An Excellent Research Resource — Annals of Osage Mission

In 1934 William Whites Graves published his original Annals of Osage Mission with the idea of furnishing available, compact data for writers; and for the general information of the public.  When the Graves Memorial Library prepared the book for reprinting, in 1987, they substantially improved it as a research too.

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John H. Scott published the first issue of The Osage Mission Journal on August 5, 1868.  That issue started one of the longer-running Kansas frontier newspapers.  In fact, his Journal continued sixty-six years past the the town of Osage Mission's name change to St. Paul. [1]    When W. W. Graves published the Annals of Osage Mission his intent was to compile excerpts from the Journal's frontier period stories up to July 4, 1895 — the date of the town's name change. 

in 1987 the Graves Memorial Public Library staff decided to reprint Graves' Annals.  Before they printed, they compiled a very detailed index.  In doing so, Helen Schoenhofer Coomes and Wendell Shaw transformed Graves' original work into an even more valuable research tool.  The structure of the book is simple:

• Foreword by  W. W. Graves
• Pre-Journal Front Material.  In pages 1-68 Graves summarized the early history of the Osage people, factors leading to starting the Catholic Osage Mission, the Catholic Mission story, and the early Osage Mission "mission town" story.  He also threw in some early dates and facts regarding a few of the characters who appeared later in Journal articles.  This section leads up to the start of John Scott's Osage Mission Journal.
• Journal Content.  Pages 69 through 489 include selected excerpts from Journal articles from August 5, 1868 to July 4, 1895.  These clips include:  significant historical events, articles about Father Schoenmakers, Mother Bridget Hayden and other Osage Mission missionaries, business stories, election results and population statistics for Osage Mission are other area towns and townships, family stories, births, deaths, marriages, floods, explosions, shootings, lynchings, new towns, dying towns, etc..  The scope and variety of the content strongly reflects Graves' passion for history as well as his journalism background. 
• The Index.  Formatting allows about 50 line-items per page, but some of the index topics have as many as 140 page references.  A great deal of time and care were used in compiling the list (see the illustrations below).

​As a research source, the index will lead you to brief newspaper articles or article excerpts within the book.  Information in some article excerpts stand on their own.  In some cases you will need to look at the dated article itself.  If that is necessary the Journal is available, on microfilm, at the museum in St, Paul, the Kansas State Historical Society and other sources.  The Osage Mission Journal was an important newspaper.

Not Just For Locals.
The town of Osage Mission was within the first block of land ceded by the Osage Tribe under the Canville Treaty (1865).[2]  The rest of the Osage reserve was released for settlement in 1870.  We got about a five-year head start with settlement, compared to the western counties.   As a result, quite a few families stopped at Osage Mission, participated in the initial building boom, lived here for awhile, and then moved on.  When I look through the index there are many familiar names.  But there are many more names, and stories, that are unfamiliar.  The offspring of these families are scattered by now, but might be curious about their origins.

During the period of 2009 through 2014 alone, I am aware of researchers who came to St. Paul from California, Canada, New York and several other locations to do family or general historical research.  Museum research staff have also responded to emails from across the United States, Ireland, Netherlands, France and other locations.  These are from people who have ties to the Osage Catholic Mission and the town of Osage Mission - St. Paul.  Bottom Line — if your family passed through Osage Mission, or the Neosho County area, during the mid to late 1800's, they might well have left tracks in this book.  The same might be true of frontier era lodges, businesses or organizations such as the Anti-Horse Thief Association.

Description and Sources.
The 1987 printing of the book is in 5-3/8" x 7-3/8" format, hard-bound with blue cover and gold backbone lettering.  Contents are discussed above; 622 pages including the index.

New copies of the book are available from The Osage Mission, Neosho County Historical Society or The Graves Memorial Public Library, both in St. Paul.  At last check, the price was still $16 at both locations. [3]

Mail orders are best processed through the historical society who will add a $4 book mailing fee:
Osage Mission - Neosho County Historical Society
203 Washington St, St Paul, KS 66771
Phone: (620) 449-2320 (un-attended during closed hours)*
Email:  [email protected]  (best contact method)
  * See website for current hours:  www.osagemission.org. 

The Graves Memorial Public Library Phone Number is:  (620) 449-2001

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This gallery will give you an idea of  format and index content.

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Some Reference Information.
1.  The "Journal" had three names during its ninety-three year life (1868 - 1961).  John Scott started it as the Osage Mission Journal.  It was also published as the Neosho County Journal and St. Paul Journal.  There were several editors and owners, and at least one shift in politics, but the same business lineage was retained during its lifespan.  W. W. Graves was the longest-term editor/owner.
2.  The Osage Reserve was a fifty mile wide strip (north-south) that extended from just east of the Neosho-Labette County lines, west to near Dodge City.  When the Canville treaty was ratified in 1865, the Osage ceded land roughly equivalent to Neosho and Labette Counties, plus a strip across the northern edge of their reserve.  Osage Mission was in the east part of the Canville land cession and was also close to the Missouri Line.  Quite a few settlers stopped first at new settlements, such as Osage Mission, then move on later to pursue other opportunities.  For more information about the departure of the Osage and land cession treaties follow THIS LINK.
3.  I have seen this book offered from on-line booksellers including Amazon and Abe Books in the $80 - $90 range, used.  A couple of years ago a copy showed up from a Missouri Abe Books seller for $275.
4.  We have no personal financial interest in the sales of this book.