The Reichart (and Abbeuhl) Family History THE OLD FOLKS (Written by Laura Reichart Hefty on April 6, 1920, as told to her by her Uncle Anton Reichart, Father of George, Lee, Philip, Lillie, Kate, Rose, Maggie, and Robert) Uncle Anton knew only two Grandmothers. On Father’s side was Enlich Schumacher. Her oldest son, Ludwich, was drafted into Napoleon Bonaparte’s army and he never came back. He was last seen eating from the stumps of old cabbage plants in a garden as were some of the other soldiers trying to get a bit of nourishment that way. There were seven sons in the family. One brother, Gabriel, came to America with my Grandfather Anton Reichart Sr. Gabriel had one son, Frederick, and two daughters. He settled in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He was killed hauling logs with the use of oxen. His wagon upset and fell on him breaking his leg. Though the doctor thought his leg was not broken, it was however, and in time he died from after effects of this accident. Another brother of Grandpa, Frederick, by name, married a widow with three sons at Neirstein Germany. He came to America with one of his stepsons, possibly after Grandfather came. He left his wife and five daughters in Neirstein. He was too poor to bring them to America with him and the stepson at that time. He with his stepson lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From there he went to Illinois where he died. His stepson stayed in Wisconsin. Jacob Strub, a second stepson, came to America a little later. He sent money to help his mother. John Tobias, another brother of Grandfather, had a large family and as far as we know, the rest stayed in Germany. Phillip Henry Reichart's father never came to America. Philip Henry came when he was a boy of eighteen to join his Uncle Anton Reichart Sr. Johan Tobias died in Schornsheim Hessen-Darmstadt. This is the family Philip Shueppert visited on a trip to Germany. Hannas (John) had two sons and one daughter (one boy Uncle was named after--Anton). There was one other brother. Uncle Anton could not remember about him, only that he did exist. Then there was Grandfather Anton Sr. Grandfather married Catherine Schumacher There were six children: Lizzie, Philip, Frederick Christina, Anton, and Catherine. The mother died when Catherine was about two years old. COMING TO AMERICA Four years after the death of the mother, they came to America. Grandfather was a stone mason. A few years before they came, he started a brickyard. The clay had to be trampled with their feet. Philip and Frederick did not take to the work, preferring to farm instead. Grandfather wanted to come to America while his wife, Catherine, still lived, but she would not consent to go while her old mother lived, but before she died, she said they should go as he had wanted to do. After the death of her old mother they made plans to come. Letters from those who went to America contained accounts that filled their hearts with hope for better opportunities, and an escape from militarism. German laws differ from ours. All that a woman brings with her when she married is kept separate as her own. In case of death it is given to the children, so Grandfather had no right to his wife’s estate. He talked it over with the Justice of the Peace, and he trying to be helpful to the family, said that Gabriel might go security for the money and so the property was sold and they made plans for the journey. THE JOURNEY BEGINS The journey began in April of 1851. They left in a wagon at night from Shornsheim to Mainz, a city nine miles distant. Their clothes and food were about all they took along. From Mainz they went by steam boat down the Rhine River to Rotterdam, where they had to wait ten days for the ship (a sail boat) Hector, a Holland merchant ship, which was not quite completed. Steam ships were not so common then and passage on them was higher. The Hector was bound for India to buy spices, sugar and coffee. It took 14 months for the complete trip to India and back. They could take passengers along to New York. In those days each family had to take enough provisions for the voyage. The company furnished the fuel and stove for cooking. About May 7, 1851, they started. They had two storms. Grandfather was quite sick on the water, not sea sick, but worried. The rest got through with very little sickness. They bought their own provisions at Rotterdam. Each individual had to have a certain apportionment. They had zwieback, (kind of bread) beans, bacon, eggs and sauerkraut. Some would take some food from home. Each family did its own cooking. Being a merchant ship, cooking arrangements were only for the crew, so the stove was used most of the day, and some got up at two a.m. to get a chance at the stove. The apartments were quite nice for the passengers, and being just a new ship, everything was clean. Little Catherine was quite a favorite with the passengers and the crew. Her friendly disposition made friends with everyone. She would go to the cook and say, “Ich habe hunger” and the cook would give her a piece of pancake or something handy. They were 57 days on the ship, and provisions were beginning to run low when they arrived in New York. On July 3, they were examined by a doctor. They could not unload for two days. Small boats went back and forth from the ship to land. Grandfather got a fine mess of beef at six cents a pound, which tasted very good after the ship’s food. They stayed in New York about six hours, and then they went up the Hudson River to Albany. There a baggage man tried to make them pay for overweight baggage. When the folks objected, he was going to pull away one of the trunks. Frederick got hold of the other handle and pulled the other way. Then another immigrant got after the baggage man with a knife, then he let go. This baggage man was of German background, too. He didn’t have much sympathy for his fellow countrymen. Immigrants often had suffered from this kind of treatment from this class of men. From Albany they took a train to Buffalo. From Buffalo they went by rail to Chicago. They stayed over night with an innkeeper that they had known in Germany. He pictured the future hopeful and tried to persuade Grandfather to locate in Chicago. But their goal was Wisconsin, where other countrymen and some of their old neighbors had found homes. Among them were Soller, Dexheumer, and Held. From Chicago they went to Milwaukee, which was a several hours ride on a steamship. They arrived at Milwaukee and were met by a boy named Berngesser. He took them with him to lodge at his house. Grandfather knew the boy’s father in Germany. While they were there, he gave Grandfather and Uncle Philip directions to the home of Mr. Held, twelve miles distant. This man was here nine years and paid $1.25 per acre for his land. Held returned with them with a team and wagon. Horses were scarce, and most of the farming was done with oxen. Soon they bought forty acres of land about one half mile from the Held’s. The man from whom they bought the land owned eighty acres just across the road. Since they had a renter on the forty, the folks could not move in, so he let them live in his tool shop until the renter moved out. He bought most of the renter’s crop. This place had a good barn and a fair house. The folks lived on this forty for four years. During their stay there, Lizzie married Abraham Stauffer. They first lived two and 3 half miles from Grandfather, near Menomanee Falls. After living there a while, they moved to Menasha, 90 miles away. They lived there a few years, and in time he lost everything he had. Grandfather and Philip worked at their trade as stonemasons. MOVING TO KANSAS In 1857, they sold their farm for $ 1.225.00. They wanted more land, and hearing of Kansas land being cheaper, they decided to look there. In April of 1857, Grandfather and Frederick began the trip. They came to Grasshopper Falls where they bought two quarters, the one on which Uncle Philip lived and the other where Frederick lived. The 1and cost about two dollars an acre. It was purchased from two Swiss who had the claim rights. This land had belonged to the Delaware Indians. They appraised their own land. Some of the Delaware River bottoms were sold for four dollars per acre. The river was called Grasshopper at this time. Grasshopper River was changed to the French name Sautrelle Falls, which is French for Grasshopper. This the irate citizens wanted changed. So the city was named Valley Falls, and the river Delaware. Frederick remained in Kansas and Grandfather returned to Wisconsin in September to get the rest of the folks, which included Abe Stauffer, Christina, and Christina and Lizzie, their small children. (1860 Census-Christina was 5 and Lizzie was 3). (No one remembers stories of how the family came, to Kansas. At this time some came by river to Leavenworth and then; by land to the new home. Others came by covered wagons from Milwaukee to Janesville, Wisconsin; headed toward Lincoln, Nebraska and then down toward Holton and Topeka, Kansas. Robert Reichart said that he had thought that they came to Leavenworth, but he had no particular thing he could use to prove this. They brought practically nothing with them so this-may favor the water route (it is strange that Aunt Laura missed getting this part of the story in from Uncle Anton.). North of Kasper Abbuehl’s house there was a ravine. There were two houses. Streuber , who bought a quarter close to Grandfather’s lived in one house, and the folks in the other. These were no doubt the first homes of the Abbuehl’s. They were one-room log houses. (An account ‘History of Lower Coal Creek’ found in the State Historical Building, described the cabins thusly: “‘in 1854 the first homes were cabins of round logs--crevices filled with wood, stone and mud--roof dirt or clapboard--no floors--no windows--doors low and wide--fireplaces logs plastered with mud--chimneys wood and plastered with mud.”). Written by J.H. Bennett, July 27. 1878. There was a spring and there was a timber, though small, it offered some protection. (The first well was dug in 1857. Both families, Abbuehls and Reicharts , had the four necessities of the times--wood, water, prairie and Swiss and German enterprise. Neighbors were Ephraim Lowman, Willis Frakes, Franz Ammen, and Jack Frakes. The Frakes were for slavery and this caused a bit of trouble . J.H.B.) In 1857 it was very dry, and very little corn was raised, except on ground that had been broken up before. Rains came too late for the corn on the newly turned-over sod, but they had a good crop of potatoes on timber ground, where there had been no sod. Farming was done with oxen. The next year they built a log house on what is now Alex’s place, where the smokehouse now stands. It was built lengthwise, standing north and south. The fireplace was across the north end. The top logs and roof where rafters were nailed to, were left open at the south gable end, and boards were laid across these logs and this was fixed up for sleeping, with warm August nights this was a nice place, but not so in winter. Benches were home made, tables were home made, dishes were few. In the little hill east they dug a cave. The following year crops were good, but in 1860 it was very dry, only nubbins and fodder. Provisions were sent to the needy from the East, but Grandfather had enough to get his family through the year. Aunt Christina (Mrs. Kasper Abbuehl) kept house for the family, when the oldest girl, Lizzie, married. Frederick was married to Margaret Abbuehl and Christina was married to Kasper Abbuehl, on July 10, 1860, at the home of a sister Catherine Abbuehl Ratz ( Mrs. John Ratz). This double wedding was a gala affair with the Old Country dancing and the drinking of beer or wine. Grandfather and Philip worked at their trade in Kansas also. In the first few years they built the first stone house on Sunny Hill farm. This house became Philip’s home. They built the Blake house two miles north of Valley Falls, and the arch cave on the home place and the rock room on Uncle Anton’s place which are still standing. A stone house was built near the log house which became the home of Frederick. A well was dug here which was walled up with dressed stones to make a smooth circumference. Sometimes they did stone mason work in Leavenworth, Kansas. Anton’s Story of Frederick’s Experiences as He Remembered Them Frederick volunteered in the Civil War in Sept. 8, 1862, in the enlisted Kansas 11th Infantry, at Leavenworth, Kansas. From there they went to Fort Scott, then to Arkansas. He was in the battle of Prairie Grove. His colonel was Hirem Moonlight, the Captain Louis Joy. Major Plumb later became colonel and also became a senator after the war. General Blunt was in command. He was going to be reinforced by General Herron. They were camping in the Boston Mountains. General Heineman was the southern commander. He found out the location of the northern commander and surrounded Blunt, and went on to meet Herron. Some of Blunt’s pickets heard sounds of moving wagons (the wheels were wrapped with cloth) and suspected something. They told Blunt, but he said it couldn’t be. In the morning they found out Heineman’s trick. They were given five minutes to get ready. Heineman was ten miles ahead. When they got there, they Joined Herron on the side. The soldiers thought they were flanked by Heineman and were ready to give up. A chaplain rode down the lines and cried, “It is Blunt”. This encouraged them, but Heineman had more men and the north had to retreat and the boys were all glad. He left 1000 dead piled up and put a fence around to keep the wild hogs away. That night at roll call Frederick was missing. Hilty, his neighbor friend, was very worried about him........Here the story cannot be read any more because the paper has deteriated. What Uncle Anton was to finish is not known. The next sentence begins,” He saw a man....... (In April of 1863 the Kansas 11th Infantry became the 11th Regiment Calvary) Civil War Days Frederick Reichart--private--age 25--5ft.7½ inches tall--black hair-black eyes--dark complexion--married--farmer--born Darmstadt, Germany. Home-Grasshopper Falls, (now Valley Falls,Ks.) Jefferson County. Enlisted Sept.8, 1862 Mustered into service Sept.15, 1862, Leavenworth, by Lt. Watts. Promoted to Corporal Nov. 21,1863. Promoted to Sergeant Jan. 24, 1865, at Fort Riley. Mustered out Sept. 21. 1865. Members of Company: Joseph Hilty William Ott John Holding James Myers John Bradshaw John Sills George Curt Benjamin Reppert Noah Coffman John Roderick Timothy Gorman George Stukesbury William Griffitts James Snow William Grigsby Stephens Stiers Martin Elliott Calvin Turner William Nay Thomas Turner James Nay Harrison Van Slyke Isaac May Daniel Weiber Jeshial Coy Adam Weiber John Cooling John Whitman Charles Bates Sr. Charles Bates Jr. Joseph Bishop The above names are from the area surrounding Valley Falls. When the call came for volunteers from Kansas, in the Coal Creek, Half Mound area, at least, the men decided by lot which would go and which would remain to care for the needs of the community. Frederick Reichart, Joseph Hilty, and William Ott were three who went. Kasper Abbuehl and Anton Reichart Jr. were two of the relatives who looked after the community. Later on when General Price threatened Kansas, Anton Reichart Jr. also entered the war. Word came one day that Quantrill would raid Atchison and men were needed to protect the town. Kasper Abbuehl walked at night to Atchison to help, but Quantrill and his men did not come to ambush. Bushwhackers came into the Grasshopper Falls area. Mr. Hager (Father-in-law of Jacob Ott) and Mr. Schleppey (Father of Ben Schleppey) were shot down as they answered the knock at the door. Grandmother Margaret Reichart was often afraid to sleep in the house. She would sleep in a corn shock in the field, taking a different one each time. Often she put her ear to the ground to see if she could hear the beat of horses’ hooves or the rumble of wagon wheels. With the prairie quietness sound traveled far in the night. Mrs. Hilty lived just north of Grandmother Margaret. A certain time of the day Mrs. Hilty and Grandmother Margaret would meet half way between the two homes to see if either had heard anything from the men in the war. Grandmother Margaret and Mrs. Hilty used to gather plums and wild grapes together east of the Reichart Homestead. Grandmother said that they had such fun together swinging on the vines, and talking and laughing together. Then all at once they would think of their husbands and wonder if they were perhaps dead. Then it seemed almost a sin that they for a moment had forgotten them in their fun. One day Grandfather Frederick did not answer the roll call. Mr. Hilty asked his commanding officer if he might search for him, but the officer said “No”. When it got dark, Mr. Hilty slipped out from the camp anyway. He didn’t find Grandfather, but Grandfather was back to roll call the next morning. He had gotten lost from the group and had to hide in the daytime and travel at night to get back to the company. Once Grandfather got a horse shot out from under him and he had to take to his heels. Mr. Hilty yelled, “Run Fred, run!”. Grandfather said that he was already running just as fast as he could go. When Grandfather Frederick entered the war, he left at home his wife of two years and his first child, Anton. In 1863 his second child, Frederick, was born. They wrote and told him about the arrival of the child. Grandfather got so homesick that he just had to come home. So he went AWOL. On the third day that he was home, the family got worried. And his younger brother, Anton, volunteered to go in his place. During the Civil War, they had very poor methods of keeping track of their men. They would be gone sometimes for days and then show up again. They didn’t tell the officer what they had done until Grandfather was back again. Instead of the officer reprimanding him, the officer said that it was a very brave thing that his brother had done for him. So Anton was commended for the thing that he did. Grandfather said that often they would fight all day and then run or ride all night. A run-away slave came into the community. He was hidden by Kasper Abbuehl. No one knows the length of time, but one day Uncle Kasper said that it was time for him to go on. No doubt this was after he had rested and been given food for several days and they felt that he was now able to continue his escape journey. Stories told by: Lisa Reichart Alex Reichart Laura Reichart Hefty Regena Abbuehl Volk Clara Hefty Reichart From: A COMPENDIUM of the WAR OF the REBELLION-by Frederick Dyer Kansas Volunteers Page 1184 Organized at Camp Lyon near Fort Leavenworth, August 29 to September 14, 1862. Moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, October 4-9, 1862, thence to Pea Ridge, Arkansas, October 15-19. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Frontier, Dept. Missouri, to February, 1863. District of Rolla, Dept. Missouri and Dist. of Kansas, Dept. Missouri, to April, 1863. SERVICE: Action at Old Fort Wayne or Beattie’s Prairie, near Maysville, October 22, 1862. Cane Hill, Boston Mountains, November 28. Boston December 4-6. Reed’s Mountain December 6. Battle of Prairie Grove December 7. Expedition over Boston Mountains to Van Buren December 27-31. Moved to Springfield, Missouri, January, 1863, and duty there till February 17. Moved to Forsyth, Missouri, thence to Fort Scott, Kansas. On furlough March. Moved from Fort Scott to Salem, Missouri, thence to Kansas City, Missouri, April .6-20. Regiment mounted and designation changed to 11th Kansas Cavalry April, 1863. 11th REGIMENT CAVALRY Organized at Kansas City, April, 1863 from 11th Kansas Infantry. Attached to District of the Border and District of Kansas, Dept. of Missouri, till February 1865. District of Upper Arkansas to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to April, 1965. District of the Plains, Dept. of Missouri to September 1965. SERVICE: Assigned to duty on eastern border of Kansas till October, 1864. Expedition. from Salem to Mulberry Creek, Kansas, August 8-11, 1863 (Detatchment). Scout on Republican River, Kansas, August 19/24, 1863 (Detatchment). Operations against, Quantrell on his raid into Kansas August 20-28. Independence, Missouri, August 25. Companies “O” and “F” duty on Southern border of Kansas December, 1863, to August, 1864. Company “L” stationed at Fort Riley. Company “G” at Fort Leavenworth as body guard to General Curtis. Action at Scott’s Ford, Missouri, October 14, 1863. Deep Water Creek, Missouri October 15. Expedition into Missouri June 16-24. Scout from Salem to Mulberry Creek, August 8-11 (Detatchment). Operations against Indians in Nebraska August 11-November 28 (Company I). Operations against Price in Missouri and Kansas. Lesington October 19. Little Blue October 21. Westport October 23. Cold Water Grove October 24. Mine Creek, Little Osage River, October 25. Regiment ordered to Fort Riley December, 1864. Companies “C” and “E” to Fort Larned February, 1865. Regiment moved to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, February 20-March 4, thence moved to Fort Laramie. March 6-April 9, and to Platte Bridge. Duty guarding telegraph lines and operating against Indians till June. Sage Creek, Dakota Territory, April 21. Deer Creek May 21. Platte Bridge, Dakota Territory, June 3. Companies “A”, “B”, “E”, “F”, “L”, and “M” moved to Fort Halleck June 11-24. Protect stage route from Camp Collins, Colorado, to Green River till August 13. White River, Dakota Territory, June 17. Rock Creek July 1. Fort Halleck July 4-26. Moved to Kansas and mustered out September 26, 1865. Hardships---Weather Extremes Drought 1860 From June, 1859, to November, 1860, not enough rain fell “to wet the earth at any one time two inches in depth.” By the autumn of 1860, the ground was parched, springs and wells were dried up, and the water in the creeks was rapidly disappearing. Nearly half the people were destitute. 15,000 left the state. Counties in the southern portion suffered most. Even the wealthy populous counties of Bourbon, Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson, were in deplorable conditions. From Shawnee County’s 4,000 acres of wheat only 500 bushels of wheat was harvested. When it became evident the wheat crop was failing, many settlers plowed up the wheat and planted corn. Then when it was apparent the corn would fail farmers plowed it up and planted buckwheat. When they saw it fail, they plowed again and planted turnips. They also failed. C.H. Stillwell wrote letters to New York Tribune describing the conditions. Immediately influential persons decried the story and wrote letters stating that Kansas was abundantly able to care for their own needs. When Thaddeus Hyatt of New York, who had worked with National Kansas Relief Committee in 1856, when the state was racked by conflict between free and slave men, read these reports, he decided to come to Kansas. He came to Atchison. He worked with William F. M. Arny and Samuel C. Pomery. They made a 25-day investigation. They decided to organize the state for relief. Atchison was to be the center for relief because that was the end of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. This gave direct shipment. Hyatt was to raise funds and provisions in the East and Arny to do the same in the West. Pomery was to receive supplies at Atchison. To store and distribute the relief provisions 12 people were hired. Eight buildings were used, including four warehouses, one clothing room, one office, one hotel, and one grist mill. The buildings were all free of rent, and all but two were owned by Pomery. The mill prepared food free of charge, while the hotel operated as a hospital for those who arrived for aid. In describing the scene at Atchison, one correspondent of the Chicago Daily Tribune wrote “Great stalwart men, gaunt, lean, hungry-looking, weary, sad, tired and dispirited; poorly clad and in all respects filling one with the conviction of suffering, patiently borne and long repressed.” The relief work continues until May 1861. The committee reported 15 million pounds of provisions and seed had been distributed and more than $150,000.00 had been received and spent for freight costs. In addition to this, friends in the East sent supplies to friends here. In the Coal Creek Community, barrels of supplies were received through the church, from the Evangelical Association in the East. Grandmother Margaret Abbuehl Reichart (Mrs. Frederick), used to tell how she fixed potatoes for Anton Sr. He was old and should have the few grown. It was hard for her not to eat any. This was the year she was married in July. The winter was hard but not as hard in the Coal Creek area as in other parts of Kansas. Another advantage was the closeness to Atchison. Another story which she told was the story of whether to kill the cow or kill the ox. The year this took place is not remembered. If they killed the cow, there would not be milk, if they killed the ox, they would not have it for plowing. Grandfather Frederick said, “Kill the ox”. Grandmother Margaret said, “Kill the cow”. The argument was settled by Anton Jr. who also said, “Kill the cow.” So the cow was killed and the ox was spared for spring plowing and fortunately a fair crop was harvested that year. In the year 1857 there was rain, but it was scarce and came at the wrong times. The newly turned-up sod needed much more rain than fell. Sod which had been plowed years before bore better. The Reicharts fortunately had planted potatoes on timber soil from which they had just cleared the trees. Here they were able to dig a good potato crop. The Year of the Great Blizzard The morning of Saturday, December 31,1885, dawned clear and mild (50 degrees) across Kansas. The weather for Christmas had been good and Kansas prepared to welcome the New Year. But that morning a yellowish-purple tint appeared along the northern horizon. Then white fleecy clouds began to move into northwest Kansas, and the barometer dropped. After lunch light rain began to fall in the Northwest and spread over the state. Temperatures dropped fast (dropping to 7 degrees below zero over night) and rain turned to snow. Two thirds of Kansas was covered with ice with a blanket of 4 to 8 inches of snow. The wind then blew 80 miles per hour making drifts l0 feet tall. Temperatures continued to drop to 10, 20, 25 degrees below zero across the state. There were five days of this, until the weather broke, only to be followed by another storm. Trains were stalled. Several trains in Western Kansas made it to Dodge City. Cattle on the trains were let out of the cars but only one quarter survived until the next morning. Cattle on the plains drifted south with the storm. When they reached the Union Pacific, the right-of-way fences stopped them and most froze to death. Years later a common remark was “One could walk from Ellsworth to Denver on carcasses of cattle that died January 1886. Much of wild life was destroyed: jackrabbits, prairie chickens, antelope, and birds of every description. Only three passenger trains crossed Kansas and reached Denver in all that January. There were a few stage lines in operation yet. One arrived in Camp Supply, Indian Territory with the driver frozen. Those inside did not know that he was dead. Some caught without fuel had to burn corn on the cob or their furniture. Many stayed in bed to keep warm. Some dug caves into drifts to shelter animals. One farmer to save two prize horses took them into his house with the family. In the Coal Creek Community no lives were lost. The weather was not quite as severe as in the open plains--there were wooded areas and hills which offered some protection from the onslaught of the wind, Animals died where farm buildings could not house them and feed was not stored in or near the barns. Even so the experience was frightening. Grasshopper Invasion 1874 The grasshoppers were so thick that when droves of them took to the air, they were as clouds hiding the sun. Grasshoppers are heavy feeders so there were no crops that year. In 1875 there was partial failure from the young hoppers which hatched the year before. At this time there were no known controls for insects so that all one could do was to watch them devour vegetation. It could only be hoped that the winters would be cold enough to kill the hoppers under cover for the winter and also destroy eggs that were laid by the adults. Again people needed help from the East. Food was needed and seeds for the planting of new crops. These were the greatest of the needs at this time. Aunt Christina Reichart Abbuehl used to tell how she sent the older girls up and down the rows of grapes chasing the grasshoppers off the vines hoping in this way to save the grapes. She and the older girls went to the field to sickle the ripe wheat. They took the baby to the field with them. They laid the baby down on a pallet to sleep. Then they covered the face with a large handkerchief to keep the hoppers off. (Checking on Dates this baby must have been Priscilla Abbuehl). Source: Gleaned from family and newspapers Gardens In general, the earliest cultivated gardens in the Midwest grew out of a simple need for food and involved little aesthetic or recreational interest. The harsh realities of a variable and rigorous climate on the plains seemed to make it mandatory to the pioneers that there be a practical return for any expenditure of time and effort in cultivation. To be tolerated, plants should be useful, should produce food, medicine, or even clothing. If one uses the definition of a garden as any intentionally cultivated area, the first gardens were probably fruit orchards planted in the area as soon as settlers were able to do so. Early census of the Abbuehls and Reicharts lists trees in the orchards. The Abbuehls had apples and cherries and the Reicharts had apples. These orchards contained all the way from 80 to 150 trees. Uncle Kasper Abbuehl would take apples to church to give to the people there as Christmas gifts to the congregation. The first gardens exclusively of flowers were the dooryard gardens. They were planted near the front door. Kitchen gardens, and herb gardens were located at the side of the house or close to the kitchen door. In many instances wild plant materials which were native to the area and already used by the Indians were adopted, and sometimes adapted by the settlers. Jack-in-the-pulpit was known as Indian turnip and was cooked for food. Wild crabapples, grapes, plums, elderberries, gooseberries and strawberries were dried or made into jams and jellies. Thus adding interest to the other plain food they had to eat. Parts of plants were used by frontier women to dye their hand-woven fabric, using pinecones to produce a tan dye, wild geranium petals to yield pink, and hickory nut hulls to make a beautiful green-brown dye. Walnut bark and hulls made a deep brown. Many ideas from the various countries were brought to the plains states. England used hedges around their gardens and yards. One adaptation of this practice was the planting of Osage orange hedge fences around the farms. The use of the Osage orange spread throughout the Eastern half of Kansas. In both the Abbuehl and Reichart census the reporting of the number of rods of hedge fencing was made-- 80 rods, and 120 rods. The yellow rose was one of the flowers that pioneer women took with them when they moved and from which cuttings were widely exchanged among gardeners. Grandmother Margaret Abbuehl Reichart’s yard and garden contained, eventually, moss, common flex, yellow rose, snowball, lilacs and flowering quince. The yard was surrounded by a stone wall, on the lower slopes of the yard, with a white picket fence atop. After the log cabin, the house was stone. Trees were planted and with the yard and flowers this indeed was a beautiful setting that they called home. Religion The Reicharts originally were members of the German Lutheran Church. In 1857, the first Lutheran Church was built in Valley Falls(then called Grasshopper Falls.) Anton Reichart Sr. and Philip helped in the construction of the building. This church had the distinction of being the first Lutheran Church west of the Missouri River. The church was built under the pastorate of Rev. J.H. McAfee. Anton Reichart Sr., Philip, Frederick and Anton Jr. were all charter members. The very first preaching of the Evangelical Association in the Coal Creek community was in 1859, in a small log house on the Emmel Farm. Services were held in the Ernest School House, Lower Coal Creek School and the Abbuehl home. In 1886 a church building was erected on the present site of the church. The Reicharts became charter members of this church. Just when this took place is unknown. Reichart Land Division It is hereby agreed by and between Anton Reichart Jr., Fred Reichart, and Philip Reichart of the county of Jefferson and State of Kansas parties of the first part and Anton Reichart Sr. of same county and state of the second part witnesseth: That the said parties of the last part agree and promise to pay to said party of the 2nd part during his lifetime the sum of one hundred dollars each, making the sum of three hundred dollars in consideration of which the said party of the 2nd part has here-to-fore deeded by general warranty deeds his lands or C to said parties of the first part. This $300. per year (one $100-each payable yearly) is for support of said Anton Reichart during his lifetime. Said parties of the 1st part here-by further agree and promise to pay to Christina Stauffer and Elizabeth Stauffer at their age of maturity the sum of one hundred dollars each, to be paid by said parties of the first part each his proportion. It is further agreed by the said Anton Reichart Jr. to give and deliver to said Anton Reichart Sr. the product of the vineyard each and every year during said Anton Reichart Sr.’s lifetime said vineyard being situated on said Anton Reichart Jr.’s land, deeded to him by his said Anton Reichart’s Sr. (his father). In testimony whereof we have here unto set our hands or seals this the 20th day of September 1873. Anton Reichart Witness, Frederick Reichart I. Beland Philip Reichart Anton Reichart Sr. ***************************************************************************** Anton Jr. got the north half of the N.E. quarter of Section 2 Range 17 E. Township 8 S. 80 acres. Philip got l00 acres in the western part of the N.W. quarter of Section 1 Range 17 E. Township 8 S, plus 10 acres in the southwest corner of the S.W. quarter of Section 36 Range 17 E. Township 7 S This would give Philip a piece of timber on his land. 110 acres. Frederick got the remaining lands as shown on the map.80 acres + 70 acres + 60 acres = 210 acres. ***************************************************************************** Jefferson County Recorder of Deeds: SE quarter of Section 35 in Township 7 Range 17 Land of Delaware Indians. May 6, 1857 full payment and full title, President Buchanan. Anton Richard. ***************************************************************************** On the same map is located the land belonging to the Abbuehls. Mrs. Kasper Abbuehl was Christina Reichart. The N.W. quarter of Section 36; Range 17 E.; Township 7 5. 160 acres. Philip Reichart--Mary Hilty Philip Reichart was by trade a stone mason, as his father was. When they were in Wisconsin, in addition to some farming they also did stone work. In Kansas they did work at Grasshopper Falls and in Leavenworth. Philip’s own home, the stone part on Anton Jr.’s, Frederick’s home and the Blake house were structures that they helped build. Philip and his father helped to build the first Lutheran Church in Grasshopper Falls, in 1857. The Reicharts were Lutherans in Germany and Philip and the other family members became charter members of this church. In 1871, Philip married Mary Hilty. He was 37 years and she was just 23. They farmed on the Reichart land east of Coal Creek. In April, 1891, Philip was kicked by a horse and almost killed. But he seemed to make improvement and there was hope for his recovery. In November of 1892, he developed lung fever which resulted in his death. Mary Hilty was born in Lichtenstein (at the time part of Austria). She came to America with her parents in 1870. Life had been very hard for her family in Austria as it was for many others in those days. In America she also had hardships. Because of want and need she learned to be very saving. It was hard for her to see anything wasted. If she were driving along the road and an ear of corn was lying near, lost from a farm wagon, she would stop the horse and pick the corn up to take home to feed the chickens. On her rich creek bottom soil purslane grew into large plants. Pigs love the weed. Aunt Mary gathered it by the basketfuls from the rows of corn to feed to them. Gus Keen had a windmill on his farm that would grind grain on a good windy day. The frame which supported the machinery was enclosed, by board sides. The fins on the wheel would collapse when not in use. The burs were of metal. There were two hoppers, one large and the other small. The larger was above the smaller one. The grinding was done very slowly. A person could fill the larger hopper and then go off to the field to work while the grinding took place. Gus, the good neighbor that he was, let Aunt Mary grind her chicken feed free on his mill. There was one problem, however. Gus was a little careless in keeping the mill, as well as other things, in repair. One board was broken off the side of the mill. The wind blew some of Aunt Mary’s ground feed out this opening. This was wasteful! If Gus were anywhere around, he got a lecturing from her about his carelessness. The Keens had goats. Before she went home, she always had to have some goat’s milk to drink. Gus thought this compensated for the lost grain. The railroad went across the Frederick Reichart farm. Trains going north had an up-grade which slowed it down. At the road crossing tramps often jumped from the freight trains and slept in the barn and called at the house for a hand-out. One time Clara Reichart (Mrs. Alex) had fed a tramp. Among other things she gave him homemade bread and butter with strawberry preserves. This must have been to his dislike for he went to Aunt Mary’s house later. On the way he threw the bread away by the bridge that crossed Coal Creek. Aunt Mary went to her mailbox that was just across the bridge to get her mail. She discovered the bread thrown away. So she walked over to Clara’s to see if she had fed the tramp and what she had given him. What a lecture the tramp! The nice fresh bread with beautiful red strawberry preserves! My! My! Then she was angry with herself for feeding someone who could be so wasteful. He should go hungry so he could appreciate good food! When Philip died, Aunt Mary was left with five girls (one of whom died five years later, at the age of sixteen). Philip’s death was a real hardship. She continued to live on the farm, raised pigs and chickens, and milked cows. She had four nephews at the Anton Reichart Jr.’s home and five of the seven nephews were still at Frederick’s home. They were neighbors just across the creek. They all helped Aunt Mary in many ways. These boys all loved their Aunt Mary. She was spirited, spunky, and outspoken. There was always excitement wherever she was. She was admired for the way she always shouldered the responsibility for the family when Philip was gone. The boys did much of the farming for her, that is the field work. Anton’s boys always liked to have their horses and mules look “sporty”, so they trimmed their tails and manes. Aunt Mary had one horse named Josy which she drove to the buggy. One day without asking Aunt Mary the boys decided to make Josy’s appearance more “sporty”. When Aunt Mary found it out, she was very unhappy. “Poor Josy! Her tail was bobbed so short that she couldn’t switch the flies!” What a scolding the boys did get! No doubt the boys did things sometimes just to here what Aunt Mary would say about it. Alex and Kasper Reichart trapped in the woods by Aunt Mary’s house. One day they found a redbird caught in one of the traps. They took the bird to show to Aunt Mary. She stroked its feathery as the boys held it and kept repeating over and over, “Oh, du schone rote voegeli”, (Oh, you beautiful red birdie). All at once the bird pecked her and she shouted, “Oh, du schreckliche ding.” (Oh, you terrible thing. Notice the bird is now a thing) One day Aunt Mary brought daughter Emily over to Aunt Margaret’s house. Emily said that Kasper had called her a Kuh schwanz. (a cow tail) at school. Aunt Margaret went out to call her little Kappie in. She asked, “Did you call Emily a Cow tail at school today?” Honest Kappie replied, “Yes, but not until she called me a pig’s tail first.” Aunt Mary got off her chair, took Emily by the hand, and walked out of the house for home. For once Aunt Mary didn’t have a word to say. She probably thought that things were pretty even. At this time there sometimes were language problems. The Germans in making English translations sometimes sounded crude. This was sometimes called “Old-World crudeness”. As an example when Josephine had yellow jaundice, Aunt Mary said, “She was as yellow as Kuhfladen.” (cow flops). Other Germans might have said the same thing. In the English a more Victorian expression would have been used. It might have been farther from the truth but they never-the-less would have used a more refined expression. The more Victorian expressions were being used both in England and in America, and in America it took on an added frontier flavor. Kasper Reichart used to tell this story which further shows word problems. Kasper was very amused with the play on words and also how very well Aunt Mary could take care of herself. Having heard Aunt Mary tell this story this also added to his amusement. One very cold winter day Aunt Mary went to Valley Falls. A widower (whose name can no longer be recalled) said in poor English to her, “This is a bad day for a wider (frontier for widow) to be out” (in German ”wider” means a contrary person. Aunt Mary didn’t know what word he had in mind. She was unhappy if he meant this to be a flirtation, she didn’t like being pointed out as being a widow, and if he were joking about her disposition, she liked that even less. So she answered, “Auch fur widerlichs”. (Also for repulsive persons), but he thought she was endeavoring to use the English word widowers. Aunt Mary had a little dog which she loved very much. Trixie did no wrong. She always stayed at home. She never ran around at night. There was no other dog quite so well behaved as Trixie. But after every rain there were little Trixie tracks in the mud all around Uncle Frederick’s house. When the first telephone line went up in the community, the German speaking people all wanted to be on this line. This meant stringing a lot of wire and meandering here and there to get this accomplished. (Line 13-hundred). Aunt Mary wasn’t invited to join this group. She believed in speaking her mind and she talked too much, they gave as the reason. This was most unkind. If anyone needed a telephone, she did. With no men folk at her house, it would have been reassuring to have a telephone available. Philip Reichart was concerned about this. Sometime later he suggested to his father, Anton Jr., that another line be made. They would get off the 13-hundred and join the new group, too, and Aunt Mary could have the needed telephone. So the 12-hundred line was put in, but it had to meander here and there also, and needless to say most of the people would be English speaking on it. Since the lines traveled side by side in places, in wind storms the wires would become tangled. With party lines eavesdropping was an enjoyable pastime for some. With the lines crossed it was more exciting for there were different people to listen to then. There was one drawback, for when the German people didn’t want the English to hear what they were saying they spoke in German. That infuriated some. In spite of the fact that Aunt Mary had a lot of outdoor work to do, she was careful about her personal appearance and she was an immaculate house keeper. This trait her daughters emulated. As Aunt Mary grew older times became less difficult for her. Her family grew up so she had to work less hard because she had their help. Finances were better so there could be relaxing from such careful planning and saving. As this came about there was a mellowing of her personality and the next generation knew her as a more composed , less defensive person. I don’t suppose the nephews across the creek would have changed Aunt Mary for anything. She was a colorful person, abounding in contrast to others and making life full of variety. They all admired with what courage she managed the farm for 20 years. In 1912, Aunt Mary moved to Holton where she spent her retirement days. The Alex Reichart family watched from the window that cold March day, as the wagons drove by moving Aunt Mary from the community. Each summer after Alex got an automobile, they looked forward with anticipation to a day when they would make a visit to Aunt Mary’s house. Obituary - Mary Hilty Reichart (Mrs. Philip) Mrs. Mary Reichart, daughter of Joseph and Mary Hilty, was born in Fürstentum Lichtenstein (the Principality of Liechtenstein), Austria, January 23, 1848, and died at her home in Holton, November 25, 1931, having reached the age of 83 years, 10 months, and 3 days. She grew to womanhood in the Fatherland, coming to America with her parents in 1870, locating near Valley Falls, Kansas. In the year 1871, she was united in marriage to Philip Reichart. To this union six daughters were born, two of whom with the father preceded her in death. Brother Reichart died in 1892. At her husband’s death, she was left with a family of small girls, yet continued to live on the farm and to manage it for twenty years. These were hard years but Sister Reichart bore the burden well. In the spring of 1912, she moved to Holton with her daughters where she continued since. When she came to the Coal Creek Community as a young woman she came in contact with the Evangelical Church, was converted and united with the church of which she was a faithful member until death. For many years she was a member of the Coal Creek Church, later transferring her membership to the Holton Church. In her later years though weak in body, she was strong in faith. She is survived by her four daughters, Mrs. Mary Hilgenfeld, Mrs. Christina Ott, Misses Emma and Josephine, all of Holton; one brother, Lou Hilty of Valley Falls; two brothers, Anton and Lawrence preceded her in death. There are four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and many friends remaining. A short service was held at the home in Holton. The principal service being conducted from the Coal Creek Church by her pastor, R.R. Schreiber, assisted by Rev. David Bletcher. Burial was in the Coal Creek Cemetery. Philip Reichart No Obituary for Philip was found--This account of his death from: The New Era and The Farmers Vindicator of Nov. 12, 1892. We learned that Philip Reichart of Coal Creek passed away last Wednesday. Last April he was kicked by a horse and almost killed, but he seemed to be getting over it until he was attacked by lung fever which resulted in his death. Mr. Reichart is a brother-in-law of Lou Hilty, is about 60 years old and highly respected by all who knew him. His funeral took place Thursday attended by a large concourse of friends. May he rest in peace. Died Nov. 9, 1892 Buried Coal Creek Cemetery From the ships log Ronennais District of New Orleans Port of New Orleans, I Lemethais do solemnly, sincerely, and truly swear that the following List or Manifest Passengers subscribed with my name, and now delivered by me to the Collector of the Customs for the Duties ___________ contains, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a just and true account of all the Passengers received on board the Ship Ronennais where of I am Master from Havre and that eight of them died during the passage. Sworn to The 24th. January 1852 ___________________ before me A. Lemethais is Master, from Havre burthen 819 89/95 Tons. ************************************* The Ronennais was a sailing Vessel. There were 325 passengers aboard, infants are not listed (Infant under two years of age) it is not known if the 325 include them or not. At least seven of those who died in passage were children. Of the three pages received from the log the oldest passenger was age forty-six. No. Name Age Sex Country from Country to Occupation Died in Passage which coming which going 166 Ratz, Johannis 28 M Switzerland New Orleans Farmer 167 Ratz, Catharine 19 F Switzerland New Orleans 168 Ott, Melchior 27 M Switzerland New Orleans Farmer 169 Ott, Catharine 39 F Switzerland New Orleans 170 Abbuehl, Kaspar 16 M Switzerland New Orleans 171 Abbuehl, Margaritha 10 F Switzerland New Orleans 172 Henry 6 M Switzerland New Orleans The Henry above-- his age is the same as a boy we have been calling John Ott. Infants not listed for The Ott-Abbuehl Family- Anna Ott (on another record it appears that she may have been six weeks old) Later became Mrs.Anton Reichart. Melchior Ott Jr., age two years. Margaret Ratz (daughter of John and Catharine Ratz) about 14 months old. Later became Mrs. John Saaler, upon his death she became Mrs. Samuel Leu. Another document that Floyd Ratz obtained from Switzerland says that they left Guttannen on October 25, 1851. Frederick Reichart (1837) -- Margaret Abbühl (1839) Guttannen, Switzerland, is a small village high in the Alp Mountains. The Abbuehls lived in the “Back Country” of this village. Margaret would carry produce to market when she was a little girl. It was up and down the mountain side. On the way there was a level place about thirteen feet square. She would put her produce down and walk around in this spot thinking how nice it would be to live on flat land. Margaret had deep concerns and feelings about the things that happened to her. Perhaps this was because the pattern of her life as upset often and at an early age. Her father died when she was just four years old. She with her brother and sister lived with the grandparents. The mother, Katharina, worked away from home. When she was five, the mother married again, and now she had a new father and another home. They came to America when she was just twelve years old. They lived in Illinois at first. The topography of Illinois was so different from that of Switzerland, that she got very homesick for the mountains. She worked away from home so she was also homesick for the family. After four years in Illinois, the family came to Kansas. Sister Catherine(Mrs.John Ratz) and family stayed in Illinois two years longer. In Kansas there were the hardships of pioneer life. Northeast Kansas was not so flat. There were rolling grass covered hills and valleys and tree lined creeks. Henry Reichart said that there were young trees growing along the creeks with very few trees elsewhere. He also said in the early days the woods were beautiful in the spring. The edges of the woods were lined with wild plum, red bud, dogwood, and red hazelnut copse. Margaret often said to her daughter-in-law, Clara Hefty Reichart (Mrs. Alex) “Gab es nicht Catherine (Mrs.John Ratz) geht es mir nur Schlecht.” (“Were it not for Catherine it would have gone even harder for me.”) Margaret was spirited, energetic, and a pusher. She was also kind hearted and generous. It was her determined energetic ways which helped the family through the hardships of pioneer life. It was her kindness and generosity which made life more comfortable for others besides her own household, as you will read farther in the story. As stated before, the Reicharts (Reicherts) came to America seeking better opportunities and to escape militarism. Reasons for coming to Kansas from Wisconsin were that it was quite wearisome to clear the land of trees and then to farm between the stumps. Also they wanted more land and in Kansas the land was cheaper. When the Reicharts came, they brought very little with them, Lillian Reichart Keller remembers hearing them tell that they had very little in the way of furniture. They had no beds for a long time. They slept on pallets on the floor. Frederick Reichart was a kind, easy-going person. He was highly respected by everyone. All his daughter-in-laws loved him very much and often spoke of this man’s fine personality. In 1860, Frederick and Margaret were married in a double wedding with Christina Reichart and Kasper Abbuehl. They were married in Grasshopper Falls at the home of sister Catherine Abbuehl Ratz (Mrs. John). This was a gala affair with the old country wedding celebration. In 1862, Catherine Ratz died. This was a very great loss to Margaret for this older sister had been such a stabilizing comfort to her in her life. Margaret went to live with Frederick in the Reichart household. There lived Anton Sr., Philip, Anton Jr., Abraham Stauffer husband of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Reichart) and his two daughters - Christina 5 years old and Elizabeth 3 years old. This was a household of men folk and two little girls. The home was still the hewed log house. Margaret at first spent considerable time herding cows, because there was a lack of fences and they needed to be herded from the crops. Andreas-Cutler’s History of Kansas states unlike some counties of the state, there were no herd laws in Jefferson County. Therefore each farmer had to fence in his crops to protect them, because animals could roam at will. He states that about l/3 of the fences were hedge which made rapid and substantial growth. Other kinds of material in general use for fencing were stone, rails, boards, and wire. In settling the land, they were required to let pastures ever so often for free range. In the Coal Creek Community there were two known places that were such pastures. There may have been more. One was just west of the Abbuehl farm. Another was north of the Abbuehl farm just across the county line on the west side of the road. One of the first fields that the Reicharts enclosed to protect their crop was just east of their home. One day an Indian passing through the country asked them if the door to the field was open or closed. Enclosed pastures in the early day were sometimes used together, common pastures. Such a pasture had been fenced in--whether hedge or rail, it is unknown, or perhaps barbed wire had been used at this time. This pasture was just west of the Abbuehl land. A man by the name of Freeman had a Billy-goat. Whenever, each farmer or his boys went to take or get the cows, the goat would stand in the gate and not let the cows come through. Grandfather Frederick finally had enough of this and when Freeman would do nothing about the goat, Frederick took the goat south of his place to the woods and hit it in the head with an ax. The next morning Grandmother said,” Look Grandfather, your goat is up walking around.” Grandfather went to the woods again. The goat did not return. The free range pastures often caused trouble. In haying season who had the right to make hay from the unclaimed land? Margaret knitted every opportunity that she had, even while she might be doing something else. She knitted as she herded cows; she knitted as she walked to the neighbors, and she knitted as she visited with friends. Not only did she knit for her own eight children, but for Anton Jr.’s family as well. George Reichart often told how his Aunt Margaret kept them in mittens, caps, and socks. Lisa Reichart (Mrs. John) said that Margaret made all the suits and work clothes for her family, until they were about 21 years old. She did this with needle and thread by hand, not having a sewing machine. John Ratz cobbled shoes but some times one had to furnish the leather. One winter Margaret did not have shoes so she could not go outside unless one of the men folk were in the house. Then she would slip into their boots. Anton Sr. had brought grape cuttings from his vineyard in Germany to America. The stone arch cave on the Reichart Homestead was built as storage and a place to make wine. Anton Sr. would work in his vineyard and while he rested he would sit in the cave, drink a glass of wine and eat a slice of dry bread. Margaret thought it might be easier to take the bread and wine to the vineyard than to walk back and forth, but he wanted to rest in the cool of the cave. He continued his wine making until the L.K.& W Railroad was built. The bed ran across his farm, Workers came to the cave to buy wine. Some of them already had too much to drink. Anton Sr. said, “If this is the way it is to be in America, I quit making any more wine.” And he did quit. Rose Spence (Mrs. Charles) said that the grape vines on their farm were originally cuttings from vines of Anton Sr.’s vineyard which he had given to her father Mr. Kneir. Through the years they kept making cuttings as the need arose to keep the grape patch going. These vines were still there in 1960. In the Coal Creek Community lived the Frakes Family. They came from Missouri and they were proslavery. The slave question had caused some trouble among the settlers. Jack Frakes lived on Jeff Creek in a little house west of the road, which went north and south past the Swabville School...This would be west of Half Mound. One cold winter day Jack went to butcher at his brother Willis’ place, somewhere in the Coal Creek neighborhood. While there, he got drunk and on the way home, late at night, he stopped at Ammen’s house. With a big butcher knife in his hand, he shouted, “I won’t live along side a man I can’t lick, and I want to try you.” Franz Ammen saw the knife in the moonlight and when he went out through the cabin door he picked up a stick of stove wood from the woodpile. When Frakes dismounted, he made the mistake of dismounting with his back to Ammen. Ammen struck with the stick of wood and Frakes slumped to the round. Ammen left him in the bitter cold and returned to the cabin. Later Jake Ammen, Franz’s brother, end one of the other boys took Frakes into the house and thawed him out and sent him home. Frakes sold out and left the country. He wouldn’t live beside a man he couldn’t lick. One night Frederick and Margaret kept Indians in their home. There were at least two--an older man and a boy- perhaps a father and a son. Frederick took an ax to bed with him that night...just in case he needed protection. During the night they heard one of the Indians walking in the house. Soon they heard the dipper rattle in the water bucket. His footsteps were heard going back to bed and all was quiet again. Then they remembered that they had fed them salt pork for supper. In the morning the older Indian scolded the younger for making a disturbance in the night. “Well, he only needed water!” The Indian also patted the feather bed and said, “Nice! Nice!” Census 1860 Anton Reichert Farmer and stone mason age 57 Philip Reichert 25 Frederick Reichert 23 Christina Reichert 19 Anton Reichert Jr. 17 Catharine Reichert 13 Abe Stauffer 28 Christina Stauffer 5 Elizabeth Stauffer 3 Owned improved 80 acres --247 unimproved $3,000.00 value of the farm $25.00 Value of farm machinery 4 milk cows 6 work oxen 10 other cattle 5 swine $245.0O Value of livestock 800 bushels corn 60 bushels Irish potatoes 100 lbs. butter 25 Tons hay $6oo.oo value of slaughtered animals $300.00 personal estate Surplus products were sold in Fort Leavenworth. Army wives were glad to see them come from Coal Creek Community. The meat was always clean. Prairie hay was placed in the wagon bed, white muslin over the hay, and then over the meat. They went on this trading journey at least twice a year. On a return journey one time, it had rained and the river was up where they were to ford. They hit a rock and the supplies were thrown out. Among the supplies was a jug of whisky, which the family used for medical purposes, and a rooster for the farm flock of hens. The jug and the rooster landed side by side. The rooster flapped his wings and let out a big crow. Whenever Frederick would tell this story, .t always amused Margaret very much. Fording rivers did not always turn out with a humorous aspect. There was a ford on the Delaware River west from the Reichart Homestead by the Gus Keen farm. The Kneir Family who lived one and a half miles north of the Coal Creek Church went to visit a family that lived on the place later owned by Andy Ratz, west of the Delaware. The entire day was spent, going and coming that far, and in visiting. It rained that afternoon and the river was up. The Kneirs missed the ford slightly. On one side the wheels missed the crossing and the wheels sank down overturning the wagon. All were clear of the wagon except little Rose (Mrs. Charles Spence, mother-in-law of Martha Reichart Spence). She was under the overturned wagon and almost drowned. Another ford on the river was at the half mound just north of the village of Half Mound, another north of that one at Arrington, Kansas. One day Mr. Jacob Albert Engler, father of Mrs. Henry Reichart, went to Holton to get a tent for a camp meeting. It rained on this day, the river became swollen, and as he attempted to ford the river he was accidentally drowned. Henry Reichart said that on Coal Creek when one wanted to cross the creek, one would find a bend on the creek that sloped down from the side one was on. You would drive down the slope and then drive along in the creek until the next bend that would slope up the opposite bank. These slopes were covered with grass since the creek was small and the areas about it were prairie so that soil did not wash into the creek very much. After a while certain places were known to be a good place for crossing and the trails led to those fording places. One year when Frederick went to Fort Leavenworth with a load of hay, it was extremely cold and he froze his feet. It took him a long time to get over this. When cold weather came in years later, his feet tingled with the slightest cold. A contractor in Grasshopper Falls had contracted horses and tons of hay for the army from farmers around for delivery at the fort on certain dates. It is believed that this was when Frederick froze his feet. When he went to Leavenworth on trading trips for the family, they surely did not choose the coldest time of the year and surely it would not have been urgent to go just then. When Frederick had the barn built on the place, in 1870, Frederick hired a man by the name of Mr. Steffy to help with the wooden part. The Reicharts had done the stone work. This was a two story structure, commonly called a basement barn. It was about 35 feet by 55 feet in size. Mr. Steffy’s wages were $70.00, but he decided to take a yearling mule instead. (The barn was torn down when the Perry Dam was constructed on the Delaware River. Buildings removed about 1960). When the Madorin Family moved to Kansas from Chicago, in 1895, they came to the Keen place. They lived in the upstairs of the house, perhaps more like a loft than an upstairs. This was the best accommodations the Keens had available. Mrs. Madorin had to carry water, as well as everything else, up a ladder to the loft. Mrs. Madorin and her children, Fred and Irma, often told that one day Margaret came to visit the Keens and saw how Mrs. Madorin had to carry water up the ladder. Margaret went home and sent Frederick with a wagon to move them to the old stone house on their farm. It was a two-room house with a fireplace on one side. The Madorins later built a three-room house in the timber east of the road from the Reicharts on some of their land. Fred Madorin said that he was sent as usual to Frederick’s for milk. He came home without any. His father, thinking that Fred had spilled it, gave him a good thrashing. The truth of the matter was the Reicharts had slept late and hadn’t done the milking yet. Frederick felt very sorry about this. Margaret did most of the disciplining of the children. No doubt some was needed with seven boys and one daughter. George Reichart said that he and his brothers went more or less where they pleased without telling their parents, Anton Jr. and Anna, but not so in Uncle Frederick’s family. The boys knew that they must report their whereabouts and what they were doing to Aunt Margaret. George also told that one day the Frederick and Anton Jr. boys played in the barn-jumping in the hay and grain. For some reason, none of them knew just why, they took off all their clothes to do the jumping. Soon Aunt Margaret came to the barn. There they were perched in their birthday clothes on the big rafters, ready to jump onto the hay. First Aunt Margaret called all her boys down and gave them a whipping. Good, kind Uncle Kasper was first. He was the dutiful child, always doing what his mother requested. Cousin George in telling the story felt bad about this because his Aunt Margaret was so angry, and Kasper being first, got it the hardest. The cousins thought she wouldn’t dare touch them, but after calling all her own down, one by one, she said, “George, komm herun.” (George, come down.) and each in turn Lee, and then Philip. Spanking was not her only measure of discipline. When son, Alexander, was first starting school, he would come home and tattle what other children did at school. After a time his mother thought since he was not quitting this on his own that the young gentleman needed a lesson. She got two chairs. She sat in one with Alex on the other facing her. She let him tattle while she listened attentively. When he had completed his tale, she said, “Now tell me what my little Alexly did at school today.” The table was turned and he no longer found pleasure in his tales. Before the cream separator was invented, milk was put out in crocks and when it got cold the cram would come to the top and it was skimmed off. Frederick went to Valley Falls one day where he was his first cream separator. He came home and told Margaret he saw a machine where one could put warm milk in a tank, turn a crank and the cream would come out one spout and the milk out another. Margaret asked, “Die heiss Kuh’s Milch?” “The hot cow’s milk? I’ll believe that when I see it!” Among the pioneer men showing strength was a common pastime, as well as set one up as a person to be respected in the community. The two older sons, Anton and Fred, did things to develop their strength such as wrestling a great deal together and putting their arms around a tree with their bodies up to the trunk, then they would hold to a single tree and have a horse pull. They would see how long they could hang on and not let go. When Anton was still a young man at home, Senns and Graggs came by one morning. They had been drinking and someone bet the Graggs that they couldn’t lick young Anton. They caused a commotion in the yard. They boys had slept late that morning and were still in bed. Mother Margaret thought the boys should go out to see what the men wanted. They boys had a pretty good idea. Since the “gang” wouldn’t go away, finally Anton and Fred went out. When they saw the size of Anton and he had made one swing with his fist, they departed. Anton in his younger days ran a thrashing machine, doing community threshing in his neighborhood. Anton could lift the separator into place by himself. The separator and the steam engine were lined up and then a hole was dug in the earth to level the machine if needed. This also would keep the machine in place as the engine applied power to the separator. Stooping slightly Anton would back up to the wheel, his hands catching the upper rim, then he would straighten up lifting the separator into place. This all was called setting the machine. The boys often got into pillow fights. One time Kasper’s pillow broke and feathers scattered everywhere. Stenie (Christina Stauffer) told him that he had to clean them up. He went to get a broom to help in recovering them. Stenie wouldn’t let him use the broom. She made him pick them up one by one. The Reicharts did not make progress financially very fast. They were a large household, the weather was not always a help in production, and marketing of products was difficult. When Frederick’s oldest son, Anton, was sixteen years old, he bought 20 black calves. With the raising of the cattle, farm income from then on was better. When the first generation Reicharts had finally gained comfortable living, they relaxed from their hard work and were content. Alex, the youngest son, could never remember having seen his father do field work. Perhaps occasionally he helped a little at haying time, driving the team. He worked in the garden and yard. Upon second thought walking behind a walking plow was not a task for an older man to do. In 1885, Anton Sr. died. When Lisa Stauffer (Mrs. John Reichart) was asked if she could remember anything about him, recalled only that her father, Daniel Stauffer, and a neighbor rode horseback to his funeral. The men remarked on returning home that the preacher had said “I’ll not try to tell you how good this man was. His life had indeed been a fine gentleman. By this time the Coal Creek Church had a burial plot by the church yard and Anton Sr. was the first one to be buried there. (Two people buried there had died before him but their bodies were moved from a previous place of burial). This then ended the practice of burials on plots on the Reichart and the Abbuehl farms. When each of the boys married and left the home, even though they all lived on farms not more than four miles away, their departure from the home next was a sad event. Clara (Mrs. Alex) said, “If one of them had moved far away, I don’t think grandma could have stood that.” She often walked to visit each of them, but not Frederick, he was content to sit quietly at home. When grandson Fred Arnold was old enough to go to school, he came to Margaret’s house to go to school with his Uncle Alex. The two boys shared the same bed and Alex looked after his nephew in general. Laura was Margaret and Frederick’s only daughter and she was the youngest in the family. No doubt she was a little spoiled, however no one would have guessed it if they knew her in her adult years. Anyway Aunt Mary had said one time that Laura Reichart and Walter Abbuehl were the two worse children on Coal Creek. I don’t know what they had done to be awarded this distinction. In the Coal Creek community in those days most all the marriages were performed within the home. In addition to the ceremony there was a wedding dinner. With just one daughter, Margaret had only one wedding to plan. At this time wieners were a new kind of meat, and this dish was found on the wedding dinner table. The wiener from this highly favored place has long since sunk into a more lowly place. Perhaps this statement is incorrect as Mrs. Roosevelt served hot dogs to Queen Elizabeth when she visited the United States. Laura continued to go to school until she was married. Since Christina Stauffer always lived with Margaret, and most of the other children were married, Margaret did not especially need Laura’s help. So she had neglected to teach her the household arts. To recompense for this mistake, Margaret sent Christina with Laura to help with the household tasks. Son, John, lost his first wife, Alice Schindler, at the time of the birth of their first child, Harry-1897. Margaret’s heart ached for John in his sorrow and she took the baby boy to care for him. The child did not live to be quite one year old and he too died. Alexander was the last of Frederick and Margaret’s children to marry. Alex brought his wife, Clara Verena Hefty, to live on the home place. In addition to Alex’s parents, William Fisher lived with them also. The year of their marriage, 1904, was also the year that the Reicharts got their first telephone. Margaret always asked Clara to call and talk to one of the boy’s family. Talking to a hole on the wall was something she didn’t think she could do. However, she did use the telephone at least once. When Alex and Clara had their first childe, she called one of the boys and said, “Alex and Clara have a nice baby girl, but it has red hair.” This should not have been such a surprise because Margaret’s mother was red headed. Frederick died in 1905 and Margaret went to live with her daughter, Laura. When she was visiting Clara one day afterward, Clara said to her that she was sorry that she could not keep the yard as nice as she and grandfather had kept it. Grandmother said, “Never mind little Edith can be your flowers now.” Alex’s first two children were girls. Grandmother thought they should have been boys. The third child was…born just six days after her death. The seven sons of Frederick and Margaret were the casket bearers for both their father and their mother. These people traveled far from the land of their birth but when they came to Kansas, they and the next generation remained in the same community. As they lived together, they rest together in the same cemetery. They and their wives and Laura and her husband. Only one remains at the time of this writing, (1974), Clara (Mrs. Alex). Some day she too will rest there. William Hefty once pondered this question, “I wonder what measures of discipline this father and mother used to raise seven stalwart sons and one daughter, all of such sterling qualities?” Obituary: Frederick Reichart After an illness of several months, Father Fred Reichart died at his home near Valley Falls, Kansas, at the age of 67 years, 6 months and 10 days. Father Reichart was born April 15, 1837, at Hessen, Germany. At the age of fifteen years, he came to America, settling in the state of Wisconsin, where he lived until the year 1857. At this time he removed to Kansas, taking up almost immediately the location which was to be his home for nearly half a century. On July 10, 1860, he was married to Margaret Abbuehl and thus created a home and family life, which from the beginning exerted a large influence for good. Seven sons and one daughter frew to manhood and womanhood, carrying into the homes of their own the Christian principles inculcated by God-fearing parents. Something like twenty years ago, he became identified with the Evangelical Association and subsequently upheld the church of his choice with a true and sincere devotion. His testimony was always clear and especially during his last illness, in speaking of the end which he knew to be coming, would he state his readiness to depart. On the last Sunday of his life he once more decided to take part in prayer, and though physical weakness would not allow its completion, he yet began to repeat the Lord’s Prayer, and then sank back satisfied. Father Reichart was everywhere held in high esteem. During the Civil War, he spent three years with the army and gained the good will of all his comrades, as was touchingly shown through the respect he enjoyed from former companions of the army recounting experiences of the field. His last illness, dropsy, began to take definite form about four months ago. At one time, even after the disease had made considerable progress he seemed entirely cured and all hoped that his recovery might be permanent. But God had ordered otherwise and gently removed him to Himself on October 25, 1904. We weep not as those who have no hope, but looking forward, we ourselves also one of that innumerable throng meeting him and others who have gone before and enjoying life eternal. May God comfort the bereaved. Burial: From the Coal Creek Church Laid to Rest: Coal Creek Cemetery, October 26, 1904 Casket Bearers: the seven sons Obituary: Christina Abbuehl Mother Christine Reichart Abbuehl is with God. Her position of dutiful, devoted trust has been exchanged for one sight. She lives, joyful and glorious, in the presence of her King. For her ‘tis gain, and yet it hardly seems possible that Mother Abbuehl is gone. She was such a large factor in the life of Coal Creek and vicinity. In the home, in the church and in the community she filled a place and wielded an influence that cannot be over-estimated. As wife and mother she displayed a self-sacrificing devotion and love that sought only the good of those in whom she was so intensely interested. Her prayers were often burdened with petitions for her children. That all might love God supremely and their fellow as themselves was the desire of her heart. As a member of our Coal Creek Evangelical Church she was always active. Herself one of the first converts, she entertained the pioneer missionaries of the church and provided for the first meetings by the offer of her home as meeting place. Always to be relied on if it was at all possible for her to be present, she became an inspiration to the leader, who learned to look for her attentive prayerfulness. Among her neighbors she was a power for good. In sickness of in trouble Mother Abbuehl was the first to help, sacrificing her time and comfort, thinking never of self but always of others, cheering up those who were downcast, taking the part of those who needed sympathy rather than censure, finding some good, something to be satisfied with and thankful for in every circumstance. Her devotion to family, friends and community has brought her a rich reward. She is at home with God crowned and happy in the presence of her maker Mother Abbuehl was the daughter of Anton and Katherine Reichart and was born at Shornsheim, Germany, March 11, 1841. At the age of eight her mother died and in 1851 she came to America with her father, 3 brothers and 2 sisters. The family settled first in Wisconsin but in 1857 came to Kansas settling near Valley Falls, Kansas On July 10, 1860, she was married to Kasper Abbuehl and of her 12 children, 8 are still living. Who with their father mourn her passing. On Monday, Jan. 9, she became sick, her ailment soon developing into pneumonia, which cased her death on Friday, Jan 20, at the age of 63 years, 10 months, and 9 days. She died as she lived, trusting and ready for the Master’s call. Burial: From the Coal Creek Church Laid to Rest: Coal Creek Cemetery, January 21, 1905 Anton Reichart Jr.-Anna Ott It is from Anton Jr. that we today have the early stories of the Reichart family. He lived the longest of his family-he almost reached his 89th birthday. By this time someone (Laura Reichart Hefty-Mrs. Ed) became interested enough in preserving the story. One day she went to his house with the sole purpose of having him tell what he had remembered, so it is through him that we have first hand information. The sad part is that no one could give very much information about Anton Jr.’s early married life and the rearing of his family. George, their oldest son was approached one day for help with this, but he didn’t have much to offer. He though that their life was very ordinary and not much worthy of putting on paper. He did offer that his father was a very easy going person. He tried to farm with not enough horse power and not enough tools. George felt that his family could not have existed had it not been for Uncle Frederick and Aunt Margaret, and their two older boys. The brave deed that Anton Jr. did for his brother, Frederick, in the civil War can be read in this history under “Civil War Days”. This is probably a good place to tell of the Reicharts’ experiences in the tornado which swept through the area. On Saturday, May 20, 1905, around 5:00 in the evening this area was struck by a destructive tornado. It began about 12 miles north of Topeka, and extended to within three miles of Atchison. Anton Jr. had gone to the pasture a little over one mile north of the farm on which they lived. He went there to drive home the cows for milking. He saw that the cloud had al the making of a tornado. He knew he would not have time to go back home, so he went to Kaspar Rufibach’s for shelter. When his wife Anna and the others at home saw the angry clouds, they though of running across the field to the fine arch cave on Frederick’s place, about a half mile distance away. The fields were muddy. The people frightened and when they reached the cave they were exhausted. Anna was so utterly exhausted that she had to give up just before she reached the cave. Willie Fisher yelled, “Come on Aunt Anna” then he and others helped drag her into the cave. Upstairs in this stone house was Clara, Alex’s wife, with her first baby, Edith, who was born March 16 of that year. Clara wasn’t about to take such a little baby into that cold damp cave and have it catch its death of cold. She doesn’t remember who, but someone took the baby and she followed. The Reicharts did not have any buildings destroyed. It uprooted the fine orchard, tore down the picket fences and other minor damages. However, just a few miles to the northeast the Coal Creek church was completely destroyed. At Holbrooks just south of the church it took the barn off the foundation and left the cows unharmed in the basement. To the north and east from the church the Freeland home was lifted from its foundation, spun it around and then set it down not very badly damaged with Mrs. Freeland and her daughter in it unharmed. When World War I came along, people of close German background were held in suspicion. As a boy having seen in Germany the rigorous training of the army, Anton remarked that the United States would not have an easy task in defeating Germany. Had the Reicharts not come to America to escape militarism! He did not have naturalization papers to show that he was an American citizen; I don’t think that any of the early settlers did. He had served his country in the Civil War; he was discharged with honor, and he was receiving a pension from the government for his service. Yet, he had to be fingerprinted and his picture taken which was then displayed in the Post Office in Valley Falls, and perhaps other places too. He was furious for being treated thusly and every bit of his anger shows on his face in the photograph. Anton and Anna spent their retirement days in the village of Halfmound. He visited with the shoppers at the country store and she in keeping house and piecing quilts one of the early arts. She made mostly the log cabin pattern. They had a long life together-58 years. They too, were generous in sharing their home with others. Andy Ratz was one of these. He was Anna’s half sister’s son. There were others at various times. In the later years almost every one in the community called them Aunt Anna and Uncle Anton...relative or not. Obituary: Anton Reichart Uncle Anton Reichart, was born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, March 26, 1843, and died near Valley Falls, Kansas, on the 20th of the same month of 1932, age 88 years, eleven months, and twenty days. He was the last member of a family of three brothers and three sisters. With his parent) the father) he came to America at nine years of age. They settled in Wisconsin for five years. In 1857, he came into the vicinity of Valley Falls, where he resided to the end of his earthly career. He was one of the early pioneers of Jefferson County. He was a veteran of the Civil War, receiving an honor able discharge in 1865. He was converted in his early life and. became a member of the Evangelical Church, of which he was always an active, faithful member to the end. He was sincere and honest, in all his dealings, highly respected by all who knew him. He Married Anna Ott January 16, 1869, who preceded him in death by about three years. Eight children were born to them--of whom four survive. They are Mrs. Fred Keller, with whom he lived the last year, George, Phillip, and Robert, all of Valley Falls, eight grand and five great-grand children, and a host of nephews and nieces. Burial in Coal Creek Cemetery near Valley Falls, Kansas Anna Ott was born Sept. 12, 1851, at Bern Switzerland. With her parents she came to America in 1851, at the age of only 14 days. The family located then in Illinois. In the year 1855, they came to Kansas, locating near Valley Falls; here she grew to womanhood. January 16, 1869, she was united in marriage to Anton Reichart, who is now left lonely because of the loss of his faithful wife. This union was blessed with ten children-Kate Hefty, George, Lee, Phil, Rose, Lillian Keller, Robert, and Maggie. Rose, Maggie and two infant sons preceded her in death. Grandma Reichart is also survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is the last of a family of seven children. Early in life she accepted Christ and later under the special efforts of Rev. Wuerth in a camp meeting service she and her husband united with the Evangelical Church. She was stricken with paralysis early Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24th and passed away, Nov. 29th, 1927, at the age of 76 years, 2 months, and 17 days. Grandma Reichart as she was familiarly known, well knew the hardships of pioneer days and her long residence in the Coal Creek vicinity together with her friendly disposition and kindly acts to all, made her many friends. Of late years she with her husband resided in Halfmound and we shall miss her cheery words and ever smiling face. “Life’s labor done, as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies, While heaven and earth combine to say, ‘How blest the righteous when he dies’” The funeral service was held at the Coal Creek Church, Dec. 1, where Mrs. Anton Reichart had been a faithful member for many years. The service was in charge of Rev. Hower, the pastor, assisted by Rev. W.W. Hanne of Cummings, Kansas, Rev. W.F. Wolthausen of Holton, Kansas, Rev. I.N. Reid of Valey Falls, Kansas. The music was furnished by the Coal Creek male quartet assisted by Rev. W.W. Hanne. The burial was in the Coal Creek cemetery. ELIZABETH’ (LIZZIE ) REICHART*ABRAHAM STAUFFER Lizzie married Abraham Stauffer while the Reicharts were in Wisconsin. They farmed. They lived on two different places, the last being at Minominee Falls. Things did not go well for them and they lost everything that they had. Anton Sr. brought the Stauffers to Kansas with the other family members. They came in 1857. The two children were Christina born in 1856, Minominee Falls, Wisconsin and Elizabeth (also called Lizzie). Her family gave the date of her birth as being 1858 and Minominee as the place of birth. If she was born in 1858, then the place of birth would have to be Kansas. Lizzie Reichart did come to Kansas but she is not listed on the 1860 census. Therefore she died in 1858 or 1859. She was buried in a field east of the Reichart Homestead. For many years two cedar trees marked her grave as well as the grave of her sister Catherine. The Stauffers continued to live with the Reicharts for a time. Christina never married. She lived with Margaret and Frederick Reichart and then with Laura Reichart Hefty (Mrs. Ed) until she died. Lizzie lived with Margaret and Frederick also. When Anton Jr. and Anna Ott were first married she worked for them, helping with the children and house work. She worked for the Fisher family on Cedar Falls and at other places. In 1883, she married George Frederick Leonhardt. They farmed in a neighborhood near Denison, Kansas. The land was not very productive so the family had to work hard to make a living. Sometime in the early 1870’s, Abraham Stauffer remarried. He married a widow lady, Margaret Housh. She was born in Kentucky and moved to Kansas from Indiana. The Census of 1880: Abe Stauffer 47 years old worked in stone quarry Margaret Stauffer 42 years old wife Alice Housh 18 years old her daughter Charles Housh 14 years old her son George W. Stauffer 6 years old Wm. Frederick Stauffer 5 years old Abraham Stauffer 3 years old The Census of 1885: Abe Stauffer 53 years old Farmer Address: Valley Falls Margaret 42 years old George W. 12 years old Wm. Frederick 10 years old Abraham 8 years old Yeast Making Christina Stauffer made yeast for any of the relatives who were bread bakers. I suppose at first they all were. She gathered wild hops from fence rows or the woods. The greenish, cone-shaped flowers were boiled in water. After the water cooled, it was strained and cornmeal was added to the hop water to make a very stiff batter. This was molded into little cakes about two inches in diameter and then set out to dry. The dried cakes were stored in air tight containers ready for use at bread making time. When the jar was opened, the trapped molecules took flight making a delicious yeasty aroma. This made ones mouth water in anticipation of the good crusty baked bread. Clara Reichart and Laura Hefty (perhaps others, too) continued to bake bread throughout the years using Christina’s yeast. When Christina died, this terminated the little home industry. Those who continued bread baking bought the yeast from the store. Store yeast was a little more accurate in the measurement of the product. But by this time the majority of people were buying bread from bakeries. THE ABBUEHL*OTT FAMILY In Switzerland The Abbuehl-Ott family came to America from Guttannen, Oberhasli, Canton Bern, Switzerland. Guttannen even today is a small village high in the Alps just before the highest peaks. Its remoteness led to intermarriages, even as close as brothers and sisters. Oberhasli means back-country. Evidently they lived out beyond this village. Their home in Switzerland was made of stones and wood. The shingles were held in place by stones placed on top of them. They had a cow or two and eight or nine goats that were kept on the lower floor of the house. They terraced a little plot for a garden and fruit trees. For summer grazing and haying they would go farther up the mountain. Hay and milk were brought back by back-pack. Whatever else they did for a livelihood is not known. Heinrich Abbuehl was married to Katharena Nageli on May 13, 1838, in Switzerland, and he died, on March 3, 1843. They had three children: Katharina(in America Catherine )(Mrs. John Hatz), Kasper, and Margaret (Mrs. Frederick Reichart), After Mrs. Abbuehl’s death, the family lived with the grandparents. The mother worked away from home. It was from their grandparents that the children learned their first prayers. In 1844 Katherena Abbuehl married again to Melchior Ott Sr., a cousin, who was 14 years younger than she. To this union were born three children Melchior Jr., John, and Anna (Mrs. Anton Reichart Jr.) In 1849, daughter Catherine, married John Ratz. They too came to America with the other family members. Family tradition says that they started from Guttannen when Anna Ott was14 days old (Born September 12, 1851.) How many very young children were on the boat is not known. The Ratzes had a daughter, Margaret, just a little over a year old. In making the passage across the ocean, Katharena kept Anna under her cape or shawl at all times. This cloak which she was wearing kept Anna sheltered from the elements. She was the only infant that did not die coming across. Many of the obituaries, but not all, say that they came to America in 1852. This is probably the date of their arrival in America; Since Guttannen was in such a remote place, it no doubt took considerable time to even reach a seacoast town. The modes of transportation used in those days must also be considered. They may have needed to wait passage after they reached the seaport and. close to two months could have been used in making the ocean voyage. By the time they reached their destination, it could well have been 1852. They landed in New York and by covered wagon came to Highland, Madison County, Illinois. Here they stayed for three years. If one comes from both the Abhuehl and the Reichart lines, it is hard in memory to keep the stories to the correct family. Regena Abbuehl Volk (Mrs. John) told this story when she was an older lady and she could not remember which story belonged to her mother’s people and which to her father’s. One boat came the Northern Route and they were very cold in passage across the Atlantic. The Abbuehls came in the fall of the year, Anna Ott’s birth date was checked with Guttannen records, so late September would be the beginning month for the journey. The other family was just the opposite. Their trip became very hot so that the tar on the boat became very soft. Reicharts came in the spring of the year. They may have taken a more southerly route. In America While the Abbuehl-Ott family lived in Illinois, Kasper needed work. He was about 16 or 17 years old and of sturdy build. A railroad was being built nearby and he got his first job working at helping grade the roadbed. First he was given the job of driving the mules to the scrapers, sometimes called a slip shovel. Having had no experience driving mules, he did very poorly. Then they had him try handling the scrapers to fill and dump them. This he succeeded in doing. Margaret was 12 years old when they came to America. She too had to work. Illinois was so flat and she was homesick for the mountains. She said, “All there was, was land and sky.” She was also working Away from the family and she was also homesick for them. In 1855, they decided to move to Kansas. (The Ratz family did not come until the year 1857.) It is believed that they came by covered wagon. After their arrival, they took a trail from Leavenworth leading westward. The trail could have been the one which ran through land originally owned by Anton Reichart .Sr.--the Reichart homestead. This trail was still visible when the last Reicharts left this farm in 1953. To the north of this trail Kasper saw the grass covered hills and ravines, with trees lining the creek. Looking this land over he discovered a good spring. He thought that if this land wasn’t taken that his family could make a good living here. So they became squatters. Andreas-Cutter’s History of Kansas, states that Jefferson County was not surveyed until 1856. The land east of line Range 18 and 19 were sold at public sale to the highest bidder in Leavenworth in 1856. Land west of Range 18 and 19 were sold at Ozawkie, Kansas, in July 1857. The Abbuehl-Ott land was west of Range 18. Previous to the land sales squatter’s rights were recognized. This was simply a right to possession, and with the understanding that each settler should be allowed to bid the land he claimed, at its appraised value, on the day of the sale. This, however, often led to disputes because no defined rules were given as to what constituted squatter’s rights. It was finally decided that some sort of dwelling had to be on the land with evidence of intent to improve the land. Kasper’s and Ott’s squatter rights were recognized. This part of Jefferson County became known as the Coal Creek Community. It is north of Valley Falls, at that time called Grasshopper Falls. The first home was a one-room, log cabin. It was made of round logs with the cracks filled with blocks of wood, stone and daubed with mud. The roof was clapboard, There was a low wide door, but no floor or windows. The fireplace was made or logs plastered with mud. The chimney was also built of wood and plastered with mud. This was only a temporary home, and no doubt helped to make sure their right to possession. In Kansas, Kasper worked some for Franz Ammen. Kasper had a team of oxen and they broke up the north side of the hill at Ammens (later the Gus Keen place). The hill was grown up in hazel brush. Ammen held the plow and Kasper drove the ox team. One day while Kasper was visiting with Franz, they decided to walk to the top of the hill to look around. While they were there, they saw a deer to the east on the other side of Coal Creek. Ammen said, ”You go around him and get on the east side and I’ll wait along the trail.” Kasper got around the deer, but Franz was too impatient and got too close. The deer discovered him and ran the other direction and escaped. A story from a History of Coal Creek states that the stepfather, Melchior Ott Sr., bought a farm, with no buildings, 4miles north and ¾ mile west of Grasshopper Falls. They built a log house and other outbuildings close to the creek. This permanent house was made of hued logs and stones may have been used for the chimney. The cracks were filled with lime. Shingled roof, doors and windows, and the walls covered with clapboard were added improvements. A fireplace furnished heat and the place to do the cooking. In 1860, Kasper Abbuehl married Christina Reichart and Margaret Abbuehl married Frederick Reichart. This was a double wedding at the home of the Abbuehl’s sister, Mrs. John Ratz in Grasshopper Falls. Kasper and Christina first lived in a log cabin he helped make. It was about 100 feet north of Coal Creek on the south end of the ridge on the Rand place east of the Alex Abbuehl home. They made their own lime for caulking the cracks. They made a wash drop 15 feet deep, piled in wood, then laid the limestone rocks on top. The burning rocks made lime. Sometime between 1870 and 1875 Melchior Ott Sr. moved to Valley Falls (Grasshopper Falls became Valley Falls in 1875) where he operated a bowling alley. Kasper then moved his family onto the original homestead. This farm was in the Abbuehl family for over 90 years. Improving a farm was hard work. The sod was hard to turn over with oxen and a wooden plow. The first year the newly turned sod did not produce a good crop. They planted a large orchard (150 apple trees, 25 cherry trees, 20 apple not bearing...reported a census). Hedge rows were planted for fencing. These little trees were so precious that Aunt Christina and the older children carried water to them in the dry weather. How many rods of hedge fence, rail, or other types were items to be reported on census papers. Everyone knew of the wonderful spring of water that came from the rock in the side of the creek. A spring house was built over the spring, with the doorway coming out on the bank side and below a basin was made to catch the water. One could walk into the spring house and let such things as milk and butter down through the floor into the basin of cold water where it was kept cool. Later Years As time went on a house was built on the farm made of stone end brick. It was a beautiful house with the ornate trimming. In the early days church was held part of the time in the east room of this home before a church house was built in the community. The Evangelical Association did its first preaching in the community in 1859, and Kasper and Christina were the first converts. The Abbuehls had been protestant; Zwingli was the reformer in Switzerland and was the leader of the Protestant Cantons, as Luther had been in Germany. The Evangelical Association believed in a soul saving experience, and the good people of other faiths were not taken into the church without such a personal experience. There were several families in the surrounding area who were members of the association in the East. They made up this small church group. The Abbuehls became strong supporters of this congregation. Among these people Christmas was a day to be celebrated at home and in the church. Clara Hefty Reichart remembers going to a Christmas gathering in the cheese factory one year. Kasper would take apples from his orchard on Christmas Eve, as a treat to all who came for the Christmas Eve Program. (This tradition is still observed in the church.) During the Civil War lots were drawn to see who would go to war and who would stay to care for the remaining families in the community. It Was Kasper’s lot to stay. There were about six families who depended upon him for care while their menfolk were gone. One day word was sent out that Quantrill was headed for Atchison to steal and plunder. Men were needed to come to the town’s defense. Kasper walked at night to add his help to the people, but Quantrill did not appear. This may have been a trap to ease tension from the place which he planned to raid, any way the men were very glad that he did not make his appearance. When Price raided Northeast Kansas, Kasper served in defense of the state. Abbuehl Cheese Factory Kasper Abbuehl built the cheese factory in 1882, and it went into production in the spring of 1883. The factory was built by a stone mason, named Waggoner. He was kin of the Waggoners of Arrington, Kansas. The building was about 25 feet by 40 feet and a story and a half high. The basement was an arch cave, arched from north to south, running the length of the building. The factory was near to the spring house. Kasper had a herd of dairy cows himself and also bought milk from 20-30 customers. (1885 census -26 milk cows, 20 00 lbs cheese, and made 400 lbs. of butter.) The customers brought the milk to the factory each morning. They used old fashioned cans-straight up and down with large lid with two inch friction rim which fit inside the can. The milk was put in weighing cans on the scales and the weight recorded. An open slide valve let the milk run into the vats. A slow fire was used to get the milk a certain temperature.., then rennet was used to curd the milk, and dandelion coloring was added. The curds were cut and crossed by a frame of wire 8 inches by 20 inches, in size. The whey was siphoned off. Different sizes of hoop cheese boxes were lined with cheese cloth. They were then filled with the curds and a screw, power press was used to compress the curds and force out the whey. After a time of draining, the cheese was taken from the press and placed on curing shelves. These shelves ran the full length of the upper floor. During fly season the cheeses were covered with mosquito netting. The cheese made was of the long horn variety. Every day a load was taken to some surrounding town by springwagon. These wagons had a removable box, 2 1/2 feet wide, 7 feet long and 2 feet to the ridge of the roof. The roof’ had a lid opening. Some of the towns that had deliveries from the factory were Horton, Holton, Atchison, Effingham, Valley Falls, Topeka, and Leavenworth. Wagon drivers were Hayes Rand, Alfred Holbrook, Nageli Brothers, and others. The creek ford crossing was about 700 feet north and a bit east of the factory. This was the road to Valley Falls and on to the other distant towns, east and south from the factory. It is believed that Kasper charged 10% for making the cheese. The factory gave him ready cash, so that he was able to pay passage for some of the relatives and others to come to America. They in turn helped him with the milking, the factory, driving the wagons, herding cows on the open prairies, and other farming jobs. His herd varied in size from about 30 to 50 cows. In winter the cows were fed prairie hay and fodder. Once a week someone drove to the Legler Mill east of Valley Falls for bran to supplement the hay and fodder. Some of the milkers were Magalena, and Anna and Casper Nageli, and his own boys Henry and Alex, and probably his older daughters, also. Alex Abbuehl also worked in the factory 4 years from his 19th to his 23 rd birthday. The Abbuehl cheese was known for its good quality, quite superior to that made in surrounding areas. However, at least one time he made a batch of poor-grade cheese. He said that he didn’t know what he was going to do with it.Mr. Holbrook said he knew some saloons in Leavenworth, where the people got so drunk that they wouldn’t know good cheese from bad. So Kasper gave the cheese to him. When customers bought cheese, they pulled back the cheese cloth from the center and took out a small wedge to sample. Mr. Holbrook loved to play pranks. He put a core of good cheese in the center of the poor. At least the operators of the saloon weren’t as drunk as the customers for they discovered the prank and it was a costly one, for the factory lost some customers. Kasper finally quit making cheese because some people watered the milk and others skimmed off part of the cream. There were no butter fat testers at first, and. later he didn’t want to get testers and bother with the testing or the added expense. The cave in the basement was used as an ice house. Ice was sawed from a nearby pond. When ice was ready, and ice Making Bee was held. 1001b. chunks were hauled to the cave and stored with layers of sawdust between the cakes. If you had joined the “Bee”, then you could get ice free. No ice was made there probably after about 1920. The John Ratz Family: John Ratz and. his wife Catherine came to Kansas in 1857. For a short time they lived with the Otts at Coal Creek. Frank was born that year. They lived in Grasshopper Falls,(Census of 1860) where Mr. Ratz worked at his trade of cobbling shoes. In 1862, Catherine died. Andrew was cared for by his grandparents for a while and perhaps some of the other children, too. In the census of 1865 the children are all listed under the John Hatz household. Margaret the oldest was 14 years of age. She no doubt helped care for the family. A Coal Creek Patriarch Passes On An Appreciation of the Life and Labors of Caspar Abbuehl When Caspar Abbuehl fell asleep on Monday Evening, July 7, .1913, to awaken in the home toward which he had been traveling for more than half a century, the most interesting chapter in the history of the Coal Creek settlement came to and end. No matter what measure of prosperity shall come to happen or what prosperous and God fearing people there may be, whose beautiful homes adorn this fair valley, no one man will ever have opportunity to do as much as he has done for a community. He came to the farm that has ever since been his home in 1855, and five years later married Christine Reichart, a woman who Joined with him in heart and soul in every good and generous deed. Their life motto seemed to be “For the good of others”. In these trying days of drought and war, added to inevitable privations of life in a new country, their home was a haven of comfort toward which the whole community turned for cheer and encouragement as well as material assistance. With the thrift that belongs to the Swiss people, he began to make a home that was indeed a home in the best sense of the word. And what a host of people has shared his comfort as those early years passed by. During the war when men felt it to be their highest duty to go to the front to fight for their country, he was chosen by lot to stay at home and take care of the women and children of the six families who at that time made up the Coal Creek Settlement. His was the harder task, but when he found that it had fallen to him to stay at home he sent the other men on with brave words of cheer, “Well, you fellows go and do your best and I’ll take care of your families,” and the chronicles of his deeds in those dark days should be written in gold. It was the privilege of the writer to hear the story of that troublous time told by him and his sainted wife almost forty years ago. And even now, after all the peaceful and prosperous years that have followed it is almost heart breading to recall the tale of the scant supply of corn meal kept with a few other precious supplies at “Caspar’s” for safety and dealt out to each one according to his needs. How hard it must have been for those two generous, compassionate souls to dole out in scant measure when their great desire was to give freely of their very best. But they were not dealing out their own stores and were compelled to be just when they were longing to be generous. And how fully in the after years they gratified that desire, all whose good fortune sent them to that home to assistance, can testify. The writer with her mother, brothers and sister came from the East and settled on a farm adjoining Mr. Abbuehl’s. He was the agent for the farm and when we moved into the unfinished house he and his wife began at once to make us like Kansas and love our neighbors by keeping us supplied with milk, butter and fruit and choice vegetables in their season. And the choice fruits from their orchard--a rarity in those days--which they brought to us in overflowing baskets and refused utterly to take any remuneration, the fruits were fine and better than anything we had ever tasted since: and in days of sickness when the lives of some of our loved ones trembled in the balance he relieved the family of every care possible, kept our hearts from fainting with his faith and trust in God, would not make our burdens greater than we could bear. And how many families there are who with us can look back with grateful loving hearts to the days when “Caspar” and “Christine” young then, but filled with love for God and to their fellow men gave freely of their stores to help in time of need. While their home was open to all, it was indeed a mecca to scores of his old friends and relatives in Switzerland who came to him from across the sea feeling sure that he would put them on the road to prosperity, and he never failed them. Almost at the beginning of their married life those two of blessed memory gave their hearts to God and entered his service. Their house was always open to ministers and it was due to his efforts that a great and prosperous Christian community has grown and flourished on Coal Creek. The beautiful church with its modern equipment, surrounded by stately trees and--best of all--filled at every service by a congregation of Christian young people, most of whom claims kinship with him, stands today a fitting monument to him and his co-workers in the cause of Christ. Mr. Abbuehl was rarely absent from the farm. The time he spent in the hundred days service during Price’s Raid, being the longest period away from home. After his beloved wife had passed to her reward, eight years ago, he visited among his married children, but his home was with Walter, the youngest son, who had married and taken charge of the old homestead. Here he passed his days peacefully and happily, but always missing the one who had gone before. He enjoyed the loving ministry of his children, but his kindest thoughts always of others, his great desire was that his summons home would come with no forewarning so that he might go without being a burden to his loved ones. How fully that wish was granted. On Sunday evening he attended services at the church greeting his neighbors so cheerfully and congratulating himself that although the weather was so warm, he had nothing to do but to seek the shade and keep cool. The next afternoon he walked across the road to watch his neighbor threshing wheat, then stopping at the mail box for his daily paper, he went to his hammock in the shade. When he had been but a few minutes there, an unusual note in his voice attracted the attention of his daughter-in-law. She went swiftly to him only to find that his spirit had answered the one clear call and left its house of clay. What a merciful and beautiful close to that generous life. Like a calm river flowing silently into the sea, his well rounded Life closed on earthly scenes, but so long as the beautiful Coal Creek Valley holds happy and comfortable homes with Christian people some of whom shall go to brighter and better the communities in which they may live and grow, their life becomes more gragrant with the passing years. They rest from their labors, but their work shall follow them. Written by: Bittersweet (Who was Georgie Rankin Corbet) Obituary: Kasper Abbuehl Monday evening Kasper Abbuehl passed out from this life quietly at his country home about 5 miles north of this city while sitting quietly and restfully in the lawn swing at the place where he had resided for many years and upon the farm which he subdued from the wild sod nearly 60 years ago when the red men frequently made excursions through this country to and from the trading posts. Kasper Abbuehl was born in Oberhasley Canton Bern, Switzerland, July 26, 1836. He came to America in 1852 and lived in Illinois unti1 1855, at which time he came to Valley Falls. July 10, 1860, he was married to Christina Reichart. 12 children were born to them, 5 preceded him in death. He was converted in 1862 and was a charter member of Coal Creek church. His children Henry, Alexander, Walter, Mrs. Rose Hilty, Mrs. Maggie Schindler, Mrs. Regina Volk and Lydia Kliphardt were all in attendance at the funeral yesterday which was held in the Evangelical Church five miles north of here of which he was a member. Interment was made by the side of his wife, in the beautiful burial ground near the church. He was one of the very first Swiss German settlers on Coal Creek which has become famous in more than this state alone for being a settlement where wisdom is the thing that governs in most things since, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” He had for his neighbors in these pioneer days such men as Frederick, Anton and Philip Reichart Srs., Simon Smith, Franz Ammen, Father Emmel, John Ernest, all of whom were great strong man of indomitable wills and muscle, and who together have many times applied their minds and muscle to help along public and community enterprises. Father Abbuehl, as he was familiarly known, was a man of very strong personality and of him it was frequently said that no enterprise of community interest was launched without first getting his council for its management and the fact that most matters of general interest in the Coal Creek community have been a success speaks well for his judgment. Burial from the Coal Creek Church, July, 1913. Laid to rest: Coal Creek Cemetery From the July issue of the Valley Falls Vindicator: July 11, 1913 One of the last of the old settlers in Coal Creek, Caspar Abbuehl, died in his home Monday evening. Peacefully he fell asleep in the yard swing where he was found by members of the family. Caspar Abbuehl, the son of Henry and Christina Abbuehl, was born in Oberhasley, Canton Bern, Switzerland, July 26, 1836, and died at Valley Falls, July 7, 1913, age 76 years, 11 months, and days. His father died in Switzerland when Caspar was a child. With his mother and stepfather, Melchior Ott Sr. he came to America in 1852, when he was sixteen years old. They lived in Illinois a few years. They moved to Kansas in 1855 locating on Coal Creek near Valley Falls, which has since been is home. Since his coming the railroad has built the village of Halfrnound, near his home, the Grasshopper Falls, changed to Valley Falls. From struggling settler he has seen his neighbors grow rich. They once drove ox teams. They now ride in automobiles. Caspar Abhuehl was married to Christina Reichart, daughter of well known family in Coal Creek neighborhood, in 1860. To this union twelve children were born, seven of whom survive. The mother died several years ago. All the children-- Mrs. Leonard Hilty, Topeka Henry, Holton Alex, Halfmound Mrs. H.E. Schindler, Valley Falls Mrs. John Volk, Cu.mmings Mrs. C. F. Kliphardbt, Eudora Walter, Halfmound, were present, a half-brother Melchior Ott Jr., and a half-sister, Mrs Anton Reichart were also present. Caspar Abbuehl was a fine old gent1eman, a good father and a Leading citizen in his neighborhood. In the days of full strength md manhood, he was the guide and mentor of his community. Tha funeral was held at thc Evangelical Church at Coal Creek of which he was a faithful member, Wednesday afternoon. Services were conducted by Rev. D. Swart, of Holton, assisted by pastor, Rev. Boehringer, who was called back from Kansas City. Burial was in the Coal Creek Cemetery. Monday evening Kasper Abbuehl passed out from this life quietly at his country home about 5 miles north of this city while sitting qietly and restfully in the lawn swing at the place where he had resided for many years and upon the farm which he subdued from the wild sod nearly 60 years ago when the red men frequently made excursions through this country to and from the trading posts. Kasper Abbuehl was born in Oberhasley Canton Bern, Switzerland,. July 26, 1836. He came to America in 1852 and lived in Illinois unti 1855, at which time he came to Valley Falls. July 10, 1860, he was married to Christina Reichart. 12 children were born to them, 5 preceded him in death. He was converted in 1862 and was a charter member of Coal Creek church. His children Henry, Alexander, Walter, Mrs. Hose Hilty, Mrs. Maggie Schindler, Mrs. Regina Volk and Lydia Kliphardt were all in attendance at the funeral yesterday which was held in the Evangelical Church five miles north of here of which he was a member. Interment was made by the side of his wife, in the beautiful burial ground near the church. He was one of the very first Swiss German settlers on Coal Creek which has become famous in more than this state alone for being a settlement where wisdom is the thing that governs in most things since, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” He had for his neighbors in these pioneer days such men as Frederick, Anton and Philip Reichart Srs., Simson Smith, Franz Ammen, Father Emmel, John Ernest Sr., all of whom were great strong men of indomitable wills and muscle, and who together have many times applied their minds and muscle to help along public and community enterprises. Father Abbuehl, as he was familiarly known, was a man of very strong personality and of him it was frequently said that no enterprise of community interest was launched without first getting his council for its management and. the fact that most matters of general interest in the Coal Creek community have been a success speaks well for his judgment. Burial, from the Coal Creek Church, July , 1913. Laid to rests Coal Creek Cemetery