15 Feb 2012

Proctor Selected Documents

Published Book

History and Statistics of Brown County, Kansas, compiled by E. N. Morrill, 1876.

...On the 11th day of May, 1854, Thurston Chase and James Gibbons marked claims on Wolf river, the former taking the farm now owned by Mr. Pittman. They remained on their land two or three weeks, seeing no white man during that time. Mr. Chase broke several acres of prairie, and, returning in August, built a small log house which afterwards burned down....

...In 1855, quite a number made homes in the new county [Brown Co, KS]. It is impossible to get a full or complete list of the names of all who settled in the county during this year. Among them were ..., W.P. [William] and W.J. [Washington] Proctor, ..., James Bridgman, ...

...In September [1857] the free-state men held a convention to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the territorial election. Though Claytonville was at that time the county seat, the convention was called to meet at Hiawatha. There were but two buildings on the town site and no others within miles of the place. Neither of these buildings were large enough to hold the convention, so they held their session on the open prairie near where the Dispatch office now stands, using a lumber wagon for a speakers' stand. Hon. W.G. Sargent was nominated for Probate Judge, which was the most important office to be filled. Jacob Englehart and A.B. Anderson for commissioners. F.O. Sawin for Sheriff and Moses P. Proctor for Treasurer...
...On the 5th of October, 1857, the territorial election for that year was held, and as the free-state men were at the polls in full force, it is safe to say that a full vote was cast. At this election W.G. Sargent was elected Probate Judge; A.B. Anderson and Jacob Englehart, County Commissioners; Moses P. Proctor, Treasurer; Franklin O. Sawin, Sheriff, by a vote of 186 to 72...
...On the 21st of December [1857], the court met again and for the last time at Claytonville, adjourning to Carson to hold their next session on the 28th of the same month. At this session Moses R. Proctor, the Treasurer, tendered his resignation and Sam'l W. Wade was appointed to fill the vacancy;...

Civil War Payroll

Kansas Militia in the Civil War, Adjutant General's Office, 1908.

Vol.8, pp.47-48
Co. C, Brown County Battalion attached to 22nd Regiment

Name: Wash. J. Proctor, private
Joined and sworn in 15 Sept 1863 at Robinson by G. M. Bush.
Ordered into active service 14 Oct 1864 to Atchison by Brig. Gen. Byron Sherry.
Relieved from duty 29 Oct 1864 by Brig. Gen. Byron Sherry
Number of Days in Actual Service: 20
Horses in Service: 1
Names Present: Wash. J. Proctor

Name: William Proctor, private
Joined and sworn in 15 Sept 1863 at Robinson by G. M. Bush.
Ordered into active service 14 Oct 1864 to Atchison by Brig. Gen. Byron Sherry.
Relieved from duty 29 Oct 1864 by Brig. Gen. Byron Sherry
Number of Days in Actual Service: 20
Names Present: William Proctor

Probate

Doniphan County Kansas Probate, Doniphan County, Kansas

File 317

Inventory and Appraisements by I. N. Smallwood, Administrator. All reserved by widow, Caroline Proctor
1 House $65
1 Mule $65
1 Wagon & spring seat $65
1 Set harness $5
2 Cows & calf $40
Household & Kitchen furniture $75
total $315
Also 5 $100 interest bearing notes totaling $500 to N. P. Powers, dated 24 Apr 1872.
Real estate description: 1 House & Lots Nos 4 & 5 in Block No 49 in the town of Doniphan, County of Doniphan & State of Kansas. Appraisal at $500 by George Brenner, E. W. Hudnell, and George Brock. No date.

The State of Kansas
Doniphan County
John W. Proctor upon application for Letters of Administration on the Estate of Moses P. Proctor, deceased, being duly sworn, upon oath, say to the best of __ knowledge and belief, the names of the heirs of the deceased are Wash. Proctor, Adelia Reynolds, Ella, Ida, John, & Effie Proctor, Marian Proctor, John William, Susan, Segel, Mary M. & Nettie Wilson, George, Mary & Charles Chase, Nichole M. & Mary Haupkins[?] & John W. Proctor & El[eyce?] & Phillcesena[?] Proctor.
That the said Moses P. Proctor died without a Will, that he will make a perfect inventory of and faithfully administer all the Estate of the said Moses P. Proctor, and pay the debts so far as the assets will extend and the law direct, and account for and pay all assets which shall come to his possession or knowledge.
John W. Proctor
Sworn and described before me this 9th day March A.D. 1876.
Robt Wilkinson
Judge of Probate

John William Wilson, Susanah Zeiber, Mary M. Wilson, Francis Seigle Wilson, Benetta [J. or I.] Wilson all of Brown Co, KS received a total of $38.55 as heirs to estate of Moses P. Proctor on 21 July 1876. Also signed by James L. Wilson, father of the heirs.

Published Book

William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler, 1883

Brown County, Part 6

THURSTON CHASE, farmer and stock raiser, Section 13, P. O. Hiawatha, was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., February 22, 1831. son of Isaac and Clarinda Chase, the former of English, the latter of Irish descent, her family name Clark. His father was a miller by trade and pursued that vocation successfully in Indiana for many years. Mr. Chase received such education as his county afforded in that early day, then helped his father in the mill and on the farm until he became of age. He then started out to hoe his own row in the world, and made a trip to Cincinnati. He did not make anything, however, by this move, and returned to his native county, where he lived until June, 1852, this being the date of his first move in a westerly direction. This terminated at Winterset, Iowa, where he accepted a position on the Engineer Corps, then making a preliminary survey for the Davenport & Council Bluffs Railroad. At the expiration of two months he went to a point on the Missouri River, now know [sic] as Nebraska City, which was then an Indian trading post, and known in those days as Old Fort Kearney. Here he clerked among the traders until the latter part of the year, when he removed to St. Joe, Mo. In January, 1853, Mr. Chase first came to Kansas, and for a time lived with one Mr. Harden, who kept a trading post where the present village of Wathena is now situated, in Doniphan County. While residing with him he marked out a claim which was the first one in that county. Then returned to Missouri, followed various occupations and was married in Andrew County, to the daughter of Nicholas and Julia Deakins, who were very early settlers in that part of Missouri; her Christian name is Harriet. In May, 1854, Mr. Chase returned to Kansas and took up a claim on the southwest quarter of Section 11, Township 3 and Range 18, and was the first white settler; took up the first claim and made the first improvements in Brown County. In February, 1855, he brought his family from Missouri and established them on his claim, and proclaimed Kansas his future home. On July 4, 1856, his wife died and about the same time the country was involved in trouble with the border ruffians. Mr. Chase, therefore, canvassed the county in the interest of the Free-soilers, with a petition which was forwarded to President Buchanan. About this time he sold his first claim and in October of the same year bought the claim where he now lives, which was just enough improved to hold, and for which he paid $100 for 160 acres of land. November 16, 1856, he married his second wife, Matilda C. Proctor, daughter of Moses Proctor, one of the earliest settlers in the county, by whom he had three children; George W., Mary E., now Mrs. Jesse Miller of Doniphan County, and John C. Mrs. Chase died March 19, 1864, and at this time the subject of this sketch was serving his country in the war of the Rebellion, having taken twenty-five men from his own county, to St. Joe, Mo., where they were enrolled with the State Militia, Mr. Chase being elected Second Lieutenant. In the spring of 1862 he returned to Kansas, recruiting a portion of Company H, of the Thirteenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, and upon the organization of the same was defeated by two votes as Captain. He entered the army as a private, but after about three months' service was taken sick and released to Volunteer Cavalry, of which he served as Orderly Sergeant until the close of the war. Then returned home and has since given his attention to farming and stock-raising. He was married August 30, 1865, to Miss Olive Teas, by whom he has four children; William R., Jane T., Eddie T. and Alfred L. The second child, Jane T., died September 26, 1870. Mr. Chase was one of the original members of the first Methodist Episcopal Church society, organized in the county, and also of the first School Board, of which he has been Director since. He has seen a great deal of the hardships of pioneer life, but those are past and to-day he is surrounded by everything that can make life comfortable owning a good farm of 320 acres, with excellent improvements in every shape.

Brown County, Part 31

JOHN W. PROCTOR, farmer and stock raiser, Section 13, Township 3, Range 17, P. O. Hiawatha, came to Kansas April 10, 1856, and located on his homestead in Mission Township, Brown County, where he has resided since. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He took part in the late war as a member of Company H, Thirteenth Regiment Kansas Infantry, and enlisted in Robinson, August 22, 1862, and was discharged at Little Rock, Ark., June 22, 1865. He took part in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, and other minor engagements. Mr. Proctor was born in Moniteau County, Mo., May 12, 1841, and lived in his native State until his fifteenth year, and then came to Kansas. He was married March 26, 1871, in Robinson Township, to Miss Clara Gibson, a native of Iowa. Mr. Proctor has a fine farm of 160 acres, forty-five acres being bottom land and the rest upland. It is all enclosed, and has 140 acres in cultivation, the balance being timber and pasture land. The water supply cannot be excelled, and consists of two wells and a number of springs, and the middle fork of Wolf River flows on the south line of his farm. The improvements consist of a frame dwelling, 16x32, with an L 14x20, with a cellar, a frame barn and other outbuildings. He had twenty-seven and a half acres of wheat this season which yielded 346 bushels; nine acres of oats which yielded 293 bushels; seventy acres in corn which averaged fifty bushels to the acre.

Obituary

Robinson Index, Robinson, KS, [newspaper].

18 Apr 1901

Mrs. Reynolds, mother of Mrs. Taylor O'Neal and John Bridgeman, died last Friday evening, April 12, of infirmities incidental to old age. The funeral occurred at the Methodist church Sunday, and she was buried in Rose Hill cemetery. Adelia Proctor was born September 29, 1828, being 72 years, 6 months and 23 days old at the time of her death. She was married to James Bridgeman August 18, 1847. Seven children, six boys and one girl, were the result of this union. Three are now living: Mrs. O'Neal, John Bridgeman, of Robinson, and Frank Bridgeman, of Sabetha. After the death of Mr. Bridgeman, she was married to Mr. Reynolds, who preceded her to the spirit land.

Death Notice & Obituary

Robinson Index, Robinson, KS, [newspaper].

30 Jul 1903

Word was received in Robinson yesterday of the sudden death of John Proctor near Willis. He had been doing some carpenter work for Mr. Roff on a farm two miles northwest of Willis and while at work on the roof, slipped and fell to the ground. His neck was broken by the fall and he was killed instantly. He leaves, besides his wife, two children to mourn his loss.

6 Aug 1903

The body of John Proctor was brought to Robinson from Willis last Thursday afternoon and buried in Rose Hill cemetery. Mr. Proctor was born in Claytonville June 27, 1866. He was married to Miss Cora J. Martindale, of Robinson. He is survived by his wife and two children, a son and daughter. He had served as postmaster and last April was elected mayor of Willis.