In the spring of 1849 John J. Baxter, his wife and eight children moved from Missouri to 160 acres of land near Spring River. His land included a spring which flowed from the side of a hill near what is now Military Road, where he set up and operated an inn and general store which came to be known as "Baxter's place."
"Baxter's place," was incorporated in 1868 and was renamed Baxter Springs in honor of its early settler.
In the spring of 1849 the Reverend John Baxter, his wife and eight children moved from Missouri to 160 acres of land near Spring River. Flowing from the side of a hill near the Military Road that ran between Fort Scott and Fort Gibson, was the natural spring that the Osage Indians had long visited. Near the spring he set up "Baxter's Place," an inn and general store. However, Baxter would not live to see the city that would eventually take his name. The Reverend Baxter, who was well known in the area as a gun-toting preacher, was gunned down in a property dispute in 1859.
General Notes: John J. Baxter first chose on a claim on Big lost Creek in Missouri, west of Neosho and about 10 miles south of the now extinct Grand Falls City. he discovered and mined nearby.
He abandoned this claim in 1855 and moved to a new claim on the west side of Spring River, 4 miles southwest of the frontier town of Lowell, Kansas. The site of the Baxter cabin was on the lawn of the present home of Clyde Ingram. on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Cleveland Avenue.
John was described as having a massive frame, 6 feet 7 and a half inches tall and well proportioned. His features were in keeping with his size and despite his preponderance, his personal appearance was not repulsive, except that he made the man of ordinary size feel his own littleness of stature. His hair was dark, which he kept trimmed and never shingled in the summer months. He had blue eyes and his eyebrows were black and heavy enough to cast a pleasant shadow over his massive frame.
The title of reverend was never attached to John, although he was a preacher of the Universal Doctrine without an organized following.
John was a home lover. He was very fond of music, and all the family played well on the violin.
John lived on his Kansas claim until 1858, when a son-in-law died leaving a claim on the east side of the river. John's daughter rented her "possession" to a man by the name of Commons. After a time Commons set up claim to her claim and refused to surrender it. John on behalf of his daughter demanded the Commons vacate the claim and gave him a few days to vacate or be ejected. When it came time to vacate (26 Jan 1859) John, his son and son-in-law went to the Commons claim to force him to vacate. When he got to within 40 yards of the cabin, Commons pushed a double barreled shotgun through the window and killed John instantly.
His property became the present day city of Baxter Springs, Kansas.
This short story was taken from a booklet by Dolph Shaner. For more complete story or a copy of the booklet, contact the Baxter Springs, Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
____________________________________________________________
About his wife Sarah Ruth Stayton:
There has been question whether Sarah Ruth Stayton Baxter's mother's maiden name is "Goodnight"
Thomas Arthur Stayton had a son John Arthur who married Susannah Landers in Warren County, KY on 15 October 1815 recorded Book A235. Susannah's parents were Henry and Catherine (Goodnight) Landers. This is a possibility where the name Goodnight came from.
The name Catherine Elizabeth Alexander came not only from Stayton descendants who did a booklet and put the info in the Stayton Museum in Oregon also the same information from the genealogy library in Independence MO.
Another fact is that two of Thomas' sons carried the middle name of Alexander.
Again, other than the sources I've mentioned, I have no real proof either (e.g.primary source marriage record) for a Alexander /Stayton marriage.
I'm always open to new info so If you have been able to verify the Goodnight marriage please let me know.
---------------------------------------------------
In regards to the date of death for John the story by Dolph Shaner he died intantly on 26 Jan 1859, There is also the 1860 census where he shows up with his family:
1860 United States Federal Census about John J Baxter
Name: John J Baxter
Age in 1860: 49
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1860: McGhee, Kansas Territory
Gender: Male
Post Office: Brushville
Household Members:
Name Age
John J Baxter 49
Ruth Baxter 43
Elizabeth Baxter 21
John Baxter 20
Cyrus Baxter 17
Ruth Baxter 14
Sarah Baxter 11
Manaford B Baxter 6
Thomas Hadly 18
*without a death certificate as proof am I to assume he was alive in the 1860 census or did Sarah "Ruth" list him as part of the family and he was already gone by then?
"Baxter's place," was incorporated in 1868 and was renamed Baxter Springs in honor of its early settler.
In the spring of 1849 the Reverend John Baxter, his wife and eight children moved from Missouri to 160 acres of land near Spring River. Flowing from the side of a hill near the Military Road that ran between Fort Scott and Fort Gibson, was the natural spring that the Osage Indians had long visited. Near the spring he set up "Baxter's Place," an inn and general store. However, Baxter would not live to see the city that would eventually take his name. The Reverend Baxter, who was well known in the area as a gun-toting preacher, was gunned down in a property dispute in 1859.
General Notes: John J. Baxter first chose on a claim on Big lost Creek in Missouri, west of Neosho and about 10 miles south of the now extinct Grand Falls City. he discovered and mined nearby.
He abandoned this claim in 1855 and moved to a new claim on the west side of Spring River, 4 miles southwest of the frontier town of Lowell, Kansas. The site of the Baxter cabin was on the lawn of the present home of Clyde Ingram. on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Cleveland Avenue.
John was described as having a massive frame, 6 feet 7 and a half inches tall and well proportioned. His features were in keeping with his size and despite his preponderance, his personal appearance was not repulsive, except that he made the man of ordinary size feel his own littleness of stature. His hair was dark, which he kept trimmed and never shingled in the summer months. He had blue eyes and his eyebrows were black and heavy enough to cast a pleasant shadow over his massive frame.
The title of reverend was never attached to John, although he was a preacher of the Universal Doctrine without an organized following.
John was a home lover. He was very fond of music, and all the family played well on the violin.
John lived on his Kansas claim until 1858, when a son-in-law died leaving a claim on the east side of the river. John's daughter rented her "possession" to a man by the name of Commons. After a time Commons set up claim to her claim and refused to surrender it. John on behalf of his daughter demanded the Commons vacate the claim and gave him a few days to vacate or be ejected. When it came time to vacate (26 Jan 1859) John, his son and son-in-law went to the Commons claim to force him to vacate. When he got to within 40 yards of the cabin, Commons pushed a double barreled shotgun through the window and killed John instantly.
His property became the present day city of Baxter Springs, Kansas.
This short story was taken from a booklet by Dolph Shaner. For more complete story or a copy of the booklet, contact the Baxter Springs, Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
____________________________________________________________
About his wife Sarah Ruth Stayton:
There has been question whether Sarah Ruth Stayton Baxter's mother's maiden name is "Goodnight"
Thomas Arthur Stayton had a son John Arthur who married Susannah Landers in Warren County, KY on 15 October 1815 recorded Book A235. Susannah's parents were Henry and Catherine (Goodnight) Landers. This is a possibility where the name Goodnight came from.
The name Catherine Elizabeth Alexander came not only from Stayton descendants who did a booklet and put the info in the Stayton Museum in Oregon also the same information from the genealogy library in Independence MO.
Another fact is that two of Thomas' sons carried the middle name of Alexander.
Again, other than the sources I've mentioned, I have no real proof either (e.g.primary source marriage record) for a Alexander /Stayton marriage.
I'm always open to new info so If you have been able to verify the Goodnight marriage please let me know.
---------------------------------------------------
In regards to the date of death for John the story by Dolph Shaner he died intantly on 26 Jan 1859, There is also the 1860 census where he shows up with his family:
1860 United States Federal Census about John J Baxter
Name: John J Baxter
Age in 1860: 49
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1860: McGhee, Kansas Territory
Gender: Male
Post Office: Brushville
Household Members:
Name Age
John J Baxter 49
Ruth Baxter 43
Elizabeth Baxter 21
John Baxter 20
Cyrus Baxter 17
Ruth Baxter 14
Sarah Baxter 11
Manaford B Baxter 6
Thomas Hadly 18
*without a death certificate as proof am I to assume he was alive in the 1860 census or did Sarah "Ruth" list him as part of the family and he was already gone by then?
In the spring of 1849 John J. Baxter, his wife and eight children moved from Missouri to 160 acres of land near Spring River. His land included a spring which flowed from the side of a hill near what is now Military Road, where he set up and operated an inn and general store which came to be known as "Baxter's place."
"Baxter's place," was incorporated in 1868 and was renamed Baxter Springs in honor of its early settler.
In the spring of 1849 the Reverend John Baxter, his wife and eight children moved from Missouri to 160 acres of land near Spring River. Flowing from the side of a hill near the Military Road that ran between Fort Scott and Fort Gibson, was the natural spring that the Osage Indians had long visited. Near the spring he set up "Baxter's Place," an inn and general store. However, Baxter would not live to see the city that would eventually take his name. The Reverend Baxter, who was well known in the area as a gun-toting preacher, was gunned down in a property dispute in 1859.
General Notes: John J. Baxter first chose on a claim on Big lost Creek in Missouri, west of Neosho and about 10 miles south of the now extinct Grand Falls City. he discovered and mined nearby.
He abandoned this claim in 1855 and moved to a new claim on the west side of Spring River, 4 miles southwest of the frontier town of Lowell, Kansas. The site of the Baxter cabin was on the lawn of the present home of Clyde Ingram. on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Cleveland Avenue.
John was described as having a massive frame, 6 feet 7 and a half inches tall and well proportioned. His features were in keeping with his size and despite his preponderance, his personal appearance was not repulsive, except that he made the man of ordinary size feel his own littleness of stature. His hair was dark, which he kept trimmed and never shingled in the summer months. He had blue eyes and his eyebrows were black and heavy enough to cast a pleasant shadow over his massive frame.
The title of reverend was never attached to John, although he was a preacher of the Universal Doctrine without an organized following.
John was a home lover. He was very fond of music, and all the family played well on the violin.
John lived on his Kansas claim until 1858, when a son-in-law died leaving a claim on the east side of the river. John's daughter rented her "possession" to a man by the name of Commons. After a time Commons set up claim to her claim and refused to surrender it. John on behalf of his daughter demanded the Commons vacate the claim and gave him a few days to vacate or be ejected. When it came time to vacate (26 Jan 1859) John, his son and son-in-law went to the Commons claim to force him to vacate. When he got to within 40 yards of the cabin, Commons pushed a double barreled shotgun through the window and killed John instantly.
His property became the present day city of Baxter Springs, Kansas.
This short story was taken from a booklet by Dolph Shaner. For more complete story or a copy of the booklet, contact the Baxter Springs, Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
____________________________________________________________
About his wife Sarah Ruth Stayton:
There has been question whether Sarah Ruth Stayton Baxter's mother's maiden name is "Goodnight"
Thomas Arthur Stayton had a son John Arthur who married Susannah Landers in Warren County, KY on 15 October 1815 recorded Book A235. Susannah's parents were Henry and Catherine (Goodnight) Landers. This is a possibility where the name Goodnight came from.
The name Catherine Elizabeth Alexander came not only from Stayton descendants who did a booklet and put the info in the Stayton Museum in Oregon also the same information from the genealogy library in Independence MO.
Another fact is that two of Thomas' sons carried the middle name of Alexander.
Again, other than the sources I've mentioned, I have no real proof either (e.g.primary source marriage record) for a Alexander /Stayton marriage.
I'm always open to new info so If you have been able to verify the Goodnight marriage please let me know.
---------------------------------------------------
In regards to the date of death for John the story by Dolph Shaner he died intantly on 26 Jan 1859, There is also the 1860 census where he shows up with his family:
1860 United States Federal Census about John J Baxter
Name: John J Baxter
Age in 1860: 49
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1860: McGhee, Kansas Territory
Gender: Male
Post Office: Brushville
Household Members:
Name Age
John J Baxter 49
Ruth Baxter 43
Elizabeth Baxter 21
John Baxter 20
Cyrus Baxter 17
Ruth Baxter 14
Sarah Baxter 11
Manaford B Baxter 6
Thomas Hadly 18
*without a death certificate as proof am I to assume he was alive in the 1860 census or did Sarah "Ruth" list him as part of the family and he was already gone by then?
"Baxter's place," was incorporated in 1868 and was renamed Baxter Springs in honor of its early settler.
In the spring of 1849 the Reverend John Baxter, his wife and eight children moved from Missouri to 160 acres of land near Spring River. Flowing from the side of a hill near the Military Road that ran between Fort Scott and Fort Gibson, was the natural spring that the Osage Indians had long visited. Near the spring he set up "Baxter's Place," an inn and general store. However, Baxter would not live to see the city that would eventually take his name. The Reverend Baxter, who was well known in the area as a gun-toting preacher, was gunned down in a property dispute in 1859.
General Notes: John J. Baxter first chose on a claim on Big lost Creek in Missouri, west of Neosho and about 10 miles south of the now extinct Grand Falls City. he discovered and mined nearby.
He abandoned this claim in 1855 and moved to a new claim on the west side of Spring River, 4 miles southwest of the frontier town of Lowell, Kansas. The site of the Baxter cabin was on the lawn of the present home of Clyde Ingram. on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Cleveland Avenue.
John was described as having a massive frame, 6 feet 7 and a half inches tall and well proportioned. His features were in keeping with his size and despite his preponderance, his personal appearance was not repulsive, except that he made the man of ordinary size feel his own littleness of stature. His hair was dark, which he kept trimmed and never shingled in the summer months. He had blue eyes and his eyebrows were black and heavy enough to cast a pleasant shadow over his massive frame.
The title of reverend was never attached to John, although he was a preacher of the Universal Doctrine without an organized following.
John was a home lover. He was very fond of music, and all the family played well on the violin.
John lived on his Kansas claim until 1858, when a son-in-law died leaving a claim on the east side of the river. John's daughter rented her "possession" to a man by the name of Commons. After a time Commons set up claim to her claim and refused to surrender it. John on behalf of his daughter demanded the Commons vacate the claim and gave him a few days to vacate or be ejected. When it came time to vacate (26 Jan 1859) John, his son and son-in-law went to the Commons claim to force him to vacate. When he got to within 40 yards of the cabin, Commons pushed a double barreled shotgun through the window and killed John instantly.
His property became the present day city of Baxter Springs, Kansas.
This short story was taken from a booklet by Dolph Shaner. For more complete story or a copy of the booklet, contact the Baxter Springs, Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
____________________________________________________________
About his wife Sarah Ruth Stayton:
There has been question whether Sarah Ruth Stayton Baxter's mother's maiden name is "Goodnight"
Thomas Arthur Stayton had a son John Arthur who married Susannah Landers in Warren County, KY on 15 October 1815 recorded Book A235. Susannah's parents were Henry and Catherine (Goodnight) Landers. This is a possibility where the name Goodnight came from.
The name Catherine Elizabeth Alexander came not only from Stayton descendants who did a booklet and put the info in the Stayton Museum in Oregon also the same information from the genealogy library in Independence MO.
Another fact is that two of Thomas' sons carried the middle name of Alexander.
Again, other than the sources I've mentioned, I have no real proof either (e.g.primary source marriage record) for a Alexander /Stayton marriage.
I'm always open to new info so If you have been able to verify the Goodnight marriage please let me know.
---------------------------------------------------
In regards to the date of death for John the story by Dolph Shaner he died intantly on 26 Jan 1859, There is also the 1860 census where he shows up with his family:
1860 United States Federal Census about John J Baxter
Name: John J Baxter
Age in 1860: 49
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1860: McGhee, Kansas Territory
Gender: Male
Post Office: Brushville
Household Members:
Name Age
John J Baxter 49
Ruth Baxter 43
Elizabeth Baxter 21
John Baxter 20
Cyrus Baxter 17
Ruth Baxter 14
Sarah Baxter 11
Manaford B Baxter 6
Thomas Hadly 18
*without a death certificate as proof am I to assume he was alive in the 1860 census or did Sarah "Ruth" list him as part of the family and he was already gone by then?
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Advertisement
