A Man Named Winne: from the HCHM Archives

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

There are thousands of stories waiting to be discovered at the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives. Since we have recently hosted several programs related to the Civil War, I did some exploring in the  John C. Johnston Collection of Civil War Pensions. This collection contains a wealth of information on Civil War veterans and their families that settled in Harvey County. Fox Winne was the name I picked for this blog post.

In late April 1863, 20 year old Fox Winne joined the 11th Kansas Cavalry, Co. G. which was involved in a number of skirmishes on the Kansas/Missouri border.  From August 20-28, the 11th Cavalry was involved in operations against Quantrill during his raid in Kansas under the command of Col Thomas Ewing,Jr.   Co. G also acted as body guard to General Samuel Curtis at Fort Leavenworth, Ks.

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Henry Barnes, Harry Boothe, Fox Winne, N.D. Horton, members of Co. G, 11th Kansas Volunteer Calvary, 1863. Photo courtesy Kansas Historical Society.

The 11th Kansas Cavalry mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, July 17, 1865.  The regiment lost 173 men in roughly 2 years; 63 killed during or as a result of battle, 110 died of disease.

Fox Winne had come to Kansas in 1855 at the age of 12 with his parents Jacob and Magdalena Fox Winne.  The family originally was from Minden, New York and had spent time in Illinois before settling in Riley County near Manhattan, Kansas.  After the Civil War, in 1866, Winne married Mary E. Haulenbeck.  By 1880, Fox and Mary with three children were living in Newton, Kansas.

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Fox & Mary Winne Home, 200 W. Broadway, Newton, Ks, 1886.

Thirty-six year old Winne was listed as ‘a lumber dealer.’  Between 1876 and 1880, Winne established the Newton Lumber Co at 113 E. 6th, Newton.  No doubt he was able to take advantage of the building boom of the mid-1880s.

Newton Lumber Co, 113 E. 6th, Newton, Ks. ca. 1885

Newton Lumber Co, 113 E. 6th, Newton, Ks. ca. 1885.  Owner Fox Winne.

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Newton Lumber Co., 113 E.6th, Newton, Ks, 1905.

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Interior, Newton Lumber Co., 113 E 6th, Newton, KS, 1919.

Eventually, a son-in-law, John B. Olinger, joined Winne in the business.

 

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Newton Lumber Parade float, ca. 1921.

The war left it’s mark. Winne experienced health problems throughout his later years, some related to his two years in the cavalry. In the 1890s, he worked with John C. Johnston to apply to the Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions to file a claim.

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He received his pension with the diagnosis of “Disease of the Digestive Organs and Piles” and “Chronic Diarrhea.”

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According to other documents in the file, he “contracted  Chronic Diarrhea and piles which has resulted in fistula disease of rectum” at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, April 1, 1865.   At that time he was treated at the Ft Leavenworth hospital, but apparently continued to experience problems for the rest of his life.

These health difficulties did not stop Winne for seeking business opportunities, both in Newton and in Texas.

In 1894, the state of Texas opened the eastern section of Chambers County for settlement under a homestead grant.

The Santa Fe Railroad saw an opportunity and sent Newton businessman, Fox Winne as an engineer to review the prospects.  In 1895, the town of Winnie, Tx  was surveyed and named in honor of Newton contractor and investor, Fox Winne.

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Fox Winne, Newton businessman, ca. 1925.

Fox Winne died at the age of 84 on July 20, 1927.  He had been in poor health for two years. He was survived by his wife, Mary, sons John, Elmer and Grant and daughter Maud Winne Olinger.

Note on the name “Winne.” In most of the historical documents, the last name is spelled “Winne,” including  census’, pension records and tombstones.  For some reason, a change occurred with the naming of the town “Winnie” and on the marriage certificate of his daughter, Maude where it is “Winnie.”

 Sources:

  • Winne, Fox File. John C. Johnston Collection of Civil War Pensions, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks.
  • U.S. Census, 1880
  • City Directories for  Newton, Ks 1885, 1887, 1902, 1905, 1911, 1913, 1917, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks
  • Voters Registration List 1882-1902, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks
  • Evening Republican Kansan 20 July 1927, 10 Dec. 1934.
  • http://www.civilwaronthewesternborder.org/content/henry-barnes-henry-boothe-fox-winne-and-nd-horton
  • http://www.pddoc.com/skedaddle/010/0078.htm
  • U.S. Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865.
  • U.S. National Park Service, Battle Unit Details – The Civil War at www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm.
  • Winnie Area Chamber of Commerce – Winnie Early History at winnietexas.com/early-history/
  • County Markers at uncoveredtexas.com/texas-historical-markers-detail.php?city=Winnie&county.

Stories Waiting to be Told: HCHM Archives

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

“During the Civil War I was a member of Co F. 143rd Reg’t Ill Vol Infty. . . I have moved around a great deal since I was discharged from the Army.  It is Impossible for me to find two persons who could testify as to my condition from the time I left the Army down to 1891.” -Henry Guyott, 14 June 1906, Civil War Pension Records, HCHM Archives

Note dictated by Henry Guyott, age 58, on 14 June 1906 regarding his pension.

Note dictated by Henry Guyott, age 58, on 14 June 1906 regarding his pension. J.C. Johnston Civil War Pensions, HCHM Archives.

Henry Guyot was one of 287 men or their widows living in Harvey County that sought help from attorney John C. Johnston to apply for a pension for their service during the Civil War.  The files include information on service in the army, activity and health issues.  Some even give a glimpse into family life after the war.

Born in 1848 in Switzerland, it appears that Henry immigrated to the U.S  with his mother, Emira, brother and several cousins and settled in Illinois.  During the Civil War, he served served several months with the 143rd Illinois Infantry. He was approximately 17 years old.

After the war, Henry noted that he “moved around a great deal.”  The 1870 census records find him in Illinois living with his mother.  Ten years later he is still single, living in Sedgwick County, Kansas with his mother and cousin.

Effie M. Lantis (15) marriage to Henry A. Guyot (34), 20 October 1884. Marriage License Collection, HCHM Archives.

Effie M. Lantis (15) marriage to Henry A. Guyot (34), 20 October 1884. Marriage License Collection, HCHM Archives.

However on October 20, 1884, 34 year old Henry married 15 year old Effie M. Lantis at her parental home in Harvey County, Ks.  The couple made their home near Walton, Kansas and started a family.  Between 1884 and 1908, they had at least nine children.  Henry settled down to farm and raise his family. In 1891, at age 58, Henry applied for a pension for his service during the Civil War.  He may have dictated the above statement to John C. Johnston describing his service and health issues.

Civil War Pensions were offered to Union soldiers or their widows and minor children. The pension records in the collection include information on what the soldier did during the war in addition to medical information in the years following.

For example, Henry Guyot  noted that Dr. J.H. Goddard, a physician in Sedgwick, “often treated me for cataracts, deafness, scurvy (?), diarrhea and rheumatism.”  The files from other men describe injuries received during battle.

To obtain a widow’s pension, the widow had to provide proof of marriage, such as a copy of the record kept by county officials, or by affidavit from the minister or some other person. Applications on behalf of the soldier’s minor children had to supply both proof of the soldier’s marriage and proof of the children’s birth. For those reasons, Civil War pensions are  fascinating, because of the wide array of things people submitted as evidence.

Henry died 23 January 1915, and Effie in 1921. Their son, Ben and daughter Edith continued to live on the family farm until the mid-1960s.

 

Henry, Effie and three of their children are buried in the Walton Cemetery, rural Harvey County, Ks.

The John C. Johnston Civil War Pension Collection is just one treasure that is part of the Archival Collections at HCHM. Throughout the month of October, we will  feature the Archival holdings at HCHM and the behind the scenes work that happens to make the collections accessible.

Unidentified man in uniform, ca. 1861.

Unidentified man in uniform, ca. 1861. Photo Archives, HCHM.

Sources:

  • US Census, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910.
  • Marriage License Collection, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks
  • John C. Johnston Civil War Pension Collection, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks.
  • Kansas Census, Harvey County, 1885, HCHM Archives, Newton Kansas.

All the information related to the Guyot family for this post was discovered in the archives at HCHM.  What stories might you find? For more information on our Archives and the services available

Visit: https://hchm.org/research-library/

Call: (316)283-2221

Or e-mail: info@hchm.org