A New Home in an Old Settlement: Come and see the "New Land in an Old Country"
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land, formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation, from 1837 to 1868, and then purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; and, descriptions and prices of the land.

A new home in an old settlement
Date: May 1, 1876
This paper advertises for sale land formerly owned by the Pottawatomie Nation from 1837 to 1868, and then owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail Road Company. On the reverse side of the paper is a sectional map showing the area and identifying those lands that were still for sale by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company. The text gives brief descriptions of the cities and towns in the area; the railroads available; fuel and lumber that are native to the area; descriptions and prices of the lands.

Austin Senators baseball team
Creator: Jensen
Date: 1912
This photographic composite features members of the 1911 Austin Senators baseball team, winners of the Texas League pennant. The composite itself carries a date of 1912. However, the team won the pennant in 1911, not 1912, and several of the individuals pictured were on the championship team but not the 1912 team. Two Kansans are among the players shown in the composite. Dale Gear was a player and manager for the 1911 Austin Senators. A native of Lone Elm, Kansas, Gear was a pitcher and outfielder for several minor league teams and two major league teams--the Cleveland Spiders and the Washington Senators. He also managed several minor league teams, including franchises in Topeka and Kansas City, Missouri. Gear was a long-time resident of Topeka, where he was prominent in both baseball and business circles. He served as the president of three minor leagues; later in life he was a member of the Shawnee County Commission. Dale Gear died in 1951 at the age of 79. Also pictured is Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas. He was one of the Austin Senators' two best pitchers in 1911, earning a 22-14 record. In his three seasons with the Austin club (1911-13), his cumulative record was 51-47. Taylor pitched in 27 major league games between 1911 and 1914, including three games each with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, and the remainder with the St. Louis Browns. His major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. In the minor leagues, Wiley Taylor played not only for Austin, but also for teams in Ellsworth (KS), Louisville (KY), Lincoln (NE), Jersey City, Nashville, Salina, and Topeka. After his baseball career, Taylor remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died in 1954 at the age of 65.

Baseball team in Austin, Texas
Date: 1913
This photograph shows the 1913 Austin Senators baseball team of the Texas League. Standing second from the left in the top row is Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas. Taylor played three seasons in Austin, where he compiled a 51-47 record for the Senators, including a 22-14 season in 1911 as he helped the team secure the Texas League pennant. He also pitched in the majors. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954. A complete listing of the Senators pictured in the photograph includes: (top row, standing, l to r): Tulane McCuller (p); Wiley Taylor (p); Mike Flanagan (p); Bert Larsen (p); Harold Thomson (2b); Otto McIvor (cf); Fred Brainard (if); and Luther "Doc" Cook (rf). Seated in the front are (l to r): Ben Brownlow (ss); Chester Bobo (c); Eddie Hohnhorst (1b); Leon Lewis (p); William Hille (3b); Harry Haigh (c); and Bert James (lf).

Emigrants' guide to the Kansas Pacific Railway lands
Creator: Kansas Pacific Railway Company
Date: April 1871
A railroad company advertisement to emigrants promising cheap, abundant and good land for agricultural purposes.

Group at Maximo Point, near St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: 1914
This group photograph was taken at Maximo Point near St. Petersburg, Florida in March 1914 and includes members of the St. Louis Browns baseball team. The team was in St. Petersburg for spring training. Individuals in the photo are not identified, but two Kansans were on the Browns team in 1914--Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas and Earl Hamilton, a left-handed pitcher from Oswego, Kansas. Wiley Taylor started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the minor league Ellsworth team of the Central Kansas League. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954. Earl Hamilton was born in Illinois in 1891, but moved with his family to Kansas as a youth and lived in Oswego during much of his major league career. He pitched in the majors for 14 seasons, from 1911 to 1924, mostly with the St. Louis Browns and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamilton's major league record was 115-147, with an ERA of 3.16. His achievements included a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1912. After his pitching career, Hamilton was active as a minor league team owner; he owned the Topeka Owls in 1942. Earl Hamilton died in California in 1968.

Handbook of Pottawatomie and Riley Counties, Kansas
Date: Between 1880 and 1889
This handbook was published by the Modern Argo, Kansas City, for potential immigrants to Pottawatomie and Riley counties in Kansas. A short description of Davis County is also included. This pamphlet encouraged agricultural settlement by extolling the virtues of this 'beautiful Kansas (river) valley'. Crops grown in the area included corn, wheat, oats, and rye. A number of stock farms, such as Juniatta Stock Farm and Woodside Stock Farm, are described in the booklet. The booklet contains information about dairying operations and orchards. There are descriptions of the towns of Manhattan (including the State Agricultural College), Wamego, Louisville, Westmoreland, Milford, and Belvue. Some illustrations of farms and businesses are also included.

Journey from Massachusetts to Kansas
Creator: Allen, Chestina Bowker, b. 1808
Date: October 17, 1854 to April 22, 1858
Chestina Bowker Allen traveled to Kansas Territory from Roxbury, Massachusetts, with her husband, Asahel Gilbert Allen, and five children--William, Charles, Henrietta, John, and Abbie. Members of the third company sent by the New England Emigrant Aid Company, the Allens began the journey to Kansas Territory in October, 1854. The journal is a record of their journey to the Kansas Territory, and of their first three years there (1854-1858). Mrs. Allen described their journey west with stops in Kansas City and Lawrence before eventually settling near Rock Creek in Pottawatomie County. She wrote about many of her daily activities, including assisting neighbors when ill, a cholera epidemic in the area in 1855, descriptions of Native Americans she saw, and various rumors and encounters with fellow free state supporters and proslavery groups. She provided a great deal of information about living conditions and the price and availability of various goods. She wrote about her husband and older sons going to various communities to work, and also about people who visited their home and/or who boarded with them. [The document appears to be recopied from an original diary, and includes some penciled-in corrections and a few annotations from a later time.]

Louisville Colonels baseball team, Louisville, Kentucky
Creator: Royal Photo Company
Date: 1915
This is a panoramic photograph showing members of the 1915 Louisville (KY) Colonels baseball team of the American Association. Among those pictured is Wiley Taylor (third from the right), a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas. Taylor compiled a 6-7 record in 28 games for the Colonels in 1915, and an ERA of 3.51. He started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the Ellsworth minor league team in the Central Kansas League. He pitched in 27 major league games between 1911 and 1914, including three games each with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, and the remainder with the St. Louis Browns. His major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. In the minor leagues, Wiley Taylor played not only for Louisville and Ellsworth, but also for teams in Austin, Lincoln (NE), Jersey City, Nashville, Salina, and Topeka. After his baseball career, Taylor remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954.

Louisville Public School students in Louisville, Kansas
Creator: Beisner, H. F.
Date: April 1906
This is a stereograph showing students lined up in front of the Louisville Public School in Louisville, Kansas.

Meredith Ann Elliott Stippich and her Belgian horse, Beauty
Date: 1943
A photograph of Meredith Ann Elliott and her Belgian horse Beauty, possibly in Louisburg, Kansas.

Old military crossing, Louisville, Kansas
Date: Between 1890s and 1900s
These four black and white photographs show William Darnell with his cows at the old military crossing of Rock Creek, which was below the dam at Louisville, Kansas.

School picnic in Louisville, Kansas
Creator: Beisner, H. F.
Date: April 1906
This is a photograph showing a school picnic in Louisville, Kansas.

St. Louis Browns baseball team in St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: 1914
This postcard shows the 1914 St. Louis Browns baseball team at the team's spring training camp in St. Petersburg, Florida. The individual players are not identified on the postcard, but two Kansans were on the team--Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas and Earl Hamilton, a left-handed pitcher from Oswego, Kansas. Wiley Taylor started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the minor league Ellsworth team of the Central Kansas League. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954. Earl Hamilton was born in Illinois in 1891, but moved with his family to Kansas as a youth and lived in Oswego during much of his major league career. He pitched in the majors for 14 seasons, from 1911 to 1924, mostly with the St. Louis Browns and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamilton's major league record was 115-147, with an ERA of 3.16. His achievements included a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1912. After his pitching career, Hamilton was active as a minor league team owner; he owned the Topeka Owls in 1942. Earl Hamilton died in California in 1968.

Standard atlas of Pottawatomie County, Kansas
Creator: Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
Date: 1905
This atlas shows maps of each township with the names of landowners. It has a patrons' directory, portraits of residents, and plats of towns as of the year of publication.

Studio portrait of two young men
Date: 1910
This postcard is a studio portrait of two young men, one of whom (on the right) is possibly Wiley Taylor of Louisville, Kansas. As a young man, Taylor pursued a career in baseball. He started playing professionally in 1910 with the Ellsworth minor league team in the Central Kansas League. Between 1911 and 1914, he pitched in 27 major league games, including three games each with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, and the remainder with the St. Louis Browns. His major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. In the minor leagues, Wiley Taylor played not only for Ellsworth, but also for teams in Austin, Louisville (KY), Lincoln (NE), Jersey City, Nashville, Salina, and Topeka. After his baseball career, Taylor remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and recreation parlor in Westmoreland, Kansas. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954.

The Oregon Trail through Pottawatomie County, Kansas
Date: 1928
This map shows the route of the Oregon Trail through Pottawatomie County, Kansas, and the trail's proximity to the towns of St. Mary's, Belvue, Louisville, and Westmoreland. It also includes water features, such as rivers and creeks, and the sites of two cemeteries.

United States versus Charles Dean for selling liquor to Indians
Date: 1859 - 1861
These legal documents relate to the case of the United States vs. Charles Dean. Dean was accused of selling liquor to members of the Potawatomi tribe on October 10, 1858 in Pottawatomie County, Kansas Territory and in January of 1859 in Leavenworth County, Kansas Territory. Dean was indicted for the crime in Leavenworth County in June of 1859 and the crime in Pottawatomie County in March of 1860. It was illegal to sell alcohol to Native Americans or on their land from 1832-1953.

United States versus Eli Daniels for trespass on Indian land
Date: 1860
These court documents relate to the case of the United States vs. Eli Daniels. Indian Agent William E. Murphy accused Daniels of stealing timber on February 20, 1859 from Potawatomi Tribal Land in Pottawatomie County, Kansas Territory. Daniels was arrested and released on bond March 15, 1860.

United States versus Francis Bergeron for contempt
Date: November 15, 1859 - March 12, 1860
These legal documents relate to the case against Francis Bergeron (Bajero/Bajen) for contempt. Bergeron is charged with failing to report to the United States District Court, Kansas Territory, in Lecompton on November 4, 1859 to testify on the behalf of the United States. On November 15, 1859 Bergeron swore an affidavit before Justice of the Peace H. B. Bradford that his horse had "taken sick" on his way to Lecompton, and he was delayed. Bergeron was arrested and released on bond March 12, 1860.

Wiley Taylor
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
This is studio portrait of Wiley Taylor from Louisville, Kansas. As a young man, Taylor pursued a career in baseball. He started playing professionally in 1910 with the Ellsworth minor league team in the Central Kansas League. Between 1911 and 1914, he pitched in 27 major league games, including three games each with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, and the remainder with the St. Louis Browns. His major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. In the minor leagues, Wiley Taylor played not only for Ellsworth, but also for teams in Austin, Louisville (KY), Lincoln (NE), Jersey City, Nashville, Salina, and Topeka. After his baseball career, Taylor remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954.

Wiley Taylor and Earl Hamilton with the St. Louis Browns baseball team
Creator: Palfrey, G. E.
Date: 1914
This panoramic is a team photograph of the 1914 St. Louis Browns baseball team. Among those pictured are two Kansans--Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas (sixteenth from the right, wearing a jacket) and Earl Hamilton, a left-handed pitcher from Oswego, Kansas (fifth from the left). Wiley Taylor started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the minor league Ellsworth team of the Central Kansas League. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954. Earl Hamilton was born in Illinois in 1891, but moved with his family to Kansas as a youth and lived in Oswego during much of his major league career. He pitched in the majors for 14 seasons, from 1911 to 1924, mostly with the St. Louis Browns and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamilton's major league record was 115-147, with an ERA of 3.16. His achievements included a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1912. After his pitching career, Hamilton was active as a minor league team owner; he owned the Topeka Owls in 1942. Earl Hamilton died in California in 1968. The photograph was likely made prior to the start of the 1914 season, since a few of the players pictured did not appear on the regular season roster. Individuals in the photo include (l to r): Bill Rumler, Sam Agnew, Burt Shotton, Jimmy Austin, Earl Hamilton, Fred Witte, Ernie Manning, Jack Enzenroth, Frank Crossin, Del Pratt, Harry Hoch, Bobby Wallace, John Leary, C. (Tillie?) Walker, Branch Rickey (manager), Bob Clemens, George Baumgardner, Ed Miller, Carl Weilman, Bill James, Gus Williams, Wiley Taylor, Charlie Bold, Bill McAllester, Ivan Howard, Roy Mitchell, Joe Sugden, Walt Leverenz, Ernie Walker, Dee Walsh, Joe Jenkins, Bobby Messenger, Rivington Bisland, Buzzy Wares, C. Roche, Charley Barrett (scout), and Dr. Lawler (trainer).

Wiley Taylor and Phil Bean
Date: Between 1914 and 1915
Phil Bean and Wiley Taylor, both affiliated with the Louisville (KY) Colonels baseball club in the American Association, are shown here in the doorway of the Colonels' clubhouse. Bean, on the left, was the team trainer and Taylor was a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas. Taylor was on the Louisville roster in 1914-15, and compiled a 10-8 record in 35 games for the Colonels. He started his professional baseball career in 1910 with the Ellsworth minor league team in the Central Kansas League. He pitched in 27 major league games between 1911 and 1914, including three games each with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, and the remainder with the St. Louis Browns. His major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. In the minor leagues, Wiley Taylor played not only for Louisville and Ellsworth, but also for teams in Austin, Lincoln (NE), Jersey City, Nashville, Salina, and Topeka. After his baseball career, Taylor remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954.

Wiley Taylor and the Austin Senators baseball team
Date: 1912
Members of the Austin Senators minor league team are pictured in this photograph. Seated in the front row, on the far left, is Wiley Taylor, a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas. Taylor played three seasons in Austin, where he compiled a 51-47 record for the Senators including a 22-14 season in 1911 as he helped the team secure the Texas League pennant. He also pitched in the majors. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954.

Wiley Taylor and the St. Edwards baseball team, Austin, Texas
Date: Between 1911 and 1913
Wiley Taylor (middle of the back row, wearing a sweater), a right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kansas, is shown here posing with the St. Edwards baseball team in Austin, Texas. Not much is known about Taylor's affiliation with the St. Edwards team, but the photo dates to the 1911-13 period, when Taylor was a pitcher for the minor league Austin Senators of the Texas League. During his three seasons with the Senators, Taylor compiled a 51-47 record. His best season in Austin was 1911, when his 22-14 record helped the Senators capture the Texas League pennant. Taylor also pitched in the majors. He had trial outings with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, but most of his major league games (21 of 27) were with the St. Louis Browns, where he played in 1913-14. Taylor's major league record was 2-10, with an ERA of 4.10. After his baseball career, he remained in Pottawatomie County, where he farmed and served four terms as the county sheriff (1925-28 and 1945-48). Late in life, he also ran a service station and a recreation parlor in Westmoreland. Wiley Taylor died at the age of 65 in 1954.