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Forgotten Settlers of Kansas

Manuscript Collection No. 206

 

Introduction

Abstract

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies program recognizing territorial, prior to 29 January 1861; pioneer, 29 January 1861 – 31 December 1880; and early settlers, 1881 – 1900, in Kansas.

Application files for certification submitted by descendants to the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies. Files may contain extracts or copies of censuses; marriage licenses or certificates; obituaries; birth certificates; deed records; newspaper articles about individuals; sworn affidavits to people’s births, deaths, and marriages; and other supporting documentation. Some files include reminiscences; letters of acceptance and denial of various sorts; letters requesting more information; and military pension records, mostly from the Civil War.

Dates

1983—[ongoing]

Quantity

<17> ft. (<41> boxes)

Title

The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas collection

Identification

Ms. collection no. 206
Shelf location: 006-06-03-04 thru 006-06-08-06

Notes

This finding aid describes materials held by the Kansas State Historical Society. Materials may be used in the Research Room in the society’s Center for Historical Research during regular research hours. Support for telephone, mail, and online reference and research is limited.

In a continuing effort to improve the completeness and accuracy of finding aids, revisions are made as more or new information becomes available. Consequently, this finding aid may differ slightly from what appears in paper form.

Descriptions are often based on a preliminary inspection of the material. As such, they may contain misspellings or other inaccuracies based on folder headings and other sources within the materials. As the collections are arranged and as time permits, these finding aids are improved and corrected. If you spot an error, please feel free to report it to the reference staff or an archivist.

Repository

Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka)

Biography

The Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies was founded in 1974 by five genealogical organizations. The Kansas Council was formed to provide an instrument for communication within the genealogical community in the State; co-ordinate and disseminate information concerning genealogical societies in Kansas; encourage the preservation and safeguarding of manuscripts, books, memoranda, and memorabilia relating to the people of Kansas and to deposit them in suitable libraries; and encourage and work with any organization that promotes improvement in genealogical facilities and holdings of Kansas libraries, archives, and repositories. Although the organization is a federation of genealogical societies, individuals may join as affiliate members.

In 1983, the Kansas Council began an extension activity to honor those pioneers who have may have been forgotten over time. Descendants are encouraged to supply information about ancestors in Kansas prior to 1900 for inclusion in the Council’s ongoing publication The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas—cited fully in the Bibliography—available in the Research Room of the Kansas State Historical Society. Requested information includes the name, birth and death dates and places, parents’ and spouses’ names, and supporting genealogical information on each pioneer. The Council issues a certificate to the descendant and includes the information on the application in the next volume of Forgotten Settlers. The supporting documents submitted with the application are transferred to this collection after publication.

The Council offers three different types of certificates. A Territorial Certificate is awarded if it is proved that the Kansan was located in the state prior to 29 January 1861. A person located in Kansas on that date but before 1 January 1881 is given a Pioneer Certificate. A person proved to be in Kansas between the dates of January 1881 and December 1900 is given a certificate as being an Early Settler.

Scope and Content

This collection contains submitted information on the many Kansans who were located in this State between the years of 1854 and 1900. The information is a collection of applications for pioneer certifications awarded by the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies.

The Certification Files, 1983—[ongoing]—series 2—contain extracts from marriage licenses; marriage certificates; newspaper obituaries; birth certificates; letters from registers of deeds; newspaper articles about individuals being researched; and sworn affidavits to peoples’ births, deaths, and marriages. All of these are photocopies of the original documents. There are however, several original letters in the collection. The correspondence is from all parts of the United States as well as Canada, Germany, and Ireland.

There are also reminiscences, letters of acceptance and denial, letters requesting more information, and records of military pensions in some of the files. Pension declarations were from soldiers of the Civil War and were meant to show that the soldiers had established themselves as landholders within Kansas. The applications published in The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas volumes—available in the Research Room of the Kansas State Historical Society’s Center for Historical Research, in many libraries within the State, and some libraries outside of Kansas—do not usually appear in these files.

The individual files were originally given alphanumeric codes—K-1, K-2, etc.—reflecting the first letter of submitters’ surnames, but this system proved unwieldy. Later files are sequentially numbered. Because neither system filed submissions alphabetically by pioneers’ names, it is necessary to consult the Index to Forgotten Settlers' Certificates—series 1—available in the Research Room, to determine the file number. KCGS also has an index to the certificates on their web page.  File numbers were added to “Certificate Applications,” Form #1, at the bottom left of the forms in volumes one through three and nineteen and later of The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas. Volumes one through three also have file numbers annotated in the upper left corner of the “Pedigree Charts,” Form #2. The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas volumes are available in the Research Room of the Kansas State Historical Society’s Center for Historical Research, in many libraries within the State, and some libraries outside of Kansas.

The Indexes, 1983—[ongoing]—series 1—are computer printouts updated periodically by the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies; separate listings are arranged by file numbers and names of settlers. The List of ID Numbers for Forgotten Settlers Certificates, the file number index, lists submitters by file number and contains notes (on the file); ID number; surname & first name or initial, address, city, State, and ZIP code of the submitter; and volume and page number in the published The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas. The Index to Forgotten Settlers Certificates, the settlers’ index, is arranged by settlers’ names and shows the name of the settler, volume and page number in the published books, file number, and certificate type. A copy of the Index to Forgotten Settlers Certificates is available in the Research Room; the List of ID Numbers for Forgotten Settlers Certificates must be requested from the collection.

In addition to the published volumes, each of which has its own index to settlers and submitters, there is a master index for the first twenty volumes, The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas: Master Index; it is available in the Research Room.

Contents List

Organization of the Collection

Collection, no. 2o6; Organized into 2 series reflecting the function of the records.

Contents

series 1. Indexes—series 2. Certification files.

Series descriptions

Series 1: Indexes, 1983—[ongoing]

1/4 in. (2 items)

The List of ID Numbers for Forgotten Settlers Certificates, item 1, lists submitters by file number and contains notes (on the file); ID number; surname & first name or initial, address, city, State, and ZIP code of the submitter; and volume & page number in the published The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas. The Index to Forgotten Settlers Certificates, item 2, is arranged by settlers’ names and shows the name of the settler, volume & page number in the published books, file number, and certificate type.

Contents: item 1. List of ID numbers for Forgotten Settlers Certificates.—item 2. Index to Forgotten Settlers Certificates.

Organized by type of index: one to file numbers and the other to names of settlers.

Indexes Certification files, 1983—[ongoing], series 2 below.


Series 2: Certification files, 1983—[ongoing]

<17> ft. (<41> boxes)

Extracts, mostly photocopies, from vital & land records; obituaries & other newspaper articles; and sworn statements containing birth, marriage, & death information. Files may also include military & military pension, declaration of residency, and other biographical documents.

Contents: subseries 1. Alpha-numerical files, 1983-1994.—subseries 2. Numerical files, 1994-[ongoing].

Organized into 2 filing systems: alpha-numerical and numerical.

Indexed by Indexes, 1983—[ongoing], series 1 above.

Box List:

To request materials, researchers should include the information below:

Series 1: Indexes, 1983—[ongoing]:

Box 1 (006-06-03-04)

Item 1: List of ID Numbers for Forgotten Settlers Certificates

Item 2: Index to Forgotten Settlers Certificates. Also available in the Research Room.

Series 2: Certification Files, 1983—[ongoing]

Subseries 1: Alpha-numerical files, 1983—1994

Box 1 (006-06-03-04): files A

Box 2 (006-06-03-05): files B-1 thru B-44

Box 3 (006-06-03-06): files B-45 thru B-88

Box 4 (006-06-03-07): files B-89 thru B-106

Box 5 (006-06-03-08): files C-1 thru C-46

Box 6 (006-06-03-09): files C-47 thru D-25

Box 7 (006-06-04-01): files D-26 thru E-10

Box 8 (006-06-04-02): files E-11 thru F-16

Box 9 (006-06-04-03): files F-17 thru F-28

Box 10 (006-06-04-04): files G

Box 11 (006-06-04-05): files H-1 thru H-46

Box 12 (006-06-04-06): files H-47 thru H-80

Box 13 (006-06-05-01): files H-81 thru J-31

Box 14 (006-06-05-02): files K

Box 15 (006-06-05-03): files L-1 thru L-44

Box 16 (006-06-05-04): files L-45 thru M-35

Box 17 (006-06-05-05): files M-36 thru M-71

Box 18 (006-06-05-06): files Mc

Box 19 (006-06-05-07): files N thru O

Box 20 (006-06-05-08): files P thru Q

Box 21 (006-06-05-09): files R-1 thru R-46

Box 22 (006-06-06-01): files R-47 thru S-25

Box 23 (006-06-06-02): files S-26 thru S-70

Box 24 (006-06-06-03): files S-71 thru S-110

Box 25 (006-06-06-04): files T thru V

Box 26 (006-06-06-05): files W-1 thru W-39

Box 27 (006-06-06-06): files W-40 thru Z-7

Subseries 2: Numerical files, 1994—[ongoing]

Box 28 (006-06-06-07): files 1016 thru 1056

Box 29 (006-06-07-01): files 1057 thru 1094

Box 30(006-06-07-02): files 1095 thru 2031

Box 31 (006-06-07-03): files 2032 thru 2074

Box 32 (006-06-07-04): files 2075 thru 2102

Box 33 (006-06-07-05): files 2103 thru 2122

Box 34 (006-06-07-06): files 2123 thru 2158

Box 35 (006-06-07-07): files 2159 thru 2190

Box 36 (006-06-08-01): files 2191 thru 2230

Box 37 (006-06-08-02): files 2231 thru 2262

Box 38 (006-06-08-03): files 2263 thru 2295

Box 39 (006-06-08-04): files 2296 thru 2330

Box 40 (006-06-08-05): files 2331 thru 2362

Box 41 (006-06-08-06): files 2363 thru end

Related Records or Collections

Related Materials

The Kansas State Historical Society manuscript collections (MC) below contain a significant quantity of material on genealogy and pioneers. Many other collections also include information; researchers may wish to consult the appropriate catalogs for additional sources. All of the microfilm listed below is available through interlibrary loan unless noted otherwise. Information on interlibrary loan is available from the reference staff or on the Kansas State Historical Society web site.

Ancient Order of United Workmen. MC 117. Access may be partially restricted.

Brown, O. C. (Orville Chester). Papers, 1834—1904. Microfilm MS 1293—MS 1294. Finding aid available in the repository and on the microfilm.

Ebbutt, Percy G. Papers. Misc.: Ebbutt

Edwards, J. B. (John Beach), 1844—1950. Papers, 1872—1935. Microfilm MS 1256. Finding aid available in the repository and on the microfilm.

Family Records: Early Lyon County Settlers, [ca. 1911]. Microfilm MS 1060.

Huffine Funeral Business. Records. MC 191.

K.S.H.S., Topeka, Ks. [i.e. Selected Genealogical Manuscript Collections at the Kansas State Historical Society], 1854 – 1948. Microfilm MS 1408–MS 1409. Finding aid available in the repository.

Monroe, Lilla Day, 1858—1929, collector. The Lilla Day Monroe Collection of Pioneer Stories, [ca. 1920—1929]. MC 163. Access partially restricted, finding aid available in the repository.

Moore, H. Miles (Henry Miles), b. 1826. Journals and Related Papers, 1852—1880. Microfilm MS 33—MS 35. Copying restricted; no interlibrary loan.

Osborne County History Collection. Hist.—Osborne County.

Randolph, Anna Margaret Watson. Papers, 1791—1988. Microfilm MS 1665. Finding aid available in the repository and on the microfilm.

Snell, Jessie Kennedy, 1884 – 1956. Papers. MC 80.

Tradition Farms Collection. MC 216.

W. H. Eicholtz & Sons. Funeral home records, 1888—1951. Microfilm MS 1214—MS 1218. Finding aid available in the repository and on the microfilm.

World War I Kansas Soldiers Collection. MC 49. Finding aid available in the repository.

Separated material

Published volumes, titled The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas and containing application forms, have been removed from the collection and placed in the Research Room.

Other finding aid

Copies of this finding aid are also available in the Research Room of the Center for Historical Research.

Index

Alphabetical name index to settlers with file numbers in the Kansas State Historical Society’s Research Room and box 1 of the collection. File number index with names of submitters in box 1 of the collection.

Volume and compiled name indexes to settlers and applicants published in each volume of The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas and The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas: Master Index, both available in the Research Room.

Bibliography:

The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas. Topeka, Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, c1983—[ongoing]. Available in the Research Room.

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies. The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas : Master Index / Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, Inc. Topeka, Ks. : Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, Inc., c1998. Available in the Research Room.

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies. Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, Inc. Topeka, Kansas : Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, 2003. Brochure available in the Research Room.

Kansas Review (Saint Joseph, Mo.), 25 (2), November 1999. Kansas State Historical Society library call number K/929.06/G286/v.25/no.2.

Index Terms

The terms listed below may include names, places, subjects, occupations, titles, and other words describing this collection. These terms are used in the ATLAS catalog used by the Kansas State Historical Society and affiliated libraries in Topeka, http://lib.wuacc.edu, as well as libraries and archives subscribing to OCLC, a national library/archives database. Searches on these words should produce a description of this collection as well as other books and collections that may be of interest. Names in CAPS are cataloging added entries (creators); names in regular type are subjects. Topical terms are Library of Congress subject headings unless indicated otherwise.

Corporate names

Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies.

Geographic names

Kansas—Biography.

Kansas—Census.

Kansas—Genealogy—Sources.

Kansas—History—19th century.

United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865.

Subjects

Autobiography

Biography—19th century.

Genealogy—Societies, etc.

Military pensions—United States.

Pioneers — Kansas.

Genre/Physical characteristics

Affidavits.

Affidavits—Kansas.

Birth certificates.

Birth certificates—Kansas.

Deeds.

Deeds—Kansas.

Marriage licenses.

Marriage licenses—Kansas.

Marriage records.

Marriage records—Kansas.

Obituaries.

Obituaries—Kansas.

Additional Information for Researchers

Restrictions on Access

None

Restrictions on Use

Notice: This material may by protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this microfilm may be construed as constituting a violation of literary property rights. These rights derive from the principle of common law, affirmed in the 1976 copyright act, that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the sole right to publish the contents thereof for the duration of the copyright. Unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; the right descend to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of an author or his publisher to secure permission of the owner of literary property rights in unpublished writing.

Copyright has been transferred from the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies to the Kansas State Historical Society. However, copyright to some of the information submitted by descendants may not have been transferred from the submitters to the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies and subsequently to the Kansas State Historical Society and therefore may still be owned by the authors or their heirs or assigns.

Alternate Form Available:

Application forms published as: The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas. Topeka, Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, c1983—[ongoing]. Available in the Research Room.

Photocopy of the Index to Forgotten Settlers Certificates—series1, item 2—available in the Research Room.

Preferred Citation

Note: [document and/or series description], The Forgotten Settlers of Kansas, MS. collection no. 206, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka.

Acquisition Information

Gift: Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, 1983—[ongoing].

Processing Information

Collection processed by Jamie Miller, intern, 2000.

Accruals

Continued additions to this collection are expected through the life of the project as applications, volumes, and supporting documentation are received by the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies.