Beechwood.
The Beechwood’s were among the earliest white settlers in Neosho County. Jacob Beechwood, a French immigrant, farmed a claim two miles east of the Catholic Mission site and was described as a kind and jovial person—a man that made friends, not enemies. The Beechwood’s, including son Charley, left us with a very familiar landmark; and an iconic image of changing Kansas.
The Beechwood’s were among the earliest white settlers in Neosho County. Jacob Beechwood, a French immigrant, farmed a claim two miles east of the Catholic Mission site and was described as a kind and jovial person—a man that made friends, not enemies. The Beechwood’s, including son Charley, left us with a very familiar landmark; and an iconic image of changing Kansas.
Figure 1. Like the Osage Mission Missionaries and Many Other Settlers, Jacob Beechwood Was an Immigrant.
Jacob Beechwood.
Jacob Beechwood was born in Alsace, then a province of France, on July 25th, 1810 (Figure 1). In 1831 he immigrated to America, landing in New York. It was there that he met his first wife, Elizabeth, Grosbeck. She and Jacob had four children before her death. He later married Catherine Gilman and they had four more children including a son, Charley.
The story of Jacob’s move from New York to Osage Mission suggests the family had some financial means because he made two trips to Kansas before actually settling. Some settlers barely reached their destination.
According to son Charley[1], his father made the first trip in May of 1865 traveling by train from New York to St. Louis; by steamboat from St. Louis to Kansas City; and then by rail to Fort Scott. From Fort Scott, he proceeded by foot looking for a location.
Jacob returned to New York in July of 1865, holding a sale in September. Then, with his family, he traveled to St. Louis by Rail; and on to Kansas City by steamboat. They stayed in Kansas City for about ten days, hiring two teams to haul them to Fort Scott. They stayed in Fort Scott until late October, hiring a team to take them to Osage Mission arriving on November 1, 1865. On arrival, the Beechwood’s initially lived in a cabin near Flat Rock Creek. Then they staked a claim of 160 acres two miles east of the Catholic Mission site. Jacob hired a group of Osage Indians to help erect the family cabin. Charley saw deer, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens, by the thousands, all over this country.
The family’s life was rough at first. They initially planted about two acres of land and ate everything they raised the first year. After the first summer, they seemed to be sick much of the time. According to A. T. Andreas History of Kansas, 1883[2]:
Jacob Beechwood was born in Alsace, then a province of France, on July 25th, 1810 (Figure 1). In 1831 he immigrated to America, landing in New York. It was there that he met his first wife, Elizabeth, Grosbeck. She and Jacob had four children before her death. He later married Catherine Gilman and they had four more children including a son, Charley.
The story of Jacob’s move from New York to Osage Mission suggests the family had some financial means because he made two trips to Kansas before actually settling. Some settlers barely reached their destination.
According to son Charley[1], his father made the first trip in May of 1865 traveling by train from New York to St. Louis; by steamboat from St. Louis to Kansas City; and then by rail to Fort Scott. From Fort Scott, he proceeded by foot looking for a location.
Jacob returned to New York in July of 1865, holding a sale in September. Then, with his family, he traveled to St. Louis by Rail; and on to Kansas City by steamboat. They stayed in Kansas City for about ten days, hiring two teams to haul them to Fort Scott. They stayed in Fort Scott until late October, hiring a team to take them to Osage Mission arriving on November 1, 1865. On arrival, the Beechwood’s initially lived in a cabin near Flat Rock Creek. Then they staked a claim of 160 acres two miles east of the Catholic Mission site. Jacob hired a group of Osage Indians to help erect the family cabin. Charley saw deer, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens, by the thousands, all over this country.
The family’s life was rough at first. They initially planted about two acres of land and ate everything they raised the first year. After the first summer, they seemed to be sick much of the time. According to A. T. Andreas History of Kansas, 1883[2]:
“Jacob Beechwood … His family suffered from sickness the first three years almost continuously, but he persevered, paying fabulous prices for his provisions, but succeeding in raising fair crops he managed to live, now having a fine homestead with all the natural advantages that a man could wish, wood, water, a good stone quarry, and fertile soil, well fenced and cultivated, with a fine residence. He came to this country to enjoy the advantages of the Mission Church, of which he is an earnest member. Mr. Beechwood has sixteen acres in tame grasses, thirty-five acres in pasture, and the rest under the plow.”
Jacob continued to farm here until the time of his death on January 24, 1888. His wife Catherine passed on July 31, 1890. Jacob’s obituary in the January 26 issue of the Neosho County Journal said:
“He lived and died a member of the Catholic Church. He was a kind man and jovial disposition – a man that made friends, not enemies. We will all miss Uncle Jakey Beechwood, as he was familiarly called. Rest in peace.”
Both Jacob and Catherine are buried in Block G of St. Francis Cemetery.
Figure 2. Atlas Map From 1906 (Click to Enlarge.)
The Beechwood Claim—Beechwood Hill.
Locals have a general idea of the location of Jacob Beechwood’s Claim. Around here, directions are often given as: “Go out to Beechwood Hill, turn south and … ” Here is some more specific information about that landmark:
Figure 2 is a crop from the 1906 Standard Atlas of Neosho County, Kansas – Mission Township Page[3]. The cropped image emphasizes the area from St. Paul, east almost three miles. Three colored features have been added:
Locals have a general idea of the location of Jacob Beechwood’s Claim. Around here, directions are often given as: “Go out to Beechwood Hill, turn south and … ” Here is some more specific information about that landmark:
Figure 2 is a crop from the 1906 Standard Atlas of Neosho County, Kansas – Mission Township Page[3]. The cropped image emphasizes the area from St. Paul, east almost three miles. Three colored features have been added:
- Kansas highway 47 is noted in dark red for orientation.
- The original Beechwood claim is blocked in yellow. At the time the atlas was published, the land was in the possession of William Beechwood’s Wife, Mary A. Beechwood[4 - sp].
- The property south of the Beechwood claim, outlined in blue, is that of neighbor John Duling who also settled in 1865. John and daughter Mary Duling are also part of our story (below).
Figure 3. The Land Warrant Was the Deed From The Government (Click to Enlarge)
Figure 3 is the land warrant or “Osage Lands Certificate No. 109[5]” showing the final sale of the Beechwood plot, by the United States Government, to Jacob Beechwood. A couple of things are noted:
First – the term “Osage Lands Certificate”. The 1865 Canville Treaty opened the eastern end of the Osage Reserve to white settlement and this was the first step in the total cessation of the Osage's Kansas land. Generally speaking, this area included present Neosho and Labette Counties and small strips of adjacent east and west counties [6]. After long negotiations, the Canville Treaty was finally signed in September of 1865. When Jacob Beechwood staked his claim in November of the same year he was among the very early claimants.
Second – The document is dated the first of June, 1869, about three and one-half years after Jacob staked his claim. Under terms of the Homestead Act, settlers did not acquire ownership of staked land immediately. They were required to pay a small filing fee; they had to improve the land by at least building a house, and they were required to live on the claim for five years. There were options to achieving residency earlier. Union soldiers could use their time served against the five-year residency requirement. Also, settlers who could raise the money could buy their claim at $1.25 per acre. The Beechwood’s must have raised cash for the second residency option.
First – the term “Osage Lands Certificate”. The 1865 Canville Treaty opened the eastern end of the Osage Reserve to white settlement and this was the first step in the total cessation of the Osage's Kansas land. Generally speaking, this area included present Neosho and Labette Counties and small strips of adjacent east and west counties [6]. After long negotiations, the Canville Treaty was finally signed in September of 1865. When Jacob Beechwood staked his claim in November of the same year he was among the very early claimants.
Second – The document is dated the first of June, 1869, about three and one-half years after Jacob staked his claim. Under terms of the Homestead Act, settlers did not acquire ownership of staked land immediately. They were required to pay a small filing fee; they had to improve the land by at least building a house, and they were required to live on the claim for five years. There were options to achieving residency earlier. Union soldiers could use their time served against the five-year residency requirement. Also, settlers who could raise the money could buy their claim at $1.25 per acre. The Beechwood’s must have raised cash for the second residency option.
Figure 4. Charley Beechwood
Son Charley Beechwood and the Mission Painting.
An iconic image of the Osage Mission grounds has been attributed to Jacob’s son, Charley Beechwood. The painting depicts the ten buildings on the Catholic Osage Mission grounds at the time Charley became the first white student in the school. This was an important time of change in southern Kansas. The image denotes the entry of white settlers into our region at the expense of the departing Osage. Over the next few years, the Osage manual labor school buildings were replaced with new public and boarding schools. The painting freezes a transition period.
Charley’s attribution for this image varies depending on the source. Some say he drew the image while he was a student at the school. That is unlikely because he was only nine or ten years old when he entered the school. After 1870, modern structures quickly replaced many of the mission structures. Other sources say it was drawn from his memory, at a later date, and this is correct (below).
Local newspaper records show that Charley, and his brother William, enjoyed some success, but the details are hard to pin down. Sometime prior to 1898 Charley moved to Duneweg, Missouri and over the years he was associated with a livery business and mining. But the January 22, 1898, issue of the Neosho County Journal reported that “The Beechwood mining company has struck a rich vein of lead at Duneweg." After this, there are mentions of Beechwood Mines or Beechwood Brothers Mining in some trade publications including Excavating Engineering and Iron and Machinery World (1900 – 1916). But during the same time, there are articles about him purchasing property in Walnut Grove (Township) and moving between Joplin and Neosho County. As noted above, the 1906 Neosho County Atlas shows his wife’s name on the Beechwood Hill property.
An iconic image of the Osage Mission grounds has been attributed to Jacob’s son, Charley Beechwood. The painting depicts the ten buildings on the Catholic Osage Mission grounds at the time Charley became the first white student in the school. This was an important time of change in southern Kansas. The image denotes the entry of white settlers into our region at the expense of the departing Osage. Over the next few years, the Osage manual labor school buildings were replaced with new public and boarding schools. The painting freezes a transition period.
Charley’s attribution for this image varies depending on the source. Some say he drew the image while he was a student at the school. That is unlikely because he was only nine or ten years old when he entered the school. After 1870, modern structures quickly replaced many of the mission structures. Other sources say it was drawn from his memory, at a later date, and this is correct (below).
Local newspaper records show that Charley, and his brother William, enjoyed some success, but the details are hard to pin down. Sometime prior to 1898 Charley moved to Duneweg, Missouri and over the years he was associated with a livery business and mining. But the January 22, 1898, issue of the Neosho County Journal reported that “The Beechwood mining company has struck a rich vein of lead at Duneweg." After this, there are mentions of Beechwood Mines or Beechwood Brothers Mining in some trade publications including Excavating Engineering and Iron and Machinery World (1900 – 1916). But during the same time, there are articles about him purchasing property in Walnut Grove (Township) and moving between Joplin and Neosho County. As noted above, the 1906 Neosho County Atlas shows his wife’s name on the Beechwood Hill property.
Back to the painting — The December 18, 1930, issue of the St. Paul Journal included an article “Historic Painting”. The story starts:
“Charley Beechwood, of Joplin, has completed a drawing of the Osage Mission buildings as he saw them first in 1865. It shows the ten log buildings that constituted the home of the Jesuit fathers and the Loretto Sisters and their Indian pupils prior to the coming of white settlers of this section and is a valuable contribution to history.”
The article goes on to say the painting was made for the Kansas Catholic Historical Society and would be displayed in the office of W. W. Graves until January 1. At the time Graves was a founding member of the Kansas Catholic Historical Society which was based in Atchison. The society has closed but local information and artifacts remain in the care of St. Benedict’s Abby on the St. Benedict’s College campus; and Atchison is where we found the painting.
Figure 5. The "Beechwood Painting" Captures a Moment When White Settlers Began Movement onto Osage Lands.
After some brief correspondence with the Abby, we were told they had the painting and we drove to up Atchison for a viewing. Considering it was painted on un-mounted cardboard it is in good condition with a few cracks that are visible in Figure 5. The Abby shot digital images while we were there. The colored version of the image shows a lot of detail not apparent on the black and white or sepia images that served us for years. The lower right corner shows the small inscription—“by E. Hill.” Charley described his memories to an artist. Based on comparison of the painting with later photos and a map there are a few minor irregularities. But for a man of 75 to remember what he saw, and then disappeared, 60 to 65 years earlier he did pretty darned well [7]. Charlie passed away in Joplin of July 19, 1935.
Figure 6. Anna Duling Munding in Later Years (Click to Enlarge).
The John Duling Family.
As noted above, the property south of the Beechwood claim was settled by John Duling. The Duling family is also described as being among the first settlers in Neosho County. They also settled during 1865.
John's daughter, Anna Duling, enrolled as the first white girl to attend the Catholic Mission schools in November of 1865. Anna Duling - Munding died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on August 17 of 1932.
As noted above, the property south of the Beechwood claim was settled by John Duling. The Duling family is also described as being among the first settlers in Neosho County. They also settled during 1865.
John's daughter, Anna Duling, enrolled as the first white girl to attend the Catholic Mission schools in November of 1865. Anna Duling - Munding died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on August 17 of 1932.
Some Reference Information:
Notes From Page:
[1] Jacob Beechwood’s Trip to Kansas, Kansas State Historical Society manuscript archives, Neosho County.
[2] This information and more about our region are available from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, Neosho County Part 5. Two web sources provide the same information:
[4] The Beechwood – Beachwood spelling variation appears from time to time. Also, some sources claim that Jacob was born in Germany. The latter confusion might be due to the location of Alsace, which is geographically adjacent to Germany and was once part of the German Empire. Also, thanks to Alice Bell Gander for pointing out an error in ownership of the Beechwood claim in the 1906 plat map. The "Mary" Beechwood is actually William's wife not Charlie's wife, also named Mary. Alice is the publisher of the Prairie Queens genealogy/history site at www.prairiequeens.com
[5] The Beechwood Land Warrant (deed) is on file at the Neosho County Register of Deeds Office in Erie, Kansas.
[6] The Canville treaty was the first treaty releasing Osage Lands for settlement. For more information regarding the departure of the Osages, including treaty negotiations and land parcels follow THIS LINK.
[7] Many of the Osage Mission buildings were demolished during the time frame of 1870 through 1880. The last remaining building was the original church which was razed in 1888. Follow THIS LINK (and sub-links) for more information about the original mission.
Photos:
Notes From Page:
[1] Jacob Beechwood’s Trip to Kansas, Kansas State Historical Society manuscript archives, Neosho County.
[2] This information and more about our region are available from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, Neosho County Part 5. Two web sources provide the same information:
- Google Books page - This is the actual page from the Cutler book. (Link should open to page 831 with Beechwood article highlighted at left-center)
- Kansas Historical Society, Kansas Collection - A more readable transcription of the above information.
[4] The Beechwood – Beachwood spelling variation appears from time to time. Also, some sources claim that Jacob was born in Germany. The latter confusion might be due to the location of Alsace, which is geographically adjacent to Germany and was once part of the German Empire. Also, thanks to Alice Bell Gander for pointing out an error in ownership of the Beechwood claim in the 1906 plat map. The "Mary" Beechwood is actually William's wife not Charlie's wife, also named Mary. Alice is the publisher of the Prairie Queens genealogy/history site at www.prairiequeens.com
[5] The Beechwood Land Warrant (deed) is on file at the Neosho County Register of Deeds Office in Erie, Kansas.
[6] The Canville treaty was the first treaty releasing Osage Lands for settlement. For more information regarding the departure of the Osages, including treaty negotiations and land parcels follow THIS LINK.
[7] Many of the Osage Mission buildings were demolished during the time frame of 1870 through 1880. The last remaining building was the original church which was razed in 1888. Follow THIS LINK (and sub-links) for more information about the original mission.
Photos:
- The page-top banner photo was taken by Ron Brogan.
- The map of France, Figure 1, was copied from Wikipedia Commons and edited for this page. Full source information: By TUBS - Own work This vector graphics image was created with Adobe Illustrator.This file was uploaded with Commonist. This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this: France location map.svg (by NordNordWest)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14394457
- Land Documents, Figures 2 and 3 were acquired from the Neosho County Register of Deeds office and scanned for presentation here.
- The photo of Charley Beechwood was photographed from a print on file at St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas.
- The photo of Anna Duling Munding (Figure 6) was scanned from page 54 of Annals of Osage Mission, W. W. Graves, Indexed and reprinted by Graves Memorial Library 1987.
- Figure 5, "The Beechwood Painting," was photographed by the communications manager at the St. Benedict's Abby, Atchison, and a digital copy was provided to us. The origin of the painting is discussed above.
