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| Previous Section of the Timeline: Indian Manual Labor School, 1848-1854 | |
| 1855 | |
| 1855, January 5 | Mrs. Clarina Irene Howard Nichols wrote anote to the Daily Replicican (Springfield, MA) concerning slavery in the Shawnee Missions. Read the letter. |
| 1855, January 12 | Jotham Meeker, Baptist missionary to the Ottawa Indians, and Kansas’ pioneer printer, died. |
| 1855, Febrary 9 | A lenghty article appeared in the Herald of Freedom (Lawrence, KS) detailing the terms of the recently passed Sshawnee Treaty and how the treaty impacted the four missions operating in the Shawnee reserve. Read the article. |
| 1855, March 5 | Agreement between the commissioner of Indian affairs and the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. The society agreed to board, clothe and educate any number of Shawnee children not exceeding eighty, between the ages of seven and seventeen years, at the Fort Leavenworth manual labor school, thenceforth to be known as the Shawnee manual labor school. In return for which the commissioner agreed to pay per annum in quarterly payments the sum of $5,000 in money and to credit the society with $1,000 per annum of the $10,000 which it agreed to pay for the three sections of land. At the liquidation of the $10,000 the number of scholars were to be reduced to such a number as would at $75 per head consume the $5,000. The department reserved the right to annul the agreement whenever the interest of the Indians required it. |
| 1855, March 8 | Governor Reeder issued a proclamation for an election to be held March 30, for thirteen members of the council and twenty-six members of the house. |
| 1855, March 23 | Daniel Woodson wrote to his wife from Shawnee mission: “We have the most delightful weather here now, and emigrants are pouring in upon us in large numbers. Our election comes off on the 30th and we expect to have a very exciting time of it—probably some blood shed.” |
| 1855, March 30 | Election for legislative members. The voting place in the seventeenth district was the Shawnee Methodist church. Cyprian Chouteau, C.B. Donaldson and Charles Boles were judges. Read the report on the election. |
| 1855, April 16 | Governor Reeder declared Thomas Johnson and Edward Chapman elected members of the council from the first council district, and Alexander S. Johnson elected member of the house from the first representative district. |
| 1855, May 26 | A correspondent to the New York Tribune described his visit to “Johnson’s mission,” which, as he said, was the headquarters of the Proslavery party in Kansas with Johnson as one of its leaders. Read the article. |
| 1855, June 7 | B.M. Lynch received seven hundred dollars from Thomas Johnson for a negro girl named Harriet of black complexion, age about fourteen, sound in body and mind, a slave for life and free from all claims. Receipt dated from St. Louis, MO. |
| 1855, June 27 | The executive offices were moved from Shawnee manual labor school to Pawnee. |
| 1855, July 2 | The territorial legislature met at Pawnee, Thomas Johnson was elected president of the council and J.H. Stringfellow speaker of the house. Read comments about the legislature's meeting. |
| 1855, July 12 | The executive offices were again established at the manual labor school. |
| 1855, July 16 | The territorial legislature reassembled at Shawnee manual labor school. |
| 1855, July 18 | Allen B. Hazzard, editor of the Kickapoo City Kansas Pioneer, visited the legislature at Shawnee mission. He thought that Kansas had cause to be proud of her first legislature, and that there was as much talent to be found there as in general assemblies of the states. Shawnee, he considered, was the most desirable place for the session, with its three spacious brick buildings affording splendid accommodations and with Mr. Johnson who understood entertaining his guests as host. He met many of the government officials, giving a brief characterization of each. “Gov. Reeder,” he wrote, “is a dignified, courteous, good looking personage, stands six feet in his patent leathers, flourishes a fancy mustache, a tasteful pair of whiskers, a sharp eye, an intelligent countenance, a fine head, and withal neat in his personal appearance. But with all his fine looks he is the most obnoxious man in Kansas, and well he may be so considered, for we never saw or heard of a more obstinate being in our life. He should have resigned the gubernatorial chair long since, and retired to private life in Easton. He is unquestionably an unhappy creature; his features are haggard, and doubtless feels his uneasiness of soul. He sits in his office nearly all the time, leaning back upon his dignity.” Read the article. |
| 1855, July 27 | Cyrus Holliday, one of the founders of Topeka and first president of the Santa Fe railroad, spent the day at Shawnee mission with Governor Reeder, and visited the “pseudo-Territorial Legislature.” He reported the governor and the assembly were at “perfect loggerheads”; that the governor did not recognize the assembly as a legal body, vetoing all bills, and paying no respect to them whatever. The governor regarded his life in danger, telling his wife when he left that she probably might never see him again. However, Mr. Holliday thought there was no immediate general danger, and that Governor Reeder would be attacked before the citizens. |
| 1855, July 30 | The first session of the supreme court met at Shawnee manual labor school. |
| 1855, July 31 | A letter on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. This short letter seeks instructions regarding scholars from the Ottawa and Wyandott tribes who have been admitted to the school. Read the letter. |
| 1855, August 8 | The legislature voted to establish the permanent seat of government at Lecompton. |
| 1855, August 15 | James Redpath, writing to the St. Louis Daily Democrat, described the Kansas legislators at dinner. He explained that the legislators boarded either at the mission or at Westport, about half of them being accommodated at the mission all the time while the others slept and took their breakfast and supper at Westport and some who preferred to dine “very well” returned there for dinner. Three and sometimes four stages made the trip between Westport and the mission several times a day, charging a fare of twenty-five cents a trip. Read the article. |
| 1855, August 16 | Governor Reeder informed the legislature of his removal as governor. Col. Shalor Eldridge thought that Governor Reeder was inordinately suspicious of plots against his life, relating an incident that occurred while he was yet governor, and before revengeful feeling had arisen against him. During the session of the bogus legislature the governor, being alone among a crowd of Proslavery men, spent the nights at the American house in Kansas City. He was in constant fear of assault and one morning asked Colonel Coates and Mr. Eldridge to accompany him to the mission. Mr. Eldridge wrote, “In preparation for an emergency we went well armed. The forenoon passed with only a display of studied reserve in his presence. When dinner was called the governor took the head of the long table and Coates and myself a seat on each side of him, while the Rev. Mr. Johnson occupied the further end. Reeder, while adjusting himself in his seat, loosened his revolvers and brought them to the front, concealed by the tablecloth. Observing this, Coates and I did likewise. When the table was filled by the guests, who gave us only the recognition of a vacant stare, his reverence raised a huge carving knife and brought it down with such force as to startle us. When we had recovered our nerves it was seen that the startling rap was not a signal for assassins but a call of attention while he invoked the divine blessing.” Read the memory. |
| 1855, August 17 | Johnson county, named for Thomas Johnson, was created. |
| 1855, August 22 | Chief Justice Lecompte gave a dinner at Shawnee mission to the Kansas legislature, in return for the honor of locating the capitol at the town named after him. |
| 1855, August 30 | The territorial legislature adjourned. |
| 1855, September 3 | Governor Shannon arrived at the Shawnee manual labor school, and was welcomed by a brief address from O.H. Browne. Read a letter about Shannon and an article. |
| 1855, September 15 | Thomas Johnson accompanied Governor Shannon to Franklin, Lawrence and Lecompton. At Lecompton the governor intended to select the site for the new capitol building. |
| 1855, September 30 | Annual report of the Shawnee manual labor school. During the past year there had been in attendance at the school, eighty-seven Shawnee children, twenty-two Ottawa, ten Wyandot, two Spanish boys rescued from the Cheyenne tribe of Indians by General Whitfield, and one small Sioux boy, making in all, one hundred and twenty-two. Attendance had been regular until February, when much sickness occurred, resulting in the death of two Shawnee and two Ottawa children. The subjects taught were spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar 1 geography, composition, declamation. The boys when not in school were employed on the farm, and the girls had been taught to knit, sew1 wash, cook, manage the dairy, etc. The Reverend Johnson thought that the Shawnees had shown a stronger disposition to improve since their late treaty than previously. Read the report. |
| 1855, October 3 | Maj. Robert C. Miller, agent for the Shawnees, gave a favorable report of his visit to the Shawnee manual labor school at the annual examination. "The Shawnee Manual labor school, under the able superintendency of the Rev. Thomas Johnson, is in a very prosperous condition. His efforts, united with those of the teachers, to educate mentally and morally the youth entrusted. to his care have been eminently successful. It was my pleasure to be present at the last annual examination, and the proficiency exhibited in all the studies upon which they were, examined was alike creditable to teachers and scholars." |
| 1855, October 5 | A short followup letter from Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School requesting status of Ottawa and Wyandotte orphan children to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Read the letter. |
| 1855, October 6 | Letter from Gen. B.F. Stringfellow published in the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, urging Southern emigration to Kansas. He advised that those of little means should come in the spring and persons with capital could come in the fall; that there would be no election until next October. Thomas Johnson of Shawnee mission was one of the persons to whom they were directed as one who would give them every attention. |
| 1855, October 22 | A correspondent to the New York Tribune visited the Shawnee mission and described. Read the article. |
| 1855, November 25 | James H. Lane, as chairman of the executive committee of Kansas territory, issued a Thanksgiving proclamation making Christmas the Thanksgiving day. It was characterized as “brief and political.” |
| 1855, December 18 | G. Douglas Brewerton visited the Shawnee manual labor school. Read his chapter. |
| 1855, December 27 | Daniel Woodson paid Thomas Johnson $125 for rent of office room as secretary of the territory for one year and one month. |
| 1855, December 31 | An invoice to E.H. Sehon, Secretary Missionary Society Methodist Church South for the tuition, boarding and clothing of named students: 1 Arapaho, 1 Sioux and 13 Ottawa children for the quarter ending Dec 31, 1855. Read the invoice. |
| 1855 | J. Butler Chapman in his 1855 History of Kansas and Emigrant’s Guide devotes a chapter to his visit to the Shawnee Indian Mission and its vicinity and his opinions on the proper treatment and education of the Indians. Read the chapter. |
| 1856 | |
| 1856, February 16 | Governor Shannon left Washington for Kansas; he will remove his office from Shawnee Mission to Lecomption. |
| 1856, February 19 | The U. S. Senate comfirms Wilson Shannon as Governor. |
| 1856, February 27 | A letter concerning the removal of Ottawa Indian children from the school from Thomas Johnson to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs . The ongoing question of the status of the Ottawa children at the school had yet to be resolved by Manypenny and in this letter Johnson reports that, "...I recd a communication from the Ottawa Indians requesting me to inform them 'when they would be required to take their children from this school + whether I knew of any other arrangement made by the government for the education of their children." Read the letter. |
| 1856, March 31 | An invoice to E.H. Sehon, Secretary Missionary Society Methodist Church South for the tuition, boarding and clothing of named students: 1 Arapaho, 1 Sioux and 9 Ottawa children for the quarter ending Mar 31, 1856. Read the invoice. |
| 1856, April 1 | A semi-annual report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. This letter is full of interesting tidbits: "...our Quaker friends sent out a strong committee last fall, who made a general visit through the Shawnee nation, + tried to persuade the Shawnees to send to their school, + although they did not succeed to any great extent, yet they confused the minds of the Indians so that they have not sent as much as usual to any school." And, "Our new agent, Maj. Gay, has recently been around among the Shawnees taking the census, + he tells me that quite a number of the Shawnees have promised him that they will send in their children soon. [see 1856, May 3 entry]. Read the report. |
| 1856, April 14 | In an article for the New Haven Daily Palladium, Apr. 26, 1856, a correspondent reports: “Our driver over this route was a Yankee, by the name of Bronson, from Southford, in Connecticut, and from him we learned interesting facts in reference to the country. He pointed out the residence of the Southern Methodist missionary, "Johnson", who has made himself so notorious by his pro-slavery operations, and rich by his management in getting possession of a large amount of this splendid Indian country. He also designated several large and valuable farms of 1200 acres, each cultivated by white men, and when we inquired how they became possessed of it, replied, by marrying a squaw, as every Indian female has the right to 200 acres for herself and for each child born to her; and some of these Yankees had not only acquired a fine tract of land, but a first rate wife, also, in this way.” |
| 1856, April 26 | Agreement between the missionary society of the M. E. church, South, and Thomas Johnson. The society gave to Johnson one of the three sections of land for his services in securing the land to the society and granted him a second section including the north building, for which he was to assume the society’s obligation to the government of $10,000, It reserved to itself one section of land, containing the school building. The society also conveyed to Johnson all its personal property to the amount of $2,660 in consideration that he keep the buildings and farm in good repair. Read the agreement. |
| 1856, May 3 | Because of a concern for low attendance at the Manual school (he observed that there were as few as 20 children attending) William Gay, Shawnee and Wyandot Indian agent, visited nearly every Shawnee family urging parents to send their children to the Manual Labor School. He found and unwillingness to do so because it was “so near to Westport that the boys after school go to Missouri and often get drunk and learn other bad habits.” Among other reasons the were that children had sickened and died at the school without the parents being notified; that “an unfit place for young women because of the great number of white men there as they say since the place became the seat of government and the boarding house of other[s].” and importantly that children were, “misused some way or other” and that Johnson was profiting from the school by mishandling the tribes school fund and orphan fund. Though unsure of the validity of the concerns, Gay sought clarification from Johnson but was not fully satisfied with the accounting. About the same time, Commissioner George Manypenny expressed concerns that Johnson may have been inflating attendance and other accounting. Read the report. |
| 1856, May 9 | An article appears in the Hartford, Connecticut Evening Press, relates an anecdote suggesting Indian disapproval from Thomas Johnson’s support of slavery. Read the article. |
| 1856, May 24 | David Burge received from Thomas Johnson eight hundred dollars for a negro girl named Martha, of black complexion, age about fifteen years, sound in body and mind and a slave for life. Receipt dated at Westport, MO. |
| 1856, May 24-25 | North of Pottawatomie Creek, in Franklin County, John Brown and a band of abolitionist settlers, killed five pro-slavery settlers in front of their families, which is known as the Pottawatomie massacre. Brown was reacting to the May 21 sack of Lawrence, KS. by pro-slavery forces, and news of the May 22 the attack on Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, for speaking against slavery in Kansas (“The Crime Against Kansas”). |
| 1856, June 21 | William Gay, was killed by pro-slavery men near Westport, MO. An investigation of the murder suggested it may have been in retaliation of some of John Brown’s anti-slavery violence. |
| 1856, June 30 | An invoice to E.H. Sehon, Secretary Missionary Society Methodist Church South for the tuition, boarding and clothing of named students: 1 Arapaho, 1 Sioux and 9 Ottawa children for the quarter ending June 30, 1856. Read the invoice. |
| 1856, July 16 | A letter to E.H. Sehon, Secretary Missionary Society Methodist Church South forwarding the invoices referenced in items 75, 77, and 80 from Thomas Johnson Superintendent. Short letter dealing with finanial issues but does incidentially reference the death of Indian agent William Gay. Read the Letter. |
| 1856, Summer | The executive offices were moved to Lecompton. |
| 1856, September 2 | A letter to the citizens of Missouri signed by Thomas Johnson and nine others, announced that Thomas Trewitt’s train from New Mexico was taken from him at Palmyra, K. T., by the Abolitionists under Lane, and they thought that Bent’s and Campbell’s were also taken. They feared an attack upon New Santa Fe, Westport, and Independence, and begged for help immediately. Read the letter. |
| 1856, September 6 | George F. Pierce, bishop in the M. E. church, South, took the steam packet at Jefferson City for Kansas. On board the steamer were Gov. J.W. Geary [Kansas Territory] and his secretary, and a committee appointed at St. Louis to visit Kansas and report on conditions. Bishop Pierce described Governor Geary thus: “Governor Geary is a tall, good-looking man, without any very striking feature, of easy manners, pleasant in conversation; and he seemed to have very just views of his duties and responsibilities. He impressed me very favorably. At several towns on the river, as we ascended, he was called out to make a speech, and essayed the task, but did not succeed very well. His talent does not run that way. He is a man of plain, strong common sense; talks fluently and intelligently; has traveled—held office—is decided—has a strong will-thinks for himself, and will command respect and maintain authority anywhere. His appointment was opportune.” Read the Bishop's account of this several day journey. |
| 1856, September 8 | Bishop Pierce arrived at Westport and soon found Thomas Johnson. They set out for the mission, for a mile or two journeying along the road leading to the camp where the Proslavery army had been appointed to rendezvous for its march on Lawrence. He wrote, “We soon reached the mission house, dined, and spent the afternoon in conversation, reading the papers, and resting. The school for the Indian boys and girls was just reopened, after a brief vacation, and but few had as yet returned.” |
| 1856, September 9 | Thomas Johnson entertained Bishop Pierce by taking him for a ride and drive around the country. Read Bishop Pierce’s comments. |
| 1856, September 12 | The first regular session of the Kansas mission conference was held at Kickapoo, Bishop Pierce presiding. The minutes for the year showed 13 traveling preachers, 12 local preachers and 672 members, comprising 482 white, 2 colored, and 176 Indians. |
| 1856, November 6 | Governor Geary on his way to Lecompton stopped at the Pottawatomie Baptist mission, west of Topeka, where he issued his Thanksgiving proclamation designating November 20 as a day for giving thanks. |
| 1856, November 14 | A letter concerning the accounts of the Manual Labor School from Thomas Johnson to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Though the letter is about the usual dry numbers of espenses and debts, there is a interesting paragraph in which Johnson explains the difficulties is assigning charges to the contract. In doing so he gives some insignt into the lives of the students: "Take for example the Wyandotte girl spoken of: Sarah Sarahas. She came at the beginning of the session was furnished with an outfit of winter clothing, books etc. + after a while she concluded to get married. Wedding clothes had to be furnished+ a wedding supper etc. then she leaves. Now would any thing less than a years pay compensate for this? Take another case an Ottawa girl came+ was furnished with an outfit as the other+ after a while she took sick + lingered on for several weeks, having constant attention from a Doctor+ nurses, + then she died, a coffin + burial clothes were bought + she was buried. Now I think it would not be right to charge for a full year in such cases + honestly thought the intention of the agreement was to allow us to do so. But I only make these remarks by way of explanation I have no disposition to complain. Nor do I suppose the Department has intended to do me injustice in this matter + hope the accounts as now arranged will be satisfactory." Read the letter. |
| 1856, November 15 | A letter to the Editor of the New York Daily Times claims “so prejudiced are many of this tribe against Johnson, on account of his Pro-slavery sentiments, that they will neither send their children to his school, nor go themselves to hear him preach on Sunday.” Read the article. |
| 1856, November 22 | George W. Manypenny, commissioner of Indian affairs, announced that on account of the slow progress of the land survey, the Shawnees had not been able to select and have assigned to them their homes as provided by the treaty of 1854. |
| 1856, November | William Phillips in his Conquest of Kansas wrote: “Close to the frontier of Missouri, and within a few miles of Westport, stands one of the oldest missions in the territory,—the celebrated ‘Shawnee mission,’ of the Methodist church, South. Three sections of the very finest land were granted by the Shawnees to this mission; besides which, no inconsiderable portion of government money and percentage on the Indian annuities have been expended in erecting three or four massive and extensive, but tasteless and filthy-looking, brick buildings, and in converting those three sections of fertile Indian land into a well-improved and beautiful farm, which I have heard estimated worth sixty thousand dollars. In the progress of events, and by a system of management which I cannot comprehend, much less explain, two sections of this farm, containing many of the best improvements, have fallen into the hands of the present head of the mission, the Rev. Tom Johnson.” Mr. Phillips characterized Thomas Johnson as a violent Proslavery partisan, said to have first introduced slavery into Kansas. Read the memory. |
| 1856, November | Thomas H. Gladstone, in his book, Kansas…, mentioned Thomas Johnson as appointed by the government to teach the Indians, and thought it would be well if they did not follow his practice, as he was “a warm adherent of border-ruffianism. As President of the Council, he has been elevated to the highest office in the Territorial Legislature, and some absurd attempts were once attempted to make him Governor.” Read the book. |
| 1857 | |
| 1857, January 12 | The territorial legislature met at Lecompton. Thomas Johnson was elected president of the council. |
| 1857, March 4 | Governor Geary resigned to take effect March 20. |
| 1857, March 26 | President Buchanan appointed Robert J. Walker, of Mississippi, territorial governor of Kansas. |
| 1857, May 24 | Gov. R.J. Walker made his first speech to Kansans at Quindaro from the steamer New Lucy. |
| 1857, August 17 | It was resolved at the fourth quarterly conference of the Shawnee mission that a new church be built, and Joseph Parks, Thomas Johnson and Charles Bluejacket were appointed a committee to have charge of the work. It was also voted that the proceeds of the sale of the old parsonage, $450, be used to procure a parsonage for the missionary in such way as the committee might think best. |
| 1857, September 1 | A. Arnold, agent for the Wyandots and Shawnees, reported that the Shawnee land had been divided and two hundred acres assigned to each individual, amounting in aggregate to about 200,000 acres, and leaving about 130,000 acres to be occupied by citizens of the United States. |
| 1857, September 2 | The report of the school for the year ending June 30, 1857, showed that fifty-four Shawnee children had attended the school, ranging in ages from seven to seventeen. Read the report. |
| 1857, November 19 | The Shawnee Indian lands were thrown open for purchase and preemption. |
| 1857, December 17 | Governor Walker resigned his office. |
| 1857, December | The annual report of the board of missions listed three Indians, l6 whites, and three colored persons in the membership of the church. The Sabbath school had 100 scholars. |
| 1857, December | John H. Gihon, private secretary of Governor Geary, noted in his book, Geary and Kansas, that three sections of the best land had been granted by the Shawnees to the Methodist mission, that it was fenced in partly with stone, and had several substantial brick buildings, all of which had been accomplished by government funds and percentages on Indian annuities. Two sections had become the property of the Rev. Thomas Johnson. Read the memory. |
| 1858 | |
| 1858, March 25 | Epaphroditus Ransom wrote to to Lewis Cass expressing his opinion of the capacity of Alexander Johnson: "Alexr. L. Johnson, agent of the Shawnees, a clever young man, totally destitute of capacity, for any business that I know of—the son of a Methodist Missionary, who has made his $100,000 and wants his boy to make as much more—He never has, and never can do any thing to promote the success of the democratic party— When a mass convention was holding, last summer, in his town and co, to aid the election of the democratic candidates, he forgot, as he said, the meeting—and was off attending a pic-nic— That post aught to be assigned to some one who can and will do something to subserve the interest of our party in Johnson County." |
| 1858, March 31 | The semi-annual report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Charles E. Mix, Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Thirty-two Shawnee children attended the school. Johnson commented on this, "This is to be accounted for in several ways the most probable of which is that the Shawnees within the last year have had their land set apart to them separately and necessarily brought a great influx of whites amongst them and so completely surrounded them in a novel atmosphere that they have neglected that which is the most important to their welfare the education of their children." Read the report. |
| 1858, May 8 | W.P. Tomlinson, correspondent for the New York Tribune, wrote the following interesting description of his visit to Westport and Shawnee mission. Read his article. |
| 1858, August 19 | The special correspondent for the New York Daily Tribune reports on the political state of Johnson county after the recent election which failed to pass the Lecompton Constitution. Read the article. |
| 1858, August 21 | Shawnee council convened to consider withdrawing their funds from the Shawnee manual labor school and establishing a system of education on some other basis. A committee was appointed to submit to the next council some plan as a substitute. |
| 1858, August 24 | Benjamin J. Newsom, agent for the Shawnee and Wyandot tribes, informed the superintendent of Indian affairs of the Shawnee council held on August 21 at which he was present and urged the appointment of a committee: "The education of their children, at the Shawnee Mission Manual Labor school is a question of some interest with a great many. It is desired by a part, as I learned from their council, to draw the fund applied to that school and establish a system of education on some other basis; with this view their council convened for this particular purpose on the 21st. appointed a committee to arrange and submit to the next council some plan as a substitute for the present school, which as I understood, if adopted by the council, will be forwarded to the department through me. I was present at the council… and upon their request gave them my opinion urging the appointment of a committee of their best men to arrange some plan as a substitute, my reasons for so doing are plain; I find th.at the school does not accomplish by a very great deal as much as it should according to the means expended annually, and if any step is taken, it should be one most likely to be adopted or approved by the Department. I cannot say that the fault in the school rests upon the Superintendent nor do I believe it to be with him, but the fault is with the Indians. They refuse to send their children, having now become able to support them in every way." |
| 1858, September 23 | The Rev. Joab Spencer was transferred to the Kansas mission conference and assigned to Shawnee mission, remaining there two years. |
| 1858, November 24 | The joint committee representing the Shawnee nation and the missionary board of the M. E. church, South, met at S. Cornatzer’s. The meeting was organized by appointing Mr. Cornatzer, chairman, and N. Scarritt, secretary. The committee submitted resolutions recommending to the government the propriety of ending the contract at the expiration of that school year, giving as reasons that the contemplated purpose of the school had not been realized, since the Shawnees had failed to send their children to the school, and the changed state of the Shawnees required a change in the plan of education. The committee further recommended that the educational funds be placed in the hands of a commissioner of the government who was to pay the tuition of the children at any school to which the parents wished to send them. The unexpended annuities were to be added to the principal of the Shawnee school fund. Read the resolution. |
| 1858, December 7 | Thomas Johnson and A.S. Johnson entered into partnership to carry on the Shawnee manual labor school and the farm connected therewith. Read the agreement. |
| 1858, December 19 | The Chiefs and Councilmen of the Shawnee Nation in Council assembled approve the above preamble and resolution of the Joint School Committee. Read their resolution. |
| 1858, December | This year Thomas Johnson moved to a home near what is now 35th and Agnes street, Kansas City. It was a fine old Southern colonial house with sidelights and fan-lights at the front door. His son, Alexander, remained at the mission to carry on its work. The old mission bell was said to have been taken to this home and hung on the back porch and the bell rope run through a hole in the door so as to ring it from the kitchen as a means of defense. |
| 1859 | |
| 1859, January 25 | The telegraph was completed to Leavenworth via Wyandotte. |
| 1859, April 3 | Joseph Parks died and was buried in the Shawnee Indian cemetery, near the old log church, in Johnson county. The Westport Border Star (April 14, 1859) reported "Capt. Parks, head chief of the Shawnees. He died at his residence a few miles from this place, on Sun. night 3d inst. and was buried in the Shawnee burial ground on Tuesday afternoon with Masonic honors." |
| 1859, July 5 | Constitutional convention begins its deliberations at Wyandotte. |
| 1859, September 23 | The fourth session of the Kansas mission conference met at Tecumseh, Bishop Robert Paine, presiding. Santa Fe and Pike’s Peak appeared in the list of appointments, both marked “to be supplied.” |
| 1859, October 4 | The Wyandotte constitution was adopted by vote of the people. |
| 1859, December 1 | Abraham Lincoln arrived at Elwood, making a speech in the evening. |
| 1859, December | The annual report to the board of missions gave three white and three colored members of the church, and forty scholars in the school. |
| 1860 | |
| 1860, February 21 | Paschal Fish and William Rodgers, chiefs, Charles Fish, Charles Tucker, George Dougherty, Charles Tooley, and Jackson Rodgers, councilmen of the Shawnee Indians, presented a memorial to the commissioner of Indian affairs together with the report of the joint committee. The memorial stated that the Shawnee manual labor school had been conducted so badly for the past several years that it had failed to accomplish its object; explaining that the children had had severe illnesses and in some instances died without parents or guardians being informed of their sickness; the children were neglected as to personal cleanliness; and that the attendance ranged from five to twenty-five, most of the time being about ten for which they paid $6,000 annually. They asked that the school fund be placed at the disposal of the chiefs and councilmen of the nation to pay the tuition of their children at the district schools in their neighborhood. In this way they would save several thousand dollars, would have their children at home, and their children associating with white children would better learn the ways and manners of the American children. Read the letter. |
| 1860, April 9 | The semi-annual report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to B.J. Newsome Indian Agent. "Twenty seven Shawnee children have attended this school of different ages from 7 to 17 years. They have been engaged according to age and advancement in the following studies Viz - Orthography, Reading, writing, English Grammar geography etc. etc. and when not in school the Girls have been engaged in sewing knitting and housewifery, they boys in chopping wood, feeding and taking care of the stock." Read the report. |
| 1860, May 3 | The Shawnees through their chief Paschal Fish, and delegates Matthew King and Edward Clark, submitted matters of importance to the commissioner of Indian affairs. They desired that the land set apart for absent Shawnees be sold, the time having expired for their return, and the money invested in land for their common benefit. They again expressed their dissatisfaction with the management of the manual labor school and asserted that the fault did not lie with the Indians as Agent Newson had intimated, but in the management of the school and the squandering of the money. The children who attended complained of insufficient and unpalatable food, of neglect in sickness and of disregard as to cleanliness. For these and other reasons the parents had withdrawn their children and in some instances were sending them to the district schools. They asked that the mission contract be rescinded, and that the $6,000 annual school fund be placed in the hands of the chiefs and councilmen. The Baptist mission having been closed, they asked that the land set apart for their use be sold according to treaty stipulations, and that the land of the Friends’ mission be confirmed to them in view of the many services and kind acts performed by them. They requested that the sum of $500 be paid the council to defray the expenses of those who were sending their children to Ohio and to the district schools. They also asked that the patents to the orphans, retained by the agent, be delivered to the council or to the children and that the bond of Thomas Johnson as guardian for thirty-five orphans be delivered to them that they might settle with him. Read the letter. |
| 1860, May 16-18 | The Republican national convention meeting at Chicago nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. |
| 1860, August 11 | The fourth quarterly conference for Shawnee manual labor school and Shawnee mission of the Kansas mission conference assembled at the Shawnee camp ground. Joab Spencer presented charges against the Rev. Eli Blackhoof to the effect that he drank whisky to intoxication while in the “Cow Skin Country,” and ‘‘divers times” in the town of Shawnee; that he sang songs that were not for the “Glory of God,” and that he danced. |
| 1860, September 24 | William H. Seward arrived in Leavenworth. |
| 1860, November 6 | Presidential election. Abraham Lincoln was elected president. |
| 1860, December 20 | South Carolina passed ordinance of secession. |
| 1860, December | The annual report of the board of missions gave three white and three colored members of the church, one Sabbath school, and sixty pupils in school. |
| 1861 | |
| 1861, January 29 | Kansas was admitted to the Union. |
| 1861, February 4 | Convention held at Montgomery, Ala., to organize the Southern confederacy. Jefferson Davis is chosen President. |
| 1861, February 9 | Charles Robinson was sworn into office as the first governor of the state of Kansas. |
| 1861, April 15 | President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers. |
| 1861, April 18 | J.B. McFerrion, treasurer and E.W. Sehon, secretary of the Missionary Board writ to Thomas Johnson about the proposition for the purchase of a section of land by Johnson from the M. E. Church. Read the letter. |
| 1861, April 19 | At the annual meeting· of bishops and missionary board of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Nashville, Tenn., Nathan Scarritt presented the proposition of Thomas Johnson respecting the purchase of the board’s interest in Shawnee mission. The board accepted the proposition, agreeing to transfer its interest and title to said property to Thomas Johnson upon terms stated by him. It was later learned that Johnson paid the society $10,000 for the last section of land including the school building. Read the resolution. |
| 1861, May 17 | A letter from L.H. Morgan, Rochester, New York detailing among other things his concern about the operation of the Manual Labor School and makes accusations of speculation and spoliation to Wm P. Dole, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Morgan laid out his accusations of financial abuse in detail with reference to treaties and agreements. He bluntly state, "It is evident that the mission has lost the confidence of the Shawnees, whether by design or otherwise I know not. But this much is clear that this Board has been guilty first of speculating in the school fund to the extent of its total diversion and absorption: and it is the first instance in the history of American Missions to my knowledge in which a Religious Society have used a mission for purposes of spoilation." Read the letter. |
| 1861, June 30 | The missionary society presented an account of $1,500 to the United States for tuition, boarding and clothing the Shawnee children for the quarter ending June 30, 1861. Certification to the statement was made by Thomas Johnson, superintendent, A.S. and P.C. Johnson, teachers. Read the invoice. |
| 1861, July 4 | The Union club held a Fourth of July celebration at M. Savier’s near the present town of Turner in Wyandotte county. S.A. Cobb, mayor of Wyandotte, was the orator of the day. Following a dinner, speeches were made by the Rev. William Holmes, the Rev. Thomas Johnson and Willard Green. The Reverend Johnson took occasion to condemn the secession movement as unjustifiable, and stated in unequivocal terms that he should adhere to the flag of his country, that he had been indirectly for years in official relation with the government, enjoying its protection, and he owed to it fealty, love and support. Read an article and account. |
| 1861, September 5 | The sixth and, as it proved, the last session of the Kansas mission conference was set to meet at Atchison. Because of the feeling in the community against any organization bearing a Southern label, the conference was notified that it would have but two hours to transact business and leave the city. Being determined to hold the meeting on Kansas soil, the conference adjourned to Grasshopper schoolhouse, about fifteen miles west of Atchison. Business was transacted but the meeting was under surveillance. |
| 1861, September 30 | The missionary society presented its bill of $1,500 to the United States for tuition, boarding, and clothing of the Shawnee children for the quarter ending September 30, 1861. Thomas Johnson, superintendent; A.S. and P.C. Johnson, teachers. |
| 1861, December 31 | Another bill for $1,500, was presented to the United States by the missionary society for tuition, boarding, and clothing the Shawnee children for the quarter ending December 31, 1861. Thomas Johnson, superintendent; R.C. and Eliza Meek, teachers. |
| 1861, December | Report of the board of missions for the Shawnee manual labor school was again three white and three colored members of the church, one Sabbath school, sixty scholars in school. |
| 1862 | |
| 1862, March 31 | Another claim of $1,500 against the United States, was presented by the missionary society for tuition, boarding, and clothing Shawnee children for the quarter ending March 31, 1862. Thomas Johnson, superintendent; R.C. and Eliza Meek, teachers. |
| 1862, June 30 | Again, the missionary society presented a claim of $1,500 against the United States for tuition, boarding, and clothing Shawnee children for the quarter ending June 30, 1862. Thomas Johnson, superintendent; R.C. and Eliza Meek, teachers. |
| 1862, September 6 | Thomas Johnson submitted his annual report to Maj. J.B. Abbott, the Indian agent. The attendance in school for the past year had been fifty-two Shawnee children, twenty-six males and twenty-six females, varying in age from seven to sixteen. They had been taught the ordinary English studies, such as orthography, reading, writing·, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, etc.; and when not engaged in school, the girls had been employed in sewing, knitting, washing, housewifery, etc.; the boys in chopping wood, feeding and taking care of the stock. The health of the children had been unusually good, with no serious illness. Mr. Johnson thought that the parents had manifested a marked degree of interest in their children, and by their cooperation the attendance had been more regular, to the great advantage of the students. This was Thomas Johnson’s last report on the manual labor school. Read the report. |
| 1862, September 15 | James B. Abbott, agent for the Shawnees and Wyandots, in his report told of a visit to the manual labor school. “I visited this school during the last term,” he wrote, “and was agreeably surprised to find it in so prosperous a condition. I found the children tidy, well clothed, and apparently well fed; they appeared happy and contented, and, what was better, they seemed to take a deep interest in their studies. Their head teacher, Mr. Meek, appeared to possess their confidence and affection; and I am satisfied that this school will compare favorably with most of the white schools in this state 1 and whatever cause of complaint the Shawnees may have had in the past, the present appearances are that those in charge are trying to carry out the stipulations of their contract to the letter, and I hope to be able to fill up this school this fall to the stipulated number (80). This school is sustained entirely out of the Shawnee school fund.” Mr. Abbott stated that the Shawnees had been loyal to the government, having about sixty warriors in the field, with prospects of furnishing about forty more. He advised the propriety of fulfilling every treaty stipulation with them, in order to enable them to better withstand the temptations brought to bear by enemies of the government in their midst. Read the report. |
| 1862, September 26 | Nathan Scarritt and John T. Peery made affidavit that the amount of money owed to the missionary society by the government was actually due Thomas Johnson by virtue of a contract existing between the society and Mr. Johnson; that the society regularly turned over to Johnson the quarterly payments for the support of the school until the rebellion stopped the payments, but Thomas Johnson had continued the school and it was only justice that the payments should come direct to him since they could not come through the society. The society had also previously made Johnson its agent, authorizing him to receive any money due from the government for the benefit of the school. Read the statement. Nathan Scarritt made a sworn statement that he was the agent for Thomas Johnson in the transaction with the missionary society for the last section of the Shawnee mission land, that the board accepted the terms, and the contract was binding and the title of the section rightfully belonged to Thomas Johnson. Read the statement. Capt. E.E. Harvey reported that his company, Co. B, Sixth Kansas cavalry, had been encamped on the mission premises for two months. Read the statement. |
| 1862, September 30 | The Shawnee manual labor school was suspended and the contract existing between the government and the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, annulled. The missionary society presented to the United States another claim for $1,500 for tuition, boarding, and clothing the Shawnee children for the quarter ending September 30, 1862. Thomas Johnson, superintendent; R.C. and Eliza Meek, teachers. |
| 1862, October 6 | Thomas Johnson wrote to W.P. Dole, commissioner of Indian affairs, that he had no objections to the decision of the government to close the school, and there remained only the settling up of the business according to the terms of the contract. The school had been kept up eight years, from October 1, 1854, to September 30, 1862. The government had paid the society in money for six and one-half years amounting to $32,500, leaving a balance of $7,500. However, the society still owed $2,000 on the $10,000 for the reservation of the land; deducting this from the balance due it would leave $5,500 to be paid by the government. The ten thousand dollars being thus paid the society was entitled to a patent. Mr. Johnson enclosed papers to show that he had bought the land from the society and therefore the patent should be made out to him. Read the letter. |
| 1862, October 18 | Commissioner of Indian Affairs, William P. Dole writes to Acting Secretary of the Interior, Watt J. Smith, concerning the Shawnee Indian Mission situation and Thomas Johnson's request for compensation. Read the letter. |
| 1862, October 21 | The commissioner of Indian affairs reported to Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Interior, that from available papers and records the number of scholars taught at the Shawnee manual labor school were as follows: For the year 1858, thirty scholars; 1859, forty-nine scholars; 1860, thirty-one scholars; 1861, forty-three scholars. Read the report. |
| 1863 | |
| 1863, April 29 | Thomas Johnson in a letter to the commissioner of Indian affairs urged the settlement of the manual labor school affairs, explaining that the school had been conducted according to contract, and was suspended at the direction of the government. He had spent his money for the support of the school and for the government to delay payment was an injustice. Read the letter. |
| 1863, July 31 | Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr., established military posts at Westport, Shawnee mission, and Little Santa Fe to protect Kansas from Missouri guerrilla raiders. |
| 1863, August 25 | Thomas Ewing, Jr., issued Order No. 11 ordering persons living in parts of Jackson, Cass, Bates and Vernon counties, Missouri, to remove from their place of residence. The Reverend Johnson was said to have brought seventeen families home with him after this order. Read the order. |
| 1863, October 13 | Alexander S. Johnson was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the Thirteenth regiment of Kansas state militia. |
| 1864 | |
| 1864, January 11 | Wyllis C. Ransom, major, Sixth regiment, Kansas Volunteer cavalry, stationed in Jackson county, Missouri, gave testimonial respecting the loyalty of Thomas Johnson and Alexander S. Johnson. He asserted that in the intimate acquaintance of two years he had found them loyal in sentiment and act, having received valuable information from them which proved of great importance to the government. Alexander S. Johnson had given the use of his (the school) buildings for the sick of his command, as quarters for troops, and had supplied them with comforts and delicacies without charge. Read the letter. |
| 1864, January 13 | M.T. Graham, president of the Jackson County Union Association, certified that Thomas Johnson and Alexander S. Johnson had been members of the association from its organization and still were members. Read the letter. |
| 1864, March 18 | A new treaty was made with the Shawnees which nullified the treaty of 1854. The fifth article declared the contract made in March, 1855, between the commissioner of Indian affairs and the missionary society forfeited on the ground that the Methodist church, South, was disloyal. If the Secretary of Interior was satisfied that the manual labor school was conducted by loyal citizens, and after making a complete investigation, he found that the claimant had not been fully paid he could authorize the payment of the balance. The Shawnee mission lands were to be sold. This treaty was said to have been engineered by a clique trying to get the mission property from Johnson. Senator Lane was favorable to it at first, but later retracted his action, upon the assurance of the loyalty of the Johnsons. The treaty was tabled in the senate. Read the draft treaty. |
| 1864, June 21 | A.N. Blackliddge conveys a Certificate of Major Ransom and others attesting the the loyalty of Rev. Thomas Johnson. Read the letter. |
| 1864, October 10 | F.M. Gable wrote (1927) that 12,000 militiamen were in the mission’s vicinity. They were called out by Gov. Thomas Carney to stop Gen. Sterling Price and his confederate raiders. |
| 1864, October 22, 23 | Price was defeated at the battles of Big Blue and Westport in the vicinity of Shawnee mission. An article in The Western Journal of Commerce, Kansas City, Mo., October 24, 1864, described the battle of Westport and reported in part: “Early yesterday morning the battle commenced, the enemy greatly outnumbering our advance, and extending his line west nearly to Shawnee mission and crowding down in front into the timber south of Westport….” |
| 1864, December 12 | W.C. Ransom, Major, 6th Kansas Cavalry, writes to R.T. Van Horn concerning "A clique of thieving rascals last winter set their heads to work to steal from the Johnsons the Mission estate which if succesful would ruin them." IN support of the Johnsons he again attests to their loyalty. Read the letter. |
| 1865 | |
| 1865, January 2 | The Rev. Thomas Johnson was murdered at his home near what is now Thirty-fifth and Agnes. It was between twelve and one o’clock when Mr. Johnson was called by parties in his door yard, who inquired the way to Kansas City. He told them what road to take, and seeing they were some distance from the door he opened it and stood in the doorway talking to them. They then made a rush toward him, and he stepped back and succeeded in shutting and locking the door, but his assailants fired a volley through the door and side windows, one ball taking effect and causing his almost instant death. After firing a number of shots at the house the murderers withdrew to the south by the same road they had come. Read the obituary. Read a comment and another |
| 1865, January 2 | Coincidentally affidavits were sworn by William Holmes and James D. Allen concerning their attendance at an event in 1861 at which Thomas Johnson “distinctly disavowed sympathy or approval of their acts [the Secession of the Southern States], condemned the movement as unjustifiable, and the insurgent movement as Rebellion without cause or justifiable provocation.” And affirmed his loyalty to the Union. Read the first affidavit and the second. |
| 1865, January 4 | Thomas Johnson was buried in the mission’s burial grounds southeast of the mission buildings. |
| 1865, January 17 | The Shawnee Chiefs and Council petitioned Wm. P. Dole, commissioner of Indian affairs, to use his influence to have the treaty of 1864, then pending in the senate, amended by striking out the clause authorizing the sale of the Shawnee mission land, giving as reasons, that it would violate vested rights acquired under contract; that as a tribe the Shawnees desired to act in good faith toward the church or its assigns, believing that the church had to the best of its ability fulfilled its part of the contract; that should the land be sold, Thomas Johnson, who had spent twenty-six years of his life teaching their children, would suffer; that it was their wish at the time of making the treaty of 1854 to give Mr. Johnson the three sections of land; that they had been advised contrary to their wishes, and did not desire the clause in the treaty of 1864; and that they doubted if the land would sell for a sum sufficient to pay for the improvements, and would, therefore, leave the tribe in debt. They also asked that Mr. Johnson be paid any balance due him for keeping the school according to contract. Read the letter. |
| 1865, February 7 | A.N. Blacklidge, attorney for Johnson, transmitted to the commissioner of Indian affairs copies of documents showing that A.S. Johnson had been appointed administrator of the estate of the Rev. Thomas Johnson, and his authority to settle matters pertaining to the Shawnee mission. He requested that the matters be adjusted at the earliest convenience. Read the letter. |
| 1865, March 3 | William L. Harris, secretary of the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, on behalf of the society, presented a claim to the land and property of the Shawnee manual labor school, stating that the lands were once possessed by the society, the improvements had been made by it, and the society had never done nor consented to any act by which its title might be invalidated. Read the letter. |
| 1865, March 28 | James H. Lane, S.C. Pomeroy, United States senators, Sidney Clarke, member of congress, and S.J. Crawford, governor of Kansas, wrote to the commissioner of Indian affairs asserting the loyalty of Alexander S. Johnson. They also stated that they knew something of the claim presented by him as administrator of his father for three sections of land and for the balance of money due him for maintaining the manual labor school, and they believed the claims to be equitable and just and commended them to his favorable consideration. Alexander S. Johnson made affidavit regarding his father’s business affairs with reference to the Shawnee manual labor school. He explained how his father came into possession of the three sections of land, and declared that the land had been fully paid for by his father. Read the affidavits. |
| 1865, March 31 | A.N. Blacklidge submitted to the commissioner of Indian affairs arguments to prove the validity of the claim of Thomas Johnson, deceased, for the balance due him in conducting the school and for patent to the three sections of land. Read the letter. |
| 1865, April 1 | W.P. Dole, commissioner of Indian affairs, transmitted to the Secretary of the Interior all papers connected with the claim of the Johnsons against the government on behalf of the Shawnee Indians, stating that after a careful examination of the papers he was convinced that payment could not be legally withheld from the administrator, and had allowed his account for $7,500, $5,500 to be paid to him, and $2,000 to be credited to his account. As to the issuing of the patent, Mr. Dole said that in his opinion he could see no reason why the patent should not be granted. Read the letter. |
| 1865, April 3 | J.P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior, approved the payment of $5,500 to the administrator of Thomas Johnson. He also informed Mr. Dole that he had written W.L. Harris, representing the Northern Methodists, that the question of the Shawnee mission land was under consideration, and he would receive any documentary evidence he wished to file. Read the letter. |
| 1865, April 7 | The Secretary of the Interior wrote to Wm. P. Dole that, having had no word from W.L. Harris, the patents should be issued to Thomas Johnson for the three sections of land, and directed him to instruct the commissioner of the General Land office to that effect. Read the letter. Wm. P. Dole informed J.P. Usher that he had received verbal instructions from the President of the United States to withhold the issuing of the patent until the Methodist Episcopal church should have time to file their claim to it. He had complied with the request, although he himself had no disposition to delay the matter. Read the letter. |
| 1865, April 10 | In a telegram to Commissioner W.P. Dole, W.L. Harris that “The president decided that no patent should be issued for the Shawnee Mission Land until this office [the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church (North) was heard from which will be soon.” |
| 1865, April 11 | J.P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior, instructed the commissioner of Indian affairs that the directions of April 7, with reference to the patents, would be observed and obeyed. He thought the officials of the Northern Methodists must be ignorant of the facts in the case to put in a claim, founded upon the basis that the improvements were made by the board of managers of that society. He explained that the improvements were made before the separation of the church, and to which the society never had a title. By the agreement for the separation, the ninth article of the plan of separation provided: “That all the property of the Methodist Episcopal church in meeting houses, parsonages, colleges, schools, conference funds, cemeteries, and of every kind, within the limits of the Southern organization, shall be forever free from any claim set up on the part of the Methodist Episcopal church.” The manual labor school fell within the limits of the Southern organization, was recognized by the government, and by a treaty with the Indians it was granted to the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Under these circumstances the secretary considered that the Northern Methodists had not the slightest claim to it. Read the letter. Wm. P. Dole instructed the commissioner of the General Land office to issue a patent to Thomas Johnson for the three sections of land. Read the letter. |
| 1865, April 19 | R.L. Yates, United States senator from Illinois, appealed to President Johnson on behalf of the Methodist Episcopal church, requesting that a proper hearing be given it respecting the Shawnee mission lands. He stated that the institution had been violently taken from the New York board of missions, without legal conveyance. Read the letter. John Lanahan and B.H. Nadal, ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church in Washington, protested against the issuing of a patent to Johnson, based upon the “pretended claim of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, a thoroughly disloyal & rebel organization,” until their church had time to present a counter claim. Read the letter. Bishop Simpson and James Mitchell of the Methodist Episcopal church, called upon President Andrew Johnson to express their fear that advantage might be taken of the unexpected change of administration to force through the Johnson claim to the three sections of land. The President informed them that he had signed a patent, and requested them to obtain information from the commissioner of the General Land office. |
| 1865, April 20 | John Lanahan and B.H. Nadal, ministers of the M. E. church, appealed to President Johnson to delay issuing the patent, stating that the Secretary of the Interior had declined their request. They considered that “the claim of one man should pause a few days for the claim of a million.” Read the letters and memos. |
| 1865, April 25 | The President of the United States directed the Secretary of the Interior to suspend further action in the Shawnee manual labor school case until May 10, 1865. Read the letter. Bishop Ames, and the Reverends Darbin, Lanahan and Nadal wrote to Attorney General James S. Speed, on learning that the President had referred their claim to the Shawnee mission lands to him and gave him a brief statement of the case. They requested time until they could present it in full. Read the letter. |
| 1865, May 4 | The missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, through its attorneys William Harris and J.P. Durbin, presented to the President of the United States a full statement of their claim to the Shawnee manual labor school property. They requested that the school be restored to its “original intent and use” on the grounds that: The missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church founded the manual labor school for the benefit of the Shawnee Indians; that the society during the years from 1838 to 1842 appropriated $39,000 for the benefit of the school, $20,750 of which was expended in buildings and improvements; that at the separation of the church in 1845 the school fell within the bounds of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, but the missionary society of the Northern Methodist church had never done or consented to anything whereby its claim to the property could be invalidated; that the heirs of Thomas Johnson were not entitled to the property, not having been designated by the society to receive the same, and there was no evidence that the society desired the patent to be so issued. They asked that the treaty of 1854 be suspended for a time for the following reasons: Its execution would defeat the original intent of founding the school, and would transfer a large institution created for charitable purposes to the sole benefit of a private individual; there were no debts or liens upon the property rendering its sale necessary; the treaty of 1854 provided for the sale of the lands of the Friends school and the Baptist school when their work was discontinued, and the respective boards of their societies to be reimbursed for sums spent on improvements, and had the treaty contained similar provisions for the Methodist school the society would be content; that they especially objected to the execution of the treaty of 1854 since there was a treaty pending in the senate that would nullify that treaty and the contracts made pursuant to it; that the property was not the property of the Methodist Episcopal church, but of the missionary society of that church, a corporation created by the legislature of the state of New York, and was purposely left out of the list of properties enumerated in the articles of the plan of separation quoted by the Secretary of the Interior. They therefore asked that if the property could not be restored to its original intent and purposes, that the issuing of a patent be suspended until the senate take action on the pending treaty. Read the letter. |
| 1865, May 9 | The statement of the case of the heirs of Thomas Johnson, relative to the Shawnee mission lands, was presented to the President of the United States by J.P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior. The secretary, after reviewing the case, declared that the treaty of 1854 had been performed and it but remained to deliver the patent to Johnson if it were the pleasure of the President. Read the letter. |
| 1865, May 26 | Patent for the three sections of land was filed and the heirs of Thomas Johnson became the official owners of the Shawnee manual labor school property. |
| Next Section of the Timeline: The Private years, 1866-1927 |
