continued membershipand new members.

Dues are $5.00 per year for individual membershipand ~;7.00for a couple's membership. The duesare from December to December. Life membership is $50 per individual,contributions are tax deductiblt:}.Checks should be made payable to the Lecompton HistoriGalSociety, and mailed to GeorgiaTrammel, Chairman, 11 N. 2064 Rd, Lecompton, KS 660bO

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NAME Address____---------------City State Zip__-----

PLEASE NOTIFY US OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESSIt costs the Lecompton HistoricalSociety .92 cents for a changeof addressand the newsletterreturned or .70 cent for a postcard to notify us of your changeof address, and your newsletter will

be thrown away. If you have moved and do not get your newsletterthis is why.

( ) $5.00AnnualIndividualMembership

( ) $7.00AnnualCouple'sMembership

( ) $50.00IndividualLifeor MemorialMembership

( ) OtherContribution $

Gibbens, Warene, 83, Tonganoxie died April 7, 2004.She was born Oct. 4, 1920, in Martin, S. D., thedaughter of George Warren and Elsie Mae SkalinderSpaulding.

She was a member ofSt. Margaret's EpiscopalChurch in Lawrence and a was a member of theLecompton Historical Society.

Survivors include two sons, Michael D. and DenzelW. Gibbens, both of Tonganoxie; seven grandchildren;and two great-grandchildren.

Burial in Maple Grove Cemetery at Lecompton.

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Kappelman, Glenn L., 81, Lawrence, died April I,2004. He was born Nov. 29, 1922, in Ottawa, the sonof Otto L. and Erma Fern (Bouse) Kappelman.

He was a veteran of the U. S. army, 106thCavalryDivision and served in Europe during WorId War IIfrom 1943-to 1946.He was a member of the First United Methodist

Church in Lawrence and a life member of theLecompton Historical Society.

He married Elizabeth 'Betty' J. Lloyd on Jan. 4, 1953in Spring Hill. She survives ofthe home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Melanie K.Kappelman, Missions Hills; a son, MatthewKappelman, Lawrence; a sister, LaVerne Harris,Celebration, Fla; and a granddaughter. A son, Mirk,died earlier. Burial Memorial Park Cemetery inLawrence.

Spencer,¥reda B., 88, died April 25, 2004. inLawrence. She was born Dec. I, 1915, in Stull, the

daughter of Fred H. and Ettie Kreipe Wulfkuhle.She lived in the Lecompton area until 1955, when she

moved to Lawrence.She was a member of the Church of Christ at

Lawrence and a life member of the LecomptonHistorical Society.

She married John Frank Spencer on Dec. 30, 1942,in Big Springs. He survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Dorothy Martin,Baldwin; a son, Calvin Spencer, Lawrence; a sisterLetha Wulfkuhle, Lawrence; four grandchildren; twogreat-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.Burial in Zion Cemetery southeast of Topeka.

New Methodist Church

May 10, 1907-By noon, the business houses werecovered with flags and bunting, in honor of Gov. E.W.Hoch, who laid the comer-stone and made the address.Fully 700 people had gathered at the church sit, whenthe Governor and his party arrived. After the cere-mony, Governor Hoch and those taking part were givena banquet at the Windsor.

--Lecompton Sun

Life MembersWp --James N. Oldham

Memorial Life Membership - Claudette Mary"Teenie" (Meyer) Oldham

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President. PaulSahnmaierVice President. Rich McConnellSecretary * VickiRoberts BahnmaierTreasurer* BettyLeslieBoard Members * Maxine Dark, George SimmonsKeith Noe, Jason Dexter, Duane Wulfkuhle,Ron MeierCurators * Opal Goodrick, Dorothy Shaner, Ann DunnawayGeorge &Arloene Simmons, Darlene PaslayMembership Ass'ts. .Duane & DorothyWu~kuhle John Peterson- Editor

Program. BeverlyVanDykeMembership* Georgia SimmonsTrammel

Genealogy & Historical researcher*lona SpencerTours*Charlene Winter

Funding*Mae HoldermanlIIustrator*EllenDuncan

Assistant Treasurer *Sherri NeillKitchen * Helen Hildenbrand &VickiLeochner

Memorials*Ruth Ice*********************************************************************************************

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